Seriously, what the heck was it DOING out there?

[IslandHopper]

I would be very interested to learn the insurance angle on this....

I would be very surprised to hear that any insurance company would consider covering a vessel of this type, which was clearly built for sheltered/inland waterway use, on a passage such as this....

No Cookies | The Advertiser

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by GILow

Sorry, more rant coming....

So they started with a boat that has spent the last twenty years doing a five mile journey in totally enclosed waters a maximum of two or three times a day on weekends, that usually travels at about four knots.

They took this boat into Bass Straight and expected it to handle 500 miles of the most filthy, rough, washing machine ride. They expected the engine(s?) to sustain at least five DAYS of continuous operation when previously one hour had been the norm.

And the water "knocked the propellor around"? WTF? Stern drive? Maybe? But somehow this broke a fan belt? So where the hell was the spare belt?

OMG!?


I am seething!

For the record, part of my seethe comes from the fact that my son steered this boat when he was little, I am feeling a sense of pointless loss.

I suspect a serious case of "get there Ittus" However I am mystified at your outrage as how I read it no lives were lost. Boats like people do not live forever. I am hoping insurance will cover his financial loss.

[Crocboy]

Sad to see the MV Port Princess end it's days at the bottom of the ocean. I think the heading of this post says it all. "What the heck was it DOING out there?". Might have been faster and safer too send it by road. Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing!!

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Crocboy

Sad to see the MV Port Princess end it's days at the bottom of the ocean. I think the heading of this post says it all. "What the heck was it DOING out there?". Might have been faster and safer too send it by road. Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing!!

I suspect it was too wide to transport by road.

Not sure but I assume it was built locally.

[Three Sisters]

Appears to be capable of taking on a 1/2 meter wake, no problem.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

I suspect a serious case of "get there Ittus" However I am mystified at your outrage as how I read it no lives were lost. Boats like people do not live forever. I am hoping insurance will cover his financial loss.

As I mentioned, part of my seething is at the sense of loss around our family connection to the boat but most is at the apparent silliness of the venture. I say apparent because I am not in possession of all the facts, but really...?

Also, no lives lost but rescue personnel put at risk, without need in my view.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Three Sisters

Appears to be capable of taking on a 1/2 meter wake, no problem.

Attachment 147928

I used to slow down when passing it to avoid swamping it.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Had the river boat been delivered to Adelaide 20+ yrs. ago on her own bottom from Melbourne? or had she been built in Adelaide?
Ann

According to the article, it was built in SA and launched in Adelaide.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by StuM

According to the article, it was built in SA and launched in Adelaide.

And it sank in SA. That was close, a few more miles and it would have sunk in Victoria.

[TrentePieds]

Surely the skipper musta had some sort of certification to carry that many paying passengers, even in strictly local traffic? Look at the thing - 30" freeboard, more windage than you can shake a stick at. 500 miles in open ocean along a coast that looks like one you shouldn't be messing with?

The man's explanation of just what happened doesn't sound terribly convincing to me, but - no worries - the only thing the insurance underwriters will ever know is what the man will tell them.

Pending refutation I rather think the man knew what he was doing - and why.

TP

[DumnMad]

Sounds like a fantastic (or fantasy) insurance co you guys are talking about.

Please tell us their name - there are many on this forum with boats much younger and fitter than this one who can only get 3rd party insurance.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by DumnMad

Sounds like a fantastic (or fantasy) insurance co you guys are talking about.

Please tell us their name - there are many on this forum with boats much younger and fitter than this one who can only get 3rd party insurance.

Yeah, but it's always the standing rigging that stops the party. This thing was a stink boat. :^)

[sparau]

I remember occasionally people would send the Murray River paddle steamers outside (I think to/from Port Phillip Bay and Gippsland) although I seem to remember perhaps they added a couple of outriggers for stability?

Always made me go wow, not exactly particularly seaworthy !

[GILow]

Hmmm. I think I'd pass on the opportunity to take boat like those out onto Bass Strait. Very similar to the dolphin boat now that I look at the photos.

[sparau]

Originally Posted by GILow

Hmmm. I think I'd pass on the opportunity to take boat like those out onto Bass Strait. Very similar to the dolphin boat now that I look at the photos.

Yes I agree. I posted it because in the past people would take risks for financial reasons. No work on the Murray, get ready for an open passage boys.

It's possibly our tolerance of risk that has shifted.

That being said I'm sure the crew knew every nut and fastener on those old steamers and could jury rig anything required.

So perhaps in the modern world of black box, plug and play a bit more prudence or back up systems is required.