About the Wooden Boat Association

The Wooden Boat Association was formed in 1989 for people who enjoy wooden boats and wooden boat building.

Members appreciate wooden boats for their aesthetic qualities, the beauty of the boats and the materials from which they are constructed, and the pure romance of wooden boats. In this age of mass production, each wooden boat is as individual as her owner.

Find out more about the club, its members and upcoming activities under the About Us tab and check out some of our members' boats.

Complete an online membership form to join the Wooden Boat Association today!

Find out more about the Wooden Boat Association

"Ida" - Memories of a boat for sale

 

Can you believe it? It’s just over 19 years ago that Angus (Nemo) and I started building our first boats as a “joint encouragement” project. Nemo’s chosen boat was the Paul Fisher (Selway Fisher) designed 11’ Medway Skiff. Much smaller than the Joansa I chose, but he had experience behind him, whereas I just liked the look of the Joansa. (As it turned out, we both made good choices). 

The Medway skiff has a wineglass transom, and despite the aforesaid “experience”, laying these planks with their severe twists at the stern, provided even Nemo with a challenge, to the point where the designer (resident in England) was asked for assistance on how to proceed!
(See more boat images at - https://www.selway-fisher.com/Rowskiffs.htm#EDWAY )

Of course, when from experience, you know what you want, the plans serve as a starting point for the end result – the boat you actually need. Nemo wanted no internal framing, no thwarts, nothing that added unnecessary weight to the boat, and so he had to exercise innovating thinking to compensate for these normally essential features.

The discarding of all framing after the planks were laid was compensated for by stiffening the gunwhales, resulting in a suitably stiff but sturdy hull. To replace the missing thwarts, Nemo designed removable/relocatable light weight seats which are held firmly in place with the cords of a Spanish windlass.

Launched a year later (30/9/08), “Ida” was immediately declared perfect, as she was throughout the many adventures she was taken on.

How did Ida get to her watery adventures? Nemo and I had both researched suitable trailers of type suitable for boats that weigh under 50 kilos each, and despite the expense, purchased Real Ezy foldable boat trailers. The “Barcoo” Nemo chose weighs just 58kg, and now costs a whopping $5200 – and Nemo’s has a spare wheel, as well!
https://realezytrailers.com.au/trailers/barcoo-folding-trailer

You know, Just like boats, people get older, and the things we found easy and enjoyable – unlike memories – seem a little harder to do, and we know that those enjoyable activities will soon be consigned to the “memories” file, to be reviewed from time to time, but no longer re-lived. So Nemo and I still talk about our boats, and we share the joy of building a current project, but the reality is that getting use out of the products of our hands, is definitely diminishing.

I suspect that there could be a beautiful boat or two on the market in the near future.

Check out the ad for "Ida" in the Wooden Boat Association Boatyard For Sale or Wanted page.

 

Sailing Day May 2026

A relatively low key but very pleasant sailing day at Albert Park Lake for May 2026, enlived by some fireworks thanks to Andrew's tutorials on how to use those flares that we all carry about in the bottom of our boats.  Peter Batchelor demonstrated how to use a yuloh on Barca the 6 foot Scraps Dinghy, David Wolfe launched and sailed his beautiful Oz Goose dinghy,  Mark and Sebastian Humphrey did a few circumnavigations of the island in their fine Pennyfee, and the Pigdon grandkids vanished off down the other end of the lake in their Mirror. Another good sailing day!

 

Sailing Day - Werribee River April 2026

Lunch time raft up of WBA boats testing the Parks Visitor Mooring (thanks Penny for great photo). 

The April Sailing Day at Werribee River attracted a good turn out of boats, 12 by my count:

• Lilly - Nick Atkins Moyne 10 - Palz Vaughan and Kelvin Gedye
• Shara - Welsford Navigator - Justin Perkins and Roy
• Stringy Bark - canoe - Chris Stockman
• Pennyfee - Oughtred Ketch - Ken Macdonald and Mark Snowden
• Anjevi - Welsford SCAMP - Gary Hardy and Ozzie
• Snug - Welsford SCAMP - Stephen Parker
• Surprise - Lillistone First Mate - - Sam and crew
• Lunic - Hartley TS14- Michael Aitken and David
• Nyatne- Core Sound 17 Mk III- Peter and Kirsty Bachelor
• Teal - modified Ben Garvey Skiff - Chris Kelly and Penny Braybrook and Jim Stockton
• 14 foot restored power boat - Bob Morgan
• Illur - Doron Hickey and crew

Some sprightly conditions early on provided some excitement for those venturing out into the Bay, while others explored up river. Bob experienced some unwelcome excitement in the form of water collecting in the bottom of his boat on launching. Thanks to everyone who came along, it was another memorable Werribee River Sailing Day.  

Peter and Kirsty in Nyatne taking some air in the 20 plus knots wind early on

Thanks to everyone who came along, it was another memorable Werribee River Sailing Day.

Wooden boats can take you wonderful places

Four SCAMPs at the entrance to Swan Bay on a recent impromptu midweek WBA sail

Some very familiar WBA boats at the 2025 Weekend away at Paynesville - "Maisie", "Halloween". "Mars" and "Snug" all enjoying a peaceful sunset.  Thanks Hanh for the great photo!

Some of the fleet of WBA boats heading back up the Werribee River on a recent sailing day

Some WBA Boats along with the rest of the TN25 fleet sheltering in the little harbour at Alonnah on South Bruny Island.  Some wild weather coming!

Here is Jim in his fine Railbird Skiff dodging submerged tree stumps on Lake Mulwala last year.  A group of WBA members set off planning to run down the Murray for a few days, but the river was flooding so we opted for a row on the lake instead. 

Some WBA boats and friends running home after an impromptu day sail to Point Cook from Altona for lunch.  Peter took the photo from "Pitthirit" and made a lovely video of the day.

A few of the boats of the WBA fleet setting off back down the Yarra after a very successful Raid on Herring Island.  You can read more about this and other activities of the WBA over the last 12 months in Peter's Review.

Here is Mark in his lovely Mirror, (bought from the WBA Boatyard) hunting for some breeze at our Sailing Day on Albert Park Lake back in June. 

WBA iron-on logos now available for sale.

Looking for a boat? Or some Wooden Boat related stuff?

The Boatyard is the WBA's "For Sale or Wanted" section - some FREE TO GOOD HOME.

Check it out!

A sneak preview of some current listings:

Ida - Selway Fisher Medway Skiff clinker - $3500

Amarys - Unique vintage Huon Pine Cutter For Sale - $23,750

For Sale - Collin Kelso Cabin Launch - $39,500

For Sale – Baltimore - a classic Sabre dinghy  Now $1200 negotiable

Shirley Valentine for sale $19,500

For Sale - Wooden Sailing (/rowing/motor) boat now $2500

19ft Tugboat by Bill Jones (Professional Boatbuilder) $5000

For sale - Silky Oak - $23,400

Handcrafted Wooden Boat – Never Used – $4,500

Free to good home Sabre class dinghy

Free to good home Mirror class dinghy

Bay Cruiser 23 $44,500.00

Pompei Half Cab Putt-Putt - $10,000

Free to a good home: Kelvin motor

5.2m Wooden Gaff-Rigged Trailer Sailer - $9000

For Sale Raudaschl Finn dinghy. KA114.

2 Eureka style Canoes

Vintage Classic Bondwood Inboard

Minnow sailing dinghy  Now $500

Free Puffin building frame and moulds

Classic 7M Couta Boat Now $15K or best offer

 

“Jackie R” a Len Randell designed 23ft Masthead cruising/racing sloop Now $19,999

Hartley Design Gadabout Runabout - $2,500 neg.

1915 Huon Pine Clinker Dinghy – Restored Classic with Historical Significance $10,000

Dinghy 11’ 6’ long, 4’5’’ beam ( 3.5m x 1.35m)  $1800

Some recent listings (all sold :)   :