The Boating Apprentice Project is well underway, bringing together apprentices from across the marine industry to restore a boat while learning valuable hands-on skills. But this isn’t just any boat—it has a rich family history and now a special purpose for the future.
Scott O’Hare, President of BIAV and owner of Aussie Boat Sales, kindly donated this boat to the project. Originally owned by Scott’s family, this boat holds sentimental value, and now it’s being repurposed as a training tool for marine apprentices and a promotional feature at career expos. By restoring it, we’re not just rebuilding a boat—we’re investing in the future of the marine industry and inspiring the next generation of boat builders, marine mechanics, and trimmers.
Project Update: What’s Happening Now?
Up until now we have had support from Penfold Marine who inspected the boat for us, then with the help from Scott O’Hare with a trailer, we transported it to Mercury Marine in Dandenong. Today, Boating Careers visited Mercury Marine, where apprentice Jay Jay is helping with the project. With the MerCruiser engine now in safe hands, Mercury Marine will begin diagnosing it to determine what repairs are needed.
Next Steps in the Project:
The boat will be transported to the Australian Institute of Engineering (AIE), where Marine Craft Construction apprentice boat builders will begin removing all furniture and assessing the hull and structure. Their goal? To restore the boat to its former glory.
Once the structure is sound, the furniture/seats will be sent to Holmesglen TAFE, where Marine Trimming apprentices will work on reupholstering the seats, giving the boat a fresh new look.
This project showcases the power of hands-on learning and industry collaboration, giving apprentices a real-world restoration experience while preserving a piece of history.
Stay tuned to Boating Careers as we follow the journey of this special boat!