Online Boat Register

Couta Boat

Name of Boat

Katie

Owner's Name

Mel Cucinotta 

Boat Location

St Leonards 

Registration No.

Sail No.

C52 

Dimensions

Feet & Inches  Outside of stem to outside of transom

Overall Length

23' 

Maximum Draft

3' 

Maximum Beam

8' 6" 

Centreplate Case Length

5' 

Construction

Planking
Structure
Framing

Rig

Ballast

Weight

800 kg 

Material

Lead 

Engine

Make

LISTER (watercooled) 

Horsepower

15 hp 

Heritage

Built

1907-1912 

Builder

Mitch Lacco 

Designer

Mitch Lacco 

History

Sunk in 1923 at Portarlington Pier. Part of breakwater fell on the Katie. Was missing her starboard side. The boat was taken back to St Leonards by Ned Rigby and nephew Daniel Rigby. She was hauled up on the beach and repaired by Peter Locke (refer to Craft & Craftsman by Garry Kerr). This is the boat that started Peter Locke in boat building because Mitch Lacco heard that Peter Locke was repairing one of his old boats. He seemed to have liked the work that Peter did. This is why he asked him to work with him in Queenscliff building boats and subsequently in 1926 Peter Locke bought the business. This boat performed different piscatorial activities it was a charter fishing boat, longliner, netter, general hooking and sailed 6 days a week, 8 years in a row from St Leonards, to Port Phillip heads to engage in Couta fishing. The first motor was installed by 1960 which by this stage Daniel Rigby was the owner. Back in the old days Ned Rigby always had an engine but he never fitted it because he had a dream that his boat was on fire (true story). The Katie now is restored to its former glory by a passionate boat builder called Brett Almond of St Leonards. Whom i am forever grateful. I personally decided to purchase the boat because my father had worked as a longliner along side Daniel Rigby. Back in the late 1970's I personally saw 4 tonne of snapper come off the boat in 5 days.
 

Race Record

1st Race out of shed after restoration Brett, Robin and myself took her out with the expectations of breaking spars or coming last. With a borrowed jib which would have been a No.3 for my size of boat and a 3 bladed propeller that acted as a brake, no tra
 

Comments

SAIL HARD AND FAST OR GO HOME!