sorry to disappoint you McNice
but.....there is shortage of nice blokes
..........they don't stay single for long,
...........married one don't get many chances to be happy again

Lots of information to digest there guys!

I am ordering a few books of reference form boat books, looking forward to them arriving on the front door step.

I have a looonnng shortlist - if there is such a thing, of boats I think would be suitable. Ranging from a well equipped Mottle at $50k to a $190k catamaran! Plenty of good mono's to choose from in the $100k - $200k range. As LMY mentioned, early days yet in the search for the right yacht.

Ramona, I was a Greenie (Sparktrician for non Navy people) in the RAN.
Joined as a JR in 1980, did 9yrs, served on Brisbane and Moresby then got out and got a job earning some decent money.

FreeRadical, thanks for the advice and I have been snooping around Koombana Bay SC in Bunbury. I'm planning to buy the boat while I am over east late this year or early next, so that should give me a lot more to choose from. Although I would like to cruise up the top end, I'm not sure whether I would bring the yacht all the way back to WA or not at this stage.

Has anyone got any thoughts on GRP vs Steel vs Aluminium?

Thanks to everyone for all the advice so far.

Cheers!

Savannah said..
N&Z, I too was a JR 1983 & served on Brisbane, when were you there

I spose as long as you weren't birdies or them other things he was bangin on about, Cisco would be happy with that.

72 intake, July 1980 to May 81 at Leeuwin.
Would've been about 82 - 83 I was on Brisbane, getting old and crusty, can't remember the exact dates.
Did Rimpac 82 not long after that transferred back to the west.

NowandZen said..


Ramona, I was a Greenie (Sparktrician for non Navy people) in the RAN.
Joined as a JR in 1980, did 9yrs, served on Brisbane and Moresby then got out and got a job earning some decent money.

I was a Cerberus JR, April '64. Dibdab for the first 6 years. Had 12 months at Leeuwin in '69 as the seamanship and boatwork instructor [12 months teaching Jr's how to eye splice]. Changed over to aircrew for another 14 years. Then 26 years as a fisherman. I still think of myself as ex navy primarily!

I was a MOBI intake on the 6/6/1966. Them's some evil numbers.

Became an Engine Room Artificer (Diesel). That was being condemned to Stalwart, Moresby or Patrol Boats.

The first three and a half years of my naval career was spent at R.A.N.A.T.E. (Royal Australian Navy Apprentice Training Establishment) H.M.A.S. Nirimba. I do believe anybody trained at Nirimba during that era was highly privileged, no matter which trade they were in because the training was first class and amongst the best available in Australia at the time.

A further year and a half was spent by each trainee with "on the job" training to complete the five year apprenticeship.

Two and a half years later, the Navy and I reached an agreement that we would part company on amicable terms.

I was a tad too critical of the double standards that were prevalent during the Navy's transition from SAILSTRUC to RATSTRUC. I was an ERA2 and objected to being downgraded to PO MTP while PO Stokers less qualified than I were being upgraded to PO MTP.

Upon mutual agreement the Navy and I agreed we were not suitable for each other, four and a half years short of our agreed sign up time.

I have never regretted a moment of my Naval service but for me it was the best career change possible.

I think you should stick with fibreglass. I also think you should stick with aft cockpit vessels. Spend a bit of time in an aft cabin boat on a mooring on a hot still day and see if you can stand it. In a marina you can run a couple of electric fans. What most people find when they head off from temperate weather places to the tropics is deck lounging space and shade. I mean full length shade. Even in places like Sydney its nice to be able to sleep in the cockpit.

Steel has some advantages. It can handle hitting reefs etc and repairs are cheap and easy. They are becoming really cheap though as most people are realizing there is a lot of upkeep and sometimes hidden horrors. It not quite like when you were an OD wielding a Jason pistol. Yachts are built thin. Friend of mine has an Adams 45 in steel. I thought it looked very good. Its up on the hard for six months at the moment, I had a quick look at it yesterday. Trouble with these is six months blows out. The yard its in is full of yachts [Huskisson] many of these yachts I have never seen in the water.
Aluminium is fine but once again you have to be careful with maintenance. I would consider a bare aluminium hulled yacht. I had an aluminium fishing vessel built in WA when I left the navy. Biggest mistake was having the factory paint it. I used to keep her on one of the local wharves which was fine most of the time and was basically just a matter of using the correct antifoul and keep tabs on the anodes. Isolating the skin fittings from alloy etc. The trouble was when one of the other fibreglass or timber fishing vessels tied up alongside me with their copper antifouling paint. Also at low tide steel rubbish on the bottom would also created problems.

If you want to reduce maintenance go fibreglass hull with an encapsulated lead keel.

Nice yacht but waaaaay over priced.

cisco said..

Nice yacht but waaaaay over priced.

What do you think would be a realistic price for this one?

jev7337 said..

cisco said..

Nice yacht but waaaaay over priced.

What do you think would be a realistic price for this one?

I am thinking about half that price and that is only if everything is mickey spit.

Ramona said..

RiffRaff said.. How about this one ensignbrokers.com.au/ensign/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/bristol-45-cc/164645/

That is a lovely ship and well priced as well. The centreboard idea is fine in principal, enables the vessel much closer inshore but adds extra maintenance problems. The costs of just simple stuff like antifouling for that vessel would be enormous. Probably looking at 20 litres of antifoul. Would have to be done on a travel lift [or crane] so your limited to ports. I would be concerned that when the board is raised and in shallow water the boat didn't settle on some debris and get lodged in the case. Not many centreboard yachts in Australia and I think most people have the same concerns.

I think in the price range and size mentioned then you are most likely looking at a haul out to carry out underwater maintenance on most vessels.
I understand that a keel jamming could be a concern with a swing keel.
Not sure why antifouling would be any more expensive than any other fixed keel yacht of that size.

This one works per

fe

ct

ly

ever since been built, it is an Adams after all, even after this escaped...

McNaughtical said..


I have a centreboard... Tartan 37 S&S...I have not had the centreboard down... last time out of the water for survey it was sitting on tibmer so of course could not get board down, so have not worked out why it won't go down. Previous owner said he sailed all the way from Florida without it.

In the case of the Tartan I don't think the absence of the centreboard would affect the stability of the boat, but it would affect the the pointing ability by a few degrees.

Tartan with board down

A few of us here...JR 65th intake (Oct 78)...did RIMPAC 80 in Melbourne (Morningbird are you there 79-82?), RIMPAC 82 in BRISBANE (we must have been there together N&Z)(Miss Brisbane was a stunner...), was an RP and ASAC then changed over to pusser. Did 26 years all up.

McNaughtical said..

RiffRaff said..

Ramona said..

RiffRaff said.. How about this one ensignbrokers.com.au/ensign/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/bristol-45-cc/164645/

That is a lovely ship and well priced as well. The centreboard idea is fine in principal, enables the vessel much closer inshore but adds extra maintenance problems. The costs of just simple stuff like antifouling for that vessel would be enormous. Probably looking at 20 litres of antifoul. Would have to be done on a travel lift [or crane] so your limited to ports. I would be concerned that when the board is raised and in shallow water the boat didn't settle on some debris and get lodged in the case. Not many centreboard yachts in Australia and I think most people have the same concerns.

I think in the price range and size mentioned then you are most likely looking at a haul out to carry out underwater maintenance on most vessels.
I understand that a keel jamming could be a concern with a swing keel.
Not sure why antifouling would be any more expensive than any other fixed keel yacht of that size.

I havea centreboard... Tartan 37 S&S...I have not had the centreboard down... last time out of the water for survey it was sitting on tibmer so of course could not get board down, so have not worked out why it won't go down. Previous owner said he sailed all the way from Florida without it.

I rest my case.

And for Riffraff the centreboard and the inside of the case need antifouling as well, even though a fair percentage would disappear the first time its lowered. My 40 foot fishing vessel took 10 litres of antifoul per coat. The wetted area of a 45 ft yacht is about the same. My Currawong takes under 4 litres each time I slip and is almost a pleasure to paint.

That centreboard slot must do wonders for water flow!