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SEA  HAWK in 1968
Sea Hawk
SEA  HAWK in 1968
SEA HAWK in 1968
Private Collection

Sea Hawk

Vessel numberHV000319
Designer
Vessel type
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.
Vessel Highlights
UTEKIAH II in 2012 soon after re-launching folloing many years of rebuilding and restoration
Savage and Lyons
1911
PATSY on display at Museum Victoria
JB Jones
c1920
THISTLE under sail in 2005.
J R Jones
c 1903
VIATOR at Flagstaff Hill Warrnambool in 2010
J R Jones
1900s
ARIEL under full sail in 2006
JB Jones
1927
AMY CHRISTINA in 2009 shortly after being relaunched.
Alex Lacco
1946
ALBATROSS ferrying passengers and cargo between a flying boat and the shore on Lord Howe Island…
Syd Perry
1936
STORM BAY in Hobart.
Percy Coverdale
1925
KRAIT restored for the 75th Anniversary event on 26th September 2018 at the ANMM wharves.
c 1934
Lucy
1931
TORQUAY
Jas Edwards & Sons
1913
AIREYS
Jas Edwards & Sons
1913