Getting out there

[Gulf Comanche]

Benn:
I looked up Wide Bay Bar and saw a couple videos on it. It does look like a wide bay, but is it too shallow across most of it? Is there only one place to cross and only at high tide? Pretty interesting.
Mike

 

[Tidahapah]

Mike,
You are right it is a wide stretch of water but only one channel across.
I will get the co ordinates and post them so you can put it on Google Earth for reference.
The winds have abated a bit today so tomorrow is looking good for exit and then down to Mooloolaba.
Way points on the way out.
1. 25.48.206 S
153.04.807 E

2. 25.47.365 S
153.06.631 E

3. 25.47.673 S
153.08.378 E

I think in another post I had a Google Earth track that has this bar crossing marked I will check it out.
OK check Thread "Tidahapah Refit" Post no 182.

Cheers

 

[Peter B]

Hi, Benn, we are going down to our timeshare on the G/C this coming week. If I see you've got down to the G/C City Marina or other marina nearby, we might see if we can pop over and say hi, and maybe help out with a pick-up if you need transport for something.

Cheers, and good luck with the next leg. Definitely meant to calm down here on Moreton and the G/C for this weekend and beyond, so might be ok.

 

[sunchaser]

Only one other boat here Dirona a 52 ft Nordy from the USA.
Actually met James and his wife a few weeks ago when I was visiting Brian down at dockside.
Went over for a chat this morning before the wind really got up.
Anyhow back to anchor and weather watch.
Cheers

Richard is the real deal. Not only a great writer but a real blue water cruiser doing it his way. When he took possession of the Dirona his first trip was to head out into the Pacific from Seattle and head straight to Prince William Sound in Alaska, weather be damned. His tales of how the N52 performed on this voyage were detailed and a testament to Nordhavn's design for this early build of the N52 line.

Did he tell you of his trip to Hawaii? Another great story for sure.

 

[Tidahapah]

Peter,
Thanks for the offer but as it stands now we will get out of here in the morning and head for Mooloolaba.
Will tie up in my own berth and possibly leave her there until I come back from work in 4 weeks time.
Got to go to work on Wed so need some time to get organised.
Home early Oct and then will do some work to get ready for Tassie.

Cheers

 

[Peter B]

Good move...

 

[Tidahapah]

We'll we crossed the bar this morning at 0800 hrs
Pretty crappy,the mad mile, was all white water, the Boss said bugger this tell me when we are out in clear water and then went a lay down on the bed.she doesn't get sea sick but said she was scared.
The last leg had 2.5 mt waves pretty hairy but good as long as you stayed on course, either side and the waves were breaking and this was only in 5 mts of water.
As there was little wind there was no sea on top.
Heading south now with a good 2.5 mt SE swell so rolling a bit but very comfortable, should be tied up at 1700 hrs.
Cheers

 

[CPseudonym]

Thanks for the update Benn. Am really enjoying following your progress

 

[Tidahapah]

Thanks CP, pretty nice out here at present, big rolling glassy swell and we are lopping along at about 7.5 knts
Trolling 2 lines one with a hard body the other a skirted jet head.
No strikes but there have been huge bait schools every where but nothing except the dolphins appear to be working them.
Cheers

 

[CPseudonym]

Hope ya catch one heck of a dinner Benn. Just you and Google earth is all I've got to scratch my itch to cruise the Oz coast someday. I appreciate the ride along.

 

[BruceK]

Bar crossing sounds "courageous", but it`s the only way. Is it one of those bars where the channel constantly moves? The entrance to Lake Macquarie at Swansea Bridge, NSW, has that reputation, requires constantly updated local info. Some NSW bars have constant video online.
Happy fishing.

 

[Peter B]

Were you using your fish stabilisers, Benn..?

 

[Tidahapah]

Peter,
No didn't have the fish out as it gets a bit shallow in the outer area and one wouldn't a fish digging into the dirt.
One trawler conversion passed me on the way in with his out but he had solid arms so they don't travel as deep.
Cheers

 

[Tidahapah]

OK back down the Gold Coast City Marina for a bit of tidy up work and some new toilets.
Fitting a couple of Tecma toilets to main deck and aft cabin toilets , sick of repairing cheap toilets and having my arm down the bowl.
Extended my stabiliser arms by 1.8 mts (5' 10")to get them wide enough to stop the fish flying thru the windows.

Having a rehash of the dash board instruments and a new electronic package fitted.

Will put some photos together as the work progresses.

Hope it I all completed in 2 weeks and then head south to Sydney.

 

[Peter B]

How long do you think you'll be there for Benn..? We might be able to pop down and see you, and the boat, of course.

Actually I was just there last Sunday at the Gold Coast Marina Expo, but I suspect you came in after that.

 

[N4712]

OK back down the Gold Coast City Marina for a bit of tidy up work and some new toilets.
Fitting a couple of Tecma toilets to main deck and aft cabin toilets , sick of repairing cheap toilets and having my arm down the bowl.
Extended my stabiliser arms by 1.8 mts (5' 10")to get them wide enough to stop the fish flying thru the windows.

Having a rehash of the dash board instruments and a new electronic package fitted.

Will put some photos together as the work progresses.

Hope it I all completed in 2 weeks and then head south to Sydney.

What kind of electronics were you planning to put in?

 

[Tidahapah]

Peter,
Boat was here and had been for a week.
I ran away to a fishing comp to escape the crowds.
Give me a ring I am down here most days except this weekend as I have been allocated house chores by the Boss.

Oliver,
It has been a bit of a process to make the choice.
It has been between Simrad, Raymarine and Garmin. Furuno just to expensive for the same equipment.
Garmin have come a long way with there bigger boat equipment and my local agents are really good.
Simrad come in a bit cheaper but local tech/reputation for workmanship not 100%

In the end I have gone for a pair of Garmin GPSMAP 8012 12" screens a Garmin 4 KW High definition radar scanner, a GDS 24 network sounder module ( this to connect to my existing 1 kw 50/200 transducer)
A Garmin GCV10DownVu/SideVu chirp sounder module with transducer.
My existing wind data will be integrated and also a WiFi access point so that the iPad can be connected as a remote screen.
The way my existing set up is this will free up a lot of overhead real estate and clear the fwd vision.
Cheers
Benn

 

[N4712]

Peter,
Boat was here and had been for a week.
I ran away to a fishing comp to escape the crowds.
Give me a ring I am down here most days except this weekend as I have been allocated house chores by the Boss.

Oliver,
It has been a bit of a process to make the choice.
It has been between Simrad, Raymarine and Garmin. Furuno just to expensive for the same equipment.
Garmin have come a long way with there bigger boat equipment and my local agents are really good.
Simrad come in a bit cheaper but local tech/reputation for workmanship not 100%

In the end I have gone for a pair of Garmin GPSMAP 8012 12" screens a Garmin 4 KW High definition radar scanner, a GDS 24 network sounder module ( this to connect to my existing 1 kw 50/200 transducer)
A Garmin GCV10DownVu/SideVu chirp sounder module with transducer.
My existing wind data will be integrated and also a WiFi access point so that the iPad can be connected as a remote screen.
The way my existing set up is this will free up a lot of overhead real estate and clear the fwd vision.
Cheers
Benn

Benn, sounds like a great plan you won't be sorry.

 

[Tidahapah]

Oliver,
I think I might miss my Nobeltec, but am endeavouring to have all my old way points and fishing marks transferred to the new system.
Will probably still have the Nobeltec on my laptop.
Cheers
Benn

 

[N4712]

Oliver,
I think I might miss my Nobeltec, but am endeavouring to have all my old way points and fishing marks transferred to the new system.
Will probably still have the Nobeltec on my laptop.
Cheers
Benn

Yes I'd keep it as a back up.

 

[Tidahapah]

OK 1 week down the track and we are progressing well.
The stabiliser arms are back on and 1.8 mts longer, the rigger is in the process of extending the top and fore stays.
The 2 new Tecma toilets along with a couple of new skin fittings all installed.
New Garmin electronics package 90% complete.
Work on new dashboard instruements and layout started
Some cosmetic touch ups to hull paint work nearly completed.
Prop off to check sand seal and white metal bearing surface, also checking prop dimensions to see if a new prop could improve performance. (fuel consumption).
Hope to be back in the water Wed and all completed and ready to head south to Sydney on Sunday week.
Hope to add some pictures early in the week.
Cheers
Benn

 

[CPseudonym]

Thanks for the update Benn, looking forward to the pictures.

 

[Insequent]

Sounds good Benn. Is this your normal yard for AF/Propspeed or do you get that done somewhere else?

 

[Tidahapah]

Brian,
Previously it had always been applied at Lawries in Mooloolaba.
The Broadwater boys did it last time and even thou it was in good condition when we hauled out this time I have decided to have it redone.
Mainly because I have removed the prop to pack out the sand seal and also check my prop bore taper in case I reprop her in the future.
I will be down there every day if you want to pay a visit. Should be back in the water Wed, all going well.
Trials Sat off to Sydney Sunday , says he.
Cheers
Benn

 

[Insequent]

Benn
I will try and get down tomorrow, if not Tues. I'm sure you will be very busy from Wed onwards, given your plans.

I came back from Little Sandhills on Sat morning. I ought to have left Friday afternoon. I knew the northerlies would be up to 25 kn and thought I would have just enough protection. But they backed around to NW about midnight which made it very uncomfortable in there..... Good thing I was using the alloy Sarca - it bites quickly and doesn't move an inch. So although uncomfortable I knew I was secure and waited for daylight.

I'll have to take a look at my hull and running gear soon. It's been 12 months since AF and I suspect the props are barnacle farms as I only had part of one can of Pettit Barnacle Barrier left and it was spread pretty thinly. It doesn't seem readily available here. Prop Coat Barnacle Barrier

The Newport Marina had nice clean water and growth seemed really quick there. I am hoping its a lot slower now that I'm in the Brisbane River, but no doubt its still happening. I am going to use PropSpeed this time around. Ideally I would haul in April, just before heading north for the season but not sure I can wait that long.

 

[Tidahapah]

Brian,
I caught up with my mate Doug from Broadwater Marine that night at the Sandhills and when we departed the next morning , heading south saw you visually and on the AIS as you were heading home.
Call in any time mate as I am always happy to take a break.
I think you will be happy with Prop Speed,I had previously used everything else and nothing compares.
When I get away I dive the hulll for a bit of a scrub but never have to touch the prop.
All going well the cooler water of the south will be better to deal with as far as hull growth goes.
Cheers
Benn

PS I will be easy to find as when you drive down the main entrance I am high and dry in front of one of the big sheds.

 

[Tidahapah]

OK we are now back in the water. All new electronics connected and it would appear working.
2 new Tecma toilets installed and working.
Various other small jobs completed.
Stabiliser arms extended , stays extended, new fish modified and fitted, still to be tested.
Check the new and old dash photos a lot of overhead space has been reclaimed.
New Garmin system feels really good so far, mind you a bit different to operating a computer based system such as Nobeltec with no limits.( in some ways a step back in tech)

All going well should be heading south to Sydney in the next 24 hours.
Cheers
Benn

 

[Rogerh]

Really nice job on the helm electronics panel! Reclaimed space is great too.

 

[CPseudonym]

Looking great Benn. How far are you currently from Sydney??

 

[N4712]

Looks great!!!