But for the old orchard dotted with citrus trees of all descriptions, the blue cattle dog with a fetching fetish, the chickens calling out from the coup, and the beautiful meandering river frontage, Rod Bickerton’s waterfront property on the Hawkesbury River could be mistaken for a boatyard.
Lying about the grassy fields between the mandarins, lemons, oranges and guavas are boats in various stages of suffering. There’s a well-known brand of social skiboat on its way out the door with a new transom, another popular boat with cracks near its engine mountings, an insurance job with a split right down the keel.
Then there are the Force boaats which, well, stand out from the motley crowd. Crafted from the latest composite materials, with perfect mouldings and slick sporty gelcoat jobs, the Force F18 is a stellar example of a hand-built, high-quality skiboat.
