Marina Closures and Restrictions

[Swift]

When it's time to slip the boat I prefer to do the work myself. There’s almost no cost saving (and the weather is always a risk) but the results are much better plus a lot of other jobs can be attended to at the same time.

When I lived in Sydney I used River Quays Marina at Mortlake. It was a big yard with a travel lift so working on the flat was a bonus. Last time I was there there was talk of complaints about noise from the residents of the newly constructed units and townhouses. Maybe that's why River Quays closed down about 5 years ago.

After moving the boat to Brisbane Waters I used Booker Bay Marina and Empire Bay Marina. Booker Bay informed me today that they are no longer allowing owners to work on their own boats. Also 4 days ago Empire Bay Marina were given notice that their licence had been revoked. The Marina is on crown land and is heritage listed and has been operating for 98 years. https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/centr ... e-balance/ I think the chances of saving the Marina are slim.

Anyway, next month for the first time ever, I will reluctantly have the luxury of having someone else antifoul my boat.

Cheers Keith

[Phillip]

Why don't you go down to Boat Works or Horizon Shores etc etc on the Gold Coast?

[Shaun]

That's a long way to go Phil!

Looking at the link you posted Keith, it looks very similar to the Dunbogan Boatshed we have near our moorings here in the Camden Haven, it was going down hill and rotting away, basically was a fishing tackle shack, until new people took over the management of it and turned it into a very successful coffee shop, it still has moorings, a small marina with about six berths, but would not have survived without the coffee shop.
A sad sign of the times when you can't find somewhere close to do an antifoul of your boat, hope it goes well for you and they do a decent job.
Cheers

[Phillip]

Shaun, Brisbane to Gold Coast is only a couple of days in mainly protected waters!

[Miker]

Careel Bay Marina went through a lot of issues back in 2005/6, a developer wanted to put in 37 marina berths and a new boatshed/cafe/repair business. It took a lot of work by the residents and finally it was rejected by Frank Sartor. There were great celebrations.

The history surrounding the area is fascinating. http://www.pittwateronlinenews.com/care ... istory.php

Careel Bay used to allow owners to work on their boats on weekends, or when the slips were free. This was all changed when Worksafe NSW inspected and suggested that someone may injure themselves and not be covered by any insurance. You can't even launch a dinghy on their property any more, and if you want to look over your boat while it's on the slips, you must be with an employee and follow all the workcover requirements. There is also a problem with allowing pollutants in the water, that they can't take responsibility for if you're working on the weekend.

I'd suggest the same reasons are the why Booker Bay won't allow you to work on your boat. It's a shame about Empire Bay, hopefully the residents will try to do something to at least keep the buildings going, even if it's not a working slipway any longer.

[junkman]

Phil, Brisbane Waters is a confusing name, it is not anywhere near Brisbane, but just south of Gosford, with ocean access through Broken Bay. The inability to do your own work is becoming more prevalent and a worry. It might be ok if it was just a quick antifoul, but prices quickly escalate if repairs are needed. No wonder there are so few young people coming into cruising. The era of sailing vagabonds is coming to an end.

[Phillip]

Damn, Junkman I certainly miss-read that !

Even so, the way its going in Sydney it may be a good option [when the border opens!] to go to the Goldcoast/Brisbane area to do your bi-annual haul out.
Its worked out that two of the last three slippings I've done, I did in Queensland, mainly for convenience as I was heading north and for the fact I could stay on board.

And I think its cheaper!

[junkman]

Hi Phil, I remember your last slipping at Lawries, when you were jacked up into the sky and replacing your engine shaft. I spent a year in Mooloolaba on Blue Moon refitting the boat and am now cruising Moreton Bay. I fitted a new junk sail, portholes, hard dodger over cockpit and Windpilot windvane. Still a lot of things need fixing on the boat but it was time for a dose of fun. Lawries hardstand is pretty good, but I have received such glowing reports from people who have used Boatworks at Coomera that I may slip there next time. I think you are right about the cheaper prices up here too. I sigh for the old days though, when you could careen against a public wharf or on a sloping beach somewhere for a quick scrub and antifoul between tides. Last time I dared to do it was on a beach at Woodwark Bay just north of Airlie Beach about 10 years ago. Best boatyard in the world. Swim around the boat as the tide goes out scrubbing the hull, wash it off with a rag and a bucket of fresh water, let it dry for an hour in the hot tropical sun, start painting from the keel up, racing the tide, then haul off for the night and do the other side the following day. I had a large tarp that I lay on the sand to catch paint drops and left the beach clean. The residue from scrubbing off went in the water of course, but it is still not illegal in Qld to scrub while afloat. There are thriving small businesses scrubbing boats in marinas all over Qld.