24' Fishing Launch (1911) - ERIN

A classic Lakes fishing boat built from New Zealand kauri pine and launched in May 1911. Built by Peter Tierney at the Paynesville Slip Yard for Harry Foley. After a short time Erin was sold to Robert Allen at Lakes Entrance (Australia) and she was used by 4 generations of the Allen family for commercial fishing mainly in the Gippsland Lakes until commercial fishing was stopped in the Lakes in April 2021. Fishing wasn’t confined to the Gippsland Lakes. In the 1920’s, Erin was loaded on a truck and taken 140 miles (225km) to Womboyn Lakes in southern NSW fishing for eels for only one season as eel prices were better than fish from the Lakes. Erin was also taken offshore fishing for barracouta until the 1950’s
Originally used as a gaff rigged sailing boat, Erin was changed to diesel power with a 7-8 HP Kelly & Lewis motor. This motor was satisfactory in the Lakes, but was not of sufficient power to get Erin out of trouble when a storm front came through whilst offshore and Erin was forced to seek refuge crossing the bar into Lake Tyers. The power plant was subsequently upgraded to a 2 cylinder 20HP Yanmar in 1971, and replaced with the current 20HP Yanmar in 1981, which was rebuilt in 2006.
Originally 24ft 6 inches in length, her length was reduced when work was undertaken on the transom in 1995. Some rot in the hull at the transom, resulted in the thickness of the transom being cut out and a new transom installed reducing the boat length by 4 inches! At the same time, the keel and adjoining planks were replaced.
Erin was purchased by a friend and myself in 2019 in a seaworthy condition and with the private registration of ND 729. Whilst the commercial fishing registration was cancelled on the 24th Dec 2011, Erin was still used as a support boat and for collecting bait.
When purchased in 2019, Erin was looking rather forlorn and needing a spruce up. Wood osmosis in bearers around shaft bearings resulted in new bearers plus a few sister ribs steamed and installed plus a new deck and sole, gunwale (steamed), and heavier engine bearers installed for motor which was moved back to reduce shaft length and provide more passenger space in the forward section Whilst scraping many paint layers from the hull, the commercial fishing registration of VCT was uncovered. Erin has now had her name lengthened to Erin VCT to recognise her 107 years of service to fishing in the Gippsland Lakes
The previous fish net and catch area has been changed to the motor with a centre console plus a fish storage box, whilst the previous motor area has become a passenger area with side seats, the thwart moved forward about 4 inches, and a rear seat fitted. All new seats made from Australian cedar and the thwart original kauri pine with new hardwood knees
Erin VCT was launched on the 23rd Dec 2021 and will continue the next stage of her life on the Gippsland Lakes