Volume 19 Number 13 - The Wooden Boat Association

S H A V I N G S
NEWSLETTER OF THE WOODEN BOAT ASSOCIATION INC. VICTORIA
Reg. Inc. No. A0022538U
Website: www.woodenboat.asn.au
Volume 19 Number 13 September 2009
President’s report
Windy, Wet, Hot, Dry, Foggy, Hail - glad we are
not in the letter delivery service but rugged up
at home or out sailing!
This month's club night was combined with our
sailing day at the Lake. On a blustery day, boats
were launched and consistently blown back and
out again and again.
But we and others persisted. Combining sailing
with a nautical movie afternoon, the main
feature was meant to be the Tall Ships in Brest
but was not available so we enjoyed another of
Gary Kerr's masterpieces titled Trading Ketches
of South Australia. What a tough but fascinating
life they endured and enjoyed. Thank you to the
wives who tempted us with their home baked
biscuits and muffins. I'm sure we needed the
extra ballast.
A busy month is coming up with the sailing day
planned for the Maribynong River in your own
boat or on Tim's Firefly. Hopefully Dugga
Beazely, the last Fisherman, will come in person
to our next club night on the 23 rd, where we will
arrange the details for the river trip on the
night.
The next few months are busy too with the
Working With Wood Show at Melbourne
Showgrounds in October, and both the
Paynesville sailing and camping weekend and
Sandringham Yacht Show at the same time in
November. Hopefully a few boats not going to
Paynesville will be available for the display at
SYC.
The club is embarking on a membership drive
and offering a prize of a $150.00 voucher from
Boat Books Australia in St Kilda Road for the
lucky member who is drawn at our Christmas
party. Nominate a new member, and you could
go into the draw for that special something for
your Christmas stocking! For each new member
proposed you will receive 1 ticket in the draw.
Start knocking on doors in your neighborhood,
as we need 20-50 new members to keep WBA
active and financially happy.
Safe Boating
Andrew Cohen, President
The WBA is on a membership drive!
If you nominate a new member, you can go
into the draw to win a $150.00 book voucher
from Boat Books Australia. Christmas is just
around the corner, so you could have a nice
surprise for your self. It could be the
technical book you’ve always wanted, or that
large glossy coffee-table book to grace your
large, glossy coffee-table.
You’ve got to be in it to win it, so go pressgang
a new member – or 2, or 3, or 4…!
W.B.A. (Vic.) Committee 2008-2009
President Andrew Cohen 9773 8624 – H
0408 033 573- W
Vice President Tim Gay 9327 8095 - H
Secretary Chris Kelly 9480 5383 – H
Treasurer Tony Remington 5944 3867 - H
Shavings Editor Richard Monfries 0438 500 230
Librarian Alan Chinn 9578 6418 - H
Boat Manager Graham Signorini 9391 5621 - H
Committee member Brian Flewell-Smith 5278 9830 – H
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W.B.A. (Inc.) Calendar
23 September Club Night
27 September Maribyrnong River Run
This year’s river trip is planned for Sunday the 27th September. Start time: 1000hrs at the "Warmies"
launching ramp. Depending on weather should be back by approx 1500-1600hrs. Please take a picnic
lunch (BBQ facilities may be available), which we will have ashore at whatever the park was the last
time. It will take approx 2 hours steaming time to get there. Kayaks, canoes and small dinghies can
launch somewhere along the river and meet us on the way if required.
4 October Working Bee at APYC
Preparing the club boats for the Timber and Working with Wood Show. Commencing at 1000hrs, with a
BBQ lunch to feed the Boat Manager’s Minions. A touch-up here and there, and our boats will look spiffy.
16 – 18 October WBA exhibit at the Timber and Working With Wood Show
Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale. Speak to Andrew Cohen if you wish your boat to be
featured at this year’s show.
13 – 15 November Sailing weekend, Paynesville.
See details elsewhere in this newsletter.
13 December WBA Christmas Party
19 December Patterson Lakes Christmas Lights Cruise
The calendar for most activities taking place in the second half of this year will be set by the new
committee, after our Annual General Meeting.
Club nights, held on the third Wednesday of the month (7:30 pm) and Sailing Days (10:00 am) are
generally held at Albert Park Yacht Club. The Committee meets at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of
each month.
Nautical Quiz
Are you a whiz for a nautical quiz?
Question
An 'iron topsail' is:
A: A topsail from pre-glasnost USSR
B: A topsail made of corrugated iron
C: A square-rigged sailor's term for an engine
D: None of the above
The answer will be in next month's Shavings.
Enterprize chasing down the One and All
From the Editor
Australia goes soft on timber ban
Tom Arup
August 25, 2009 The Age
"Forestry Minister Tony Burke has quietly signed off on
changes watering down an election promise to ''ban''
imports of timber illegally logged overseas to instead
''promote the trade'' of legal timber..."
When you've got a new set of plans in your
hands, one of the first things you need to do is
check out the materials list, and go find some
timber. Yet one of the ironies of wooden boating
is that we can all wax lyrical about the
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aesthetics of wooden boats ad nauseam, but
how often do we think about where the timber
comes from that goes into this thing of beauty?
Should we care? I think the two answers are we
should think about it often, and we should care.
In conversation with Rob Ayliffe of Norwalk
Islands Sharpies fame in South Australia
recently about where boat-building timber
comes from, he didn't pull any punches about
the paradox of wooden boating. "We (who get
into wooden boating) are chronic and serial
pests", when it comes to not worrying too much
about where our timber comes from, he says.
He admits he's probably as bad as anyone else.
We’ve talked about the pros and cons of
plantation-grown hoop pine marine ply
manufactured in Australia, versus fully imported
Gaboon marine ply from Africa; one comes from
a plantation monoculture where there is no
ecological diversity, and one comes from a
forest of enormous ecological diversity; one has
minimal 'carbon miles', coming from
Queensland, and the other comes form the other
side of the world. So you make a justifiable
choice either way about the timber you build
with, knowing that, in the end, you are creating
something that had an organic beginning - it's
made from something that was once alive.
Because as Rob said: "If you buried your
wooden boat in the ground, it would eventually
rot down and return to the earth." A wooden
boat is almost recyclable. And that to me, is
where a wooden boat wins hands down. You
can’t do that with a
fibreglass/GRP/aluminium/carbon-fibre/plastic
boat, could you?
Would you like to receive Shavings
by email instead of in the mail?
Would you like to get Shavings in
full colour instead of black and
white?
The committee is looking at ways to
save paper, and leave more trees to
build beautiful wooden boats with.
A good proportion of the Association’s
yearly budget is apportioned to printing
and postage costs – money we hope to
save for other Association activities.
Email your preference to receive our
newsletter in your email inbox to:
info@woodenboat.asn.au
A nautical movie matinee
On a chilly and blustery Sunday 23 August we briefly wet the boats
on the lake at Albert Park, and then adjourned to the shelter of the
clubhouse for an afternoon of movies with a nautical flavour. Of
particular interest was the DVD The trading ketches of South
Australia. Growing up in Adelaide, and eventually emigrating to the
eastern seaboard, I regret I didn't take the opportunity to explore
South Australia's maritime history more while I was there. This DVD
goes some way to filling that gap. And it serves as a reminder that
the heritage of wooden boating has its origins in two derivations -
boats that were sailed only for pleasure, often with a hired crew, and
those that sailed for a living. Having served time as a volunteer crew on Melbourne's tallship Enterprize, I
know where my preference lies. The trading ketches DVD is beautifully produced, with a good mix of
archival footage and interviews with the men and women who sailed on the ketches. It's well done, and
worth a look if you're into maritime history. After the movie matinee wound up, going back outside to put
the boats away, Frank Raisin just couldn't resist taking Lyndsay Symons for another spin.
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PAYNESVILLE - 13 th – 15 th November 2009
The Club is planning our annual trip away for
2009 and this year it will be at Paynesville on
the week end of the 14 th and 15 th November.
This can be extended if anyone wishes to the
Friday and Monday either side.
Members are welcome to stay wherever they
like but most will be staying at the “Allawah”
Caravan & Boat Park, 79 Slip Road, Paynesville
3880. It would, however, add to the occasion if
we all stayed at the same place. Nine
Camping/Caravan sites have been tentatively
booked (sites 122 – 129) but each site will need
to be confirmed by individual members by
August on telephone 5156 7777 (Lisa). There is
also a great range of cabins should these be
The Park has available 6 or 7 all weather berths
(each with its own little jetty) and an excellent
launching ramp & jetty all within 20 to 50
metres of the camping sites. These facilities are
located on a sheltered canal which has access to
McMillan Strait, which in turn has access to Lake
King in the East and Lake Victoria in the West.
This gives us plenty of options depending on the
weather.
We will hopefully spend some time catching up
with our East Gippsland colleagues and I will be
keeping them informed of our plans as we
required, but will have to be booked
independently by anyone that requires one. I
suggest you get in early for these.approach the
date.
Any queries can be directed to the Treasurer,
Tony Remington on 5944 3867 or 0418 136
656. Please leave a message if I am unable to
answer.
C. H. Smith Marine
Supplying the Melbourne and
Australian community with
quality marine electronics, boat
parts and fishing equipment.
16 Langridge Street
Collingwood 3066
Phone: 03 9417 1077
Fax: 03 9416 1171
Web: www.chsmith.com.au
WBA - East Gippsland News
2009-2010 East Gippsland Branch Committee - PO Box 272, Bairnsdale 3875
Helmsman (President) Jenny North 5156 7863
Vice Helmsman Doug Gullickson 5156 7856
Number 1 (Secretary) John Nicholson 5156 7183
Purser (Treasurer) John Rigg 5156 0852
Bosun (Equipment) Colin Hunt 5156 6149
Signals (Shavings and Newspaper) John Rigg 5156 0852
Archivist (Library) Jenny North 5156 7863
Committee Member Dale Kilby 0400 642 009
Committee Member Barry North 5156 7863
Committee Member
Bernard O’Kelly
Member to check books [Audit?] Colin McArthur
“Shipwrecks along the East Gippsland Coast” proved to
be a very popular topic with almost 50 members and
visitors attending the August meeting. Barry & Jenny
North (Helmsman) and Marion & Doug Gullickson (Vice
Helmsman) are on holidays and we look forward to
their safe return. In the hour before the presentation,
everyone joined a BYO dinner and drinks from the
yacht club’s bar.
Members & guests enjoy a chat
prior to the presentation by Don Love
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It was good to see Bob and Betty Emsell again after Bob’s recent illness. Max Anderson traveled up from
Traralgon for the meeting. Max is restoring an 1890’s wooden boat and we hope to give more information
about the project soon.
Our guest speaker was Don Love, a well-known diver and author of a number of books on shipwrecks. Don has
spent the last 30 years exploring and researching shipwrecks along the Victorian coastline and has compiled a
comprehensive database on his findings.
Between 1797 and 1945, 129 ships were lost along the East Gippsland coast. Many of these vessels were
freighters carrying coal, steel and general freight on their
way to Melbourne or Sydney. Fog, smoke, bad weather,
strong currents and navigational areas were frequent
causes of ships running aground then broken up in the
next storm. Often only the less perishable and valuable
cargoes such as wine & spirits were recovered and there
was a lucrative business in salvage. Diving is not a
pastime for the faint hearted as changes in the weather
can make conditions hazardous. Don also recounted
stories of close encounters with white pointer sharks and
the amusing behavior of seals. There were a number of
artifacts on display such as a binnacle compass and
ship’s cutlery. It was interesting to hear that items made
from iron often weathered far better than those made
from bronze and steel. Many boilers, engines and
propellers still remain intact after a century of exposure
to salt water and abrasion.
No one was in a hurry to leave after the talk
Inspecting some of the salvage
A visitor’s guestbook will be
provided to record the
names of visitors and email
addresses, so that we can
email details of coming
events. A web site is being
developed and will provide
the Association with a means of broadcasting news and information on
activities, boats for sale and other items of interest. Links will be provided to
WBA Melbourne and other sites of interest to members.
At the committee meeting on the 1 st September a number of
key decisions were made. A 3m x 3m marquee (coloured
orange of course) will be purchased to assist with outdoor
activities and also provide shelter for photographic displays.
Jenny North is making a great display for photos using plastic
pockets.
Bairnsdale Workwear advised that the Orange Polo Fleece Jackets are no
longer manufactured. As a substitute they are able to offer a good quality Hi
Vis Polo Fleece Jacket costing $49.50 (normally $55) in two tone, orange and
navy blue. A matching polo shirt is also available for $15, and cap for $4.
Sizes for Jackets and shirts are S,M,L. Cost for applying the WBA logo to each
item is $6. Please place order at the next meeting if you require any of these
items so we can combine into a bulk order
Thursday 10 September JCD
WBA – East Gippsland Programme 2009
Meet at 6.30pm for BYO dinner. Eat in company. Bar open from 6-7.30pm. The talk, commencing at
about 7.30, on the screw steamer JCD will be given by a member of the Gippsland Lakes Steam
Navigation Company Inc. They envisage constructing a replica vessel. Come and hear of their plans and
progress. Note there will be a $2 donation per person per night to cover hall rent
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SUMMER 2009- 2010
Sunday 11 October Progress Jetty
Boating display of Tassie boats plus electric Samson
and steam boat SL Tahken to carry interested persons
on short trips [any skippers offering trips on their
boats must have current Insurance]. We will have a
tent at the Sunday Market, under a gazebo.
Saturday 24 October Nungurner
Inspect Fly at Peter Bury’s and Huck at Lawrence
Marshall’s and have a BBQ at Nungurner.
Saturday & Sunday 14 & 15 November
Paynesville
The event planned for November will welcome visitors from WBA Melbourne and Port Macquarie. There
will be a BBQ on Saturday night at Barry and Jenny North's and a breakfast on Sunday morning. More
details in October about arrangements.
Friday to Sunday 13 to 15 November - Cruise to Nicholson
Cruise to Nicholson for overnight and Saturday activities from the riverbank – Model Yacht club and
launch off the beach boats. Others may wish to drive here for the Saturday. BBQ available and Nicholson
Hotel for evening meals.
Sunday 6 December Christmas BBQ
Christmas BBQ to be held at Barry & Jenny North’s. Steam & Electric boats to be present for short trips.
[these boats must have current Insurance].
Saturday to Sunday 16 &17 January Nicholson Cruise
Sailing display by Nicholson Model Sailing Club (to be confirmed) and overnight stay with dinner at the
Nicholson Hotel.
Friday to Sunday 19 to 21 February Cruise to Holland's Landing
Cruise to Holland's Landing for overnight and Saturday activities from the bank — can launch off the beach
boats. Others may wish to drive here for the Saturday. A gas BBQ will be available. Those on boats may have
Sunday lunch at Loch Sport.
Sunday 21 March Nungurner
BBQ on Sunday. Can drive or overnight nearby or launch on the day.
Friday to Monday April Port Albert.
Dates to be sent according to tides. Activities will include a visit to the Port Albert Maritime Museum.
Sunday 9 May Mothers Day Details to be advised.
Specialising in
the restoration
and building of
fine craft.
59 Slip Road
Paynesville 3880
Phone and Fax: 03 5156 7085
Email: office@fhboats.com.au
Web: www.fhboats.com.au
Tudor Insurance Australia (Insurance Brokers) Pty Ltd
Specialists in hassle-free insurance for wooden boats
1st Floor, 9 Clyde Rd Berwick, Vic 3806
Postal Address: P.O. Box 256, Berwick Vic 3806
Contact: David Cooper
Phone: (03) 9707 3033
Fax: (03) 9707 4568
E-mail: davidc@tudorinsurance.com.au
Webpage: tudorinsurance.com.au
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The BOATYARD
Ads in Shavings run for two editions, and cost $10 for non-members. Cheques should be made out to the
Wooden Boat Association and sent to The WBA, PO Box 77, Glenhuntly, 3163.
Please notify Shavings Editor when items have been sold or withdrawn from sale. We now also advertise
Boatyard items on our website: www.woodenboat.asn.au.
Classic 23ft Motor sailer Dolina. No.30 designed by Arthur C Robb. Awarded "Yachting World of the
Year" 1939, "Best Wooden boat "E.G.W.B.A 2006. Professionally restored featuring Tasmanian timbers.
20 hp. reconditioned Diecon Diesel plus excellent sails. Many accessories and beautiful hand crafted
features. Shipwrights Survey & temporary moorings available at Nungurner. A very reluctant sale due to
another restoration project. For all genuine offers - ph. Lawrence 0413332908 or 03 51563071
OYSTER GIRL: 6M TRAILER YACHT. Daysailer/camping cruiser. Cat-ketch sharpie, in
timber/ply/epoxy. Fun boat, not slow. Easy to tow and launch. 5hp Mariner in well. Reg. Trailer with
disc brakes. Will email more photos & details. At Paynesville. $2750. Ring Bob Emsell, (03)51567809
or 0409567962 or email bbemsell@bigpond.com.
$30,000 (negotiable)
CABIN CRUISER - BUILT CAPORN 1958 - CARVEL PLANK
HULL
Length 8.0 metres, Beam 3.7 metres, Draws 1.0 metre.
Spacious Cockpit, 2 bunks, toilet, gas stove, s/s sink. Power
Winch. Marine Diesel Engine Perkins 6534 - 6 cylinder Turbo
220 hp. Excellent Condition. Run 554 hours. Cruising Speed 14
knots. 200 litre Fuel Tank. 90 litre Fresh Water Tank. Radio
(2way) 27mghz Voluntary. 2 Storage Receptacles in Transom.
2 Owners in life time, a much loved boat well maintained. Hull
Serviced Annually. Recently overhauled painted.
Located Sandringham, Victoria
For Inspection - Cruise
Contact Reg Willis: ph 9592 4725
7
Bob Peckham mob: 0410 439784

Pea pod style dinghy. Approximately 14ft 6inch x 4ft 4inch. Built by ex pro boat builder
road trailer & launching trolley all epoxy ply. $2750 ono. Contact Mark Mark Rimington by email:
marksrimington@netspace.net.au
Most boat owners value their leisure time.
At Peter Green Sails we offer a fast turnaround time on
all sail work from basic sail check and repair through to
major recutting and alterations, and all types of new sail
work.
Late drop off or pick up of your sails, and after hours
service can be arranged by appointment.
For Craftsman Quality Sailmaking call:
Peter Green Sails
15A Patrick Court, Seaford 3198
Phone: 9773 5094 Mobile: 0419 006 398
Email: pgsails@relax.com.au
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On The Enterprize : Encounter 2002
9

Membership Application or Renewal – The Wooden Boat Association, Victoria
Subscription for the year 2009-2010: $45.00
Mail to: The Treasurer, WBA, PO Box 77, Glenhuntly, Vic. 3163
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 Wooden Boat Association
PO Box 77, Glenhuntly, Vic. 3163
Marine Timbers
Agents for BoatCote Epoxies, Aquacote Paints, Purbond, and marine plywood
Phone: (03) 9775 0006 Fax. (03) 9775 1776
Web: http://www.marinetimbers.com.au Email: martim@ozemail.com.au
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Open here for Postal inspection