Classic RestorationsClassic RestorationsOur restoration philosophy "the use of modern materials to preserve and restore all the original shape and as much as possible of the original fabric of the craft. Not to turn an ancient craft into a modern wonder".
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Designed and constructed by John Jones in 1903
and launched on the Maribyrnong river in Melbourne, Australia.
After a long working life the "Thistle" was
slowly deteriorating when in 1986 she was purchased with a view
to restoration in light of her national significance as the last
example of a purely sail powered Couta boat. With her straight
stem she represents the older style of Couta boat which was not
influenced by the need to accommodate an auxiliary engine.
In 1989 the Australian National Maritime Museum commissioned The Wooden Boatshop to undertake the restoration. She has been meticulously restored retaining as much as possible of the original 1903 construction. Baltic pine lining boards have been painstakingly removed and renailed. The hull, platecase, beams and deck have all been restored. Where appropriate, timbers and fixings have been duplicated using old lengths of the original species the builder, John Jones selected. "Thistle" is now invested in The Australian National Maritime Museum and symbolises for perpetuity Victoria's proud commercial fishing boat heritage.
"Thistle" ~ 150kb, the restoration process in pictures.
The classic yacht the "Ron"
(Gaelic for seal) was built in 1928 at Sandbank on the Clyde
River of Scotland for a Colonel Spencer, Commodore of the Clyde
Cruising club. Built of teak on oak construction and designed by
the Scottish naval architect, McCallum, she was the perfect
cruising yacht for the west coast of Scotland where he sailed her
for several months each year with a professional crew of two.
Crossing the Atlantic to the West Indies she served as a charter vessel and was renamed the "Ron of Argyll". In the early 70's she crossed the South Pacific before landing in Sydney, Australia. She was purchased by her current owner in 1990 who undertook the following extensive restoration.
The original galvanised steel floors on oak frames, fastened with copper had produced advanced forms of electrolysis rot in the oak frames and teak planking at the bottom of the vessel. After the 10 ton iron keel was removed, all of the lower frames were completely replaced and some of the planking removed and replaced.
The restoration in pictures "Ron of Argyll" ~ 115kb.
The restoration was completed by The Wooden Boatshop over a period of two years, from 1992 to 1994, in time for the yacht to participate in the 1994 Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.
Horace
Rumble was a familiar figure around the Swan River for more than
60 years, winning countless races and a wonderful collection of
trophies at the tiller of the vintage gaff sloop,
"Mercedes". Horace began building the plumb
stemmed Mercedes in 1913.
The 25 foot centreboarder was launched
at McCarier's boat shed in south Perth, before Horace's departure
for The Great War. Although wounded during that war, Horace
continued to maintain and successfully race "Mercedes"
from Royal Perth until his reluctant retirement from sailing
forced the sale of "Mercedes".
"Mercedes" ~ 112kb and her
legends in pictures.
In 1995, "Mercedes" was transported by road from Perth to The Wooden Boatshop for a total rebuild which included the removal of the fibre glass outer skin (circa 1970's) keel and stem replacement, new centre board case, re-ribbed and some new planking. The emphasis was "Mercedes" 1913, modern materials were used to retain and restore as much as possible of the existing fabric of the boat. The work involved some 2000 hours of labour.
Built for fisherman, George Bridge in 1925, the "Storm
Bay" is named after the source of vast schools of
Barracouta and the destination of most fishermen when they set
off each morning from Victoria Dock. Designed by Alf Blore and
built by Percy Coverdale at Battery Point, Tasmania, the 54 foot
boat has Blue Gum frames, with hull and decks planked with Huon
Pine. Some of the planks are the full length, 52 feet in a curve.
She was gaff rigged with topsail,
fishing took place while the boat drifted under a double reefed
mainsail. The 'couta jig or lure was a piece of white Huon Pine
about 6" long, tapered with two big barbless hooks, attached
to a linked wire chain, fastened to a 15 foot Sassafras sapling.
With no refrigeration, "Storm Bay" had a wet
well made of 4" thick Huon pine.
"Storm
Bay" ~ 187 kb a Tasmanian
treasure in pictures.
The Bridge family owned "Storm Bay" from 1925 until 1963, looking after her like a yacht. George's grandson Jim Bridge of Lutana, followed in the family business and fished for 14 years aboard "Storm Bay" during the 1940's and 50's. In recent years she was a crayboat operating out of St. Helens, acquiring a wheel house along the way. She has recently been bought by Tim Phillips of The Wooden Boatshop who intends to restore her to original condition as a sailing vessel.
"I feel quite humble to own a boat as significant as "Storm Bay" says Tim "If I eventually sell her I will endeavour to make sure she returns to Tasmanian waters as she is a treasure."
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© 1997 The Wooden Boatshop, 129 Hotham Road, Sorrento, Victoria, Australia. 3943