VAN DIEMAN at Port Davey, SW Tasmania in 1990.

Van Diemen

Vessel numberHV000119

Official Number191 753

Date1952

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 15.24 m x 4.11 m x 1.83 m, 20.43 tonnes (50 ft x 13.5 ft x 6 ft, 20.76 tons)
Registered Dimensions: 15.24 m x 4.27 m x 1.83 m, 17.77 tons (50 ft x 14 ft x 6 ft)

DescriptionThe yacht was built by Jock Muir at his Battery Point yard in Hobart ,Tasmania and launched in 1952. It was one of the first craft built in Muir's new workshop, and construction took place alongside the yacht LAHARA. It was a tight fit and a busy period doing two yachts at the same time. VAN DIEMEN was built as a gentleman's cruising yacht for Len Nettlefold. After he passed away in 1964 the yacht was sold to John Colquhoun.

The 15.24m (50 ft) long carvel hull is planked and framed in Huon pine and features an elegant canoe stern, with a large wheelhouse over the forward part of the cockpit. It has the sturdy hull shape and construction that are typical features on Jock Muir's boats, designed and built for rugged Tasmanian conditions. In his book "Maritime Reflections" Jock Muir describes the design as a ' comfortable, sea-kindly, easily handled, safe cruiser' , 'She was and still is, a handsome looking boat'.

In the 1980s a refit was undertaken on the inside of the vessel by owner Karl Gonsalves, much of the woodwork replaced with huon pine and burl. Gonsalves then cruised VAN DIEMEN throughout the 1990s. The vessel was bought from by the current owner in 2014 from the Gonsalves decesed estate. Since then comprehensive restoration work has been udnertaken on VAN DIEMEN. A 40mm solid burmese teak deck has been laid, and new deck beams installed using 1.2 tons of blue gum. The teak used was sourced from a superyacht. A new wheelhouse built was built, triple diagonal planked with cold molded planking on top. The aft cabin of the vessel has original planking. A 5LW Gardener engine is to be re-installed, laid upon solid teak engine beds. As of 2023 VAN DIEMEN is in excellent condition.

SignificanceVAN DIEMEN is a yacht built in Tasmania in 1952. It is one of the many craft designed and built by respected Tasmanian builder Jock Muir and represents his yard's robust construction and seaworthy design capbilities.