The profiles listed in this Register have been documented from the stories and photos contributed by custodians and others who willingly shared information. Readers who have additional information about the history of any Couta Boat are invited to forward it to couta_profile@coutaboat.com.au so that it can be added to the Register.
Peter Locke, Queenscliff, Victoria.
Custodian: George (Jocka) Todd; 1937 – Unknown Lila was Commissioned by Queenscliff fisherman George (Jocka) Todd and built by Queenscliff boatbuilder Peter Locke and launched on 3rd July, 1937. Her length is 19 foot 6 inches. She was named after Jocka’s niece Lila, the daughter of Syd Todd.
Jocka’s first boat was the Dawn, which was built by Mitch Lacco and commissioned by Jocka’s father Walter (Cack) Todd. Walter purchased boats for all his boys and would hire prominent fishermen in Queenscliff to teach the boys fishing and seamanship. Like his brothers, Jocka became a fisherman at a young age.
After owning and working a second Couta Boat, Jocka sold the boat and commissioned Lila to be built. By this stage, Jocka and his wife were the proprietors of the Queenscliff guest house ‘Olinda’; Jocka’s wife managed the business while Jocka went fishing and would supply the ‘catch’ for the evening meal.
Custodian: James Smeaton; 1987 – 2000 There are no records of Lila until the late 1980s when James Smeaton was looking for a Couta Boat to sail in the early fleet at Portsea. Tim Phillips located Lila in 1987, on the Bellarine Peninsula which is located across the bay from Portsea.
Accompanied by Tim and his wife Sally on Muriel C17, James took Lila to her new base in Portsea. Tim recalls that there was a very fresh sea breeze with seas coming over the foredeck, and remembers the bassinet in which their baby son Will would slide from port to starboard when Muriel tacked. Lila’s seaworthiness was tested on this journey.
James owned Lila for a number of years, without refitting her for sailing. He used her for Painting excursions around the docks at Williamstown and further up the Yarra River in Melbourne.
Custodian: Scott Davies; c 2000 – Present Lila was purchased by Scott Davies.
Shortly after purchase the boat broke its mooring at the Aquarium, Sorrento and was severely damaged on the breakwater. She was taken to the Wooden Boat Shop (WBS) in Sorrento for comprehensive repairs, which also included the installation of a new mast, Huon Pine deck, centre plate case and rigging for competitive sailing.
Over the next few years, Lila was used for recreational sailing and fishing while Scott, who had never really sailed a boat, learnt how to skipper. He and a couple of loyal crew, including Dino DiPierdomenico, would have wonderful times regularly competing in the Club Division 2 races. Scott improved his patchy performance by acquiring sailing skills and knowledge through his four children who at that time were all active participants in Club junior training programs and youth sailing regattas, literally around Australia.
Lila was actively sailed for six to eight years, but in recent years has been used primarily for recreational purposes. One of Scott’s most pleasurable annual adventures is to load Lila with mountain bikes and mattresses, sail or motor to Queenscliff, ride to a friend’s farm near Drysdale for a long lunch then return to the comfort of Lila in the Queenscliff Marina.
Today in 2021, Lila is moored in front of the old Aquarium at Sorrento and Scott is hopeful that his children will soon continue the tradition of Division 2 Club racing.
nscliff fisherman George (Jocka) Todd and built by Queenscliff boatbuilder Peter Locke and launched on 3rd July, 1937. Her length is 19 foot 6 inches. She was named after Jocka’s niece Lila, the daughter of Syd Todd.
Jocka’s first boat was the Dawn, which was built by Mitch Lacco and commissioned by Jocka’s father Walter (Cack) Todd. Walter purchased boats for all his boys and would hire prominent fishermen in Queenscliff to teach the boys fishing and seamanship. Like his brothers, Jocka became a fisherman at a young age.
After owning and working a second Couta Boat, Jocka sold the boat and commissioned Lila to be built. By this stage, Jocka and his wife were the proprietors of the Queenscliff guest house ‘Olinda’; Jocka’s wife managed the business while Jocka went fishing and would supply the ‘catch’ for the evening meal.
Custodian: James Smeaton; 1987 – c 2000
There are no records of Lila until the late 1980s when James Smeaton was looking for a Couta Boat to sail in the early fleet out of Portsea. Tim Phillips located Lila in 1987, on the Bellarine Peninsula which is located across the bay from Portsea.
Accompanied by Tim and his wife Sally on Muriel C17, James took Lila to her new base in Portsea. Tim recalls that there was a very fresh sea breeze with seas coming over the foredeck, and remembers the bassinet in which their baby son Will would slide from port to starboard when Muriel tacked. Lila’s seaworthiness was tested on this journey.
James owned Lila for a number of years, without restoring her for sailing. He used her for Painting excursions around the docks at Williamstown and further up the Yarra River in Melbourne.
Custodian: Scott Davies; c 2000 – Present
Circa 2000, Lila was purchased by Scott Davies
Shortly after purchase the boat broke its mooring at the Aquarium, Sorrento and was severely damaged on the breakwater. She was taken to the Wooden Boat Shop (WBS) in Sorrento for comprehensive repairs, which also included the installation of a new mast, Huon Pine deck, centre plate case and rigging for competitive sailing.
Over the next few years, Lila was used for recreational sailing and fishing while Scott, who had never really sailed a boat, learnt how to skipper. He and a couple of loyal crew, including Dino DiPierdomenico, would have wonderful times regularly competing in the Club Division 2 races, and Scott attempted to improve his patchy performance by acquiring sailing skills and knowledge through his four children who at that time were all active participants in Club junior training programs and youth sailing regattas, literally around Australia.
Lila was actively sailed for six to eight years, but in recent years has been used primarily for recreational purposes. One of Scott’s most pleasurable annual adventures is to load Lila with mountain bikes and mattresses, ride to a friend’s farm near Drysdale for a long lunch then return to the comfort of Lila in the Queenscliff Marina.
Today in 2021, Lila is moored in front of the old Aquarium at Sorrento and Scott is hopeful that his children will soon continue the tradition of Division 2 Club racing.
