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Restoring on the Dark Side
Restoring on the Dark Side
(Navajo 425)
(Navajo 425)
I've been looking out for a new project, so in September 2020, I purchased a run down 14ft power boat - a 425 Navajo, powered by a Yamaha 40hp four stroke engine. To be honest, most of the value was in the motor, as the aluminum hull was in very average state with the paint being corroded all over the hull. Also the floor (sole) was obviously rotten in a few places.
Latest update 7 July 2024
Restoring a Hartley TS16 (1185 - Pugwash)
Restoring a Hartley TS16 (1185 - Pugwash)
Having sold my yacht a few years ago I have always had painful withdrawal symptoms, so I have purchased a 1974 (and a bit rotty) Hartley TS16. It needs a complete restoration and "some" rot taken out as well as all the rigging has to be setup from scratch.
Latest Update 22 December 2019
Racing
Racing
I retired from racing in 2012.
(photograph is of the successful "Illusion" - Sonata 7.8 (6212), owned by Vic Montague, and on which I crewed for many years.)
Over the years I have sailed on racing yachts in Victoria (S & S 36 and Arrow 14 cat), South Australia (Sonata 23) and New South Wales (Laser, Sonata 7.8, Endeavour 26 and Farr 40).
With respect to racing yachts (keelboats) I have always been told that it's much cheaper to race other peoples boats and I have always endeavoured to follow that advice. I was a member of Gosford Sailing Club for 25 years, before that Clayton Bay Boat Club in Adelaide and when we lived in Melbourne in the 1970's and 1980's - Parkdale Yacht Club.
Some of the more recent racing is outlined below.
2012 State and National Endeavour Championships - January 2012
"The Vicar" (Endeavour 26) had a hard time during these championships as in the first race we had to take evasive action when a yacht didn't give way to us and the genoa got ripped. Vic then had to go to hospital on the evening after the first race and couldn't race on Day 2.
However, somehow we managed to win the Handicap competition!
Winter Series 2009
We decided to have a break this season and will return in the Spring.
Vic has sold Illusion (Sonata 7.8) and purchased an Endeavour 26 which he is going to call "The Vicar".
View the track we took bringing the yacht down to Gosford from Lake Macquarie.
Summer Series 2009
It hasn't been a great season as we missed some races and on one occasion the bottom was dirty and we finished near the back of the fleet. The following race, with a clean bottom, saw us win both line honours and handicap.
Winter Series - 2008
They have put us back up into division 1 with all the big boats.
We didn't sail in race one due to lack of crew, but the boys did a great job in Race 5 finishing 5th over the line and 2nd on handicap. Well done guys!
The weather over the winter was not really suitable for Illusion - but the Spring Series is about to start!
Summer Series - 2008
We won the first race of the summer series by 5 minutes - got 3rd on handicap.
Now we have completed 4 races and won them all across-the-line and are lying third on handicap. I think the handicapper will win again as on last race we won by 6 minutes and came fifth on handicap. Makes it difficult!
Well, the Summer series has finished and guess what? We won the series. It all came down to the last race and we had to finish in the top 4 and beat Haylee Maree by 11 minutes, Divine Intervention by 8 minutes and Dirty Work by 23 minutes. We were lucky that the wind died soon after we finished. However, we won every race, so I think justice was done.
Cruising
Cruising
I owned a Marauder 725 (from 1994 to 2011) on which I went cruising when time permited. This cruising was only local, ranging around the Hawkesbury region, Broken bay, Brisbane Waters and normally only for a few days at a time.
Here are a couple of shots of "Moyra". "Moyra" has been sold and I wish the new owner as much fun with her as I have over the years, although it's a bit hard after 17 years of ownership..
Crossing Broken Bay
At mooring, Brisbane Waters, Gosford
We sailed Moyra down to Botany Bay to its new home on 11 June 2011. Below is the track taken. The "OK" boxes in the image are the positions sent from my "Spot" PLB.
Previous yacht
Previous yacht
When we lived in Adelaide I belonged to Clayton Bay Boat Club and sailed a Vega 18 trailer-sailer on the Murray River. Here are a few shots of us on a trip down the Corrong in 1990.
The photos are:
Heading to the barrage at Goolwa.
At rest on the Corrong (No one else around for many kilometres!)
Another trip - doing my Offshore Skipper's Certificate - in Bass Strait in 1985.
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