It is estimated the flood repairs at the Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum's Hibbard Slipway and Boatbuilding Yard will take 12 months.

The slipway was completely under water and floodwater inundated the boatyard area.

Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum vice-president and boatyard manager Ron Window said the flood was a doozy.

"The damage is heavy," Mr Window said.

Some items, including chairs, were washed away, while the flood left a trail of damage at the slipway and boatbuilding yard by the Hastings River.

The flood damage bill is estimated at about $25,000 which includes lost tools, electric motors and timber.

Volunteers are putting their skills into action and learning new skills as they repair the damage.

"We are trying to get ourselves 100 per cent operational as quick as possible," Mr Window said about the facility.

"There are areas we haven't got to yet."

The sheer force of the water shifted some of the boats, while two privately-owned boats and one museum-owned boat moored nearby floated away due to the size of the flood. They have since been returned.

Work so far has included pressure cleaning, repairing engines in a process involving oven drying and stripping out damaged floor coverings.

Mr Window isn't dwelling too much about the repairs ahead.

"We just have to get on with it," he said.

The volunteers' morale remains high and they pitch in to help each other.

The Hibbard Slipway and Boatbuilding Yard repairs and maintains historical boats and also slips members' boats for routine maintenance.

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