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TRIM- escorting the bride to her wedding
Trim
TRIM- escorting the bride to her wedding
TRIM- escorting the bride to her wedding
Private Collection

Trim

Vessel numberHV000596
Previous owner
Date1913
DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 4.57 m x 1.68 m x 0.27 m, 0.22 tonnes (15 ft x 5.5 ft x 0.9 ft, 0.22 tons)
DescriptionThe 4.57m long open boat hull is double-ended and clinker built in Huon pine with nine strakes each side. The keel profile is straight and it has strong gunwales, three thwarts and four rowing positions, with two each side being off-set. A recent adaptation is a sailing rig and rudder on the stern.

The ferry ROSNY was commissioned by the Rosny Estates & Ferry Co Ltd in 1912. The design came from the experienced Sydney based naval architect Walter Reeks, and it was built at Battery Point in Hobart by Frederick and Harry Moore. It is most likely that the two lifeboats located on the fore and aft deck above the main cabins were also built by Moore, and probably to their own design based on the proportions allowed by the area available on the deck, or an outline provided by Reeks on the main drawings for the ferry.

ROSNY worked on the Derwent from 1913 to 1919, and then serviced areas around Hobson’s Bay on Port Phillip in Victoria until 1931, before returning to Hobart and working on the Bellerive to Hobart run until 1963. It is difficult to know what if any use the lifeboats had in this time. They would have been periodically removed for maintenance, but whether they were ever used in the water extensively remains unknown.

ROSNY was sold to Tamar Cruises at Launceston in 1963 and went north but the company went into liquidation in 1964 and ROSNY was laid up on the Tamar River. It sank at its moorings in 1968, and amongst the items salvaged and sold at auction was this lifeboat.

The 18th Launceston Sea Scouts bought the lifeboat for use as a training boat and called it JAMES COOK. In 1987 it was sold to Rod Clarke, and then in 1998 it was sold to the 1st Trevallyn Sea Scout Group in Launceston. In 2005 it was bought for use in a television documentary ‘Darwin Harbour’ which included the 1895 voyage of a vessel called FORLORN HOPE.

Another ferry based lifeboat on the ARHV is LYNWOOD II (HV000228), which is understood to have been used on the Sydney Harbour ferries. It is also a double-ended hull shape built in clinker and a similar size.

The current owners bought the vessel in 2102, and named it TRIM in honour of Matthew Flinders’ cat of that name that had survived a circumnavigation Australia amongst other sea going exploits. They undertook a complete overhaul of the craft, which remains in its original open boat configuration. It has been adapted for sailing with the addition of a headsail, gunter rig mainsail, centrecase and dagger board, rudder and tiller.

SignificanceTRIM is a lifeboat from the Tasmanian ferry SS ROSNY which was built in 1913 in Hobart. The ferry operated on the Derwent River over two periods that were separated by service on Port Phillip Victoria. ROSNY was retired in 1963 and later sank on its moorings on the Tamar River in 1968. The lifeboat, one of two carried on the ferry, is the only substantial item remaining from the ferry which was an important vessel for the Derwent River and the development of Hobart’s suburbs. It was one of a number of items salvaged from the ferry and auctioned off, where it has since had varied use with two scout groups and other owners in Launceston.
ROONA under sail in 2007.
Fred Moore
1905
LYNWOOD II has well proportioned lines and retains almost all of its original material.
Fred Pelquest
c 1901
Seaspray - Too
Reg Fazackerley
1950s
GREY NURSE in Triabunna Tasmania 2010
EA Jack
1915
VICTORIA II on display
Forrest and Sons UK
1897
Bow View
Samuel White and Co. UK
1904
CARTELA at Hobart in 2007
Alfred Blore
1912
The lifeboat on display at the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre in 2008
Victorian Government Ports and Harbours Division.
1858
RIAWE in the early morning mist in 2009
EA Jack
1912