The vessel also has to be roomy enough to allow the
crew of five rowers, one of them the harpooner for’d,
and the steersman aft, to row and sail the vessel,
generally work and not get in each other’s way, or to
interfere with the harpooner, or his line as it snakes
forward from the drum next to the red gum ‘logger
head’ aft.
The vessel is constructed almost entirely from Huon
Pine sourced from Tasmania and is of traditional
‘Lapstrake’ (Clinker) hull construction, fitted out as
it would have been used at Port Fairy in the 1840’s.
Garry told us: “I think Huon Pine is a great timber for
boat building, with its durability, little movement in
service, its good workability, plus it even smells nice.”
He added: “I will be starting a set of oars and a sweep
oar for the whaleboat shortly.” The only exceptions to
above left: Macrocarpa knees.
Image Jonathan Wallis
above right: Red gum logger head.
Image Jonathan Wallis