Crest Restoration

Pitting of the hull
This is what the Crest restoration team found behind a few layers of Copper Sheeting designed to protect the hull.
It’s to be expected from a vessel of around 100 years old.

The Crest is the only surviving example of the many Jervis Bay launches built at the Dent shipyard at Huskisson.

If you visit the museum, make sure you stroll down to the shed next to the pond and have a close encounter with one small piece of this areas rich maritime history.

Looking at Huskisson today it’s hard to imagine that ships of this size were ever built along it’s banks.

This clipper ship was one of the largest ships built on Currambene Creek. Around 180 feet in length the hull and super structure were built in Huskisson and the mast stepped in Sydney where rigging was also fitted.

BACK TO THE BLOG

Early Morning Flight

Looking over the pond still air beautiful         Flying through the Pavilion Ideal spot for
conditions.                                                    a Wedding?

The Boatshed which houses the Crest             The Crest from a Fly through

Looking back with yours truly at the  controls   Crest Work in Progress.

Restorations

A quick walk around the grounds of the museum will reveal work being carried out on two projects involving boats that were built at Huskisson. The Kingfisher and the Crest are being restored by a skilled team of men.

The Kingfisher.

There is still plenty of work to do on the Kingfisher. At the moment all the old paint is being removed from the inside planks,  this will help in establishing which planks need replacing.

The Crest. Restoration of the Crest has been going on for quite some time. Its a painstaking process of scraping back years of built up muck to reveal the damaged timbers, this timber has to be removed and replaced with the same materials it was originally made with. Parts of the Gunnel, hull planks, keel and metal fittings all need to be replaced or repaired.

The Porthole - Another vessel that will need some attention in the future.

The Crest Project

In a scene reminiscent of boat building days gone by,  the boys from the Crest Restoration Team are up early and into their work.

Crest Restoration Project

A new exhibit is gracing the walls of the Museum.
The Crest is a surviving example of an early carvel-built, petrol driven fishing and recreation launch.
The Crest is undergoing a complete restoration from the keel to the top of the mast head.
This exhibit outlines some of the work that has been done so far during this ongoing project…

Yesterday and Today

The old boat frame arriving at Lady Denman Park. John Hatton secured the frame from a boat builder in Batemans Bay. Originally housed under cover in the Settree Boat Shed it had to make way for the Crest Restoration project and today it stands in the open alongside the old boat shed. This old frame gives you an insight into the process that goes into making a boat.   Hopefully once the Crest if complete this old frame will again find some shelter from the elements..

Present day. The blackened area on the bow was caused by the 2001 Xmas Bushfires that ravaged the area…….The old frame was lucky to survive…

One small part-2

 Many parts make the whole.
Following on from earlier posts here is another piece of our local Maritime history.
It’s one of the port holes from the Crest. The restoration is preceding well, now that the Crest is nice and secure in it’s cradle more work will be carried out.
The restoration crew have just discovered many layers of copper sheeting all applied one over the other lining the vessel.
Like all restoration projects discovery of the unknown is just one part of the joy in this type of project.

Crest Restoration

The Crest Restoration Team
have released another video in it’s series following the progress of the restoration of this historic vessel located within the grounds of the museum.

Around the grounds

 

I took a leisurely stroll around the grounds of the museum today with the camera. If you want to spend a couple of hours of discovery,  come along to the museum you won’t be disappointed.  Take your time and search out the small details amongst the larger displays.  If your anything like me they can be the most interesting things.

The old boat frame. Fascinating to see just how a boat is constructed.

The Crest – an ongoing volunteer recovery project.

Memorial to Alf Setree,  the last of the timber framed boat builders working on the Currambene and a hard working friend and volunteer of the museum.

Flowers

Here are just a few of the many flowers starting to appear – a sure sign we are slowly heading towards spring. Don’t forget to bring your camera.

March Newsletter out now.

Click here to see the latest newsletter
MARCH NEWSLETTER HERE.
This month you can read stories about.
.  Antiques Dealer Gordon Brown who is coming to the museum.
. The upcoming Portrait Exhibition.
. A story from the museum curator Graham Hinton, it’s very interesting!
. The ongoing restoration of the Crest.
and more,

Museum July Newsletter on site now.

A fascinating story about the good ship Port Hole and the ongoing restoration of the Crest as well as information about the Antiques Fair and it’s special guest.
CLICK FOR NEWSLETTER HERE.

Newsletter

Click here for the latest information about the museum, most interesting.
. There’s news about the Halloran Collection.
. A rundown of recent exhibitions and the present exhibition.
. More news pertaining to the solar panel investment.
. There’s an interesting story on the Crest restoration. it’s a credit to the people involved.

Kingfisher – Returns home

The story so far.      Extract from information supplied by David Lewis.

The 30 foot fishing boat was offered as a donation to the museum,   recently it was partially submerged at it’s mooring near Gosford. Built shortly after World War Two at A.W.M Settree’s (Alf’s Father) boat shed on Currambene Creek for the purpose of fishing for kingfish on and beyond Jervis Bay. Kingfisher has an excellent provenance.  From details of its construction and the men who built her,  through to it’s working history as well as details on all it’s owners which included until recently John Settree,  grandson of the builder.  All major repair work and much of it’s maintenance has been carried out over the years at the Settree boat shed on Currambene Creek. Apart from the Crest, currently undergoing restoration in the Settree Boatshed at the Museum,  there are no other vessels with such a long term attachment to Huskisson than the Kingfisher.  Having recently been sunk up to her gunnels will have had no real effect on the timber hull,  but urgent steps will be taken by a skilled engineer to prevent damage to the engine and gearbox. The museum and local community are very fortunate to have the Kingfisher donated and returned to Huskisson, and to also have John Settree at hand to give direction and advice and a willing band of hard working volunteers The Museum would like to acknowledge the hard work done so far by Graeme Kenny in making it happen. Graeme Kenny standing on the stern of the Kingfisher Friday 8th May 2015 The work continues and our coverage will follow the progress…