RCM Shipwrights Hobart

31/03/2026

VALE Ron Heddle

We want to acknowledge the sad passing of our mate and dear friend Ron Heddle, known widely throughout the boat building industry in Tasmania and a local of Kettering. Our sincere condolences to his partner Patty, and all of Ron's children. Ron has been a part of James' life since 1987 and became a good friend to us both over the years. We will miss your visits to the yard Wag.

31/03/2026

As Easter approaches we’re taking a moment to remember our dear friend Ron Heddle — a respected member of Tasmania’s boat-building community and a longtime mate of the yard. Our sincere condolences to Patty and Ron’s family. We’ll miss your visits, Wag.
Read on for latest projects: https://wix.to/fzyZesG

Hello to everyoneVALE Ron HeddleWe want to acknowledge the sad passing of our mate and dear friend Ron Heddle, known widely throughout the boat building industry in Tasmania and a local of Kettering. Our sincere condolences to his partner Patty, and all of Ron's children. Ron has been a part of Jame...

22/02/2026

Hi all, thanks to everyone who have shown an interest in our new blog. We will continue to roll out these updates on a regular basis.

Since our last post we've continued to work on the aluminium boat fitting out the fo'c's'le and fitting watertight door fabricated by Tas marine and Metal fabrication,

https://www.facebook.com/p/Tas-Marine-Metal-Fabrication-100083358550473/

We also just completed the installation of a new stove on Helen Louise (see previous blog).

We've also been doing annual proactive maintenance repairs on Lady Lucinda, an ex-McLaren trawler converted into a pleasure boat. This year involved repairing leaking seams, refastening ribs and removing and plugging keel cooling.

We also had an urgent call out to Kettering over one weekend to a boat taking on water at an alarming rate. On arrival, some outstanding individual had turned the valves off and stopped the water getting into the boat, and unhooked the batteries. We were called to make sure the engine had not taken in any water and if so, to flush it. We turned the engine over by hand to make sure water hadn't entered the cylinders and hydraulically locked. We then proceeded to check the dipstick, the air inlet and the rocker cover for water. no water was found so we started it, all went well except water had shorted out the stop solenoid
The problem turned out to be a fractured cockpit drain hose. The takeaway, use quality hoses and check regularly, say at least every 3-4 months.

21/02/2026

New blog post: What we've been up to — quick updates from the yard! From aluminium boat fit-outs and watertight door installation to a new stove on Helen Louise and annual maintenance on Lady Lucinda, we’ve been busy. Read the short update and see progress photos. https://wix.to/pklqAoz

Hi all, thanks to everyone who have shown an interest in our new blog. We will continue to roll out these updates on a regular (when we get round to it) basis.Since our last post we've continued to work on the aluminium boat fit out.We completed the installation of a new stove on Helen Louise.We've....

07/02/2026

Our new blog is live! 🚢 Dive into the first post where we begin the full fitout of a 12m fishing boat — starting in the fo'c's'le with patterns for floors and curved trim pieces. Read more about the craftsmanship and progress: https://wix.to/03ewsvP

The 12m fishing boat needs a full fitout and work has begun in the fo'c's'le making patterns for floors and curved trim pieces.

26/01/2026

Happy new year to all, just having a workshop cleanup and found these keel cooling pipes and bronze brackets I’m hoping to sell them for $250 rather than scrap them.
The pipes are 3m long, 19mm diameter, 1”1/2 fittings and bronze holders, the other bronze brackets are brand new to suit 1”1/2pipe.
So if anyone knows anyone that might need them please share

22/12/2025

Leilani a beautiful 45 foot Norman Wright built 1959, she has come in for annual slipping and some remedial work on some floors that had been delignified, this happens in older vessels especially when there is stray current 12/24/240v in the vessel and also to much Zinc on these vessels
We had to remove forward v bunk and trim, replace floors, repair keelson and 6 ribs, fabricate new copper keel bolts, all finished in Altex paints

30/11/2025

Here is a few photos of finished Southern Explorer i left off the last post

30/11/2025

RCM shipwrights was very proud to be asked to repair MV Southern Explorer, she was unfortunate to get damaged in all the very strong winds we had in October and November, she is involved in some very important work so we to get her repaired in a timely matter,
The owner and crew are ex Navy and they train other military veterans on water safety, radio courses etc all while cruising our magnificent state's water ways.
Well done and what an awesome way to learn and be around mates

https://www.facebook.com/p/Veterans-for-Veterans-Onboard-MV-Southern-Explorer-61576356527850/

23/11/2025

RCM Shipwrights have just completed a restoration of Mermerus a H28 built 1951 all work was done completely in house undercover in our workshop at Goodwood Tasmania.
Here is a few photos