Name/TitlePhotograph, "Seal"

About this object“The Seal” built by Bob Asquith and launched in 1966, was skippered by his brother, Charlie, as part of the Port Stephens fishing fleet.

The near sinking of the “Seal”

In 1972, after a long dry summer on the slip “Seal” was once again back in the water. Unfortunately, due to the harsh conditions that summer the tuck (the underwater part of the stern where the sides, bottom and transom all merge together) had shrunk in the heat.

Only a fortnight later, at the request of the Shoal Bay crew, “Seal” was loaded with 14 tons of mullet to take to the Fishermen’s Co-Op. This heavy weight caused the tuck to crack leaving about a 10 feet long and ½ inch wide gap. Water was pouring in. Unfortunately, there was a paint chip caught in the bilge pump which stopped it from working and, as the deck was knee deep in mullet, there was no way to get aft to clean it. The “Seal” was sinking fast and as it was high tide the only way to save her was to run her up onto the beach.

Once on the beach an auxiliary motor was brought in by the Co-Op, then the Fire Brigade and lastly the Water Police but to no avail, none of the motors would start. All the mullet was thrown overboard to reduce the weight and the water was bailed manually. The “Seal” was saved but the catch was lost, although the local community enjoyed barbequed mullet for many days.

Place MadeOceania, Australia, New South Wales, Port Stephens, Nelson Bay

Place NotesBob Asquith built his boats at the family home in Magnus Street, Nelson Bay

MakerAsquith, Bob

Maker RoleBoat Builder

Date Made1966

PeriodMid 20th century

Formatjpeg

Object TypeCruiser

Subject and Association KeywordsBoat building

Subject and Association KeywordsBoats

Subject and Association KeywordsFishing - commercial

Subject and Association KeywordsFishing Recreational

Subject and Association KeywordsMullet Run

Object numberTMA2021.00163

Copyright Licence