Restoration - sailing dinghy
Page started 23 December 2005
Updated 19 May 2007
John Kemister recently came into the posession of a sailing dinghy. Its background is not completely certain, but here are some (abridged) words John wrote about it at the time:
"TBSA recently was given a small sailing dinghy, unfortunately in very bad condition (has been left in the weather for many years). Before conserving the little boat I wish to gain as much history about it as I can. The boat is a 12 foot Huon pine clinker centreboard sailing dinghy. Word of mouth is that it was built around 1920 in Moruya and used at HMAS Creswell for cadet training. It has no sheer (flat profile along the gunwales) Looks like it was painted white at some period with broad blue and red bands along the hull. The most distinguishing features are the name "Boatsman' painted on either bow and on the transom. Also on the transom, carefully inlaid in a contrasting wood, a 4 inch swastika! The boat may have been varnished when this was applied."
Richard Almond writing here...
Before describing Boatsman, here are some general comments about restoration that are taken from the Classic Yacht Association of NZ publication “Practical Guidelines for the restoration, preservation and use of Classic Boats”:
“Each vessel should be considered as a physical record of its time, place and use. The removal of historic materials, or alterations of features and spaces that characterize a vessel should be avoided . Examples of craftsmanship that characterize the vessel should be preserved".
The publication goes on to define restoration/ rebuilding as:
“The process of making the vessel suitable for practical and safe use. This can involve the replacement of structural components to a major degree so long as the designer's original theme, shape and construction methods are used."
At a TBSA meeting in late 2005 it was generally agreed that preserving the boat ("Boatsman") would be a worthwhile project, but that no member currently had the space or the time to store it and work on it. It was decided that it would be best not to make Boatsman a TBSA project at this stage but rather leave it to individuals (with lots of moral support!). As I would be happy to take on the restoration when I have completed Skerry (my current Eun Mara construction that has a good two years to go), I asked around some friends/colleagues with properties near Canberra and was pleased to have three offers to park Boatsman until such time as someone can work on it. (It was gratifying to find that, basically, people were keen to contribute to help preserve a little bit of heritage.)
So, Boatsman will live behind the chook house of my friend John S down at Spring Range Road (just past Hall). It won't be under a roof, but it's away from trees and so should not fill with debris. I'll cast an eye over it occasionally to make sure it's not deteriorating. (The few rotted places around the garboard form a convenient self-draining feature.) And there it can stay until either I complete Skerry and get to work on Boatsman myself, or some other TBSA member gets in before me!
Here are some photos taken in John K's carport on 4 December 2005. She looks rough, but is reasonably sound and we believe the Huon pine construction should clean up very well. The trailer seems to be OK.
The bowsprit and foredeck are obviously recent add-ons and need trashing.
The planking at the bow seems to be sound.
The swastika is formed from a dark wood inlaid into the Huon pine of the transom.
The steel knees must be very strong, but not nice!
A few of the ribs are broken, but not too bad on the whole.
Again, ribs aren't too bad, but there is some rot along the garboard, and the hog (backbone) probably needs replacing.
The transom knee is badly split, but should be simple to replace.
