If you have to ask that here, don't do it!

Gotta have a fully mapped gps mate, download Navionics to your iPad and have a look at the charts.
With fuel, you'll need to work out your consumption - no point guessing. Use the above app to figure out how far you are travelling and then work out how much fuel you will need.
Do the run with someone who is experienced first mate then you will know what you're in for. Always log on and off.

Cheers for the links mate. 60 bucks for a 'tour' to rotto and the bays is super cheap! As for fuel I will get there in 20L, though its hard to tell how much I will use there. But I can see fuel is available there 24/7. Cheers for the advice, Ill have a better look at Navionics, have been using it today (5km out off lanos) but just used it to reference location, not a guide to get out/in.

dinsdale said...
If you have to ask that here, don't do it!

This guy is on the money and he got a red thumb ! ?

always take more fuel than you need to get there and back.
know your cardinal markers
study the charts
Dont rely only on gps
Check in with port authority before and after the trip
Radio check
Coming home in the seabreeze in a boat that small will be rough especially in a RHIB
Tell someone when you leave and when you get home.

Basic stuff, but you'd be surprised - Some flares, epirb, DECENT pfd's (not those cheap sh!tty yellow block ones), make sure you log in/out with Freo Sea Rescue.

What could go wrong?

Best of all, take someone who is expeinced for your first trip.

Have a good one!

Poods

Mate don't listen to people who give negative comments. I have some negative comments too but I'll be positive to try to help you. Firstly I don't have a gps and so long as you have a real good read of a map first it is easy. I go from freo straight there. In slightly heavier seas I aim towards the north end of the island and turn twoards the island when I am nearly there or go around from the north. If u do the north thing watch out for the reefs at the front near transits. I go north because about two thirds of the way to the island the swells can mutate a little bit because some swell come straight from the south west and some wraps around the island and comes from north west. Don't go skint on fuel. Take two tanks at least. It's good you've checked your battery. Choose a day when all predictions are for basically no wind, not chance of a wind. On a good day a ski boat can gett there. My dad did that once, probably not smart. On a bad day you'll wish u didn't go. Private message me if you want mate I'm no expert

Buy a paper chart. They are not that expensive and will show more then a GPS chart at first glance. Plan your trip over on the paper then transpose that onto your navionics for the trip. Either that or plot your course on navionics and zoom right in and double check. A lot of structure doesn't show until you've zoomed ALL the way in.

Fuel is a hard one. I have been to Rotto with four POB and burnt nearly 200lts in fuel return (from Como), but went and burnt 70lts of fuel with 7 POB return from same place. The difference in the weather though were at extremes. The first one I likely underestimated they weight of everyones dive gear and eskies.

I don't believe you must have a GPS chart as stated above, but a GPS would be beneficial. You should at a minimum though have a paper chart and know how to read it.

Lastly, I have said it here before........ Just because you could go, doesn't mean you should go.

Yeah I don't want to sound negative but the guy above is bang on. I've seen it done but fourteen foot is very very small. You can do it but window of opportunity is so small.

you need to know your limits.

Navionics shows your lat long by tapping your position and hit the ? That comes up, position is at top. Personally I'm a big fan, my boat has a fantastic plotter but navionics is easier to zoom and pan around. I know a couple that bought a yacht in the USA and sailed back to Hillary's marina with only 2 iPads for navigation, no paper charts! Personally I'd take a ipad over paper, when it's all going on and you're close to reef it's reassuring to look at the screen and see exactly where you're at rather than look at the chart, take some compass bearings and work it out. Ipad is also more accurate than gps if you have a phone signal as it uses the towers as well as the satellites.

Jono, pick me up and I will tell you on the way.

Fat old peeps with no hair do stand up paddle board races there don't they?

Wait for a calm day, forget all the negativity. Read the responses, and take what you need on board, don't get obsessed with tragedy and impending disaster. Buy yourself a couple of silver Sapporo cans and open em on arrival - you made it.

Jessie Martin sailed around the world - he was only 17 when he did that. I didn't see him posting here for noob advice. Remember, you are dead a long time. Do it!

Firstly you need 2 batteries if its the only way to start your engine or you dont have an auxiliary motor and they need to be marine batteries
I have had the situation where ive gone over a wave hit hard and the battery plates have fallen off! fortunately had the aux to get home on .
Secondly I would not take a 14' tender over open ocean out to rotto unless it was life and death and had 2 spare fuel tanks
Maybe you can do it do you really need to put every one elses lives at risk if you frack it up

adolf said..

Fat old peeps with no hair do stand up paddle board races there don't they?

Wait for a calm day, forget all the negativity. Read the responses, and take what you need on board, don't get obsessed with tragedy and impending disaster. Buy yourself a couple of silver Sapporo cans and open em on arrival - you made it.

Jessie Martin sailed around the world - he was only 17 when he did that. I didn't see him posting here for noob advice. Remember, you are dead a long time. Do it!

adolf the crossing to rotto can turn very ugly quickly and alot of people need help from the fremantle sea rescue due to going out in conditions that are outside their or the boats capacity .

I used to have a 6m fiberglass rib and in anything over 15 knots it became uncomfortable and wet . a 14 foot ally rib , fark me that will be a rough as guts ride . Be careful with your rib in rough seas it will bang side to side quite a bit . But the beauty of a rib is it will only tip to one side so much before the pontoon stops it . Can also be a handfull running directly with the swell if the nose digs in be prepared for a wall of water to come back over the boat, making everything wet .

If it is rough then yes pick a ferry or something as big to follow but you need to be sure that your boat can go fast enough to keep up with the ferry :)
with the size of your boat i would suggest you log on with fremantle sea rescue or even better become a member for something like $40 . Because if the **** hits the fan they are the ones coming to help you .

honestly in a 14 footer i would not go from hillarys , i would launch at the east freo boat ramp and head straight out from the heads . Need any more info pm me.