A long tradition at the Audley Boatshed has been broken with the introduction of a fleet of 20 new kayaks.
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In the past, all craft, from row boats to canoes and kayaks, were built on site.
However, Geoff Hughes whose family has owned and operated the hire business since 1985, bought the new kayaks from an external supplier.
”I decided it was getting a bit expensive to make them,” he said.
“We have gone for kayaks which are new technology, reasonably priced and, from what I can gather, very durable.
“People love them them. They are very stable, with a sit-on top.
“If you tip over, they don’t fill with water. They are much safer, but everyone wears lifejackets regardless.
“They are all single kayaks and, if they work out well, I will get some doubles.
“Up till now, we have had traditional sit-in kayaks made out of fibreglass, which we introduced 25 years ago.”
The boathouse was built in 1937, but there was a previous version closer to the weir, which was built in 1893.
Mr Hughes’s father took over the lease of what is one of the oldest businesses in Sutherland Shire, in 1985.
Geoff and his son Jason run the boatshed, offering hirers a choice from 160 row boats, 51 canoes, 43 kayaks and 12 aqua bikes.
“We have three very old timber planking boats with antique oars, which we keep specially for film shoots and weddings,” he said.
They also hire mountain bikes.
Mr Hughes has been involved in boats all his life.
“I love working on them. It would be a difficult business to run if you weren’t hands on,” he said.
“The row boats pretty much look after themselves. There is very little you have to do with them except replace the timber gunnels about every 10 years.”
An extra role, which is voluntary, is to open the flood gates of the weir when water approaches the top of the causeway.
They were called out in the middle of the night on Wednesday this week.
“There is a float switch on our boat ramp at the same level as the causeway, and when the water level reaches it, it sets off an alarm and rings my phone at home,” he said.
“Jason and I go down and pull the boards out to release the water.”
Mr Hughes said the recent wet spell had been “a bummer", and he is looking forward to some sunny weather so people can check out the new kayaks.
