About the Wooden Boat Association
The Wooden Boat Association was formed in 1989 for people who enjoy wooden boats and wooden boat building.
Members appreciate wooden boats for their aesthetic qualities, the beauty of the boats and the materials from which they are constructed, and the pure romance of wooden boats. In this age of mass production, each wooden boat is as individual as her owner.
Find out more about the club, its members and upcoming activities under the About Us tab and check out some of our members' boats.
Complete an online membership form to join the Wooden Boat Association today!
Sailing Day May 2026
A relatively low key but very pleasant sailing day at Albert Park Lake for May 2026, enlived by some fireworks thanks to Andrew's tutorials on how to use those flares that we all carry about in the bottom of our boats. Peter Batchelor demonstrated how to use a yuloh on Barca the 6 foot Scraps Dinghy, David Wolfe launched and sailed his beautiful Oz Goose dinghy, Mark and Sebastian Humphrey did a few circumnavigations of the island in their fine Pennyfee, and the Pigdon grandkids vanished off down the other end of the lake in their Mirror. Another good sailing day!
Sailing Day - Werribee River April 2026
Lunch time raft up of WBA boats testing the Parks Visitor Mooring (thanks Penny for great photo).
The April Sailing Day at Werribee River attracted a good turn out of boats, 12 by my count:
- Lilly - Nick Atkins Moyne 10 - Palz Vaughan and Kelvin Gedye
- Shara - Welsford Navigator - Justin Perkins and Roy
- Stringy Bark - canoe - Chris Stockman
- Pennyfee - Oughtred Ketch - Ken Macdonald and Mark Snowden
- Anjevi - Welsford SCAMP - Gary Hardy and Ozzie
- Snug - Welsford SCAMP - Stephen Parker
- Surprise - Lillistone First Mate - - Sam and crew
- Lunic - Hartley TS14- Michael Aitken and David
- Nyatne- Core Sound 17 Mk III- Peter and Kirsty Bachelor
- Teal - modified Ben Garvey Skiff - Chris Kelly and Penny Braybrook and Jim Stockton
- 14 foot restored power boat - Bob Morgan
- Illur - Doron Hickey and crew
Some sprightly conditions early on provided some excitement for those venturing out into the Bay, while others explored up river. Bob experienced some unwelcome excitement in the form of water collecting in the bottom of his boat on launching. Thanks to everyone who came along, it was another memorable Werribee River Sailing Day.
Peter and Kirsty in Nyatne taking some air in the 20 plus knots wind early on
Thanks to everyone who came along, it was another memorable Werribee River Sailing Day.
And the winner of the Alan Chinn Award 2024/5 is ...
The winner of the Alan Chinn Award 2024/5 is Stephen Parker, for his beautifully made SCAMP "Snug"!
Congratulations Stephen, a fine piece of work.
Wooden boats can take you wonderful places
Four SCAMPs at the entrance to Swan Bay on a recent impromptu midweek WBA sail
Some very familiar WBA boats at the 2025 Weekend away at Paynesville - "Maisie", "Halloween". "Mars" and "Snug" all enjoying a peaceful sunset. Thanks Hanh for the great photo!
Some of the fleet of WBA boats heading back up the Werribee River on a recent sailing day
Some WBA Boats along with the rest of the TN25 fleet sheltering in the little harbour at Alonnah on South Bruny Island. Some wild weather coming!
Here is Jim in his fine Railbird Skiff dodging submerged tree stumps on Lake Mulwala last year. A group of WBA members set off planning to run down the Murray for a few days, but the river was flooding so we opted for a row on the lake instead.
Some WBA boats and friends running home after an impromptu day sail to Point Cook from Altona for lunch. Peter took the photo from "Pitthirit" and made a lovely video of the day.
A few of the boats of the WBA fleet setting off back down the Yarra after a very successful Raid on Herring Island. You can read more about this and other activities of the WBA over the last 12 months in Peter's Review.
Here is Mark in his lovely Mirror, (bought from the WBA Boatyard) hunting for some breeze at our Sailing Day on Albert Park Lake back in June.
WBA iron-on logos now available for sale.
Looking for a boat? Or some Wooden Boat related stuff?
The Boatyard is the WBA's "For Sale or Wanted" section - some FREE TO GOOD HOME.
Check it out!
A sneak preview of some current listings:
For Sale – Baltimore - a classic Sabre dinghy $1850 negotiable
Shirley Valentine for sale $19,500
For Sale - Wooden Sailing (/rowing/motor) boat now $2500
19ft Tugboat by Bill Jones (Professional Boatbuilder) $5000
For sale - Silky Oak - $23,400
Handcrafted Wooden Boat – Never Used – $4,500
Free to good home Sabre class dinghy
Free to good home Mirror class dinghy
Pompei Half Cab Putt-Putt - $10,000
Free to a good home: Kelvin motor
5.2m Wooden Gaff-Rigged Trailer Sailer - $9000
For Sale Raudaschl Finn dinghy. KA114.
Vintage Classic Bondwood Inboard
Minnow sailing dinghy Now $500
Free Puffin building frame and moulds
Classic 7M Couta Boat Now $15K or best offer
“Jackie R” a Len Randell designed 23ft Masthead cruising/racing sloop Now $19,999
Hartley Design Gadabout Runabout - $2,500 neg.
1915 Huon Pine Clinker Dinghy – Restored Classic with Historical Significance $10,000
Dinghy 11’ 6’ long, 4’5’’ beam ( 3.5m x 1.35m) $1800
Some recent listings (all sold :) :
Newsletter and Journal archives
Wooden Boat Association members have access to archives of our previous newsletters and journals. You must log in before you can read and download them
Browse our online collection of back issues of Shavings, the monthly newsletter of the WBA.
Visit our archive of Watercraft, the quarterly journal of the WBA, published from 1989 to 2008. Over time it became the national journal of Australian wooden boat associations, with regular contributions from around Australia.
Call for contributions
We encourage members to share their experiences – a great day out on the water, a completed project, a request for information. - we'd love to hear from you.
- Shavings-shavings@woodenboat.asn.au
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