the Tasmanian wooden boat industry and its many talented proponents. ATL will attend the 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival with an extensive range of WEST SYSTEM products and the Epifanes range of Marine Varnishes.
"Our company has been
manufacturing WEST SYSTEM epoxy in Australia and New Zealand, under licence to Gougeon Brothers Inc, USA, since 1977," says Director Lorraine Duckworth.
"Initially supplying the professional boat building industry for cold- moulded and traditional wooden boat manufacture, we continued on with the promotion of cedar strip construction (timber composite) for both professional and amateur construction in the 1980s, with WEST SYSTEM epoxy as an integral part of the construction techniques.
"Today, WEST SYSTEM epoxy is a marine industry standard used for everything from basic long- lasting repairs to the construction of high-performance composite structures, and we continue to be dedicated to supporting the wooden boat industry."
James Watson, from Red Car Marine agrees that Tasmania has a proud heritage of wooden boats, "and we have the highest boat ownership per capita in Australia".
James, who's working on the restoration of the ex-Governor General's 1964 Millkraft boat; a 51-foot Spotted Gum trawler conversion to cruising pleasure boat, built in Sydney in 1946, and a 52-foot Celery Top Pine cray fishing vessel built in Triabunna. "This is a fairly large job as we have to take the amidship decks off and several other major refurbishments," he says.
An industry veteran of more than 25 years, James enjoys "the unknown qualities of timber".
"It's natural and like a gemstone, you really don't know what it looks like until you work it. Then there's a distinct smell of all the different timbers, which is magic."
The trio from Tasmanian Shipwrights & Co - Nathan O'Neill, Jonathan Minnebo and Matt Stevens - are dedicated to the preservation and restoration of wooden boats which have a unique allure.
106 | ISSUE 109 | SEP 2024 | THE REPORT
"It's what nature gave us and it's sustainable," says Nathan of the raw material.
All under 35, Nathan, Jonathan and Matt have different and complementary skill sets and backgrounds. Jonathan has 17 years of experience in the boat building industry, Matt, formerly lead shipwright at Denman Marine, brings a wealth of boat building and restoration experience to the job, and Nathan has a diverse and creative background. Together, the three partners have a full calendar of resto projects under the new enterprise established in October 2023.
"Wooden boat building is unique in that we are working with an organic material. Wood is the best material to capture both function and beauty," Nathan says. "A boat is not just a means to an end to get a job done, it's also art and emotion. Wood still captures that better than steel or composite."
Matthew is just as passionate about wooden boats, saying "The allure of working on wooden boats is learning a craft that has been in place for hundreds of years.
"The knowledge that with a handful of tools, unchanged for the past century, and a selection of trees that can be regrown for future generations, you can build
something aesthetically pleasing and practical that could carry you around the world using nothing but the wind. It is surely one of the most romantic trades."
Jon enjoys the technical challenge, saying, "Whether it's boat building or restoration, each job is different, bringing its own set of challenges.
"Though no two jobs are alike, they all require thinking, planning, and problem-solving. It's a mentally stimulating job that offers a big chance for learning and growth. With a basic foundation in using hand tools and machinery, passed down from earlier generations of boat builders, you gain the confidence and skills to take on new jobs. The satisfaction comes from challenging yourself, solving problems, and creating something to the best of your ability while picking up new skills.
"Looking back at your work and feeling proud of what you've accomplished is really rewarding. I'm always learning, not just from taking on new jobs, but also from Matthew and Nathan, as well as other boat builders who are always willing to share their knowledge and experience."
This is a lightly edited article based on the original which was supplied by ALT Composites. More at
www.atlcomposites.com.au.
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