Australia’s Classic Boats

17/04/2025

11/04/2025

Episode 2 of our South Pacific II Series is live on the Coastwatch website!

In Episode Two of our series, we take you more deeply into the origins of the South Pacific II and her construction heritage at Norman R. Wright & Sons, on a historic reach of the Brisbane River famous for shipwrights and sailing. We hear of her remarkable versatility as a mighty mothership, fish ra...

08/02/2025

SOUTH PACIFIC II - EPISODE 1

Here it is, Episode 1 of our Series on the mighty "South Pacific II" ! One of the truly iconic vessels in Australian Boating History.

Here we trace her origins with Eldredge McInnis -- the historic U.S. based nautical engineering firm; and her construction at Norman R. Wright -- examining her exceptional pedigree, before a life of great adventure.

We speak to Bill & Ian Wright -- third generation of the famous Wright's firm; as well as custodians past and present, including her legendary skipper, the late Ron Jenyns, and children Peter and Sally Jenyns, whose lives the vessel shaped over 40 years of ownership.

We speak with her new owner, Rob Siganto and his exciting plans, foreshadowing the major re-fit to take place at Norman R. Wright & Sons -- which we will follow in detail as part of the Australia's Classic Boats Re-Fit Series.

The full series will be published at Coastwatch so sign up to the Coastwatch Club at the Coastwatch website and stay tuned for more episodes!

The South Pacific II, formerly the Beryl May II, is one of the most iconic vessels ever to sail Australian waters. This series charts some of her extraordinary story and past adventure, before lifting us into the sheds of the famous Norman R. Wright and Sons, the historic boat building operation whe...

29/11/2024

CLASSIC BOAT MERCH | We are pleased to announce the first release of what will be an exciting extended range of "Classic Boat Gear" -- now available in the Coastwatch Store.

LINK in Comments

We are kicking things off with the gamefishing legend, "Pannawonica" ! The 1971, 52 foot Pleysier built, world famous classic that re-defined fast, big-sea performance and fish raising.

Immediately available is a very cool Pannawonica "hoodie" (it still gets chilly on the water at night) and t-shirts, in both men and women's styles -- both crafted to the highest quality.

Better still, it's Black Friday at the Coastwatch Store, so there are some great discounts to be had.

More to come.

25/11/2024

A tribute to a great man and an extraordinary contribution to boating, fishing and sailing history. As owner / skipper of the South Pacific II for 40 yrs, captain and vessel became an iconic duo, and brought great ocean adventure to many. Vale Ron Jenyns.

Ron Jenyns leaves a legacy forever etched in Australian boating and fishing history and folklore. In the course of a life rich in achievement, Ron helmed unforgettable ocean adventures, creating extraordinary experiences and memories, touching the lives of many.

13/11/2024

A magic day aboard the legendary gamefisher, Pannawonica for this year's Moreton Bay Classic! A cameo that paid tribute to timber boatbuilding and Australian boating history. We caught the action in the Featurette below! Follow Coastwatch and join the coastwatch club at the coastwatch website for more great classic boats content.

Launched in 1971, Pannawonica, the 52 foot timber gamefisher built by David Pleysier and designed by U.S. nautical engineering firm, C. Raymond Hunt, is regarded as one of the best performing gamefishing boats ever built in Australia – and is perhaps the most iconic and famous of them all.

18/10/2024

A new Episode in our Re-Fit Series on Avalon II — featuring Barry and Craig Martin of the famous Assegai Marine. This Episode looks at the extraordinary work undertaken by the re-born Assegai on Avalon II, with inside detail from owner Peter Toohey around the extent and calibre of the custom work.

As announced to our subscribers recently, Australia’s Classic Boats is now platformed and presented on Coastwatch — so head on over to the page and website and subscribe for more great classic boat, general boating, fishing and coastal leisure content.

The Avalon II Re-fit marked one of the first major projects that Craig Martin had tackled since reviving the legendary company made famous by father, Barry Martin.

20/07/2024

08/07/2024

A good news story

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1227657005277390?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&mibextid=0VwfS7

05/07/2024

The Bribie Classic Boat Regatta is a fabulous boating event held annually. Check out this Coastwatch feature video and article on the 25th Anniversary event.

Our profile of the fantastic 25th Bribie Classic Boat Regatta .

LINK to Feature Video and Article in Comments.

An event with an atmosphere all its own – blending history, kinship, craft and community.

We were also pleased to welcome back one of the original Coastwatch legends, Clint Hempsall, for this special video feature. Words by Nick Cornish.

24/06/2024

Pannawonica x Moreton Bay Classic 2024 | A pretty special cameo from one of Australia's greatest classic game fishers. With her super deep vee famous for carving record time from Fremantle to QLD for the Marlin season -- it was fitting she claimed the Bill Wright trophy for Line Honours . More on her appearance at this years event coming at Coastwatch .

20/03/2024

While our focus with our publication is mainly larger, custom built boats — there are some smaller production boats that enter Australian boating legend — abd the Seafarer V-Sea is one such example. Check out this profile from Coastwatch.

31/01/2024

Since softly launching and commencing development on the Australia's Classic Boats project, we have received some fantastic input from people all over the country around some wonderful boats, boat restoration and a range of other historically significant projects.

One of those projects comes from Jacqueline Kennedy, who spent two years digitising and improving thousands of photographs taken by George Hunt of all the boats on the Richmond River from 1908 to the 1940s. The output of this work is her marvellous hardcover book, "The Hunt Collection" . See link in comments.

As a museum volunteer, Jacqui also curated an exhibition, some posters of which are below.

I asked Jacqui if she had a favourite, and she said that hers was the "Captain T Fenwick". Built 1900 and named after a Wiley sea dog, Tom Fenwick. Some great information on her amazing life in the posters.

Jacqui's book would make a great gift to anyone interested in Australian maritime history. Well done Jacqui!

30/01/2024

Some brilliant, largely unknown Halvorsen brochurewere and plans discovered and unveiled by “Mr Halvorsen”, Tony MacKay.

17/01/2024

Incredible miniature of a famous boat.

16/01/2024

Who recognises this beauty ??

That’s right, it’s the beautiful “Margaret C” , a star of Coastwatch in the 90s!

Now lying in Sydney waters with a white paintjob, she is in the excellent hands of Stephen Robson and his syndicate.

“Maggie" as Steve calls her, spends 6 months of the year in Pittwater and 6 months on Sydney Harbour. The syndicate holds another beautiful timber boat – a 130 year old huon pine yacht, "Ventura".

Steve comments:
"We have enjoyed Maggie for about 14 years or so. Actually, that’s a bit of an understatement, we absolutely adore her… she is a wonderful vessel and magnificent day boat with spacious aft deck, day-bed, and low gunnels comfortably entertaining up to 20 people with a hard-top... Although minimalist, she is highly individual. We love her simplicity – something we have only increased to make her extremely simple to use: Turn the key and away you go. She is a great fishing boat, BBQ lunch/dinner boat and also for long weekends away for up to 5 people. We believe that a lot of usage and keeping the maintenance up to her is key – which is where a syndicate really works. Each boat is out at least once a week and we have an annual maintenance schedule which I run. My family and friends have had many fun trips on this beautiful craft. We have even inspired several other groups of friends to adopt the same ownership model, resulting in four additional timber craft now gracing our peer group in Sydney. Significantly, very few of these people ever had much to do with boats previously... Margaret C’s beautiful and unique lines still draw attention wherever she goes.”

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10/11/2023

“Osprey’s” ( aka Osprey O or Ospreyo) penultimate owner, Paul Hutton, reclining in the cockpit after a days fishing.

Paul passed in his 40’s , but daughter Jacqui — a successful cosmetics entrepreneur — has fabulous memories.

“I loved and have very fond memories of Ospreyo.
Unfortunately, my dad Paul Hutton passed away over 26 years ago at the age of 49. He loved his boats and was very proud of Ospreyo.
I have the most amazing memories of the boat and growing up on it. I never had a bike growing up just a tinny! Dad used to send us over to Palm Beach in the tinny to pick up beer and ci******es for the adults ( possibly a bit frowned upon these days !) It was a wonderful way to grow up and I wish my children would have got the chance to experience so much fun.
I have a recollection of Dad being gutted when he heard she was gone (sunk).”

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05/10/2023

South Pacific II. Full Steam Ahead.