Ron Beltz the boat builder - by Andy Beltz

Although he worked as a builder, joiner and cabinet maker, Ron Beltz' real desire was to build boats, and he designed and built number of craft in his backyard at 95a Giblin St, Lenah Valley.

He was entirely self taught in his design and building skills and his family remembers that there was never a time the backyard was not filled with a vessel being built or the materials for one to be started on.

When completed, all the craft were taken by road from his house by truck, going up Giblin St to the main road and then down to the docks to be craned into the water. Moving a vessel from his backyard was always a guaranteed to bring out a crowd of neighbours and locals to witness the event.

You can read more about Ron and his work at the Australian Register of Historic Vessels website.http://arhv.anmm.gov.au/people/11818

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