This album shows life at the LBT workshop. Originally the carpenters' shed at Tarraleah, it was donated to the Trust by the Hydro Tasmania, through the offices of Forestry Tasmania, and was transported to the Living Boat Trust's lease at Franklin by Forestry Tasmania and Hazell Brothers. The Workshop was completed in 1995 through the generosity of members of the community of the Huon and southern Tasmania who offered considerably reduced quotations for work and materials and donated time and money.


Now every Monday night volunteers gather in hail, snow or shine to work on projects under way. From 5 pm to 9 pm it is the busy focus of a team of volunteers who work to maintain our boats and to complete new projects. In addition to messing about with boats, it is a convivial meeting time with a meal provided (cost $10, $12 non-members) by a similarly enthusiastic volunteer cook.


The Gretchen has been out of the water for some time and is nearing completion of long overdue maintenance which inevitably became a serious restoration. She will be a fully functional day sailer capable of overnight trips up and down the Huon. This delightful Atkins gaff rigged leeboard day sailer is easily sailed and could be a useful addition to our fleet. She has had a new stem laminated, shaped and installled and her cockpit is being modified and deepened to afford more protection for Tasmania conditions.


The Matilda is out on the water and still awaits installation of her Simplex motor.


The Rowan has been refurbished and is back in service again as a safety boat with our new outboard thanks to the generosity of Bailey Marine in Huonvilee.


Recently we commenced a daytime volunteer workshop on Tuesdays from 10 am to 3 pm and this
has increased our work capacity dramatically with Peter Laidlaw in attendance as resident boat builder. All of our fleet has been maintained over the past six months and now a new project has been commenced, the building of a plywood cabin cruiser, the Sea Knight. The Sea Knight is taking shape rapidly. This project is sponsored by one of the Tuesday workshop group who was very keen to see the group continue so is paying the boatbuilder’s wages while this project lasts.


While not a tradtional boat by any means it is a valid boat building exercise. Althogh some may argue that this style of buiding boats has been around for long enough now to quallify as traditional. Certainly the demand is there to build boats using a variety of techniques and after all the basic techniques and skills are there in all of them. Part of the strategic plan development is to identify ways to fund the buildilng of traditonal boats but first we have to have a use for them.



In addition, an Oughtred designed St Ayles skiff has been commenced as part of a grant from the Huon Valley Health Services Advisory Committee for the Franklin Women on Water. Here the stock has been constructed ready for the CNC forms to be erected. This exciting project is beginnig to take shape.


A dedicated expedition boat is high on the boat building agenda, and perhaps a dedicated sail and row training safety boat.


We were fortunate in receiving a $10,000 grant from the Tasmanian Community Fund in 2010 for the purpose of completing the verandah. Plans were drawn up by Huon Drafting and the shed was largely built by Pieter Lunsted with oversight by local builder James Males. This addition has allowed us to work outside even over the winter, is used during the OWP to shelter students from the weather and allows visitors shelter as they enter the workshop.


Recently the evening workshop, under the direction of Pieter Lunstedt, has transformed the toilet area into a shower/toilet and a changeroom, and has installed a separate sink in the workshop area.


In addition, the kitchen has had a new floor installed to comply with food preparation standards and the cupboards will also undergo improvements to comply with food preparation requirements. A gas cooker and a dishwasher have also been installed.


Baslec Electrical have upgraded our power supply to 3 phase 415 V. We are grateful for their expert reliable and prompt service. We have recently acquired a large 600 mm three phase thicknesser, which is unsuitably housed under the verandah at present. It obviously needs to be housed in a machine area to protect residents and workers from noise and dust.


For more information click here and for pictures, in 2009 click here and 2010 click here

 
 

LBT workshop Franklin