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