The first milestone in an ambitious project to build a replica of Ben Boyd's 1837 tall ship, the Wanderer, has been reached with the construction site at Boydtown now secure.
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With the Wanderer Replica Project committee entering into a five-year lease on the Boytown site, and security fencing and signage now complete, attention has turned to stage two.
This involves finding a suitable tree for the hull and organising a truck and dolly to transport it to Boydtown.
Eden shipwright, Morrie Lynch, will take charge of the construction of the top sail schooner.
Mr Lynch said the Wanderer project would provide employment, education/training and tourism opportunities throughout the build process, as well as when the ship was a sailing concern.
“We are getting closer to the exciting part of the project when the construction of the ship will be ready to commence,” Mr Lynch said.
"The construction phase will include the participation of local shipbuilding apprentices and provide visitor educational facilities for visual inspection by school and tourist groups as the hull takes shape at Boydtown.
"As the first tall ship to be built in Twofold Bay, the Wanderer replica will keep the legacy of traditional shipbuilding and Eden’s nautical past alive.
"Eden has a maritime museum, but no tall ship.
“This tall ship will take students and passengers to sea, with classes in tall ship sailing, marine ecology, maritime history and programs encouraging teamwork and responsibility,” he said.
The Wanderer Replica Project committee wants more volunteers to sign up to “help make the sawdust fly”.
The committee has put out a call for craftspeople and labourers willing to work on the construction of the ship – as well as people of all ages and skills to work behind the scenes.
One task will be to locate and transport suitable hardwood forest logs for the keel and hull, with milling to be done onsite with a Lucas Mill.
As a major fundraiser, the committee is also selling numbered ship planks for $50.