The Christmas break is here, and it has me recalling fond memories of spending many Christmas holidays ‘down the bay’ on the family boats. As a young boy, the lessons learnt messing about in boats on these extended holidays were priceless. Lasting friendships were made with other boating kids, and the adventures we shared were endless!
At the risk of stating the obvious for many of our seasoned boaters, it’s timely to run through a few topics that might jolt a memory or two, and help you prepare the boat for a Christmas ‘down the bay’.
- Start the holiday with a clean boat
As my old man used to say, ‘a clean ship is a happy ship’ so give the boat a good wash down and tidy up. A few months ago, after some rain, we suffered some heavier than usual fall out, leaving black sooty streaks over our boats. Plenty of theories as to the source of it were discussed around the club, from aircraft fall out, to ash from the September bush fires. Regardless of the source of this soot, in most cases strong detergents are required. Some of my clients’ boats even required polishing as the fallout had entered the unpolished and oxidized pours of the gelcoat, and it just wouldn’t budge! Freshen up the interior also. Go through the galley lockers and check the expiry dates. Clean the heads, vacuum and so on.
- Check everything is working
The last thing you want is to load everything aboard with the family full of excitement and expectations, only to have some major system let you down. We all know boats are notorious for this, but with a proper check of everything, you will minimise the risk. Check batteries, raw water intake strainers, lighting, anchor winch, water pumps, nav equipment etc. If she hasn’t been used for a while, have a diver clean the hull and props and check the intakes on skin fittings for growth.
- Flush the water tanks
It’s not a bad idea to empty your water tanks and clean them before you leave. There are various easy-to- use products available at chandleries for this purpose. They also sell tablets to drop into tanks to kill bugs that might give stomach upsets. Don’t forget to reinforce to family and guests the need to conserve water when at sea!
- Prepare the tender
The tender is probably going to do a lot of work over the break! If the fuel is more than a few months old, replace it with fresh premium fuel. Old fuel breaks down, can attract water and can damage your outboard – you will have very disappointed kids if the tender is out of action! It’s a good idea to over-cater on fuel, as opportunities to buy more while down the bay are limited these days. Only use quality jerry cans and install a water separating fuel filter if possible. Make sure the anchor and safety gear is in order. Check the Maritime Safety Queensland website www.msq.qld.gov.au for the new safety requirements!
- Fishing tackle to consider
This time of year we see small bait fish move into the bay and with them follow the pelagic species such as Longtail Tuna, School and Spotty Mackerel, Chopper Tailor and even some big Cobia. Target these with spinning gear in the main shipping channel and around the beacons or where you see the birds working. Live bait is also a good option for Longtails and Cobia. Most of the banks and channels, particularly in the southern bay, produce good Whiting and Flathead but you might have to move around to find them and don’t forget the Yabbie pump! Crabbing is a great activity for the kids. A good tip is to attach a snapper sinker about 3 metres under the float to keep slack line below the surface, reducing the chance of a boat fouling its prop. Just be aware of the Green Zones, bag and sizes limits and Go Slow areas – so many rules!
- Entertainment officer
Of course, relaxing with a good book, afternoon naps and tinkering with the boat might be all the activity you want down the bay, however if you have kids onboard you will assume the role of ‘entertainment officer’! But thankfully Moreton Bay can provide endless activities and adventures for kids. Snorkelling the Tangalooma Wrecks will have them squealing through their snorkels. The top of the tide is best for water clarity and less current. For a more adventurous and satisfying snorkel, try Flinders Reef or Flat Rock. Walks exploring the sand flats and mangroves at low tide are a world of wonder for little children, but remember, tell them to look but don’t touch. Kayaks are also a great activity for exercise and exploring. We take an old Sabot for the kids to sail which they love. Of course fishing and crabbing will also provide excitement – as long as they are biting!
- Be prepared for impromptu raft ups
Rafting up to friends is always on the cards, so have good fenders and spring lines as even the slightest swell or ship wake can cause damage or injury. Make sure the larger boat has sufficient ground tackle out to handle the extra load. Set the aft spring to do most of the work so the boats will tend ride a few feet apart. Don’t forget to provision the boat with extra nibbles for both young and old guest – there is no corner shop!
- Prepare for storms
I’m sure we all know to keep an eye out for storms this time of year but I still see boats getting caught by surprise. A lot of us now have onboard access to the internet so you can track the storms easily. If you are in the path of a storm, stow everything that will blow off. Move to a safer anchorage if necessary or lay out more chain if you have the room. It’s not uncommon to get an initial blast of 30+ knots from the opposite direction i.e. NE then SW. I often start the engines just prior to the front arriving and manoeuvre the boat to face the new wind direction. It’s a good idea to back up and stretch out any slack in the chain and make sure the anchor is set for the new wind direction. Also, remember to shorten the tender painter if manoeuvring to avoid fouling the props.
- Anchorage etiquette
When anchoring in a tight and crowded anchorage, you need to be considerate of others who have arrived before you. Take your time and consider how much chain others have out and allow for their swing. Remember, big boats need plenty of room so don’t think all that space around them is free – it’s there for their swing. If there is plenty of room in the anchorage, don’t anchor on top of others. If we wanted neighbours, we would be in an apartment at the beach!
- Beware of creatures that bite and sting!
A little common sense and thought should protect you and the kids from potential holiday ending injuries. A simple thing like wading ashore, even in popular anchorages, has its dangers. Stone fish, stingrays and razer shells are often present so invest in a good pair of thick soled water shoes or ‘booties’. I have witnessed numerous stingray strikes over the past few months along the western shore of Moreton Island, so be prepared. The current remedy used by the Moreton Island ambulance is to immerse the effected foot in very hot water! A more serious, but thankfully less encountered creature to be aware of, particularly over the summer months, are sharks. I’m a fisherman and spearfisherman so I’m no stranger to sharks and I have seen some seriously big, aggressive Bull and Tiger sharks in anchorages all around the bay. Shark attacks in Moreton Bay are very rare, but sadly they do happen. Be aware of your surrounds and avoid long swims to shore. Deep water drop offs, swimming early or late and murky water are conditions to avoid. But most importantly, if you see birds diving into the water on feeding fish schools or dolphins feeding, then you can be sure there will be sharks aggressively feeding underneath them.
Finally, to use fellow member Ken Brown’s well known line – ‘Don’t destroy what you came to enjoy’!
Merry Christmas, happy New Year, and safe boating!
Peter Jenyns
