Preview: The Australian Couta Boat – A Fishing Boat for a Family Cruiser

31 Responses So Far to “The Australian Couta Boat – A Fishing Boat for a Family Cruiser”

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  Charley Humphrey says:

  Ah man, like I needed to miss Australia even more ;-)
  Fantastic video folks, more please

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  Robi Warden says:

  Thanks for sharing this video, its my first day on this site. I’ve crewed on the coutaboat ‘Allure’ at Mornington. I own a 28 foot net boat “Gypsy’ on Fisherman’s Jetty at Mornington and after this Corona isolation I’ll fit it’s mast. I hadn’t noticed your cleats before and I’ll add some to Gypsy. These coutaboats have their beautiful shape and as with many old boats you can feel it’s history and character.

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  Michael Raddell says:

  I am relatively new to the OCH family, is there a part 2 that I can’t find by chance? Thanks!

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    Steve Stone says:

    Hi Michael. Well we were working on a part 2, but it didn’t quite make, and forgot we’d called this part 1, so I’ve fixed that. Hopefully we’ll have a part 2 at some point. Thanks for asking.

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  Steven Wallace says:

  LOVE,LOVE.LOVE.

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  Scot Copeland says:

  I keep coming back to watch this video periodically. Just love it. Relaxing, relevant, and hopeful.

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  Robert Baird says:

  Cool couple. Beautiful location and scenery. Awesome boat. Would love to have one here In CT, USA.

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  ALASDAIR POLSON says:

  I am absolutely enthralled by this video! The simplicity of the boat and the laid back philosophy of the owners is enticing. Not having deep pockets to have one built leaves me hankering to consider building one myself to sail here in the Canadian Gulf Islands. I cannot find any plans on-line: does anyone know of their availability? Cheers.

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    Philip Myer says:

    Hi Alasdair, you could try contacting Tim Phillips of the Wooden Boat Shop Sorrento Victoria-AUS. Couta boats generally are either 26′ or 24′ long though some are smaller and a few bigger, they carry a big high peaked gaff main and the jibs fly free at the end of a long bow sprit.
    You can look at the The Couta boat association for class specifications. They are built to a formula design but not identical, each is slightly different and have a specific handicap. They are very fast cracked off the wind.

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  Neil Henderson says:

  I was out in a 26′ Couta boat yesterday (my 1st time in a Couta), the boat was called “Sea Dog” and is moored a Fishermans Paradise by Lake Conjola. What a wonderful boat, so solid and well mannered :-)

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  Brian Totemoff says:

  Oi! from Alaska. What a wonderful maritime tradition you’ve kept “down under”. So much of what once was is now lost to us up here. I, for one, am truly impressed and envious. The elegance and reason of our forefathers design, developed over generations and shaped by the forces and laws of nature themselves and presenting this wonderful diversity of solutions have now been replaced by gimmicks and marketing strategy. The living soul of a boat, organic and individual with a bit of those who made them crafted into the fiber of their being, now becomes lost with our connection to the past and the people who came before. In the synthetic and contrived, cookie cutter, reality of today, I feel the rough and callused hand of my grandfather, slipping away. More important than just some fancy thing that floats or some high powered metal monstrosity, tradition and care transcends mere money and material and reaches across time. We offer a bit of ourselves to those who come after, in the things we care about.

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  Ken Strangward says:

  Thanks, enjoyed the video, often see the Couta boats for sale down Melbourne way.
  She looks really sturdy, as a matter of interest what length & beam is she.
  Cheers
  Ken

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    David and Anistacia says:

    Cheers Ken… Pelican is 24 feet ..and 9 feet beam.. Do you get a chance to get out sailing with the couta boats in Melbourne ?
    Dave

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  Neil Henderson says:

  I currently own an Australian crayfish boat, converted to a motor/sailer (32 ft). am wondering if I might move to a couta in a few years – these boats re so easily sailed & have such good sea manners………….. A great video – my lab loved the dogs…………..

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    David and Anistacia says:

    Does your Lab enjoy time on the water as well?
    If you are passing by Cygnet one day come on board to see Pelican close up..
    Dave

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  Jonathan Rihan says:

  I think this is now my very favourite OCH video. I love the distinction between work boats and play boats

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  John Sims says:

  Lovely boat kept Perfectly! Love the cleats, the dogs, the gear stowed aboard, the centerboard rig and the hip steered tiller!! Fantastic!
  About the “financials” quote – that may be the one by Sterling Hayden in “Wanderer”:
  “To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest.”
  Thanks for sharing your beautiful boat with us!! I would never sell her either!!

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    David and Anistacia says:

    cheers John,
    I’ll look up that quote. Glad you see why we would never sell her ..
    Is great to have so many people come for a sail … even if its just by a movie!!
    Dave

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  Eigil Rothe says:

  Wow, attitude of gratitude. Wasn’t that a St. Ayles skiff that went by, toward the end?

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    David and Anistacia says:

    Good spotting .. we have two at Cygnet which get used on a regular basis. they were both built here as well by a keen group of rowers..

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  Terry Reed says:

  People, boat and dogs in perfect harmony – wonderful video – thanks!

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  Jerome McNerney says:

  Great video of this traditional fishing boat!

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  Peter Gossell says:

  Great video! Just love those Tassie waters.

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  Bruce Stannard says:

  Steve and the OCH crew, you guys are having too much fun Down Under! Thank you for allowing us to ship aboard the lovely Couta Boat Pelican with Dave and Anastasia, two very talented people who love their wooden boats and understand how to enjoy them. Of course, the wonderfully woolly sea dogs were the real stars, snoozing up under the foredeck, just waiting for a whiff of tuna. Now that;s what I call a fish finder.

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  Gordon Burvill says:

  Another great video. If you don’t mind me posting a link to a non-commercial radio station, listen to this interview of an old salt, who was the last commercial couta-boat fisherman in the fleet further North, near Melbourne.

  http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/remembering-the-barefoot-fisherman/8466850

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    David and Anistacia says:

    Thanks Gordon for adding that link. I got to know Lewis well during my time living in Queenscliff.. he was a wonderful character!!

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      Gordon Burvill says:

      No worries. He certainly comes across as a real character, but also interesting to hear about some the fishing techniques and old-school boat handling. Thanks to you for appearing in this and also the cotton-loom video. One of my mates is very good with his hands, and was in awe when I showed him that one. Cheers

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  Steven Wallace says:

  Great video.

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  Robert Webber says:

  Yes, a great place to sail. The closest we have to the coast of Maine. Lots of islands and bays to explore.

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  edward demarco says:

  very nice!

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  Burton Blais says:

  Gorgeous boat. And what cruising grounds! Wow!