Alma Gray
Details
Alma Gray was already an old Couta Boat when Jack Gray brought her to Merimbula from Port Albert, Victoria in 1945. Jack fished her offshore for more than 50 years thereafter, until his retirement in the late 90s. She was fully restored in 2008 by Don O’Connel, a skilled artisan, though not a shipwright, at a cost of more than $70K.
She remains in excellent condition, and is a sturdy original New Zealand Kauri. She is a little less than the standard LOA (which may not have been in existence when she was built — said to be in the 1890s), at 25’ 3”. She does not have a centre board casing, but this should not present a problem. Despite this she is fully rigged with mast, bowsprit, boom, and gaff and standing and running rigging all in good order. She has a full suite of sails, also in good order. With the right skipper and crew, she might do well — the challenge is there! She is fully registered and insured. Power is Yanmar 3YM20 diesel. She may be inspected where she lies at her mooring on Merimbula Lake.