Party Cruiser Pontoon Boat

Would definately have to pick the right day for the Tanga journey

Yep, right....can you tell me what the weather will be on any given afternoon, in the morning ?
If you know the future, then your safe, on the Bay, BUT.........

And your going to think of cruising over to Tangers for the day, is that a good idea ?

Trust you have a couple of radios (KNOW HOW TO USE THEM) and everything is well insured, including yourself and family and crew.

Adding ANYTHING to the underside of your boat and thinking about the nasty short chop the Bay can generate in seconds, is that also a good idea ?

Kind regards,
UB
I've only owned boats for over 50 years and boated the Bay just a few times.

http://www.seabreeze.com.au

http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=QUE&program=Maps

http://www.askhuey.com.au

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDG00074.shtml

http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/satellite/

http://www.eldersweather.com.au/

Just to name a few ....... If you consult the above websites then I am SURE you should be able to figure out what the weather will be like up to 3 days in advance. If you do not know what the weather is going to be like for the next 24 hours or for the amount of time that you will be out on the water THEN YOU SHOULD NOT GO TO SEA !

Tanks do not need to extend very low at all. 1m wide x 2m long x .05 (50mm or 2 inches) = 100 litre capacity. Hardly think 50mm will effect seaworthiess by the look of the photo and the amount of room that is available. Any sort of modification will require an engineers approval or relevant authorities authorisation.

The more I look at the boat the more I am inclined to leave it how it is. It was built for a purpose and does not look like an ocean going (or Bay or Tangalooma) boat at all. River cruiser on a good day, Gold Coast canal boat for sure. Would not like to be on it when it blows 40 knots from the North East and a 7 metre swell in the open ocean !!!!!!

Put the beer on block ice and increase battery capacity PLUS get some 240 volt inverters if necessary to run appliances etc. The usual offshore flare kit, floating torch, 406Mhz Epirb, life jackets blah blah blah would be advisable to have stowed on board at all times.

Uncle Barry said:

Would definately have to pick the right day for the Tanga journey

Yep, right....can you tell me what the weather will be on any given afternoon, in the morning ?
If you know the future, then your safe, on the Bay, BUT.........

Kind regards,
UB
I've only owned boats for over 50 years and boated the Bay just a few times.

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Yes, I am hearing you UB.

Would be more of a planned 3 day trip for me, fully insured, hasn't got radios yet but will have and will learn to use them correctly.

There is alot of marine info out there to assist with the planning.

This chart and site should be helpful. How reliable are their predictions?

http://www.marineweather.net.au/marine/qld/moreton-bay?d=2

Don't rely on one chart. See above post for more handy info on weather. If 3 of them are saying the same thing then the prediction is accurate. 26 years of experience on the water/ocean and hardly a man lost.

trainspotter said:

26 years of experience on the water/ocean and hardly a man lost.

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Hahaha.... Thanks for some great advice TS, I'm definately up for an adventure, but a mans gotta know his boats limitations...

Gundini said:

Hahaha.... Thanks for some great advice TS, I'm definately up for an adventure, but a mans gotta know his boats limitations...

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Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice and practice some more. Remember when you take other people out on a boat YOU are in control of their lives. What you do effects THEM.

Oh yeah ... read the weather charts religiously and buy the BEST plotter/navigation and communication system that money can buy.

Trainman.
The Bay is a speical location, LIKE NO OTHER.

Where it can jump up like a huge lake, and produce waves 2.5mts high AND 2.5mts apart.

The trick with the Bay, is speed, when things change, you get out FAST in a SUITABLE Boat !

And now Party Boats, the fellow across from me, has one at the back of his house about 26feet or more long, so I guess I've a wee bit of an idea about these boats

Kind regards,
UB
"like for the next 24 hours or for the amount of time that you will be out on the water THEN YOU SHOULD NOT GO TO SEA ! "

OR........
you should go to sea in a SUITABLE BOAT
NOT a party boat !

LOL Uncle Barry ... I was born in Brisbane and lived in Fig Tree Pocket. I still have relatives who live in Kedron. Parents have retired to Gympie and old man is a mad keen boatie. (His boat is called Nifty and he built it himself) Have fished Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island and surrounds, travelled upon the Gold Coast canals, cruised the Whitsundays in a yacht. Sailed a yacht from Singapore to Bali via the South China Sea (63 knots across deck and 30 foot waves), crayfished in Western Australia for 3 years, worked on prawn trawlers and shark boats in the Gulf of Carpenteria. Caught Barramundi in Bynoe Harbour NT and the East Alligator River. Black Marlin fishing in Cairns, Blue Marlin Fishing in Exmouth. Pontoon boated along the Mandurah Estuary for a few days as well. Currently own a pearl farm (last 7 years) with 3 in survey vessels ranging from a 60 foot Westcoaster, a 10 metre jet boat and a 24 foot fishing rig.

Moreton Bay is unique as an expanse of water and it is protected by Moreton Island and North Stradbroke. Yes it does get rough there on a North Easter due to it's open channel to the North. Where I am situated there is no island protection and 30 knot Southerlies and a 2 to 3 metre swell is a good day to go boating for me. Have snapped tow rigs between the 10 metre jet boat and the 60 footer in these conditions. Had to jump into the briny and swim to the jet boat in these waters to reassemble tow. LMAO.

I totally agree with you UB. There is no way that I would take a pontoon party boat into the area described above. UNLESS you know that it is going to be dead calm for a few days. Even then it would be advisable to err on the side of caution. In no way was I calling your experience of the type of boat or waters to be travelled on into disrepute.

"The more I look at the boat the more I am inclined to leave it how it is. It was built for a purpose and does not look like an ocean going (or Bay or Tangalooma) boat at all. River cruiser on a good day, Gold Coast canal boat for sure. Would not like to be on it when it blows 40 knots from the North East and a 7 metre swell in the open ocean !!!!!!"

Wouldn't like to be there either,
if a NWester pops up or a sudden Westerly !

Kind regards,
UB

Party boats are not made for rough water, is my point.

Fair point too UB and TS.

Even if I can't get to Tanga safely, will be doing my best to make the most of this Summer. Your advice, while a little deflating is very valuable to me. Thanks.

Will post some updates when I get moving on the renos...

Sorry to pull the bung out of your boat there Gundini. LOL

Would love nothing more than to join you on the cruise. Will investigate costs to send boat and car by train to Brisvegas to enjoy Moreton Bay on a screaming North Easter.

trainspotter said:

Sorry to pull the bung out of your boat there Gundini. LOL

Would love nothing more than to join you on the cruise. Will investigate costs to send boat and car by train to Brisvegas to enjoy Moreton Bay on a screaming North Easter.

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Cut it out, with that boat you could cruise anywhere you wanted.


No need to tow it.

trainspotter said:

Sorry to pull the bung out of your boat there Gundini. LOL

Would love nothing more than to join you on the cruise

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Mate love to have you on the journey. Love your boat by the way, awesome!

Well I picked up the cruiser today, took it from Caloundra to Brisbane and it towed well, although a bit freaky towing something so big I have never taken so much notice of bridge heights as I did today but all went well.

After having a good look at it I am very impressed and happy! This is going to be one hell of a summer.

I parked it outside my house and it has caused a bit of a spectical.

While I can't wait to get it in the water, I am going to spend the next couple of weeks getting it ready.

The hulls have been antifoaled a year ago, but I will put another coat or 2 on as I will leave in the water for 3 month stints.

Everything looks in great order so I basically need to work out what I want from the boat, then design the appropriate power system to suit. Hopefully Trainspotter and a few of you guys can help me with the plan.

The casette toilet will give me the sh1ts for sure, so I think I have to spend some cold hard on this, can I sort this for a reasonable price? There is plenty of room under the deck and could design the holding tank so it doesn't interfere with performance.

Think I need a gas system for the fridge, stove/oven, and hot water system, and a little solar/battery for the stereo, lights, water pump, auto winch, and computor/laptop.

Can fudge the rest with candles

Will 5-7K cover all this?

Tell me that I'm dreaming!

Party Boat man
You can spend, as deep as your pockets are on boats !

All your wants, are the same as a Caravan,
however to buy most things, for a Caravan are cheaper if you don't buy from a boat shop.

Kind regards,
UB

LOL ... Nup this is just the fishing boat called "overide". The one below is "Awesome". You are dreaming.
BOAT = B ring O ut A nother T housand. Whatever your budget is DOUBLE IT !!

Nup!

I'm sticking to budget...

Going to go to UB's caravan joint and hit them up hard lol...

She is worth some tlc

Good luck and smooth seas!

trainspotter said:

Good luck and smooth seas!

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Awe come on TS, don't give up on me... I need your help and support!

I'll measure up the space under the floor and work out some specs and floor plan. Only just got the boat today.

Can I ask a couple of novice questions?

Would it be better to have the water tank on the roof to ease the strain on the water pump, rather than pumping it up from below?

Also, if you have the holding tank under the floor, how is the **** pumped out of my tank? Do I need a seperate pump? In your experience, what is the best toilet system?

I noticed when we started the engine the previous owner pushed the throtle in three times to prime the fuel. Is this what you do, or do you have a manual primer? It seems to me a manual prime does a better job...

I am a big fan of solar power, but it costs... There is one wind generator that is fairly quiet, very efficient, and reasonable price. Considering I will run this boat 3 times a week, could wind generation be a more frugal option?

Good morning
Trainman

Your boat, the real boat ?
Built by who, length, power ETC ?
Please

Kind regards,
UB

Hiya guys ... sorry to you for taking so long to get back to my brothers of the oceans. Ok Gundini first: Never put the water on the roof. Stability (TOP HEAVY) and heat is the main problem. Heat and water create algae. Not good drinking green HOT water !! Top shelf submersible pumps these days should set you back about $300 if you wanted one located inside the tank. My advice would not to be doing this as water and electricy don't mix PLUS maintenace is a drag. Better to get a 12 volt system that will/should do about 200 litres an hour and last forever. Think pond pump for you requirements. Located under sink area or somewhere accesible linked to a pressure switch/boost bottle. Sullage tank for waste is a difficult one to process. Simple answer is to dump straight into ocean via saltwater hand pump and skin fitting. Try here for details http://www.southernseasmarine.com/ssm/lavac/pdfs/LavacToilets.pdf
Using a sullage tank requires a macerator, whereby the waste is dumped into a tank and a blender (for want of a better word) smashes it to pieces which in turn is pumped via skin fitting into ocean. Float switch will do the trick and make the WC salt water hand pump or 12 volt pump again. Think mini septic system. Every motor has it's quirks. My Mercruiser requires a fair bit to get it going as it is a very cold motor. If the previous owner did it this way and the motor starts why not just keep the routine going? Small solar panel to keep batteries trickle fed should be about $1500 and with the wind generator should be plenty. Solar during the day and turbine at night. Small genset Yamaha 2kva is about 2 grand and would be handy to keep on board. They are very quiet and would be used sparingly.

Now to Uncle Barry:- The grey boat behind the 100 series Landcruiser is a 1985 Trailcraft 7.1 metre Hardtop with a 470 Mercruiser 160HP 4 cylinder petrol motor. Carries 200 litres of fuel and has the best electronics in the way of depthsounder for fishing purposes. Eskies under both seats and live bait/kill tank under deck. Most of the modifications to the boat have been performed by myself.

The big white one is called "Awesome". She is a Westcoaster hull and the rest of the superstructure is handmade fibregalass and blown plastic. Mates in the business. Compromising 60 feet overall, carries 4000 litres of diesel, 2000 litres of water, has it's own reverse osmosis water making system at 60 litres per hour. Has it's own icemaker, 3 showers, 2 toilets and a urinal. Sleeps 9 in 4 cabins, has a 32 inch plasma, DVD player, airconditioned wheelhouse, 15 kva Kubota genset, 163P 6 cylinder 16 litre Volvo Penta motor swinging a 5 blade prop and all the fruit that you need to transverse the ocean in style. Ummmmmmm I think that just about covers it.

If you want any more details on how to setup boats or photos PM me and I will provide.