Wooden Boat Centre Tasmania

28/08/2026

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolute nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,”
It's not all Little Blue Boat at the WBC despite all the amazing coverage we've been lucky to receive. We have a few projects keeping us busy down here in peaceful Franklin.
Highlander is a great example of a light strip planked fishing boat from the central lakes in Tassie. She came to us for a bit of a make over after some time in storage. Apprentice Sarah has made short work of it, sanding and painting the boat to bring out the great colours of the Western Red Cedar hull and the Huon and Cedar fit out.
Elsewhere in the yard, Jerome and Apprentice Sean have been completing the Haven 12 1/2 ready for the boat show. The fit out is coming along nicely and the boat will make a great splash at the next AWBF.
Also getting ready for the next boat show is Clytie, a former "D" class which has been in the same family for three generations now. She was raised early in her life with a new deck and larger cabin. Her former plywood cabin sides have been replaced with Huon Pine, and she is currently having her topsides faired by Rohan, another of our fabulous apprentices, he absolutely loves torture boarding, just ask him...
Another of our apprentices, Tynan has been busy working on a few jobs, varnishing a helm for a launch and fitting a new bowsprit on a Hartley power boat.
Finally the four, One Year students have been extremely busy on Astra. They have steamed in every second rib, and commenced their fastening. Scarphed on a new section of keel down aft and laminated up a new stern knee. Were going to give the old transom a rest and student Jess has molded a new curved transom ready to take its place. Mind you were going to extend the boat to return her to her former glory, and soon there's going to be some new carvel planking down aft.
Have a great weekend all and stay tuned for more WBC news.

22/08/2026

How time flies when you're having fun! Half the year has passed and the One year students have completed 2 new dinghies, the composite interpretation of a Cadet and the solid timber, clinker Foster 10 in Huon Pine.
Now the real dirty work starts as we begin the restoration component of their course. Introducing "Astra", a carvel racing yacht built by Alan Wilson of the well known Wilson ship building family from Cygnet. Built in 1937 for his personal enjoyment, Astra was a one off racing machine styled on the "B" class and knockabout boats of the US from the 1890's to 1900's (Broxam and Mays 2022, Those That Survive). Alan raced her until 1945 and then sold the vessel on. She was owned by a number of people including well known Franklin boat builder Athol Walters.
Built mostly from Celery top pine, her hull has lasted well and is in very good condition. In the late 50's her topsides were raised by three planks and she was shortened to 26.5 ft, converted into a cruising vessel.
When we were first offered the vessel in 2023, she had been on the bottom of the bay in Port Cygnet, with only her mast giving away her position. The WBC took on the vessel for $1 and later moved her onto the hard to one day be restored.
Her deck and cabin (more recent additions) were in poor condition, but it was clear from the beginning that her hull was well built.
Last week the one year students demolished the deck and cabin and separated the hull from the keel so that when we had the crane at the WBC for launching the Little Blue Boat, we could bring Astra inside.
This week the students removed all the stringers, knees and internal structures along with every second rib so that we could begin the resto. We have cut down the sheer, but not all three planks to the original waterline, for she was a very wet boat, and we need to make her a comfortable sailing boat. We will be extending her, to keep all her lines in proportion to her original shape as pictured in the black and white photo included.
I'll keep you posted of her progress.

11/08/2026

Its all go!

For years, the 'Little Blue Boat' had a special place in the hearts of many in Hobart, until a storm nearly sank it for good. Now, after much hard work, this icon of southern Tasmania is ready for the water again.

08/08/2026

Sea Breeze, better known as the the Little Blue Boat is ready to get her feet wet. This Wednesday coming, the 12th of August, with the assistance of Elliot's cranes, we will be putting her back in the water sometime around 10.30 in the morning. You are all most welcome to attend.
Celebrating the great work of our volunteers, students and staff we will have a small ceremony to thank them for their time over the last 2 years, and what a great job they have done!
Her cabin still requires a little bit of TLC , and her mast has yet to be repaired, but she is ready for a splash so that we can make space in the shed for the next project to be undertaken by the one year students. This will be the restoration of the Alan Wilson yacht, "Astra".
I look forward to seeing you at the launch of the Little Blue Boat.

01/08/2026

Fire in the hole! Something you would normally hear on a tall ship, and now at the WBC.
We've been lucky to have been asked to make some gun carriages for the little cannons which are some of the awards for the Sydney to Hobart race. They are awarded for first out of the heads and first over the line. The team have been lucky to be a part of history as we fashioned the little timber frames from Huon Pine. The cannons themselves are manufactured by our friends at APCO engineering up in Hobart.
They don't actually fire, that's all a little illegal, but they certainly look the part. I look forward to seeing who's going to win one next year in the next Rolex Sydney to Hobart race.

19/07/2026

We are super thankful to the ANMM for their support and helping us share our story.
Thanks!

12/07/2026

As we come to the end (for now) of another little project, I'd like to present Leila May. She is a stoutly little launch that has recently undergone some work here at the WBC for Gavin, one of our fabulous volunteers.
Our staff, apprentices and volunteers have all added to her story here over the last 2 months. Leila May is a clinker King William pine launch, possibly a Fazakerley, but I'm sure you will tell me if I'm wrong, even the great Broxham was not sure of her heritage.
Working alongside Jerome our shipwright, the apprentices Tynan and Rohan have taken the bare hull and weaved their magic.
She has had her stem and stern post repaired, a new docking keel, qtr. knees, breasthook and floors added. Then the entire deck structure and her little cabin built. Gavin found himself a little 10Hp Yanmar diesel, gave her a new lease of life and the team fitted her as well. She's now off to Gavin's for the painting and completion of her new look.
I really look forward to seeing her at the next Australian Wooden Boat Festival in 2027, nice work team!

02/07/2026

Its the end of term 2 for the one year boatbuilding students and what better way to end it than a wh**ky plank!
For the last 6 weeks the team have been busy building this beautiful boat from scratch with our amazing native timbers, Huon, King William and Celery top pine. The design is a Foster 10 and she will be fully rigged and ready to sail when we are done, with sails care of Jimmy's sail and canvas.
Today the last plank (in King Billy Pine) went on and the students were able to stand back and admire their handy work with the necessary wh**ky plank dram in hand, well earned I'd say.
This particular boat is up for raffle and tickets are available now from the Wooden Boat Centre shop. Come on down for yours.

16/06/2026

The WBC is extremely excited to be a recipient of this scheme, and the students are really looking forward to a great hands on experience at the ANMM.
Thanks to Liam at the museum and our hard working Sirpa here at the centre. It wouldn't have happened without you!