Sea Spray, Hobart Australia

I have had her surveyed and apart from a number of broken ribs she is in pretty good shape. I now have a restoration plan and intend retoring her over the next 3-4 years. In the meantime she will give us plenty of pleasure cruising around the Derwent River in Hobart Tasmania. Sea Spray has now been entered in 5 Australian Wooden Boat Festivals.

Brief History

SEA SPRAY was built as a ferry for the Devonport Harbour Trust for use along the Mersey River in Tasmania in 1926, and was originally called PANDORA. It is now used as a private motor sailer, but retains much of its original structure and appearance.

SEA SPRAY's builder is understood to be Harry Woods from the Woods Boatyard on the Mersey River at Devonport Tasmania. The vessel is carvel planked in Huon pine with a plumb stem and stern profile.

It was launched as PANDORA and operated there until it was sold to a bank manager in Hobart who then brought it down from the Mersey. It was later sold to Mervyn Dalwood from Lindisfarne in Hobart who renamed it SEA SPRAY. Unfortunately he fell overboard and drowned. His family then sold the boat in 1958 to Robert Knight. A partnership of Knight's daughter, her son and two friends later became owners of SEA SPRAY before it was sold to the current owner (Peter Higgs). She remains in good condition and the hull and superstructure are believed to be largely original apart from repairs.