Jack Searcy in the rowing boat Trix in April 1907. In Wind in the willows, Ratty famously said '... there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.'

Perhaps young Jack looks a little apprehensive,  it may be his first time out by himself. However, he must have been the envy of many young boys, to have his own boy-sized boat.

The requirement for safety vests when boating was still many years into the future.

Beard, D. C, The American Boys Handy Book: what to do and how to do it, Rutland, Vermont: Charles Tuttle Company Inc., 1969

Hoffmann, Professor (ed.) Every boy's book of sport and pastime, London: G. Routledge and Sons, 1897

Jefferies, Richard. Bevis: the story of a boy, London: Jonathan Cape, 1932 (1955 printing)

Kingston, W. H. G. The boy's own book of boats: including vessels of every rig and size to be found floating on the waters in all parts of the world : together with complete instructions, how to make sailing models, London: S. Low, Son and Marston, 1868

Ransome, Arthur. Swallows & Amazons, Sydney: Australasian Publishing Company in association with Jonathan Cape London, 1949

South Australian Wooden Boat and Music festival

Wooden Boat Association of South Australia