Peter (not his real name) will be applying for parole in a month; he's looking forward to seeing his kids on the outside.

For the past nine months, he and a group of fellow inmates have been restoring a Huon pine dinghy in a workshop at Tasmania's Risdon Prison.

The 104-year-old vessel will be launched with a second lease on life at this year's Wooden Boat Festival.

It has been named Vanessa G, after the late attorney-general and corrections minister Vanessa Goodwin who died from cancer last year.

The prisoners have spent months restoring the boat. ( ABC Hobart: Georgie Burgess )

Left high and dry

The Nessa G has a long history; it's believed to have been built in Cygnet in 1915 from Huon pine and sailed by Ernie Archer of Cradoc.

Later, it was used as a tender by Archer's son Jim, who was a scallop fisherman in the d'Entrecasteaux Channel.

It's believed the boat was built in Cygnet in 1915. ( ABC Hobart: Georgie Burgess )

Jim Archer died in 1987 and his son Robert inherited the boat.

It was in poor condition and spent about 25 years in Mr Archer's backyard before, in 2008, he took it to a restoration day at Franklin.

He told the organisers he'd be happy to see the boat donated to a school for students to learn the craft of boat building or sailing.

A new life

Unknown to Mr Archer the dinghy had a few more homes, including a brief stint in Cradoc, before being donated to the Rotary Club of Howrah.

"One day I was reading the paper and I saw a story about some blokes who were going to restore it," Mr Archer said.

"I thought here's my chance to get it all done up and get it back to how it used to be, and with a bit of luck someone will take it and there's a good home for it.

"So, the dingy has been saved after all this time."

He admitted it was wrong to have left it in his backyard for so long.

"My father absolutely loved it and said he'd never ever sell it, even if someone offered him $1 million ... I might even buy it back."

David Harrison (left), who led the restoration, inspects the work with previous owner Robert Archer. ( ABC Hobart: Georgie Burgess )

Back to its former glory

Glen Woolley, secretary of the Rotary Club of Howrah, has been driving the project with the prisoners.

"We had no idea of the history of the boat and we've now got a masterpiece," he said.

"We're just so proud of what we've been able to achieve."

The boat was in terrible shape when the club took it in, he said.

"The Huon pine had rotted; it had a nice shape but the timber was virtually demolished."

Much of the boat's Huon pine had rotted. ( Supplied: Rotary Club of Howrah )

In conjunction with the Wooden Boat Festival, it was decided the boat should be taken to the prison, where after a nine-month sentence it was returned to its former glory.

"A couple of the prisoners have never worked with wood before," Mr Woolley said.

"Hopefully they've learned some new skills."

Ms Goodwin was a member of the rotary club, and along with her expertise in criminology, it was decided the boat should be named in her honour.

The plan is to auction Vanessa G, with the profits returned to projects at the prison.

"We'd like it to go to a family who will take great care of it," Mr Woolley said.

Many of the prisoners had never worked with timber before. ( ABC Hobart: Georgie Burgess )

Upskilling on the inside

Dressed in his prison-issue white t-shirt and black track pants, Peter leans on Vanessa G — and the pride he holds is obvious.

He was given the honour of attaching the name plaque.

"My priority is to get a paid full-time job," he said of his plans if granted parole.

"I just can't wait to get outside and see my kids."

Fellow inmate John (not his real name) had also never worked with wood until the boat project.

"Twelve months ago I had pretty much no woodworking skills," he said.