Our Three Minute Speaker at this week's Rotary Meeting was Rotarian Brendan Hoban who spoke on the topic of COUTA BOATS
These were uniquely Victorian boats fishing for barracouta in southern ocean waters between the 1880s and the 1950s. Caught went to the fish and chip shops of Melbourne before flake (shark) became popular.
These were uniquely Victorian boats fishing for barracouta in southern ocean waters between the 1880s and the 1950s. Caught went to the fish and chip shops of Melbourne before flake (shark) became popular.
You could have a couta boat built for about 58 pounds and it came with three sets of sails and a pair or oars.
Couta boats were between 24 to 30 feet long. They were originally clinker style which later changed to carvel planked construction with moveable centreboards, gunter rigged mailsails and jibs on a downward curving bowstrit.
They were wide beamed boats, (8 feet wide) with 2 foot 6 inch draft. These boats were very seaworthy with decking forward and high coaming around the cockpit and they were mostly manned by two fishermen.
The crew would stand in the stern dressed in oilskins and use hand lines with lures. They would slip catch the barracouta under arm, dehook and toss them over their shoulders into the cockpit.
When the wind was fair, one crew member would sail the boat home while the other cleaned and gutted the catch.
Couta boats were between 24 to 30 feet long. They were originally clinker style which later changed to carvel planked construction with moveable centreboards, gunter rigged mailsails and jibs on a downward curving bowstrit.
They were wide beamed boats, (8 feet wide) with 2 foot 6 inch draft. These boats were very seaworthy with decking forward and high coaming around the cockpit and they were mostly manned by two fishermen.
The crew would stand in the stern dressed in oilskins and use hand lines with lures. They would slip catch the barracouta under arm, dehook and toss them over their shoulders into the cockpit.
When the wind was fair, one crew member would sail the boat home while the other cleaned and gutted the catch.
If there was no wind, both crew would row.
When their quota of fish were caught, the fleet would race to be first home, for the best position at the dock and better prices from the South Melbourne fish market buyers.
In 1890s, local yachtsman, Mark Foy took a couta boat to Sydney for racing , however it did poorly.
Mark then consulted with Victorian costa boat skipper Harry Hoppen from Queenscliff. Hoppen replaced the thirteen crew members that Foy had been carrying with fixed ballast and the boat ruled the Sydney Harbour for 3 years in a row.
Couta boats are today the plaything of wealthy yachtsmen, a new one will set you back $250,000.
I’ve built a model couta boat. It cost much less!
My model is 1;12 scale, is radio controlled and has small electric motor driving a propeller. It was built as double plank on frame and, because the wind is not to scale, has an enclosed cockpit to prevent it being swamped when it leans right over.
Building it has kept me sane in these times of pandemic lockdown but I am now frustrated because I cannot sail it!
When their quota of fish were caught, the fleet would race to be first home, for the best position at the dock and better prices from the South Melbourne fish market buyers.
In 1890s, local yachtsman, Mark Foy took a couta boat to Sydney for racing , however it did poorly.
Mark then consulted with Victorian costa boat skipper Harry Hoppen from Queenscliff. Hoppen replaced the thirteen crew members that Foy had been carrying with fixed ballast and the boat ruled the Sydney Harbour for 3 years in a row.
Couta boats are today the plaything of wealthy yachtsmen, a new one will set you back $250,000.
I’ve built a model couta boat. It cost much less!
My model is 1;12 scale, is radio controlled and has small electric motor driving a propeller. It was built as double plank on frame and, because the wind is not to scale, has an enclosed cockpit to prevent it being swamped when it leans right over.
Building it has kept me sane in these times of pandemic lockdown but I am now frustrated because I cannot sail it!
Brendan's model Couta Boat under construction
The finished product!
