Hi from "Down Under"

Hi from Busselton, West Australia.

We are a couple of retired Aussies hoping to see some of the Great Loop commencing May 2020 somewhere on the East Coast.

We have had a lot of wonderful visitis to the US and this time I've convinced my wife that seeing more via the "Great Loop" will be an adventure as good as we had in 2004. Way back then I purchased an RV (Holiday Rambler) in Vero Beach and we travelled 30K miles throughtout US/Canada/ Nova Scotia etc. It was fantastic. Sold the RV at the end in New Mexico. Great trip.

We also travelled over 2015 and bought a car in LA (Nissan Infiniti) and travelled extensively up the West Coast and Canada. Took a side trip to the Queen Charlotte Islands. Another wonderful trip. Sold that car in LA and the Buyer dropped us of at the Airport....terrific.!

Joined this forum to try and find the cheapest boat we can use for a safe ICW trip....fixing cosmetic issues etc on the way. Our Aussie Dollar doesn't buy much in the US at the moment so that makes it harder. Keen to buy a diesel trawler style that is sound hull wise and good enough engine/mechanical wise.

As a hobby I road race old sports cars so pretty used to fixing mechanics and as they are English (Sunbeam Tiger, Westfield clubman) I have fixed lots and lots of electrics.

Anyways, that's us.

Thanks for letting us join.

Cheers
David

Port Geographe
Busselton
West Australia.

Greetings,
Welcome aboard.

Rather than buy, you could think about a private rental for a specified time. Why don't you work out a route with an approximate time line, start to finish. Post it in the forum and see if you get any replies.

There may be someone who has a boat, for whatever reason, is not using it and may be interested in a private rental.Happens quite often with the canal boats in Europe.

Good luck, and as RT Firefly said welcome aboard the SS Trawler Forum.

Welcome! I don't mean to discourage you, but substituting a reliable, loop-ready boat into your previously successful car/RV plan may not be as enjoyable. I suggest you consider options, possibly even scrapping the boat idea completely and exploring the same route by RV.

Whatever you decide, I'm envious and wish you the best of luck! If you pass through Solomons, MD, when it's warm, let me know.

Greg.

Hi Andy, thanks for your idea. We have thought about a private hire and I've posted on other "Great Loop" forums to gauge interest and cost. Nothing much came about though. Previously on our other extended US and European trips it has proved most economic to buy right, use and improve and then sell. It's a gamble but has worked out terrifically for us. A bit of luck and careful buying lessened (but not remove) the risk. We will only do this if the right boat/price and timing presents. Here's hoping. It's been fun doing it this way even with the inherent risk. Cheers David.
PS... are you in Australia?

Hi Greg, thanks for your thoughts. It is a possibility to go by RV and tow a trailer boat.... I've been looking at that. Prefer a Trawler though!!
Cheers David.

Welcome aboard TF
Be aware and do some research re loop as I am hearing a section (Chicago area?)will be closed in 2020 for repairs.
There is certainly plenty to see besides that area that would fill a cruising season. Atlantic ICW, NY canals, Rideau canal, Trenr Severn canal, Georgian Bay and Great Lakes included.
Lots to see and do and much more than one season will permit. Many loopers end up leaving their boats somewhere in the NE to return another season and continue to explore. Food for thought if another trip is possible.

Hi Baccus,

Yes I'm aware of the lock closures, we will not venture that far in Phase 1. Being Aussies it's easy to get 90 day US visas and slightly harder and more expensive to get > 90 day (B2) visas. We are also grandparents and can't leave the tribe for too long.

Our initial planning is to escape our Winter, do an ICW section, dry dock the boat...or sell it....and repeat until finished each Aussie winter.

You have to have dreams!!!

AND

We really really love travelling throughout the US and meeting the locals....love it!!

Cheers David.

Apologies Bacchus for misspelling your name....I know better.... please see
Bacchus Marsh
Victoria 3340
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kntAZJRv37jpoRWJ6

My grandparents lived near there

Cheers
David.

The Loop has been completed using every conveyance from a paddle board to a 50 foot yacht. You could fit your plans into something smaller, easier to purchase and easier to sell. Like a 20 foot pontoon boat with a tent on it, or a 15 foot fishing boat and "hotel' it.

Personally, I like your plans. Buy a 23 - 25 foot V berth boat for less than $5,000 or $10,000 . This should get you a fairly reliable boat with enough room to do a couple months on the Loop . Put it is a storage shed for $50 a month or less and pick up where you left off next time.

If everything goes to ****, like it sometimes can, you can just ghost the boat and enjoy the times you had.

pete

Oh, I forgot to add..

Welcome Aboard and my standard boat buying advice..

Go for it!!

pete

We met a couple from NZ who did exactly what you are planning - flew to US, Bought a boat in LA and then came up the ICW. We met them in the 1000 Islands and then along the Rideau Canal ( We live in Ottawa ) and then again near Kingston Ontario later in the summer. The boat is pulled for our winter now and on the hard in the US for next summers leg 2 . The boat was "Mo Whisky " and they are a lovely couple

Peter,

Thanks for your ideas and encouragement. It helps (to keep my wife onside!).

Cheers David

Welcome aboard. Glad to have you on the loop. Enjoy the search and the trip.

Welcome aboard Tiger DFT. With your interests and history I`m sure you will make it work.We were in Busselton about 3 years,heading for Margaret River.
I think another TF member has owned a Sunbeam Tiger. I`d expect the understeer with a V8 shoehorned in up front to be near terminal.

Greetings,
Mr. BK. Understeer? In a Tiger? HAH! Urban myth. Only happens when you go around corners.

Hi

I've weighed my Tiger with me in it at race scrutineering at Barbagello race track.

It's 600kg front axle, 555 rear axle. 1155 total with my 85 kg weight.

I had the considerable indistinction of being the only Hill climb series entrant back in 2002 Hill climb series to spin at every different hillclimb venue��������. Didn't ever hit anything thankfully!!

It is easy to spin... wheelbase too short. Mine has a roller camv302W around 340hp... it's quite lively. Drag raced it once best time 13.1.

It's definitely not an understeerer!!

Cheers
David

Tiger_DFT said:

Hi

I've weighed my Tiger with me in it at race scrutineering at Barbagello race track.

It's 600kg front axle, 555 rear axle. 1155 total with my 85 kg weight.

I had the considerable indistinction of being the only Hill climb series entrant back in 2002 Hill climb series to spin at every different hillclimb venue��������. Didn't ever hit anything thankfully!!

It is easy to spin... wheelbase too short. Mine has a roller camv302W around 340hp... it's quite lively. Drag raced it once best time 13.1.

It's definitely not an understeerer!!

Cheers
David

Click to expand...

That`s a surprise. Odd things happen when you fit a bigger engine, like a V8 in place of a 4 cylinder in line.
Many years ago we put an Renault 16 engine, fitted with twin side draught Weber carbs, 42s if memory serves, into an R8 (rear engined) rally car. Now that was interesting....on several levels.

BruceK said:

That`s a surprise. Odd things happen when you fit a bigger engine, like a V8 in place of a 4 cylinder in line.
Many years ago we put an Renault 16 engine, fitted with twin side draught Weber carbs, 42s if memory serves, into an R8 (rear engined) rally car. Now that was interesting....on several levels.

Click to expand...

Hi Bruce,


A friend of mine back in the 1970's had a Lotus Europa with that drivetrain. It was terrific. Also worked with a guy who had a R8 Gordini, also a great car.


See photo of my Tiger with a Renault Alpinne A110...I think ...at Philip Island.






Cheers
David

David, yes I think that is a Renault Alpine. Your Tiger looks good. There was a Lotus Europa in Renault Car Club,I think they all used a Renault drivetrain,it was owned by a hill climb specialist whose name escapes me. The R8 with R16 engine mimicked a Gordini, the guy I drove it with recently had it offered back to him by the person he sold it to,that brought back long ago memories. The real Gordini competed in/won the Aust Rally Championship one year, factory team entry,but the R16 rally cars were a spiders web of cracks on the firewall and inner front guards during an Ampol trial we did, again long ago.

BruceK said:

David, yes I think that is a Renault Alpine. Your Tiger looks good. There was a Lotus Europa in Renault Car Club,I think they all used a Renault drivetrain,it was owned by a hill climb specialist whose name escapes me. The R8 with R16 engine mimicked a Gordini, the guy I drove it with recently had it offered back to him by the person he sold it to,that brought back long ago memories. The real Gordini competed in/won the Aust Rally Championship one year, factory team entry,but the R16 rally cars were a spiders web of cracks on the firewall and inner front guards during an Ampol trial we did, again long ago.

Click to expand...

Bruce, I didn't know you were/are a car man. Sounds like you had some fun.

David you certainly seem to know your way around them. I have never driven a 'Tiger,' closest I got was watching the opening credits of the original get Smart series. Regarding your question , yes I live in Oz, Sydney to be exact, just over the bridge on the north side.

Hi tiger_tfd

Pete Meisinger said:

The Loop has been completed using every conveyance from a paddle board to a 50 foot yacht. You could fit your plans into something smaller, easier to purchase and easier to sell. Like a 20 foot pontoon boat with a tent on it, or a 15 foot fishing boat and "hotel' it.

Personally, I like your plans. Buy a 23 - 25 foot V berth boat for less than $5,000 or $10,000 . This should get you a fairly reliable boat with enough room to do a couple months on the Loop . Put it is a storage shed for $50 a month or less and pick up where you left off next time.

If everything goes to ****, like it sometimes can, you can just ghost the boat and enjoy the times you had.

pete

Click to expand...

Hi tiger_tfd, and welcome to TF.
Love your thoughts on the loop and what an epic trip it would be too.
For me Pete Meisinger has pretty much nailed it regarding my cruising plans, however I'm looking at the opposite side of the continent - the inside passage
I reckon on finding a nice seaworthy boat ( like Albin 25/27) style with trailer and doing stages over several years. But for now I have my head in an inside passage cruising guide and reviewing Durante F's exploits this last fall on T.F.
Best of luck cobber

P.S. I will follow your postings eagerly as to your choice of boat.