As with all yacht restoration the process will take twice as long as planned and cost hopefully, only twice as much as anticipated.

Crucial to the entire project is the sense of responsibility in maintaining the historical significance, the original construction integrity and the traditional building techniques in the yachts overall repair.

 

The restoration completed in 1998 by Andrew Mason and Ed van Beem was an outstanding success and they were able to draw on the expertise of some of the finest shipwrights in Australia.  The replica Endeavour had just been completed and so many outstanding and highly experienced shipwrights were available in WA.  New Queensland beech decks were laid, magnificent jarrah floors were laminated in place and new karri ribs installed.  Mahogany bright work coupled with hand crafted bronze fittings completed a museum standard restoration. Fifteen years later and to everyone’s surprise the new planks had began to show signs of rot.

 

My wife and I purchased Aorere in 2013 and had her trucked 440 kilometres to Albany to undertake her restoration.  She was placed on the hard stand at Emu Point slipway,a with the invaluable assistance of Darren Russell underwent an significant rebuilding.

 

The original NZ kauri garboards were replaced with Jarrah planks because of their durability and capacity to hold fastenings.  All the planks below the waterline were replaced with Huon pine.  Huon is by far the best choice in terms of planking as it is strong, relatively light and immune from rot.  It has also been a traditional boat building material for 150 years.  The original NZ kauri is almost impossible to source and illegal to import.  We have replaced two ribs, sistered six others and repaired minor rot damage to three of the floors.  Structurally, the boat is very sound and the massive floors installed during the 1989 rebuild have provided an enormously strong hull.

 

The engine has been replaced with a 30HP Yanmar Diesel motor. .

 

The original interior was french polished Australian cedar.  This iconic and now rare timber has become difficult to source in quantity. The intention was to use cedar where possible and to at least reproduce the saloon in its original materials including highly polished wood work and plush red cushions.