Surfboat used by North Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club
Object No. B2471
The design of this traditional single-ended plywood surfboat built at Newport, NSW, in 1972 had its origins in the lifeboats developed by the Royal National Lifeboat Society in Britain. For most of the twentieth century the surfboat has been an icon of the Australian beach scene, being used for rescues and featuring in surf life-saving carnivals. Around 1900 surf bathing became popular, but with it came the risk of drowning in Australia's often dangerous coastal waters. Groups of bathers began to form life-saving clubs in Sydney. Early clubs included Bronte in 1903 and Bondi in 1906, and the idea spread to the other States. The Surf Life-Saving Association of Australia was established in 1923. Originally the famous reel, line and belt were used for rescues, but they were replaced by surfboards, surf skis and surfboats. The early Australian surfboats were heavy double-ended clinker-built boats of kauri, strong enough to withstand battering by the surf. Known as "banana boats" because of their sharply curved keels, they were popular in the 1920s and 1930s, but their speed with a crew of five was limited. They were replaced in the 1940s with lighter carvel-built boats made of cedar with metal buoyancy tanks at both ends. The tuck-stern or single-ended boats, of which the "Nola Hubbard" is an example, were introduced in 1946. They had the advantage of being light enough to be carried by their crew. During the 1950s, experiments were made with boats built of moulded plywood, fibreglass and laminated veneer. By the 1980s timber surfboats had all but disappeared from Australia's beaches in favour of the faster foam-fibreglass boats and inflatable "rubber duckies". Over the years the number of rescues using surfboats declined, but the exciting surfboat racing at carnivals, first introduced in 1919, continues. This surfboat was built by Bill Clymer and used for about ten years by the North Curl Curl Surf Life-Saving Club on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The crew comprised four rowers and a sweep, who steered the boat with the 20 foot (6 metre) long Oregon oar at the stern. Murphy, Trish. "Australian Wooden Boats, Vol. 1 Small Classic Boats", Wooden Boat Association of New South Wales Inc, Drummoyne, NSW, n.d. Simpson, Margaret. "On the Move: a history of transport in Australia", Powerhouse Publishing, Sydney, 2004. Margaret Simpson Assistant Curator, Science & Industry July 2008
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Summary
Object Statement
Surfboat, 'Nola Hubbard', wood / metal / leather / plastic, made by Bill Clymer, Newport, New South Wales, 1972, used by North Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club, North Curl Curl, New South Wales, Australia, 1972-1982
Physical Description
A single-ender surfboat constructed from cedar, silver ash and plywood with a brass keel band. The boat is complete with four standard oars, a sweep oar, leather foot straps and box line outfit which contains a surfline, safety release belt and sheath knife. The blades of the oars are painted in green and gold, the colours of the North Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club. Two metal rollocks can be seen on either side of the boat to accommodate the four oars and another rollock for the sweep oar is fixed to the stern of the boat. When not in use the oars are stored inside the boat on top of four wooden bench seats. The name of the boat has been painted in yellow and green on either side of the boat. A boat signal chart has been fixed inside the bow of the boat.
DIMENSIONS
Width
1850 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The surfboat was built in 1972 by Bill Clymer of Newport, on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
HISTORY
Notes
This surfboat was used at the North Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club between 1972 and 1985. Surfboats have always been a considerable expense for surf life saving clubs. The first surfboat used by the North Curl Curl Club, which was formed in 1922, was a disused one dug out of the sand at North Narrabeen Beach. Named "Barracoota", the boat had been built by Charlie Proudfoot and was one of the original "banana boats". It was very heavy and required much effort to launch it for training. The next boat was purchased from the Freshwater club in 1931 for 30 pounds. Named "Whitewings", this boat was followed by "Bluebottle", then "Sam Lands IV" in 1936. After the Second World the curiously-named surfboat "Boofa" was put into action; it was named after an Alsatian owned by a Mr Bostock of the Manly Amusement Pier, who donated money towards its cost. During the 1948-9 season the swimming costume manufacturer Jantzen (Aust.) Ltd, financed the "Jantzen" followed by "Jantzen II" in 1952-3. Warringah Shire Council funded the next few boats, the "Tom Golding" used until 1964 followed by the "Kevin Aldridge" and the "Charlie Fourro", all named after club members and patrons. In 1969 the "Snow Huston" went into service and was used until the Club raised funds for the building of this surfboat, the "Nola Hubbard". The boat was named after the former president of the club's Ladies' Auxiliary, who had died in 1971. It was the first boat named after a woman and celebrated the surf club's 50th birthday, in 1972. Nola's daughter, Sherry, and husband, Jack, performed the christening ceremony. The "Nola Hubbard" was used by the North Curl Curl Club for ten years before being donated to the Museum by Kevin Martin, a member of the Club from Wheeler Heights, in 1983. Mr Martin was concerned that the introduction of the lighter, less expensive and easier to maintain foam boats in the early 1980s would see the disappearance of timber surfboats. Stoneman, Keith. "The Upraised Arm: Fifty Years' History of the North Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club, n.d. [1972].
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mr K Martin, 1983
Acquisition Date
21 January 1983
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