Volume 16 Number 06 - The Wooden Boat Association

S H A V I N G S
NEWSLETTER OF THE WOODEN BOAT ASSOCI ATI ON I NC. VI CTORI A
Reg. I nc. No. A0022538U
Website: www.woodenboat.org.au
Volum e 16 Num ber 6 February 2006
From the President
Not much has happened since our
December-January issues of “Shavings”
as the Association has been largely in
recess.
Extreme weather caused the joint
sailing day at Albert Park on the 22 nd to
be a non event. Geoff Carroll and I
fitted the most recent plaques to our
award bell, and Frank Raisin returned
Begonia to Albert Park. Later in the
day Geoff and Louise Divko delivered
and installed our new library cabinet
that Geoff has made. We thank Geoff
for his carpentry skills and to both
Geoff and Louise for spending time
rearranging and re-cataloguing the
library. Apart from these members no
one else turned up, which was
understandable given the 43 degree
heat.
You will read elsewhere in this issue
about the Warneet festival which we
encourage members to attend.
Taking full advantage of daylight saving
after work, the presidential putt-putt
project has moved along well. The Hull
is now painted and brass trim has been
added. We have turned the boat over
and have fitted the engine. We are now
at the stage of needing an exhaust
system, and the propeller shaft to be
installed, then a trailer to get mobile.
Oh then we will need a name. At the
moment it is “the little boat”.
Our launch “Penguin” has not been in
the water since Warneet in November
and being parked outside under a cover
has taken full brunt of our very hot
summer. On launching at Echuca at the
end of January, she leaked so badly
that the combination of bilge pump and
engine cooling water being pumped
from the bilge, could not keep up.
Consequently the fly wheel threw water
over the carby, and the propeller shaft
proceeded to douse the magneto.
Needless to say, in mid-river the engine
stopped.
We proceeded to beach the boat and
then walked her back to the ramp and
put her back on the trailer, leaving
water in the bilge overnight. Next day
she had taken up well and only needed
the normal use of the bilge pump. I
should have known better and thrown
some water in the bilge before we left
home.
Com m ittee issues
Following Geoff Carroll’s move to
Gippsland for work reasons, we now
have a committee vacancy. At our last
committee meeting Tim Gay was
nominated for the Vice President’s role,
which he accepted. I thank Tim for
being my support in this role.
However we still need an additional
committee member. I am asking for a
member to nominate themselves for
this position. The committee is made
up of members just like you, with an
interest in wooden boats, and we all
have to help if we want our Association
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to be active and continue grow. A
committee position is not a difficult job
but we do need enough members for
diversity of ideas. Please call one of the
existing committee members if you will
be prepared to help us out.
David Stott.
W BA ( Vic.) February- July 2 0 0 6 Calendar
Date Event Venue
11-12 Feb Warneet Festival Warneet
22 nd Feb Club Night – Marine Safety APYC
26 th Feb Rye Sailing Day Rye
11 th Mar Joint activity with E. Gippsland Nicholson R
22 nd Mar Club Night (t.b.a.)
26 th Mar Boat trip to Loch Sport Paynesville
(Note: No Melbourne sailing day in March owing
to school holidays and Commonwealth Games)
2 nd Apr Williamstown Sailing Club W’town
19 th Apr Club Night APYC
23 rd Apr Sail/ motor from St. Helens to Geelong St. Helens
24 th May Club Night APYC
28 th May Sailing Day (Yarra River cruise)
21 st Jun Club Night APYC
25 th Jun Sailing Day APYC
19 th Jul Club Night APYC
26 th Jul AGM APYC
Please Note: Wednesday Club nights (from 7: 30 pm ) and Sailing Days (from 10: 00
am ) are held at Albert Park Yacht Club unless otherwise specified. Com m ittee m eets
first Wednesday of the m onth
W .B.A. ( Vic.) Com m ittee 2 0 0 5 - 2 0 0 6
President David Stott 9435 6623 - H
V. President Tim Gay 9327 8095 - H
Secretary Rob Ripley 5941 6834 - H
Treasurer Richard Jackson 9479 2980 - W
Shavings Editor Ross Murray 9882 1697 - H
Boat Manager Graham Signorini 9391 5621 - H
Librarian
Geoff Divko
Merchandise Geoff Walters 9744 2332 - H
Model Groups Frank Raisin 9754 4217 - H
Committee Members Tim Gay 9327 8095 - H
Ron Craig
9563 6446 - H
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From the Editor
Thanks to the members who have sent
in stories about boats. They will be
included in due course, starting with an
article which appeared in Leader
Newspapers last year. Contributions
can be sent to the Editor, Ross Murray
at 9882 1697 / 8344 7227 or
rjmury@atlas.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au.
Com ing Events
W arneet and W esternport Classic
and Historical Boat Festival
The Warneet Motor Yacht Club will be
hosting the exhibition on 11th and 12th
February, with more than 50 classic
boats on display. There will also be
displays of historic model boats,
paintings, and memorabilia, workshops
on boat building, sailing techniques,
maritime history, local ecology, and
marine safety, a vintage car parade, a
Tiger Moth fly-over, and amusements
for children. I n conjunction with the
exhibition there will be cruises run by
Keeping Cancer at Bay, the introduction
of a regional Maritime Heritage
Preservation Society, the launching of
two traditional dories, and the official
opening of the historic Warneet
Boatshed.
Boats are welcome from 10 am on
either Saturday or Sunday. Display is
either on the hard or on the water,
whichever you like. I f enough boats
are on the water a sail past will be held.
There will be free parking and
launching, and high tide is about lunch
time, so there will be plenty of water.
Contact Andrew Damman 59987615 or
Trevor Davidson 59987950.
February Club Night
We have two officers from Marine
Safety organised to speak to us on the
22 nd February. This is your chance to
ask questions about the new
regulations, particularly re life jackets.
Come along to APYC at 7.30 pm.
Rye Sailing day
Our next sailing day is 26 th February at
Rye, just west of the Rye pier. This is
always a good day, suited to all classes
of boats from canoes, rowing boats,
sailing and motor craft. We will be
there from about 11 am and will have
lunch on the beach. For those that
wish to stay later, we traditionally have
enjoyed fish and chips as the sun goes
down. Remember you will need about
$8 in gold coins for the ticket machine.
Contact will be David Stott 9435 6623,
or 0419 501435 on the day.
Editor needed for W atercraft
Since the last issue of Watercraft in
September, Steve Burnham has
stepped down as Editor after occupying
the post for a number of years. John
Wood, from NSW, has offered to fill the
vacancy, but is not able to take over
until September. Publication will be
suspended until then; however, if
anyone is willing to fill in as editor
between now and September, Derek
Williams will be happy to assist by
arranging the printing and distribution.
I n the meantime, members are
encouraged to provide plenty of
material for the new Editor to kick off
with.
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Library New s
Fellow members,
Next time you are in on a sailing day
or club night, you will notice an
expansion of the Library. A new
cabinet has been added, and our stock
has increased by 30% .
Several members have generously
donated new volumes, including a
complete set of Wooden Boat, courtesy
of Rob Stannus. With over 300 titles,
you are sure to find something you like.
Those of you who are interested can
have a complete catalogue emailed on
request.
When using the Library, don’t forget
to register your loan when taking out
and returning. And please, if you
notice any wear or tear, do bring it to
my notice so we can conserve a
valuable resource.
Regards,
Geoff Divko.
W BA - East Gippsland New s
2005-2006 East Gippsland Branch Committee - PO Box 272, Bairnsdale 3875
Helmsman Bernard O’Kelly 5152 6423
Coxswain (vice helmsman) Lawrence Marshall 5156 3071
Purser (Treasurer) Maureen Wills 5156 3071
No.1 (Secretary) John Nicholson 5156 7183
Signals (Shavings & papers) Jacqui Nicholson 5156 7183
Bosun (Equipment) Colin Hunt 5156 6149
Archivist (librarian) John Davies 5156 7251
January activities
For the last WBA day of 2005 for the
East Gippslanders the weather provided
good boating weather, which
encouraged 28 members to meet at the
Paynesville Progress jetty on Sunday,
11 th December. Eleven boats were
brought along, some by vehicle, some
across the lakes.
Colin and Alison McArthur motored
across from the Tambo River in their
cabin cruiser “I bis”, and it was a
pleasure to welcome new members
Robert and Brenda I rvine, neighbours
of the McArthurs, who came in their
25ft cabin cruiser “Laconic”. We look
forward to Robert and Brenda joining in
future WBA activities. Lawrence
Marshall and Maureen Wills had to
leave Nungurner early to sail “Celtic
Spirit”, a Stornaway weekender, to
reach Paynesville around 11. (With the
fresh easterly that came in during the
afternoon Lawrence and Maureen had a
long and physically demanding return
to Nungurner.)
Straight after the bbq lunch Bob Emsell
in “Lady Bet” and Graham Holmes in
“Sharian I I ” were out on the waters to
enjoy the sailing, as was Barry North in
his 11.1m Woolacott class, Bermuda rig
sloop “Peace Train”, taking Lawrence
with him. Barry had only returned
home the day before after delivering
boats along the eastern coast, and at
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the time of writing is preparing to sail
north in “Peace Train” to attend the
Wooden Boat Festival in Sydney.
Robert Shaw sailed Doug Maxwell’s 23ft
couta boat “Jasmine Rose” around from
the eastern side of Raymond I sland.
Canoe builder extraordinaire, Colin
Hunt, brought along “Blond Bay” and
also his newly-launched canoe “Mystic
Cove”. Colin composed a poem
specially for the launch of this canoe:
Dearly beloved we are gathered here
today,
Please listen to what I have to say.
I s nam ing a boat like nam ing a child?
Som ething suitable, nothing wild.
We m ust go down to the sea in ships
Cham pagne launching with fish and
chips
Paddle the ocean and paddle the sea
But I will be hom e for afternoon tea
I n canoe the lake and the river we rove
But first, dear friends, the nam e.
Mystic Cove.
What a great start for his new craft!
Colin also brought along his flat-bottom
plywood rowing dinghy “Hibiscus”.
I t had been arranged that member
James Frecheville give a talk on the
proposed development of the area on
Slip Road. This area is of intense
interest to residents as it provides
extensive safe parking for vehicles and
trailers, needed in particular during the
holiday times. As can be appreciated,
commercial developers are keen to
acquire this land and locals are
watching carefully. James is a member
of the Paynesville Marine I ndustry
Association which has drawn up these
plans which centre on retaining the
parking space, beautification, a
boardwalk along the front with berthing
spaces extending into the Strait. Long
term plans also include a Wooden Boat
museum/ working demonstration
building with berths in front reserved
for wooden boats. Members were
appreciative of these explanations. The
plan is now before the East Gippsland
Shire Council for approval. James
arrived in style at the helm of “Rosita”,
the 22ft gentleman’s four-seat timber
racer that James and his partner Jim
Heaney and staff have built in the hope
of attracting orders.
Gordon Nicholson from Shanghai, along
with two Chinese visitors also from
Shanghai enjoyed the day with us, and
we had many people stop to talk about
the boats and the Association itself.
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We don’t usually have any activities in
January, but this year we had a gettogether
at our home on Thursday, 12 th
January to honour Mary Good. Mary
took on the job of writing articles about
the Association for the local paper when
this group was re-started in 2001.
uon pine and Queensland mahogany
sculpture (made by Lawrence Marshall)
as an expression of the appreciation of
the group and a memento of her time
and work for the Association. Mary, in
her particular style, had composed the
following poem for the occasion. (Note
the first letter of each line)
W ho would not rejoice
Or cry out with loud voice
On a glorious day like today!
Down by the lake
Every view that you take
Naught m atches, in any way.
Beholden am I to you all –
Over each of you m ay blessings fall.
And to each wooden boat
Trim rigging, Good sailing, I vote!
We have been pleased to welcome
Geoff and Jill Carroll (ex-President WBA
Vic) to the East Gippsland group and
hope they will be able to join in many of
our activities whilst they are resident in
our area.
Mem bers, please note:
Mary did an outstanding job presenting
the Association before the general
public, with the result that we had new
members join, having become aware,
through the paper, that there was such
a group. Mary, along with her late
husband John, were enthusiastic
boaters themselves, very proud of the
Singapore harbour work boat with
varnished teak hull “Paja” that they
enjoyed motoring on the lakes. Mary
has decided to return to Melbourne, so
25 members met at our place to
express their thanks to Mary and their
regrets that she has decided to leave
our area. Mary was presented with a H
Remember that the club owns a Triton
Saw Bench – ring John Nicholson if you
would like to borrow it.
Want to borrow boating magazines
and/ or books? – contact Librarian John
Davies.
Write a 500 word short story on a
boating incident or adventure and enter
our competition. Entries close Friday,
14 th April. Winner announced at the
AGM. Email or post your entry to
Jacqui Nicholson.
Jacqui Nicholson, Signals.
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Program 2 0 0 6
Saturday 1 1 March - Boating Day w ith Model Boat group
Meet at launching ramp Nicholson River for a joint day with the Model Boat group.
They begin racing at 2.00 pm.
Sunday 2 6 March - Boat trip to Loch Sport
Boat trip Paynesville to Loch Sport- leaving Progress Association Jetty at about 10.30
am, Lunch at Marina Hotel at Loch Sport, visit “Loch Sport Antique Marine Engine
Museum ”, and arrive back at Paynesville at about 4.00 pm. Travel in “Plover” or
other craft. Please advise John Nicholson on 5156 7183 if you are coming and if you
require a ride [ for boats & lunch]
Sunday 9 April - Boating Day – Nungurner
Meet at Nungurner launching ramp and jetty from 11.00 Boating, BBQ lunch and talk.
I nspect progress of “Dolina”. I f the weather is wet come to home of Lawrence
Marshall & Maureen Wills, 135 Nungurner Jetty Rd., Nungurner.
Sunday 1 4 May - Mothers Day – Ferry trip
Ferry trip to The Grange or Sperm Whale Head or Rotamah I sland [ dependent on
weather] for BBQ lunch– more details later.
Rounding up – poorly
We had gybed boldly into the
approach channel at Werribee River and
were running in a heady fashion before
the sea and a moderate south easterly
breeze in our 14’ clinker boat. I
ordered my crew to strike the mains’l
and raise the centre plate, after which
we proceeded more sedately toward of
the slipway jetty, where we intended to
come up into the wind in its lee. But,
try as we might, we could not make the
vessel answer to the helm, and we
drifted gently sideways onto the rocks
lining the bank. Might have helped to
lower that centre plate again!
Another incident occurred at
Paynesville in the Gippsland Lakes. We
were just about to round up to Progress
Jetty at the end of a five day passage
from Sale, but my companion was
worried that we might slam into the
pier and left it too late, with the result
that we grounded ignominiously onto
the beach. Not wanting to risk a
repetition of this, I took the helm for
the short beat around to Raymond I .,
off which a gentle south easterly breeze
was blowing. I went about and steered
inside the L-shaped arm of the jetty,
only to find that the boom was on the
wrong side and striking the bollards.
Sheeting the mains’l in only drove the
vessel ahead faster and towards a
yacht berthed further along. Our
forward motion was suddenly and
providentially arrested when the sheet
rope lassoed one of the bollards.
The Editor.
I f you think that you can do better (or worse) than this, do you
have an interesting, am using, or em barrassing anecdote that you
would like to confess? Priority for publication will be given to stories
which m ost exactly fill up any space that happens to rem ain at the
end of Shavings, irrespective of m erit.
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New spaper story
(The following article was published in the Northcote Leader on 8 th Nov, 2005 and is
reproduced with kind permission of Leader Community Newspapers.)
6 0 years on, his boat com es in
Picture: Tony Gough
THE tide of time has carried an old
canoe back to the Alphington craftsman
who built it for paddlers on the Yarra
almost 60 years ago.
Asked to restore the Canadian touring
canoe, 86-year-old Arthur Howard
pulled the 4m-long craft apart this year
only to discover he built it in 1946.
“I t was such a terrific thrill,” said the
former engineer, who turned to canoebuilding
in 1945 when the end of World
War I I left many essential services staff
unemployed.
Mr Howard began working at the
Rudder Grange tea rooms and
boathouse in Alphington St.
He built his last canoe at the
workshop in 1953 and the boathouse
was demolished in 1962.
“We built about 130 of these and I
know of one other that's survived, but
it's got a fibreglass hull. This one is
original with a canvas hull,” Mr Howard
said.
The canoes sold for about 46 pounds -
nearly 10 times the average weekly
wage.
Canoe owner Andrew Wright knocked
on Mr Howard's door in March this year
after hearing about the former boatmaker
from people at Fairfield Canoe
Club.
“I was lucky I 'd kept all my original
notes,” Mr Howard said.
“But once I got into working on it, I
remembered how I used to do it.”
The canoe now sits in his garage,
waiting for Mr Wright to collect it.
“I t hasn't been back in the water yet.
That's up to the owner,” said Mr
Howard, who added “restored 2005” to
the 1946 inscription bearing his name.
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The BOATYARD
Please notify ‘Shavings’ Editor w hen item s have been sold or w ithdraw n from
sale
For Sale: Ply pram dinghy for sale. ‘ Love-me-tender’ design (prototype for
Marine Timbers kit boats) $500. Telephone Tom Whitfield, 41 Chute Street Mordialloc
3195, Phone/ Fax: 9580 8371.
For Sale: 21’ Botterell built Cabin
Cruiser. Powered by a 135 hp Volvo
Penta Stern Drive. The boat is garaged
at 197 Cunninghams Rd., Swan Reach
and can be seen at the week ends.
Price $6000. Contact Ray Bendall 5154
4223= 20
Halvorsen 3 6 ft W ooden Classic
Cruiser “Taroonga”. Excellent
condition throughout, meticulously
maintained. Oregon hull, teak coach
house, Queensland Maple interior. Two
separate staterooms, shower/ toilet,
lounge/ dining/ galley and casual
entertaining area. Navigational extras
and digital plasma TV. Full head room.
Original features throughout.
Experience the pleasures of a grand
Oyster Girl is for sale! See WaterCraft
and AABB, Spring 1995: "The Camden
Haven Oyster Skiff".
cruising era. Antifouled 28/ 10/ 2005.
$145,000 phone Ken 0416 048 600.
in well. Trailer set up for easy singlehanded
launching and retrieving. Under
cover, East Gippsland. A steal at
$4500. Come and try (I ’d enjoy a sail).
Bob Emsell, 03 51567809
emsell@netspace.net.au.
Just as good as when launched, this
21ft cat-ketch camping trailer-sailer,
with cuddy cabin, will give you good
sailing performance, and gear down to
safe, easy cruising in your favourite
creek or beach. Lots of fun! Outboard
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Membership Application or Renewal – The Wooden Boat Association, Victoria
Subscription for the year 2005-2006: $45.00
Mail to: The Treasurer, WBA, PO Box 77, Glenhuntly, Vic. 3162
or PO Box 272, Bairnsdale, Vic. 3875
‡New Membership ‡Renewal of Membership ‡East Gippsland Member
Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………
Address: .………………..…………………………………………… Postcode: …………
Email: ………………………………………………………………………………………….
Phone: (H) …………………….. (W) ………………….. (Mob.) ……..………………….
Interests: (please circle) R/C, Model, Trailer, Rowing, Power, Sail, Canoe, Building.
“In order for you to use your boat at Association events, please complete the details on
the current Boat Insurance you hold.”
Boat type ………………….. Reg. No. ………………… Name ……………………….
Insurance Co. …………………….. Policy No. ………………… Expiry date ………..
SHAVINGS
If undelivered please return to:
The Woodenboat Association
PO Box 77, Glenhuntly, Vic. 3163
Marine Timbers
For a full range of plywoods: Hoop Pine, Gaboon, Mahogony, Pacific Maple
Boatbuilding timbers include: Cedar, Teak, Hoop Pine, etc.
Bronze screws, nails and fittings, copper nails and roves.
Bote-Cote epoxy system, glues, Paints & Varnishes.
Books, plan catalogues & WBA merchandise.
3/10 Rutherford Rd (facing Kepler Crt.), Seaford Vic 3198
Phone: (03) 9775 0006, Fax. (03) 9775 1776
Web: http://www.marinetimbers.com.au
Email: martim@ozemail.com.au
Open here for Postal inspection
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