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Sea Hawk

Vessel numberHV000319

Designer J R Jones

Vessel type The Couta Boat

Builder J R Jones

Date1920

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 9.45 m x 9.3 m x 3.25 m x 1.22 m (31 ft x 30.5 ft x 10.66 ft x 4 ft)

DescriptionSEA HAWK was built in 1920 at J R Jones yard in Melbourne on the Maribynong River. It has a red gum keel, New Zealand kauri planking and blue gum frames. The spars are Oregon pine. It is about 9.50m long and one of the bigger couta boats - they were typically around 8 to 8.5 metres long.

SEA HAWK took on a number of roles. When new in 1920, it took parties out sailing and for picnics from Sorrento Pier on Port Phillip, something many couta boats did alongside, or as an alternative to, fishing. In 1923 SEA HAWK began its professional fishing career, probably while owned by Joe Harry and Sandy Culliver. It continued fishing until around 1944 when it was employed as a lighthouse supply vessel. From 1950 SEA HAWK is thought to have been used purely for recreational sailing.

In 2009 the current owner was rebuilding the deck which had deteriorated, but a considerable amount of original material remains in the hull.
SignificanceSEA HAWK is a wooden couta boat built in 1920 by J R Jones in Victoria, one of the early builders of this type and a pioneer in the evolution of their design and construction. His craft tended to be of a deeper more veed hull shape than later builders such as Locke and Lacco. SEA HAWK had a varied career and always operated in Victorian waters.

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