ex-HMAS Dawn sank on Saturday

[The Bigfella]

Some time back I posted about the Dawn, which turned up on the mooring next to Grantala a while back. I've never seen her owners on board, but found out today that they are a couple in their 30's.

She sank last Saturday. As can be seen from the photo, she's fairly neglected, but the hull looked reasonable to me:

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/igatenby/bi6.jpg

When I first posted about her, TonyH put me in touch with Mori Flapan, who runs a database of significant Aussie boats. Mori was able to help me track down my boat's naval history during WW2. While looking through the Aust. War memorial's online database, I also found a photo of HMAS Dawn in naval service in Brisbane during WW2.

We had two weeks of rain every day here in Sydney up until last weekend. A friend of mine who lives down on the river tried to save her. He said it looked like rainwater took her down until a skin fitting started letting river water in. The bow was almost under when he got to her. He managed to tow her to shore and tie the stern up, although she still went under. Having her tied to the shore allowed a barge with a fire pump to get her back afloat. She's down at Fenwicks now. Hopefully they will clean her up and put her back on the mooring and do something with her.

[Tylerdurden]

Hopefully they will clean her up and put her back on the mooring and do something with her.

May I suggest funeral pyre.

[TonyH]

Mark

I'm sorry you have so little regard for Australia's maritime history.:mad: I've often thought the USS Constitution would make a nice bonfire too:rolleyes:. (For all my American friends, please don't take offence at this, I don't really mean it!:o)

On to more serious matters, Ian I'm glad they managed to save her from a trip to the bottom of the Brooklyn anchorage, which would have done her (and her owners) no good at all. Despite the neglect she's an attractive hull and would make a lovely classic Hawkesbury cruiser if looked after properly. I hope the find the means to do her justice. Please keep me posted - I'm sure Mori would appreciate receiving an update about her too.

Cheers

Tony

[elf]

Where are the owners?????

[The Bigfella]

Yes, I thought about sending an email to Mori, but decided to wait until I find out a bit more. I was tempted to go down to Fenwicks for a look this arvo, but had a few other projects to finish.

[The Bigfella]

Where are the owners?????


Good question.. I've never seen them there, but I tend to go down to the river more during the week rather than on weekends. I've seen absolutely no sign of work being done on her. A battery, a bilge pump and a small solar panel - lets say $200 would have prevented this. If they get out of this without a bill of many thousands, I'd be surprised - and that assumes they didn't have any engines of value in there.

[Tylerdurden]

Mark

I'm sorry you have so little regard for Australia's maritime history.:mad: I've often thought the USS Constitution would make a nice bonfire too:rolleyes:. (For all my American friends, please don't take offence at this, I don't really mean it!:o)



Sorry Tony but seeing as the big stinkpot pilot is such an expert on all things American I thought I would post my feelings on the matters Aussie.

[Metronicity]

Lovely-looking vessel. Shame the owners don't look after her. Some of these oldies were kauri pine topsides over hardwood below the water. From that photo she still looks pretty fair doesn't she. Is she for sale now do you think? And is that a Halvo we can see astern of her? Can you post a link to the photo of Dawn in Naval service?

[The Bigfella]

The boat astern of her in that photo is mine - an AM Deering design built by the Holmes Bros in 1938. Ex-HMAS Halcyon, renamed HMAS Kimra then (eventually) Grantala.

Here is the shot of HMAS Dawn

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/igatenby/Dawn.jpg

She's had a horrible companionway added down aft since this photo, not really visible in my photo.

Yes, there was a lot of Kauri over Spotted Gum (as is Grantala) - with, in Grantala's case, Queensland Maple for the cabin.

[Metronicity]

Boatregister.net/sydneybuilders shows a "Dawn" as having been built by one of the Holmes.

[The Bigfella]

Boatregister.net/sydneybuilders shows a "Dawn" as having been built by one of the Holmes.


Yes, we explored that one when Dawn first turned up in the river. The Dawn built by the Holmes was much larger than this one - 65' IIRC. This one is somewhere around 40' +/- a couple of feet.

[TonyH]

Hi Mark

Sorry too, I was feeling cranky when I posted that, never a good look.:o

FWIW, The big stinkpot pilot isn't such a bad bloke, even if a tad opinionated on occasion! He's bought me a beer or three, so he must have some good in him! As is so often the case, his barque is worse than his bight.

Cheers

Tony

[leaotis]

looks like you might have a salvage claim (!?)

[The Bigfella]

I took a trip down to the yard at Brooklyn today to take a look - no Dawn. Talking to one of the guys at the yard he said they didn't want to spend any money on her and they have transported her to their property out Windsor way and that they would work on her there. "She'll never see the water again" said he. I fear he may be right.

[skuthorp]

Very Sad Ian, not the best sort of boat to be moved about on land, just compound her problems. Did you have any success tracing the 'Thank You' plaque from the navy from Grantulla?

[The Bigfella]

I don't like my chances of tracking down anything from previous owners. She was an enforced sale - which I only found out when I handed over the cheque. Previous owners were in Perth and I don't seem to get any work over there these days.

[rufustr]

Sounds like the end of the good basis for a restoration.

What would a boat like that sell for in Sydney?

I've just looked at an ex cray boat on a slip here, and am trying to convince myself not to buy it.

I think the offer I'm about to make should ensure I don't get it.

[skuthorp]

"I think the offer I'm about to make should ensure I don't get it."
Careful, I've had quotes like that. Do a generous quote, double it and add 15%. And you still get it because others wanted it less!

[The Bigfella]

No idea what it would sell for if it was for sale. I was offered a 30' river cruiser that had no engine for $500 about 6 years ago. I would've bought it too if I'd had somewhere to put it.

[TonyH]

Up she pops again. She's listed on ebay, as-is-where-is (Oakville, near Windsor) current bid is $2500. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/43ft-Norman-Wright-Timber-Cruiser_W0QQitemZ160251654129QQihZ006QQcategoryZ15 8329QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The website says she is huon pine, built 1936 by Norman Wright as a Brisbane River mail boat. If so, plus her navy service, she's a classic with an interesting history. Here's how she currently looks, there's a bunch more photos on the ebay page:

http://i20.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/f7/a2/025b_12.JPG

[The Bigfella]

Couldn't they find a level bit of ground? No mention in the advert of her recent wash out.

[clancy]

This has to be the first time I've seen a boat listing with someone sleeping in a berth.

[skuthorp]

She looks a bit sad, it wouldn't be cheap to do her up

[The Bigfella]

New deck, new cabin, new engine. Sounds a lot cheaper than Grantala.

[BETTY-B]

This has to be the first time I've seen a boat listing with someone sleeping in a berth.

Holy cow! Thats a first for me too! I'm betting booze plays a role in that shot.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/Bridgedeck/21a3_12.jpg

[Jay Greer]

Kind of reminds me of the Yawl "Seminole" when I bought her.
Check her out now.
http://www.yachtseminole.com/articles.asp
Jay

[The Bigfella]

Seminole is a far more useable boat than Dawn. Dawn is very narrow-gutted - not a good party boat.

Nice job with Seminole! Wow.

[rufustr]

I loved this photo and the story accompanying it when I first saw it recently.


http://www.yachtseminole.com/images/gboatarticle.jpg

[TonyH]

Back to DAWN, nine bids and currently at $5100, a little over an hour until the auction closes. Looks like she'll have a new owner.

[The Bigfella]

I had a chat to Barry about it the other day. "You'd have to pay me to take it away".

[Salty Sailor]

Wonder how long it will for the new owner to visit the forum:rolleyes:

[Gary E]

May I suggest funeral pyre.

Pyromaniac...

or just a dufus