Old Saltys – Well Weathered Wisdom

Old Saltys began with a simple idea —
that the knowledge of those who’ve lived close to the sea should not be lost.

Founded by Rob Payne — a sailor, restorer, and an old salt in his own right — Old Saltys was never meant to be just a brand. It was built as a way to capture, preserve, and pass on the kind of wisdom that only comes with time, experience, and a life shaped by the water, whether it be sailing, surfing or fishing.

Because out there, you learn things that can’t be taught.
You learn patience.
You learn resilience.
You learn to read the wind, trust your instincts, and keep your course when conditions turn.

That’s where Old Saltys comes from.

The Philosophy – Well Weathered Wisdom

At the core of Old Saltys is a belief in something we call Well Weathered Wisdom.

Not polished advice.
Not theory.
But knowledge earned — through miles sailed, waves surfed, mistakes made, storms endured, and stories lived.

It’s the quiet confidence of someone who’s seen enough to know what matters.

Well Weathered Wisdom belongs to anyone who’s navigated hard seasons, stayed the course, and come out the other side with something worth passing on. Old Saltys exists to give that wisdom a place to live.

The Story We’re Preserving

At the centre of the Old Saltys story is the yacht Mark Twain —
a vessel that has carried decades of history across Australian waters.

But more than the boat itself, it’s the people connected to her.
The hands that built her.
The sailors who raced her.
The stories gathered along the way.

Old Saltys was created to ensure those stories don’t fade.

To honour the “old salts” —
the mentors, the makers, the quiet legends —
whose knowledge is too valuable to lose.

Welcome to Old Saltys

If you feel the pull of the ocean,
if you value experience over noise,
and if you believe that some things are worth preserving —

you’re already part of it.

Welcome aboard.