Editor: Peter Higgs
Volume 14 Number 3
Presidents August Report 2010
President’s Report August
What a great turnout for the Huon Land
Cruise. The day was great and what transpired says a lot about our Guild. Grahame Dudgeon
had done all the organisation and printed the maps and
instructions, but on the day had the colliwobbles and
was not well enough to lead the trip. Because his precontact with the boat-builders, briefings and maps were
so good I was able to step into the breach. The Mortons
collected the instructions and brought them to our start
point at Huonville Esplanade.
A great turnout of the usuals, old members we hadn’t
seen for a while, new members, guests and families set
off in car pooled vehicles. The Gatenby’s new Kombi
bus (a legacy of the Guild’s trip to St Helens) was a very
useful new addition to the fleet. About 30 people in all.
David Morton stepped up to take notes, everybody was
punctual and timely in their visits, our hosts the boatbuilders and owners were most gracious and hospitable
and our lunch break was the usual success.
Finally, Millard Ziegler “volunteered” to do the Trip Report for me – all in all another great Wooden Boat Guild
of Tasmania outing.
By the way, we are entering our festivals and shows
season, so all help with model making and attending our
stall will be appreciated.
Graeme Hunt, President,
Secretary’s July report
We have nearly all got one, and just take them for
granted....life jackets....and some of us wear inflatable
life jackets. I must say that they are far more comfortable than the other Mae West style jackets but are we
looking after them properly?
There was an article in The Mercury recently reminding
11th August 2010
users of PFD’s (inflatable life jackets) to have them serviced regularly. Following are some points mentioned.
Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) says about half of
life jackets used by the boating community are inflatable,
and this equates to around 78,000 inflatable jackets. The
problem is that only about 10% of these inflatable jackets
are being serviced and checked as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Once a person is in the water, their chances of drowning
increases, and these chances increase dramatically if
they are wearing an inflatable and it does not work!
Between servicing, owners of inflatables should self-test
the jackets to ensure they are working. This involves
blowing them up manually and leaving them overnight to
ensure the bladder is ok. Also, ensure the canister is tight
and not rusty.
Put a PFD service on your winter list of all those many
boating things to do and be ready for summer. My winter
list seems to be increasing, not decreasing....and it’s only
six months to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival....gulp!
I picked up the Guild’s Piners Punt, Gordon from Michael
Staples the other day now that he has completed taking
the lines by the traditional method. These lines drawings,
along with the electronic ones that Peta Knott and Dougal
Harris did have been forwarded to both the Maritime Museum of Tasmania and to the Australian National Maritime Museum. There will be a copy available for the
Guild and I have put together a folder with all the information, drawings and offsets that will be available at the next
Guild meeting.
Now that we have these details an application will be sent
to the ANMM to have Gordon listed on the Australian
Register of Historic Vessels.
Our next general meeting will be on Monday 16 August
starting at 7:30 pm.
Our next outing will be a model working bee at Peter and
Dallas Higgs shed on Sunday 22 August with 12 September being the next Terra Linna working bee.
Full details later on in this edition.
And remember, we always need guest speakers. If you,
or if you know someone who could give us an interesting
nautically based talk or demonstration just let one of the
Committee know and we’ll take it from there.
Given current progress on the overall project it is anticipated that the Terra Linna will be at the 2011 Australian
Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart, hopefully as a launched
vessel.
The month before last the question was: A
‘Fisherman’s bend’ is a knot which: (1) attaches a rope to
a ring (2) is used to bulk up the end of a rope (3) joins
two ropes of equal thickness
The following is a report on the TCF funded component
of the project. Following this report component there will
be an overall restoration report of the yacht Terra Linna
to sailing condition.
And I suggested the correct answer was: joins two
ropes of equal thickness
Only one person picked up my deliberate mistake, I
just wanted to check if anyone was really reading my
column...thankyou Lou....the real answer was (1) attaches a rope to a ring....
On receiving and signing the Grant Deed, the Wooden
Boat Guild of Tasmania Inc. re-considered the discussions over many years of just how the Terra Linna was
rigged, together with the sails she carried and her spars.
The photo on page 4 together with many other provided
by the Tasmanian State Library were consulted and considered.
Oh, I see Cheryl....you’d like to see the rope attached
somewhere else....thanks !
Last month’s question was: ‘Moderate seas’ have wave
Following the consultative and decision making process,
heights of: (1) 0.5 to 1.25 metres (2) 1.25 to 2.5 metres
together with the specifications written in a previous Aus(3) 2.5 to 4.0 metres
tralian Maritime Museum MMAPS project, basic specifiAnd the correct answer is: ‘Moderate seas’ have wave cations were developed. The Wooden Boat Guild of Tasmania Inc (WBGT) put out an Expression of Interest
heights of 1.25 to 2.5metres
(EOI) to local Sail Makers, Riggers and Spar makers.
This month’s question: The ANMM Australian Register The WBGT was, to a point, disappointed in the responses from local business with many interested small
of Historic Vessels will consider boats: (1) Built pre-1965
and are intact or relatively complete (2) That are replicas businesses not responding. The tables on pages 6 & 7
outline the response to the EOI from small businesses
or scale models if built pre-1955 (3) Built pre-1965 that
who committed to put in an EOI. This table enable the
are wrecked but have special significance
WBGT to make a decision about the suppliers of the
Sails, Spars and Rigging component of the restoration of
Questions and answers courtesy Jim Broadside from
the yacht Terra Linna.
AFLOAT
The acceptance of the EOI was as per the recommendaSecretaries Trivia: You are stuck with your debt if you
tions 1. Spars to Denman for the Spars, 2. Storm Bay
can’t budge it....
Sails for the sails and, 3. Rigging and Blocks to Mike
Seeney. The total projected cost was l $21,759.00.
Roscoe (and Cheryl)
As work progressed on the spars, sails and rigging it became apparent that the specifications, which had been
issued with the EOI, needed re-consideration to meet
current day marine survey requirements. To achieve this,
the WBGT engaged Murray Isles, well known Hobart
based marine designer. Unfortunately, Murray Isles
could not complete our project’s calculations when we
required them due to his existing work load, hence our
Terra Linna Report
project was delayed. Murray’s calculations required inThe Tasmania Community Fund creased spar diameters and rigging requirements. The
report has been completed and original rigging hardware was also deemed not suitable.
sent to Deloitte Touche TohAs such, the EOI estimates increased from $21,759.00
matsu for audit to meet the con- to a total expenditure of $25,682.50 (see transaction deditions of the grant. The followtails on pages 15 & 16).
ing is an extract from the report;
The delays also impacted on the purchase of authentic
sail cloth from the UK as the sail maker required the
Overall Project Report
Murray Isles calculations to accurately draw new sail
Firstly, the application was to
plans before placing the order for sail cloth. This resulted
restore the yacht Terra Linna to in the WBGT applying to the Tasmanian Community
sailing condition for a total cost
Fund for a change to our Grant Deed resulting in apof $106,300.00. The Tasmania
proval being granted on the 22/12/2009 to change the
Community Fund only approved project completion date from the 31 December 2009 to
in the Grant Deed a grant of
30th April 2010 (see application for Grant Deed Change
Bed logs fitted and fixed
$25,000.00 for the Spars, Sails in the appendices.
and Rigging. This work is now
complete, however work continues on the full restoration/
re-build of the yacht Terra Linna circa 1880.
2
Subsequently we can now report all Sails, Spars and
Rigging work is complete and fitting will occur once the
Terra Linna is launched.
 We had to reinforce the keel as many sections were
Terra Linna restoration report for work not funded
by the TCF
 Next we cut the slot for the dagger/centre board in the
On reflection, the work the Terra Linna Project completed so far it is quite substantial! The following lists
this so far, albeit in an abbreviated way, not to devalue
the amount of work done but to be brief whilst reasonably accurate;
 Andy Gamlin’s, vision and negotiations on behalf of
the Guild to acquire the vessel for the Guild from its
Battery Point location.
 Andy Gamlin’s foresight to apply for the first Aus-
not true to line at the garboard rabbet. The rabbet was re
formed and cleaned up.
keel and Noel built the new casing. Although not fixed, we
now know it will fit due to the dry-fitting at the time of constructing it.
 Many felt this was when the restoration really got underway as we next fitted the garboards. What a pleasure it
was to steam and fit the recently purchased boat grade
Huon Pine. Work progressed to the point that we now
have all planks fully fitted and clenched to both the port
and starboard sides. Many of the original planks have
been saved and cut into the battens for the batten seams
on the hull. Construction is batten seam carvel except the
two top planks which are clinker fitted.
tralian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) MMAPS
grant that enabled the taking of Terra Linna lines by
Andy and the writing of the Terra Linna History written
by Peter Higgs, now available on the Guild Web site.
 At the same time we have fitted the floors. A very time
 Rescue of the Terra Linna from the foreshore of
 Just to be prepared, we cleaned the paint off of the
Battery Point and storage at Margate in 2002.
 At Margate, the stabilisation of the hull and many
strategic planning sessions which, though frustrating,
have proven very beneficial. This time also provided
the WBGT the opportunity to save funds for the project.
 The Guild’s second successful ANMM MMAPS
grant for the building of a scale model of the Terra
Linna and further documentation. The scale model was
built to a very high skill level by Noel Hall and donated
to the Tasmanian Maritime Museum.
consuming but necessary task.
many existing spars in preparation for the project spar
work. This was a futile exercise as the spar maker quoted
a lesser price to use new Oregon opposed to the Guild’s
existing Oregon spar material.
 Noel also insisted we start getting Celery Top pine out
of the Nyrstar timber lot so he could start preparing the
deck beams and other larger structural components such
as the beam shelf.
 At the same time negotiations with
Sail, Spar and Rigging makers to get
the right and best deal for our project
as funded by the Tasmanian Community Fund. Before a final decision
could be made the WBGT needed to
re-consider the size of the mast and
subsequently sails and rigging. Calculations for the Mast, rigging and
ballast were sought from Murray Isles
to ensure we were both authentic and
safe.
 Registration of the Terra Linna on the register of
Australian Historic Vessels at the Australian Maritime
Museum.
 The acquisition of a grant from the Nyrstar (Zinc
Works) Community fund where a very considerable
amount of recycled Tasmanian minor species timber
was donated for the restoration of the Terra Linna .
The Purchase with Guild funds (raised at festivals) of
boat grade Huon Pine for the planking of the Terra
Linna with the owner of the timber making a very generous donation of timber to ensure we had sufficient.
 An enormous amount of work to shift the Terra
Linna , build a temporary shed and then to commence
our restoration work ably led by Noel Hall, whilst overseen by Bill Foster.
 The Terra Linna project has proceeded at a steady rate, mainly due
to the never ending jobs that appear from nowhere when
building or restoring a wooden boat, and from the eyes of
the “forever optimist” the end is near!
Deck beams and bilge
stringer in
 All planking is complete, with the planks being
new Huon Pine and the battens being cut from
the original planks.
 And then in 08, 09 and 2010 monthly (or there
abouts) working bees, with a small band of members
working between working bees with Noel Hall.
 All timbers (ribs) in new Huon Pine have been
fitted and fixed in place.
 At the working bees we first stabilised the hull at
 The floors (originals), beam shelves (new reclaimed Nyrstar timber), deck beams (new reclaimed Nyrstar timber), bilge stringers and
thwart risers (originals) are fitted.
the site, twice! Twice because a bad spring storm blew
her off of her foundation blocks. We then set about cutting and building frames for each station to pull her
back to the lines shape. Once this was completed we
could strip off all planking, stringers etc to get back to a
bare keel with bow and stern members.
 Currently, the centreboard bed logs and case is
being installed together with the deck carlins (all
reclaimed Nyrstar timber).
3
 The WBGT had all the required rigging hardware cast
at the Hobart Foundries of Retlas to meet the requirements of Murray Isles calculations. There is a fair amount
of filing, grinding and polishing to go as well as drilling for
the correct fixing location. All patterns from this work
have been retained by the Guild.
From the Editors Desk
I visited Noel and Noelene during the week a few weeks
back to find Noel half way through a task on the Terra
Linna but also working on a model boat inside whilst he
had lunch and a break!!
Sails and rigging are currently stored at the suppliers
addresses due to lack of Guild storage.
So at last we can see the restored Terra Linna rising out
of the temporary shed she resides in and her launch date,
in the water or on the hard, (in time for the Australian
Wooden Boat Festival Feb. 11th – 14th February 2011) is
in sight. This will lead to community involvement through
the negotiations we have had with Tasmanian PCYC to
involve disengaged youth in sail training.
The BYC model Noel is restoring.
Note it is from one piece of timber!
In summary the project has been a great success to date
and has been managed by the WBGT under the guidance of Noel Hall for hands on boat building leadership,
Bill Foster for technical and Ship Wrights advice, Murray
Isles for design components, Graeme Hunt project liaison, Brian Marriott finances and Peter Higgs for project
management. It has also met one other TCF goal of using
local craftspeople and suppliers.
The model came from the Bellerive Yacht Club and needed
restoration. Who better than
Noel to do this work! I don’t
think Noel or Noelene see a
day go by without working on
a boat or being on a boat of
some sort.
On a Terra Linna matter but of general interest also, you
may recall that Bryan Gatehouse, a previous owner of
the Terra Linna, visited this year to see the yacht’s progress. Bryan rang me this week. He took away the history to compare with his notes but has advised he can
not add to the information. What he did confirm was that
he will be in Hobart for the AWBF and hopes we can
launch Terra Linna whilst he is in Hobart. He added he
would like to have a sail to which I responded “of
course!”
Do you have any old car or boat batteries at
home?
His closing comment was that he is so pleased and
proud that the Guild is restoring his favourite yacht to
sailing condition and closed by saying he wanted to
send the Guild a small cheque as a token of appreciation. Many thanks Bryan.
Well the Terra Linna Project could do with them and just
think, by donating them you are doing the green thing by
re-cycling them and getting all of those nasties out of your
storage area. If you can take them to a battery recycle
depot they will pay you for them and then if you want to
donate what you get to the Guild we can purchase the
ballast lead we need. If you do not want to take your batteries to the recycle depot bring them along to the Guild
meetings and we can do
that for you.
We have been invited to attend the Motor Yacht Club of
Tasmania’s Boat & Leisure Show, October 16th and 17th
this year. Although the Guild and committee are yet to
discuss and approve the option I have placed it in the
Calendar just in case!
The fruits of Ainesley
Smith’s marvellous action
are coming to bare as a
result of this request of
members. Ainesley and
Graeme Hunt have colLead plug for the centre board, mould
lected and exchanged
and lead ingot
members batteries. The
result has been the purchase of lead that Ainesley has smelted and cast for the
Terra Linna using a steel mould he fabricated. In the
south Chris Morton has collected lead wheel weights from
a local tyre dealer. Chris is going to smelt these down
and use Ainesley’s mould to cast lead ballast ingots for
the Terra Linna. Well done to all and please keep the batteries and lead rolling in!
A note from the Treasurer!!
Membership subscriptions for this year are now overdue
if you haven't already paid! If you're un-financial and you
receive your Skeg in the post, you will have a membership form attached. If you get this by email, you can get
a form from (insert link to forms on website). Please
complete the same and forward it with your fees to The
Treasurer, WBGT Inc. PO Box 28 Battery Point Tasmania 2004
http://www.woodenboatguildtas.org.au/files/Member%
20Application%202010.pdf
Peter
So what does Terra Linna weigh?
See table on page 10—Calculations were based on the
timber estimated and purchased!
Members cutting decking at the last working bee
Continued on page 6.
4
General Meetings are on the
3rd Monday of each month, inc. public holidays except in the month of December.
Calendar 2010
 August 16th WBGT committee and General mtg.
 August 22nd Model working Bee at Peter and Dal-


las Higgs shed 185 Berriedale Rd Berriedale. This
shed is based on the www.ibys.org model, check
this link! You may find a solution to making decisions or even providing excuses!
September 12th Terra Linna working bee
Sept. 20th WBGT committee and General mtg.
The next general meeting of the
Wooden Boat Guild of Tasmania Inc. will be held at
the Mariners’ Cottage,
Napoleon Street, Battery Point commencing
at 7.30 pm
Monday 16 th August 2010
 September 26th Kettering Rowing Day trip leaders
Roscoe Barnett and Jim Tayton
There will be a committee meeting held
prior to the General Meeting at 6.00pm,
members welcome
 October to be confirmed Presidents Dinner at
Drysdale
 October 10th Terra Linna working bee
http://www.woodenboatguildtas.org.au/
 October 16th and 17th MYCT Boating & Leisure
Expo (TBC)
Guest Speaker, 16 th August 2010
 Oct. 18th WBGT committee and General mtg.
 October 31st Bellerive Seafarers Festival
Noel Hall wants to present the video made by
the Japanese Documentary Producers. He has
been practicing his Japanese and tea breaks!
 Nov. 7th Terra Linna working bee
 November 13th Huon Show
Following this Peter Higgs will present a short video of
Sailing the la Rivi`ere de l `Odette, in France. He will need a
French interpreter. Just to give you all a feel for Ros and
Ainesley’s forthcoming French Canal cruise!
 Nov. 15th WBGT committee and General mtg.
 December 11th Spring Bay Discovery Centre
 Dec. 19th Christmas in the Park, Mariners Cottage
Presenter/s or practical demonstration required for
future meetings.
 Thursday 10th February 2011 Welcome Bar-B-Q at
the Mariners cottage for our interstate WBA visitors.
Skeg articles by the 1st Monday of each month
please . If the deadlines can’t be kept the SKEG will
be published without late submissions!
 Maritime and Maritime Heritage lunch box talks 12
noon till 1.00pm — 1st Tuesday of each month at
TMAG Royal Society Room organised by the Maritime Museum.
1. Skeg photographs by the 1st Monday of each month.
Trip Leaders responsibilities; the Trip Leader is to confirm meeting
paces and times (including maps) for the Skeg edition prior to the
event. Skeg closing time is 1st Monday for text and 1st Monday for
photos every month. Following the event the Trip Leader is to provide a short story and up to 5 of their own photos, sized and titled (as
file name) appropriately, of the event for inclusion in the following
Skeg. Members wishing to submit photos from the rowing days are
required to provide a maximum of five to the Trip Leader so that we
do not get same/similar contributions. All must be sized as below with
a title as the file name.
2. Speaker/demonstration ( it can be a demonstration of a
wooden boat building activity or problem solving activity)
for next month are always needed so get your name and
topic in.
Officers of the Guild contact list
President
Members wishing to submit articles & photos: All members articles and photos are most welcome as contributions for the Skeg or
other publications. For the Skeg, articles are preferred to be in MS
Word with no formatting. Members are asked to restrict their photographic submissions to 5 In total per month and to have resized the
photos to the following specs. No PDF’s please!
Graeme Hunt
0408146752
Sen.Vice President Brian Marriott
0419877684
Vice President
Jim Tayton
03 62674051
Secretary
Ross Barnett Home 6227 1720 or
mobile 0438 300 229
400 Pixels wide X 300 Pixels high, or
5.7 cm wide X 4.2 cm high, with a resolution of
180 pixels per inch
Treasurer
David Barnes
03 62441302
Flag Officers
Peter Higgs 62491695 0419803317
& Brian Marriott
If you can not size a photo submit it with a title as a file name and the
editor will size It for you.
All SKEG articles must be with the editor in a digital form by the
1st Monday of the month.
5
Mess Officers
Vacant
Committee
David Gatenby
0428391432
Noel Hall
03 62445583
Peter Higgs
0419803317
David Morton
0400560330
School for world-famous chef
Tetsuya. There was a sad note
with the Belle Brandon sitting
on the hard close by with
planks missing and her back
broken.
July Roving Day
Huon Wooden Boat Builders Land Cruise
Trip Leader Grahame Dudgeon
25th July 2010
After many hours of planning, negotiations and communicating to members about the Roving Day Grahame
took ill and could not fulfil the role of Trip Leader. In his
absence Millard Ziegler has submitted the following trip
report. Many thanks to both Grahame and Millard.
Tetsuya’s boat
(PH pls insert photo Tetsuya’s
boat (3)and Belle Brandon (4))
After a satisfying barbecue lunch
by the river we travelled to Port
Huon, to Roger Harwood’s home
to admire a clinker plywood dinghy Kermandie which is Iain
Oughtred’s Tammy Norrie design.
We were dazzled by the fine
woodwork and varnish. Roger
was applying finishing touches
before it is sold to a Sydney businessman.
Huon Land Cruise - A nonad of boats
The WBG excursion on Sunday 25th July was a brilliant
day to begin with. Zooming over Vince's Saddle gave
vistas of green hills and mountains with low thick fog in
the valleys.
We met at the Esplanade,
Huonville and travelled in
convoy in a reduced number of vehicles first to Cygnet to see a replica 8 metre
class boat being built at
Wilson's boat shed. This
50’ by 8’ rater is based on
an original 1924 design
1924 design 8 Metre
Varg (also known as Norn)
by Johan Anker. (He is also famous for designing the Dragon
class). This 8 metre has Huon
pine planks on blue gum frames,
celery beams, a teak deck,
spruce spars and lovely polished
bronze fittings. Besides the use
of cast silicon bronze floors, of
Bronze floors
interest to me was the different
way of locking the beams to the
sheer clamp using dowels instead of dovetails. Unusually the
yacht will be fitted with a 13 kW
Thoosa electric drive.
Belle Brandon
Nearby was Ben Post’s shed where he had three boats
in various stages of finish.
The first was a restoration of
a couta boat converted to a
sloop rigged cabin cruiser.
The second was a 22ft Fox
Island double ended sloop in
clinker plywood designed by
Joel White. The third was a
13’7” Dory Skiff designed by
Kermandie
John Gardner. This dinghy
was also a glued clinker ply construction with 6mm
planks, centre board
case and buoyancy
tanks.
At a shed up the Arve
Road from Geeveston
was a 52' schooner designed and built for Anthony Coomb. This
Fox Island Sloop
world cruiser has LOA
15·85 m, a beam of
4·37 m and a draft of 1·75 m.; that’s 52’ by 14’4” by 5’9”.
Her 7/8” strip planked hull was
just finished with fiberglass cloth
on the inside and two layers of
the same outside.
We then went on to Franklin to
see the two boats in the
Dowell joint opposed to shipWooden Boat Centre. One was
wrights dovetail.
Peggy, a 23ft yacht designed
and built by Adrian Dean as a small sloop tribute to L
Francis Herreshoff’s ideas on
minimalist yachting. In this boat
the floors were several riveted
strips carried well up the frames
and hooked to the keel with a
simple cast bronze bracket.
Dory Skiff
In O’Hallorans Road - another
shed and another boat. This
time it was an Ed Burnettde-
signed 39ft cutter. With a
beam of 11’2” , LWL 31’11”,
draft of 6’6” and displacing
12·4 tons, this was another
potential world girdler. It was
carvel construction with celery top pine planks over blue
gum laminated frames alter-
The other boat in the shed was
a 38’ Hunn-designed motor
Peggy’s floors
cruiser with the hull and deck
completed and the topsides being constructed. A 90 hp
John Deere diesel was sitting in the corner waiting to be
fitted. This boat is being built by the Wooden Boat
6
50 footer
the 28ft. whaleboat down to a small 8ft. model-chaser,
and traditional clinker construction down to modern plywood. The Marine Board co-ordinated the sites for activities, and I was allocated the apron of Princes Wharf
No.1, which at that time, had a secure high mesh wire
fence which satisfied the owners as to the safety of their
prized possessions. Naturally there was no charge for
entry, and no scope for “Trade exhibits”, and by what has
evolved subsequently, it was on a very small scale.
nating with steam bent frames. These were attached to
the keel with cast magnesium bronze floors. Lovely! Girwen and Crystal are doing a great job and it is a credit to
these Wooden Boat School Graduates.
With many different types of construction of boats from
Cygnet to Geeveston it was a day of discovery. Nine different boats, nine different experiences, and nine moments of joy.
MZ
The overall impact of the
Festival of Hobart was
positive and the Council
agreed to stage the same
thing the following year,
coinciding with the finish
of the Sydney to Hobart
yacht race. I assembled a
second display, this time
utilising the enclosed
courtyard which was part
of the headquarters of the
Water Police in what is
now the Henry Jones Hotel. There were about 20
boats, different ones from
the previous year, and
again could be said to
have been most successful.
Next Rowing Day, Sunday 22nd
August
Is replaced by a Model Working Bee
at the Higgs IBYS Shed 185 Berriedale Road Berriedale 7011
10.00am start, BYO Bar—B—Q lunch, see you there.
WBGT meeting Presentation Reports
“A Prologue”
On 21st.June, 2010, I gave a presentation aimed at filling in some of the history pre-dating both the Guild and
the Australian Wooden Boat Festivals – hence the otherwise-obscure title
“A Prologue”. My
ideas arose out of
the euphoria following on the adventure of helping
crew the whaleboat Elizabeth
under Bern
Cuthbertson, from
Tall Ships at the Festival of Hobart
Phillip Island to
Sydney in January 1987, and coincided with the momentous visit of the Tall Ships to Hobart as part of the celebrations for the Bicentennial. In mid-1987 the Hobart City
Council asked 10 of the Lions Clubs of southern Tasmania to contribute an item of entertainment each, to form
part of the waterfront celebrations at the time of the Tall
Ships visit. I, on behalf of the Lions Club of Huon, bearing the Elizabeth in mind, suggested that the club get up
a display of interesting wooden boats. They, our members, all thought it was a good idea, but when it came
down to the work
involved, I found
myself on my own.
The Elizabeth became the “flag-ship”
and another 16 or
17 owners came
forward with offers
to loan their boats.
They varied from
Bill Foster's original foster 10
My personal plans led me to take a contract for medical
work in Saudi Arabia in mid-1989, and so I passed over
my “address book” of past participants to Andy Gamlin
who had been an exhibitor in the first, with his Whitehall,
and possibly in the second, and told him he would have
to step in and continue the good work in my place.
There was some inertia until 1993-94 when the group
who founded the Guild convened the first foundation
meeting, dates still a little in dispute, and the first Australian Wooden Boat Festival was planned and implemented in November 1994.
The presentation was supported by a selection of photos
of representatives of the Tall Ships fleet in port at the
time, as well as shots of the boats in the display.
Grahame Dudgeon
Early Yacht Photographers 1880 – 1920 by Jim Tayton—Monday 19th July
Following the invention of the dry plate technique of photography by Richard Leach Maddox in 1871, and its development during the 1870's photographs of moving objects in the field became possible. Cameras and commercially produced photographic plates were available
by 1880 in both the British Isles and the United States.
It didn't take very long before photographers turned their
lenses towards the waterways, and yacht photography
got under way. This must have been incredibly difficult,
with massive cameras, often without any decent viewfinder, together with tripods and boxes of glass plates to
deal with. What was probably the earliest published book
The Gibson Dinghy
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of photographs of marine scenes, including yachts and
other vessels, was entitled “Instantaneous Marine Studies” by David Mason Little, and published in Boston USA
in 1883. This book is now a prized collectors' item. A few
examples from an auctioneer's catalogue were shown.
I have not found any record of an Australian “yacht photographer” of this period, although of course many photographs were taken and survive. However in New Zealand there was Henry Winkelmann, who had arrived in
the country from England in 1878. He had various jobs
until he purchased a Lancaster Instantograph camera in
1892. He photographed the Auckland Anniversary Regatta in 1893, and continued photographing the local
yachting activities until 1928, as well as taking many
photographs around the Auckland region, and also on
assignments elsewhere. His collection of Auckland City
negatives is held by the Auckland Public Library, and the
marine works, meticulously annotated with date, location,
and details of the vessel and crew reside in the Auckland
Museum. I admire Winkelmann's work for its technical
excellence, but also because he was actively involved in
yachting. Consequently we get, as well as the pictures of
the racing fleet and the wonderful Bailey and Logan
boats of the time (many of which survive), photographs
taken on board during cruises, of adventures in sailing
dinghies, and vessels at anchor in quiet inlets. He gives
a real picture of what yachting was like in the years
straddling 1900. The Auckland Museum was responsible
for the production of “Winkelmann's Waitemata, Classic
Auckland Yachting” by Robin Elliott, Harold Kidd, and
T.L. Rodney Wilson, David Ling Publishing in association
with Aukland Museum, 1998 (reprinted 2005), from
which much of my information was taken.
About the same time, on the other side of the Atlantic,
Alfred Beken commenced photographing yachting
scenes around Cowes. Originally Alfred was a pharmacist in Canterbury, but moved his business to Cowes in
1888. By1894 Alfred Beken and his son Frank had
started selling marine photographs commercially, and
the business known as Beken of Cowes was begun. It is
still a successful business, currently operated by Kenneth Beken, the great grandson of Alfred. The Beken
family was noted for the spectacular photographs of
large vessels such as the Royal Yacht Brittania and others in the affluent period of the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. As well though, there were excellent
photographs of much less grand scenes, such as an
early lady's dinghy race or a boy just mucking about in a
boat. My major reference for Beken was “Beken of
Cowes, A Hundred Years of Sail”, The Harvill Press,
London, 1996.
In the mid 1880's in New York, John S Johnston started
photographing the New York yachting scene. His earliest
photographs date from about 1885, and he continued
until his death in 1899. He photographed many of the
major regattas of this period, including the many America's Cup races that occurred during these years. His
photographs are technically excellent, and provide a detailed record of yachting in the period, from small sailing
canoes to cat boats to the large and spectacular boats of
the New York Yacht Club fleet. He also photographed
commercial and naval vessels, and recorded the yacht
club buildings and activities of the area. He died from
complications following a severe cold contracted whilst
photographing the Columbia-Shamrock America's Cup
Races in 1899.
Jim Tayton
Seeking information
Kyeema, Roma and Lady Jane
Does anyone out there have information about these
vintage motor launches?
I am writing a biography of Win and Clyde Clayton of
Port Davey. In their retirement, Win and Clyde moved to
Franklin and Clyde had a series of boats, including the
vintage motor launches Kyeema, Roma and Lady Jane
which he owned during the 1980s. I have some detail
about Kyeema and Roma from Graeme Broxam's book
Those that Survive (pp.40 & 51).
A comprehensive set of his photographs can be accessed in reasonable resolution on the website
www.jsjohnston.org, which was the source of most of my
information.
Peter Atkins purchased Lady Jane and put significant
work into re-fitting her.
I would love to know what has become of these vessels.
Towards the end of Johnston's career another photographer started working nearby, photographing mostly
around Marblehead. This was Willard B Jackson, whose
first photographs date from 1898. He worked (with some
periods of little activity) until 1937. His specialty was photographing the great yachts of that period such as those
designed by Burgess, Crowinshield, and Nat and L.
Francis Herreshoff. He also photographed working
boats, speedboats, and motor cruisers. His work is celebrated in a fairly recent publication entitled “Glass Plates
and Wooden Boats” by Matthew P Murphy, Commonwealth Editions, Massachusetts, 2006.
A much longer shot is Atlanta, a 48 foot fishing ketch
built by Syd Grundy at Lunawanna in the 1930s. She
was re-named Arlie D, in the 1940s. Clyde owned her
until he purchased Stormalong in 1954.
Arlie D reverted to her former name, Atlanta, and from
what I can gather, went to Lakes Entrance.
If anyone can assist with information about these boats,
please contact:
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Janet Fenton
102 Wiggins Rd, Longley, Tas 7150, Australia
Phone: 03 6239 6443
E-mail: [email protected]
Sail and oars.
Or you can pass on any information to Brian Marriott
We have just won this vessel but in all honesty she
needs a wooden boat enthusiast's home.
Someone who loves such beauty and workmanship. I
appreciate the superb vessel but with
two children learner sailors, this vessel would be wrong
for them. This vessel needs a great home. It has over
400 hours of top quality workmanship to build her. Photographic Records of her being built are available.
A superb Tasmanian wooden boat historical project using superb timbers some 1500 years old.
Superb brand new condition with brand new trailer, oars,
sails, PFD's Immaculate.
For Sale:
Argo
Hi Peter, just a few
photo’s to look at. The
top two are of "Percy
Charles" and the rest
are of "Argo". I am
looking to sell Argo so
if you know of any
Member looking for a
nice little dinghy please
Andrew Denman has built the vessel and stated she is
worth $24,000 as is.
Call Geoff on 0422 587 716 or txt.
pass my details on.
Argo is all Huon pine 4.7mts x 1850 she has a wet well
and lined inside which makes a great finish. The motor is
a 6hp Yanmar diesel and is in good condition. Argo is on
a good trailer but is not registered. I bought Argo to keep
and sell Percy but have had such a great time with Percy
with her original rig I have changed my mind. Please feel
free to give my e-mail and mobile to anyone interested.
Gavin can be contacted through the editor.
Eltin Ronan
Having just arranged to purchase Gavin Boon’s Fazackerly I need to offer Eltin Ronan for sale. She’s been a
big/little restoration job for a boat with a lot of history.
Looking for a mad keen wooden boater to take her on
and maintain her as part of Tasmania’s Maritime history.
Great rowing boat and prepared to negotiate the price.
Contact Peter on 0419803317
Photos by Geoff Wharton of the 10’ clinker sailing
dinghy built by Denman Marine, Foster design
Photo Peter Higgs
Eltin Ronan beached at Spectacle Island,
Dodges Ferry
Delamere—has been sold
For Sale
Brand new 10' Sailing Huon Pine, King Billy etc Clinker
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Terra Linna - estimated timber usage and weight to
date. This estimate excludes any calculation for
fixings, fittings, rigging, sails and tackle. It is based
on imperial measures (yes I am still in the old
world) found in documentation titled “Timbers used
for boatbuilding in NSW”. Given weights per cubic
foot are; Huon Pine, 34 lb., Celery Top , 40 lb.,
Eucalyptus, 67 lb., and Oregon, 35 lb. Interestingly
the history quotes Terra Linna at 8 Thames Measurement (by WBGT calcs = 3.2 tons).
The additional weight could be attributed to timber
order opposed to usage, no
allowance for cutting and
fairing, thicker planks in rebuild to original planks. This
is only an estimate based
on timbers ordered.
Timber used
Super ft
Cubic ft
Lbs
Huon Pine
598.625
299.3125
10176.625
Celery Top
136.4166667
68.20833333
2728.333333
Eucalyptus
83.83333333
41.91666667
2808.416667
Oregon
107.5833333
53.79166667
1882.708333
Check total
926.4583333
463.2291667
17596.08333
Judgements
reserved
Total in UK
tons
7.85539 t(UK)
Total in UK
cwt
17.10 cwt(UK)
FOR SALE
CLINKER
KING BILLY DINGHY
LOA: 12’ – 3.66m
Beam: 5’2” – 1.56m
Sound condition, requires painting
Contact Roscoe on 0438 300 229
Members taking a tea break at the last working bee
Photo Peter Higgs
Rex and Bryan Gatehouse sailing
Terra Linna circa 1950
38 Footer seen on the Roving Day
Gordon being measured
Photo Graeme Hunt
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