Arunta – a Fazackerley restoration

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Kingston Sea Scouts’ Fazackerley dinghy restored for ‘another fifty years’ of service

Arunta is an 18 foot Fazackerley built in 1968 for the Kingston Sea Scout Group. The Scouts knew their prized dinghy needed some work, as she was leaking and looking sad. Lacking the skills to repair Arunta, they asked the Channel Men’s Shed (CMS) at Margate for help.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fortunately, the shed’s membership includes veteran boat builders Graeme Nicholls and Adrian Deane, who are regular participants in the Australian Wooden Boat Festival. Over the last few months Graeme, Adrian, other CMS members and work skill trainees have given Arunta a thorough restoration.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fazackerley enthusiasts will be interested to know that Arunta is an 18 foot long clinker Scout Patrol Boat which carries a sailing or rowing crew of seven (including the helmsman). This design was a departure from previous patrol boats  built by R.F. (the John Bowen, Abel Tasman, Van Dieman, Bay King) in that it is lighter and narrower. The planking is King Billy and the keel is hardwood. Other components such as the centreboard case and thwarts appear to be King Billy as well.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Work carried out at the Channel Men’s Shed included re-fastening of two rowlock blocks, construction of new floor frames as well as stabilisation of the bottom of the centreboard case using stainless steel rod set in epoxy. Arunta also had cracks around the garboard strake which were stabilised and re-caulked. New flooring, rubbing strips and a completely new paint system from International Paints mean Arunta is ready for many more years of service to the Sea Scouts.

‘Good for another fifty years’, Adrian Deane told Premier Will Hodgman on his recent visit to The Channel Men’s Shed.

Hopefully the Kingston Sea Scouts will bring Arunta for display at Australian Wooden Boat Festival in February 2017.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]