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.
Early Years
Sam was built by Peter Locke in Queenscliff, Victoria. The year of her build is presumed to be circa 1935. At a length of approximately 20 foot, it is likely that Sam was built to fish out of Lorne along the south coast of Victoria where the smaller size Couta Boats were more favourable for lifting onto the Lorne Pier, as protection from the exposed seas. When Port Melbourne fisherman Dugga Beazley undertook a restoration of Sam, she still had her lifting bracket intact.
Custodian: Corio Bay Sailing Club; 1978 – 1990
Back in 1978 the Corio Bay Sailing Club in Limeburners Lagoon, Victoria needed to replace its Committee boat/Start boat. At the time the Club Captain Brian Suiter found for sale a bare hull at the mooring area of a local Caravan Park. The hull had a Lister 13 hp air-cooled engine but no controls or fuel tank, so the hull had to be towed across Corio Bay to the Lagoon Boat Club and placed on a mooring, which was adjacent to the Sailing Club.
Brian Suiter embarked on a major refit, building and fitting out the boat over many months, to make it functional. He added a cabin with seating inside to keep the crew dry, and a donated rudder which was off a vessel that was burnt to the water line in 1979. According to Roger Spooner the Club Captain in the 1990s, photos of the boat taken in this period show that the rudder in question always looked far too large for the vessel, ‘the tiller was always up in arm pits, so most used the wheel steering.’
In 1980, following Brian’s sudden death the vessel was named Brian S in his honour.
Moored directly off the Lagoon Boat Club slipway, The Brian S functioned as a Start/Committee boat for the summer sailing seasons between 1980 and 1989. However, the lack of facilities at the Sailing Club made winter maintenance difficult.
Roger Spooner tells:
In 1990, I placed ‘Brian S’ on a trailer in the Club’s yard to work on it over winter. Repairs were started and each year a little more was done; a few top planks and rails were replaced; I changed the colours to a yellow and black rail so she could be seen easier.
One year the lister engine was removed as it had rotted away with the engine just hanging by one side. A club member stated he could fix it, and so the new engine bed was made. The member returned the lister a few months later, stating it was beyond repair. It was becoming clear that it was needing major repair and the club did not have the funds.
The club decided it was costing far too much to fix the ‘Brian S’ so I put forward we replace it with two small power boats.
Brian S was sold in the early to mid1990s. Before the sale, the flag pole, nameplates and rescue signage were removed.
Custodian: Unknown 1980s
The new custodian was a restaurateur from St Kilda who acquired her for fishing. However, she was used irregularly and ended up moored at St Kilda marina for four to five years.
Custodian: David Beazley; Unknown – 2012
Dugga Beazley purchased Sam from her previous owner, and his son David restored her in the family’s backyard in Port Melbourne. David named her after his young son, Sam. But tragically, David did not live to see young Sam sail his namesake, for David died close to his 40th birthday in 2012.
Custodian: Chris Day; 2012 – 2016
Once she was restored, Dugga sold Sam to Chris Day in 2012. To prepare her for competitive sailing, Chris immediately shipped her to the Wooden Boat Shop in Sorrento to set her up with new sails and rigging.
Chris successfully sailed Sam in the Division 2 Fleet at Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club at Sorrento (SSCBC), Victoria. He regards Sam to be a very competitive handicap boat, having won numerous races during his five years of ownership.
Custodian: Paul Flanagan; 2016 – 2021
In 2016, Chris sold Sam to her current custodian Paul Flanagan who uses her for recreational fishing and sailing in the waters off Sorrento. Sam is moored near the SSCBC jetty in Sorrento.
Custodian: James Grant; 2021 to 2025
New custodian, James Grant purchased Sam in 2021.
After a refresh at The Wooden Boatshop in Sorrento, James motored Sam around to Flinders on Westernport, where she sailed in a mixed fleet at the Flinders Yacht Club for three seasons.
James says:
She was a joy to sail, motor on a summer’s afternoon or as a swim-too for the kids, she created many happy family memories.
Custodian: Rhys Watson; 2025 – Present
