Hi

Does any one know much about the Currawong 30?

I am thinking of purchasing one, but there is not much information about them.

In particular, the 1984 model I am looking at has a short boom and very small sail - so I am wondering if this is the original design or a modification.

Also, the early Currawong 30's look like they have a coach house on deck, whilst the 1984 model has a flush deck.

Any info on the Currawong 30 would be really welcome.

Regards

Andrew

No real Currawongs have flush decks. I know a reasonable bit about them. Show us the link to the one your interested in. There is a heap on stuff online for Currawongs.

Is this one a flush deck




Regards Don

Select to expand quote

Donk107 said..
Is this one a flush deck




Regards Don

Nope, it's a raised deck.

I thought a raised deck would look like this one





Regards Don

Real ones have to be built by Baker, don't they?

Select to expand quote

LooseChange said..

Donk107 said..
Is this one a flush deck




Regards Don

Nope, it's a raised deck.

It is a No Deck and ugly as sin.

looks like a raised hull to me .

Select to expand quote

nswsailor said..
Real ones have to be built by Baker, don't they?

Mine has Mr Baker's name as the builder on the measurement certificate but I believe mine was built just after his death by his foreman who took over the molds. I have had visits from other Currawong and Brolga owners lately and there seems to be varying stories.

Not sure what the story is with Laafin pictured above. The hull looks OK but the details in the ad are a bit suspect. It was built well after Mr Bakers death, is a lot wider than mine and 700 kilos lighter. The layout is obviously different with the raised deck. The "errors" in the ad may just be that of course, people often list boats with the basic info way out.

For AndrewE who lives somewhere in Australia here is a nice video of a nice Currawong doing what they do best. [It's not mine}

Hi Ramona

Donk 107 has spotted the Currawong 30 I am looking to buy - Laafin.

http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/sailing-boats/currawong-30/99927

Excuse my ignorance on deck terminology - given that most yachts have a coach house and this Currawong lacked one, I thought "flush" would be the best term for it.

You mentioned that there was good information on the Currawong on the net - would you be able to post some URL's?

Can you confirm that the Currawong 30 has such a short boom and small main sail?

Regards

Andrew

Select to expand quote

Ramona said..

Mine has Mr Baker's name as the builder on the measurement certificate but I believe mine was built just after his death by his foreman who took over the molds. I have had visits from other Currawong and Brolga owners lately and there seems to be varying stories.

Now Ramona, was yours built by Formit?

and what date is on that cert?

Add some details to your bio Andrew, I'm guessing your in Victoria.

Start with a bit of info on Professor Joubert. http://themelbourneengineer.eng.unimelb.edu.au/2011/05/peter-joubert-looks-back/

Zeus II, is a Currawong 30 not a 31 as in the article and is the most well known successful one. Katinka is well known too with her previous owners but now called Ramona.

www.katinka.com.au/

This boats rig looks the same dimensions as mine in this picture. www.laafin.org/ I can only presume the ad has all the dimensions incorrect. The Currawong 30 was built from about 1976 on when the racing rule at the time was IOR and this encouraged large headsails and small mains. The main might look small but the main powerhouse is always the genoa in this generation of yacht. The beam on mine is 2.917m. She was built in November 1979 by Lloyd Northam who was Geoff Bakers foreman who took over building after his death. Not sure how Geoff managed to build Laafin in 1984!

If I was looking at a Currawong it would have to have tiller steering and the stock cockpit with the high and comfortable coaming.

Use Google images and look for Zeus 2.
[URL=.html] [/URL]

Here is a grab from my history of the Top Hat.

While Top Hats were being produced [1965 to 1972], Geoff was also building other yachts designed by Professor Peter Joubert. These included the Currawong 30, Brolga 33, Magpie 34 and the Cape Barron Goose. During 1977-8 Geoff built ‘BIG BANDICOOT’, a 17 metre catamaran designed by Professor Peter Joubert, to challenge the world sailing speed record. The story was featured in a 1985 film for the ABC’s Big Country. Hoping to achieve 30 knots on Pittwater, the main cross member unfortunately collapsed before this could be achieved. Geoff Bakers' last boat was a Cape Barron Goose he was building for himself to cruise overseas. Geoff died of a brain tumor in 1981, aged 49.

Hi Andrew

Have you had a chance to inspect this boat in the flesh and what condition is it in

To be honest I am not sure i like the flush deck look and the small dodger over the hatch area but it probably is a practical design for moving around the deck

Regards Don

Thanks to everyone who has made a comment - I will be giving Laafin a test sail on Sunday. I am a deck hand on Chardonnay at RMYS (a Carter 30) and fortunately, my very experienced skipper is going with me. I am surprised that there is such a design difference between the earlier Currawong 30 with coaming and the later model without. I wonder what prompted the change in design. Thanks for the information on the history of the small main sail. I will let you know how the test sail goes!

Regards Andrew

Select to expand quote

AndrewE said..
Thanks to everyone who has made a comment - I will be giving Laafin a test sail on Sunday. I am a deck hand on Chardonnay at RMYS (a Carter 30) and fortunately, my very experienced skipper is going with me. I am surprised that there is such a design difference between the earlier Currawong 30 with coaming and the later model without. I wonder what prompted the change in design. Thanks for the information on the history of the small main sail. I will let you know how the test sail goes!

Regards Andrew

I think we would all like to know the story behind this yacht and how many were built this way and by whom.

Select to expand quote

Ramona said..

She was built in November 1979 by Lloyd Northam who was Geoff Bakers foreman who took over building after his death.

Not sure how Geoff managed to build Laafin in 1984!

For those interested Lloyd Northam now lives in the Marina at Marong Point.

While I was on the hard there he came up to me and asked if SEAKA had always been the name of my yacht.

When I said yes he replied that he had built her, then walked off!!

Funny guy.

And yes Baker did not build LAAFIN in 1984. But I would like some info as to how long Bakers factory continued after his death.