It's been a while since I reported on Schooner Independence, our non-profit project on Kangaroo Island to rebuild the first vessel built in SA - by American sealers in 1803!
A couple of weeks ago we officially opened the new Independence Boathouse on the American River wharf, and just yesterday the adjoining Deck Cafe opened. Please stop by if you're ever on Kangaroo Island and say "hi".
Here's a write-up of the opening day with photos:
blog.arribasail.com/2015/10/cruise-ballast-head-stopover-and-schooner-independence-update.html
Also, if you're interested in supporting our little non-profit, or just want to buy some neat nautical gifts, check out our crowdfunding campaign:
www.chuffed.org/project/independence
Sounds like a great project and it would be interesting to see the lines of the original independance, being built by American sealers. Is she being built to the original lines?
For a while I had a cray boat that used to fish out of American River in the 50's and later on from Robe. She was called Adria and was built by Axel Stenross from Port Lincoln.
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Select to expand quoteGuitz said..
Sounds like a great project and it would be interesting to see the lines of the original independance, being built by American sealers. Is she being built to the original lines?
For a while I had a cray boat that used to fish out of American River in the 50's and later on from Robe. She was called Adria and was built by Axel Stenross from Port Lincoln.
Thanks for sharing the photos.
We hope to make the reconstructed Schooner Independence as authentic as possible. Of course, know one knows for sure exactly what she looked like. I've attached drawings by marine architect Bob Sexton.
I don't suppose you happen to know Tony Klieve? He was another KI cray fisherman from around that time, who used to work out in Investigator Strait. He's now the chairman of Rebuild Independence Group.
Looks terrfic Scruzin and what a project for Sth Aus and the rest of Australia to be a part of.
That is a serious amount of rake on those masts.I would not like to be on the end of that tiller when the rudder 'kicks' either.
Any details as of yet in regards to the materials proposed?
Cheers C.R.
Independence Schooner project is somehow related to history of Kangaroo Is.
My impression is, that many new settlements and trading was possible
long time before land connection was established by fleet of Mosquito Ketch.
Mosquito Ketch is real history for trading and existence many places
of Yorke Peninsula and Spencer Gulf. The only one was restored,
guess that is real highlight of Maritime museum in Adelaide .
This is a of the most beatiful boat of that era,
SA should have it in the Coat of Arms.
Yes, the history is very interesting. American sealers and whalers all the way from Connecticut and other places in New England, were down in Southern Australian waters from the early 1800s, three decades before there was even a colony of South Australia. That's why we have places in SA with names like "American River" and "Victor Harbor" (yes, spelled the American way).As for the earlier question, about the timber, we think the original Independence used a mix of American timbers brought with them on Brig Union (the mother ship) plus locally harvested Callitris or "cypress pine" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callitris) which can be found on Kangaroo Island. What timbers we end up using for the reconstruction will depend on what we can get for free. We are a non profit after all 
.
Hence one more shameless plug for our fundraising campaign!
chuffed.org/project/independence
Good one!-I for one would like to follow this along the journey.
The caravel 'Notorious' from Victoria was built predominately from Cypress along with other recycled timbers.
It was then coated up with Stockholm tar inside and out.
So the Cypress will work,except there will be probably be some splits and checking here and there, which will only add to the 'old world' look.
I cannot comment on how it bends though, having never used it in that situation. May be better served for the structural timbers.
I'm happy to tip in-Is there any other method than through Chuffed?
