Kinora forum posts in last 60 days

garymalmgren said..
RE: kept telling me to go to port despite that being off the lead lights (fourth mistake).
If in doubt SPEAK UP.
There is nothing worse than hearing, "I thought that would happen," after the event.

gary

Hope you weren't affected by the recent earthquake, Gary.

K.

Very good posts from Trek and R13. Read several times.

We did Sydney (Watson's Bay) to Greenwell Point on the delivery in March 2021 and it was a formative experience. We left late (0930) and that was the first mistake. Good progress but we arrived off Greenwell Point after dark (second mistake). The skipper had not been into Greenwell Point before but we still decided to go in (10 kts wind, 1.5m seas). Third mistake. The skipper was using Navionics on a tablet and kept telling me to go to port despite that being off the lead lights (fourth mistake). I didn't understand my responsibilities as owner and didn't know enough to point out the wrong course to the skipper (fifth mistake). As we came down off a wave, the keel struck a rock, part of the breakwater on the southern side of the entrance. The next wave lifted the boat up and the rudder struck rock on the way down. Panic. I added revs, steered to starboard and we got away. The boat was on the slip at Greenwell Point for a week while we repaired the bottom bearing of the rudder. We were very lucky, it could have been much worse but I learnt a great deal about responsibility and what not to do.

Don't allow 1 person to be responsible for everything, everyone (especially the owner) should know how to get into the harbour you're entering. Don't enter a harbour you don't know well in darkness unless you really have to. Plan your trip so you get there in daylight. Always believe the lead lights not Navionics. Basic seamanship, I guess.

I would recommend doing it in 2 legs, the days are short right now. Shell Harbour has a marina, supposed to be good. Wait for a weather window and leave early. As Trek says, tell Marine Rescue what you're doing and let them know when you get there.

If you prepare well and follow the excellent advice on this forum, you are very likely to have a fantastic time.

Cheers,
Kinora

Thanks, Phil and JonE. I was hoping there was an easy way but in the end I've used De-solv-it, rags, paper towels and Starbrite degreaser with warm water wash. Access is really bad, I've had to remove the cooling water inlet hoses and filter to get access to the bilge. The best scrubbing tool so far has been a long handled toilet brush, the kind with a rounded, cylindrical head. Today, I'll invest in a mid-range wet/dry vac to suck wash and rinse water out. Dick Smith sell a steam cleaner with a long wand. It also has a hot water jet (but you have to change attachments). I think the combination of a steam jet, hot water rinse jet and a wet vac would make the job easier.

I'm thinking of building a fibreglass tray lined with oil absorbant pads to sit under the engine and gearbox but above the level of the Water Witch to keep oil and fuel leaks or spills separate from the bilge water. Anyone tried this?

Cheers,
Kinora

The bilge on the Currawong is a small, deep "V" directly under the engine and gearbox. Over the years, the bilge on Kinora has built up a fair amount of sticky, black sludge on the walls of the bilge. Parts break off and then foul the check valve on the bilge pump so I need to do a thorough clean. The advice received so far is to soften the gunk, scrape off as much as possible, wash with a degreaser. Difficult and laborious work in a confined space.

What have others done to thoroughly clean contaminated bilges?

Cheers,
Kinora

Trek said..
There actually is a USA standard for installation of lithium batteries on boats ABYC E-13. The American Boat and Yacht Council’s industry-standard for the safe installation, operation, and maintenance of lithium-ion battery systems on recreational boats. It requires marine-certified batteries that meet IEC62619 (ie. they should come with a certificate of safety), proper ventilation, robust Battery Management Systems (BMS that actually work and are bullet proof), and secure restraints. This is an excellent guide. In Australia there is AS/NZS 3004.2:2014 which are government mandated standards for installation of lithium batteries on recreational vessels.

Many thanks, Trek.

K.