still considerable stockpiles of timber cut in the past that come onto the market from time to time. Much of this goes into an active restoration and repair industry. Due to the durability of the local pines, there are dozens of Tasmanian yachts, both remaining in the state and elsewhere, that were built a century or more ago.
"Although the inaccessibility to adequate quantities of timber has essentially destroyed the timber fishing boat construction industry, there are many dozens of traditional boats built before the 1990s still in commercial service: the oldest in current survey is Jean Nichols of 1940. Others are preserved as pleasure craft, including my own 46- foot yawl, Casilda (1915).
"Until the 1960s the majority of vessels built in Tasmania were of 'traditional' timber construction: clinker, carvel or batten-seam carvel that includes elements of both clinker and carvel construction. The beginnings of 'modern' construction techniques begins immediately after the end of WWII, when quality plywood first became available (plywood had been available since the 19th century but the bone-based glues then used made it of little use in a marine environment). The 11-foot plywood Mersey and Tamar class dinghies were introduced in 1946, while from the 1950s many overseas plywood boats (many from the prolific pen of British designer Jack Holt) were adopted as basic training and racing boats by Tasmanian boatyards.
"These continued to be the main small racing boats in Tasmania until fibreglass put in an appearance in the 1960s, and gradually claimed ascendance. The qualities of lightness, strength and aesthetic appeal continue to make timber a preferred material for the construction of pleasure craft. Due to the inability to obtain long lengths of boat-grade timber, cold-moulded laminated construction is common, as well as strip-planking where narrow planks are brought together via rebated, glued seams."
Over the years, the Wooden Boat Guild of Tasmania has built two clinker-built 14-foot west coast piners' punts and restored another that was probably over 100-years-old, rebuilt Tasmania's oldest yacht (Terra Linna, 1881) and restored several pre- WWII dinghies. Although the Guild itself has mostly been involved with traditional boat building activities, many of its members have been actively involved in building boats with a range of "modern" techniques: plywood, cold-moulded laminated and strip-planked.
"All of these techniques are highly dependent on the availability of strong, durable glues such as WEST SYSTEM epoxy produced by ATL Composites. Other small organisations involved with similar activities are the Living Boat Trust at Franklin and Spring Bay Community Boatshed at Triabunna."
This enthusiasm for all things wooden boat comes together in Tasmania every two years with the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart. Tasmania's biggest single cultural event (with over 60,000 individual attendees), over 100 local, interstate and overseas wooden vessels are on display afloat, and smaller boats ashore bringing the total number to 550 vessels.
Paul Stephanus, General Manager/ Festival Director of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival believes the preservation of the traditions of wooden boat building owe much to the Tasmanian way of life.
"Tasmanians have a proud culture of building boats in their garage, shed or back yard," he observes. "It's a different pace of life."
The state's Convict history lends a unique trait to its pride in traditional techniques.
"A lot of those who came here were seamen. And, not only is the best boat building timber available in Tasmania, we live on an island and we need to travel by boat.
"The Wooden Boat School in Franklin supports the continuation of traditional skills. Boat owners from Sydney, Melbourne and northern states bring their boats here to repair or refit and enjoy the cruising grounds. It's part of our identity and a source of great pride. The Council and community are very supportive."
The Festival has a major role in "preserving, honouring, showcasing and cherishing wooden boat culture", Paul explains.
"The Australian Wooden Boat Festival showcases craftsmanship and celebrates restoration work. It also provides a deadline for projects and a place for the industry to gather."
"Wooden boats appeal to a deep human instinct. They have been a part of civilisation for 50,000 years, all over the world. Wood is so tactile; it was a living thing and it inspires us.
"In our modern lives, we are interfacing with reality through some other medium, such as screen time, whereas meeting up, understanding the boat on water, all the elements at once, craftsmanship and the human urge to travel, satisfies our thirst for real things."
A long-time exhibitor at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, ATL Composites is a proud supporter of
THE REPORT | SEP 2024 | ISSUE 109 | 105
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