Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival

[stephenf10]

The biennial Goolwa Wooden boat festival was on last weekend. Due to the low state of the river the number of boats was halved compared to previous years. The only large paddlers there were the Oscar W and the William Randell. The Marion is usually there but it couldn't get down from Mannum across Lake Alexandrina.

The Oscar was doing regular public cruises but the William Randell was disappointingly only taking up space at the wharf. The stiff southeasterly caused a few problems for the Oscar when trying to leave the wharf. On at least one occasion it needed a nudge from the tender to get it out into the river.

Below are a few pictures, the first of the general scene with the Oscar W and William Randell at the wharf and the Cockle Train arriving from Victor Harbor, the second of the Oscar churning up the water trying unsuccessfully to rotate her stern out into the river, and the third of the Oscar under way.

Stephen.

[Roderick Smith]

I was at Goolwa only on the Monday.
I was reluctant to take Jessie II this year after the mooring problems in 2005 and 2007, and the lack of response from the organiser.  I did get a half apology this year, and almost had Jessie II there.  By the time I knew that engine maintenance had been completed, it was to late to enter.  I trailed from Waikerie to Mt Barker on Sat.7.3, then spent Sunday in Adelaide for tram centenary celebrations.  This was the busy day at Goolwa, but with a sharp wind.  At some stage, the already-low water was blown away completely, leaving PS Oscar W on the mud at the wharf.
I appeared at Goolwa on Monday: fewer people, and with many boats gone already.
Solway (a modern Mundoo variant on my Tennessee design) was on static display.  I was invited aboard MV Pompoota for the morning parade (the boat at the end of the pontoon pier, at the rear of Stephen's view).
William Randell had had the main drive shaft replaced since its fracture while returning to Goolwa in September, but a main bearing had yet to be machine (possibly the bearing being out of true caused the fracture).  It had been steamed before the weekend, but was not moved, and was not in steam over the weekend.  Other Goolwa paddleboats were not wooden, or were beached.  I noticed that PV Alice is still for sale for $65 000 (good buying at that price).  It is at a weekly-rental marina berth.  On my way from Waikerie, I saw PS Marion cruising upstream from Mannum, one of many short cruises for a hotrod convention being held over the long weekend (Adelaide Cup in SA; Labor Day in Victoria).

Enclosed: one of Oscar and one of the wharf at the lowest water level which I have ever seen.  On earlier moorings, I have been on that portion of the wharf, with the rubbing strake chafing against the white plastic.  I didn't photograph the remains of PS (Renmark?), just to the left of this view.  Marine growth made the bits sticking above the water not resemble a boat at all.  However, on the preceding day (with the water down artificially by a further metre), the boiler and/or engine had been visible.

Both photos were taken during the 'Rough and Ready' event.  Entrants are given a kit of plywood, framing timber, binding straps and sikaflex (silicon water sealant) and have to build a boat which will float, and carry two people around a marker 50 m offshore and back without sinking.  After a first race on Sunday, the design could be modified; a second race on Monday carried double points.  This is always a highlight of the festival, and it is amazing the design variations possible within the parameters.  I was not impressed by one being towed by a frogman in flippers, and another where one passenger was towed by the the partner walking on the shallow bottom.  Oscar is not carrying an auxiliary sail.  With only a narrow channel left navigable, yacht races were running an up & down course in the channel, and not a triangular course.

Coming up: National Machinery Rally, at Murray Bridge (Fri.3-Sun.5.4).  Largely land based, PS Marion is coming from Mannum (public cruise down on Wed.1.3, returning on Monday or Tuesday); Wooden Boat Owners Association will have a fleet there; local PS Cato (a replica boat, oil fuelled) should make an appearance.  PV Madam Jade should still be there, and PV Captain Proud will be making dinner and lunch cruises.  I will have Jessie II there, en route from Mt Barker to Border Cliffs.
See www.psmarion.com/html/marion_cruises.html and
www.communitywebs.org/AdelaideHillsMotorRestorersClub/12thNatRally/web.pdf

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor