Shipwright piles ahead with boat project

From the Echo, first published Tuesday 21st Oct 2003.

A SHIPWRIGHT is using 100-year-old wooden piles from Portland harbour to bring an old boat to life.

Ben Jefferies, of Castletown, Portland, has spent more than six years restoring his 70-year-old wooden sailing boat Dhanu.

His project ran into difficulties when ran out of suitable hard-wearing wood for the stern post - which supports the rudder and the rear of the boat. Ben, 34, said: "I had been complaining to all the old Portland boat people that I was finding it impossible getting hold of a piece of oak.

"Then I was told about some old disused bits of wood that were lying around, and I couldn't believe my luck when I saw them."

They turned out to be old sunken piles recovered from the harbour and made out of sturdy South American greenheart wood - one of the hardest woods in the world. "The wood is perfect for piles and boats as it never rots," said Ben. After adding a bowsprit, a few more frames and working on the interior, Ben thinks Dhanu will be ready for launching next spring.

"I'd like to sail her to the Indian Ocean, or the Seychelles eventually - who knows," he said.

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