JEANARA dressed and decorated in winning style as " Best Decorated" craft at an early 20th cent…

Images(4)

Jeanara

Vessel numberHV000190

Vessel Registration NumberCK91

Builder Chris Grohneit

Date1908

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 8.53 m x 7.62 m x 2.74 m x 0.46 m (28 ft x 25 ft x 9 ft x 1.5 ft)

DescriptionJEANARA was built at Paynesville, Victoria, by Chris Grohneit in 1908. It was owned by the local mayor A J Gilsenan - who ran the local ice works, a significant utility for the community at that time. JEANARA is carvel planked and has a typical configuration for the period: a plumb stem, deep sheer and long counter stern. It is probable that it was originally powered by an early petrol engine.

References and images of the period indicate that the mayor often used his craft as a pleasure launch, and also took part in the many regattas held on the lakes. JEANARA won the Best Decorated Vessel award on several occasions and was well known in the region.

Subsequent owners made changes to the craft's configuration, especially in the 1980s when a raised deck, cabin and wheelhouse were added, substantially altering its trim and appearance. The owner in 2004 engaged professional shipwrights to return the boat to its original configuration, based on photographic evidence. It was fitted with a small diesel engine. With its oval cockpit and elegant profile, in 2008 JEANARA was well known in the region as a surviving example of an early locally-built launch.
SignificanceJEANARA is an example of an early 1900s, locally-built wooden motor launch used on the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria as a pleasure craft. It has the typical configuration of the period and featured prominently in early regattas in the region.