Terrara 18 Picnic Boat rekindles the true pleasure of boating

Life is definitely one big picnic aboard the Terrara 18. Built in Nowra on the NSW South Coast, this classically styled boat was moulded from an original 65 year old river fishing boat and the rest, they say, is history.

Construction is a solid fibreglass hull with composite decks instead of the original timber, so it is lighter that the original. It has a full length keel for directional stability and precise tracking, with a large rudder for maneuverability. A welcome departure from other 18 footers is a 10 hp Nanni diesel with shaft drive, which sips fuel at the miserly rate of less than a litre and hour at its 7 knot cruising speed.

The Terrara 18 is lavished with handcrafted woodwork, bronze and solid brass fittings inside and out, which looks good and resists exposure to the elements. Inside there’s a V berth for times when you want to watch the sun set onboard and stay overnight, in which case there’s storage under the berth for your gear. When the wind gets up, the canopy goes up and offers added protection.

If you can ever bear to leave this little gem, there’s a central bilge with automatic pump to keep it high and dry while it’s on a mooring, plus under floor air tanks for buoyancy. So take a long, leisurely look at the Terrara 18, a truly unique craft which stands out from the crowd and promises to rekindle the true pleasure and relaxation of boating as it was meant to be.