Saving Old Seagulls

19 November. 2052 hrs
What a day started out near perfect went to stinking hot at midday the to blowing a gale this afternoon. We had lunch at Morgan and then made a run for Blanchtown. The wind started gusting to about 40 + knots the wind was moving us around all over the river and we were using full lock on the steering to try and stay on course. These flat bottom boats do not handle the wind very well. On the long reaches the waves got to 500 mm high and about 2000 mm apart. The boat would rise into the air so that half the boat was out of the water and then it would slam back down and bury the bow into the next wave. A good design as no water came into the boat. We decided to run for cover after a wave picked up the bow and while it was in the air a gust of wind turned the boat side on to the swell. Not long after this the motor ingested some water and stopped. We manned the oars and headed for the bank. John managed to start the motor and we went upstream to a semi sheltered location and will wait out the wind. If has calmed down tomorrow we will continue on to Blanchtown.

21November 1048 hrs
We got blown away on Tuesday night and had to run for cover. Found a semi protected location up river and pulled in. The boat slammed drown on the chine on what we thought we sand bags but must have been hiding a rock or a fence post. A hole was punched through the side and flooded the port side forward compartment we didn't notice.
More later.

21 November 1113 hrs
Motored off wednesday morning and again ran into very strong winds we got turned around by the wind and the waves and made it to a semi sheltered sand bar to wait out the worst of the wind. Stayed on the sand bar for about 2 hrs and then decided to head downstream again and make for Swan Reach. Had lunch at and then continued downstream. The wind intensified and we made a dash for Wongulla. We notice the boat had a list to port and thought it might be water in the forward compartment but as we were battling wind and wave decided to leave the inspection to after we had secured for the night. Opened the compartment up to find that it was flooded. Removed my clothes and personal gear from the compartment nag using the Ripley bilge pump removed the water. Thee is a small hole that has punched through the hull below the water line right on the chine. We are continuing on with the compartment flooded to the water line about 150 mm of water in the compartment. Just leaving Walker Flat now after refueling. Heading for Manum tonight. Chip eater running well. Lazy Gull now has three holes in the hull. One in the bow above the waterline. One in the fwd port side compartment below the waterline and the third hole is a pin prick that is just oozing water behind the fwd compartment. Johnathan is running well with his villers ignition system fitted.

Keep Going People" Keep going. Your almost there.

Will any "Seagull" people be about to welcome the boats at Goolwa?

[attachment=0]image.jpg[/attachment]Here is a picture of Johnathon doing what he does best. Propelling the boat down river at the frightening pace of 8 - 9 kph.

21 November 1518 hrs

Johnathon has blotted his copy book. Stopped mid river like the gearbox was seized. Rowed into the bank and pulled him into the boat to find fishing line wrapped around the propeller shaft. Changed him for 4 am and we are continuing down river. John will be busy tonight removing the line and possibly replacing the seal. 4 am is not as fast as Johnathon.

Hard to tell how big the hole is, probably about pencil size. This is based on how quickly the compartment fills up after it is pumped dry. A bit of splintering of the ply and the fiberglass tape.

21 November 1956 hrs.
This is a picture of Lazy Gull and Chip Eater at the caravan park at Manum. John has removed the fishing line and replaced the seal on Johnathon. He will go back on the boat and 4 am ( called that because that was when the motor was put together from boxes of parts, on the day of launching) will go into the storage hold. Johnathon is faster than 4 am by at least 0.5 kph. Every bit counts.

.... Then again there is the Danube or the other silly gutter in the northern hemisphere......

Ah, but we've got the rest of the major rivers in each state to go first .... Might give the river in NT a miss though ...

Jonathon didn't blot his copybook . Baldrick (Greg) did, he did a spot of fishing and got the line around the propeller and locked the engine up. We didn't get the rod, hooks or sinkers! About the return trip,
we might need some new motors, we think these are just about worn out!

Keep it up gents, nearly finished!

60 + klms to go !

Oops ! forgot the map.

Woohoo!!!! Catch a big fish in the lake for the winner's dinner!!