@ Lady Bay, SA
After five or so years, the western wall of the Boatshed was looking a bit the worse for wear: it receives the full brunt of winter gales and summer sun. I recently sanded the cladding, as you can see – and will soon try out a newly-discovered product: Whittles Sun Protection Exterior Oil. I am hoping it will preserve the beautiful honey colour of native cypress for a year or so. Of course, wooden boatsheds and wooden boats require maintenance; that is part of the joy and ritual of ownership.
Sam and I recently drove down to Port Adelaide to purchase new rigging for Shearwater. We visited an old-time chandlery (at the far end of Vincent Street), which evidently caters for the lower end of town: ancient mariners, neo-luddites, and low-tech devotees.
Back in the 60’s and 70’s, Dad used to purchase galvanized turnbuckles and such-like – and in due course immerse the rusted versions in his special drum of recycled sump oil. There, more often than not, they remained forever in rehab mode.
After much thought, and little discussion, we have chosen to depart from the family tradition by purchasing stainless steel turnbuckles. They will last for as long as we last, and well beyond. We also rescued a hank of manila rope, beautifully spliced at both ends. It looked lonely hanging there, all by itself – and at any rate, Dad would most certainly have grabbed it, so we did likewise. It clearly belongs in the Boatshed – and will eventually find its home on the deck of our Tancook Whaler: as yet, a castle in the air.
Castle in the air – but at least we have the relevant construction plans….and the rope.
Nora Heysen ( 1911 -2003): Across the River
This small oil painting has found its way to the Boatshed. I understand it depicts an estuary, or cove – probably in Sydney Harbour.
Mark Pearse 2004
Kemmiss Hill Road, Yankalilla 6
Acrylic on board, 9″ x 10″
I recently acquired this little landscape. It must have been painted quickly: each element is a sort of visual abbreviation, or shorthand. Mark liked to explore both light and colour in his work – and yet, he was at heart a sculptor. He shaped his landscapes with paint and brush.
