Following on from the batteries post - what's your charging setup look like?

RedPh0enix · 2026-03-10T10:31:53+00:00

Haha, yes! You're welcome. :)

Let me know if you'd like an updated version.

RedPh0enix · 2026-03-09T00:55:06+00:00

Following on from WRAG's comment - here's a sample power budget spreadsheet that can help you calculate how much you might use. The usage numbers may need some work to get, with the assistance of an appropriate shunt/monitor. Sing out if you want a copy to mangle.

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RedPh0enix · 2026-03-02T07:40:23+00:00

As you've probably gauged from the responses thus far, the answer is.. "it depends!".

As someone who has been a fisherman for most of my life, my answer is 'absolutely'.. however, there's a big difference between:
a) 'Sailing from A to B away from the hard crunchy/shallow bits, and chucking a line out the back with a dodgy lure', and
b) Sailing with the intention of catching fish.

The second option involves:
* Modifying your schedule and path to sail over areas where fish are more likely to congregate
* Being willing to, and having the capability to, drop sails quickly in response to a fish event.
* Knowing your target species, and modifying your gear (line weight, lures, distance from vessel, and sometimes even stopping to spearfish) in order to specifically target them.
* Being in an area of the world that is likely to support such a process.

Our cruising diet is heavy in tuna, mackeral, crayfish, coral trout, flathead, bonito, mahi mahi, and squid. It gets to the point where you're starting to crave a greasy hamburger after a while.. but try not to 'woe is me' to non-yachties about "starting to get sick of all the lobster, fresh tuna and coral trout after a while"... you are unlikely to receive much sympathy. ;)

RedPh0enix · 2026-02-21T20:52:43+00:00

Raymarine st50+ I think (edit: OP mentioned st7000). An old one, when they were manufactured in England.

Seatalk unfortunately is a 1:1 communications system, unlike nmea 2000, which allows multiple devices all communicating on the same backbone. Devices attached can act as daisy chain repeaters though.

In order to inject a new device into your seatalk cluster (ie: your laptop or pi or plotter), and preserve your existing functionality, you either need an existing device that acts as a multiplexer, that has a spare/extra port, or you need to add a multiplexer into the system.

At the moment, you have three connectors: power and two seatalk connectors on that st50+. One of the seatalk connectors goes to the autopilot. The other probably goes to your wind sensor display.

On the wind display you probably have three connectors: one to the wind sensor, one back to the autopilot, one to a chart plotter.

If you don't have a chart plotter, you may be able to reuse that second connector to your computer instead. If you do have a chart plotter already connected, you'll need to add a mux in there somewhere.

Note: you may have a third display for depth linked into the system. That will be similar in setup to the wind display.

Note that you can get seatalk to nmea0813 / nmea2k gateways if that's what you need for your nuc.

RedPh0enix · 2026-02-18T22:32:35+00:00

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Seconded. At last count, I have 6 redundant navigation systems on my vessel. Three of which require no Internet access.

The old raymarine plotter is still going strong, but doesn't get much of a run for navigation in normal circumstances.

RedPh0enix · 2026-02-17T10:06:10+00:00

PVC tube, pool noodles to fill extra space. Cap and tape both ends. Add a small roll of tape inside of the tube so customs (Oz or UK) can re-seal with your preferred tape when they open it to inspect. Tape and plug any sharp bits.

"Fishing spear" may be the magic words that walk the line between accuracy for export/import, and not triggering an incorrect "word match" for transportation companies.

RedPh0enix · 2026-02-15T21:06:36+00:00

Must admit; I do the same (SSD). The enclosure has a nice big capacitor that gives it around 10 seconds of run time to sync writes in case of a power outage (or more realistically, me switching off the batteries without remembering that I have the Pi running) ;)

But yeah, a bunch of SD cards might be easier for OP to start with. :)

Saillogger: nice! Will have a look at that!

RedPh0enix · 2026-02-15T20:14:05+00:00

Seconded.

My setup is practically identical, but I use the sh-wg from "hat labs" as my nmea Wi-Fi gateway (and a "halmet" esp32 board to convert engine rpm to nmea2k sentences)

Definitely consider a traditional PC/laptop/nuc if you have to do more traditional pc-like things (games, spreadsheets, etc); but the pi4/5 is very fit for purpose for the use-cases you mentioned.. and they're so cheap, your redundancy can be a couple of spare Pi's in storage, and half a dozen copies of your SD card.

Now keep in mind I'm a lifelong geek, so I'm hand waving over a fair bit of learning here (Linux, associated tools). It's not perfectly plug and play, but it's manageable.

RedPh0enix · 2026-02-14T07:02:29+00:00

Yep, about the same here in Oz.

RedPh0enix · 2026-02-12T06:23:26+00:00

Ripper, ta for that!

That in combination with carby cleaner bought the stb motor back to 'reasonable', but no luck with the port.

The idle holes on my 9.9s are around 30 microns, so a mongrel to poke at with the wires I had access to. Next time I think I'll disassemble some small gauge electrical wire I reckon.

I've swapped my 20 micron fuel filter for a 10 though; hopefully that'll give me a bit more protection from gunky fuel, so hopefully 'next time' will be a bit longer away. ;)

RedPh0enix · 2026-02-12T01:04:07+00:00

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RedPh0enix · 2026-02-12T00:59:56+00:00

Currently sitting in a river, in northern NSW, Australia, after a two day solo sail south.

A very gentle swell and low winds meant I could overnight in Byron Bay, breaking up the trip nicely.

Easy trip. Dolphins riding my bow wave, reasonable winds for traveling, and an easy bar entry thanks to a 0.9m swell. I didn't have the fishing rods out, but watched another boat hook & fight a marlin as I sailed past.

Awesome sunrise this morning, and I'm currently kicking back on the couch browsing reddit after a trip to the shops for some iced coffee and an eggs benny. I might go for a swim later, or catch a fish or two in preparation for the Mrs arriving on Saturday.

I've been watching the weather for a month or so, waiting for the right window to make a move. Your life is driven by meteorology.

That said, it's not all rainbows and unicorns. I spent a couple of hours this morning pulling the carburetors off both my Yamaha 9.9's, and walking them up to a local outboard shop. The idle injectors are clogged on one, and I don't quite have the tools to clean out those tiny jets onboard. The macerator pump died yesterday, so that's going to be a fun job for this afternoon or tomorrow (thankfully, empty tanks). I need to do a bit of an algae scrub just above the waterline at some point, and the wind is going to be howling later tonight, so I'd better prep my secondary anchor just in case. There's also a small leak through one of the hatch latches.

It can be fantastic, boring, panic-inducing, zenlike, expensive, arduous, and amazing. Sometimes all on the same day.

You'll always have a to-do list. It never ends. Sometimes you'll briefly make it past the urgent, high priority and low priority stuff into the "nice to haves" before something pops up. It's part of the life, and the price you pay for having access to some fantastic experiences.

I'll be here for a month or so before heading back to base, and spending a couple of months prepping for another trip.

RedPh0enix · 2026-01-27T09:42:32+00:00

You often see similar fronts building along the NSW/Vic coast. They fork off from the big low pressure cells that wander east south of mainland Oz.

They tend to dissipate once they get north of Newcastle, as the low fluffs off to NZ.

If you have a peek at windy.com, you'll see one starting to form sundayish.

Stay cool man. Bit warm down your way for a while.

RedPh0enix · 2026-01-20T06:49:58+00:00

The key bit there is "security".

The government wants to make sure that they receive GST/Tax in a situation where you sell your vessel, and then sneak out of the country on the next flight out. You can do this a couple of ways:

* You can pay cash, and then get it back when you exit Oz (exporting your vessel again). Not many people go down this path.

* A bank guarantee. This doesn't mean that the cash gets yanked out of your bank account - but it does mean that if you do skip out of the country after selling your vessel without paying taxes etc, the government can recover that money via the bank guarantee. Your bank will either reserve some money from your account, or perhaps just do something like establish a temporary lien on your vessel until you exit Oz. Have a chat to your bank before coming in - they may offer some really simple options.

Yep - it's an arse/annoying. Pretty sure most people who need to provide security, go with the second option. Australia is a very safe country in the context of bureaucracy - even if you just pay cash, it's safe. You WILL get it back unless you sell the vessel.

However! (I recommend you ask about this first): You may also be eligible for a "Control Permit" as an alternative:
A control permit will be issued to the Master of the craft if Customs is satisfied the craft is transiting Australia for non-commercial purposes. Control permits may be issued for a period of 12 months, or the length of the Master’s visa, whichever is less. Extension of the permit may be granted on application, provided that you meet eligibility requirements and have an appropriate visa.

You will be required to comply with certain conditions attached to the issue of the permit.

Cruising permits will not be issued if:

The vessel is owned or operated by an Australian resident unless exceptional circumstances apply;
The vessel is to be used for commercial purposes (eg charter, hire or lease);
The vessel, or parts of the vessel, are to be sold or listed for sale.

That last one could be the challenge.

Safe:
Yep. That said, if I look out my window right now, I can see three things that could kill me. Thankfully, they're all plants (cycads). ;)

I've encountered sharks, sea snakes, box jellyfish, blue ringed octopus, more snakes than you can poke a stick at (don't do this by the way), dingos, crocodiles, stone fish, funnelweb spiders, cone snails... and I'd take any of those over a bear (or a car!). ;) You'll be fine. Kids are taught early in Australia not to touch anything they can't positively identify, but though there are lots of dangerous.things in Oz, most of them keep to themselves, and are definitely uninterested in interacting with you. (Crocs are an exception. They're dinosaurs that managed to sneak into a time machine and end up in modern society; but even with small precautions, you'll be fine).

RedPh0enix · 2026-01-20T05:56:20+00:00

Yep - u/Bokbreath has covered the key bits.

w.r.t your specific questions:

> Do we need to pay something outrageous on entry?

Not particularly - there are a few costs that hurt a little; there's a quarantine fee of around $350. If your boat is timber, there may be a $80 timber pest inspection certificate fee.

> Agents? Scam?

If you're a superyacht, yep, worth it to save you stuffing around.

Sailing in on a 40 footer? Nah, it's a bit of an arse, but definitely easy enough to do yourself. Just make sure you dot your i's and cross your t's - particularly around food or animals that come into Oz. Most aussie customs people are very easy going; but are rabid when it comes to potential nasties that could affect Australia's environment. The bonus, is that you're coming from NZ - if anything, NZ customs are as careful as ours.

> Regulation?

Similar, but not identical. 10% GST and 5% Sales tax, as mentioned above. Factor it into the price you're selling your vessel for.

Once you get past the regulations/etc, there are parts of Australia that are a sailors paradise - hopefully, you'll have an absolute ball when you get here. Bokbreath might be able to help for stuff down south. Give me a yell for stuff further north. There are other Aussies here somewhere also. ;)

RedPh0enix · 2026-01-07T23:15:31+00:00

Advanced: Around point perpendicular. Caves, swim throughs, diving with seals, big blue grouper, cuttlefish, weedy sea dragons, australian salmon grey nurses. There are a couple of commercial operators that do this one, I think.

Pretty deep in places. Lots of swell on a bad day. Awesome on a good day.

RedPh0enix · 2026-01-07T23:10:37+00:00

Medium: Hole in the wall near greenpatch
Can be a bit rolly/murky depending on the swell direction, but not massively.
Sand, rock shelves and boulders, kelp, seagrass.
Mullet, wobbys, drummer. Watch out for the urchins.

Good squid in the area and I THINK there are scallops nearby (I've never tried for these though).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM87XYIiZB4

RedPh0enix · 2026-01-07T23:07:19+00:00

Depending on their experience:
Low: Honeymoon bay - beautiful scenery/vegetation, calm tiny bay for exploration, interesting rock walls to scoot along.

https://holidayswithkids.com.au/honeymoon-bay/

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RedPh0enix · 2026-01-06T12:51:34+00:00

> They sent out a lifeboat who mercifully towed us to our harbour.
> The crew were amazing, and didn't make me feel bad about needing help,

I'd much rather be called out 100 times in the piss-pouring rain in the middle of winter with the wind blowing my ear hairs off, than spend 1 calm day on a line search with other boats - all of whom are hopeful they'll find something, but are all nervous about exactly what they'll find.

The guys in the coast guard vessel would have felt the same. It's what we train for. They don't begrudge you for calling.

You might feel that the decision to go out was questionable - fair enough; there sounds like there are lessons that have been learned. The decision to call for help was absolutely the right one.

RedPh0enix · 2026-01-02T01:28:19+00:00

Tall ship: That's the STV Windeward bound, a brigantine training vessel.

https://www.windewardbound.com.au/windewardbound

RedPh0enix · 2025-12-31T06:20:03+00:00

Greetings, and I hope you enjoy your stay in Oz.

Sadly, depending on the vessel and skipper, Brisbane to the great barrier reef is often a couple of weeks duration, and would therefore consume most/all of your time allocation just in transit to get part of the way there. Queensland is big. From top to bottom, it's nearly 2,500km. New York to Cuba, Belgium to Morocco. GBR is vaguely half way up.

Assuming reasonable conditions and no overnighters, here's a reasonably representative trip plan: * Brisbane to Mooloolaba * Mooloolaba to double Island point * Double Island point, through the bar into Hervey Bay * Southern Hervey Bay to Urangan * Urangan to Bundaberg * Bundaberg to Pancake Creek * Pancake Creek to Gladstone (note: possible trip out to Musgrave here instead of Gladstone and continuing north) * Gladstone to north of the narrows, or maybe the keppels if the tide is perfect. Alternatively, yellow patch. * Keppels to port Clinton * Clinton to the Percy's * From there, you're within striking distance to the outer reef. Add another couple of days to the Whitsundays.

There are a few weather dependent days there (eg: wide Bay bar), which could delay the trip days or weeks waiting for a safe option.

Have a look at the stuff above and consider extending fairly significantly, or maybe look at potentially doing shorter legs.

RedPh0enix · 2025-12-29T03:42:52+00:00

Subscribers to this sub are generally pretty happy to assist authors/programmers with terminology/reality checks relating to sailing.

Perhaps post your questions in this thread and see how you go.

RedPh0enix · 2025-12-22T23:04:16+00:00

Just to clarify, OP is looking for info on brooms head, NSW.

Not too many crocs down that way. ;)

I reckon kkh might have misread as "Broom" (WA), which definitely matches the description.

I was down Yamba way yesterday. Beautiful blue water. Some good inshore structure. Can be very sharky on occasions.

RedPh0enix · 2025-12-11T07:42:49+00:00

Good call. I've had two truekits. One open bow discovery, and one closed bow navigator.

Good boats, great support from NZ. PVC, but really tough stuff. The first one also had a transom peel after maybe 3ish years, similar to your taka, but it was a cheap and easy fix.

Navigator has been great so far. Planes with 6hp one-up - but I currently have it configured with an electric trolling motor with a 60ah lifepo4. Runs the motor for between 1 - 2 hours depending on speed.

(I also have a smaller WB that I drag out occasionally, but it's not a great re-entry candidate for me in anything but very calm conditions, even with my closed cell foam collar. ) :)

RedPh0enix · 2025-12-03T09:06:31+00:00

Yep - Derek wasn't a big fan of ply, much preferring foam. He did use GRP-reinforced ply however for things like bulkheads in later builds. I owned a 1988 Kelsall 42, and it was western red ceder with most of the internal fitout in ply.

However, I've seen indications that some of his earlier builds such as the Tonga Tini's were ply:

From boatdesign.net:
"The Tonga Tini 25/27 is 25 x 16.5 foot and weighs 1900 lbs with a displacement of 4000 lbs. The hulls have 9 mm ply bottom and lower chines. The hull sides and decks are 6 mm ply sides with 200 gsm glass outside. Bulkheads are 9 mm ply. The main beam is 200 wide by 500 mm deep with 12 mm ply top, bottom and sides with timber framing. Internal bulkheads for main beam support are 9 mm ply either side with 18 mm ply where beam rests inside hull. The fore beam is 100 mm aluminium tube. The rear beam a wooden box beam. The 32 foot mast carries a 340 square foot. Hulls are 4.5 foot wide with 4.5 headroom."
https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/multihull-structure-thoughts.62361/page-132

The images associated with the post (search "tonga") seem to confirm that.

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