The ‘Ragtag Fleet’ consisted of every boat the Australian Navy could lay its hands on during the early, days of the Pacific campaign during Word War 2. It was critical in supplying Allied forces in New Guinea. Without them – who knows? – the Japanese advance could have got even further. The story is well told in a book by Ian Shaw, and is recommended winter time reading.
The last of the fleet, Koorine, is currently tied up on the piles at South Franklin. If you want a boat with provenance you can buy her – see the advertisement in our display window. The owners recently sent the following letter with more information to Afloat magazine.
‘My husband and myself bought the vessel Koorine many years ago, and after much extensive mechanical work and other work, we had her skippered down to Tasmania, (where we live) from Gosford in NSW. Anyway, my husband has found out she’s the only one out of the Rag Tag Fleet surviving. We’ve done much extensive research on her history, and boy, does she have a lot! We have also refitted her and have done much renovation over the past six years. She now doesn’t leak at all for a grand old lady of 90 years! She’s now in excellent shape and sits proudly on the river at the very old boat building place at Franklin in Tasmania. She is now up for sale.
More from Geoff Parton.
She was built by W Holmes in Sydney in 1936, for Sir Clifton Love Uncle Toby,s Oats founder as his personal luxury cruiser. Dimensions 51 feet, inch and three quarter Kauri. She then went into the Aus Navy during 2nd world war and later in that period she served under the US flag in the Rag Tag Fleet running supplies to PNG and returning with the wounded and deceased. She was fitted with machine guns fore and aft plus ten depth charges. I have her complete history of owners and even minutes from the navy. She is fitted with 2 Ford Bowman diesels. We have spent the best part of 100k so although she is due for a bit of paint here and there she is in very good condition for her 90 years.
She is for sale and all reasonable offers will be considered, Sincerely Geoff Parton 0480751040
