The Franklin Primary School Grebe Build

For decades, a small fleet of traditional dinghies has been giving Huon Valley children their very first experience on the water.

Now we’re inviting them to come and build one!

Tied up behind the Wooden Boat Centre are six original 13-foot Grebe dinghies, owned by the Living Boat Trust, Franklin’s community boat shed. These boats were built in the 1990s as youth projects, mostly by local primary school students, and they remain in active use today.

For the last two decades they have supported the trust’s On Water program, where Year 5 and 6 students learn rowing, boating safety and river skills across several days on the Huon River. More than 2,000 children have taken their first steps into boating in these same dinghies.

Built using traditional clinker construction and copper fastenings, the boats showcase Tasmania’s remarkable timbers including King Billy pine, Huon pine and celery-top pine, and their longevity reflects the skill and care that went into building them.

In February 2026, The Wooden Boat Centre Tasmania is proud to partner with the Living Boat Trust and Franklin Primary School to build a brand-new Grebe dinghy, again involving Year 5 and 6 students directly in the project.

Like all worthwhile community projects, the build comes with costs. While some funding has already been received, the total budget will exceed $25,000, and we are seeking community support to help make the project possible. We are not only hoping to receive many donations supporting this special project, we’re also welcoming donations in kind. Many Tasmanian households have some timber set aside for “one day” projects and any suitable materials could make a real difference. To support this project that is so close to our heart, you can use help directly through the below button. All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax-deductible. For material donations or any other inquiries, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Every contribution helps ensure that local children can continue experiencing traditional boat building firsthand: Keeping skills, stories and community connections alive for future generations