Jen visits the Timber Boat Building School, and I won't let her enroll!!

Huon pine slabs and planks being transformed

into a yacht. Did you know that Huon pine does not

disintegrate in water? (7% oil) It is a protected species.

It grows very slowly and most living specimens are

1500 to 3500 years old. Timber craftspersons are still

using century old stock thats been found floating

around Tasmania or lying around in the forests. WOW!!.

These timber plugs cover the copper nail heads.

Beautiful.

Jen dreams of Diploma in Timber Boat Building!

(I feel right a home here, signed Jen.)

Not content with forming the "Beach Boys" Brian,

Dennis and Carl become boat builders.

When it comes to enthusiasm its hard to beat Jen. Those of you who know her will understand what I mean. Today we visited the Timber Boat Building School (TBBS in future) at Franklin. Jen has been dying to visit here since before we left Tabourie in NSW.

We are staying at Port Huon marina, which is about 17 klms away from Franklin. We could have motored up the river to Franklin in Crazy Lady, but apparently the channel is a little tricky. On chatting to Zed and Fay the marina managers, they offered us the use of their car. (again these friendly and helpful Tasmanians.)

Jen has been pestering me about doing the Diploma of Boat Building at this School. It's the only one of its kind in Australia. The present yacht is in it's second year of construction and the current students will eventually donate 11,000 hours. The wood for the yacht is all Huon pine.

Does this sound like fun to you???????

Jen will now continue the story.............

What can I say: I didn't have enough time to really look around and all of the students (six) were off for the weekend. There was no one to chat with about the options of the course nor to share the "feeling of the place".

The only person available was the woman at the front desk who I presumed was part of the founding couple. (generous and far sighted people).

Glenn spent time discussing with her the virtues of traditional fibreglass yachts, and she was somewhat narrow in her opinion, or so I was told. Thank goodness another unsuspecting couple came in to the centre.

Amazing place and truly informative and it smelt soooo nice. ( fresh and sweet)

Jen