Wooden Boat Centre take on its first ever Apprentice as restoration rage hits

All hands on deck are needed at the Wooden Boat Centre following a surge in restoration projects. It led to Tynan Herington joining the crew as the centre’s first apprentice.

Tynan Herington the first apprentice to be taken on at The Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin to complete an apprenticeship in marine craft construction. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A rage for restoration has seen The Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin become so busy that they’ve taken on their first-ever apprentice in 32 years.

Dr Sonia Shimeld from the Wooden Boat Centre said they were now fielding requests for their services from all over Australia, but “we’re putting them off at the moment” to focus on Tassie boats.

“It’s fantastic, we’re so busy. So if we can keep these old boats going, it’s much better than chopping trees down and using our rare timbers.” Dr Shimeld said.

21-year-old Tynan Herington had never been boating or sailing when he approached the company for work back in June.

But he did have a love of wood after working with his carpenter father throughout his childhood.

Tynan Herington the first apprentice to be taken on at The Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin to complete an apprenticeship in marine craft construction. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

After a month’s trial, volunteering alongside his Dad at the boat centre, Mr Herington has now been taken on as their first-ever apprentice shipwright, a four-year process which will result in regular travel to Queensland for study.

“A lot of it’s quite different to traditional woodwork in the fact that nothing’s straight or anything like that,” he said.

“It’s all curves and angles and stuff. So, I’m enjoying that challenge because I haven’t really done much of that before.

“And I like how it’s a lot more technical and precise than say carpentry or stuff like that. You have to be a lot more accurate and take your time really.”

A TAFE in Queensland was the only one available to a Tasmanian apprentice, and Herington is the only apprentice in his class of 24 to study and work on wooden boats.

“Personally I would much rather work with wood than metal. I like the traditional aspect of it a lot,” Mr Herington said.

Dr Shimeld says it has been wonderful to have some young energy around and Mr Herington has an ease and comfort with the work which bodes well for his future career.

With the centre currently recruiting for another fully-qualified shipwright, Dr Shimeld is confident their apprentice has chosen a career with longevity.

“He’s just taken off, he’s a really brilliant worker, so it’s good for all of us.”

[e-mail]

Originally published as Wooden Boat Centre take on its first ever Apprentice as restoration rage hits