This journey started way back in December 1999. I received a phone call from my friend Graeme Bethell one Saturday afternoon, he was in all sorts of strife. He was calling me from Burraneer Bay where he was stranded in his boat on a sandbar in the middle of Burraneer Bay. He asked me if I could check out the tides to see when the next high tide was due.
The original condition of 'Bruno' when we purchased her in August 1999 |
I said to Graeme, hang in there mate & I will come & tow you off the sandbar in a couple of hours when the tide has risen high enough, in the meantime I organised my dinghy with a tow rope & proceeded up the river to where he was stranded.
Mission accomplished, I was able to drag his boat 'Bruno' into deeper water. We motored back to my place & celebrated with a few cool beers.
For better or worse we came to an agreement that I would take his boat off his hands for the pricely sum of $500. Heaven only knows what I had got myself into as you will see as my story continues.
Family tradition: In 1960 my Dad purchased this 18ft half-cabin clinker hulled launch - it was named 'The Gem' |
I was still flying with Qantas Airways as an International Trolly Dolly in 1999 when I purchased 'Bruno' so I had plenty of time on my days off to resurrect this dilapidated old craft.
Once I had removed 'Bruno' from the water to commence the restoration it suddenly occurred to me that I was in for one hell of a job. Anyone that knows me realises that I do not do things in half measures. The transom of the boat was completely rotten out & from the top plank of the hull including the cabin was also in not much better condition.
I had also made another major decision regarding the hull. Everyone knows that has ever owned a wooden boat that they (all leak water), I decided that we would overcome that future problem by completely fiber-glassing the clinker hull with very fine fiberglass. I still wanted to retain the clinker look of the hull that is why we used very fine sheets of fiberglass that would follow the shape of the planks on the hull as is witnessed in the photographs.
I firstly installed a 2-cylinder Volvo Penta diesel engine but I later replaced that with a 189 Holden engine. |
Towards the end of December 1999 the boat was ready to be relaunched, (see photos below). We spent many hundreds of hours restoring the boat & not to mention the many, many thousands of dollars to get the boat to this stage. (more on that later).
We launched the boat to much fanfare, including smashing a bottle of French Champagne Veuve Clicquot over the bow as we launched the boat back into Port Hacking.
My parents were delighted that I renamed my boat, especially my Dad. He was overwhelmed. Before their passing we also spent many wonderful days reminiscing about our time spent on our original 'Gem' half a century ago cruising up & down the picturesque Hacking River on the new 'Gem'.
Now I was completely satisfied with my new toy. It is now 15-years since I installed the new power plant & gearbox, not one ounce of trouble, & guess what, the hull does not leak one egg cup of water.
The final photograph (below) show you the finished product, hanging off my pontoon in Port Hacking. I am very proud of the restoration & over the years our family has enjoyed countless experiences that money can not buy.
Now for the Nitty-gritty that I know you are all hanging out for. Remember earlier on I told you that I purchased 'Bruno' for $500 after hauling Graeme off the sand bar.
Summing up this journey, as you know I love old things that nobody else can have, it takes a lot of time & energy, however the final result is very satisfying. If that is not a good story, I don't know what is.
I sincerely hope that you enjoy it. Stay safe, cheers for now from the 'Squire from the Shire'.
NB: My next episode will be to tell you all about our Canadian Yukon & Alaskan adventure. Nathaniel & I spent 14-days on a raft traveling down the Alsek & Tathsenshini Rivers which is the 10th most remote place in the world where we encountered experiences with grizzly bears & icebergs.