ALICIA- writing the next chapter
Chris Crerar was a great supporter of SWS. He wrote some heartfelt articles that told of the highs and lows of owning wooden boats. Many of our readers were absorbed by a deep seated honesty in his writing style
Chris used to say he was “a bit of a wooden boat tragic” and at one stage in 2021 he owned three. Two of these he wrote about in SWS: the sinking of MARCO POLO on the mooring on Sydney harbour and MAORI LASS’ adventurous trip around the world. It only seems fair enough that ALICIA, the 18ft 6in Tamar couta boat, is getting a moment in the limelight too.
Around the turn of the century, Chris was living and working in Adelaide at the time, his dad Bruce (a fellow wooden boat tragic) spoke to John Philps who was restoring the beautiful 18.5 ft couta boat Alicia in Gravelly Beach. When Bruce learned that John was planning to sell Alicia he snapped a few photos and sent them to Chris, who has owned Alicia ever since. Bruce says Chris’ mum still hasn’t forgiven for egging him on.
Chris sadly passed away at the start of this year and the family are selling his boats, starting with ALICIA. Here at SWS we are pleased that we might be able to help Chris’s family find new custodians for his two craft.
ALICIA was built in Rowella by Charles Houstein on the Tamar around 1930 from King Billy and Huon Pine and worked the Tamar River and Bass Strait as a commercial couta boat.
She was fully restored by shipwright John Philp in the late 1990s. She's a gunter rigged sloop, with a shallow draft and centre board. Powered by a recently overhauled 4.5hp Simplex, there's also a 4hp Mariner outboard and the original oars. She was re-rigged completely in synthetics in 2019 and the sacrificial keel was replaced.
She is 18ft 6in on deck around 6ft 6in beam and draws about 2ft.
She has an automatic bilge pump, a solar panel, navigation lights, safety gear, flares, fire extinguisher, two anchors, paddles, and a basic cover.
ALICIA is in great condition, has always been cared for, beautiful to sail or motor... Secure yourself a beautiful, practical piece of Tasmania's maritime history!
She is located in Kettering, Tasmania and is looking for a new and caring owner to look after here. She comes with a currently unregistered trailer.
Price- $22,000 Negotiable
Bruce Crerar, Chris’ dad, and the initial instigator, will take all enquiries on 0418 314 281.