A story about Gremlin, fine joinery and expert craftmanship
Fresh from the 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival—where his beautifully restored Derwent-Class yacht Gremlin featured alongside a fleet of exceptional wooden vessels—Jonathan has launched his own venture, Jonathan Minnebo Design. Serving both Tasmanian and mainland clients, he offers highly specialised craftsmanship with a strong focus on custom joinery.
His work is grounded in two decades of experience in wooden boat building, complemented by a deep passion for specialty timber and furniture design.
“Working on D-Class boats over the years sparked my love of sailing,” he says. “They’re a good size, with pretty lines and great performance, and they’re still competitive after 100 years!”
Gremlin joined Mermaid, Nymph, Minerva, Merlin, Goblin, Undine and others as part of the impressive D-Class line-up that competed at the 2025 Derwent World Championships in February, during the AWBF.
Returning to his roots, Jonathan Minnebo has broadened his focus from traditional shipwright work to include bespoke furniture and staircase design and installation.
While boatbuilding continues to inspire him, Jonathan’s interests are far too broad to be confined to one discipline.
“My work ethic embodies attention to detail with quality workmanship to produce products at a high standard,” he asserts. “I’m currently repairing a deck damaged by freshwater ingress, as well as designing a record player cabinet out of Tasmanian Oak."
“Following that I’ll be working on a staircase for a new house currently being constructed in Geeveston. Then back to the boat work with a set of new deck hatches and butterfly skylight hatch to construct from Queensland Maple.”
Like the timbers he selects for each unique piece—chosen for both their integrity and beauty—Jonathan approaches every project with careful consideration and a dedication to craftsmanship. Whether he’s restoring heritage yachts, designing home interiors, or building finely detailed cabinetry, the through-line is his commitment to quality and timeless design.
From the flowing lines of a century-old yacht to the sculptural geometry of a handcrafted staircase, Jonathan Minnebo continues to expand the boundaries of traditional woodworking—shaping his next chapter with the same precision and pride that have defined his work from the beginning.
Just as he chooses his timbers for strength and reliability, Jonathan relies on trusted materials to support his process.
“The ATL products I predominantly use include WEST SYSTEM epoxy, as well as their filler/adhesive powders 410, 411 and 413. And of course, for the final finish, the Epifanes range of varnishes, which I absolutely love!”
Jonathan explains, “I depend on WEST SYSTEM because I can rely on it to cure during the colder months here in Tasmania. Taking comfort in the knowledge I can trust and recommend the product to my clients is important to me, especially so with mast construction and structural repair works. The Epifanes PP Extra is a game changer”.
“The ability to rapidly build grain filling coats allows me to complete varnish works much quicker than previously possible, which again is important when working in Tasmania’s climate. I then use Epifanes Polyurethane Gloss over the top for ultimate UV protection. It is easy to apply, with excellent flow characteristics both by brush and spray application.
“I’m so impressed with Epifanes, I used it on my own freshly-restored Derwent Class yacht Gremlin!”
This article includes supplied content and images courtesy of Jonathan Minnebo Design, ATL Composites and Mark Chew Photography.
