Just messing around in boats, particularly old boats
The Living Boat Trust (LBT) is dedicated to keeping Tasmania’s marine heritage alive and to maintaining traditional boat building, repairing, rowing and sailing skills. Find us on the banks of the Huon River at Franklin in southern Tasmania. We celebrate the history and beauty of this area (and its boats), strive for a sustainable way of life for all concerned and to be a vital part of our community (and the boats).
Videos and Slides
Latest News
- Monday night Mediterranean
Which recipe? Depends on which bit of the Mediterranean you choose to focus on, and there are many. Bring your Spanish, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Levant, or North African dish (to name just a few) after 6pm, along with something to drink and $5. Maybe Shakshuka? - Spotted on the banks of the Derwent
Last week an LBT member was taking a cruise on the Spirit of Hobart when they spotted a large, interesting looking, wooden boat being restored down on Macquarie Point. It is the ‘Mistral II’, and the restoration has employed boat builders from Franklin for a number of years. We asked Matt Gogarty to supply us… Read more: Spotted on the banks of the Derwent - Tasmanian Community Fund supports the Grebe build
JP and Tom Davidson write: Some of you will have noticed that the LBT is alive with Franklin Primary School children working on the Grebe in the shed extension. Yesterday the first group of Year 5 students went down to the Living Boat Trust to start positioning station molds for our timber boat. They received… Read more: Tasmanian Community Fund supports the Grebe build - Lady Dot back from the brink
After years of languishing in the reeds she was looking pretty sad – in need of lots of love and attention. Fortunately she had a champion at hand – Peter Tonkin who has just returned a barely recognisable Lady Dot to the verandah. Peter supplied all required timber and consumables. There is still a little… Read more: Lady Dot back from the brink - Dover Skiff
JP writes: The scramble to get boats ready for the TN27 has started: in Dover! A few weeks ago a group of up to 12 St Ayles Skiff rowers from Augusta (Western Australia) expressed an interest in participating in the TN27. That’s at least 2 boatloads full! Hence the LBT needed access to an additional… Read more: Dover Skiff - Steamers run, Gippsland Lakes, February 2026
Written by the LBT crew Six skiffs + two other wooden craft; about 45 people and 100 km of rowing over five days – the steamers run provided the opportunity to explore the Gippsland waterways and tributaries. Crews from England, Perth, Denmark (W.A), Lake Macquarie, Melbourne and of course Tasmania had a great time both… Read more: Steamers run, Gippsland Lakes, February 2026 - News from the Wooden Boat Festival
The AWBF have just sent out their February 2026 newsletter, and you can read it >>here<<. All sorts of stories including an item about the New Norfolk Regatta, complete with historic photo. It reminded us that once the Shipwrights Point Regatta was just as big, with the steam ferries lining up to let off the… Read more: News from the Wooden Boat Festival
Resources
- Tas Met Bureau (BOM)
- Castle Forbes Bay Weather
- Meteye Franklin Forecast
- Meteye text – for phones
- Windy for Franklin
- Tides for Castle Forbes Bay
- WillyWeather tides, wind etc
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