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Key Largo

Vessel numberHV000693

Official Number178454

Builder JP Clausen & Sons

Date1929

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 12.19 m × 12.19 m × 3.66 m × 1.1 m (40 ft × 40 ft × 12 ft × 3.6 ft)

DescriptionKEY LARGO was launched as PIONEER in 1928 from J.P.Clausen & Sons Birkenhead yard in the Port Adelaide area. It is 11.6m long, carvel planked, with a raised foredeck and cabin over the saloon aft. Its lines feature a convex bow section in contrast with a convex flared shape used by a number of other builders at the time.

It was later sold and renamed GLENMONA by owners Harrold & Clarice MacDonald who cruised on the launch for many years. When it was sold by them in August 1967 it was renamed CARINYA by owners Dr Max & Joan Cooling who was the commodore of the RSAYS during their long ownership. It was slipped at Searles Boatyard every September for 2 week duration and then again at RSAYS mid-year for a bottom scrub. The Coolings sold it in November 1986 and the craft was renamed KEY LARGO by the Wayne Lowen. It was sold again once more before the current owner bought it.

During all these changes it has always been painted white with navy blue waterline, cream decks, pale blue roof, varnish/oiled cabin and red antifouling.

KEY LARGO has cruised to Port Vincent, the North Shore of Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln and the Sir Joseph Banks Group at various times during traditional holiday times. It has always used a sail to steady the vessel in rolling seas. Its maximum speed was around 8.5 knots and it cruised at 7.5 knots.

The Coolings used it extensively and often cruised in company with Dean and Norma Patterson’s PAULINE now at Goolwa. During an early ownership it almost sank on mooring after another boat broke loose from their mooring and holed the port side bow at waterline. The launch limped to Searles for repairs that resulted in revised stem post design. It has always been well maintained and has had a full cover to protect cabin varnish and later oiled cabin. It remains in excellent condition and is still used regularly for cruising in SA.

SignificanceKEY LARGO is a wooden motor cruiser built in SA in 1928. It was built by JP Clausen and Sons at Birkenhead in Port Adelaide, and represents their styling and lines, the building skills and diversity of craft from these important regional boatbuilders from SA. It also reveals a story of recreational cruising in the region over many decades as it passed through a small number of owners who all used the craft in SA waters.