MV Egeria's tender
Vessel numberHV000573
Previous owner
Marine Board of Hobart
Builder
Reg Fazackerley
Date1941
DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 3.3 m x 1.5 m (10.83 ft x 4.92 ft)
DescriptionThe tender is made from 19m thick Huon pine, clinker planked with seven strakes per side, and fitted with she oak knees. It was built while Reg Fazackerley was employed by the Marine Board.
EGERIA’s tender was probably stored on the cabin top, and possibly spent most of its life ready for use rather than actually being used. EGERIA would go along side wharves and jetties to embark and disembark passengers, the tender was more of a reserve craft in case of an emergency, as well as being part of the vessels expected fit out.
At an unknown time during EGERIA’s use as a government VIP craft the tender was taken off and went on display at Tas Ports foyer in downtown Hobart, where it became well-known to the public. In 2007 ownership was passed on to the Maritime Museum of Tasmania.
Fazackerley built a variety of craft but was well-known for the large number of high quality dinghies he made during his career. All were clinker planked with a few simple but distinctive features to the construction, and often carried hallmarks such as carving the owner's name into a thwart. Another detail on the tender and common to his dinghies was the ommission of any frames forward of the forward thwart.The dinghies have become sought after craft in recent years, with a strong group of owners and regular displays at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart coordinated by Peta Knott. EGERIA's tender has become a centrepiece of these displays.
SignificanceEGERIA’s tender is a 3.3m long Huon pine planked clinker dinghy built by Reg Fazackerley in Hobart in 1941. It was built for the VIP motor launch EGERIA (HV000377), and was ready for this vessel as it was launched.
c1888