Wooden Gaff Rigged Ketch

Swan – 30ft Classic Wooden Ketch

Swan is a distinctive 30ft classic wooden ketch, inspired by the lines of a 45ft Alden topsail schooner and adapted by respected Australian boat designer Ken Lacco. Heavy displacement, traditionally constructed and full of character, she represents an increasingly rare example of Australian wooden boat building.

The design originated when photographs of the Alden schooner were provided to Ken Lacco, who redrew and scaled the concept to 30ft and developed it as a ketch. Swan was subsequently built by John Jannson, with assistance from Peter Ingless, in the small historic boatshed at Rhyll on Phillip Island. She was launched in 1984 and has spent her life sailing the waters of Western Port Bay.

Construction is substantial and traditional, with celery top pine used for the hull, deck and cabin roof, Iroko for the cabin and covering boards, and a yellow stringybark keel. Ballast consists of steel and lead encased in concrete.

Auxiliary power is provided by a Yanmar 2QM20H diesel engine, reported to be in good working order. Her original working sails remain usable, although they are showing their age.

The current owners have enjoyed Swan for the past 11 years, maintaining and sailing her around Western Port and further afield. Among her voyages was a trip to Paynesville to participate in the classic boat festival.

With her traditional timber construction, ketch rig and unusual design history, Swan would particularly suit an owner with an appreciation for classic wooden yachts and the ongoing care that comes with them. The sale is prompted by the owners' age and disability rather than a loss of enthusiasm for the boat, and they are open to reasonable offers from suitable wooden-boat enthusiasts.

Swan is currently moored just off Rhyll Pier on Phillip Island and can be viewed from shore for an initial look.

There is considerably more history behind the boat than can be covered in a single listing. Her Instagram page, @sv_swan, documents various stages of her maintenance, repairs and sailing over the years.

Key details

• 30ft classic wooden ketch

• Alden-inspired design, adapted and drawn by Ken Lacco

• Built by John Jannson with assistance from Peter Ingless

• Launched in 1984

• Heavy-displacement traditional construction

• Celery top pine hull, deck and cabin roof

• Iroko cabin and covering boards

• Yellow stringybark keel

• Steel and lead ballast encased in concrete

• Yanmar 2QM20H diesel

• Original working sails, usable but showing their age

• Long history sailing Western Port Bay

• Currently moored at Rhyll, Phillip Island