Swing Moorings QLD

[Mac26Mpaul]

Does anybody know what the deal is with Swing Moorings in QLD,, in particular, the Gold Coast which is separate and swing moorings are run by the Gold Coast Waterways authority

It says on their website that you cannot get a swing mooring for a trailer boat, and yet I have seen one Mac, and a coupla other TSs on swing moorings on the Gold Coast. ??

No where on the application form does it ask if its a trailer boat, you just need provide proof of ownership and the registration details. Would they know from the rego that its a trailer boat? How would these other TS's be circumventing this no trailer boat rule ?

Anybody had a swing mooring on the Coast?

[Nautek]

There was nothing in the regs about trailer boats when i was with the department but it could be a local by law
I suggest you put in your application and see what happens

Allan

[sunshinecoasting]

I agree with Allen, just do it. However, do you really want to leave Annie in the water? Anti foul is required and such a pain in the butt. I work at Whitworths and let me tell you it aint cheap paint either.

Cheers Den.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Thanks guys, there is something about no trailer boats on the website, but swing moorings on the Gold Coast are looked after by the Gold Coast waterways authority so different.

Already have antifoul on her Dennis. In fact I redid the boat two weeks ago and she is looking very nice. $200 bucks for 4 litres of Micron extra which lasts for years on a trailer boat and is designed to happily live out the water and only activate when the boat goes in.

Its irrelevant. We have changed our mind (once again ).

We are selling the boat and I'm back hunting for a Sabre 22 again. In fact I'v found a very nice one on Bribie Island A little more than I wanted to pay for one, but well, she has been renovated and is nice,,,,,,,, still negotiating with SWMBO............

Will always have very fond memories of the Mac. They are the perfect protected water family cruiser I reckon, but its time to downsize (and down cost!) a bit....

yeah yeah okay, this is about the 4th time I'v decided to sell and then changed my mind, but this time, its happening

[Mac26Mpaul]

Yeah, I'v changed my mind again. Wifes contract is being extended so unemployment fears/money worries have subsided for now - no so worried about boat ownership costs

The Macgregor that was moored out from the Southport yacht club on the Gold Coast is now on a swing mooring just near me so guess people are getting away with it. Think I will apply for one and see what happens...

[sunshinecoasting]

Maaaate, so glad to hear that Annie is staying with you. I no longer work for Whitworths thank god, what a bunch of %*&#%$ they turned out to be, so I have returned to what I know best and have been doing for 30 years (I.T.) and money is no longer a big concern for me either so I know what you were going through and how you now feel. Cheers, Den.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Hey Dennis,

The missus has given me permission (amazingly) to do a bit of shopping at Whitworths on the 15 percent off sale next weekend. Going to upgrade to a GPS Epirb and buy a Compass, couple of fuel tanks and a few odds and ends. (so long since I'v got to go shopping ). So what's the scoop on Whitworths then. I realize they would have payed bottom line retail wages (about what I earn ) and here on the Gold Coast, the comments I'v heard in there suggest the staff are anti rag boat (poor things don't have a clue about the joys they are missing ) but is there any other reasons why you don't think so well of them.

[sunshinecoasting]

I wouldn't know where to begin Paul, suffice to say that they didn't treat me very well at all, I certainly wont spend one more of my hard earned dollars with them. Middle and upper management are the real issue and they don't deserve my custom. This forum isn't the right place for such a discussion but one day we will meet and I will be happy to tell you all about it. Enjoy your shopping spree, it certainly is fun to buy a bunch of stuff all at once. Cheers.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Out of interest, I have hit on a problem. insurance companies are apparently not renewing policies with trailer sailers kept on swing moorings.... Oh well, waste of time applying for a mooring I guess...

have to think about getting some more chain and just leaving her on the hook here and there instead I guess...

[Rick62]

Hey there.
I was looking at a few ideas regarding to where to keep cathy-Anne a Mac 26s classic 94 model I recently bought. I came up with the best solution…! Not the perfect as its a little costly but much better than a mooring. I Live on the Sunshine Coast and sail a lot from Maloolooaba.
Rather than keep her on a mooring with all the hang ups of anti foul and tenders and not being able to have a solid platform to work on her.I approached the Maloolooaba sailing club and they have a hard stand area including boats on trailers that has a connecting gate to the boat ramp area. I have noticed a Mac there on its trailer with Mast in the up position ready to virtually hook up to the car and tow 50 metres through the connecting gate down to the ramp.It costs around $500.00 per 3 months or $2000,00 per year. About the same as maintaining a boat with anti foul per year but with none of the hassles and worries of mooring a boat. Easy access as well if you want to work on it. Also i have my own water front accom if required to stay in Maloolooaba for the evening. I'm sure you can find something similar on the Gold coast.
As I said not the perfect but probably the best. Insurance is not a problem as its being kept technically on a Marina premises which they prefer.
Cheers
Rick.

[cruiser]

Out of interest, I have hit on a problem. insurance companies are apparently not renewing policies with trailer sailers kept on swing moorings.... Oh well, waste of time applying for a mooring I guess...

have to think about getting some more chain and just leaving her on the hook here and there instead I guess...

Hi Paul,
Why don't you give Andrew Johnson a call - he seems to have answers for lots of owners.
Andrew Johnson
Professional Insurance Brokers
34 Main St
Monbulk
Ph: (03) 9756 6399

I am not insured via Andrew but he gets a good wrap from lots of people and it sounds like he understands the in and outs of trailer sailers.

[Mac26Mpaul]

THanks RIck, I have mast up storage just around the corner and there are at least 3 or 4 Macs there - Cruiser do you still have your boat there?

Yes its a coupla grand a year mast up but that is a lot more expensive than antifoul for a Mac. You don't need a lift to do a Mac, you can do it on the trailer. I did mine by putting the trailer up a bit higher on some besser blocks, paint as much as I can, then the next day, go around the corner and back the trailer in the water, move the boat back 6 inches and then pull it back out and paint the bits I missed. Do that twice for 2 coats. That cost me $200 and a weekend or so.

My intention isn't really to leave the boat on a swing mooring all the time - just to leave it on the mooring for a month or two here and there and then bring it home for a month etc (I live just near the mooring area anywhere). We just cant justify mast up storage fees and I prefer to have the boat in the briny anyway. I often leave it on the hook for a few weeks and I am just as happy going out there in the dinghy for a few hours here and there to fiddle around as I am taking the boat out for the day (very quite and peaceful with no noisy kids/wife )

In fact the only thing that really worries me about leaving it on the hook out there, is the chance of some low life cutting my anchor line (my rode only has 4 metres of chain) - Actually I am thinking of just getting 10 metres of chain to solve that problem and just keep leaving it on the hook. That way, insurance cant not pay out if something happens, because it wont have happened on a swing mooring

[cruiser]

THanks RIck, I have mast up storage just around the corner and there are at least 3 or 4 Macs there - Cruiser do you still have your boat there?..............

No Paul, I brought mine home 2 years ago to do a few months work on it and it has been sitting in the back yard ever since . Son comes home from Uni this coming school holiday so I hope to have it back in the water by then.

[Mac26Mpaul]

2 years in the backyard I thought I was bad not having used the boat since January and only about 6 times in the last 2 years

Anyway, I at least, am back to spending money on her and am planning some decent trips over the next few years

Two years! - Best you pull your finger out and start some planning yourself

[cruiser]

..............Two years! - Best you pull your finger out and start some planning yourself

Yes, still doing lots of spending and planning but not much sailing