Norman Wright Bay Cruiser

'Shemara' was a custom design & build for the Thurecht family in 1952. She is one of the few sharpie designs that Wrights did apparently. The Thurecht family commissioned 'Shemara' as a work boat to service several enterprises the family conducted out of Plumistone Passage. Hence the 1.2 Mt draft and twin screw for manouvering in the shallow waters of the passage. She serviced the oyster leases as well as towing the logging barges to the family's sawmill at Scarborough.
'Shemara' was purchased by John McQuad in 1988. John ran a large dredging operation on the Broadwater. Under John's custodianship 'Shemara' underwent a comprehensive no expense spared rebuild. 'Shemara' underwent another refit in 2005 and she has had recent upgrades during 2021-22. The transformation from a work boat to a privately owned motor cruiser was completed to a very high standard with polished timber interior and the ambiance of the Scottish Chesterfield Leather in the saloon is quite breathtaking.
While her working life was inside the protected waters of Plumistone passage she also had to transit the open waters of the Northern end of Moreton Bay from Bribie Island to Scarborough Harbour on virtually a daily basis, so 'Shemara' is a very safe, seaworthy vessel, capable of extended passages up and down our Eastern Seaboard. Given due caution and consideration to the weather it would be lovely to see her at the 2027 Tassie Wooden Boat regatta.