Crow’s Nest June 2017 Published six times per year by the Wooden Boat Association of South Australia Inc. PO Box 6264, Halifax Street, SA 5000 http://wbasa.org.au The South Australian Wooden Boat Festival Goolwa

IN THIS ISSUE: Page April 2017 - comments from WBASA’s members  The SAWBF 1-2  Association Events 3  Wooden Spoon 4  And the Winners Were 4  PS Industry news 5  To varnish? 5  Lake Albert Misadventures 6  Poets Locker 6  A Prelude in B Minor 7  Tim at the Tiller 7  Cock of the River 8  Marion/Mayflower News 8  Boat Profile - Pauline 9  Letters to the Editor 9  Betty Boop 10  Supporting Youth 11  Young Achievers Award 11  One & All Sail Training 11  Corryong to Coorong 12  Oscar W News 12  Editor’s Elucidations 12  May GM Minutes 13  The Cutter Victoria 13 Good weather, good organisation and many boats resulted in a memorable festival.  Armfield Slip 14 WBASA has received many comments from our members on the festival from individual and varied perspectives.  Commercial Ads. 14 Please read on and enjoy—Ed  WBASA Merchandise 14 Anne McCutcheon. The knotting board at the entrance to the tent was a huge  Assn. General Information 15 success with lads 'n lassies and their parents on The Pirate Trail, instigated by  Your Committee 15 the Alexandrina Council staff.  For Sale/Advertisements 16 Roy Duncan made up the board with a variety of anchor points for practicing knots and I saw Tim P, Alex B, Joanne D, Lindsay D, Gil L, Anne P, Brenton W and Andreas O (among others) pressed into service assisting lassies The next 'n lads to make fast with the ropes – white and green. Some members did a GENERAL MEETING really long stint down on their knees as the queues seemed endless for 'old of the salts’ to help wee fingers master knots – a pain free entertainment for the Wooden Boat young ones preparing them for a life as 'gentlemen o’ fortune'! No mutiny Association of SA Inc. experienced at any time and no one fed to the fishes. Great idea well will be held on executed. Monday 28th May at the Brenton and Amanda Whittenbury: The festival this year was our most Astor Hotel enjoyable, so far. Bonney was well primed after a weekend at Nelson and then As usual, come for dinner & 2 weeks fishing at Coffin Bay, a rogue banana being identified as the only cause President Tim conversation from 6.30pm. of any issues during those two trips. Not only did she perform perfectly over demonstrating knot tying Meeting starts at 7.45pm. the festival, but this year we took home a trophy. to an enthralled audience followed by I received a call Sunday morning from the SAWBF committee, initial Gary Coombes thought, oh oh, what's happened. "Can you make yourself available at Midday Chairman's Summary of for the presentations", "sure" I replied, and then thought…We are in the solar/electric class, there's only 2 craft 2017 SAWBF vying for top spot, I hope we didn't come second! No need to worry, she was a winner. share your experience Our stint in the WBASA marquee was really enjoyable, me tying knots and Amanda on chandlery sales. But and ideas/suggestions what made the festival so good was catching up with friends and spending time at the moorings and on the water for the 2019 Festival with them. Great event, but it's the people make it memorable. Cont. next page

st  Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th July - Moonlight Run – Mannum to  Sunday 21 August - Morgan to Cadell and Beyond Dates to note Greening’s Landing  Friday8 th - Sunday 10 th September - Pike River th th (Details page 3)  Monday 10 – Friday 14 July - Greening’s to Punyelroo Cruise  Sunday 29th October - Goolwa Technical Day and Shed  Saturday 15th – Sunday 16th July - Punyelroo Weekend Crawl

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 2 The South Australian Wooden Boat Festival - Goolwa April 2017 continued from page 1

John Draper: Not just another Boat Show… As a regular participant in SAWBF since 2001, I've never had any major cause for complaint, apart from the battle for moorings in some of the earlier events. Most times my head is in the engine room trying to trace some annoying thump or rattle, so often I miss half of what's going on. But the 2015 festival nearly became my last. Was it the heat? It's been hot for previous shows but three days of 40 degree heat (in a steamboat) was no fun. Was it the over-zealous officials manning the compound gates, checking Eskies for the demon drink, or the manner of the boat wranglers out on the water? Whatever the reason, the 2015 show just didn't have the vibe of previous events, and it seemed that most boaties were glad to pack up and go home. But this year's show proved otherwise. Although crowds were down, and there appeared to be less variety amongst the exhibits, the old Goolwa WBF magic was back. Perfect weather, easier access, dedicated moorings, sympathetic officials ( and a host of dedicated volunteers) created a more relaxed atmosphere for boaties and punters alike... although, in true form, the PA system gave its usual fragmented performance! Flaming Galah For the crew of Flaming Galah, it was perfect weather for steam boating, and although the gong for best steamboat went to Greg (SL Merlin) from NSW, we had the pleasure of a media celebrity aboard- none other than Festival MC Brenton Ragless, SA's ambassador for all things steamy, who thoroughly enjoyed his jaunt on the water, with much whistling and siren-blowing. In my opinion, the later 'timeslot', a more relaxed and understanding approach to event management, and the expansion of the precinct to include Armfield's Slip has resurrected the SAWBF. Just one thing though, while exhibitors are willing to pay to show off their boats, some recompense in a free coffee or glass of wine wouldn't go astray!

Gil Leaver: The Wooden Boat Festival in April was a great success. It was well organised and the weather did not let us boaties down. The lack of an admission fee was a big plus as the place was full of families. The little kids were all engrossed in learning rope tying on the pirates trail at the WBASA Stand. Dads were interested in the boats, mums were interested in all the stands and families spilled over into the town and around the bay to Armfield demonstrations, Sailing Club, Aquatic Club and the playground – there was plenty to do for everyone. The boaties BBQ on Friday night was a roaring success and after the last one, most people were a little apprehensive – they needn’t have been. The on water organisers arranged a couple of extra on water parades for the small boats, which was appreciated. The Grand Parade at the end of Sunday was spectacular as was the Fairy Light Parade on Saturday night culminating in the traditional fireworks display as brilliant as ever. The WBASA breakfast at Armfield Shed (eggs, bacon, juice, tea and coffee) on Sunday Anne, Peter & Lindsay serving up at morning got us going for the day. Well done everyone. Armfield’s breakfast

Brian & Penny Moon: Always hopeful of smooth lake crossings - fine weather - and a Festival that highlights all things nautical, good food, good company and music certainly not disappointed - once again a great event. April is a great time to hold the festival and the festive atmosphere was evident at all the activities from breakfasts to fireworks, fine weather works wonders on everyone. Well done to all involved in making it memorable. Looking forward to 2019

Peter Reschke: The weather was kind to us for the SA Wooden Boat festival and it was an honour and pleasant surprise to win the award for Best Putt-putt. I knew something was up when Trevor Twigden came to my boat and said to be on the Oscar W at 11:30 for the boat presentation. Congratulations to all the volunteers who organised the boat festival to make it an enjoyable time for participants and spectators . The Moon’s photo of the sun

Lindsay Dent: It was so good to see the Festival back in the hands of the volunteers and more focused on the real show – the wooden boats. The volunteers were marvelous at all levels and deserve a huge round of applause and a free pie or two. Said pies should be delivered for eating at their leisure and not thrust into their faces. The sun truly shone on all aspects of this Festival and without the hide-tanning intensity of the last two SAWBF held in February. May the weather gods forever smile on April Festivals, but if they don’t (and they won’t), be sure to remember how good it can be. For all of the SAWBF we have attended previously, I have never managed to get to the Boaties BBQ on the Friday night. Reports suggested that some were none too memorable, however this Festival the Friday night bash set the scene. The food and drinks were excellent, as were the personnel delivering them. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. The security Rough and ready winner rescuing the loser guards were smiling and helpful and when not required, unobtrusive. It was relatively easy to get the small boats out for events this year and this was a pleasure. Three cheers to the volunteers in the rubber duckies who got the gin palaces back into place after each outing – a mighty effort. This is a very distinctive WBF and the accessibility and diversity of the on-water activities make it so. The opportunities for the general public to get involved were great. For example, the chance to row a St. Ayles skiff and the involvement of kids in the Rough and Ready and The Pirate Trail. Congratulations to the Council staff for their efforts in setting up the Pirate Trail and to the many stallholders who make it work.

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 3 WBASA Inc. Association Events & Dates Your source of information on Meetings & Association Events and non-WBASA events of interest to members. This column is updated each issue and is on our website.

Event Managers: Monday 26th June 2017 Lorraine and Sam Cutajar: ph. 0418 858 006, GENERAL MEETING OF WBASA Email: [email protected]; at the ASTOR HOTEL Lindsay Dent: Email: [email protected], As usual come for dinner & conversation ph. 0421 493 397 or 8357 4486. 6.30pm for Dinner & 7.45pm for the Meeting.

Followed by our speaker th st Gary Coombes Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 August - Morgan to Cadell and Chairman's Summary of 2017 SAWBF Beyond Share your experience and ideas/suggestions With the postponement of Morgan Living River, a more informal replacement has been planned for August by WBASA. An overnight for the 2019 Festival cruise, open to boats of all sizes, will run between Morgan and Cadell and further upstream, should we have sufficient time. We will moor at Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th July Moonlight Run – Mannum to Claxton Reserve in Cadell on Saturday night and if there are sufficient Greenings Landing numbers (minimum 25 pax), dine at the Cadell Community Club. Should we have insufficient people for the Club, we will either have a BBQ at Meet at Greening’s Landing on Saturday, with departure at 4:30pm. Claxton Reserve or dine at a hotel in Morgan. for the cruise downstream to dinner at the Pretoria Hotel in Mannum. You can go directly to the hotel if coming by car, with dinner from Sunday includes the option of a cruise further upstream before 6:30pm. After dinner, cruise back to Greening’s by moonlight and join in returning to either Cadell or Morgan to retrieve trailerable boats. with drinks around the campfire. Small and large boats are all welcome. Another option for Sunday will be to proceed by road to Caudo Vineyard for a tasting and light lunch. Vehicle and personnel shuffles between Please be patient at Greening’s Landing and you will be advised Morgan, Cadell and Caudo are included in our plans. where to moor your boat and set up camp (sorry, but no dogs allowed). When mooring, please use your own ropes and do not use or change Event Managers: other existing mooring ropes. Please use UHF Radio Channel 27 for Lindsay Dent, Email: [email protected], ph. 0421 communication on the river and when mooring. 493 397 or 8357 4486 If you would like to attend and do not have a boat you can always Mark Davis, Email: [email protected], ph. 0428 643 018 catch a ride on someone else’s boat, just do not hesitate to ask. The next morning a BBQ facility is available for you to cook your own breakfast. Please advise if you are attending as we need to know the following: (a) Saturday 26th – Sunday 27th August - Morgan Living River number of boats etc. that need to be accommodated at Greening’s and at th th the Pretoria. (b) number of people for Dinner at the Pretoria Hotel. We Rescheduled to 18 -19 November would like to thank, once again, Ron & Carol Greening for allowing us the More detail to follow use of their property. th Event Managers: Angela and Gil Leaver, ph. 08 8555 5027 Friday 8 – Sunday 10 September – Pike River The Pike River begins downstream of Renmark and with many twists, turns and side branches, comes out near Lyrup. On its way, the Pike runs Monday 10th – Friday 14th July - Greening’s to Punyelroo Cruise through part of the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, the Pike River This represents another opportunity for an extended mid-week Conservation Park and other extensive wetlands. It also links up with cruise upstream, linking events at Mannum and Greening’s Landing with Rumpagunyah, Tanyaca and Mundic Creeks. the next one at Punyelroo. It’s also school holidays, so you might have Reconnaissance has already been done in tinnies, (see article Page 7 some time off work and the opportunity to take the kids or grandies out –Ed) so we won’t get lost. This trip will explore the Murray River near for a ramble. Whilst this might only be about 80km cruising that could be Lyrup and the lower reaches of the Pike River and adjoining creeks. swallowed up in a day or two of motoring, we will be operating on mid- Camping and cabin accommodation is available at the Berri and year river time and if we find a nice spot, we could stay put for a couple of Paringa Caravan Parks. Two houses have also been booked overlooking days. the Pike River (The Pike River Woolshed and The Edge) and if shared, each We might also run upstream of Punyelroo, for example to have a can accommodate at least three couples at prices comparable with meal at the Swan Reach Hotel, or even as far as Blanchetown. This will all caravan park cabins. Contact Elizabeth Nicholls for more information. be very relaxed and decisions on destinations may not be made until the Event Managers: last minute. One thing is for sure though, the cruise will end at the Cutajar shack in Punyelroo. Elizabeth and Geoff Nicholls, 8572 4265, 0409 389 307, Event Manager: Lindsay Dent, Email [email protected] [email protected], 0421 493 397, 8357 4486. Jill and Graham Rainbow, 0427 887 277, 8583 0277, [email protected]

Saturday 15th – Sunday 16th July – Punyelroo Weekend Sunday 29 October – Goolwa Technical Day and Shed Crawl Lorraine and Sam Cutajar are playing host to us at their shack in The Goolwa Day on the Water has morphed into a Technical Day Punyelroo. We will be out of peak ski-boat activity and this is the time involving skills training and visits to boat building and restoration when the Murray River is at it’s best. Picture misty sunrises and still projects. sunny days. The neighbours have been notified and the lawns will have Roy Duncan will provide training in the sharpening of tools (drills, been mowed. Even the firewood has been collected, so even the planes, chisels etc.). Armfield Slip will be open to view and discuss campfire will be easy. current projects. Clive Harris will show off his project, Juanita, a 39 foot Bring your musical instrument or just your voice to accompany Sam former prawn trawler with a planning hull, built by Swarbrick and on the saxophone. Small boats can be launched at Lorraine and Sam’s Swarbrick in WA in 1972. Alan Boman will provide an update of his build, shack, should you wish to trailer a boat up just for this weekend. There Rhapsody in Glue, at his workshop in Pt. Elliott. BBQed sausages will be will be toilet and shower facilities and plenty of room for tenting squeezed into this very full but leisurely day of exploration of skills, sheds, undercover or on the lawns at the shack, or on an adjacent bush site. sharp things and sticky stuff. Mooring spaces will be available for a number of cruisers. The weekend Event Managers: Gil Leaver, ph. 08 8555 5027, trip will include a visit by canoe or tinny to the nearby Punyelroo Cave. [email protected] Punyelroo is at the 240 km mark and is approximately 90 km from Mannum, 130 km from Murray Bridge and 34 km from Blanchetown. Roy Duncan, 0427 187 547, [email protected]

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 4

The Wooden Spoon - Red Sauce from Anne McCutcheon

1 tin of anchovies 1 -2 tins of tomatoes (preferably Italian) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh continental parsley Salt and pepper to taste Method. Start by melting the tin of anchovies in the heated olive oil using a wooden spoon for stirring, and add 2 or 3 cloves of garlic. When the garlic is browned, add the tin(s) of tomatoes. Wash out the tomato tin with a little water and add that in also. If you can get access to tins of Spanish peppers, adding a tin of these instead of an additional tin of tomatoes makes for a good variation. Cook it slowly for about 20 minutes on a low flame until it smells good, has Friends introduced this to us on a trip in the Kimberley. thickened and reduced. If you have 2 burners, cook up some spaghetti (no. 3) while It was a favourite for their teenage daughter and incredibly you are simmering the sauce though any sort of pasta you have available will do. flavoursome. It's based on Marcella Hazan's recipe for You might have to pre-cook the pasta if you are limited to one burner. Tomato and Anchovy Sauce in the Classic Italian Cookbook We use a small wok on a butane stove or low gas. The anchovies completely and is perfect camping/boating food. dissolve so all is left is flavour and no hairy texture. Ingredients for 2 or 3 When it has thickened up a bit, mix the sauce in with the cooked pasta, add 2-3 cloves garlic (or even dried or tubed garlic will do) parsley and serve with grated parmesan. 3 tablespoons olive oil

And the Winners Were... The SA Wooden Boat festival listed winners on their webpage, and good to see WBASA members among those who were rewarded with a prize. The Winners! Best Canoe/ Kayak: LITTLE BEAR Best Sailing Dinghy: BOO Best Speed Boat: LADY BIRD Best Putt-Putt: Nellie Member: Peter Reschke Best Paddle Boat: PW MAYFLOWER Best Steam Boat: MERLIN Best Cruiser under 10m: MV PRINCES Best Cruiser over 10m: Lotus Member: Arthur Hodgson Best Boat on Show: MISS TAMAR Concours d’Elegance: MARANUI Best Electric/Solar Boat: Members: Brenton and Bonney Amanda Whittenbury

Lotus

Nellie with happy recipient Peter Reschke

Bonney

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 5

by Jackson Wickham P.S. Industry Report Hi All! Since the last Crow’s Nest the PS Industry spent a fantastic day away at the Woolenook Bend Internment Camp on Sunday, May 7th. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Camp’s opening on May 7th, 1942. The Industry departed Renmark on a bright sunny day at 10am and headed upstream 19km to the camp site. Once moored the passengers were taken on a guided tour of the camp’s ruins by myself and Jack Gibb who showed our 60 passengers everything that remained of the camp that once held up to 264 Japanese Internees during World War 2. There were speeches by Peter Teakle of the Woolenook Wetlands Association and by Trevor Reed about the history of the camp and his father’s association with his Paddle Steamer the Ulonga and the barges Mallara and Aurora. To follow the Honourable The commemoration ceremony Member for Chaffey, Tim Whetstone MP said a few words and unveiled the new plaque, commemorating the 75th anniversary. Industry came second with a time of 23:27 ...and plaque The Industry departed the Woolenook Bend Internment Camp a little after 2pm and behind the winner, headed back to Renmark with the expertise of our Captain Paul Abend and Mate Clay Amechai Bawden at Smith, arriving home to Renmark at 4pm. It was a very enjoyable day and I did like putting 19.52 . The race can be this together to celebrate SA History Festival. We have had a huge amount of great entered into by the feedback and people wanting to book for next year. I was lucky enough to be given general public or if you th rd precious photos from the daughter of one of the 25 /33 Battalion Garrison Guards that like a more leisurely watched over the camp, Lance-Corporal Glen Earl, who had taken the photos. Between the Sunday morning start State Library, Australian War Memorial collection and Trevor Reed’s extensive collection of you can jump on the old photos of the camp during the war, I was able to enlarge them to A3, laminate and Industry for the 30 place around the camp in the positions that they were taken 72-75 years ago. This gave a minute cruise for $10.00. The race will be followed by our ‘now and then’ look at the camp, which made it a very real experience. I have been out normal steaming day afterwards with 11am cruise and mapping the camp over recent years and working from photos etc. as there is not a map 1.30pm afternoon cruise. This will be the last cruising in existence. day until September as the Boiler will be ‘pulled-down’ Our next big event is Industry’s ‘Sweat vs Steam’ event on Sunday, July 2nd. Where for its annual maintenance. the Industry challenges the runners in a race from the Big 4 Caravan Park, up to the ex-site Our AGM is set for Wednesday the 9th August at the of the Tower Tavern at Jane Eliza Estate and return. A course of 5.83km. Last year the Renmark Hotel Function Room. from Bruce McConkey To Varnish or not to Varnish

Reprinted with thanks from WBAQ LOG – Ed only that, but they cost as much or more, so at least 50% of your money is evaporating up in smoke. Disclaimer: The following article contains specific brand names. The WBASA does not endorse or recommend any particular products. So that explains why timber and plywood should be sealed with at Information is provided for you so you can make your own informed least two coats of high solids epoxy such as Bote-Cote before considering judgements. any other coatings. Applying paint or varnish direct to the timber, regardless of the number of coats, just won’t give the same lifetime Bruce writes: I’d like to, belatedly, offer some experience to this interesting discussion in February’s The Log. As the designer and performance. manufacturer of coatings produced by BoatCraft Pacific, we have long So what else is needed? Unfortunately, epoxies don’t have good experience of testing and service of Bote-Cote Epoxy and Aquacote weathering and UV resistance, but they can be protected by over-coating polyurethane coatings, and varnishes for comparison. So, to answer some them with opaque paint or a clear but UV protected coating. There are of those concerns. two choices for clears, polyurethane coatings, which give by far the best lifetime but cost more than the alternative, traditional varnishes. Our First point, clear coating or varnishing old timber, such as boats. Old testing at the Weathering Research Station at Townsville indicates that timber develops shrinkage micro cracks, open pores, and other surface the best varnish will only last one third of the lifetime of polyurethane defects. If it was previously painted, these will contain residues of that before it breaks down and requires sanding off and recoating. Since most paint, which will show up clearly and spoil the appearance of the new small boats spend at least 95% of their time in the garage, this isn’t so coating. If it was varnished previously mould or mildew will almost much of an issue, but most of us still prefer the job to last as long as certainly have developed in these, which will again show up as black stains possible. under the new coating. Extensive sanding is the only way to remove these marks. Often this is not possible, in a plywood boat you might have to The concerns with most polyurethanes are their rather toxic solvent sand through the outer veneer, which would then look disastrous. For bases, and their undesirable content of isocyanate chemical, which is why these reasons, I don’t recommend trying to clear coat any really old or BoatCraft introduced our Aquacote water based polyurethane coating, previously painted timber, unless you are after an interesting textured both as clear and as coloured paint. This has none of those nasties in it. finish. Properly applied, Aquacote has only a slightly lesser gloss than traditional varnishes – for the first three months exposure. After that, since We aim absolutely to exclude water from our timber. Timber swells varnishes have been shown to deteriorate faster, their gloss becomes and shrinks readily in response to water absorption due to immersion or readily reduced as time passes. What coloured paint to use to protect the even changes in humidity and temperature and, critically, most coatings epoxy from weathering? Again polyurethanes are best for prolonged allow water vapour transpiration through them to the underlying timber lifetime and general toughness. Most oil paints can be applied over epoxy to a greater or lesser extent – they ‘breathe’. The hardness of coatings seal coats after preliminary fine sanding to remove the gloss, and will give prevents them from following these expansions and contractions, so more or less service depending on the paint quality. Water based (acrylic) eventually they develop micro-cracks along the grain lines which allow house paints can also be used, they will give lower gloss and less damage more water penetration and eventual lifting of the coating. That is the resistance so could be preferred for inside a boat. They have better reason for the popular misconception that all wooden boats need weather resistance than many oil based paints, but have the highest frequent repainting – but it only applies to those painted directly onto the transpiration rate for water vapour, so cannot offer the same protection timber. to timber. Speaking of sanding, avoid the off-white coloured ‘anti- In 1984, the US Forest Products Laboratory published a report clogging’ paper as it can cause poor adhesion of your paint to the showing that high solids Epoxy coatings are the nearest thing to a totally underlying surface. waterproof coating, confirmed by the practical experience that epoxies So there is our recommended coating system: two stage protection can be used to totally seal timber against ingress of water. But they noted of your timber, first high solids epoxy such as Bote-Cote to seal and that solvent based coatings do not perform nearly as well. So well known protect the timber, followed by good paint or UV protected polyurethane ‘durable forever’ timber sealers (containing around 50% solvent) do not to protect the epoxy. Enjoy using the boat rather than repainting it. offer the same protection, a fact which we have readily confirmed. Not

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 6

Lake Albert Misadventures by Peter Richards Lake Albert Rafting up for lunch First mate of Annie Lou assisting the skipper Misadventures 12-14 May Three boats launched at Meningie on Saturday morning for a trip to Bascombe and possibly Kennedy Bays. Graham Butler’s Dealtry, Whata Bouchier, was a pretty sight moored to the jetty. Pity about his stubborn Blaxland. Barry Hall provided significant technical advice that had the Blaxland barking. Barry had brought his new putt-putt, armed with provisions for all conditions and flying his ‘Penguin Power’ flag. All went well until the rudder came loose while launching and Barry had to row to retrieve the floating tiller. Instructions for the day were simple, 10am in the water for a 10am start. We slipped our bowlines at 11.40am and not long into the journey the Penguin ceased but did restart with lots of strap pulling. Annie Lou was behaving impeccably. The sun was shining and the lake was like a Graham in Whata Bouchier sheet of glass when the 3 of us stopped outside the entrance to Bascombe Bay to enjoy lunch. After a false start or two and a Point Malcolm and Annie Lou lot more strap pulling we headed into the bay but it didn’t take long to run aground so we decided to head for home with the following breeze. The Nicholls and the Dents arrived in time for dinner at the Cheese Factory, for a meal to be recommended and plenty offending banana of Coorong Mullet on the menu. Narrung was Sunday’s destination, with the challenge of navigating The Narrows. Foreground: Nicholls tinny and the O ring problem The ramp proved a slippery and rocky challenge for launching or retrieving. Lindsay was Background: Barry H pirouetting on “the rock” the first in for a partial dunking and Esther managed a full immersion. Of course, Barry’s water dog elected to go for a swim. First to launch was Geoff in his tinny, then Barry, Esther and Rusty the Labrador under Penguin power. Next, Graham in Whata Bouchier, followed by Peter in Annie Poets’ Locker Lou. Barry was cruising around fine-tuning the Penguin until there was an almighty crunch/crack sound. I spun round to see Barry’s boat come almost completely out Passing the Baton of the water! He’d hit a rock at full speed. Esther kept smiling and the dog didn’t care. Barry got to the oars and rowed back over the very same rock and got stuck (thoughts on Swamp Chick and for a while! It took some time to get his steering gear back from the reeds. other putt-putts) by Joanne Dent The whole morning was spent checking out the beautifully kept and upgraded camping spot right by the ferry. In fact we had lunch there too. The relaxed group with 4 boats ready on the water seemed all too serene. It was. Think carefully before you buy a putt putt, Geoff and Elizabeth headed off in their tinny only to be towed back by Annie The love that comes may make some folks go tutt tutt, Lou. Appeared to have a troublesome O ring in the fuel line. Barry, Esther and Rusty enjoyed a run through The Narrows. Graham was still back at the jetty with all his tools laid out rebuilding the Blaxland. So Annie Lou loaded with five set off through Your essence will forever be installed The Narrows appreciating the beautiful and wild landscape to Lake Albert. I’d like to In the timbers that have kept you so enthralled, take red and green paint next time to refresh the colour on the channel markers; they were very hard to see from a distance. The petulant distress that she has triggered Graham did get underway with his sister Dawn on board and made 200 metres Is nothing to the joys of life transfigured before Barry helped him back to the jetty. Graham’s additional unwanted passenger By the beating of her engine as you unknowingly hexed the weekend’s success for him and the photo of Graham at the jetty will reveal all. Let your life flow easy It was a beautiful weekend with superb autumn weather. Thanks to Kirsty On whatever waters rushing Bagshaw, landlady of The Cottage on North for a really well prepared and Past her keel and rudder steering comfortable weekend base. And thanks to Lindsay for organising the cottage and a great outing to explore Lake Albert. Those who love her leave their mark on every future lark, All those memories she holds are so dear.

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 7 by Lindsay Dent Pike River Ramble - A Prelude in B minor

The Murray River Pilot, by Baker and Reschke, is one of the most useful and impressive little books ever produced in South Australia. Sadly it is currently out of print. Although the SA Waters Atlas provides good additional information, in colour and in more detail, it lacks the beautiful stories and historical information of The Pilot. Boaties of the future deserve a new edition of The Pilot. However one thing that is largely missing from The Pilot is serious representation of the myriad of wide waters, swamps, creeks and anabranches that sit behind the banks of the Murray and along much of its length. The SA Waters Atlas now helps with this and the Canoe Guides, (though like The Pilot, also mostly out of print), do it even better. Google Maps is tantalizing, but often also deceptive. So when planning for WBASA’s exploration of the Pike River system, we either needed a very knowledgeable local guide or a reconnaissance trip in suitable vessels. It’s all very well to know from a map that there are waterways called the Pike River and - the packing up after lunch at junction Pike, Rumpugunyah, Tanyaca and Mordic Creeks (even the names excite curiosity) and that canoes can get through them, but are they too shallow, or too full of snags for precious wooden boats? Fortunately your Association has a dedicated team of volunteers prepared to take off on a sunny May Monday in their aluwood boats to blaze the trail. Why aluwood? Well most had wooden oars and the others either had wooden bungs or wooden skippers. Now normally one wouldn’t be caught dead recounting tales of aluwood adventures in a Wooden Boat Association newsletter. Assuming the article got past the editor, (it obviously did – Ed) it would usually be published under a nom de plume or in the name of someone of dubious opinions who regularly gains the ear of the editor of The Advertiser. Aluwood boats are so unloved or of such minor significance to their owners that they often don’t even give them a proper name. They get treated rough (the boats, not the owners) and if they are lucky, they might get called The Tinny. When more than one aluwood boat gathers in the same place, in purely utilitarian style, they might get called Tinny 1, Tinny 2 and so forth. This scornful disregard is so common, there has even been a poem written on the subject. Aluwood boats are often not very comfortable – noisy 6hp (briefly) shows 15hp rivals a clean pair of heels engines, decks and seats that are either too hot or too cold. To get around the latter problem, some get fitted out with kindy chairs and on our trip, one was covered in fake grass. No, that’s not fake news, but real fake turf. Now if you felt sorry for it and were planning on giving a name to an aluwood boat covered in fake turf, what would you call (too shallow). Kindy chairs were packed away after lunch at it? Why Lorna of course. Enter Elaine and John Ashworth. the junction (advantage no. 3) and off went to find the Pike This got your correspondent thinking. The newly acquired aluwoody performed so River. well on this trip that it deserved a name. Aluwood – Al? No, that has probably already A masterful bit of navigation by Graham the creek been taken. In any case, it could very easily end up being just one of the crowd – Al 1, master Rainbow, saw us find the right exit into the top of Al 2 etc. Still there is the ring of a distant memory from popular culture. Didn’t Paul the Pike River. It was getting a bit late by this time, so we Simon reflect on this dilemma? Let’s check with Dr. Google. Yes, there it is, in the chorus gave those outboards (yuk!) their heads and went hell for of a song titled “You Can Call Me Al”, published in 1985 on the Graceland album. Let’s leather (advantage no. 4) out to the Murray. Knowing that check it for inspiration. It goes like this. PW Amphibious moors in the Pike River and seeing very large houseboats pulled up to the bank, we figured we If you'll be my bodyguard were pretty safe. I can be your long lost pal This was an attractive run and well-suited to the more I can call you Betty leisurely pace of a squadron of woodies, so we now knew And Betty when you call me we had a plan for September. Launch Day 1 at Lyrup boat You can call me Al. ramp (a good one) and run upstream and into the Pike We’ve crossed off Al, so Betty it must be. Not to be confused with the other River, possibly going as far as the R/T Creek junction and Elizabeth in my life, who already has Lady-J in her honour and can’t possibly have back to party the night away at one of those nice houses up another boat named after her. A minor boat, but still worth having and worthy ofa on the cliffs above the Pike. Day 2, launch in the Pike River name fit for a queen. and run upstream to see where the other creeks meet the Murray or the other way to Col Col bank. The end of a Now what of the trip? Well there was Lorna (Elaine and John) and Betty (Joanne E. fitting prelude, played in Boats Minor, servants to the more and Lindsay), Tinny 1 (Jill and Graham Rainbow) and Tinny 2 (Elizabeth the Poet Nicholls genteel community of wooden boats and probably there and her sidekick Geoff). We launched at Simarloo Landing on Pike Creek, which you again in September, to act as guides and snag detectors. wouldn’t know was there if you didn’t know. A sand ramp, but perfectly suitable for aluwoodies – now there’s an advantage. We stopped for morning tea at the junction of Disclaimers: no trees or snags were harmed (or blazed) Rumpagunyah and Tanyaca Creeks before pressing on to take the Rumpagunyah out to in the making of this story and no, this Lindsay Dent has the Murray. Not suitable for woodies (more than a few snags were mounted – never written to The Advertiser. advantage no. 2) and neither was the wide water of Tanyaca Creek past a certain point from President Tim Potter Tim at the Tiller It’s nice having a column in Crow’s Nest where I can wax philosophical on subjects relating to wooden boats that I find interesting, but sometimes I have to write as the President. This is one such time where I must inform you “The Annual General Meeting of the Wooden Boat Association of SA will be held at the Astor Hotel, Pulteney Street Adelaide, on Monday 28th August 2017, beginning at 7.45 pm.” As an association we are bound legally by a set of rules, the template of which is laid down in a State Act. This means that from time to time we must check that our Rules not only reflect the current wishes and climate of the members, but are politically and legislatively correct. Some of the committee have been reviewing the Rules (the politically correct title for the Constitution) and have come up with some changes that we hope will be put to you at the AGM. At the end of July you will receive by post a copy of the changes laid out as recommendations. Please read and keep these to discuss at the AGM so that your voice is heard.

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 8

Cock of the Rivers by Elizabeth Nicholls In 2013, an article appeared in the Crow’s Nest regarding the 'Last Great Race' between two crack paddle steamers which occurred on the River Darling near Wilcannia, NSW on 1st July 1891. To refresh your memory, the legendary PS South Australian with Captain John Kerr at the wheel represented the ‘bottom- enders’ (those plying downstream and the Darling River) and PS Rothbury, captained by the famous Hookey Freeman represented the ‘top-enders’, (those working around Echuca). PS South Australian was built at Mannum in October 1877 for Hooker & Davis as a barge and converted to a paddle steamer the following year. She was engaged in the passenger and PS South Australian at Morgan 1881. cargo trades between Morgan and Wentworth Source: State Library of South Australia - B 12213 and this is where she gained the reputation of being the fastest boat on the rivers. Her length was 106.3 feet and by comparison, the Rothbury is 82 feet long. The boats made separate runs over an agreed course upstream over the distance of a mile. A wager of £100 was made between the two captains and supporters laid bets too. The Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) on Wednesday 1st July 1891 reported that, ... a match for £25 aside was made, each steamer to tow two smaller steamers, the Hero and the Moira, with the barges Gunpower and Nonpariel lashed abreast, a distance of one mile against time. PS South Australian won the race run by 50½ seconds, taking 20 minutes 23 seconds and was dubbed the ‘Cock of the Rivers’. After her river work ceased in 1902, she was sold and converted into a steam screw lighter, to trade in and around Port Adelaide in connection with Thomas & Grose flourmills on the Tam O'Shanter Creek. When writing the previous 2013 article the fate of this famous paddle steamer was unknown. Recently it was found that PS South Australian sank at her moorings in 1936 and was broken up as depicted in the article from the Chronicle, 19th March 1936, page 30. A sad ending for a noble and famous paddle steamer after 60 years service. PS South Australian being broken up

News from the P.S. Marion, P.B. Mayflower & Mannum Dock Museum from Jenny Twigden

During Autumn both the old paddle boats in Mannum have been busy plying the River Murray. A PS Marion and PW Mayflower travelling together well-attended working bee on Easter Monday saw the boats tidied up and put in good working order to travel across Lake Alexandrina to the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival, held at Goolwa over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd April. At the Festival, the weather was kind and crowds of visitors viewed and Mayflower participated in events that included taking cruises on the two Mannum paddleboats and Goolwa’s PS Oscar W. Something new on the cruising schedule for the PS Marion during May were the two Mothers’ Day lunch cruises. The passengers were entertained by a swinging jazz band on the way. The boat travelled downstream on Saturday to Murray Bridge and returned to Mannum on Sunday. Both cruises proved to be a great success, I have heard on the ‘grape vine’ that passengers especially loved the music [and the food too!] The first of the ever-popular Rockford Steam Powered Dinners was held on 26/28th May, preceded by a working bee on 20th May. The next cruising times will be on the Saturday and Sunday of the long weekend in June when Mannum pulls out all the stops for the Truck and Ute show. Jenny Twigden [I’ll be enjoying a cruise on the PS Industry that weekend!]

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 9

Owners - Michael & Maureen Gannon Boat Profile- Pauline

Pauline is a Chris Craft design, 39ft long, a classic Our Love affair timber boat – Jarrah hull with Huon pine top sides and with Pauline Queensland spotted beech on the decks. Our love for wooden It is a great cruising vessel having tripped to boats started in the first Kangaroo Island on many occasions, Port Lincoln and week of 2012 when my around St Vincent Gulf. wife Maureen and I went cruising around the At this time of its life it had a mast and stabilisers Derwent River water on her to keep her balanced in the rough waters. These ways of Hobart for a have since been removed and remain stored away. week on my brother in Pauline has a 10ft beam and 3ft 4in draft. There law & Maureen’s sister’s are twin Perkins 60hp engines, capacity 2100cc, 1929, 27ft wooden boat allowing her to cruise at about 6 knots. She has a public called Latura. From that address system, a sign from her halcyon days with the week I was hooked, it was squadron. a great way to spend a She has fuel capacity for 600 litres, one head and week, cruising during the day and pulling into small coves at night having a glass of red or shower and sleeps 6 people two or three. On returning to Adelaide in the coming months I settled back in to working life till one night in early May I started googling wooden boats for sale. Up popped Pauline for sale, she looked great and I knew nothing about wooden boats. I pursued the Patterson family over the next week but they kept telling me the same line, that they had accepted an offer on Pauline subject to a sea trial. The new owners were to be Greg and Janine Weston of Goolwa. I gave up looking for a wooden boat after this. We headed to the 2013 Wooden Boat show hoping to see Pauline. After walking out of the event and then owning up to my wife that I only wanted to come down to see if “that wooden boat Pauline was here”, she informed me we walked past a boat called Pauline so back in we went and there Pauline was tied up to the dock. We visited the 2015 Wooden Boat show for the same reason to see if Pauline was still here, again she was. Boxing day 2015 I was googling again, I put in “Pauline for sale” and up popped Pauline again. I said to my wife “that boat’s up for sale and we are going down in the morning to buy ‘that boat’”. The rest is history. JP (Johannes) Clauson, Joshua Peter Clausen, different names different spellings, was a legend of the South Australian boating industry, who meticulously built a boat for himself at his Peterhead shed in 1939 and named it after his eldest grand daughter, Pauline. Pauline was launched in Mannum, where Joshua Clausen left it for years until the Since purchasing Pauline in late December 2015 1950’s. from Greg and Janine Weston, my wife Maureen and I have had some wonderful excursions around Goolwa It was bought by grandfather Robert Patterson from Johannes Clauson in 1953 for meeting lots of new friends. I realised pretty quickly 2,000 pounds, and remained in the Patterson family for 60 years. Some members of the that you don't need to know anything about wooden Patterson family worked at JP Clausen & Sons. In the 1950’s she was moored at Walker Flat boats but you do need to know how to drink lots of red and Mannum. Pauline was later given to the son Dean Patterson who nearly sank Pauline wine. motoring her out through the Murray mouth on 17th Oct 1959. She was moored at No. 3 dock for several years before moving to the RSAYS at Port Adelaide where it remained till Being new to this type of sport we haven’t 2012. ventured too far yet, Sails Restaurant at Clayton and only going through the barrage at Easter time and Pauline for many years was the official vessel for the South Australian Yacht Squadron. headed up to the Murray mouth for a picnic on the On 17th May 2012, Pauline was purchased by Greg and Janine Weston from the boat. Pattersons, who brought her back by road transport to be berthed at Goolwa Slipway and Pauline is a great boat for entertaining. Can’t wait Marina. Here she underwent an extensive refit from top to bottom to what she is today. for more excursions and parties to be had and many Greg and Janine formed a treasured friendship with the lady herself – Pauline Clausen who new friends to be met. still visits them at Goolwa on occasions. “Backwash” or Letters to the Editor

To Tim, and Anne and members of the Wooden Boat Association of SA Dear Ed In October last year when Jim was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid This month saw the wind up of sales of both books and magazines by Leukaemia and admitted to Ashford Hospital we were overwhelmed by the the membership. These have been on sale at meetings and events for outpouring of love and concern for his welfare from our relatives and over 12 months, with the final sales undertaken at the Wooden Boat friends. This was shown in so many ways: by “get well” cards, emails, Festival. Thank you all for your purchases. phone calls, visits to him in hospital and then at home, and by gifts of food, $32.50 was donated to the restoration of the PS Canally at Morgan flowers and sincere offers of help. from the sale of second hand magazines on behalf of the membership of Then when after an all too brief period of remission, Jim was the Wooden Boat Association of SA. Additionally the sales of books readmitted to hospital. Once again you all came to the fore with such donated by a member netted $134.00 which has been paid into the uplifting, caring, wishes and prayers. account of the Clipper Ship City of Adelaide. Presidents of both associations responded within the day thanking our membership for their All of this love helped us so much to get through the last weeks and support. have continued to comfort me after Jim slipped away, too soon on his final voyage of discovery. Special thanks to Anne and Tim Potter for lugging the boxes to and fro and gathering up the kindly proffered shekels. Yours, the Treasurer. You have all been so kind and caring which has shown in so many ways. It meant a great deal to us. I would like to donate Jim’s complete set of Crow’s Nests to With love and thanks, Pauline Fowles someone (perhaps a new member). They go back to December 2000. Pauline Fowles

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 10

Betty Boop from Shaye Clark

It all started when we heard an advert on radio transom, being towed by classifieds for a boat trailer. We had been struggling with a a Land Cruiser. Having a terrible boat trailer for our fibreglass boat for many years, couple of beers under his and for the bargain price of $500, we could get a much belt he instructed his more user friendly trailer to make our pleasure boating long suffering wife to easier- or so we thought. We bundled the kid and dog in ‘pull them over’. the car, and off we went to the south east to collect our Unfortunately the cruiser bargain. appeared to be not We saw our trailer, however there was still a boat on coping with the hotter it. An uncommon looking wooden boat, that was weather and was obviously an unfinished project. Secretly I think Brendan travelling at about had already fallen in love with it. The seller informed us 15kms/hr. We were the boat was going on a bonfire pile, and there was our travelling at about 80. trailer for $500 as advertised. Sitting behind trucks resulted in them being After a quick inspection of the pending bonfire fuel, cranky at us, so the we told the seller to leave the boat on the trailer, brought decision was made to sit them both home, and so began Brendan’s affair. The stern at the top and wait for it drive came with the boat, the engine was dropped off at in ambush. 20 minutes our workshop a few weeks later. Unfortunately the bit later it finally surfaced, however attempts that joins the stern drive and the engine has not surfaced to gain their attention went unnoticed. As a last resort the UHF that lives in the glove box was used to call the name on the personalised plates. Amazingly we were on the right channel, and the driver of the cruiser responded. Discussions were made to pull over into the first parking bay on the freeway, just after Mt Barker. The man and his wife seemed a little on edge to have been flagged down and pulled over by random nutters, but compliments of his boat followed and negotiations began. On further investigation it was discovered the transom was also a different angle to ‘Betty Boop’ but never the less, we purchased the stern drive and engine, as the man was planning to convert his boat to a V8 merc. cruiser. One can never have to this day. Trailer and boat sat in the shed for 3 years, too many back up plans. Whist we were waiting for some love and affection. Finally the day came negotiating, we couldn’t help but feel we to begin its rebirth, it was decided to put it in the water to had met this man before. On asking where see if it still floated, and assess the severity of any leaks. we had to go to pick up our newly purchased unit, we discovered that it was With Brendan’s love affair of classified surfing far the same location where in fact we had from satisfied, up came a later model, complete Volvo picked up our ‘bargain trailer’ some 4 and penta stern drive unit purchased for $500. This was going a half years earlier. This man had been to solve the crisis of the missing bit, in the convenient there, at his friend’s house when we met method of bolting the new one in. A hole was cut in the Brendan’s new wife. transom (The boat seller had blocked in and fiberglassed the transom in order to convert It to mid mount shaft Lots of small talk of how small the drive), stern drive bolted on and the engine offered up, world is etc. followed, three months later only to find the engine at a peculiar angle facing the we went and collected our new engine and bottom of the boat. stern drive and other random bits that may be of use. The transom angle issue still With a bit of research it was discovered that the remains. While we were there we found transom of Betty Boop was vertical. After a certain year, out that the boat was originally built by the new boats manufactured had a transom angle of 12-15 seller’s ex girlfriend’s father, who was an degrees. The new engine and stern drive unit were from a accountant, between 1961 and 1971. It newer boat with an angled transom, which is why the was trailered to KI 3 times for use in engine was at such an angle. American River, and did a couple runs in Many hours of searching for a transom shield with a the Port river, and that is all of its known different angle was fruitless, so the decision was made use. with the help of Brendan’s dad Frank (who has now also As for the transom issue. At the end of entered this love triangle and attempted to install time May ‘Betty Boop’ is going to “Duck Flat lines) and Brian Wegener, another member of WBASA to Wooden Boats’ to have the transom angle make wedges to fit between the transom shield and the adjusted. It was decided that it is just too transom. This corrected the angle, but we now couldn’t big of a job for an amateur to attempt. In install the tilt motor or the steering as it fouled on the the meantime work continues on removing rot, replacing the roof of the cab and the transom and the rear deck. More searching, bonfire bulkhead and lots and lots of sanding. And more sanding. Progress will stall for the next potential reinstated, lots of beer drinking and then… few months as the unpaid labourer (i.e the father) is gallivanting off to UK for a holiday, Our daily commute consists of 65kms driving each however the intention is to have her ready for the Goolwa Wooden Boat festival in way, incorporating the SE Freeway. On one particular 40 2019. Progress reports will follow, when there is some progress to report, or BBQ and degree day while heading home from the daily grind, just bonfire could still be an option. below the tunnels Brendan spotted what appeared to be a wooden boat with a stern drive unit with a vertical looking

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 11 from Lindsay Dent Supporting Youth and the Young at Heart I would like to present four new ideas that could help us to get young construction or restoration of wooden boats. Whilst this could be an people involved in the world of wooden boats. Firstly, as many of you will excuse for older folks to do some boat work in between cups of tea and already know, WBASA has introduced a Young Achievers Award to the telling of yarns, it is also an opportunity to mentor young people in encourage the efforts of young people in the building, maintenance, building and floating wooden sculptures. If you would like to be involved restoration, history or use of wooden boats. We are requesting in getting this project off the ground, please contact me. applications for the first award, which we hope will be made at the Annual It was mighty impressive to see people at the recent South General Meeting in August. If you know of a suitable candidate, please Australian Wooden Boat Festival take up the opportunity to row one of direct their attention to the advertisement in this issue of The Crow’s Nest. the St. Ayles skiffs. In one scratch crew we had three generations The second new initiative is to support a sail training experience on enjoying the experience. Luke Carpenter combined with his dad David the STV One and All later this year. WBASA will provide $1100 to fully and with his mum Maria Baker’s grand-daughter Cassandra. Another sponsor a person aged between 15 and 19 years for a 5 day experience as crew had two 30 somethings from the STV One and All and my own aging one of 24 young crew members. Our hope is to provide a life-changing carcass. Most of us had not rowed before, but both crews benefitted and inspirational experience for a teenager and at the same time, to from being bracketed by the boating mastery of Robin Haldane from Pt. support our very own tall wooden ship in her 30th anniversary year. Our Lincoln in the bow and Riverside Rowing Club President Max Hoseason- cunning plan is that this might also encourage the recipient into a long- Smith on the helm. Whilst our technique was never pretty, we soon got term engagement with wooden boats. Applications are to be lodged the hang of it and would have been even better if we hadn’t been directly with the One and All team and will be simple to prepare. laughing so much. Applicants will be required to provide limited details and submit a hand- Rowing is an opportunity to get younger and older people working written statement of less than 100 words, explaining why they would like and playing together, it is good exercise, gentle on the body and the to sail on the STV One and All. Please see the advertisement elsewhere in teamwork required is good for the brain and the soul. Should you like to this issue and most importantly, show it to young people of 15-19 years of participate in a rowing team, please contact me via email age. Again, applicants need not be members of WBASA. ([email protected]) or phone (0421 493 397 or 8357 4486). Thirdly, several of our members are enthusiastic about the communal

WBASA Young Achievers Award Commencing in 2017 WBASA will be offering an Award for significant achievements by a member or potential member under 35 years of age. The award will include a cash prize of at least two hundred dollars and a certificate of merit. The aim is to support the acquisition of skills in the building, maintenance or operation of boats or in the history of wooden boats Applications are encouraged from: students in TAFE or other trade training as shipwrights students enrolled in degrees or courses in maritime engineering or archeology young boat builders or designers with demonstrated skills in a project or construction volunteers active in the restoration and/or operation of wooden boats Nominations of potential Awardees will also be accepted directly from WBASA Members. Full details of the Award, including eligibility and how to apply or nominate a candidate are available at http://wbasa.org.au

from Lindsay Dent STV One and All Sail Training Sponsorship

th CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 9:00am MONDAY 7 AUGUST 2017 members of the Association or their children, grandchildren As part of WBASA initiatives to encourage young people into the world of wooden or friends are encouraged. The selection process will be boats and to continue our support of South Australia’s Sail Training Vessel One and All in administered by the One and All team. th her 30 year, the Association will sponsor an applicant for the full cost ($1,100) of a 5 Application forms are available from Annie Roberts, day sail training voyage. The successful applicant will be one of 24 trainees and will be Operations Manager, STV One and All, supported by the professional staff and experienced volunteers that crew the STV One [email protected], ph. 0432 495 603; Lindsay and All. Dent, [email protected], ph. 0421 493 397 and The Association would like to support young people with an existing interest in the WBASA website at www.wbasa.org.au. Please note wooden boats and sailing, or those who lack opportunities in life, need a confidence that the closing date for applications is 9:00am Monday 7th boost, or who would benefit from a new direction and from learning new team and life August 2017 and applications should be submitted to: skills. STV One and All, PO Box 3214 Port Adelaide SA 5015, or Voyagers will join the crew in working the ship, keeping watch, handling sails and Email: [email protected]. much more. By the end of the voyage, the crew of 24 trainees will be able to handle the ship on their own. The sponsorship covers all on-board activities, meals, an event polo shirt, award certificate and team photograph. The Association will be represented at the awards ceremony on board the ship at the end of the voyage. A choice of one of two voyages is available to the applicant sponsored by WBASA: 2-6 October 2017, Ceduna to Adelaide (during school holidays) 20-24 November 2017, out and back from Port Adelaide (last week of school) Candidates must be 15 – 19 years of age and will be required to complete a short application form, including a brief (less than 100 words) hand-written outline of why they would like to join the Youth Voyage of the STV One and All. Applications from

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 12

From Corryong to Coorong (final) by Rick Hardy Renmark to the Murray Mouth It’s good travelling in these parts and even reaches. River Rambles have taken many of us th th though my notes remind me that it was very as far as Moorook and thus there’s little more (8 and 9 legs) - 568 km difficult to find wood for a fire. One of the for me to add so I’ll bring all this to an end but This is my last epistle in this epoch and significant downsides of the hire houseboat before doing so I admit to never having something of an anticlimax in that it covers the trade has been the consumption of most of the traversed Lake Alexandrina in Loulou under her very lowest and most familiar sections of our available fallen timber on the banks. Now as a own power although I have towed her across on river. I am concerned not to bore with, or to grumpy old man I recall a now deceased old a few occasions. At the end of these repeat, what is for some, well known. In any friend telling me that one evening he watched a peregrinations I set out in Loulou with a friend in event this episode encompasses my last two legs hire houseboat pull in to the bank, the a trailer sailer early one morning from and is included for completeness being the end occupants scatter to drag back considerable Wellington with every intention of making the of a 2,400 km journey in my little open wooden branches, the lighting of a fire which rose higher crossing but within sight of Wellington Lodge his boat Loulou. It’s a very long way and I admit to than the houseboat roof and then their retreat prop became entangled in a net which seemed doing it in steps rather than in one heroic lunge. inside the houseboat to watch television. I love to me to be entirely within the channel but nigh My excuse is that I was a working chap for most a little fire but these days you had better bring on invisible in a low boat in the choppy of the time but the truth is that the real reason your own wood. conditions. By the time he was freed, to the for taking a break was the fact that only a week There are some interesting sideshows here. detriment of the net, the conditions had of steering, camping, loading, unloading, tent At Cobdogla is situated the Humphrey Pump worsened considerably so we both scurried back setting, breaking camp and rocking and rolling which used to be operated on designated to Wellington. So a Loulou Lake crossing under generally left me quite tired. Long trips are demonstration days. I remember it on one such power remains on the still to do list. She has much easier when you do not need to set up and day and the ground pulsed with each cycle. It however, on other earlier occasions (she was dismantle your bed and tent each day. As it worked like a huge single cylinder four stroke primarily a Goolwa boat), been miles up the turned out it took more than two months to engine in which a head of water went back and Coorong and all about the Goolwa environs for travel the length of the Murray at about 8kph forth in a U tube pushed by exploding coal gas. which she was perfectly suited. Which leads me from Bringenbrong Bridge above the Hume Dam, The surface of water in the combustion to ruminate on the ideal end to end boat for the and in sight of the snow on the Alps, to the chamber worked as a piston. I watched it fill an Big Trip. I am mindful of the fact that Loulou Mouth and the sands of the Coorong. The last area the size of a tennis court to a depth of a struck at least eight snags and her prop now has bit, in this state, and particularly from Renmark metre in a matter of minutes. Of course in an ragged edges. I think a putt-putt could have to Lake Alexandrina, took only about ten days so earlier life it had supplied irrigation water to draught and prop vulnerability issues that would most of the time (about 75%) was spent Cobdogla. be difficult to repair upriver. An outboard motor interstate (or interstates between NSW and seems to me to be the go because it will kick up Victoria). Nearby is Chambers Creek (the entrance to and a spare prop can be carried and fitted. A Lake Bonney) which lies just above Lock 3 and tinny is fine for this reason but has a veed hull As most will be aware, there is no shortage was navigable in a dinghy last time I tried it. It and has considerable draught and steers poorly of civilisation on the South Australian bit so fuel was a long way in to the lake - about 10 km - when off the plane as it will be when laden. If and vittles pose no difficulties. Leaving Renmark and the only source of water for the lake. I you did not wish to camp, something like the there are a few tricky shallow bits but that is the guess the Overland Corner lock has maintained smaller Duck Flat Tennessee II could be suitable, same below each weir and lock chamber. There the level in Lake Bonney but it has also negated which is actually very like a supersized Loulou are also many groynes or training spurs. Once the natural, seasonal, rise and fall of the water with its fine easily driven lines, flat bottom and upon a time, as a juvenile, (many years ago) I through the creek in and out of the lake and very shallow draught. Although it would be easy failed to fully absorb the fact that the markers contributed to its salinity – a bit like Lake Albert. to get into trouble with a boat that size above were effectively reversed downstream and being Chambers Creek must have been far more the Hume and Yarrawonga weirs, ease of travel exhilarated by the extra speed with the current active in days gone by but is still well worth is always dependent on conditions. Any horse and the fact that I had made it to the border, I exploring. for this course would have to be trailerable in whacked a beacon quite hard amidships. I stove order to get around the Yarrawonga and the in a couple of planks above the waterline and The Overland Corner Hotel, a bit further Hume Weirs so it can’t be too large. But I must shifted the stove and created a vibration which down, is still worth a visit, especially on a hot day (I think it’s now shut on Mondays) and the say a bunk on board would be nice. I love seemed to abate but remained with me as a camping but after 50 plus nights of it I think I’ll reminder all the way back to Goolwa. Since then old distillery at 366 above lock 2 is largely intact have a rest for a while. I have always double checked the direction of and very interesting. It could tell a few stories. passage and even now I never pass a training There’s not much more that is not well Locks 13, Weirs 3, Camping nights 54, from spur beacon without a frisson of fear. known to many boat owners about these lower Bringenbrong Bridge

Latest from the P.S. Oscar W from Roly Bartlett

Well! What a wonderful time we had at the S.A.Wooden Boat Festival. of smaller fishing vessels. Here at the Oscar W workface at present it is Of course the part that was most enjoyable was experiencing all the really more of the usual: cruising, charters, wood cutting and visiting paddle wheelers cruising around during the weekend, six in all I maintenance. Indeed we are grateful no only to our “wood fairies” for believe. We were especially pleased to see the magnificent restoration their diligent cutting but also for the various landholders who work done on the Mayflower. This occasion gives a wonderful opportunity generously call us to report timber available for the collecting. In a for members of the public to enjoy and compare travelling on the recent report I highlighted the eventful mail re-enactment to Meningie different types of steamers as the Marion reminds them of the great and back by the Oscar W and Cato. Hypervision have now produced cruising days of the passenger boats and the Oscar W gives the feel of the the “footage” of that trip on DVD and this is available from the work boats and of course the Mayflower reminds us of the mosquito fleet riverboat centre or tourism office at Goolwa. Meanwhile, happy steaming from all at the Oscar W.

Editor’s Elucidations from Graham Hardy This edition has turned into something special, most probably original home of Ione II) saying that a mate of his had seen Ione II at the through the reflections of many of our members upon the SAWBF. Indeed festival. for Rosi and I on Ione II the event triggered so many aspects that define There had been a part of Ione II’s history missing from our records, the pleasures of owning a wooden boat. From the pre-event that being from the early 80’s to the mid 90’s. It tuned out that Alan maintenance, to the adventure with others on crossing the lake, to the looked after her during that period for the ageing owner Thomas Archer. event itself and the trip back to home port, all make this festival very The result? He sent me over 70 photographs of Ione II from the 30’s to special. Long may it prevail as a major bi-annual event for wooden boats. the 90’s showing changes to her configuration both internally and But there was to be more in store for usas a rsulyt of us attending. externally, together with a copy of his log book over that period. A We received a telephone call from an Alan Conn in Launceston (the precious treasure for us and the next custodian. Thank you Alan. Back to business, 2018 calendar photos please.

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 13 Monday 1st May 2017 at the Astor Hotel Summary of General Meeting MEMBERS’ NEWS: Apologies: Roger Keyes, Alex Bennett, Brian Wegener, Kevin Whitely, Tim & Anne Potter have purchased Jabiru Ursula Sombetzki, Tony & Viv Chantilly. Trevor Twigden thanked members who were marshals at the WBF. Vale – Jim Fowles, Brian Brawley He asked for comments via email for a feedback session to be held in the next few weeks. Welcome to new members: Peter Mitchell and 2 visitors with Graeme Butler. Gary Coombes will speak at the next meeting with a summary of the SAWBF. Correspondence: a letter from Pauline Fowles (circulated) Lindsay thanked Trevor and the committee for the great work done. Minutes of last meeting: published in the last Crow’s Nest. A new member Richard Sanders really enjoyed the event including TREASURERS REPORT: the breakfast at Armfield. We have 205 members Someone at Everard Park won Armfield raffle for a boat and intends Income exceeded expenditure at the WBASA tent; $1500 sales at to sell it. the tent; Kid’s knots activity was very successful as part of the John Draper has another boat which will be steam driven as well. He Pirate Trail; Anne Potter thanked all the volunteer helpers has lots of bits & pieces for sale. who were so welcoming to all visitors After the break, several members presented information about various Swamp Chick was sold to Rob Bowring activities EDITOR: Graham would like tales from the SAWBF as well as photos. He Trevor mentioned there were over 100 volunteers at the boat festival also would like calendar photos, with an eye to women skippers. and many council staff volunteered for the Pirate Trail. COMING EVENTS: Elizabeth Nicholls spoke about the PS South Australia and will provide an article for Crow’s Nest. Meningie to Narrung 13-14th May – please speak to Lindsay tonight Young Achievers Award – Lindsay Dent spoke about his ideas to if you are attending. foster youth in the wooden boat world. Please check the Crow’s PS Industry charter 10-12 June – please inform Lindsay if you Nest and the website for details. would like to attend. He also suggested that WBASA could fund a young sailor on the 8-9 July Moonlight Run can be linked with the following weekend One & All for November. at Punyelroo; they need to know numbers soon. Lindsay also suggested WBASA build and row a St. Ayles skiff. nd 22 July – Wentworth Junction Rally Meeting closed at 9.12pm Next meeting: 26th June 2017 Astor Hotel, 20-21st August Morgan to Cadell Adelaide 6.30pm for dinner.

A Good News Story the Cutter “Victoria” Many members will recall our Echuca event during which we visited the property of (the now sadly deceased) Warwick Turner. Amongst an amazing collection of all things nautical or steam sat, way out in a paddock, the cutter Victoria on her trailer. In our August 2015 edition of Crow’s Nest we put out a plea for anyone to save this fine vessel. As editor I heard nothing and had assumed the worst. It is therefore with absolute delight that I find that Warwick had gifted Victoria to the Axel Stenross Museum –Ed

Sail and Oar Naval Cutter Victoria rubber (sponson) was taken off and repaired. The false keel was also removed (permanently). The transom was repaired and the height lifted. Built by Savage Boat Builder, Williamstown, Vic. 1944. Dimensions of Working along the full length of the boat the ribs were repaired by 30' by 8'6". laminating and gluing and each rib was doubled up. New thwarts and The cutter was gifted to the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum of Pt. centre case have been installed, ahead of removing the deck. Lincoln, S.A. by Warwick Turner of Echuca in 2016. Axel Stenross After an initial inspection by the Museum boat restorer, the decision Maritime Museum was made to accept her for restoration and bring her up to seaworthy Ph (08) 8682 3624 standard. The Museum volunteers drove to Echuca, using their trailer to bring her to her new home, and work started on the restoration in mid February, 2017. The first job was to clear out the floor timbers that supported the steam engine installed by the Turner Family. The stem -

Victoria as we saw her on Warwick Turner’s property in 2015

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 14

Action at Armfield Slip from Bob Jennings Multitasking activities are keeping busy the burgeoning membership Peter Shipside and Ted Becket have replaced rot-affected thwarts, of Armfield Slip, despite challenging weather kicking in to make life knees and decking on the ex-Navy cutter and one of our new members challenging at the shed. has rewired the electrics. With up to 25 people, including half a dozen or so new members There have been some expressions of interest from people involved attending, the committee has been busy developing projects for all in making the sequel to the film Storm Boy in looking at the restored concerned. fishing boat used in the original, 1976 film. The toy group has swung back into full production replenishing stocks of the model paddle steamer kits following almost a sell out during This boat was restored by Armfield about five years ago and has been the Wooden Boat Festival. Deane Leicester is grooming a new member to offered for use. Geoffrey Rush will be one of the stars of the new film take over this vital source of funding. Michael Dearing, who headed the Storm Boy boat restoration is also now heading a group rebuilding a clinker putt-putt which will be offered for Bill Johns has completed the new mast for the gaff rigged cutter, sale on completion. Meanwhile, the carvel putt-putt which is now sitting Untama, and the new stick has been raised, not without some difficulty in on a new trailer is being offered at a new, sub-$9000 price. So Armfield is re-rigging the spaghetti junction at the top of the mast involving shrouds, fulfilling its role of preserving traditional wooden boat building skills and stays, halyards and lazy jacks. Now some further maintenance work is encouraging the use of these craft. being carried out to make her ready for the sailing season.

PAINTING YOUR OWN BOAT OR JUST NEEDING ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO? With over 40 years of experience in boat paints, GDB are the people to see for market leading International paints and paint related products including Sikaflex, Nuplex composites, 3M GDB are also available to assist members! Marine painting accessories & epoxy resin Contact David or Graeme GDB Services Pty. Ltd. - The Yacht and Boat Paint Specialists Phone 08 8244 0155 See our website www.gdbservices.com.au or email [email protected]

Marine Heritage Engineering We provide  General metal machining services for the manufacture and repair of propeller shafts keyways and the fitting of propellers as well as your general machining requirements.  Brass etched names plates for instrument panels and general brass plate labelling Roy Duncan Phone 0427187547 email [email protected].

WBASA Inc. Merchandise WBASA Clothing : More colours and sizes now available. We offer to arrange the embroidering of the WBASA logo and /or your boat name on your selected garment. Price dependent on your request but about $7.00 per line. Rugby tops: with denim collars $50 .00 Polo shirts: $30.00 Monogrammed Polar vests: $40.00 glasses $6.00 ea. Just Hoodies: $35.00 T Shirts: 15.00 the thing for that Caps: $15.00 WBASA Burgees: $25.00 warming winter tipple WBASA Wooden Plaques: $20.00 WBASA Universal Wine Tasters: Etched with WBASA logo $36.00 per half doz. or $ 6.00ea. WBASA Stubbie Holders: WBASA Logo on face $3.50 WBASA The First 20 Years: Our history by Peter Shipside and Bob Jennings. $10.00

Enquiries to Anne Potter on 0405 418 710 [email protected] or visit the website www.wbasa.org.au Merchandise available at meetings or ordered through the Association

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 15

WBASA Inc. Association General Information. Welcome to New Members May Michael Gannon, owner of 36ft cruiser Pauline, built by Clausens for their own use

April & at the Wooden Boat Festival Bob and Von Morriss, from Goolwa owners of cabin cruiser Toby Peter and Jane Mitchell, who own Kooraka, 31ft Mundoo II cruiser Michael Arbon, owner of Goldie with a Stuart turner twin Bruce Tonkin, who owns Turella, 30ft carvel cruiser originally from Qld

March Vanessa Peterson— So far the only communication from Vanessa is an EFT payment for her membership. We have not received any membership forms so are not able to add her to the mailing list. Anyone know Vanessa? Can she please contact [email protected]?

Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Wooden Boat Association of SA will be held at the Astor Hotel, Pulteney Street Adelaide, on Monday 28th August 2017, beginning at 7.45 pm.” WBASA Banking Details Banking details for the Wooden Boat Association of SA are Bank SA BSB: 105-025 Acct No: 121901440. If you make an EFT payment, please add details to the payment which include your surname and a word (or two) describing the purpose of the payment. If you pay in monies at a Bank SA branch, ask the staff to write a description.

General Meetings Crow's Nest Deadlines The Association meets on the last Monday of even months at the Your projects, voyages, ideas, boating tales, Boat Profiles, Recipes, Astor Hotel, except the October meeting at Goolwa. As usual the Backwash (letters to the editor), requests for information and adverts are meeting starts at 7.45pm and most people arrive at about 6.30pm for all good subjects and welcome by the deadline of Friday 28th July 2017 dinner. Please order by 7.00pm. for the August edition. Please keep your articles to around 1000 words. Photos encouraged. Committee Meetings Contact our editor Graham Hardy. Ph. 0412 822 055 or [email protected] The committee meets on the last Monday of odd months at Auchendarroch, Mount Barker from 6.30pm for dinner; meeting commences at 7.45pm. If you would like to meet with your committee Membership ring someone on the committee to check the time and venue. Membership Full/Family $40; Country (>100km from Adelaide) $35; Concession $35. Website Members Section For membership information contact our Membership Officer A reminder that access to your Members’ Section of our WBASA Alex Bennett for information and forms. website is:- USER NAME: members PASSWORD: WBASA16 Ph. 0408 856 174 or [email protected],au or go to the website www.wbasa.org.au for an application form. Your 2016 – 2017 WBASA Inc. Committee

President Tim Potter 0439 847 698 [email protected] Secretary Rosi Hardy 0412 792 767 [email protected] Treasurer Anne McCutcheon 0418 895 993 [email protected] Membership Alex Bennett 0408 856 174 [email protected] Editor Graham Hardy 0412 822 055 [email protected] Events Lindsay Dent 0421 493 397 or 8357 4486 [email protected] Merchandise Anne Potter 0405 418 710 [email protected] Other members Roy Duncan 0427 187 547 [email protected] Peter Richards 0429 649 055 [email protected]

Website Alan Boman 0408 014 234 or 8278 4109 [email protected]

Crow’s Nest June 2017 Page 16 Members’ Advertisements Crow’s Nest circulation is approximately 250. We will advertise members’ boats and accessories for sale, or items wanted, free of charge. If you have a boat or bits for sale, contact the editor 0412 822 055 The web site and the Crow’s Nest advertisements are integrated, therefore if you place an advertisement in one it will automatically appear in the other for the two month period between Crow’s Nest issues. Commercial advertisements for non-members are $20.00 if a photograph or graphics are included, $15.00 if text only. Members who place private advertisements are free. Members who wish to place a commercial advertisement will be given a $5.00 discount.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTACT THE EDITOR IF YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR ADVERTISEMENT REPEATED.

BOAT TRAILER WANTED AGNES Whitehall 14’6” Sailing Boat I have had a project boat down in Built in 1985 by Allan Brooker— the Mundoo Channel at Goolwa for a Adelaide. while now and would like to try and move it back to Adelaide if I can find a Oregon strip planking, sheaved suitable trailer to borrow or hire. with fibreglass to Gunwale. Varnished interior. Drop centre board. McFarlane The boat details: sail - sprit rig, main and jib. 7 meters long On very good trailer. 5 hp 4 stroke 2.7 wide (beam) outboard, two hours use if required. Around a 3 foot draft Estimated weight, between 2.5 and 3 tonne (motor has been removed) $7,500 without outboard, $9,000 with. Attached a photo of the boat from it's hey day, it looks significantly more barnacle encrusted now. Contact: Doug Pelliser 0447 547 202 Contact: Simon Mags [email protected] ORANA A wooden boat with a dry TRAILER BOAT The boat is about hull! Hartley cruiser 10m long 4.7 m long. Lapstrake hull 0.25m draught. (fiberglassed by the previous owner) The convenience of a has a Yanmar 1.5 diesel engine, 2 small houseboat with the prop shafts, rudder, window trim and speed of a cruiser. some bits and pieces. Sleeps 5, galley, 3 way The boat is sound and doesn't fridge, toilet, depth sounder, need much work. comes with a solid GPS, DVDTV, 1600cc 45hp and heavily galvanised trailer with functioning lights but not currently Ford Sea Panther diesel. 70L registered. Asking for $1500. fresh water, 160Lfuel. All safety gear, Grey and black water compliant. Contact: Chris [email protected] $27,000. Phone 0439 847 698

GIVE AWAY DIESEL ENGINE PEARL Sea Panther 4 cylinder 1600 cc inline direct injection diesel engine 25 Want to own a part of hp. It is a Watermota Sea Panther including driveshaft and propeller and maritime history? Pearl classic original manual. It was removed from Key Largo some 15 years ago. It 1945 timber fishing boat was seized and still is. I have taken off the head but still have all the parts. originally used around Kangaroo Island then moved to Contact Peter Gibberd 0414 821 613 [email protected] Pt. Lincoln where it was converted to a motor sailer. WOODEN MAST Cabin beautifully fitted out with jarrah timber, sleeps 3 Seven metre wooden mast, diamond stayed, Oregon, hollow con- people. Jarrah planked below water line, oregon topsides over spotted struction. Complete with fittings and halyards. gum ribs. Deck is 1/2" marine plywood over oregon deck beams. Cabin and topsides marine plywood over oregon beams. Length 30' (9.23m), Phone Jane or Rob on 0428 450 409 to view/make an offer. beam 10' (3.5m), draft 5'6" (1.69m), sloop rig with full set of sails including a spinnaker. Fitted with one 80hp Ford Lees diesel, fully WEEROOPA marinised, the motor is coupled to a Borge Warner 1 to 1 hydraulic Weeroopa was built in 1935 by gearbox, the shaft connected to gearbox is 1 1/4 Monnel Metal 'Scrubby' Harris past commodore of the connected direct to the gearbox. Recently fitted brand new Core Cooling Port Adelaide Sailing Club. heat exchanger, brand new stainless steel exhaust, brand new alternator, new throttle cable, new auto bilge, 2 new marine batteries This is a beautiful well built well connected to 80 watt solar panel, recently fully serviced, excellent maintained timber boat and has been condition. protected by full covers throughout her life. Inside she has strong ribs and beauti- Deck winch 12-volt electric fitted forward below deck, standard fully laid up timbers. instruments as fitted and supplied with the Ford Lees Motor. Navigation lights to conform to Marine and Harbour regulations. A 27 Meg GME She has a basic setup with some Electrophone Radio, Furuno GPS, Furuno colour echo sounder, Plastimo modern comforts built in. For example a 100 Auto pilot, mild steel fuel tank capacity 225 litres, second tank also plumbed in head, galley, and side table mild steel construction 190 litre capacity. Small bar fridge 240 volt. All that can be put between the two front bunks with brand new high density foam, new wool carpet throughout, berths. Weeroopa had a complete refit in head in working order, plenty of storage. Safety equipment includes 2003 which included 74 new ribs, new stringers, 2600 new copper nails/ flares, 2 anchors of suitable size, 2 electric bilge pumps, 2 fire roves, 150 new silicon bronze screws to the garboard planks and transom, extinguishers, Celestial compass, EPIRB, new windows in front cabin, all raked and fully recalked top to bottom, new cabin sole /galley / bunks/ new stainless steel rudder shaft, slipped in October 2016. Marine bulkhead and chart table. She was fully rewired using tinned copper, mast surveyor provided a valuation report in 2002 for insurance purposes and totally rebuilt. New pushpit, pulpit, dodger, cruising sun awning full boat boat is currently insured and moored in Whyalla, South Australia. covers boom to toe rail, new head sail. Length 30 feet o/all (9.15m). Hull jarrah below, oregon above. $23,500 ONO $29,500. Contact: Darren Linke Mob: 0418 805 740 [email protected] Contact: Michelle 0419 034 756 [email protected]