I have a new boat

About 7 months ago I decided that I would sell Tidahapah and possibly buy a smaller boat that is more suitable for single handing.
Well she sold about 8 weeks ago and as much as i was not going to get another timber boat here I am with a very old southern cray boat.

Myself and my favourite boat builder did an inspection some 8 weeks ago and I made a silly offer. A little increase and she was mine. No out of water inspection , just as is where is.
I have been up to see her and now waiting for our lockdown to be lifted so that I can go north to Mackay, haul Flora out , renew all skin fittings, repack stern gland , sand and paint plus new antifoul.
Just need to get her ready for a trip south to Manly, Brisbane. Probably about a 2 week trip. Day sailing only plus good weather.
She is 39 ft, 5 ft draft and 12ft 6" beam, built in 1948 but not sure where.
Main engine a Perkins 6-354.
She is a project, still has fish hold and a couple of bunks down the forecastle.
I just want to make a nice comfortable fishing/cruising boat out of her and not to fancy.
Lets see how it all pans out.

Here are some photos.
I have just purchased a new #5 Sarca Excel from Rex, gotta keep her safe when I am out there.

Looks nice... Congrats! Enjoy, stay safe!!

I can sure see why you were drawn to her. Nice!

I hope the time until you can get to her passes quickly (lots of time for mental planning anyway).

Good luck with the trip south and ongoing resto.
You have made a good choice with the new Sarca Excel, I’m about to do the same, they are getting great reviews for excellent holding in most bottom types

Southern Boater said:

Good luck with the trip south and ongoing resto.
You have made a good choice with the new Sarca Excel, I’m about to do the same, they are getting great reviews for excellent holding in most bottom types

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Yes have been a Sarca Excel fan for many years. I first installed one on Tidahapah about 12 years ago and also had one of the 2 piece aluminium ones as a spare.

Nice shape to her.
Take lots of photos and keep us updated.

I love that bridge. The white helm helps brighten up and modernize the look, which could be overly dark if it were varnished wood also. BTW, is that a pre-fab fiberglass ship's helm, or was it custom built?

Your city's name ... "Mooloolaba" ... you Aussies know how to enjoy life!

Congrats on your new boat. Pretty lines.

Nice one Benn, will be perfect size for next phase of "mucking about in a boat". Less acreage of stuff to maintain and cheaper marina berthing will be a nice bonus too.

She looks fine Benn!

Also very sensible of you to limit any shock to your system by sticking to timber and only reducing 10ft for your first downsize.

the fact that you re purchased another timber vessel gives me lots of hope

Have just completed my first haul out. Changed out all the skin fittings, have done some minor timber repairs plus an engine service. All filters changed out. Steering checked out and linkage bulked up where required.
Back to Mackay next week for trials and then the voyage home. With good weather should be about 10 days.

Sounds good Benn, have a great trip down.

I like the new boat, mine moored next to would look like a little brother.
Good luck with the trip south.

Greetings,
Mr. T. NICE lines!

Well it's 12 months down the track and FV Flora and I are still together.
After the solo trip down the coast, Mackay to Manly Harbour (Brisbane) I parked up with only one trip out. This was the "Event That Stops The Bay" a first edition a gathering of nearly 100 timber cruisers of all sizes 20 odd to 70 odd feet.
I am now down at Gold Coast City marina for my annual haul out and some major rot eradication. Shorten up the fish hold hatch for some deck chair space in front of the wheel house.
various other jobs, replace a couple of deck beams and renew the gunnel rail and planks , stem to stern.
So far going well. I had done some prelim work alongside before heading down to the yard.
Still a lot of work to do but she will be nice and firm when we have finished.

It does sound like quite a bit of work Benn! Glad to hear that its going well.

Wood boats have likeness to a body builder's body. Keep em in shape and few big items go wrong to need repair. Let it go for too long... well... see Benn's photos.

Good luck Benn! I'm sure she'll be near perfect when you finish.

I'm a 70 yr old lifetime weight-lifter, body builder; with a really cool gym I built next to my office - nearly 30 years ago. Before that I worked out with professional weight lifters in "Worlds Gym"... Arnie's favorite! And... in the 1960's / 70's I did restoration work on a lot of woodies in South Shore LI boat yards!

I know of what I speak!

Well built fiberglass boat is basically a no muss, no fuss blast to use and maintain.

Progress. All new gunnel post now installed, decking down, 2 layers 18 mm ply glassed over. This has now all been bogged and ready for painting. Next will be the cap rail and then the gunnel planks.
The fish hold hatch has been shortened to give some deck room in front of the wheel house. I was going to raise the fish hold hatch, but not this time.
The mast has been sanded back, 2 coats of high build undercoat and a coat of Perfection 2 pack gloss, the same for the bullwark cleats.
Bloody good progress for just over a weeks work, great team and they really crack on.

Great progress Benn. Who is doing the work?

Great effort and work completed!

Great progress Benn. Who is doing the work?
Thanks Bruce.
Doug Fielding and his team at Regatta marine based at Gold Coast City Marina are the team. Doug and his 3 are are great team and he also looked after Tidahapah every year from 2013 on wards until I sold her.
Great timber boat builder/repairer with a good hold of modern materials.

A big job Ben, but not unexpected in the areas being rebuilt. It’s good to find clever shipwrights who can work quickly and efficiently.

Keep the post updated, I’m keen to follow progress.

How long will she be out for Ben?

Looks like a great restoration Benn. However, even though not cheap, you are clearly having a ton of fun doing it.

OK , more progress photos. As of the end of last week.
I think I will be out of the water for another 10 to 14 days.

Being a life long masonry, concrete and tile building contractor... just gotta say... not that I mean anything other than "been there - done that"! Close the big door if an OSHA official comes anywhere near on site. That scaffold arrangement is amusingly remarkable! LOL

Art said:

Being a life long masonry, concrete and tile building contractor... just gotta say... not that I mean anything other than "been there - done that"! Close the big door if an OSHA official comes anywhere near on site. That scaffold arrangement is amusingly remarkable! LOL

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Art, We are working in Australia and all is good with our arrangements,
Gees I even put on work boots some days.
I work in the Offshore industry for many , many years so was up to the eyeballs with OH&S people. Glad to be retired.
More updates next week.

Tidahapah said:

Art, We are working in Australia and all is good with our arrangements,
Gees I even put on work boots some days.
I work in the Offshore industry for many , many years so was up to the eyeballs with OH&S people. Glad to be retired.
More updates next week.

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