144 Sixty Dollar Flathead, 1962 Speedboat

A very Unusual 1960’s vintage plywood fishing skiff designed as a “Semi Displacement Hull” by renown Naval Architect Len Randell in 1959. The Boat was built by then Technical college student, 19 year old Kevin Porter of Melbourne, an amateur builder who purchased a set of plans from Randell via an advertisement in “SeaCraft” magazine. He constructed the boat in his spare time in his suburban back yard using only hand tools as he had no power tools. (They were very expensive at the time). He had been fascinated by boats since the age of 6 and spent all his meagre earnings at the time on materials as he could afford them and spent all his spare time in 1963 completing the hull. In 1964 he could finally afford to purchase a 3 hp single cylinder “Chapman Pup” inboard “Putt Putt” motor made by Blaxland Engineering in Sydney, installed it and went fishing in it regularly for the next 70 years mainly on Port Phillips Bellarine Peninsula often with his younger Brother.

The 2 Stroke motor ran on motor ran on a mixture of 1 part SAE 30 Oil to 40 parts of Leaded Standard Grade Fuel.

Fast forward to 2025 and the now 90 years old Kevin was still fishing from Indented Head with his younger (85 years old) brother. His wife was understandably very concerned and worried sick every time they went fishing. She announced that “the day Kevin dies, I am going outside, pouring petrol on that bloody boat and burn it! “ Kevin got the message and realised it was time to move the boat on to a good home.

The current and only 2nd Owner in 73 years, Bob Morgan acquired the boat from Kevin early in 2025. The boat had been maintained well and was still in useable condition however when viewing the original plans he read that design had been originally for an outboard motor and has since removed the old motor and installed a 15hp 4 stroke Honda. This will restore the designer’s original idea in utilising a semi displacement hull design so the boat would be capable of 12 to 15 knots. The boatwill able to return home quickly when the weather changes suddenly on Port Philip and still be economical to run.

Bobs motivation for buying yet another boat and going fishing was the cost of Flathead fillets at the South Melbourne Market hitting $60 per Kilo! As Kevin never named the boat it has been newly christened “The $60 Flathead”

Len Randell using his fast and fuel-efficient semi displacement hull designs went on to design most of the fast ferries and offshore commercial cray and tuna fishing boat used throughout Australia. He also designed the popular Precision Marine 28’, 33’, 35’ and 55 ft range of motor cruisers of the 1980’s and 1990’s. All his boats looked good and fast