TasWeekend: Whatever floats your boat

IAN Johnston’s love of being on the water led to him living in a prime location on Hobart’s waterfront.

Ian Johnston lives on his boat on the Hobart waterfron. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

YOU’D be hard-pressed to find a rental property in Hobart’s inner city for $135 a week. So boating enthusiast Ian Johnston considers himself lucky to be living in a prime location on Hobart’s waterfront for such a bargain price.

The 64-year-old resides on his comfortable cray boat, Juliene, which is moored at Constitution Dock.

From vantage points on the deck or in the wheelhouse, Johnston has 360-degree views encompassing the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and Hotel Grand Chancellor in one direction, across to Mures and the fish punts and around to Kings Pier Marina, Brooke St Pier and Mawson’s Waterside Pavilion.

Ian Johnston aboard Juliene. He has travelled the world by sea but is now moored at Constitution Dock. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

And with cruise ships and yachts coming and going, birds flitting past, seals popping up and diners wandering past with ice-creams and fish and chips, there’s always something to see.

The confines of a boat might feel claustrophobic to some, especially when you consider Johnston previously lived in a spacious modern house at North West Bay.

But as someone who has built boats, travelled the world by sea and competed in some of the world’s most prestigious ocean races, Johnston is loving the chance to be permanently on the water.

And as he is researching and writing a cruising guide for the Furneaux islands, he’s also enjoying easy access to the library, which he visits every day.

HANGOUTS LINC Whether he’s borrowing books, reading newspapers or conducting research, the LINC state library is one of Johnston’s favourite places. Monday to Saturday, from 9.30am. 91 Murray St, Hobart, 6165 5597, linc.tas.gov.au TMAG Johnston finds the Tempest exhibition (running until Sunday, November 20) particularly inspiring. With roots in the Shakespearean play of the same name, Tempest has transformed TMAG into a world of shipwrecks, romance, discovery and tragedy. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am- 4pm, Dunn Pl, Hobart, 6165 7000, tmag.tas.gov.au ASTOR GRILL Johnston is a regular at this long-running establishment, which is his top pick for a great steak. 157 Macquarie St, Hobart, lunch Monday to Friday, from noon; dinner Monday to Saturday, from 5.30pm, 6234 3122, astorgrill.com.au

The boat is well-equipped with all mod cons – venture below deck and you’ll discover a spacious shower and toilet, a bunkroom, a well-equipped kitchen and heating for extra warmth in winter.

Porthole windows and rich timber panelling add to the ambience, while a TV and collection of books ensure Johnston is never bored.

“It’s really well set up,” Johnston says of his floating hotel.

“This sort of boat is extremely seaworthy – you can go anywhere at any time.” Limited space means Johnston only keeps things he loves. If an item isn’t sentimental or useful, it doesn’t stay.

“All that I own, I carry with me,” he says. “And there’s a lot more space onboard than people might think.”

Despite his love of boats, Johnston wasn’t always enamoured with the sea.

The fifth-generation Tasmanian spent much of his childhood in the state’s Central Highlands, where his dad worked for Hydro.

The spacious area below deck on Juliene features rich timber panelling and porthole windows. Picture: Richard Jupe

When he was 20, Johnston rode a pushbike around Australia and during a stopover in Brisbane saw a newspaper ad calling for crew for an American-bound yacht that was leaving in two days.

He ditched his bike and jumped aboard.

“By the time we got to America,” Johnston says, “I was hooked.”

His life has revolved around boats ever since – he’s been involved with the biennial Australian Wooden Boat Festival since its inception more than 20 years ago and his spare time is spent sailing or tinkering with boats in some capacity.

The wheelhouse of Juliene, which is moored at Constitution Dock. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

He rates Tasmania – on and off the water – highly.

“I’m lucky to have travelled overseas, but this is as good as anywhere … look at this place,” he says.

However, he would like to see changes to Hobart’s waterfront and often sits on his boat dreaming up new ideas to transform the area.

Less concrete, fewer cars, more green spaces, free week-long moorings to attract more international cruising boats and a floating dock that would make the waterfront more appealing and user-friendly for kayakers and dinghy operators are just some of the things on his wish list.

“I just want to see the Con Dock filled with interesting boats through the year,” he says.

“Make the area a focus for tourists and locals rather than stark and just a place to park and hurry past.”

Johnston expects to head off on another sailing adventure soon. But for now he’s happy to keep calling Hobart’s waterfront home.

Originally published as TasWeekend: Whatever floats your boat