The Lonely Boat

Tasmanians love to get out on the water and with good reason.  Some of the loveliest scenery is accessible only from the water and there are dozens of secluded beaches and coves waiting to be discovered.  That means we have a lot of boats in Tasmania, but not all of them are in daily use.  Many boat owners find they have run out of time, or money or enthusiasm for what was once a well-loved boat.  Then the old boat will sit on a trailer or on the blocks for weeks, then months, then perhaps for years.

Boats, especially wooden boats, need care and attention and time to keep them in good order.  Some of the most touching stories we hear are those of old sailors who have become a little too frail to handle their boat or manage launching and retrieving it.  Other find that berthing fees and registration and slipping the boat have just become too expensive on a pensioner’s income. That’s when a once-loved craft becomes a Lonely Boat.

This old timber runabout sits on a trailer down near Eaglehawk Neck, waiting for someone to take an interest.  It would once have been a family treasure with many a flathead landed, perhaps to the squeals of young children out for their first fishing trip with Grandad.  But those days are gone now and the old girl needs a new home.  If you think you could make something of her once again, drop Cassandra a line at:

phillip.mcnamara1@gmail.com