Outboard

In this post, I'm on the scrounge! 


Whilst the primary use for the boat (and I'm looking for (creative) names here as well people), is for weekend sailing on Moreton bay and local dams, I also plan on using it for a little fishing. 


To that end, I'm looking for an outboard, used, in the 3.3 - 4 hp range. The caveat being that it needs to be in the Brisbane, Australia area. 


So, if you have one you'd like to part with, or know of someone who has, please drop me a line. And no, that's not an invitation for spam, thanks!!!! Seriously.

Plans Printed

Well, I have the complete plans from Ken (designer of the Pollywog). Spent a little time at work this afternoon (I love foreign orders) printing and wire binding. 

The plans look all professional now, resplendent in their plastic covers. I've read and re-read the boat plans, and had a first pass at the sail plans. Hmmmm, plenty of scope for changes, and I think there may be a couple.


I'm still so excited by the thought of boat ownership again that I even broke the marine GPS to model with the manuals! Sadly, it wasn't the best photo. 


On the subject, I have a Magellan Meridian Marine which is a few years old now. Still works like a charm. However, when I went to Magellan site to get the software for it, I was informed that they can no longer support old models, and that I should send it to them, and they will give me a credit against a new model. No mention of dollars involved. Hmmmm, not very happy with Magellan. It's not like I'm asking them to keep developing for old models, but I see no reason to not have existing apps / drivers left on the website. Very poor in my eyes, and it will be the last Magellan product I ever purchase. Hear that, Magellan? You can get stuffed.


Still have much garage cleaning / organising to do, so I'm off to do that.

Decision made!

Well, after some months of deliberation, I have finally decided on my new boat. After owning a few boats in the past, the most recent a Boomerang 22. Circumstances meant that the Boomer has moved on, and I'm now living in a small unit with a single garage.

The options to alleviate my lack of marine mobility were limited primarily by the lack of space to store a trailer boat, and the lack of funds for a moored boat (Very expensive mooring fees). Also, living in a backwards state (Queensland, Australia), meant that a public mooring was affordable, but completely unfeasible. Why? Because it's the public service catch 22. Our beloved, completely-divorced-from-the-real-world public servants expect you to have a registered boat before you can get a public mooring. The kicker is that the waiting list is measured in years. So, they expect you to anchor your boat somewhere, and then move it every three days for 10 years until a mooring becomes available. Halfwits......

Anyway, the most convenient option was looking to be an inflatable boat and outboard. They are not too expensive from some of the 'online auction' website  (I am not advertising for the bastards!) sellers, but the drawbacks were durability and no sailing option. 

Well, after much Googling and researching, I found a two part dinghy with a sail option called the Pollywog. The site is here http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/09/designs/polywog/index.htm.

Check it out. I ordered the dinghy plans, and whilst checking them out, I received an email from Ken the designer offering the plans for the mast and sail for free. Excellent value i thought! 

So, I have printed the plans, and have started the cleaning the shed out. Yes, it 's full of tools and stuff, so I need to get that all sorted first. But the enthusiasm is there, and so is the boy like excitement at the thought of being back on the water.

Stay tuned!