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Hi Guys ,

Currently onboard Mooja this Easter Weekend , with my 2 young sons Jeremy ( 9 ) , and Jords ( 4 ) . Can't believe the bargain I have actually bought for my young family , in need of a bit of work , though still a nice Mk1 and not as bare as I thought .

This afternoon , I suffered my first sand bar incident in Jerusalem Bay , while looking for a safe haven overnight . Luckily the river is quite busy this time of year , and a nice elderly man retrieved me from my soft landing in his tender .

This weekend I am just cruising around the Lower Hawkesbury River using O/B Auxillery power , getting familiar with Mooja , who's name shall be changed to " Pretty Emma " when I get a chance in Honour of my beautiful wife . So if you see a Mk1 pottering around , it's probably us ...

Photos will follow soon ,

Brad
DESIREMK1

Good on you Jeremy,

We may be out Monday....

Before you change the name of your boat, make sure you read this very carefully. I know how particular you are about safety, so you don't want to add any further danger!

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm

Hi Miker ,

Due to my wife being sick this weekend , I have returned home a day earlier than invisiged , to my disappointment . Though given the fact Mk1s have been enjoyed since the early 1970s , at least I can be assured of their long jeopardy ( lol )

The guy ( Carl - resident on Scotland Island ) in whom we have bought our Mk1 from has been so good to Jords , Jeremy , and I this weekend , in providing a transport to and from Bayview to Elvina Bay in his runabout , so I'd like to acknowledge his contribution to my family becoming Mk1 owners .

It would be great to hold a name changing ceremony in the near future , as I have read that post , and do hold much respect for blue water excursions .

Catch up soon mate , on the water around Pittwater .

Brad
DESIREMK1

Hi Guys ,

Furthering my familys escapades , this afternoon we became beached behind Newport Arms at Bayview, we were retreived by Marine Rescue . so a big Thankyou goes out to Marine Rescue , who's volunteers give up there weekends to ensure safe waterways for all . If anybody knows of the sandbar that exists in the area adjacent Newport Arms , you would know how treacherous navigating this passage can be in a keeled sailboat .

On a brighter note , my wife Natasha who is from Broken Hill , was quite anxious at the start of the day , due to having no prior boating experience . Though now having spent the day on Mooja , she has gained an appreciation for Top Hats , and is looking forward to the next outing we have .

Brad
DESIREMK1

HI Brad

Seeing you are into discovering the sandbanks and mudflats of the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater ? Another sandbank to explore is the one off the public wharf at Pittwater ?

Cheers Bear

Hi Bear ,

Glad I'm creating all this havoc in a Toppy , as they are built like a tank !! Lol

Thanks for the advice regarding the sandbank at Pittwater , I'm sure I'll find it in the near future !!! . It may be the very sandbank I noticed underneath The Scotland Island Sailing School Boomerang 20 I was on around 1992 , when I attended . Seem to remember seeing a rather large manta ray sliding over off the bank , upon looking down into the water .

Brad
DESIREMK1

Looks great Brad!

Maybe you should invest in two things: a chart (AUS 204), and a fishfinder/echo sounder. The transducer needs to be bedded in epoxy or silicone inside the hull, but that is the only tricky bit. Probably someone on this site can advise the best in-hull spot?

Hi Ian ,

Thanks for the advice , im just getting familiar with her at the moment . Devices such as Depth Sounders will be fitted in time , though they could come in handy currently ( lol )


Brad
DESIREMK1

Not sure on a mark 1, but in my mark 3 there is a small void just forward of the main bulkhead between the cabin and forepeak. This is where I epoxied my transducer to the inside of the hull. it's just to the starboard side of the most forward section of the keel.

The trick to making sure you get a good spot is to put the transducer into a plastic bag full of water and seal it up. Put the bag on the inside of the hull where you want it, then turn on the sounder and make sure you get a signal.

If you do, dry and clean the transducer and the hull area, and glue away. If you don't get a signal, you need to move to a better place. It must be as forward on the boat and as low as possible to give you the best advance notice of shallow water.

If you ran aground in Newport Brad, you may have gone the wrong side of a marker. Happens to all of us at one time or another.

Hi Miker ,

The best possible Placement of a depth sounder unit is understandable , as you would want to know about the depth of a waterway , before you actually pass over it .

As for being on the wrong side of the marker , I was heading up towards Pittwater with the Starboard Marker on my Port side rounding the channel . I think it was more to with a being in the wrong spot with low tide effect as well .


As I am not going to be near Rowland Reserve at Bayview anymore , it should lessen my chances this happening again .


Brad
DESIREMK1