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Tacoma Dinghy

Vessel numberHV000603

Builder Andrew Haldane

Date1963

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 4.27 m (14 ft)

Terms

DescriptionThe TACOMA dinghy was built 1963 by 13 year old Andrew Haldane for use as a tender and a night-time, live bait fishing boat in association with tuna fishing on his father’s and uncle’s trawler MV TACOMA. They adapted a design from North America to suit their fishing purposes and to fit the available space for storage aboard the trawler. This is an innovative use of a design originally created for a different purpose. Its operations complemented the Tacoma Surf Boat (HV000426) and TACOMA Flattie (HV000484) and the trio of craft formed a versatile combination all working from their mother ship.

The vessel is 3.0 m (10 ft) long, has a single chine hull, and was built using marine ply and meranti. The design is understood to have come from plans published in ‘Fishing Boats of the World’, as was the design for the TACOMA Flattie. It was modified in the process of construction and included two water tight bulk heads fore and aft enabling it to double as a rescue boat. Life rafts were not installed on the Port Lincoln tuna fleet vessels until 1969.The dinghy had two rowing positions and had an outboard fitted on the transom. It was stored aboard TACOMA inside the Flattie

The dinghy was built to meet the need of a light versatile vessel that could be handled in rolling conditions. The previous dinghy had been built of Huon pine and was considered too heavy. Along with the Flattie, it was one of two dinghy type boats built by the Haldane family that could act as a work boat for catching live tuna bait using a light at night

Tuna bait was caught offshore at night using netting with a couple of crew aboard, and by only using oars the sound was reduced as they encircled the school of bait fish. Once netted it was kept live aboard the TACOMA before being spread on the surface to attract the big tuna, the ship's main quarry.
It was taken out of service in 1986 and then dry stored ashore for the next 27 years .In 2009 TACOMA was re-commissioned by the Tacoma Preservation Society, and along with the Tacoma Surf boat and the TACOMA Flattie, the TACOMA Dinghy was restored for active use with TACOMA. It is in excellent condition and serves as a tender and live bait boat once again when the TACOMA heads out to sea for its yearly tuna fishing cruise.

SignificanceThe TACOMA Dinghy is a flat-bottomed tender and dinghy built in 1963 in Port Lincoln SA. It was built to be used in association with the tuna fishing boat MV TACOMA (HV000151) and remained in operation until 1986. It has always remained with the Haldane family and in 2014 has now been restored and is once again stowed aboard MV TACOMA.