Re the axle stand option: I used squares of scrap 25 mm ply about a foot square each between the axle stands and hull (making them much like a small Brownell stand), with the stands about 700 mm apart on the flat surface at the stern. Personally I 'd prefer to rely on a properly engineered stand tha...

I re coated my anti foul with 2 coats (6 litres of International Longlife) while on the trailer last winter. It's very straightforward and, as long as you are sensible, safe. The safety principles are the same as working under a car - never rely on jacks and use axle stands of appropriate size (at l...

I've had the sail for about 6 weeks and can honestly say it's the most effective sailing modification you can make to the boat. The most noticeable difference is that the boat now points like a proper sailboat (30 degrees off apparent)! The flatter stiffer shape is way more efficient to windward tha...

Had the same problem a couple of years ago. Pull off the rubber at the leaky point, clean out the dirt, liberal application of Sikaflex over joint, reclamp the rubber and leave for 24 hours. No more leaking since. Mind you, it doesn't seem to rain here anymore.

Donned the snorkel and fins and took a dip in the warm but murky waters of the Yarra mouth (even murkier with the current dredging) to check out my bottom today. Despite poor vis it was evident that there is zero algal growth. Couple of small bits of weed that easily brushed off. There is an accumul...

Further update - so far the thing does seem to work. I hadn't been out for several weeks and a bit of browned off fuzz had built up around the bow. A couple of hours sailing and it had all washed off. Still haven't been in the water to have a look, water still too cold for me. Positive feedback rega...

I installed one a couple of months ago. After much agonising over the expense I figured that it would pay for itself over a few years if it at least doubled the time between antifouls (I have needed to have it done every 12 - 18 months at around $1500 per go). I also wanted to decrease the number of...

Brian, GTYC certainly seems to be the most active trailerable/non off the beach club around. Would be interested but is a bit of a trip from here in Willi. After a couple of seasons on the trailer I've lashed out and have Mintaka in the water so would mean a 50nm round trip or hauling out to go down...

Hello Brian, Where are you racing? I crew out of Royals but have never considered racing the Waterbago amoung the macho machines raced out of the keel boat clubs+it's too big for the local trailable club (limit 22 ft I think). I reckon I'd get my son out more often if he thought he was going to be d...

Small square of PET breadboard stuck to the stern with 5200 and coated with antifoul. Transducer screwed to it. Hasn't moved in 12 months. Boat in the water year round and prefer to have no through hulls below waterline. Bilges allways dusty.

There is also the annual get together in the Whitsundays Sept/Oct which gets 15+ boats. Fantastic tropical cruising if you can afford 3-4 weeks and 5000+ km of towing.

There are 2 of us (M's) here at the Anchorage in Williamstown, and I hear there is a Mack 28 coming in at some stage. I wouldn't be surprised if there were half a dozen or more around the bay, more within a couple of hours drive. There are a couple of regulars on the Aussie TS forum. I have pondered...

The steering set up on the stock M is horrible, by far the worst feature of the boat. Vague heavy cable steering, sloppy connectors, undersized bendable gudgeons and rudders that have a habit of breaking. You don't realise how bad it is until you do the mods - -Hydraulic steering -Epoxy 'bearings' t...

This is what boating is about – warm sunny day, gentle cruise up the river, pleasant company interested in the goings on in the busy port, smoke coming out of the motor, 50000 tonne container ship slipping past just a few metres to port, engine management system alarming, smoke coming out of motor -...

Have used a single 110 amphour lifeline for house and starting for the last 2 years. Having done so I would never go back to wet cells. Will run usual bits and pieces (lights, radios etc) for a couple of days with plenty left to start the Merc 60hp. When I run a fridge I charge every 2nd day with th...