Graeme,

Don't know about the parking etc.

But have a look at the Top Hat for your yacht.

see www.tophatyachts.com for more info.

Phillip.

I have friends who moor their Compass in the Tweed River, and others who keep theirs near Southport Broadwater.

Top Hats rule.......

I am also on a mooring on the tweed river, $226/ year, plus a mooring service.

I could not justify any more expense for my little boat. Great for easy trips north and south.

I will admit I am thinking of selling to get a trailer sailer to go further afield.....a days drive and then a couple of weeks sailing and a days drive home, whatever the weather or tide.

We actually sail with the compass a bit as well.

Graeme, have a look here. No waiting list for Tweed River for a swing mooring. should cost about $350 a year for the license and about the same for a mooring service each year.

www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/index.html

This is the main page for moorings at Maritime QLD www.msq.qld.gov.au/Waterways/Buoy-moorings.aspx.

Four years ago I went through the same process as you are now. The issues I had with a trailer sailer were that I don't have a driveway big enough, and the street is too narrow to have it parked there full time. I also checked out how long it takes to rig and de-rig, and added to driving to the water way made the decision that I would rarely go sailing because it took too long to get ready and get home again.

With a moored boat, whilst you are limited to your local areas for day or weekend sails, you will go more often because it's so easy. Rubber dinghy on the roof of the car, Row out to your boat and go sailing. I live 30 minutes from my boat and can leave home at 9 and be o
Under way at 9.45.

The easier it is to go out on the boat, the more often you will go and the more often you will have more fun and that, in my humble opinion is what it's about.

Moorings in country NSW are no problem and if your a pensioner its half price! So is your rego too of course.

Trailer sailers get to be a hassle and eventually just clog up yacht club yards till they appear on Ebay..

It is pretty easy, it just takes a bit of forward planning.

We don't leave or enter if the swell is over 1.5m or thereabouts. 1.2 is better.

We then look for days or weekend when the low tide is in the middle of the day......leaving the tweed river on a runout tide, and 3 hours later having a run in tide going in the seaway.

We haven't done a southern trip yet, but the tides work well for yamba.....at approx 5 knots, we have extra time to waste if needed. Although I've been into the Clarence and Coffs many times with no issue.

We mainly do the run up to GC, and spend our time cruising around up there, and if the weather prevents our return, we may have to go into a marina or onto a mooring for a week or so until the weather gods align!

What we have done last 2 years, I've just left the boat at hope harbour over summer, used the boat more often around the broad water and then bring it back for winter.....seems to work well.

You will find people around paradise waters with jetties and pontoons to rent, but most know the value of a dollar and about $50/week is cheapest I've heard of.

Cheers
Rick

Hi Graeme, got your email and have replied.

There are 2 ways to access the moorings, from the south side via fungal boat ramp.....easier but cab get busy in summer, or on the north side, there is a goat track down past the golf club. It is a bit rough, but good be cause it is quiet, and you come out about 50m away from the more boats. There are a couple of nice sandy spots to drag the dinghy down to the water.

Cheers
Rick

Ha Ha !
Well with all that rain we've had for the past year or so, pretty much everything here is Fungal.
Didn't get down the Tweed today..
Cheers !

Yes thats the track, it is shown well on google earth.

drive right through the carpark, passed the whale watch charter boat and clubhouse (good food) and there is a track down by the waters edge.

it is a goat track...no problems in my Falcon, but I wouldnt try to take a sports car down.....lots of big potholes.

some people leave their tenders chained to a tree, and get as close as they can and walk the rest of the way.

Chookfoot said..

Just a little update..
The NSW maritime site that shows no waiting list for Tweed R. is wrong.
When I phoned today, they said there was 8 on the waiting list, some people have been waiting since 2011.

What did you expect dealing with a government department? That maybe they knew what they were talking about or maybe knew what they were doing?

Try asking them where there are some moorings available and then stand back and watch the head scratching.