Welcome!

Our club is about all things to do with traditional boats - their construction, maintenance, restoration and of course enjoying them on water and other forms of public display.

We are located in Canberra - Australia’s national capital - and you will find us regularly on Lake Burley Griffin and occasionally elsewhere.

Sailing days are held regularly throughout the year (see “Events”), and there are also special events on the annual calendar.

Boatfest 2027 - Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 April

Our annual celebration of traditional boating returns to Lake Burley Griffin. Expect steam boats, gaff-riggers, varnished dinghies and classic launches, along with a cruise to Yarramundi Reach, a public boat display with live music, and a grand parade to Kingston Harbour on Sunday morning.

Visitors are very welcome, and boat owners are invited to join the fleet. Find out more and register your interest.

Boatfest 2026 on Lake Burley Griffin

About the Squadron

Generally it is not possible for a private party to obtain permission to operate a power boat (other than electrically powered) on Lake Burley Griffin. However members of the club are able to operate their traditional boats with NCA permission. A power boat belonging to a Squadron member that satisfies the club rules, and also satisfies the safety regulations of the National Capital Authority (NCA) is eligible for the issue of a permit to operate on Lake Burley Griffin.

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Recent Stories

Lots of Knots

Bosun

When the days grow short and cold we need to find indoor activities. One of our members, Dick Bedell, is a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. All sailors need a good set of knot skills so Dick led us through a few hours of knot skill development.

Knots

Dick Bedell offered to run an activity that included common knots used by sailors, and boating people in general. We gathered at my place and there were six members present.

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SL. Lady Ciara

SL Lady Ciara

There is something special about moving a vehicle from one point to another via the power of steam, even more so when it’s on the water. Maybe it’s the romance of yesteryear or the sounds and smell of steam, hot oil and wood smoke while gently gliding through the water.

Enginering Works

My current steam boat was first launched in 2012 and since then has racked up a large number of kilometres under her keel. Early on much time was spent on salt water exploring the lakes around Forster Tuncurry north of Newcastle and brief trips down the NSW south coast which necessitated the boat be fitted with a condensing system. A condenser is basically a means of cooling the exhaust steam from the engine back to water (commonly referred to as condensate) where it is filtered and reused in the boiler. More common practice with small steam boats is to use a keel condenser, a length of pipe that runs along the underside of the boat next to the keel and returns inside the boat. A pump of some kind at the exhaust end of the condenser then siphons out the condensate and stores it in a container called a hotwell for reuse in the boiler.

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Member Project: Building John Welsford's `Long Steps`

On a crisp winter Saturday a group of TBSA members made the pilgrimage to Ron Parker’s home workshop to see how his retirement project is coming along. The project is Long Steps — a 5.85-metre rowing and sailing cruiser designed by New Zealand naval architect John Welsford, and the hull that greeted us was, frankly, stunning.

The Boat

Long Steps is a design that asks a lot of its builder and rewards it handsomely. Welsford drew it for the kind of sailor who wants to row when there’s no wind, sail fast when there is, and sleep aboard while exploring remote coastlines — all from a vessel narrow enough to pull on oars without embarrassment. At nearly six metres she carries ample storage under her decks, takes a lugsail and mizzen yawl rig, and is shaped to hold a course without the skipper’s hand constantly on the tiller. It is, in short, a serious boat that happens to be buildable in a home workshop.

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More

Boatfest 2026

Visit to Mountain Boats

Canberra BoatFest 2025

Lake Burley Griffin's 60th Birthday Party

All Stories