The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing woodenboats
in Australia, New Zealand & The South Pacific.

FOR SALE Mark Chew FOR SALE Mark Chew

A 160 years of Boatbuilding

“A Huon Valley boat yard with a 160-year history has hit the market offering a rare buying opportunity. This historic and well-known property sits on the water’s edge with a Crown Lease in place.”

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FOR SALE Mark Chew FOR SALE Mark Chew

A Spare $10 Mill

“The yacht is characterised by a classic design that focuses attention on her unique wooden frame, finished in a high-gloss clear coat. “

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FOR SALE Mark Chew FOR SALE Mark Chew

Jolly Roger-Rani’s Relation

Perhaps before embarking on the new build of a wooden boat, first consider if there is an existing craft that, given a full restoration, would fulfil your needs and dreams as well as one built from scratch.

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FOR SALE Mark Chew FOR SALE Mark Chew

Trophies for a four figure sum?

I know that winning races isn’t really what owning a classic yacht is about…. But you have to admit that winning is generally more fun than losing! So when SWS was aproached by The Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron to find a new custodian for HIRONDELLE, the first thing that occured to us was the potential this historic boat has, to earn some serious silverware.

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FOR SALE Mark Chew FOR SALE Mark Chew

Free to a good home - GLAD TIDINGS

The Tancook Whaler is one of those boats which evolved over many decades to do a particular working job, in this case to fish off the rough coast of Nova Scotia in all weathers and which at the same time took on a shape which is a thing of beauty. They were fast and seaworthy and kept on moorings off the rocky coast all year round.

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FOR SALE Mark Chew FOR SALE Mark Chew

Classic Rules for Buying a Boat

I am not a “marine professional” - I’m a pharmacist – but I do know what I like. And I love timber boats. Today, having bought two old timber boats and advised a number of friends, I’ve learned a thing or two about the purchase process and becoming the custodian of a piece of maritime history.

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FOR SALE Mark Chew FOR SALE Mark Chew

A World Girdling, MAORI LASS (from Tasmania)

It's not often that you come across a seventy year old, 30ft yacht that’s been around the world. The story of MAORI LASS has some great history but it also has some large blank chapters waiting to be filled by a yachting sleuth with the time and inclination to fill in the gaps.

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DINGHIES, FOR SALE Mark Chew DINGHIES, FOR SALE Mark Chew

Five under Five

Summer is coming, lockdowns are ending…time to get out on the water one way or another. Based on the theory that the pleasure to be gained from a boat is inversely proportional to its length…. here are five classic little wooden boats, all under 5 meters long, and all currently on the market.

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FOR SALE, RACING Mark Chew FOR SALE, RACING Mark Chew

“Big Ack” is Back!

What a great outcome it would be if she could regularly race on Port Phillip, her spiritual home, against her elder sister, providing pleasure not only for a new custodian and her crew, but for all those lucky enough to witness the sight.

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FOR SALE, ADVENTURE Mark Chew FOR SALE, ADVENTURE Mark Chew

PLEASURE PER DOLLAR

Don’t Get Me Wrong. I love a big, glamorous, highly varnished yacht as much as the next person. However the reality is, most of us are attracted to this corner of the maritime world not because we aspire to have cocktails on the aft deck at Les Voiles de St Tropez, but because somewhere deep down, we have a respect for history, traditional craftsmanship and a quest for adventure.

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