wooden boat: Sea change a clinker of an idea
By Philip Hopkins
May 26, 2006
JAMES Frecheville openly admits he's a wooden boat crank, and somehow manages to make a living from it.
He repairs, restores and builds wooden boats in Paynesville, in Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria. "I've got no attraction for fibreglass — I'm only interested in classic wooden boats," he said, although he uses modern technology to build them.
Mr Frecheville is not alone; the village on the water is home to businesses such as shipwrights, marine surveyors, marine engineers, mechanics, upholsterers and riggers.
Each business does its own thing, but this is about to change. They have got together to create a shipping and marine industry cluster.
"The aim is to create a cohesive unit to help build the marine industry," said Mark Reid, a boat repairer and a convener of the cluster.
"We want to create a culture and in this way, keep the young people interested and not have them leave town," he said.
To help nurture shipping as a local career, the Paynesville Marine Industry Association is sponsoring two Paynesville boat-building apprentices — Daniel Wallis, 22, and David Ashworth, 19 — in the Atlantic Challenge, an international contest of seamanship in Genoa, Italy, in July.
One driving force of the development has been the explosion of Paynesville as a boating centre. Canals have replaced paddocks, and are adorned with quality houses, many of which have a little jetty at the front.
"Sea changers realise that we have a pristine boating region," Mr Reid said. "There is now a waiting list for berths."
The increased population has helped create a boating culture and underlined the potential economic benefits.
An analysis by East Gippsland consultant Bruce Connolly has shown that the marine industry employs 65 people directly and 35 indirectly in Paynesville.
Industry turnover is $7.5 million locally, with the multiplier impact on the regional economy about $19 million.
Cluster members have begun to put together a plan to establish a marine centre on the Slip Road area next to the water.
The plan includes parks and parking space for cars and boats while building what Mr Reid said lay at the heart of the vision, a centre for wooden boats.
A key aim of the centre was to preserve local marine heritage, probably by building a museum.
The centre would have an area for restoring or building indigenous wooden boats, and an area for accredited training with an education provider such as a TAFE.
Short courses would be held for hobby and
wooden boat enthusiasts.
An area would be set aside for a major project, such as building a replica of a local steamship.
Part of the plan is to hold a boating expo with a special focus on the Gippsland Lakes.
The Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development has given $50,000 in seed funding.
