Escape pod

[Lost at Sea]

Hey all, bought a yacht to sail up the reef and head up to NT and beyond to fish my days away and be on the water. Trying to be as self sufficient as can so decked it out and stocked up so I don't have to hit land for at least 6 months, time to do what I want for a change... 

[ellicat]

Welcome.

Sounds like a mighty fine plan. When do you head off ?

[Lost at Sea]

I bought a shed on an acre and a half in a ghost town to store all my possessions, settles on 25th. Was cheap... Then I am full time on boat, will pull out to scrub bottom and have to drill some holes to mount the water maker, want to re do the bimini so I can add a turbine and some bigger solar panels. Then spend a few weeks getting comfortable on the water with it and then I am off.

[Old Scaley]

Sounds exciting. I just hope your user name isn’t an omen. Keep us up to date as you go if you have reception.

[Lost at Sea]

I am so pumped for this, been a while in the making... I bought a cel-fi and apparently they get reception up to 40 to 50nm out, will see.

[Hweebe]

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures and catches.

Tell us more about the yacht setup.

How much sailing have you done in a previous life?

Sailing solo?

[Ed.]

Well done, should be quite an adventure.

[Lost at Sea]

it is 38 foot tassie built cold molded celery top pine, tasmanian blackwood fiddles and oak internals, glassed over. The guy I bought it off had bought a larger adams and his son, by coincidence is a neighbour so he sold it to me for half price, immaculate condition, exceptionally well looked after. Paid pennies at $25k

I bought a 48v 2000w turbine, 2 x 540w solar panels, 8kwh powerplus lifepo4 (aus made). I bought a spectra vt200t water maker which does 31 litres an hour @10a on 12v (came with 3 x 120ah agm purchased 21). I bought a coastmaster 4 liferaft, a cel-fi repeater and a victron 48v inverter and mppt.

 

I went silly and bought enough supplies for about a year, been dehydrating a lot of veges as well in preparation.

 

I lived on various yachts in my late 20's and early 30's but really just used them as cheap housing and while I sailed a bit, am ten years off the water now after meeting devil woman and having a child, she stole the farm and daughter on an access visit so it seemed like a good time to do something for me. Will be sailing solo.

[ellicat]

Do you have a GoPro and a laptop ? You could make a video log on Youtube to earn some cash along the way.

[Junky]

Good on ya mate. 

That sounds awesome.

I'd love to get a yacht.

Wife can't do the rough weather, otherwise I'd have one now. 

S.V Delos is a great show on youtube. 

Brian started out novice and now 13 odd yrs later he's still going. Followed him for years.

That's Livin. 

 

I hope it all goes smoothly and definitely put up tails of your journeys. 

You'd find a deckie or two in the online groups that will sail legs with you etc. 

Don't have to be solo, unless you want to. 

[Lost at Sea]

2 hours ago, ellicat said:

Do you have a GoPro and a laptop ? You could make a video log on Youtube to earn some cash along the way.

Grumpy guy yells at ocean, sure to be a hit...

[ellicat]

You could be like the "Soup Nazi" off Seinfeld.

[Lost at Sea]

13 hours ago, Junky said:

Good on ya mate. 

That sounds awesome.

I'd love to get a yacht.

Wife can't do the rough weather, otherwise I'd have one now. 

S.V Delos is a great show on youtube. 

Brian started out novice and now 13 odd yrs later he's still going. Followed him for years.

That's Livin. 

 

I hope it all goes smoothly and definitely put up tails of your journeys. 

You'd find a deckie or two in the online groups that will sail legs with you etc. 

Don't have to be solo, unless you want to. 

I am addicted to sailing vids, I been watching free range sailing before they went to land, it was a catalyst for buying this boat...

If the missus will let you, you are welcome to come have a sail and fish.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Sounds like you’re going to have a great time! 

[rayke1938]

What power unit does it have? Auto pilot? Radar? Decent radio that will work in the tropics ? ( Bit iffy relying on others to relay forecasts) Not very nice up north in cyclone season. Mobiles do not cut it 100k out.

 

[Drop Bear]

On 08/07/2022 at 4:13 PM, Lost at Sea said:

I went silly and bought enough supplies for about a year

Mate that sounds like the dream! I have never done anything like this. What supplies can you buy that last a year? 

[Angry51]

Most of your tin food and dried foods will last

if stored properly.

[Hweebe]

On 09/07/2022 at 8:39 AM, Lost at Sea said:

I am addicted to sailing vids

I'm a bit the same - can go down into rabbit holes with a few of the channels

Been watching a couple (from NSW) on the Sailing Papao - Saved up and quit there corporate jobs to go sailing / spearfishing.

I say good on you for going for your dream as well.

[Hweebe]

On 08/07/2022 at 10:06 AM, Lost at Sea said:

I bought a cel-fi and apparently they get reception up to 40 to 50nm out

I'm interested in hearing about how you go with this, here in moreton bay reception is patchy / non-existent is certain parts. Wouldn't mind always having mobile phone coverage while in and around the bay for complete peace of mind.

I know i have the marine radio, but i'd probably fumble my way through radio procedures if / when i need to radio in for assistance.

Anybody else have / use one of these cel-fi's?

[Angry51]

No idea, pray tell us oldies.

What they be for.

[Lost at Sea]

 

 

Telstra has announced that its Next G mobile network has extended its coverage out to sea. The coverage extends between 20 to 70 kilometres out to sea from mobile bases situated near the coast. Coverage includes the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney to Melbourne coast and the Whitsundays.

[Lost at Sea]

On 10/07/2022 at 7:42 AM, rayke1938 said:

What power unit does it have? Auto pilot? Radar? Decent radio that will work in the tropics ? ( Bit iffy relying on others to relay forecasts) Not very nice up north in cyclone season. Mobiles do not cut it 100k out.

 

Power is split into 3 parts, start battery, 3 x 120ah AGM in parallel so 360ah @12 and 48v 8kwh lifepo4 (2 x 48v powerplus 4kwh),  2 x 540w panels in series and a 2000w turbine feeding the 48v system, a 540w panel feeding into the 12v.

If you mean motor? is a volvo penta 23hp in mint condition, uses about a litre an hour.

Has autopilot, am looking at a radar and a forward looking radar. Has all the electronics I need and will get backups in case of failure, ie; second autopilot.

my years provisions include

50kg nuts (peanuts, cashews, brazil, pecan and maccas), 50kg dried fruit powder so I can make juices (beetroot, spinach, strawberry, mango, seaweed, carrot, flaxseed meal etc etc). I bought 5kg powdered garlic and 5kg powdered ginger. Vietnamese rice paper rolls, vietnamese noodles, rice... 20kg coconut water powder, 21kg dehydrated mash potato (each 7kg makes 42kg). 5kg mixed herbs (butcher supplies), have dehydrated 20kg peas, 20kg green beans, 20kg carrot, 6 dozen eggs and 10kg onion (am taking the dehydrator with me). I got heaps of tinned goods. I bought oats and enough yoghurt culture to make yoghurt whenever I want. 50 milk powders, 2000 teabags (gone off the coffee) 25 shelf stable cheddar blocks and whatever else I forgot to add.

There are two fridges, one built in and one I bought that I will use as a freezer, I will cryovac meat as I need (vacuum sealer with 12m of bags was something stupid like $50 off ebay).

Water maker means I don't need to worry about drinking water but I have bought himalayan salt for the minerals taken out from maker.

 

 

[Lost at Sea]

I also bought a small 12 pod idoo hydro set up to grow fresh greens.

[Lost at Sea]

I have a 2 burner gas stove with 8kg bottle but bought an evacuated tube solar cooker, a cobb cooker and a 12v marine travel buddy (best oven ever) so if gas runs out (plan to just use for tea), I have the ability to cook regardless.

[Lost at Sea]

It has 127 litre diesel tank but have 3 jerries as well, I see this as the only weak point in the set up. I am thinking I might swap out the water tank for another diesel tank as I have water on demand.

[Angry51]

Looks like you've got most things covered.

Love to see some photo's as you travel and I really hope

you enjoy yourself. It'd be a trip of a lifetime.

Good luck mate.

[Lost at Sea]

Now the question is.... What do you guys think I need to fill tackle box to last the trip? I was worried about buying flash gear with all the salt. I have a ugly stik blue water combo and a penn 340GT combo, looking for any other rod/reel combo you think I might need. I bought 400 suicides, wire, sinkers and braid. Some ****** lures so up for suggestions there.

[Lost at Sea]

Couple of pics

[Ed.]

1 hour ago, Lost at Sea said:

Now the question is.... What do you guys think I need to fill tackle box to last the trip? I was worried about buying flash gear with all the salt. I have a ugly stik blue water combo and a penn 340GT combo, looking for any other rod/reel combo you think I might need. I bought 400 suicides, wire, sinkers and braid. Some ****** lures so up for suggestions there.

A couple of large spools of strong hand lines with spoons/lures for mackerel and tuna, very cheap, simple and effective, to trail behind the boat when travelling on the ocean. Plus a few bait jigs in different sizes. Probably be good to also get 1 or 2 lighter rod setups as well. Ugly's are quite resilient and they can usually fit multiple line classes too.

[Angry51]

Yeah, I can see you bouncing out of bed and hitting your

head on the ladder there.

That'd give you a good start to the day.

[rayke1938]

3 hours ago, Lost at Sea said:

Couple of pics

Very sweet looking craft. That volvo will go forever. You will soon get used to ducking your head.

 

[ellicat]

Get yourself some Halco Laser Pros in a variety of sizes and depths. Grab a few with red heads and white bodies, then grab a selection of other colours (I like purple) for those rare days that the 'QANTAS' coloured lure doesn't work. They are pretty cheap but very effective when trolling for pelagics.

You'll also want some slugs for casting at mackerel and tuna. Again Halco - Twisties are the go. Get a range of sizes from 10 grams and up in both gold and silver. You can also throw some soft plastics around for pelagics too. Start with 5inch and get bigger. As you'll be spinning and want some distance I'd say get a range of jigheads from 1/2 oz. to 1 1/2oz. Hook size around 7/0.

 

[Lost at Sea]

Got out to do a few loads, thought I would be running out of room after all the supplies but surprisingly have plenty more space, didn't get to drop a line in, was really rough most of time and then... it was calm, just as I was leaving.

[Angry51]

Looks like a good place for a bit of peace and quiet.

You could easily fit in a few conversations to oneself there 

couldn't you. Or arguments.

[ellicat]

Something just crossed my mind looking at all that structure on the deck. Have you got yourself a PLB - Personal Life Beacon ?  It'd be a good idea to be in the habit of wearing it when on the deck just in case. They're relatively inexpensive - around $250.

[Lost at Sea]

I  bit the bullet and bought a self steering wind vane to help out since I got some extra cash from this mess. Settled on property on 25th, 5 mins before settlement, solicitors get back to me and tell me (despite paying for searches and not receiving them) that property is 10a and not 1a approved so contacted their solicitor about the misrepresentation and I got the choice to terminate contract or go ahead with a reduction in price. With so little time before I head to boat I chose the reduction since it is a ghost town in bum f**k QLD where the council seems to leave people alone, the solicitors refunded their fees too. Not the end of the world as I contacted a retrospective building mob to ask, since it built well using bluescope, has been up for 5 years and has power and septic, they think I might be able to do a re zone relatively easy.

[ellicat]

That's a nice win.

[Hweebe]

The self steering wind vane will be a nice addition to the autopilot as well.

Any pics of your electronics setup? Charts / Auto pilot / Radar / Fishfinder

I'm an electronic gadget buff hahaha

[Angry51]

59 minutes ago, Hweebe said:

The self steering wind vane will be a nice addition to the autopilot as well

I reckon that'd be like running down the road on cruise with couple

trailers hanging on behind while you had a snooze.

No thanks, I don't think I'd be able to sleep.

[Hweebe]

28 minutes ago, Angry51 said:

I reckon that'd be like running down the road on cruise with couple

trailers hanging on behind while you had a snooze.

No thanks, I don't think I'd be able to sleep.

I don't think there are any options...............if solo sailing auto pilot would be a must unless you wanted some sleep or hang at an anchorage every night.

Less crazy people on the seas compared to our roads. and also less things to hit although we have all seen new stories of beacons / buoys being hit at night.

28 minutes ago, Angry51 said:

No thanks, I don't think I'd be able to sleep.

Or you would be sleeping with a life vest on