Latest News
HELP NEEDED
Please let me know if you are interested in supporting the Viking Restoration project. Ways to support are through expertise, labour, money and/or motivational support. |
January 2018
Dear Friends of the Viking Some of you may already have heard, the Viking sunk late February 2017. A few options for raising her was followed none of them was successful. None of the crane operators wanted to touch the boat and attempts to raise the boat with the tide failed as the draft and free board is much larger than the tide. I am in the process of attaching water filled barrel as close as possible to the keel of the boat then slowly filling them up with air and slowly over the course of a week or two lifting her of the ground. Thereafter the question is what to do with the Viking after she is back on the surface dimpling in the water. A few options are: Option 1: last option and undesired: Breaking the boat up into pieces and selling the wood to recover some of the cost I had with the boat over the years. Option 2: finding a new place for her to rest for a few years before I have the financial resources again to restore the boat. Option 3: raising enough funds and getting enough man power to restore the boat within the next year or two. As some of you may also know my personal situation has significantly changed over the past two years both in regard to money and time available. While a boat is like a child real children take priority over a boat. Thus I am calling on everyone who either has:
Kind regards Stefan February 28, 2017 I got a call from the baot yard that the Viking went down. It loooks as if someone had moved the pump hose likely kinked it or torn it partially off. Subsequently water circulated inside of the baot rather being pumped out and she subsequently sank. March 2016 The Viking had 3 nice and happy sea-days sailing down the Huon and later up the channel to Goodwood.It was great beautiful time and you could hear the Viking wisphering about the good old times September 17, 2015: The Viking has been looking for a more permanent home for the restoration. A nice place has been found and now we are looking for means to move/tow the Viking from Franklin/Port Huon to Hobart. !!! Please let me know if you can offer the Viking a ride. !!! July 21, 2015: With the help of Will James from Aquamec Marine and the Eleanor we moved the Viking from its mooring to the jetty at the Wooden Boat Centre. The short travel was uneventful. At the Wooden Boat Centre I will tend to assessing the next steps and doing some work on the deck to waterproof and deal with rotten beams and other initial work. July 10, 2015: It is now official, I am the new owner of the "VIKING". Ownership was transferred today and after paying for the registration fee - she is all mine. With this I have taken on a large responsibility to restore this historic boat to its full glory and I am very grateful to Betty and Adrian for having provided me with this amazing opportunity. |
Photo Graeme Broxam
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How it all Begun
Restorer Needed - Viking
16 days to safe the Viking - after a year of being hit bad by set-backs, two days before taking a forced redundancy the opportunity of a lifetime showed up in my email Inbox. Without hesitation I took on the project trusting in fate and destiny. Originally the Viking was a Gaff Racing Cutter, built in 1892/93 |
First Encounter
Restorer need - Viking
Are you looking for a Project? Save this historic boat about 125 year old Crayfish Boat Huon Pine Hull Still fairly sound |
History
Built in 1892/93 the Viking. Badly damaged as she neared completion she almost didn't made it into the water. Since then she had an adventurous life as racing boat, later as fishing and cray fish boat.
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RestorationShowing the signs of a fulfilled life the viking is looking forward to a rejuvenation, to restore her to the majesty she is.
More to come soon |