On The Way,,,

20^th March 2013

Finally hauled out and have started sanding the hull ready for some new antifoul.  The boat collar arrived for the tinnie but I had left my phone in the car so they delivered it to Bill’s place.  It is 4 meters long so there was only one thing to do.

I can really recommend Flag hire cars.

The guys at the ship yard weren’t very friendly at first but I’ve managed to scrounge a ladder and when it started raining they helped me carry the tinnie into the shed to start on the collar.  I don’t think they’re used to having cruisers stay there.  It seems to be locals and the lady in the office pouted when I asked to sleep in the boat and said they had movement sensors.  We’ll see about that… 

21^st March

Bill came around to help me set up the collar. 

 We’ve glued the plates in so now need to let that dry.

Peter spent the afternoon cutting and welding.  A very likable and hard working chap. He charged about half of what I thought the job was worth.  The only problem was all the rubber neckers wanting to have a talk.  I think it is the most work anyone has done on a boat here.  I was his TA putting out fires and getting rid of the ‘have- a chats’.  A long day but a great result.

Still a whole day’s work left cleaning, painting and fairing – that’s a polite boatie term for bog.  I’ve bought a kilo but I’ll probably need more.  Just like the old days bogging up HQ’s.

The auto pilot saga continues with a new head worth over $1000.  Stuff it- I’m going to get a new Raymarine to match the plotter.  The electrician is going to fit it all up for rum so all up a new system is just over $2000.

22^nd March 2013

Spent the morning grinding back the repaired bow back to bare metal.

Two pack primed all the bare metal and touched up the hull ready to antifoul.  Shouldn’t it just be call fresh? 

Luckily Bill came around and helped me finish putting the moustache on the tinnie. 

It is now a "tender" which I will call Merv.(as in Hughes)  Will I have to take it off after each November?

Not too much achieved after this and a couple of beers.  Only fitted the dinghy(sorry - tender) winch , pulled the toilet intake apart, and started bogging up the repairs.  All the guys working in the yard stopped in to watch me work while having a Friday beer.  They were sorry that I had to work the weekend. One guy even offered to give me a hand with the bog.  When I pointed out that after this weekend  I’d be off for the next six months the offer was rescinded (not in those terms) and I was required to buy the next beer.

24^th March 2013

The anchor locker is now shiny white 2 pack . 

Will have to let it harden for a couple of days before I drop the chain back in and start chipping it.  The bow sprit is reassembled and the hull repairs have been painted.  Cleaned up all the tools and put everything away and then it started to rain.  Doesn’t matter I’ll be ready to splash back in the morning.  Still have to put the front cabin back together and complete the big diesel tank fit out but that can be done on the way somewhere.  Time to start moving.  Mark arrives Tuesday so we might head off Wednesday after some shopping.

Some statistics, five 12 hour days, 23 trips to Bunnings and 8 trips to the marine chandlers. Total cost to date $82,233.  A couple of thousand into the travel budget.  Might have to do some relief work next year before starting the second half...

25^th March 2013

Splash down.

The guys came and installed the autopilot.  Should have heard the persuasive language being spoken as they tried to get to the rudder post.  Ryan from Docherty Marine is coming back at 6:00am tomorrow to do a sea trial and set it up.  He’s keen.

Still a couple of small things to do but the boat will be ready to go and the weather looks good.

27^th March 2013

Browns bay

Mark arrived last night and we got away this morning at about 9:00.  The hour meter isn’t working on the motor so I’ll need to keep a log of what we do each day on the engine until I’ve chased that down.  I don’t have any other way of measuring the amount of fuel in the tank apart from the hour meter.  So today we motored for about 3 hours from the seven we were travelling.  It was pretty awkward sailing through the channels but we only used the genoa to keep it simple.  Would have got here a lot quicker if we had used the main as well but it was just pleasant to be quietly meandering along. 

The wind was basically in the wrong direction for most of the day but, we plodded on regardless just making the most of leaving the work behind.

When we finally got to Browns bay there was a professional crab boat anchored were we wanted to go so we are stuck out a bit more in the current. It didn’t stop us catching a heap of crabs. There were that many that they were climbing out of the pot. Two of them jumped out and got wedged behind the stove. I was going to pull out the stove but Mark took on the role of crab whisperer.  He got a bit of bungee cord, tied a noose and then pulled them out.  Well actaually he pulled parts of them out.  It was piece work really rather than a once off job. 

Mud crab wrangler in action. 

Yes - this is absolutely ridiculous.

He pulled them out bit by bit as they gave up their claws and legs in the fight.   Later when I picked a claw to eat it still had the bit of bungee chord attached.  "Boiled bungee in crab sauce" - Master chief hasn't got a chance.

While this was going on the live bait line went off.  Caught about a meter long Hair-tail on the line. It has a set of jaws like a fresh water crocodile and a piss poor attitude.  Shane and Daryn will remember the last one of these angry bastards  we caught in Port Hedland.  Luckily Mark missed with the gaff and it got off.  It bit straight through the 200lb line.  We are so fearless it actually frightens me.

Is this an M and M?

(Mark and Merv)

Took Merv out for his first run with his porn start mo.  Merv rocks!

We have enough crabs to eat for the next couple of days and will try to get to Tangalooma Wrecks on Moreton Island tomorrow if the wind does the right thing.

Thisis tonight's crab fest.  About the same amount left for tomorrow and we still have to check the pots tomorrow morning. By the way, the Morgan Freeman god look was not intended.