Goondooloo Gone
An historic boat en route to the Wooden Boat Festival has sunk after taking on water.
First some background from ARHV
MV Goondooloo was built and launched by the Maritime Services Board of NSW in 1958 at Goat Island as one of three significant pilot cutters for use in Sydney and Newcastle. Designed by E.W Armstead, MV Goondooloo is an impressive 66ft in length and is built primarily of spotted gum with white beech decks. The vessel is fitted with a large National Marine 6C 350 HP diesel engine, which is capable of carrying 400 gallons of diesel and generating an approximate maximum speed of 11 knots.
MV Goondooloo along with sister ships Girralong and Goolara were built to replace the pilot steamers at Sydney and Newcastle. The new class of pilot cutter was highly regarded by those that it assisted and those crew that served aboard. MV Goondooloo is the last of the three that remains unrestored.
From 1958 to 1992 MV Goondooloo served as a pilot vessel exclusively in Sydney and Newcastle. In 1992 it began a period of service with Tamar Sea Rescue, performing rescue operations across Northern Tasmania. This function carried on until 2014, when the vessel was sold with the intended conversion into a fishing boat. This did not occur and MV Goondooloo was left until 2020 on the banks of the Tamar River.
In March 2022 MV Goondooloo was relocated to the Tamar Yacht Club mud berth, where initial works were carried out in order to watertight the vessel prior to another move to Prince of Wales Bay Hobart for further restoration. On the 11 May 2022 MV Goondooloo made the trip to Prince of Wales Bay in 48 hours powered by its original engine.
From our ABC 6th February 2025
An historic boat en route to the Wooden Boat Festival has sunk after taking on water.
The crew of 1958 pilot cutter Goondooloo called police at 3:45pm on Wednesday after the vessel experienced a mechanical failure in D'Entrecasteaux Channel, in the state's south.
The crew — 50-year-old Deb Ludeke and her 59-year-old partner — used marine radio and an emergency beacon to raise the alarm that the boat was sinking.
Co-owner Deb Ludeke was on the Goondooloo when it sank in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. (Facebook: Deb Ludeke)
Police said they were quickly on scene near Whale Boat Rock, but the vessel could not be saved and sunk soon after.
Ms Ledeke, who co-owns the boat, told ABC Radio Hobart how it unfolded.
"I went and inspected the engine room, and came back up and we were on top of the world, so excited," she said.
"And next thing we knew the steering got bad and I went back downstairs, and I was knee-deep in water.
The boat sunk yesterday afternoon after a mechanical failure. (Supplied: Tasmania Police)
"The generator was pumping water in from the side of the boat. We just couldn't contain the flow.
"We got through to the police. They actually had a dive team in the area that were doing training, so they were there very quick."
She said her partner Greg grabbed her by the shoulders and said: "It's time."
"Greg said, 'Don't turn around'. And I did and she just went under," she said.
"She's in about 10 metres of water, the police said. We were trying to see if we could beach her, which would have been the best option but with no steering, she was just doing circle work.
"I think we're both in shock still."
The 20-metre boat was described by police as "historic".
