Booralea Wooden Boats

Booralea Wooden Boats

New photos of Micro Navigator and AS-29.

Leyenda, launched 1993.

Booralea Wooden Boats is a low key business into building small, practical boats. Based on the riverbank of the Karuah River, upstream from the Great Lakes area of New South Wales, Australia.

Pictured above is "Leyenda" -- a Phil Bolger Advanced Sharpie 29 (AS29). This boat was constructed and launched in 1993. I have been living aboard for several years, using the boat as a working vessel for mobile boat building.

AS29 tolerates her fair share of criticism. She gains respect when others follow in her wake. Read my experience of handling the AS29 here.

Leyenda is presently for sale... reluctantly! Built true to the original design of Phil Bolger, this boat has proven to be an exceptionally practical, seaworthy and fast vessel. View the inventory here.

If your interested, email me at booraleaboats@hotmail.com

Micro.

Currently under construction is a Micro Navigator (a development of the Micro). This design further demonstrates Phil Bolger's knack for lateral thinking. The Navigator under construction has been extended to nearly 16'6" and the entry rounded with foam to mitigate wave slap. Planned launching time is sometime this year (other projects permitting!). This boat may be doing the circuit of wooden boat shows in Australia.

When Micro Navigator is eventually let loose she will no doubt confront the "yachting" establishment. This is not a problem as the Navigator option seems to fulfill the criteria for a diehard minimalist's ultimate cruising boat. It is not inconceivable to undertake a "circumnavigation" by delivering the boat to various continents in a 20' shipping container. Although the boat may be capable, in my view crossing oceans in one only 5 metres long does not hold much appeal. Cruising the Mediterranean by Micro Navigator presents a realistic challenge!

To view some images of construction, click here.

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