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.

Expressions of Interest are currently open for owners wishing to display their boats at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, returning to Hobart's waterfront from 5–8 February 2027.
Boat owners are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to exhibit a vessel afloat, ashore or as part of the Model Boat display. The festival welcomes a diverse range of wooden boats and celebrates the craftsmanship, heritage and stories that make each vessel unique.
Find out more and submit an Expression of Interest at:
https://australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au/display-your-boat/
Expressions of Interest for Boats Afloat close on 31 August 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!