Stories on Traditional Boat Squadron of Australia

Visit to Mountain Boats

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Six members braved the cold and made a tour of Mountain Boats, thanks to our member Pip Scharf.

Mountain Boats uses computer technology to design and build jigs so multiple boats of the same design can be produced quickly and economically. Pip demonstrated this by taking us through the design process for making a cleat, then used a laser cutter to produce it from a piece of 18mm mountain ash timber. There were also detailed discussions on using epoxy glues, especially the critical temperature of the mix. After we left, Pip sent some comments about the day.

Canberra BoatFest 2025

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

CANBERRA TRADITIONAL BOATFEST

12-13th April, 2025

Hosted by THE TRADITIONAL BOAT SQUADRON OF AUSTRALIA

On the lawns at Canberra Yacht Club, 1 Mariner Place, Yarralumla, ACT, 2600

The paddle steamer Enterprise, launched in Echuca in 1878, from the National Museum of Australia, and the historic gaff cutter yacht Aorere launched on Port Philip Bay in 1898 will both be attending.
More details and registrations closer to the date.

Contacts:

Peter Ottesen - peterottesen1@gmail.com - 0419 732 043

Lake Burley Griffin's 60th Birthday Party

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On October 20th many Canberra boating clubs and societies celebrated the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of LBG by the Prime Minister, Robert (Bob) Menzies in 1964. The weather was perfect, the lake was resplendent with boats all day, the PS Enterprise led the parade organised by the TBSA with great distinction.

Lake Burley Griffin’s 60th Anniversary

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On the 20th October 2024!

Please join the Traditional Boat Squadron of Australia and other boat clubs to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of LBG by the Prime Minister, Robert (Bob) Menzies.

Canberra, Australia’s capital city, would not be what it is if not for the enthusiasm and determination of Menzies to ensure that the lake was built. The lake and its shores have become a place of natural beauty that surprise unsuspecting visitors, a refuge for flora and fauna, a home and backdrop for many of our national institutions, a playground for sport and recreation, and something to just enjoy being on or near.

BoatFest 2024

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BoatFest was a wonderful success with many stories being shared and a great expectation for the next Canberra BoatFest.

Richard Poulson has kindly given us permission to share some of his wonderful photos from the weekend. You can also find more of Richard’s wonderful photos here: - https://www.richardpoulton.com/

Narooma Boats Afloat 2022

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The 2022 Narooma Boats Afloat Festival has come and gone and was an amazing event for those who love all things to do with traditional boating. Several members from the Canberra Traditional Boating Squadron made the trek down the mountain with their own boats to add to what was a rather large armada of classic boats.

My Father’s Canvas Covered Canoes

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

When I was a boy, my father told me about his canvas covered canoes, and his adventures on Sydney Harbour.

My dad was born in Melbourne, moved to Port Pirie, then Adelaide, and about 1928, the family moved to Sydney and lived in a house in Mitchell Street, Greenwich.

This house was about 150 m from the ferry wharf on Greenwich Point, and a similar distance to the Greenwich baths, a small section of Sydney harbour that was fenced with wooden palings. These parts of the harbour were attractive places to an active boy and his friends.

Boat Building with Marcel

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Recently I was contacted by Marcel, a member of The Traditional Boat Squadron. He was looking for suppliers of fibreglass mat in Canberra. This triggered a memory that I had some fibreglass stashed in the shed that I was happy to give away. Marcel made the long drive, from Banks to my place (almost the full length of Canberra!) and collected it. I think the roll might be 30 m long, and Marcel only needs a few metres, so there will be quite a bit left over, and so it is now in Marcel’s shed if you want some. Marcel’s latest boat build is a three-quarter size replica of flat bottom boats used in the shallow waters and canals on Holland a couple of hundred years ago. The name of this traditional design is a zuiderzeese punt. Work on the boat is progressing, and so far it looks pretty good, and so does the shed

Boatfest 2022

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Our recent Boatfest was held on Saturday 9th –Sunday 10th April, and was based on the lawns of Canberra Yacht Club. There were 28 boats on the water during the weekend, with about 20 on the water and displayed for the public on Saturday, and 18 boats in the parade on Lake Burley Griffin on Sunday. Most of the boats were from Canberra, with a few visitors from Goulburn and the south coast. There were a couple of steam boats, a few putt-putts and the majority were electric powered.

The Conservation and Restoration of the Margaret Anne

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Margaret Anne was a badly weathered wreck of a hull sitting in a paddock at Wagga Wagga NSW. The landholder wanted to burn the wreck as he considered it beyond repair. Fortunately he offered it to the Traditional Boat Squadron before doing so. I already had a 10 foot 6 inch clinker boat called Whimbrel so was not interested in another. As nobody wanted to visit the boat I went to Wagga with a trailer and brought it home where it sat in our carport, waiting for a new owner. After two years of nobody coming forward and me ‘Not looking’, and ‘I don’t want to see it’, I finally gave in and commenced restoration."

February 2022

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

February Boating Day

The weather was perfect for a trip up Sullivans Creek at ANU. Not commonly thought of as a boating destination. Not quite Cambridge rowing but most enjoyable day out.

Building Grey Noddy

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

GREY NODDY

Centreboard sailing dinghy
Designer: Ian Oughtred
Design: Shearwater
Construction: Glued Clinker (Lapstrake)
Rig: Gunter sloop
Length: 3.61 m 11’10”
Beam: 1.5 m 4’11”
Sail area:8.55 sqm 92sqft

January 2022

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

After a week of wild weather it was something of a novelty to be on the water and not in it for a change. A good turn out of boats met at the ramp at Lotus Bay at 10am. I managed to hitch a ride on Cormorant which is a treat - it has a lovely two stroke Blaxland-Chapman engine. Cormorant was a farm rescue and restored - some photos below.

My Gwen 12 – “Hot Pants”

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A few years ago I acquired “Hot Pants” from the Lake Tuggeranong Sea Scouts who were making space for new boats in their shed. It hadn’t been in the water since the early 1990s and obviously needed a bit of TLC to restore it for operational use. Being undercover that whole time however meant that she was in pretty good condition and a restoration would not be too intimidating like some other projects I have seen.

December 19th, 2021

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

An early 0900 start from the boat ramp at Lotus Bay. The weather looked … awkward … but two boats Electra and Khepri decided to launch.