There’s a moment every boat owner knows — the one where you realise the vessel under your feet just isn’t it anymore. For Peter, that moment led him from a quick, painless sale of his old boat, to a factory floor in Cornwall, England, and finally to the deck of Coolabah, Australia’s first Duchy 27 motor launch, now berthed in Pyrmont with the city skyline as her backdrop.
This is the story of how she got here — and why, if you’re in the market for a Duchy motor launch, you’re going to want to read to the end.
It Started With a Boat That No Longer Fit
Peter came to boating after retiring from full-time business, and his first vessel was an Axopar 28 Cross Cabin — a capable, lightweight planing boat. But as his time on the water grew, so did a clearer sense of what he really wanted from it: something with more classic lines, a higher standard of build, and far more stability. That thinking led him and Davis Marine to the same place — the Duchy 27.
“I developed an interest in more classic boat designs — more for relaxed cruising with family and friends, with an emphasis on high quality build, traditional materials (but with contemporary technology), the capacity for a comfortable overnight stay and stability in most conditions, both within Sydney Harbour but also for the occasional coastal journey.”
Once the Duchy 27 was on the table, the path was clear. Davis Marine advised Peter to sell the Axopar to make the move, listed her, and saw her sold quickly — no lingering, no months of open inspections. With that done, Peter wanted to see a Duchy 27 in the flesh before committing, and a trip to the Cockwells factory in Cornwall, England — home of the Duchy range — came together.
A Factory Visit That Sealed the Deal
“The 27 looked just right,” Peter says of his first impression of the Duchy 27. The plan going in was to have a brand-new one built for him. But the very Duchy 27 laid on for his sea trial that day happened to be available for sale — a one-year-old boat that changed everything.
“My wife and I travelled overnight to Cornwall and met with the fantastic Cockwells team, who took us on a comprehensive tour of their factory, the range of very beautiful boats made there, and finally a sea trial of the 27 available at that time. We decided on the spot to buy her and bring her to Sydney.”
An Almost-New Duchy 27, Highly Specced and Barely Run
The boat they decided on that day wasn’t a fresh-off-the-line new build — it was a one-year-old Duchy 27, low hours, immaculate, and specified well beyond standard. It presented as new in every meaningful sense, and came with a feature set most owners would spend months configuring from scratch, including:
- An extended stern platform for easier boarding and more usable deck space
- A Vetus joystick control system operating both bow and stern thrusters, for precise, low-stress docking
- Solar panels, added by Peter for extra battery charging capability
It was, in short, the boat he might have spent a year specifying — already built, already proven, and ready to go.
Door-to-Door, Handled Entirely by Davis Marine
Buying a Duchy 27 in Cornwall is one thing. Getting it to Sydney is another entirely — and it’s exactly the kind of complexity Davis Marine Brokerage exists to absorb on a client’s behalf. Meetings and travel logistics in Cornwall, the modifications arranged through Cockwells, insurance, packing, shipping, arrival into Australia, transport to Sydney, and finally the lift into the water at White Bay Docks — DMB managed every step.
“The entire process from setting up our meetings in Cornwall — including advice as to which train to catch to get there! — to arranging the modifications we wanted, insurance, packing, transporting, shipping, arrival in Australia, transport to Sydney and finally dropping her in the water at White Bay docks was handled by Davis Marine. The entire process was smooth, consistent with our expectations, and fun! Sam’s terrific communication, willingness to go the extra mile when necessary and enthusiasm for our adventure was invaluable.”
Once she was in the water at White Bay, the newly christened Coolabah wasn’t simply handed over and left to it. DMB secured her a berth in Pyrmont, arranged the full local set-up and ongoing management — insurance, registration, required equipment — and has since accompanied Peter on a series of familiarisation runs both inside and outside the Harbour.
The Handover: Stability That Had to Be Felt to Be Believed
If there’s one moment that defines this story, it’s the day they took Coolabah out through the Heads in 26km/h wind gusts and a 1.6 metre swell — conditions that would have had his old planing hull skipping and slamming.
“She was incredibly stable, with the semi displacement hull handling the conditions beautifully, surging through the swell rather than climbing over the top and slamming down on the other side. The Nanni diesel engine felt strong, reliable and a perfect match for peaceful cruising in the Harbour and ploughing through the conditions outside.”
This is exactly what a semi-displacement hull with a full-length keel is built to do — sit into the water rather than skim across it. For an owner whose wife finds open water unsettling, that difference isn’t a nice-to-have, it was the whole point of the search. Out past the Heads that day, in real conditions, it proved itself.
What Does the Owner Have to Say?
Ask Peter what Coolabah has added to life in Sydney, and the answer goes beyond the spec sheet:
“Coolabah is a new experience for me — her character, quality, sense of tradition matched with contemporary technology and fantastic comfort for up to 6 people for a day cruise, and 2 or 3 overnight, presents a dimension to living in Sydney that I love. Outings on Coolabah are refreshing, fun and very satisfying!”
What’s next? More of the same, at a bigger scale:
“Sharing her with family and friends and exploring all that Sydney Harbour has to offer, as well as the excitement of coastal journeys both to the north and south of Sydney when conditions permit.”
Why This Matters If You’re Considering a Duchy
Coolabah isn’t just a beautiful new arrival on Sydney Harbour — she’s proof of what’s possible when a genuinely well-built Duchy motor launch meets an import and management process that removes every point of friction for the buyer. As the exclusive Australian dealer for Cockwells’ Duchy range, Davis Marine Brokerage handles sourcing, sea trials, shipping, compliance, berthing, and ongoing management — whether you’re after a brand-new Duchy 27 built to your spec, or a rare, low-hours example like this one.
If a Duchy 27 motor yacht — or any vessel in the Duchy range — is on your radar, get in touch with Davis Marine Brokerage. We’ll walk you through what’s available, what’s possible, and what it takes to get a boat like Coolabah onto your own stretch of water.
Duchy 27 Motor Launch: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Duchy 27 available in Australia?
Yes. Coolabah is the first Duchy 27 motor launch in Australia, imported and commissioned by Davis Marine Brokerage. As the exclusive Australian dealer for the Duchy range, DMB can source a new Duchy 27 built to your specification or a low-hours example like this one.
Who imports Duchy motor launches to Australia?
Davis Marine Brokerage manages the entire process door-to-door — from the Cockwells factory in Cornwall, England, through shipping, customs and compliance, to delivery, berthing and ongoing management in Sydney.
What engine does the Duchy 27 have?
Coolabah is powered by a single Nanni diesel, well matched to her semi-displacement hull for quiet, economical cruising on Sydney Harbour and confident handling in coastal conditions.
Why is the Duchy 27 so stable?
The Duchy 27 uses a semi-displacement hull with a full-length keel, so she sits into the water rather than skimming across it. That means far more stability in swell than a lightweight planing boat of similar size — a key reason many owners choose her.
Davis Marine Brokerage — Exclusive Australian Dealer for Cockwells, Duchy & Hardy Motor Yachts, Sydney.
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