Overview
About this vessel
Built in 1956 by Alec Lacco, 24' Vandra was commissioned by Mr Leo Phillips of Portsea, for use as a pleasure craft. The Wooden Boatshop was later founded by Leo's son, Tim Phillips.
Described as a "transition" boat because she is basically a Couta boat design, with a cabin, no centre plate case and is both wider in her beam and shallower in her draft; Vandra is perfect as a weekender, to go out for a sailing or fishing session, or just enjoying lazy days out on the bay.
These little Lacco Day Boats are now much sought after, as they typify a classic craft-built vessel from an era when quality and style was paramount. Designed for the Mornington Peninsula, Leo paid Alec Lacco extra when purchasing the boat in order for Vandra to be "a thing of real beauty".
She is masterfully built with New Zealand Kauri and clearly, they succeeded in their quest as Vandra is an outstanding example of a vessel from this era and is indeed a beautiful boat.
She has a long keel with lead ballast ensuring stable seakeeping ability allowing extended trips across the bay. Vandra is in lovely condition overall with a full reconditioning by Blunts of Williamstown some years ago and now her current guardian has bought her home to Sorrento into the loving embrace of Tim Phillips (who was brought up boating on her), where annual maintenance and regular improvements have been faithfully undertaken at the Wooden Boat Shop.
These genuine Lacco Couta boats are hard to find, especially in this condition, with this practical layout and design. If you have always had a hankering for a classic timber vessel and seek a boat that has genuine local heritage, then Vandra is hard to ignore.
