3 posts
Got a question,
Ive recently bought my 1st boat and want some advice on heading to Rottness
Its an 18ft bowrider with a 135hp inboard licenced for 8 people (will only be taking 4 people max)
we have all the appropriate saftey gear/equipment but not sure if the boat is up to the job etc
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
P.s dont bother with cheeky sarcastic comments please, like i say im new to owning a boat and im looking for genuine help and advice before i put my family on the boat.
Cheers
WA
3519 posts
Hi Kevvy, I did the Rotto trip a fair few times either from Ocean Reef or Freo, but in yachts, my 5c of advice!
Check the weather forecast it could be very ruff between Rotto and Freo, it is better to come back before the sea breeze is blowing to gale force........ The waves could become quite high! The channel is well marked and will keep you safe but if you intend to go around there is a lot of shallow reef to be aware of, have a map plotter on board or if not a chart of the area you will find there is leaders to all the bays on the Island. If it is too ruff to come back be safe and stay on the Island, do not do what idiots are doing, trying to follow the ferry as close as possible to enjoy (exhaust fumes) flat water, it is all good till you have mechanical probs and loose your engine!
Winter is good for your first trip as there is less risk of strong wind, remember to keep it safe!
Good trip!
Cheers
WA
71 posts
Great idea - Rotto is awesome but I have some comments/questions.
18 footer and 135 - no problem with the trip - it will be fine.
That said - the time of day and time of year will dramatically effect the comfort of the ride and therefore ,
it dramatically effects who should come along.
Is your wife on-board and are children involved ?
It can get very bumpy between Perth and Rotto for an 18 footer depending on time of day and time of year.
Whilst the water is flatter and the wind calmer in autumn / winter, the following day or two can be quick to change.
Therefore I recommend a day trip to start with, morning trip to Rotto (Thompson bay) then and early afternoon departure.
Rent a beach mooring and read online how to tie up - its all explained on the Dept transport website.
My experience in small power craft is , if its the boys - 18 footer to Rotto no problem any time of year.
However slightly nervous families will not come back for a 2nd trip if you give them a bumpy ride, therefore use seabreeze to wait for a 1m seas and 1m swell or less day - all day.
Preferably with a calm day the following day to allow for problems and this dramatically reduces the chances of a sudden weather change late in the afternoon.
Always carry a bottle of drifuel (quicksilver product) to put into the tank if the engine starts fluttering.
Water contamination has stopped my engine twice on the way to rotto. Drifuel in tank sorts it in 5 minutes.
On the positive side, this is the time of year where we get nice flat water.
The trip from Rotto to Hillary's is significantly longer so whilst it may be more convenient to go to and from Rotto from Hillary's
it may result in a wife and family not liking it so much if bumpy.
Consider a river launch/ freo departure and return.
Get yourself navionics or inavx on an ipad - download the maps and learn the route on your armchair.
Where are you leaving from ?
MY rules of thumb are these.
1) from wherever you leave from - plot a course to Phillips Rock in Thompson bay.
2) Once near phillip rock ( 500m) change course to port slightly and you will see a marked channel.
3) Its essentially a port marker on a reef (visible) and a starboard marker slightly inside the reef.
4) Split the markers up the middle and then aim for the centre of all the boats on moorings off in the distance.
Once inside the mooring area you are safe for a small boat.
5) If there is only a few boats to give you a sighter, then aim to stay the same distance from the shore the whole way.
ie split the middle of the markers and then stay that distance from shore the entire way into the mooring area.
Its basically very safe if you do your homework.
Make sure your boat is reliable and will start first time every on the river first.
Know your route !!!!!!!!! in advance
have the Freo or Hillary's sea rescue on your mobile and log on by VHF on departing and arriving.
have your mobile in a waterproof bag in case of emergency.
Have an epirb and I assume you have lifejackets - if not sell your boat, you are a clown.
If there is any bumpy weather put on life jackets early.
Going to Rotto is nearly always into the wind - bumpy but very safe.
The most dangerous part is coming back from Rottnest with a following sea. (south wester)
This is where the swell catches up to the boat and you boat ends up surfing down the wave.
If the bow is deep in the water it can catch and the stern is pushed round to the side and then the boat flips - this is called a broach and can happen in seconds.
It is prevented by tilting the motor out and up - this lifts the bow.
then with the bow lifted you use the throttle to keep the boat within the trough of a large swell as it moves toward Perth/Hillary's.
That said - with less than 1m of seas and swell - this is not an issue.
If its a boys trip then gun the throttle as you surf down the wave to keep steerage and yell yeeeehaaaaah !
If you have any specific questions send me a message - more than happy to help. No such thing as a silly question.
