Denman Marine Newsletter

Hi Denman Marine, and welcome to the latest Denman Marine newsletter.

In this month's newsletter we have:

• Introduction to Stitch and Glue/Timber Epoxy Boat Building Shop Class - 7-8 December 2024
• Spotlight - Teardrop Camper
• Denman Marine Built Sassafras 16 For Sale
• Special - Free Galley Module
• Build Updates

If there is anything you would like to see in our future newsletters, discuss, query or order, please contact us via the contact form on our website.

Dont forget! our next Introduction to Stitch and Glue/Timber Epoxy Boat Building Shop Class is locked in for the weekend of 7-8 December 2024.

The remaining slots are filling up fast, so don't delay if you are keen to attend by heading over to our website and securing your spot.

The course will be held at our workshop in Kettering Tasmania, with the hours; Saturday - 9am to 4 pm, and Sunday - 9am to 3pm. The cost of the course is $390 (incl GST) per person, which covers tuition and materials.

These courses have been very popular and are aimed at overcoming the confidence hurdles faced by first-time builders. The topics that will be covered over the two days include:

• How epoxy resins work
• Working safely with epoxy resins
• Basic techniques of working with resins including storage, dispensing, mixing
• Filler powders - the different types and their uses
• Fibreglass cloth – types and working safely with this material
• Bonding with epoxy resin
• Filleting with thickened epoxy resins
• Epoxy coating techniques
• Applying fibreglass cloth and wetting out with epoxy resin
• Blush – what is it and how to deal with it
• Working cleanly with resins and cleaning up
• Basic stitch and glue construction

These courses fill up fast, so head on over to our registration page to reserve your place on the course. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sick of not taking your love of wooden boats on the road? Then look no further than CLCs Teardrop Camper. A "teardrop" trailer is a small camper. The name comes from the streamlined shape, and the type dates back at least to the 1930's. As cars get smaller, storage space more expensive, and recreational time more precious, a new appreciation is growing for the efficiency of a really good Teardrop Camper.

A fan of small boats, small cars, and small houses, designer John C. Harris found the concept of a teardrop camper irresistible.  "Think of it as a big step up from a tent in terms of comfort and utility.  But it's so compact and light that I could tow it behind my Mini Cooper.  Even the smallest 'traditional' RV trailers are going to require at least a mid-sized tow vehicle, and will make a giant dent in your gas mileage."

Teardrops have always been available as build-your-own projects.  You can find ads for kits and plans in old magazines from the 1930's and 40's. Some of these are pretty sophisticated, but most are clumsily-built, and look and feel cheap.  "What if we take the same boatbuilding materials and techniques we've been refining for 25 years at Chesapeake Light Craft and build a teardrop trailer? And the same sculptural approach that we bring to boat design?" Harris asks.  

The result is the 5' x 8' (1.5 x 2.4m) teardrop you see here, and it's a lot more elegant than the common "canned ham" teardrop designs. Drawn around a 60 x 80" (1.5 x 2m) air mattress, this little camper is small on the outside but surprisingly roomy on the inside.  Two adults up to 6'6" (198cm) can stretch out in great luxury.  Large doors on both sides and a 15" square hatch on the roof provide easy access and copious ventilation.  There's room for a 12-volt electrical system to run lights, fans, a stereo, and charging plugs for devices.

A large galley occupies the locker in the rear of the trailer.  While this space could be customized in many different ways, staff designer Dillon Majoros has devised a brilliant shelving unit that drops in as a separate module, and which we'll offer as a kit option. For car-camping or tailgating, this will be a giant improvement over a tent.  No fooling around setting up a tent:  arrive at destination. Park. Open door. Climb in. Go to sleep. Please note, due to availability issues Australian Galley Module kits include a standard gaboon plywoood face rather than Sapele veneered face.

While a trailer won't be included in the kit package, one of the key features of the design is that it can fitted on nearly any trailer. "The architecture lends itself to fitting on just about anything with wheels.  Boat trailers, flatbeds, whatever.  Just bolt it down and go." -John Harris

The Teardrop Camper Integrated Cargo Carrier increases storage capacity to a cavernous 23 cubic feet (0.66m3) - comparable to a contemporary hatchback - while adding only 9" (23cm) of height to the complete package. The cargo volume is divided into five flexible storage compartments so you can organize and stow your gear as you see fit. It's an easy retrofit if you already have a Teardrop Camper, or you can build it alongside your Teardrop Camper project.

Head over to our Teardrop Camper page for further details and to place your order. Also, be sure to checkout our special this month where every Teardrop Camper kit ordered will recieve a free galley module valued at $550 (see below for details). Otherwise please dont hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries.

Due to a change in the owner’s circumstances, here is a rare opportunity to purchase a brand-new, Denman Marine built, Sassafras 16 canoe.

The canoe has been constructed from lightweight Lloyd’s certified marine plywood planking, WEST System Epoxy resin and fibreglass cloth with built-in buoyancy/storage compartments in the bow and stern. Beautiful Tasmanian King Billy Pine has been used for the thwarts, and the boat comes with a lightweight, hand-crafted paddle. A small electric motor (Berkley 75lb thrust) is also included in the sale.

Asking price is $7,500 o.n.o.

Currently located at our workshop in Kettering Tasmania.

Please get in touch with us if this lovely boat is of interest.

Free Galley Module

For the month of October, all Teardrop Camper Base and Wood Parts Only kits come with a Free Galley Module valued at $550.

So head on over to our Teardrop Camper Page for further details and to place your order today.

This offer is valid from 08/10/24 till 31/10/24. Applicable for base and wood parts only kits only. Shipping within Australia and New Zealand is tailored to suit individual orders and will be quoted separately.

Denman Marine is Chesapeake Light Craft's Australia and New Zealand agent for their fantastic range of DIY kits. There is a huge selection of over sixty designs, including kayaks, canoes, rowing and sailing boats and even a teardrop camper. Below you can find a few recent examples of what our builders have been up to, then head on over to our Chesapeake Light Craft page to grab a bargain on your next project.

Contact Us

Please feel free to contact us at any time via our contact form to discuss your next boat or project.

Please note, any prices listed above are in Australian Dollars.

® Denman Marine 2024
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