Over the past week, with the help of a grant secured by Julie Collins, our local federal Labor Member for Franklin, we have installed a new roof over our first workshop. We are now much warmer and definitely drier on rainy days. Thank you to our amazing roofing team led by Ned Toombes and Graeme Rankin.
Under construction
Finished !!!!!
Blue sky through the open roof ...... a rare sight these past foggy weeks!
On Sunday 10th June the Wooden Boat Centre hosted a cocktail party for the Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania as a prelude to their annual dinner at The Living Boat Trust. Their members cruise to Franklin each year to spend the weekend taking in the atmosphere and delights of our village. A very enjoyable evening was had by all.
Our Stitch and Glue Plywood Car-topper course is currently underway. We are building a Tango 12 designed by Hank Bravo which is a lightweight boat suitable for use in protected waters. By the end of week one it's looking good.
The 1960's ski boat kindly donated to the Wooden Boat Centre by Don Stratton, has been purchased and is now being lovingly restored in the workshop by its new owner. It has been stripped and Ned is now involved in the arduous process of removing all the paint to check the condition of the timbers. It is certainly a work of love and we look forward to its rebirth.
Peter Shimeld Sonia Shimeld Julie Hinks
Sonia Shimeld, the very hard working treasurer of Franklin Working Waterfront Association, received a Certificate of Appreciation at the Volunteering Tasmania Awards held at Huon Valley Town Hall last Friday evening. The submission for this well deserved award follows.
"The Franklin Working Waterfront Association trades as the Wooden Boat Centre and is a community owned not-for- profit enterprise. The role of Treasure is an arduous one as the Wooden Boat Centre is a business which employs a part-time manager, Front-of-House personnel and numerous shipwrights and tutors . Dr Shimeld undertakes this role as a volunteer. She is amply qualified to undertake this role.
Dr Shimeld (Sonia) has recently retired as a senior lecturer in Accounting at the University of Tasmania. She holds a PhD in that discipline and in governance. Although recently retired, Sonia continues to undertake work with UTAS.
Before undertaking the role of Treasurer for the Franklin Working Waterfront Association Inc, Sonia first joined the FWWA committee to undertake the role of Secretary in October 2014, filling a vacancy in that position. At the next AGM Sonia was elected as Treasurer.
Given that the association trades as the Wooden Boat Centre - a vibrant business which attracts many visitors and much business to the Huon area from Tasmania, mainland Australia and from overseas. The size and complexity of the role of Treasurer should, in an ideal world, be a paid position, however Sonia has cheerfully undertaken this role as a volunteer
Sonia is a spendthrift with the time and energy she devotes to the Franklin community through the Wooden Boat Centre. She is always encouraging other volunteers which is why the Centre runs so efficiently. Without our volunteers the Centre would, no doubt close, leaving a gaping hole in the Franklin community and local businesses would suffer as a result.
Not only does Sonia undertake the demanding role of Treasurer for the Franklin Working Waterfront Association, when staff members are on leave she willingly steps in and takes on the banking, and arranging of the payment for the salaried staff, and any number of other tasks needing to be addressed. Most recently, she has also stepped into the role of tourist guide, and undertaken the role of front-of-house duties. All these roles she undertakes with a smile and with little fanfare, avoiding the limelight. In conclusion, an award of this kind would be most deserved and would recognise the work of an unsung volunteer."
Well done Sonia and thank you from us all.
4.5m Strip Planked Canadian Canoe with Paddle
A big thank you to all who contacted us to ask the price of the tickets for our raffle. OOPS ..... The tickets are $10 each. Thank you also, to those of you who have been in or called to purchase your tickets. Your support of The Wooden Boat Centre is very much appreciated.
We have proudly launched our first raffle, to raise funds to help us continue to preserve the craft of wooden boat building. The prize is this beautiful 4.5m Strip Canadian Canoe with paddle, beautifully crafted by our talented shipwright, Pete Heading. The prize includes delivery to anywhere in Australia and will be drawn on 5th September 2018. There are only 1500 tickets available and they can be purchased in the Wooden Boat Centre or by calling us on 03 62663586. You can make your payment by eftpos over the phone. We will then scan your tickets and send them to you by email. Thank you in advance .
We still have spaces for our next course starting on 12 June 2018. Students will be constructing the TANGO 12 Stitch and Glue Plywood Car-topper. The plans are by Hank Bruce and is a new project for us. You will learn the stitch and glue technique with Mike Johnson, whilst making a small plywood motor vessel for use in protected waters. This is a lightweight boat that could be used as a utility or fishing vessel and of course it is light enough to fit on top of your car. The course fee is $1800 and if you would like to keep your boat the materials fee is only $1200 extra.
Mike Johnson is doing a beautiful job on this Bill Foster designed Foster 10 Clinker Dinghy. Mike was assisted for two weeks on this by Salvatore. This dinghy was designed for rowing and use by Bill's daughter. It will be for sale or perhaps will be raffled once complete to assist the WBC to continue its work of 'sharing wooden boatbuilding skills'.
One of our ex students Don Stratton has just donated this 1960's Ski Boat to us. There are a couple of options for this boat. It could be restored if someone would like to take on the boat and provide the funds for the restoration, then own the vessel. Otherwise we will slot the restoration into our education program next year, restore then sell on.
Beautiful retro styling going on with this one. Also a pretty tidy hull already. A good project boat.
Thanks Don for the donation and the delivery from Victoria. Much appreciated.
Last week Florian Meier joined our boat building crew at the boat centre. Florian learned his craft in the USA at the International Yacht Restoration School IYRS whilst completing a 2 year Boatbuilding and Restoration program.
Florian will assist Pete Laidlaw on the restoration of the 18' Couta Boat.
Salvatore' is a design student from Italy. He has strong wood working skills and was looking to spend some time in the boat shed to learn about traditional wooden design and boatbuilding techniques. He spent time with Mike Johnson steaming ribs and fabricating timber components on a Foster 10. He also assisted Pete Laidlaw replacing a plank on the old 18' Couta boat. He loved his time with us and I'm sure will replicate some of these skills when he establishes his planned design collective business back home.
We regularly offer short stints of time to people wishing to experience the boat shed work environment or to those wishing to acquire a particular bunch of skills.
Janet and Bruce Hummerston thought it would be a nice touch to make the home port of Leshelen in Franklin. Though Janet is from Tasmania originally the association with Franklin through the restoration work on the vessel is strong. We all felt a little chuffed at this decision.
These signs expertly hand painted by Christina Kent.
Soon to be available from our front of house shop
The crane is booked and the painting race is on to get Leshelen back on the water next week.
One of Bill Foster's dinghy designs under construction. This was designed for use by Bill's daughter, as I understand. This is being built by Mike Johnson with Huon Pine planking and King Billy Pine transom. The moulds are just out, next stage is to put the ribs in.
The 'rub rails' or gunwales are on and planking complete.
