Last Hundred Posts

(If you want to see everything back to 2013, check out this archive).

• What’s going on at the WBC?
  Read the latest newsletter from the Wooden Boat Centre >>here<<. There is lots of exciting activity. A good thing to do is to stroll over to our neighbours and join up for a mere $25.
• ‘Backroads’ in the Huon Valley Thursday night
  Many people will remember that the ABC ‘Baclkroads’ team came visiting and filming earlier in the year. We can see the results of their work on Thursday night at 8pm on Channel 2, and of course after that there will be repeats and the opportunity to see this episode on iView.
• Sister ribs for Monty
  This should help to stiffen her up.
• Tas Land Conservancy
  Next Tuesday Endra O’May is taking a weeding party from the Tas Land Conservancy to do gorse control on the Egg Islands. It is a reminder that this is a very good group to join if you are interested in our amazing natural environment. See their homepage >>here<<.
• Monday night Mediterranean
  Bring your best pastas and other winter fare after 6pm with something to drink and $5 for the kitty. Or come earlier and join the happy crew working on the Tawe Nunnugah boats and get a free meal.
• Winter fantasies
  Fantasising about escaping these freezing mornings with a trip to the tropics? Indulge the idea by joining Jim Woods as he plans a trip from Hobart to the Louisiade Archelago in his cray boat >>here<<.
• Nancy under the marque
  We’ve been covering her up and trying to get her dry so that we can do some minor repairs on the hull, but some how that naughty water keeps sneaking in. It’s not quite the atomic solution but it is a biggy – the roof of the marquee covering her. Maybe we will be lucky… Read more: Nancy under the marque
• Monday Work Group
  Good progress last Monday on scraping, sanding and painting Monty. Come along next week after 10 am and join in the fun – all sorts of work to be done to prepare the TN27 fleet.
• Naidoc Week
  Late notification of events coming up next week. See flyers below for details.
• Monday night Asian meal
  The Monday night dinner subcommittee have met and after lengthy deliberation decided that an Asian meal is what we all need. It will be interesting to see what turns up – sweet and sour chicken, gado gado, laksa, Singapore noodles? Bring you dish and something to drink. If you are part of the crew working… Read more: Monday night Asian meal
• Sunday Movie at the Palais: Back to the Future
  Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly, who is accidentally sent thirty years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean built by his eccentric scientist friend, Doc Brown.
• June AWBF Newsletter
  Read the latest from the Australian Wooden Boat Festival >>here<<. There is a reminder to those who want their boats to be part of the Festival that they will need to >>register their boat<<, and lots else besides. Are you interested in running a food stall, or is traditional Japanese carpentry more your line? Have… Read more: June AWBF Newsletter
• Progress on the Shed floor
  Keith Thomas-Wurth writes: The Geo-tech survey of the earth inside the shed and a couple outside was done yesterday. We have to wait for the official report but the overall results were promising. The subsoil seems to be compacted so not subject to any significant movement.
• Monday night BBQ
  You can’t have too many BBQ’s at this time of year, so let’s have another one. Come around 6pm with your dish to share, something to drink, $5 for the kitty, and (of course) something to chuck on the hotplate.
• June Committee Minutes
  Read ’em >>here<<
• Membership dues 2026-27
  The LBT financial year ends in June, which is when all members need to pay their annual fees. Notices will be sent out. Here are the details. MEMBERSHIP TYPESIndividual – $90 per yearAssociate – $40 per yearFamily -$150 per yearWorkshop – $20 per yearGroup – $120 per year Associate memberships are for people who are… Read more: Membership dues 2026-27
• Midwinter at the LBT
  A good night for a bonfire.
• Monty in the Shed
  Lots of scraping and sanding, and Dennis has made a start. And that’s not all: Dave Padgett left us an extensive job list after the February miniRaid. So let’s get going: come and join in the fun next Monday. JP will be there coordinating from 9am on. The really good news is that the workers… Read more: Monty in the Shed
• Under wraps
  LBT members could justifiably ask why Nancy has been up on blocks for so long. The reason is that we need her to dry right out so that we can do a little work on the keel, and try as we might we can’t seem to keep water from sneaking in under the tarpaulins and… Read more: Under wraps
• BYO BBQ 1pm Sunday, Wooden Boat Centre
  Tim Blumfield writes: The Wooden Boat Guild will be visiting the Wooden Boat Centre on Sunday 21st June and will be hosting a BYO barbecue at the Centre from 1pm. WBC and LBT members are invited so come along and celebrate the Winter Solstice at the WBC in the company of other wooden boat enthusiasts.… Read more: BYO BBQ 1pm Sunday, Wooden Boat Centre
• Monday night midwinter BBQ
  Midwinter, and there are plans for a bonfire. Bring a stick or two of wood to add to the inferno. You can cook your sausages over that, or on the grill. See you around 6pm with your dish, something to drink and $5 for the kitty.
• Boat shed sale
  Those of us who helped clear the Shed so that floor can be concreted unearthed all sorts of treasures which we don’t (and will probably never) use. Mike Hewitt is helping organise a sale on November 2nd so that we can share the joy of these treasures around. He is looking for assistants: please contact… Read more: Boat shed sale
• Curry night on Monday
  Thank goodness it has come around again – it was time for a good hot curry. Bring yours, $5 for the kitty and something to drink to the Shed after 6pm for a 6.30pm start.
• Where are Abel Tasman and 5 Bells?
  They are snugged away at Jim Atkinson’s place to help the Southport Community get a rowing program going.
• Maritime Museum talk July 7
  Old friend of the Living Boat Trust Peter Manthorpe will be giving a talk at the Museum on this date, 10-1pm ‘In this Lunchtime Talk, Peter will reflect on a career that has taken him from big ships to tall ships to tugboats. He will tell you all about the Hobart tugs, how they work… Read more: Maritime Museum talk July 7
• Charlotte Cove working bee
  Pics from Henk Brolsma. JP straightens the porch. Getting new tin on the roof.
• Charlotte Cove working bee Monday 8th
  Earn your dinner by coming to the next working bee at Charlotte Cove after 10am next Monday. A good deal of progress has been made on restoring the Scout house and shed, and the job is getting close to being finished. If you haven’t been before, the location is >>here<<.
• Monday night Mediterranean
  Mediterranean says it all – a wide palette to choose from. Bring your plate, $5 for the kitty, and something to drink after 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Pic from Wikimedia
• Expressions of Interest for TN27 closed
  A healthy number of people have expressed interest in the Raid. In due course they will receive an invitation to participate (and pay!). As the EOI form states: Completing the EOI does not commit you to anything or mean you have booked or reserved a place – this will be done later using our on-line… Read more: Expressions of Interest for TN27 closed
• Palais movie night Sunday 7th June
  The Art of Racing in the Rain Seems that after ‘Dean Spanley’ we are going to get a follow up doggy movie. ‘A heartwarming tale narrated by Enzo, a wise and witty golden retriever with a deep love for auto racing. He shares the inspiring journey of his owner Denny, a talented race car driver… Read more: Palais movie night Sunday 7th June
• AWBF May newsletter
  Read the latest from the Wooden Boat Festival >>here<<. Good to see that they have used a picture of Old Digger, restored by our very own Peter Laidlaw, as their lead graphic.
• May Committee meeting draft minutes
  Read them >>here<<.
• Cost of participating on TN27
  At the May LBT Committee meeting it was decided that the nightly charge for TN27 should be $170, slightly more than for TN25 principally to cover increased fuel costs. So, if you are doing the full nine nights on the main Raid the cost will be $1530, and if you are doing the full 5… Read more: Cost of participating on TN27
• Franklin School Grebe build
  The Tasmanian Community Fund are sponsoring the build underway in the annex, and they have a nice item in their newsletter about it: read it >>here<<.
• Up early Friday morning
  Matt and Jack towing 5 Bells and Abel Tasman to Southport.
• Help wanted Tuesday morning
  Mike Dredge writes: ‘The wood for the kids’ boat build is to be trucked into the LBT on Tuesday morning, at about 10 am, and we’d be grateful for any help we can get to sort and stack it.  The pack we selected contains 20 planks of 30 mm thick timber, planks between 5.5 and… Read more: Help wanted Tuesday morning
• Not waiting around for that concrete floor
  With almost everything temporarily stored over at the Water Sheds, Ed Wykeman and team have taken the opportunity to sort out the sailing gear, resolving various mysteries along the way. Is there a jib for Black Swan, and does that rudder match any of our boats?
• Kerrawyn dismasted
  Lot’s of activity down at the pontoon on Wednesday as David Golding had the mainmast from Kerrawyn and his couta boat Pelican lifted out for repair.
• Monday night British
  It will officially be winter, and unofficially dreary British weather has moved in, so lets resign ourselves and eat some of their grub. Bring your plate, $5 for the kitty and something to drink after 6pm.
• Port Esperance Sailing Club news
  Or is it the Port Esperance Rowing Club? Their latest newsletter reports that in the dead calm weather we have been experiencing they have taken to the oars in their new Skiff. Hope they don’t wear it our before Tawe Nunnugah. Read about this and other news >>here<<
• Raid Boat Team
  JP writes: ‘At its recent meeting the LBT Committee decided that bringing the Raid Boats up to Tawe Nunnugah standard is a priority. To achieve this, a new working group is being formed specifically to work on the Raid Boats each Monday (i.e. the Raid Boat Team). If you are interested in being part of… Read more: Raid Boat Team
• Couple of announcements from the Committee
  The LBT committee met last night and the hot goss is that:
• Barbecue coming up
  Week four in the month means barbecue. Bring your makings, a dish to share, $5 for the kitty and something to drink after 6pm
• Another bit of maritime history – scallop fishing
  Having watched ‘Trading out of Hobart’ Matt Gogarty recommended Scallop Fishing in Australia which has a particular emphasis on the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
• More about the Arthur River Expedition
• Bert’s Pop Up Boatyard
  Jack Witte was scanning the contents of the latest Watercraft magazine (read it >>here<<) when he spotted a familiar name. Many of us remember Bert fondly from his time with us building a Dutch boat for the 2017 Wooden Boat Festival. Might be worth buying the magazine for Bert’s story (and the others look good… Read more: Bert’s Pop Up Boatyard
• LBT Fridge
  Back in the days when we worked in ‘The Department’ the office fridge used to slowly ice up and accumulate bits of lunches and left over snacks through the year, until somebody’s nerve finally cracked around Christmas time and they defrosted it and cleaned it up. The LBT fridge had arrived at that Christmas time… Read more: LBT Fridge
• TN27 News
  The number of people we can accommodate on the Raid is around 120. About 120 expressions of interest have already been submitted – 20 in the last week. We know that there are various people (safety boat drivers, catering crew) who are not on the list yet. At some stage we will need to put… Read more: TN27 News
• Monday night curry
  It could be a chicken tikka marsala from Glasgow, a korma from Madras, a satay from Malaysia or one of countless curries from around the world. Or something complementary. The choice is yours. Bring your dish on Monday around 6pm to the Shed along with $5 for the kitty and something to drink.
• Arthur River expedition
  Endra and Dennis have organised some ripper expeditions in the recent past – the last one to >>Lake St Clair<<. They are at it again, with a five day trip to the Arthur River and environs in North West Tasmania on the drawing boards. Pencil in the 22nd – 26th October, and speak to them… Read more: Arthur River expedition
• Holiday in Hobart Opportunity
  Endra O’May writes:
• Trading ketches
  With daylight saving ended and the evening sun sinking not long after 5pm the season for armchair sailing has arrived. A good way to start it is by viewing a couple of oral history videos about the coastal trade. They were made by Gary Kerr a couple of decades ago when there were still plenty… Read more: Trading ketches
• Going places with Lily Barnett
  Many of us remember Lily as the teenage daughter of Ros, back when Ros was effectively coordinator of the Trust and organised a couple of Tawe Nunnugahs. Lily shot a very nice video of the 2013 Raid. She has since gone on to bigger things, including being a Pennicott skipper out on the Tasman Peninsula.… Read more: Going places with Lily Barnett
• More than 90 EOI’s for Tawe Nunnugah
  Yep, we’ve hardly advertised and they are rolling in 7 months ahead of the event. Don’t forget to submit yours – find the form on the TN27 webpage >>here<<.
• Mid month Mediterranean on Monday
  Yep, it is that time again. Bring your hearty winter dish, now that the indian summer we had been enjoying is over, plus $5 for the kitty and a bottle – Chianti would be appropriate. After 6pm.
• Skiffs – from Tin Can Bay to Augusta
  Perusing the results from a recent competition shows participation from crews ranging from south-east Queensland to Western Australia via Tasmania – not a bad geographical spread! Of course the LBT was right up there.
• Wooden Boat Centre activity
  The team have just finished laying a new deck on a large ‘plastic boat’ tied up on the Greg Guy wharf. It really is very nice and worth a look. Good article about it in Southern Wooden Boat Sailing >>here<<.
• Social Event in Shed Saturday afternoon
  Shouldn’t affect anybody, but the Shed will be used for a family occasion from 12 noon through to about 2.30pm on May 2nd.
• Monday night British
  If you have lost track of where we are up to in the year then the LBT menu roster is here to help you. By Monday we will have started into May which means it’s back to British. Bring your baked beans and chips, something to drink and $5 for the kitty after 6pm.
• AWBF April newsletter
  Read the latest from the Australian Wooden Boat Festival >>here<<. As usual lots of good stories, including one about our very own Tawe Nunnugah, and an invitation to submit an EOI if you wish your boat to be part of the festival..
• Tas Men’s Shed Grant
  Thanks to the Tasmanian Men’s Shed Association for the $5,465 grant for ancillary lifting equipment and a mobile gantry. Wooden boats are heavy, so this will save a few backs, besides being a safer option than a collection of chain blocks.
• Aged Care Community Consultation
  When: Monday May 4th, 2.30 – 3.30pm Where: Franklin Bowls and Community Club, 3395 Huon Hwy See flyer below for details Franklin Aged Care Community Consultation We invite everyone in the Franklin community who is over 65 to attend, and their family, friends and neighbours, to discuss aged care needs in the community. When: Monday… Read more: Aged Care Community Consultation
• Sunday movie at the Palais: Dean Spanley
  ‘A reminder that our next movie night at the Franklin Palais is this Sunday, 3 May with doors open at 6pm and the movie getting underway at 6:30pm. ‘”Dean Spanley” In this 2008 comedy-drama set in Edwardian England. Strained weekly visits between the emotionally distant, grieving father Horatio Fisk (Peter O’Toole) and his dutiful son Henslowe (Jeremy Northam) take an unexpected… Read more: Sunday movie at the Palais: Dean Spanley
• LBT Monday night dinner April 27th: change of plan
  Dinner for this night was originally advertised as a BBQ , forgetting that we had planned to have carbonara using food stock left over from the Anzac morning breakfast. So we all (except for the cooks) get a night off from the kitchen. Bring $20 and a bottle. Proceeds to go to Legacy.
• Mr Cool takes advantage of the warm
  The Franklin Frosties seem happy to ignore the season and the weather, but we were impressed with this pic of Ryan taking advantage of the current indian summer we are experiencing, beer in hand.
• The work goes on
  The Shed may have been stripped out in preparation for the concrete floor, but wooden boats wait for no man (or woman) and the maintenance work still goes on inside.
• Boat award for Smithy
  Many of the us remember Ian and Trish visiting us in the second half of last year so that Ian could supervise a dinghy build over at the WBC. We saw them often on Monday evenings. Ian has just won the Classic Boat (UK) ‘Modern Classic’ award for his Ranger class ‘Volunteer’. Read all about… Read more: Boat award for Smithy
• Charlotte Cove working bee
  Another successful working bee, with LBT volunteers shoring up the corner of the shed with concrete reinforcement, installing new guttering, and replacing a patch of rotten boards.
• Curry night starting 6.30pm on Monday
  Last Monday, after earnest debate, a vote was held and the Assembly decided that meals will be served at 6.30pm instead of 7.00pm for at least the duration of winter. Who said democracy isn’t alive and well in Australia? Have your Indian main course dish prepared and ready to go a little earlier than usual… Read more: Curry night starting 6.30pm on Monday
• Anzac Day Movie (Saturday April 25)
  Screening at the Palais Theatre, Franklin.Doors open at 5pmMovie commences 5.30pm $5 entry – all proceeds to Legacy. The movie event is for the Huon Valley Community to come together, reflect and connect. Legacy Tasmania will be attending and selling merchandise to raise funds for veterans and their families. A BBQ will also be onsite and a… Read more: Anzac Day Movie (Saturday April 25)
• This coming weekend: a wake and a working bee
  On Saturday 18th of April at 12 noon there will be a wake at Kon’s Pub for old friend of the Living Boat Trust Harry Rettino. All welcome. Elise will be providing some food, but if you want to bring a plate that would be good. The working bee at the Charlotte Cove Scout Camp,… Read more: This coming weekend: a wake and a working bee
• Missing Oars
  Dave Golding of the ketch Kerrawyn has lost three wooden oars from his river boat that was lying on the banks in Glen Huon. He thinks they were washed away with all the rain we’ve had recently. If you see any oars floats past or stranded on the banks, please haul them in and let… Read more: Missing Oars
• Launch of Esperance
  On Sunday many of the usual suspects from the LBT went down to the Port Esperance Yacht Club to help them launch the just completed St Ayles Skiff ‘Esperance’ – hull number 36 in Australia we were told. Jack, Peter and JP had particular reason to celebrate, as they have all been heavily involved in… Read more: Launch of Esperance
• On the water epilogue
  Basil van Riet from Huonville Primary School sent the following to Mike Dredge. ‘Hi Mike, A huge thanks for all the time, effort and support you have given to safely run the ‘On the Water’ program over the last 10yrs (or more). I have just sent this brief article out in our newsletter. We had… Read more: On the water epilogue
• Psst – latest on the concrete slab
  The engineer has signed off on the plans, so hopefully it will be all systems go shortly.
• Monday night Mediterranean
  The end of daylight saving is a sign that the season really is turning, so lets have a hearty meal of spag bol, moussaka, marmitako and all those other good autumnal-winter dishes from the lands around the Med. Bring your dish to share, something to drink and $5 for the kitty after 6pm.
• On the Water Program
  The last of the school groups for this season rafted up to see if a Grebe anchor would set well enough to hold all the boats (it did) and whether they could be rowed off (they could – just). Thanks to Mike Dredge and all the volunteers who make this program possible – whether in… Read more: On the Water Program
• Launch of ‘Esperance’
  JP and Jack have been working hard the last few weeks to put the finishing touches to the new St Ayles Skiff ‘Esperance’ which is now ready for launch. This is the culmination of a lot of work by many people (see below). We have received the following invitation. It is with great excitement that… Read more: Launch of ‘Esperance’
• Little Wing on the wing
  Spotted by Gary Macdonald, as she returned from the Dover Regatta with David Ellis (??) on the tiller.
• Monday night British dinner
  An Easter Monday meal – maybe we will get lucky and there will be some left over Easter eggs brought along. Apart from that bring a plate of British grub, something to drink, and $5 for the kitty. After 6pm EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
• Little Wing
  LBT members may have noticed a very nice Welsford Penguin hanging off the pontoon and wondered who does that belong to? The answer to that question is US. The boat has been donated to the Living Boat Trust. When you get a chance have a look – it is a beautiful little trailerable cruising boat.… Read more: Little Wing
• Movie Sunday 5th April: The greatest showman
  ‘Follow the life of PT Barnum as he drags himself from poverty into the world of super stardom and creates the circus as we know it. This movie is a must see on the big screen and with big sound. The award winning soundtrack moves the whole show along at an amazing pace and combined… Read more: Movie Sunday 5th April: The greatest showman
• Charlotte’s Cove Scout house
  Keith writes: ‘The Scout house will be available from the 9th so I am going to try and get the rest of the timber there after that. After that I will be organising a working bee for the 18th of April to do some more on the shed and start replacing the gutters. ‘ Put a note… Read more: Charlotte’s Cove Scout house
• The Tasmanian Community Fund
  ThIs fund is a great supporter of community projects – see for instance >>here<<. They included this description of their grant to us in their news column. “In Franklin, the Living Boat Trust has received $23,500 to support a year long Grebe dinghy build involving Grade 5 and 6 students from Franklin Primary School. Living… Read more: The Tasmanian Community Fund
• Tawe Nunnugah 2025: the interviews
  Matt Conboy has just posted >>this video<<. Worth a watch.
• Latest from the AWBF
  Read the March newsletter from the Australian Wooden Boat Festival >>here<<. As usual a variety of interesting stories – from Incat to Lapérouse, from Painsville to Auckland.
• Dover Regatta April 3rd
  Always a good event. Get the details >>here<<.
• End of month BBQ
  Yep, we had one last week, but it IS the end of the month, and when you are onto a good thing … . See you after 6pm with barby stuff, a plate to share, something to drink and $5 for the kitty.
• The slab: getting our ducks in a row.
  Nothing is ever simple. The bottom line is – it’s very unlikely that the concreting of the Shed floor will happen early in April. We need various levels of sign-off for the slab, including, before concrete is laid, a Certificate of Likely Compliance (CLC) from a Building Surveyor. If we don’t get this approval in… Read more: The slab: getting our ducks in a row.
• Yikes! What happened to the Shed?
  A week ago it was full of benches and boats, tools and tables. All gone. No wonder Phil is looking bemused. It is of course all in preparation for laying the new concrete floor. Many thanks to all those who helped out – this was a BIG job.
• EOI for TN27 is now open
  We have been working on the Expression of Interest form for Tawe Nunnugah 2027, and it is now available for use. If you wish to be part of the expedition you should complete and submit it >>here<<.
• Monday night BBQ
  Let’s have a barby after the working bee to keep things simple. As usual, bring a dish to share, something to put on the hot plate, something to drink and $5 for the kitty.
• Monday evening working bee
  A big start has been made on clearing the main shed in preparation for laying the concrete slab on April 7th. All the rigging and oars from around the main doors have been moved which means we should be able to get Capricornia out on Monday morning. That will enable us to get a trailer… Read more: Monday evening working bee
• Work benches: annual whinge
  The LBT is a hive of industry, and it is great to see tools out and being used. It is even better to see that after jobs are completed or at the end of the day those tools are put away and work spaces cleaned up. The LBT Shed is used by a multiplicity of… Read more: Work benches: annual whinge
• Nancy brains trust
  Boats are for pondering over, and having Nancy out of the water right next to the Shed provides the perfect opportunity. Pic below shows Pip Stevenson and Peter Laidlaw contemplating the mysteries of the keel.
• Concrete floor
  The last big concrete pour at the LBT was nearly ten years ago for the extension on the south side of the Shed. There was a lot of preparation work done beforehand, and there will be lots to do before the new floor can be laid in the main Shed IN EARLY APRIL. Yikes! This… Read more: Concrete floor
• Monday curry night
  Back to recipes from the Indian subcontinent (or thereabouts). Plenty of scope there – from Aloo Tikki to Zunka. Bring your plate to share, something to drink and $5 for the kitty.
• Nancy out of the water
  Piet Lundstedt and the team have Nancy nicely perched on blocks so we can work on her. She may look a bit of a wreck at the moment, with her engine dismounted by Martin and Dave, and her bum bashed around by Pip, but it is all in a good cause. She should be back… Read more: Nancy out of the water
• The day Backroads came to Women on Water at the LBT.
  Later in the year we should all be able to watch an episode of the ABC series Backroads featuring the Huon Valley, and we are in it. For those who can’t wait there is a sneak preview >>here<<. Our thanks to Nadirah Clark McCallum, Zainab and Jaffa’s daughter, who spent many hours crafting this video… Read more: The day Backroads came to Women on Water at the LBT.
• 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?