Boat Builders film series; Matt & Iefke onboard Tarkine, A Boat By The River

The reason we do what we do, and why we love wooden boats!

If you went to the Maritime Trail in 2021 or 2022, you know how cool this couple is. For us at the AWBF, this is what we’ve been longing to see. A new found passion for wooden boats in the younger generations. This is why we do what we do and if we can encourage even a few kids to take on a wooden boat, we’ll be happy.

Matt and Iefke have been integral to the success of the Maritime Trail, both in 2021 and again in 2022. Their love and passion for wooden boats, is admirable, especially for a young couple. This next film from our Boat Builder series is definitely in our top three films from this series. Matt and Iefke both have their individual stories, as well as how they combined their love of wooden boats to end up where they are now, building the vessel of their dreams, Tarkine. 

Since the last Maritime Trail the interior of their vessel Tarkine has started to come together. With the installation of bulkheads it is easy to see how the fit-out will look, you can even imagine Matt sitting having a cup of Green tea while looking at the charts to find their next port of call. If you went to the Maritime Trail 2021 or recently in 2022, we are nearly certain you will feel a sense of attachment to the couple and Tarkine, perhaps even that ‘proud parent’ moment when you see how far they’ve come. We were delighted to bring people through Dave’s Shed once again to see their progress during the last Maritime Trail. 

Of course they always thank the local people of the Huon, and even further afield for their support and gifts, even if it’s as little as some screws and bolts. 

Enjoy this latest chapter in our Boat Builders series, and don’t forget to register your wooden boat so you too can join in on the fun!

See more of their work on Tarkine here on their Facebook.

See our Maritime Trail 2022 wrap up film HERE, you may even spot Matt and Iefke.

Feature Image by Island Images.