Readers Write
I love the variety in the weekly correspondence from our readers
Looking for more of the history of the Philip Rhodes designed MIM
Mark Rosenbrock wrote to us saying….”I'm trying to find out anything I can about my vessel MIM - a 45 ft Philip Rhodes Meltemi Ketch. What I know of MIM is that she was built somewhere up the Clarence River between 1964 and 1975 (a long build) from Queensland beech over Spotted Gum.
When we met her she was in Hervey Bay. She also seems to have spent some time in Airlie Beach. I'm trying to find any sister ships or other owners of this model. She is an awesome blue water performer! “
Anyone with any infomation send us an EMAIL
The Wooden Boat Association’s Port Phillip 12 sailing dinghy is for sale.
After many years in the custodianship of the WBA, we are now looking for someone to take on the role of caring for this Bondwood Sailing Dinghy. The Port Phillip 12 is a 12 foot, two person, sloop rigged racing dinghy with similarities to the Gwen 12. The boats were built by Mouldcraft Pty Ltd at their factory in Frankston in the 1960s. As far as we know, the Port Phillip 12 class sailing dinghy owned by the Wooden Boat Association is the last one in existence, however it would be great to be proved wrong about this. There have been some discussions as to whether this is a production Port Phillip 12, or if it might have been one of several prototypes for the class.
Some work has been carried out by our members, to help preserve the boat, but it is now time for somebody else to complete the task, and get this boat back on the water. The boat comes with an aluminium mast, a selection of sails and rigging, along with a trolley. There is no trailer for the boat.
We are asking for offers around $300 for the boat.
Email secretary@woodenboat.asn.au for further details.
NIRIPA History
John Peacock recently signed up to SWS and told us about his family’s boat NIRIPA.
Dad and his brothers and Jack Hansen built NIRIPA out of Houn Pine and other Tassie timbers, in Amy Hansen (née Jones) back yard in Sandy Bay, in Hobart. The shot below of her being taken to the docks in Hobart for Launch!
NIRIPA did the 1954 Sydney Hobart without an engine! Probably couldn’t do that today.
She sailed it again in 1957 but she had a motor by then. Mum put her foot down when they touched rock at Cape Raoul on the way to Port Arthur.
Any information on what happened to NIRIPA, send us an EMAIL
Abbotsford Boat Shed & AC Bailey
Graham Bailey (82) also recently signed up to SWS and told us about his family boat shed on the Parramatta River Abbotsford, Sydney.
He says
It was built prior to 1850 and is believed to be the oldest boatshed still standing in Australia........The family built thousands of mostly cedar dinghies and made oars and surf boats and putt putts. We made 387 timber rowing boats for the boatshed at Audley in the National Park over the years.....and they still have a few which they keep for wedding photos etc.....indeed many for the hire fleet at Lane Cove National Park also, and many for the boat hire places that were once everywhere.
The woman seated on the top right is our great/great grandmother..........
The the exact date of when the business started was lost when the council allowed their storage to be flooded. Some of our boats are held in the maritime museum. We were forced off the two waterfront houses that we owned alongside the Sydney Rowing Club when those were classified as suitable for home unit development and the rates went through the roof, so the boat shed had to go too...........I worked on many boats there .....but we never did any fibreglass as a matter of pride......
There was once many boatbuilders on the Parramatta River. Sadly they have all gone to developers now
I have been working on a history.....but made the error of making it into a history of 'our' stretch of the river.....have a lot done........but it became overwhelming and have not touched it for a few years.........there is such a story.....convicts.......murders.......trawlers......red cedar.......I have a photo of the convict punt........which I believe the family also ran for a while after the convicts ceased........
In many ways its the last true.......'boatshed.'......and NOT a fancy marina........as the photos show.
If you have some news, information or just want to find out more about a wooden boat… then send us an EMAIL and we’ll try our best to spread the word.