September 2014 Hervey bay Whale watch trip report

[bartmac]

Then I remembered the drain holes on the stern and had a look inside. Sure enough we were taking on water so I plugged the holes and began to bail out under the stern berth. I got at least 50 or 60 litres of water out of it...

Interested in this bit....water coming in where??

[Mac26Mpaul]

I don't think its something you need worry about with the X Bart

With the M there is little drain holes above the rudder posts that stop water getting into the boat but,,, if you dry out at an angle like this


As the tide ebbs away the boat will sit flat at this angle and the rudder posts and then the drain holes will end up under water and water will start entering the boat



I noticed it and quickly checked under the mattress and sure enough there was heaps of water under there. I quickly plugged those drain holes with little pieces of a plastic bag and bits of foam rubber and that slowed the water ingress to a trickle. I then had to crawl in the stern and bail into a bucket and keep passing it to the missus to empty - a few dozen times....

I wont be letting a fast running tide catch me out on a beach like that again

[Tempus]

Hey Paul. Great report that I hope to make use of next year.

We absolutely loved your treasure hunt for the kids....such a great idea and so well executed. They must have loved it.

Looks like it was a great trip.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Thanks Tempus, yes the "kids" loved the treasure hunt
assume you saw the other video I did of the trip which is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDqa00VRfT8
Its definitely a beautiful area.

We are thinking of going again next year, but really I'd like to get to the Whitsundays... Only I'm kind of a bit scared of towing the stock trailer that far and the missus wont let me have a new one at this stage, ,, so we will probably be in the Great Sandy Straits/Hervey bay next year. ...

I'm also thinking I'd like to do a Sydney harbour New years Eve trip.... mmm really need a new trailer.........

[barryst1300]

What a fabulous adventure. The water looked so nice! I can't wait now to get a M26 and start having that kind of family fun. Thanks for sharing it with us all.

[Mac26Mpaul]

That is the most memorable family holiday we have had Barry, just fantastic

I see you have bought your boat, Congrats to you, many happy trips to come. My advice, sometimes things just don't go right, whatever you do, don't shout at the missus, I almost turned my wife off boating altogether when we had our Careel 18.....

Posted another vid the other day of a few bits from a couple of short trips in January.
Think you said you had a jetski, if yes, please ignore my rather discriminatory comment at the start

Best of luck with your new girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quslHKhZc-k

[barryst1300]

Hey Paul,
Great video. And yes the jetski's can be a bit pesky at times can't they
Yes I finally got myself a boat after looking at many. I've got a few days of serious cutting back and buffing to do with this one to bring the outside back to a shine, but it's going to come up well (I tested it in a few places first to make sure it wasn't too far gone). I'm going to replace all the standing rigging while I get the spreader bar fixed. I figured I should just take the boat to Brisbane Catamaran centre and leave it with them to fix the spreader and replace all the stays while their at it as they look like there the originals.

I am really looking forward to getting my boat on the water and having some fun with it, but I have a few weeks worth of work to do on it first. I purchased the boat for $30k and beyond a GPS fish finder and a compass it has nothing outside of the standard fittings. So I want to install a solar charging system, work out why none of the lights in the cabin work. There are two batteries, but only one is connected up? (So I figure that's why I have now cabin electrics), and I want to replace the bimini top, set up a boom tent and make a few racks up for inside the boat to store things without having to go looking under seats all the time.

So hope to catch up with you on the water some day.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Bored and desperately waiting for the next Mac adventure, put together a few more bits from September if anyone else needs inspiration....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6zOinefxP0