These boats have an inherent integrity because they are are shaped by the vernacular of their allotted challenging task. Even as the pilot cutters of Western England (or the Couta boats of Port Phillip) have become pleasure craft, they have carried with them an honesty of design that is missing from boats shaped purely by the need for speed, or more recently, three double cabins and two heads.

They are part of the postcard view of any Greek island port, and yet they are becoming scarcer — during the past 30 years, almost 14,000 have been destroyed under an EU directive designed to prevent overfishing. As well as giving up their fishing licence, fishermen must scrap their vessel to qualify for a generous subsidy.

Jack Bellamy and his twin brother, Keith, who were both on the 1952 voyage, had watched from the kitchen window as the boat was built.
"You'd see the boat growing and all the framework going up, all the ribs and everything, and it was an amazing job to think what they did, the three brothers," Jack said.

For its characteristics of toughness and strength, the traditional gajeta falkuša was made only with cypress wood from the volcanic island of Svetac. The keel was made of oak and the shell of larch.

The ALMONTA remains on the seabed, its crow's nest and railings breaking the surface of the calm waters of Porter Bay and lilting precariously to one side.

But the takeaway for me as one of the current custodians, is that I didn't realise how much these old wooden boats still meant to the people who had been involved with them.

There's a ute parked out on a rock In Killiecrankie Bay. Three dogs and two men are working. Crays are rustling around in a big wooden pen called a cauf. The tide is coming in and the rock has become an island

Pole fishing might have been full of adventure, but it was also a dangerous industry. A memorial for those lost at sea lists more than 50 fishers who never returned to shore, including whole boats. Among the names is Mr Bellamy's brother, Keith.

Zane Grey caught some big fish, but, much to his chagrin, every time pictures of his catches were published, some local identity went out in a grubby boat and, with home-made tackle, caught still bigger fish.

PAID CONTENT

Consider an extended excursions aboard the beautiful MARGARET PEARL promising excitement and adventure, (and a touch of comfort!) in Victoria and Tasmania’s southern waters.

The Tasmanian Board of Sea Fisheries, administered by the Tasmanian Police in these early years, agreed. Alfred Blore was commissioned to do the design and he was soon meeting with Challenger to adapt a fast, seaworthy design for patrol of the rugged Tasmanian coast. 

In many ways ocean racing has become a monoculture. To succeed you must be skilled and tough and rich, but for most owners with a realistic chance of victory, the broader values, ambitions and motivations of the founders of the event have disappeared amid the ruthless need for a trophy.

The five films span the period from 1955 to 1988 and cover subjects such as Cray Fishing, The Tasmanian Boat building industry in the 1950’s, Scallop Fishing and the 1988 Tall Ships Parade.

No, it’s not a fishing manual or boat survival handbook; it’s more a fable-like story. For the old man, fishing isn’t simply a contest; it has a philosophical meaning.

A historic ship that starred in a blockbuster movie, carried the Olympic flame and set pearl shell records is set to be restored after sinking in Darwin in 2016.

134 years ago today, on 22 April 1887, a cyclone struck the pearling fleet at Ninety Mile Beach near Broome claiming 140 lives. The storm was unexpected, as it was late into the season, so the fleet had very little warning of the approaching danger.

A second wonderful piece from Tim Phillips aboard the Jane Kerr. Tim is undoubtably one of the last true woodenboat adventurers. An inspiration for those of us looking for more from our time on water than sailing well varnished, museum pieces, around in small triangles!

Having spent all his summers on the Bellarine Peninsula Oscar Perri assumed Queenscliff to be the natural home of the famous Couta boat…Turns out, where there’s wood, there’s a story worth following.

I have heard Dugga speak over the years and been enthralled by his story telling and depth of knowledge acquired over years of being out, working the same stretch of water.

In many ways the post-war wooden, Southern Australian Cray Fishing boats are ideally suited to become cruising vessels. Listen to a man who has actually lived the dream and dodged the pitfalls.