Club History

Surf Boating in Warriewood

Warriewood S.L.S.C. was formed in February l950. The first surf boat the club had was given to us by Bilgola S.L.S.C. by the then Boat Sweep SID FISHER, well known these days for sailing in “Ragamuffin” and as a contender for America's cup honors.

The boat was a very old carvel built double-ender. Carvel built boats are made with 100x10 mm planks fitted edge to edge then a cleat 30mmx10mm riveted over the joints then ribs were then rivited and secured from the gunwale to the keel every 300mm through the length of the boat.

The boat was in shocking condition. It's back was broken, and instead of a curve from one end to the other, in the middle it was flat, ribs broken and planks distorted and leaked like a sieve. The members caulked it and painted it but when we took it out in the surf it used to fill up in about five minutes-not a lot of time for rowing practice!

The oars had straight blades, no shaping, you could row useing either side Carvel built boats in the off season dried out and the planks shrunk. Each season boats had to be sunk in Narrabeen Lake or filled with a running hose till the boat timbers took up(swelled) making the boats very heavy. In the club room there is a photo with about l8 people dragging the boat up the beach. It eventually made great BBQ fuel.

Using this boat “ME” a raw sweep and with inexperienced rowers, rowing for Warriewood Surf
Club started.
By J Mackay.First of a series.

Surf Boat History 1970 - 1984

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Surf Boat History 1970 - 1984 (115 kb)