Birds, Boats and Planes

The rudder was in worse shape than we thought and the team at Everything Marine took the whole side off, cleaned out the balsa and rebuilt the rudder to look like new.  Once reinstalled and tuned, the anti-foul was applied and we were lifted onto the Sea Lift ready for the morning launch.

Not such good news as we launched back in the water and tested the engines:  starboard injectors were not working so we had to book in at the marina again on Monday, and to top it off the fridge died again! 

At least a weekend on South Straddie at Dux Anchorage would allow some chill out time.  Besides the sea planes, helicopters and “marine blowflies” (jet skis) it was peaceful, with walks through beautiful banksia forest abundant with honeyeaters, flycatchers, trillers and orioles.  A pod of dolphins seemed unconcerned with people as they drifted in and out of the anchored boats. 

The Science of Polishing

Meanwhile, the radar has gone for repairs, the keel fibre-glassing is progressing despite the weather and the starboard rudder has new s/s strengthening, just awaiting the prop shaft.  The mast arrived with it’s new rigging, a new aerial (the old one was chewed off by naughty galahs) and reinstalled by crane by the ever efficient Everything Marine Team.

Traveller car and rope replaced after a few dramas removing the end, but what a whizz that new dynema line is!

This weekend we studied the science of gel coat polishing, with the help of Jeremy from Harbour Force, who gave us a few very useful samples.  Jeremy and Pedro were detailing “Deep Blues” our hard stand neighbour and offered us plenty of advice as we were bungling through the huge array of polishing products to suit our new gadget - the variable speed sander-polisher.  After plenty of Skipper Pete’s elbow grease Heatwave is now so shiny you could put on your make up out there, if you were so inclined.

Look at that mirror!

... and the cleaning continues ... 

All the Work at The Boat Works

As soon as we arrived on Tuesday Greg, from Everything Marine Australia, organised a mooring on the jetty so that we were lined up for the first lift at 7 am Wednesday.  At 6:30 am Aaron and the team arrived to set us up on “Harry the Travelift” who took us up to the wash bay, pressure-washed the hulls, then to our hard stand.  Blocks and a ladder were all arranged and Heatwave landed safely on the resting place.

Straight away the team began checking the keels and rudders, removing the genoa and boom, removing all the sheets and the MBTL (main boom traveller line – you didn’t think it would have a simple name, did you?) dismantling the rigging, and checking our radar which had stopped working some time ago.  Next job was to change the traveller car, but the end piece did not want to budge! 

The Yanmar Service Team began on the engines and found that our starboard prop shaft had damaged the bearing, so more delay and expense, but we are confident that it will be repaired properly this time.

Rigging Work at The Boat Works

Inskip to Mooloolaba

A small flotilla left Inskip Point on the rising tide and we all made it safely over the Wide Bay Bar.  One cat took the "Fisherman's Cut" and probably saved 2 hours on the trip, but we decided to stay safe and follow the Coast Guard route.  

A pod of whales joined us for a short while near Double Island Head, then a lone dolphin, then Peter caught a good 90 cm cobia – it should feed us for some time.