Why it’s a great time to get into wooden boating
It’s a great time to buy a classic boat, says vice chair of the Classic Yacht Association Russell Brooke.
Prices of boats fluctuate with economic conditions – and all things considered, wooden yachts are amongst the most affordable options both to purchase, and to own and maintain.
“At the moment classic boats are very affordable, especially smaller ones that cost less to look after.”
He points out that the simplicity of classic contributes to its affordability: maintenance is much more straightforward than with modern boats, as you can do most jobs yourself. A touch up with paint can fix most dings – unlike with a modern boat. Displacement launches are low-tech, efficient and don’t use a lot of fuel. As a result, the CYA has seen a proliferation of classic launches being tidied up and restored
He says that a boat such as a Townson 32, a keeler equipped for racing and cruising, can be very affordable, and it will give you magic cruising around the Hauraki Gulf and beyond.
Russell is Vice Chair of the Classic Yacht Association, which has been the backbone of the classic sailing community since the early 1990s, and a catalyst for a regular sailing and launch program, loads of events and initiatives including the Classic Yacht Regatta, Classic Yacht Register, regular talks and more.
Russell is custodian of three boats and knows how rewarding it is to care for and sail them. The boats include a family launch named Linda, his grandfather’s K Class Kiariki. More recently he has acquired a C Class called Gleam, built in 1940 and New Zealand’s first light displacement yacht.
Of sailing on a classic yacht he says: “I liken it to driving an open top MG. It feels great, you are lower to the water and more connected with the experience, and the classic boat community is great.”
Visit the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival, 1-3 March 2024, to see more than 100 wooden boats on display.
Find out more about membership of the CYA:
Two of Russell’s boats: Kiariki (left) and Karamea (right)