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Barameda

Vessel numberHV000827

Designer Ray Kemp

Builder Sam Purdon

Builder Mick Purdon

Date1967

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 9.75 m × 3.14 m × 1.4 m (32 ft × 10.3 ft × 4.6 ft)

DescriptionBarameda is a 32ft motor cruiser that was built by prominent Tasmanian boat builders Sam and Mick Purdon. It was designed by Ray Kemp, and built in 1967 at the well-known Battery Point boatyard in Hobart Tasmania. Barameda was the largest vessel the Purdon Brothers built. Its hull is constructed of king billy pine over a celery top keelson and stem, and blue gum frames. It is an early example of a strip planked vessel, the hull epoxy glued with copper nails. The strip planking method involves securing narrow, flexible strips of wood edge to edge around temporary formers. Barameda’s elegant cabin is built with a mixture of Huon Pine, Myrtle, Queensland Maple, and West African Mahogany.

Brothers Donald ‘Sam’ and Allan ‘Mick’ Purdon were raised next door to the Battery Point slip yards in Hobart. The yard was established in 1903 by their great grandfather Tom Purdon and business partner Henry Featherstone. Sam began his career as an apprentice with Norm Taylor at Battery Point, and Mick as an apprentice to a local cabinet maker. Both brothers competed in the cadet dinghy and heavyweight sharpie class. In 1951 they established a cabinet making business in a shed off 2 Napoleon Street Battery Point, however advances in fibreglass technology and its use in the boatbuilding industry soon impacted their practice. From 1954 on they began building 8-14ft fibreglass dinghies, and successes in this area saw the expansion of the business into the manufacture of fishing wells, shower bays and laundry troughs. Several wooden boats were also built by the Sam and Mick during their time at Battery Point including Barameda.

Barameda remained under the ownership of the Purdon brothers for forty nine years until 2016. It was used for cruising and recreation, primarily in the channel, and in Adventure Bay and Cape Queen Elizabeth on Bruny Island for fishing. In 2022 Sam Purdon (now 94 years old) stated that Barameda towed a Purdon 10’ fibreglass dinghy, which was used for fishing out of from Barameda. Purdon also stated that Barameda was taken as far out as Maria Island.

in 2016 Barameda passed in ownership to Donough Benson, and in 2021 to its current owner. In 2021 modifications were made to shorten the bowsprit. All of the vessels components are original, aside partial modifications to the sails and restoration work on the engine and gearbox. Barameda attended the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in both 2017 and 2019.

Completed with reference to Nicole Mays’ book ‘The 20th Century boat builders of Battery Point
SignificanceBarameda is a 32ft motor cruiser that was built in 1967 by prominent Tasmanian boat builders Sam and Mick Purdon. It was built at the well-known Battery Point boatyard in Hobart Tasmania, the Purdon family involved at this site since 1903. Barameda was the largest vessel the Purdon Brothers built, and is a unique early example of a strip planked wooden vessel.