I bought a Boat



not my boat

 I have been a non boat owner for about 2 months.   I stumbled across a quote at the wooden boat festival,
"a man without a boat  is  man in chains".   I am unsure of it's origin,   I think it may be an old Norwegian quote.   Perhaps it has been opportunistically used at the festival,  surrounded by beautiful boats.   It did get me thinking,  which is something I Iike to do.

I like  to have a project or two on the go.   Moving from Melbourne necessitated unloading a number of pet projects,  (rally car,  TrailerSailer, rc planes).    I am not troubled by doing unloading these things,  it's quite liberating really.   The purpose of these passions (hobbies?)  is never the finished product,  but having something to disappear into the shed with,  using power tool and grunting a bit.  I learnt from Dad that every new venture should be accompanied by much research,   reading everything you can find on the subject and taking time to think things through.

Our new place in Tassie has got quite a big shed on it (12x24mt).   It looks very empty presently with only the CamperTrailer and mower in it.   I have spent quite abit of time looking at and thinking about boats over the last few years,   often utilising work downtime to walk on piers and look at boats.   Anyway,  feeling somewhat inspired post wooden boat festival, I have bought a wooden boat.

It is a 24ft motorSailer,   triple diagonal King Billy Pine Hull with a 12horse inboard Diesel.  It is lying in a penn on the Huon River in Franklin.  It  is an interesting boat,  originally an open fishing boat with lovely lines.   At some stage in the 70's it recieved a chunky Hartley inspired cabin,  shortening the cockpit to about 4 1/2 ft and fitting a speedboat style  steering wheel.   Fortunately  the Bondwood cabin was never epoxied,  and consequently is rotten.    It will need a new superstructure,  and a good clean up in side.  It presently has a bit of diesel sloshing around in the bilge,   I might wait until it's in the shed to pump it out,  I don't really wish to pollute the Huon river. 
It should come up nicely with a traditional look cabin,  a bow sprit,  perhaps a gaff rig and a nice paint job



something like this?

 The next australian wooden boat festival is in 2015,  I hope to participate.

gaz

Oyster Cove

I have spent the last week enjoying the great summer weather we have been having.   Day after day of clear sunny weather with temperatures in the mid to high 20's.  

 We took the kids  fishing at Little Oyster Cove.   Summer caught  the only fish for the day,  an undersized flathead.   She was very pleased with herself.   She managed to catch the fish with a lure,  I was a bit surprised  given that flathead usually reside on the bottom.   Unlike anywhere around Melbourne,  the rocks here are covered with shellfish,  mostly oysters but also muscles.

Oyster cove is the next cove north from Little Oyster Cove Kettering.  It is  about 5 minutes by car from the house.  It is bigger and more open to the weather.   It is notable that Oyster Cove was where Truganini was settled in 1856.   She is  considered the last full blooded Tasmanian Aborigine.    The treatment of Tasmanian Aborigines in the 1830's is hard to fathom.  They were essentially rounded up and deported,  some to Flinders Island some to Melbourne.  Most died from disease.

Weather wise,  today was described by a local as a stinker.   It was 35.   I picked the kids up from school at 1450,  we were at Conningham beach by 1500.  It was lovely in the water,  cool and refreshing.  Evidently lots of the other school mums had the same idea,  kids had a great time.


gaz

Australian Wooden Boat Festival Hobart 2013

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is a big deal in Hobart.    It is attended by hundreds of beautiful wooden boats,  and quite a few works in progress. I was pleased to see the Enterprise (Melbourne) in attendance.

There were many static displays featuring delightful wooden boats,  some built using traditional techniques,  planks and copper nails and roves,  others using ply and epoxy.   The Ply and Epoxy boats were every bit as well made as the traditional boats,  as well as being affordable  and built from sustainable plantation timbers.

   I had the pleasure of attending a Address by John Welsford,   a kiwi small boat designer.   He talked about the relationship between what the customer thinks they want,  what they think they need,   where they will use it and what they can actually afford.     I like his Idea that the smaller the boat is,  the more likely it will get used.     He also pointed out that anything less than 30mts long  is considered a small boat.
The session finished with question time,   the first question was When is the Next edition of  the Book coming out?   (Backyard Boat Builder).    2013 will be the year for the 2nd edition.   I have been waiting!  It was nice to see another Seagull rowboat,  admittedly better built and finished than mine.

Rowing  around Constitution Dock
Summer in cap, Ella in Pink cap,  Will in blue/black Cap
Gary in Black Cap 

I had the opportunity to see Constitution Dock and surrounding area from a Nautical perspective.
Mission Afloat (church group charity)  were running family rowing sessions,   Corinna wasn't keen,  the kids and I put on pdfs,   the kids ones were perhaps a bit big,  mine was very slimming!
The boat was about an 18 ft heavy clinker rowing boat,   three sets of oars plus the skipper (Alistair)
As we were a scratch crew  it took a few minutes to get rowing well,   Skipper Alistair   was very chatty,   giving detailed descriptions and histories of  the yachts we passed.   He wasn't always keeping a good lookout,  we did have to fend off other small boats  on two occasions. ( we were moving,  they were stationary).    Ella and Will both  an oar to row,  Summer got to sit  in the bow.   It was a very pleasant half hour,   for me one of the high lights of the day.

We finished the day with a picnic on the lawns of Parliament house,  followed by a performance by the Royal Australian Navy Rock Band.   Great show,  good range of contemporary and classic rock.  The Bass player was particularly good.   Best cover was probably So What (Stevie Wonder).

James Criag

schools back

Kids started at their new school on Tuesday.   Short week this week,   short week next week as well.   Public Holiday on Monday,   Regatta Day.    Apparently it involves yacht races on the Derwent River.  I might go and have a look.


New Uniform for Snug Primary School

Had our first visitor from the main land.     It was great to catch up with Uncle Terry.  We  had pizza for dinner and   showed  off  our block and the surrounding area.   We  had a lovely time and look forward to seeing Terry again.


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I did something this week that I have never done before.  I bought firewood.    The scrounging that goes on down here for wood is remarkable.   There is rarely fallen timber along roadsides,   wood is cut,  split and stacked ready for winter.   There is limited wood on the block,   wood can be collected from logging areas under a permit system.   the permit costs $33 for 15 m3 of cut wood and the  permit is valid for 3 months. 
Given that this is our first year in tas,  I am aware that although the chainsaw likes green wood,  the fire doesn't.  The locals say the wood needs at least 12 months to dry properly,  hence I have bought some dry wood.
3.5 tons for $400 delivered.  not too bad really.   Enjoyed myself stacking the wood.  not something I have done much of in recent years

gaz

Middleton Country Fair

Took time today to attend the Middleton Country Fair.

Middleton is a small village further down the Channel Highway.   I have driven through it a number of times and to be honest,   if you blink you would miss it.     It is delightful,  perched on the edge of the channel,  water views and access in most directions.    Today there was no missing it,   Cars parked on both sides of the highway,  a shuttle bus running from one of the more distant car parks.

The Tasmanian Fire service were  on the gate,  fund raising  with hot food sales.   I was surprised at the age of one of the fire service vehicles,   It reminded me of  one of the landcruisers I used to own except it was in great condition and hadn't been ruined by putting a V8 in it!

Great Country Fair.   I had a good time looking at the animals,   seeing the sheep shorn.

  Kids had a ride on a pony.  The woman asked Summer which pony she wanted to ride.  The big one or small one?    Summer replied "I want to ride the Big one".  (Youngest of three,  bold as brass)
Bought a number of raffle tickets,   great range of prizes including fire wood,   chainsaws,  mowers,  dinner for two at the Peppemint Bay resturant.    I am still waiting on a call.   Some fire wood would handy.

Although it is only Feb 2nd,  a number of our neighbours have had their woodstoves going.   It does cool down in the evenings and mornings are cool but it is delightful mid 20's during the day.   Might have to think about getting some wood soon.

gaz