Breaking All the Rules ...

[monte]

No updates on this?

[Kevin84]

Did he just give up?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Kevin84

Did he just give up?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Go back and look at post 449. Apparently she is list, check the link.

[homeless]

Back in Singapore taking a break. Will head back to Australia and sail North late May.

[Kevin84]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Go back and look at post 449. Apparently she is list, check the link.

That's why I was asking. But I see Homeless has since responded and is just taking a break before sailing her home.

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[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Kevin84

That's why I was asking. But I see Homeless has since responded and is just taking a break before sailing her home.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Until he posted, I though he may have just gone home. He hasn't had much family time.

I guess he listing her just to see if she can be sold now. Since that was his original intention, why not put her on the block.

She does "look" good.

[homeless]

Sea trial ... heading North.

I filled the water and diesel tanks yesterday, left Southport, and sailed up the outside of the Stradbroke islands solo under autopilot. Rigging, ropes, sails performed as they should. Wind was from NNW which is unfortunately the direction I wanted to go, so the sails were close hauled and the boat was heeling a lot. This uncovered the fact that some of the side windows are not sealed for submarine use, and the starboard fuel tank has a leak in the top. The boat and everything in it smells like diesel again, and the bilges are full of water again.

At 4pm a hose clamp on one of the hydraulic hoses used by the autopilot and internal steering came loose and dumped the hydraulic fluid into the bilge. I was stuck outside Moreton island in relatively big seas with the sun going down, no wish to navigate the South Passage bar in the dark, and no autopilot or internal steering. I dropped the sails and started the engine and sat outside in the cold getting showered in spray, shivering, trying to stay awake, and feeling sorry for myself all night hand steering to Mooloolaba.

In the morning I noticed that the batteries were not being charged by the alternator, and were almost flat from the bilge pumps, fuel pump, engine starter, nav lights, autopilot, and instruments. I was worried I would not be able to start the engine again if I stopped it, so had to keep it idling for about 5 hours while I drifted offshore until the Marina office opened up and I could confirm they had a vacancy. After I was safely in the marina berth I tried starting the engine, and there was not enough left in the batteries to turn it over, so it was the right choice to keep it running as I could not have come into Mooloolaba marina under sail.

I have now put a new hose clamp on the autopilot hose, bled the system, and it should work until the next time it comes apart. I do plan to replace the hose clamps with crimped connectors that can handle the pressure, but the list is long ...

I believe the alternator did not charge the batteries because an unlabelled and seemingly useless switch was off. I will test this theory tomorrow. Another item on my long to do list is to undo the spagetti wiring that connects the multiple battery banks and chargers into one big conglomerate.

I won't be able to reseal the windows here, so will have to deal with some leaks when the boat heels until I get to a longer term marina. I suspect the fuel tank leak is associated with a vent tube, but it is down under about 5 layers of plywood and foam under cupboards and battery banks and hundreds of cables so I am now searching for a midget monkey who is expert in using a small chainsaw to confirm my suspicion. It is likely this problem will also persist until I reach a more permanent destination.

[Warby12]

Bad luck mate. I guess that's they call it sea trails because it forces issues. Don't give up

[JPA Cate]

Homeless,

I don't know if you're aware of it, but there is a Whitworth's in the Moolooloba area. You can access via dinghy, sort of, by way of Lawry's Marina, then walking to the right (Westish). So sealant is available, from them, if they don't have the right stuff at the hardware store.

So sorry it is being difficult now after so much hard work.

Ann

[atoll]

definition of B.O.A.T........bring out another thousand..............

[monte]

Thanks for the update homeless. Hopefully the issues will be inversely proportionate to the fun factor as you progress.

[homeless]

Definitely not having fun, but jumping in at the deep end is the fastest way to learn, and I did expect to find additional problems when the boat was stressed. Crew would have made this much easier. I have sealant, but really need to take the time to completely remove the windows, clean up the surface, and re-bed them.

Now need to decide if I will cross the Wide Bay bar or go outside Fraser island.

[JPA Cate]

Homeless,

If you go outside Fraser Is., be aware there's often a strong inshore set off Breaksea spit, or so I have been warned. We've always been so far offshore (5-10 n.mi.) that we haven't actually experienced it, only been warned by Australians with more experience than ourselves.

Ann

[StuM]

You'll need to be very careful about the tides through the centre section if you go inside with your draft. It gets very narrow and shallow.

[Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by homeless

Now need to decide if I will cross the Wide Bay bar or go outside Fraser island.

As Ann noted, the tidal currents around Breaksea Spit can be quite strong, so you need to take care not to be dragged onto the spit particularly in an incoming tide. Conversely, you should try to time your crossing to go around the top for an incoming tide rather than going against the ebb strream. The south setting East Australian Current may also be a little stronger than elsewhere.