0630hrs: Departed Brisbane river heading for Noosa 64NMI away.
Weather squally 5 to 15kts from the SSW.
1900hrs: Arrived at Noosa in the dark having not anchored there before. Had a guess at an anchoring spot.
2400hrs: Two to 2.5 m swell came in from the east. Very unconformable night.
1100hrs: Travel lift back into the Brisbane river after late minute buffing.
Bent prop shaft
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| Sanding done, washdown done and primacoat applied. |
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| Propshaft straightened |
1200hrs: Just got a call from the shipyard. They had a cancellation and we are coming out in 45mins.
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| Starboard prop bent |
1030hrs: Departed Bongaree with only one motor heading for the Brisbane river for repairs.
1830hrs: Arrived in the dark and struggled to find a safe anchorage in amongst the moored boats, many of them without adequate lighting.
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| Gateway Bridge |
1800hrs: Suzy just finished her shower when there was a bump on the hull. After dinner the boat began to vibrate and investigations showed that a log had wrapped itself around the starboard part of our anchor bridle. We winched up the chain to take the pressure off the bridle and managed to untangle the log from the bridle. The large log then floated back between the hulls.
We eased out the chain and started the motors to ease us back on the chain. When I engaged the starboard motor into reverse the engine stalled. At this stage I wondered if the log had snagged the prop.
10th April 1000hrs: When the tide was slack, I dived on the prop to see what the problem was and found that the obstruction had released itself, but the blades of the prop were bent back badly. I started the motor again and engaged reverse and there was a substantial vibration before I quickly disengaged reverse.
Dam, where do we go from there!!
The next day we found the log on the beach.
0800hrs: Today we departed our Brisbane anchorage and headed off for Pumicestone Passage at Bribie Island.
A light northerly meant that we motored all the way.
1330hrs: Arrived at Pumicestone Passage and anchored.
1400hrs: After going ashore to check out Bribie we came back to the boat to find a mooring ball too close to where we were. It was underwater when we anchored and didn't see it. S we relocated further out and made a drink and relaxed. But look what showed up to say hello.
Very tame, he let me pick him up and after a couple of minutes he flew away. Some weird things happen on our boat. A bit of a bird theme happening here.
0800hrs: Our new anchor now replaced we attempted to head off and anchor above the Gateway Bridge, but couldn't get the starboard engine to start. Engine battery stuffed unfortunately so we Ubered into Cannon Hill to buy a new one.
1030hrs: New battery installed we take off to the fuel wharf and top up the diesel tanks. Up the river we go and attempt to set the anchor. Same bloody problem again--the anchor just skids across the mud. Only one thing left to replace, the anchor swivel. We removed the swivel and again attempted to anchor and this time she held firm. I can't explain it and neither can the Rocna rep, but now we have a fully functioning anchor--finally a good nights sleep.
1200hrs: With our anchor replaced we take advantage of our marina last day and catch one of the Brisbane fast cats and spend an afternoon and evening cruising the river and having a beautiful Korean meal at our favorite restaurant.
When we came up the Brisbane River we once again had problems setting our anchor and as a result, needed to pull into Rivergate Marina to try and sort out the issues. I contacted the Rocna manufacturers in Canada, their Australian distributor and Keogh's Marine and RV who supplied the anchor. When I took the anchor off the boat it was clear that the shank was bent and I suspected that this was my issue.
The Australian distributor contacted me on Good Friday regarding my issue and said that the Vulcan anchors have a lifetime guarantee if the shank was bent they would supply a new replacement. Today they came good, delivering and help fit a new anchor.
Many thanks to Fabien from AMS for going out of his way to get us the new anchor at no cost. Sometimes it is worth paying a bit more tom purchase a quality product with great warranty and backup.
0600hrs: Checked the wind forecast and noticed that in a day or so we were in for 30kt+ southerlies. Not good for exposed anchorages or crossing bars.
1000hrs to 1200hrs: Kept having to dodge couplets of green buoys laid in the channel. Turns out they belong to pro crabbers--they were everywhere so engines off and sail trhrough them.
1300hrs: Entered the Brisbane River
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1400hrs: Arrived at proposed anchorage and attempted to anchor, Couldn't get the mongrel anchor to set. This has happened a bit lately and I'm over it. After heaps of tries we decide to check into the Rivergate marina and pull the anchor off for an investigation.
Checked into the Marina and took the anchor off the boat to inspect.
