Down The Bay

[Tidahapah]

At long last got away from Mooloolaba this morning.
Departed on the last of the making tide to get across to the east entrance to Moreton Bay by about mid day.
Great run across slight easterly swell nice and warm at about 27 deg C.
Down the bay and anchored at the Sandhills.
Heading for the Gold Coast City Marina to carry out some mods to Tidahapah.
not sure how far I will go but paravanes are on top of the list and a possible ketch rig or may be just a main.
Discussions with the guys at the yard will sort these things out.
Not having been south of Peel Island before tomorrow should be interesting with all these shallow passages and sand bars.
may even get to take some photos tomorrow.

Plenty of rain and lighting tonight but all has settled.
Excel is out on the end of 40 mts of 1/2 " chain all is good with the worls.
Just good to be out and about.
Went past Tangalooma this afternoon and it looked like a bloody car park in behind the wrecks, no room to swing a cat.
Cheers
Benn

 

[Tidahapah]

Peter B,
Came past Horizon Shores today on my way south.
Am presently anchored just across the passage from Soverign Island , up the river in the morning to Gold Coast City Marina.
Must admit don't like all this shallow water work prefer the open blue water.
The Gold Coast must ooze fast,big wake makers like Sunseekers etc who just want to speed by at 15/20 knots in 3 mts of water bow up causing havoc and then there are the Jet Ski brigade. ( Bring on rule 303)
Any how the sun has set and if you turn your back on Soverign Is one can see the tranquillity of South Stradbroke island, all is not lost.

Peter, I should have Tidahapah down here for a couple of months so in between work etc we may be able to catch up.
Benn

 

[Peter B]

I did tap out on my iPad a lengthy reply to Benn, commiserating on the huge number of PWCs, fizz-boats and large expensive plastic fantastic boats in the southern part of the bay, not to mention even a seaplane taking off and landing all the time. However, the worst issue is the dreaded large semi-planers roaring around waking everyone in their passing, having traversed the same part of the bay not long before him, and when I went to submit the post, it disappeared...
First time that has ever happened - not sure what actually happened, but I was not about to type it all again on the pad, (this is on my MacBook), so I rang him on his mobile. It looks like we might be able to finally link up while Tidahapah is down at the Gold Coast City Marina having stuff done, as he mentions above. We might even get to go to the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show together, instead of by ourselves, which is the usual norm for each of us I suspect.

 

[Tidahapah]

Got into Gold Coast City Marina yesterday morning, quick tidy up and hire car home to pick up my own car.
Back down today to discuss future work with the boys from Broadwater marine.
Reposition chain plates for fwd mast.
Install mast and associated gear, re locate all radio & GPS Ants and radar dome.

Look into installing compression post for installation of back mast to assist in hanging the paravane arms and associated gear.
Install arms and paravanes.

One of my favourite boats is on the hard down here Big Bud a Watson 62 a great passagemaker.
Bow thruster, stern thruster and get home engine, I have attached a couple of pics.

 

[Tidahapah]

A couple of photos of Estraleda a boat similar to Tidahapah with the rig I hope to end up with when I leave this yard

 

[CPseudonym]

Benn, how much speed do you figure you can get out of a sail rig like that? Is it to assist on downwind legs cruising?

 

[Tidahapah]

Craig,
This will mainly be used as sail assist to save fuel on long trips.
Contrary to other opinions these vessels do sail reasonably well under sail alone.
My mate in Waverly a similar boat to mine and built by the same builder gets a nice 6.5 knots with a 15 knot breeze.
Ok they don't sail off the wind that well but with 5'8' draught they still point reasonably well for a motor boat.
The aft mast is also the main rigging point for the paravane arms.
Cheers
Benn
PS 995 posts after nearly 5.5 years I must be talking to much and not cruising enough.

 

[AusCan]

Benn,
Best of luck with the upgrade.
Beside's the cost savings, I sure enjoy shutting down the engine and enjoying the silence on the water every now and then, even if I lose a knot or two.

Having a backup power source also gives some peace of mind.

Are you considering a gaff rigged sail?
With their lower center of force, you get a less heeling. They are a good choice for a motor sailer. And they look cool IMO, although I am somewhat biased.

 

[Tidahapah]

Mate,
No gaff rig here as one of the options is in mast furling , but think it may stretch the budget a little too much, see what happens.
Cheers
Benn

 

[Bohans]

big bud

Hi Benn

Good luck with all your upgrades to your boat. Just a note on Big Bud. She is moored near me and I know the owner. She is having some fairly extensive rust repaired from under the gunnel area as well as general upgrades and over due maintenance. Then she is being seriously put up for sale as owner is heading back to NZ to live.

She is a nice boat, not used much and when she went o Sydney at Christmas had a lot of small issues which i feel may have frustrated her owner and hence the work being done now.

Take care
Bo

 

[moreton99]

Benn,

I'm very interested to see how she performs with a sail. I am keen to put a mast on my old girl as there seem to be only benefits. Be lovely if she will actually sail but also being able haul the dingy up top in lieu of a crane and nice to have a backup even if its just steerage. I love my paravanes but they cost a bit of fuel and in the right breeze the sail should achieve the same thing.

How tall are you planning to make the mast? Where will you mount the winches?

All the best with the changes,

Cheers,

Paul.

 

[Tidahapah]

Paul,
Welcome aboard.
First up, Who built your boat, where, what timber and what engine. Length,beam and draft.
Tidahapahwas designed by Fred Fleming, built by Bert Ellis up in Norman Creek. 48'6" x 15'3" and draft of 5'8"
Now powered by a 6LXB Gardner , previously a Fiat 8210.

main mast will be approx 11 mts (39')mizzen (if it goes on) about 28"
I know I will loose about 0.5 of a k with the paravanes but I cruise outside a lot and thought it was about time I treated the Boss lady to a bit more comfort.
Not sure of winch positions as yet but I will keep info comming in the other thread as it happens, I can assure you it won't be fast.
Cheers
Benn

 

[moreton99]

Hi Benn,

From what I know Leprechaun was built by a Terry Bird in Mooloolabah as a trawler around 1974. We think the hull is iron bark and she's a shade under 50' and a bit over 16' and drags just over 6 foot. She's got a 300 hp Cummins NT855 which rips her along at 10 knots if I ignore the fuel usage! Much much cheaper at 7.5 k She's a bit unusual as its a hollow heeled sharpie and I would love to know who designed her. I've been told shes like a Mclaren but that doesnt mean much.

You and the boss will love the paravanes. We took Leprechaun up north last year and the paravanes just slow the motion from the easterly roll down nicely. Funnily enough the gallows and fixed arms on Leprechaun are ex Estraleda but they need a bit of modification to lock the fixed fish down in place. I use paravanes currently and they work well but one day I will work on the fixed fish.(maybe after the mast)

Thanks for posting the info.

Paul.

 

[Tidahapah]

Paul,
Funnily enough one of the sets of fish I have are ex Estraleda.
I recently bought them off Richard Tallon who is an ex owner.
By the way where are you based.
Cheers
Benn

 

[moreton99]

Hi Benn,

Estraleda keeps popping up. Shows she is well traveled I suppose. I picked the gallows and arms etc up at Gold Coast Marina but never met the owner. But then last winter we saw her off Goldsmith Island and met the owner there.


We are based at Manly in Brisbane in WMYC and also spend a lot of time over the southern end of Moreton Island. Leprechaun is often seen in bumms bay as its so close for a surf.

Paul.

 

[Tidahapah]

Good stuff Paul,
I don't get down the Bay much , mainly spend my time up north.

Last couple of years have not travelled much except up to Fraser a couple of times each year.
If I get this work completed will head north this year and maybe leave the boat in Mackay for a while.
Stay in touch we will run into each other some where and I will let you know how the rig works if and when fitted.
Cheers
Benn

 

[Peter B]

Benn, I imagine cost would be the bummer, but have you costed the sheer effectiveness and convenience of the Seakeeper Gyroscopic stabiliser system as opposed to the para vanes. I am not all that fussed on the idea of fin stabilisers sticking out. If I had a boat worth stabilising, that is. However, I would also be nervous about things trailing in the water. Guess I'm paranoid about them catching on something, and the fiddle getting then set and also back on board. I should never have watched that based on fact movie, 'The Perfect Storm'.

 

[Tidahapah]

Peter,
Fact 1 "The Perfect Storm" was pure fiction, so much hype and not a lot of fact except for the story line.
Gyro stabilisers are heavy, consume a lot of power and still have some unknown power problems and are also heavy and require quite a bit of space.
On a new build they may be ok but in that case I would go for over sized fins , which these days have a stationary capability.
Timber boats (planked) are not ideally suited to fin stabilisers with out a considerable amount of reinforcing in the fin area and as a retro fit are bloody expensive and difficult to fit.

Paravanes on the other hand are easily managed , stabilise very well and are effective when at anchor,and in reality are not overly expensive , especially when one is considering making the Boss a happy person.
Cheers
Benn

 

[Tidahapah]

Paul,
By the way I know a lot of the older trawler men in Mooloolaba , used to work with a few of them.
When I get a chance I will ask around if anyone knows a bit of Leprechaun's history
Cheers
Benn

 

[moreton99]

If you could ask around that would be appreciated. I know she was skippered in the 80's by a Michael Matt from Bundy. I talked to him a few years ago and he told me Terry Bird built her and a guy called Sargood was the first owner but I dont think he knew who designed her. She was repowered in the 80's with the cummins. I've put a few photos of her undersides on my profile of her as I think they might remember a hollow heeded sharpie.

Paul.

 

[Tidahapah]

Sargood, That would probably be Gary Sargoods father.
I know Gary is still around , any how will give it a go.
Interesting hull shape,
Sure looks like a hollow heel sharpie.
By the way what slipway were the photos taken at?

Cheers
Benn

 

[moreton99]

I do love knowing a bit more about her. Wow it would be nice to get some facts rather than just third hand stories. I must go and see the skipper in bundy. He has some old photos of her which I should try to copy.
From what I've heard sargood was quite an interesting character. Had some thing to do with bob ansett so he was a player in Qld. If i've got the story right he had a few mines and them sold them then went into trawlers. I'm assuming thats when he had mine built.

On her shape the old boat builder from wrights I used kept on saying the guy who did the planking in front of the prop area was a genius. I been told a few times she's "Very fine aft" She certainly loves a following sea, the waves just slide under her. Sorry don't mean to go on, this thread is about your boat isn't it?

Those pics are on the slipway at Wynnum Manly Yacht Club. Great slipway but no spraying unfortunatly. I'm up again in a couple of weeks and an going to try a air powered paint roller to put the antifoul on. Actually I should start a new thread to see if any one has tried it and has some tips.

Paul.

 

[Andy G]

This may be a bit of a tread hijack, so sorry Ben, but Paul how about a few photo's of the of Leprechaun's keel.

Not knowing much about 'woodies' why would you design a boat with a hollow heel? Surely not a weight issue.

 

[Tidahapah]

Andy,
As Paul said previously have a look at his signature for photos.
Hollow heel refers to the shape, this is the curvature the hull makes as it is planked back to the deadwood/ keel.
Being planked all the way leaves it hollow and not full wood as in a built up keel as in a normal carvel or sharpie.
Hope this explains it.I think there is a picture of my built up keel in my signature
Cheers
Benn

 

[Andy G]

Ah, I had a feeling the answer would show up my ignorance of wooden boat construction.

Still, as my old dad used to say, 'try and learn something new each day, and you won't go far wrong'.

 

[moreton99]

I was told one reason for the hollow heel is the motor and gearbox can be mounted lower (into the heel)and the prop shaft comes out at a more flatter angle so the thrust is more efficient. I've seen a few carvels with hollow heels but never another sharpie.

 

[Veetwin2]

I should have stayed away, should not have looked at this forum. Now I am really missing my boat.

 

[Peter B]

I should have stayed away, should not have looked at this forum. Now I am really missing my boat.

Hi Steve, gotcha message. Sent one back as well. Welcome to the forum, you'll find it excellent. What happened to Comfortably Numb in the end..? (His Clipper 34, new model, he is mourning parting with FYI). Is another boat in the agenda. You were hankering after a Nordy, if I remember correctly. I often wondered if you might catch up with us over on here. FF, Phil/Fil, RalphYost, NomadWilly, AKA Manyboats now, and several other ex-PMM folk are over here.

 

[Veetwin2]

Hi Peter,
We sold Comfortably Numb a little while back. It was just quietly listed with Clipper Yachts, and someone who viewed it came back some weeks later and wanted to buy it.I believe it has gone to Sydney.
We have had some money on term deposit ever since and fully intend to buy another boat sometime. We did go to the boat show last year and also the Gold Coast City Marina event.
I guess we are trying to figure out how to have enough money to retire, have a house and a nice boat. Do you have any ideas?? Ha Ha.
Yvonne still likes the Clippers, however says she would like something bigger next time. that only makes it harder to sort out!
She really likes the Hudson Bay 50. The flybridge is not on her want list, however i am not so sure. With the high dollar a Nordie would be easier to get than before, but at this stage I can only dream. The birth of our first grandchild makes me want to get another boat, but I guess I have a few years before he will want to go with grandma & grandad in the boat. It also makes you think about berths in the boat as well.
We had some fantastic times in our boats. Really starting to miss being at anchor with the sun going down, steaks sizzling on the barbie, and wine or beer in hand.
We decided we weren't going to go to the show this year, as we do not wish to buy another just yet. I am conscious of the fact that you should never put off your dream for too long, as you might get sick of snuff it before you get to realize the dream. I have sort of given myself about 4 years to make some more money, and then I must act whether I am ready of not. Many nights I go to bed thinking about the next boat.....anyway I hope you and your family are well. Do you hear from any of the others? We had a good day out Wayne M's boat that time. All the best to you,
Regards Steve & Yvonne