
Open hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
Sunday: 10am-12pm
Visit:
129 Hotham Road, Sorrento, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
61 3 5984 4 333
Email:
sales@woodenboatshop.com.au
Outpost:
Shed 4, 10 Wharf Street, Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia
︎
We respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodions of the land and waterways on which we live, work and play, the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respect to Ancestors past, present and future. Sovereignty has never been ceded.

Photos by Will Baillieu.

When Tim and a group of like-minded friends were messing around with old couta boats they started the Portsea Fishing Boat Regatta (now The Portsea Cup). In the late 1970s Tim identified a strong interest among the public for recreational boats with working origins.
Already a master builder Tim undertook an informal boat building apprenticeship, restoring Couta Boat Wattle with Jack Norling and building the 28’ couta boat Sally with Ken Lacco. Wooden Boat Shop was then founded upon a demand to share in the romance and pleasures of wooden boats and the nautical lifestyle.
From a humble garden shed beginning, Wooden Boat Shop evolved into an operation with five factories over two locations, offering services from a D-shackle on a Sunday morning before sailing, to new vessel constructions.
The Grommet Newsletter Archive
From 2005-2012 we published The Grommet, a newsletter dedicated to spotlighting the construction and restoration activities of the Wooden Boat Shop, as well as our wider circle of cruising friends, and the various histories associated with our classic cruising boats. Here we have collated digital copies of past newseletters for perusal.
The Grommet 2012 Edition

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The Grommet 2010 Edition
The Grommet 2009 Edition
The Grommet 2008 Edition

The Grommet 2007 Edition
The Grommet 2006 edition




The Grommet 2005 edition



Boat Registry
A list of every boat we’ve built since 1982...

Boat #
Name of Boat
Year
Built For
Type of Boat
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
Sally
Kate
Ajax
Ticonderoga
Rip
Wagtail
Jessie
Merlin
Cheviot
Phoenix
Kathleen Mary
Sylvia
Jane Louise
Christa
Jennifer
Whisper
Emma Louise
Baillieu Dinghey
Lisa
Armadale
Young Dinghey
Hendo Dinghey
Strickland Dinghey
Johnson Dinghey
Exhibition Dinghey
Marriner
C97
Beau
Rhapsody
Madelaine
C97 Dinghey
Zitch Dinghey
Hannah Dinghey
Sorrento
Cariad
Marybelle
Camilla Rose
WBS12
Matilda
Susan-Leewin
Nuvola Nera
Loloma
Sea Grace
Gemfish
Marie Louise IV
Gigi
Montalto
Vivien-Romy
Mystify
Darney
Fantasea
Carp Diem
Tenacity
WBS 12
Cliff Crest
Wyuna
Tivoli Sul Mare
Gannet
Rough Up
Storm Bay Dinghey
Nancy Mary
Little Ishie
Samuel J II
Saranzo
Claire
Jo jo
Zephyr
Phoenix
Judy Anne
Tideways
WBS 12
Lady Susan
Jennifer Kate
Ulmarra
The Kathleens
Southerly
Sandpiper
Mrs Watson’s
Alouette
Kiss & Fly
Berry
Miss Maton
Efficient
Craigie Lee
Murray Pass
Wingadel
Wyuna
Whitecliffs
Gilly
Annabelle
Volunteer
Chevimaid
Jane
Moon Pearl
Coo ee
Helen M
Sisters
Jocelyn
Amelie
Georgia
Shearwater
Bella
Kooyong
Squally Cove
Gina
Green Moon
Kate
Ajax
Ticonderoga
Rip
Wagtail
Jessie
Merlin
Cheviot
Phoenix
Kathleen Mary
Sylvia
Jane Louise
Christa
Jennifer
Whisper
Emma Louise
Baillieu Dinghey
Lisa
Armadale
Young Dinghey
Hendo Dinghey
Strickland Dinghey
Johnson Dinghey
Exhibition Dinghey
Marriner
C97
Beau
Rhapsody
Madelaine
C97 Dinghey
Zitch Dinghey
Hannah Dinghey
Sorrento
Cariad
Marybelle
Camilla Rose
WBS12
Matilda
Susan-Leewin
Nuvola Nera
Loloma
Sea Grace
Gemfish
Marie Louise IV
Gigi
Montalto
Vivien-Romy
Mystify
Darney
Fantasea
Carp Diem
Tenacity
WBS 12
Cliff Crest
Wyuna
Tivoli Sul Mare
Gannet
Rough Up
Storm Bay Dinghey
Nancy Mary
Little Ishie
Samuel J II
Saranzo
Claire
Jo jo
Zephyr
Phoenix
Judy Anne
Tideways
WBS 12
Lady Susan
Jennifer Kate
Ulmarra
The Kathleens
Southerly
Sandpiper
Mrs Watson’s
Alouette
Kiss & Fly
Berry
Miss Maton
Efficient
Craigie Lee
Murray Pass
Wingadel
Wyuna
Whitecliffs
Gilly
Annabelle
Volunteer
Chevimaid
Jane
Moon Pearl
Coo ee
Helen M
Sisters
Jocelyn
Amelie
Georgia
Shearwater
Bella
Kooyong
Squally Cove
Gina
Green Moon
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1986
1987
1987
1987
1988
1988
1989
1989
1988-91
1990
1990
1990
1991
1991
1997
1997/98
1998/99
1999
2000
2000
2000
2001
2001
2002
2001
2001
2001
2002
2001
2001
2002/03
2003
2002
2003
2003
2003
2003/04
2004
2004
2004
2004/05
2005
2005
2005
2005
2005/06
2005
2006/07
2006
2006
2006
2006/07
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007/08
2008
2008
2008
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2008/09
2010
2010
2010
2008
2011
2011
2011/12
2011/12
2011/12
2011
2012
2012
2013
2014
2015
2015
2016
2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
1983
1984
1985
1986
1986
1987
1987
1987
1988
1988
1989
1989
1988-91
1990
1990
1990
1991
1991
1997
1997/98
1998/99
1999
2000
2000
2000
2001
2001
2002
2001
2001
2001
2002
2001
2001
2002/03
2003
2002
2003
2003
2003
2003/04
2004
2004
2004
2004/05
2005
2005
2005
2005
2005/06
2005
2006/07
2006
2006
2006
2006/07
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007/08
2008
2008
2008
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2008/09
2010
2010
2010
2008
2011
2011
2011/12
2011/12
2011/12
2011
2012
2012
2013
2014
2015
2015
2016
2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
Tim Phillips / David Baillieu
Bill Davis
Will Baillieu
Jill Hartley
Chris Sinn
Brian Wales
Milton Green
Geoff Ogden
James & Peter Gibson
Alan Quick
Peter Kubale
Phillip Kinsella
George Kimpton
Dick Whitaker
Peter Bennett
Keith Young
Phillips Family
David Baillieu
John Goetz
Peter Hannah
Keith Young
Ian Henderson
Ken Strickland
Mark Johnson
Spec.
David Marriner
Jeffery Richardson
Ross Wilson
Mitchel Syndicate
Tony Unmack
Richo
Zitch Woinarski
Peter Hannah
Rob Pitt & Tony Westcott
Mick Morris
Max Beck
Alan Luxmoore
Douglas Keith-Georgio Gjerga
Ian Cootes
David Hopkins-Merv Baird
Warwick Leeming
David Swann / Fiona Brockhoff
Darbyshire
Phillip Edwards
Peter Griffin
David Parentine
John Mitchell
Peter Gale
Mark Foley / Burnie O’Hanlin
Georgio Gjerga
Reg Campbell
Jill & Peter Hartley
Justus Veenehlaas
Georgio Gjergia
Mick Morris
Tim Burnett
Marcus Burke
Demo
Phillips Family
Kevin Wood
Paul Isherwood
John Gaylard
John McIntosh
Steve Wirtz
Michael Cadden - Steve Cadden
Peter Sullivan
Lyndsay Reid
John Banks
David Shergold
Mike Lawson
David Hopkins
John Mathies
Richard Small
Steve & Mary Chiodo
Skinner Syndicate
Milton Green
Joohn Marshall
John Calvert-Jones
Leigh Clifford
Craig Kimberley
Neville Kitchen
Lloyd Williams
Tony Westcott
Demo
Peter Meurer
Em Grant
Harry the hirer
Chris Stephenson
Harley Moffatt
SSCBC
Richard Small
Chris Sinn
Sue O’James
Will Baillieu
Langenbach
Liemant
Mal Hart
Peter O’Connor
Jeffery Richardson
Mark Liemant
David Currie
Demo
Demo
Mark Liemant
Long Brothers
Nick Williams
Bill Davis
Will Baillieu
Jill Hartley
Chris Sinn
Brian Wales
Milton Green
Geoff Ogden
James & Peter Gibson
Alan Quick
Peter Kubale
Phillip Kinsella
George Kimpton
Dick Whitaker
Peter Bennett
Keith Young
Phillips Family
David Baillieu
John Goetz
Peter Hannah
Keith Young
Ian Henderson
Ken Strickland
Mark Johnson
Spec.
David Marriner
Jeffery Richardson
Ross Wilson
Mitchel Syndicate
Tony Unmack
Richo
Zitch Woinarski
Peter Hannah
Rob Pitt & Tony Westcott
Mick Morris
Max Beck
Alan Luxmoore
Douglas Keith-Georgio Gjerga
Ian Cootes
David Hopkins-Merv Baird
Warwick Leeming
David Swann / Fiona Brockhoff
Darbyshire
Phillip Edwards
Peter Griffin
David Parentine
John Mitchell
Peter Gale
Mark Foley / Burnie O’Hanlin
Georgio Gjerga
Reg Campbell
Jill & Peter Hartley
Justus Veenehlaas
Georgio Gjergia
Mick Morris
Tim Burnett
Marcus Burke
Demo
Phillips Family
Kevin Wood
Paul Isherwood
John Gaylard
John McIntosh
Steve Wirtz
Michael Cadden - Steve Cadden
Peter Sullivan
Lyndsay Reid
John Banks
David Shergold
Mike Lawson
David Hopkins
John Mathies
Richard Small
Steve & Mary Chiodo
Skinner Syndicate
Milton Green
Joohn Marshall
John Calvert-Jones
Leigh Clifford
Craig Kimberley
Neville Kitchen
Lloyd Williams
Tony Westcott
Demo
Peter Meurer
Em Grant
Harry the hirer
Chris Stephenson
Harley Moffatt
SSCBC
Richard Small
Chris Sinn
Sue O’James
Will Baillieu
Langenbach
Liemant
Mal Hart
Peter O’Connor
Jeffery Richardson
Mark Liemant
David Currie
Demo
Demo
Mark Liemant
Long Brothers
Nick Williams
Couta 28’
Couta 26’
Couta 27’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Nepean 31
Clinker
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Clinker 10’
Clinker 10’
Clinker / Motor
Clinker
Clinker
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Clinker
Clinker
Clinker
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Clinker sailing
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Nepean 27.5
Nepean 27.5
Nepean 27.5
Couta 26’
Nepean 28.5
Nepean 28.5
Couta 16.6
Couta 26.6
Couta 26.6
Couta 16.6
Lonsdale 24
Nepean 28.6
Couta 26.6
Electric Clinker
Port Phillip Pilot Boat
Nepean
Nepean
Cheviot
Dinghey
Nepean 28.6
Nepean 28.6
Nepean 28.6
Cheviot 32
Couta Boat 20 Cab
Cheviot 32
Couta Boat
Nepean 30
Nepean 30
Nepean 30
WBS 12
Nepean 30
Nepean 30
Cheviot 32
Couta 26’
Nepean
Mrs Wilsons dinghey
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
Efficient 44
Nepean 30
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
Port Phillip Pilot Boat
Whitecliffs
WBS 10 Dinghey
Nepean 30
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
46’ motor/sailor
20’ Clinker Couta
WBS 10 Dinghey
WBS 12 Dinghey
26’ Couta Boat
26 ‘ Couta Boat
Nepean Lauch
26’ Couta Boat
Shearwater 28
26’ Couta Boat
Kooyong 28
Shearwater 38
Deal Island 50
Deal Island 50
Efficient 44
Couta 26’
Couta 27’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Nepean 31
Clinker
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Clinker 10’
Clinker 10’
Clinker / Motor
Clinker
Clinker
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Clinker
Clinker
Clinker
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Clinker sailing
Couta 26’
Couta 26’
Nepean 27.5
Nepean 27.5
Nepean 27.5
Couta 26’
Nepean 28.5
Nepean 28.5
Couta 16.6
Couta 26.6
Couta 26.6
Couta 16.6
Lonsdale 24
Nepean 28.6
Couta 26.6
Electric Clinker
Port Phillip Pilot Boat
Nepean
Nepean
Cheviot
Dinghey
Nepean 28.6
Nepean 28.6
Nepean 28.6
Cheviot 32
Couta Boat 20 Cab
Cheviot 32
Couta Boat
Nepean 30
Nepean 30
Nepean 30
WBS 12
Nepean 30
Nepean 30
Cheviot 32
Couta 26’
Nepean
Mrs Wilsons dinghey
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
Efficient 44
Nepean 30
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
Port Phillip Pilot Boat
Whitecliffs
WBS 10 Dinghey
Nepean 30
Cheviot 32
Cheviot 32
46’ motor/sailor
20’ Clinker Couta
WBS 10 Dinghey
WBS 12 Dinghey
26’ Couta Boat
26 ‘ Couta Boat
Nepean Lauch
26’ Couta Boat
Shearwater 28
26’ Couta Boat
Kooyong 28
Shearwater 38
Deal Island 50
Deal Island 50
Efficient 44
Photo by Will Baillieu.
Case Study: Building Camilla Rose
These images document the construction process of the Couta Boat Camilla Rose, built onsite at Wooden Boat Shop in 2002. Every aspect of the Couta Boat is made by hand, including the blocks and cast bronze fittings.
Photos by Jos Law
Photos by Jos Law






































































































































CONTACT
61 3 5984 4 333
SALES@WOODENBOATSHOP.COM.AU
129 HOTHAM ROAD, SORRENTO, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
61 3 5984 4 333
SALES@WOODENBOATSHOP.COM.AU
129 HOTHAM ROAD, SORRENTO, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
CONTACT
61 3 5984 4 333
SALES@WOODENBOATSHOP.COM.AU
129 HOTHAM ROAD, SORRENTO, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
61 3 5984 4 333
SALES@WOODENBOATSHOP.COM.AU
129 HOTHAM ROAD, SORRENTO, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA