The Admiral Restoration

1865

2006

2009

Tony Hodgson

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The “Admiral” RESTORATION PROJECT

2006-2009

The history and subsequent recovery from NSW of the Admiral is well

documented in the book: “Admiral” The History, Recovery and

Restoration of Tasmania’s Oldest Commercial Vessel, by Graeme

Broxam. Chapters were contributed by Bern Cuthbertson re- the finding

and return to Hobart, whilst Fiona Peate wrote about the restoration.

The 28 ft Admiral was constructed out of carvel-planked Huon Pine and

launched at Battery Point in July 1865. She operated as an eight-oared

ferry /rowing boat out of Waterman’s Dock, Hobart. Converted into a

steam launch in November 1888 she operated on the River Derwent and

Huon River. During a number of refits, she was re-engined and had a

counter stern added in 1896 giving an overall length of 34 ft. She had

been converted to a fishing boat with a fish well installed, extra free

boards added in clinker style, and decked. She was later called Myra.

She was discovered abandoned in NSW by John and Sue Dikeman, and

arrangements were made to transport her to Hobart where she arrived in

early September 2006. A group of interested people, mainly previously

associated with the Norfolk project, later met with Bern Cuthbertson to

form a body called the “Admiralty” to be responsible for the funding

and restoration of the Admiral to its original design.

On 16 January 2007 a group travelled to the property “Forest Home”

(owned by Wesley Hazell) near Judbury to inspect a possible storage

shed with more than adequate floor space, a lockable room, work

bench, overhead gantry etc. for the site to restore the Admiral.

From 20 January 2007, a team of 9 volunteers then worked twice a

week when available (often only 2-3 being available) to dismantle,

restore and replace frames and planks to give life to the vessel in its

original working configuration.

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The condition of the hull below the waterline was a sorry sight with

cracked strakes, crazed old tar anti-fouling and old eroded hull fittings

from its varies role in its life. So the first job was to remove the half-

deck, deck framing and bitts. Then the six foot long stern counter was

removed by using a power saw slicing through on the original stern post

alignment. The three uppermost clinker strakes (installed when she was

a fishing boat) were removed down to the original sheer strake that was

identified by its fine scribed line on its top inner edge.

The old copper hull fittings and propeller shaft were sold. Brass screws

from the fittings were removed and cleaned for reuse as required.

At this stage, bracing timbers were fastened across the hull and she was

turned over by raising tackles fore and aft and a belly-strap tackle to

rotate the hull amidst some worrying groans and cracking, indicating a

very fragile hull. A few of the rib ends were damaged above the true

hull cover board line, so was off no concern.

The old paint and tar was removed with a heat gun and scraper to reveal

the true condition of the planking. Now the serious work commenced in

inspecting the strakes for potential removal, cleaning and re-use where

possible. The old copper nails were extracted by grinding off the roves

and using a pin punch to drive the nails out. In some instances the nails

had been clinched. All the nails were then straightened and pointed by

Bern, who rightly left the hard physical work to others. Rotten planks

were removed and replaced either with rejuvenated planks removed

earlier or new Huon Pine planks that were from the stock donated to us

by Mark O’May a local farmer from a seafaring family.

A loaned steamer was fired up to steam the planks and ribs that were to

be used in replacing those extracted. In some instances, trial fittings had

to be made to ensure a close and uniform fit. Due to all the previous

alterations to the original hull, a close eye had to be kept to ensure

adjacent butt joints were staggered.

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The original Blue Gum keel was in a sorry state with many old

corroded iron fittings from the centre board slot, rotten and in some

places evidence of Teredo worm holes and white passages some over

300mm long. The keel was cut transversely every few feet, and a

sharpened mattock used as an adze soon had it out. The new keel was

constructed by glue laminating six layers of 1” thick Celery Top Pine.

All the joints between the planks were routered out so that a spline

could be glued in to ensure water-tight integrity of the hull, where

possible. Then the hull was sanded, primed and painted below the

water-line.

Again the hull was rotated by using an upgraded version of the previous

method in that a continuous loop was attacked to pullies both fore and

aft which were then lifted. Once clear of the ground, the boat was

simply turned by pulling down on the continuous loops doing away

with the need for a belly strap.

The next stage was the cleaning out of the interior shell using heat guns

and scrapers, replacing any suspect ribs and fitting floors, constructing

thwarts, knees and adjustable stretchers for the rowers. Based on

photographs of the original boat, an enlarged stern-sheets for the

passengers was constructed. A rudder was constructed and two rubbing

strips were screwed to the upper hull on the gunwale line.

Brass-work of gudgeons, pintles and rowlocks were cast by others.

Sweeps were constructed by glueing narrow planks of wattle into a box-

sections and then rounding on jigs with an electric plane.

Finally, after much sanding and painting the restoration was completed

by mid November 2009 and an official re-launch was celebrated at

Huonville on 28th

November 2009. Much praise was given in that a

group of non-shipwright amateurs could demonstrate the self -taught

skills to build such a fine vessel.

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A lot of time was spent in trying to find a permanent home for the

Admiral by lobbying politicians, museums and property developers.

Possible display places have included: the Maritime Museum, TMAG,

Hotel Grand Chancellor, Triabunna Maritime Centre, and property

developments with proposed display sites at Tranmere (Droughty Point)

and Franklin.

One of the major problems, as with all timber boats, would be the on-

going ownership, dedicated rowers and maintenance responsibility once

the Admiralty is disbanded.

After nearly 10 years, since restoration commenced, no fixed abode had

been established and the “Admiralty” agreed to place the Admiral into

the Bass and Flinders Centre, GeorgeTown. This was done on 16 March

2020.

The “Admiralty”

Restoration Team

Bern Cuthbertson

*Chris Dikeman

*John Dikeman

*Susan Dikeman

Tony Hodgson

Craig Dixon

John Peate

Fiona Peate

Graeme Broxam

Michael Bird

Brian Hodgson

*= NSW

John Peate

Tony Hodgson

Brian Hodgson

Terry Moran

Fiona Peate

David Evans

Craig Dixon

Michael Bird

Bern Cuthbertson

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Admiral Specifications

Builder: Thomas Moreland Year: 1865 Type: 8 oared

rowing ferry

Length: 28ft 75/8 ins Beam: 8ft 2

½ ins Draught: 29

¼ ins

Construction: Timber:- carvel planked with battens

Planks: Original -Huon Pine

Replacement- Huon Pine 90%, some Celery Top Pine and

King William Pine

Keel: Original – Blue Gum,

Replacement- Laminated Celery Top Pine

Frames: Huon Pine and Tas Oak, steam bent

Fastenings: Copper nails and roves

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Launched July 1865, at Domain, Hobart

On Ways (RHS) at Waterman’s Dock, Hobart 1880’s

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Note counter stern extension, decking and 3 clinker strakes.

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Neglected condition Aug 2006

Removal of deck canvas (Tony, John, Brian)

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Prior to deck removal

Bern, John

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Removal of gunwale (Terry, Brian, Tony, John)

John with power saw removing the counter back to the old transom line

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Cutting the rubbing strake(Tony, Terry)

Removal of counter stern additions (Bern, Tony)

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Installing a temporary stern post (Tony, John)

Removing planks and setting up bracing (Fiona, Tony, David)

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Terry wielding the heat gun to remove old paint

Shortest plank removed

15

Fiona feeding the steamer

Constructing the laminated celery-top pine keel

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First strake to be replaced (Tony, Terry, John)

Reconstructing the bow

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Reshaping the bow (Tony, John)

Craig holding the Dolley whilst on rivetting duties

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Installing roves to the rivets (Brian)

Stern awaiting attention

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Aft planking underway

Reshaped transom in progress

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Nearly completed transom

Splines

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Completed bow reconstruction

Hull restoration work near completion

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Primer coat being applied (Fiona)

Lower half of paint work completed

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Rolled upright ready to commence interior (Sept 2008)

ABC in attendance (John being interviewed) 13/9/2008

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Rib replacement (John, David)

Cleaning and painting interior

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Trimming extended replacement ribs (Tony)

Thwart construction (cross ties still in-place)

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Looking aft at passenger seating installation

Fabrication of rudder

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Adjustable stretcher supports and turned thwart posts

Installation of knees

28

A “pressed labourer” Richard giving a helping hand

Typical sections through sweep (oar) construction

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David rounding shaft of sweeps using an electric plane jig

Completed sweeps

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Rowlock plates

Michael cleaning rubbing strips

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Fiona (honorary bloke) and John with her hand carved name plate

Tony and Michael painting the interior final coat

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Craig contemplating near completion, floor boards to be installed

Exterior touch-up work (Tony, Fiona)

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Don’t scratch the duco!

Completed hull

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Looking good

Stability checking, at Franklin, for Survey certification

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Serene on Huon River at Franklin

Official re-launch at Huonville 28 Nov 2009 (ABC TV crew onboard)

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Under sail near Dennes Point, Bruny Island

Ready for passengers

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Governor on board, passage from DSS to Waterman’s Dock, Sullivans

Cove. 5 December 2009

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“Restoration Crew” plaque on bulkhead

Admiral alongside the ketch May Queen in Constitution Dock, Hobart

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Champagne Farewell

French Naval Officers from Icebreaker L’Astrolabe (29 Jan 2020)

Farewell, last trip across the River Derwent (29 Jan 2020)

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The Admiral

The Admiral was a sturdy vessel propelled by helping hand,

She crossed the Derwent many a time always in sight of land.

Over the years she slipped away sight unseen forgotten,

And so she fell in disrepair and e’er came a little rotten.

A little group of worried souls resolved to take her home,

Amongst the trees and prickly bush where cattle used to roam.

Three long years of hammer and nail and many a replacement plank,

The Admiral was given a coat of paint and started to look quite swank.

But now she wants a resting place beside the river bank,

But everywhere she should go, draws nothing but a blank.

A Viking funeral all so bright is proposed for a summer night,

So talking pollies all so dumb, can look and gawk with fright.

Public pressure could be strong all of a different age

Forever style, look or size and loss of heritage.

In future years many a child younger in all of age,

Will only see a vintage boat on a booklet page.

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