Hi Mark. Unbelievable trip to take on! As your stuck in quarantine I may take up some of your time. Just a note to say that all your efforts with this channel have positive effects on people. I used sail off the beach in my youth. At 55 and living on a farm in Gippsland , with a great life I now miss sailing and have enjoyed watching the “ big “ sailing channels in exotic locations. But that is unattainable for myself. Then I stumbled upon your channel and it highlighted that The Lakes, Port Phillip bay and Western-port can provide unreal adventures especially with the benefits of a trailer sailor. I now own a Sunbird 25,1985. A little like an RL28 I think with good headroom. I’ve only had a test run in the Blue Rock dam👍at Easter but am hoping to make it to the Gippsland lakes with my 10 yo son this week. So many thanks Mark for bringing some reality to dreams! p.s. I’ve 1/2 copied your solo mast raising system, changed the head to include fresh water flush and holding tank upgrade and put in a small hot water system to include a deck shower👍( Victoria , winter right).
Thanks Adam for the kind words. The only reason I make these videos is to share and show you can find and experience adventure almost anywhere if you look. Sunbirds are great seaworthy boats and it sounds like you are well on the way to making it even better. I will be retiring to Metung next year for a whole lot more sailing on the lakes so may get to see you on the water some time. Cheers Mark 🙂
@@tonywoollcombe1799 Hi Tony , I’ve only had it in the water once and haven’t been sailing for a while except for a Hobie16! However my goal was for a “big” little boat. She has good freeboard and felt great and stable. I only sailed with the main and didn’t get the Genoa up on the roller fuller this time. ( hoping to sort this out later this week). A few freak gusts did almost over power her but she felt very controllable and reacted ,steered and healed with no surprises. I am looking forward to pushing her a bit down the track. The Sunbirds have a bit of a Skeg with the internal ballast as well as a steel swing plate. It makes them sit quiet high on the trailer but she was easy enough to launch I think. There is a great old article of 5 sunbirds sailing to Tassie and back in the 1980s.It’s on John Crawford marine website. I didn’t realise it initially but as a youngster I knew the lead skipper of this trip well. That read did sell me on the Sunbirds a bit. Ie a big little boat. Thanks for your interest Tony. Cheers Adam.
@@tonywoollcombe1799 Hi Tony , I’ve only had it in the water once and haven’t been sailing for a while except for a Hobie16! However my goal was for a “big” little boat. She has good freeboard and felt great and stable. I only sailed with the main and didn’t get the Genoa up on the roller fuller this time. ( hoping to sort this out later this week). A few freak gusts did almost over power her but she felt very controllable and reacted ,steered and healed with no surprises. I am looking forward to pushing her a bit down the track. The Sunbirds have a bit of a Skeg with the internal ballast as well as a steel swing plate. It makes them sit quiet high on the trailer but she was easy enough to launch I think. There is a great old article of 5 sunbirds sailing to Tassie and back in the 1980s.It’s on John Crawford marine website. I didn’t realise it initially but as a youngster I knew the lead skipper of this trip well. That read did sell me on the Sunbirds a bit. Ie a big little boat. Thanks for your interest Tony. Cheers Adam.
Hi Mark and Helen, great to see you are on your way to some great adventures and what an Adventure just getting there. I just got out of Sydney by a day or two before 14 days lockdown and back in Melbourne. But then I put myself in a 7 day lock just to make sure after I had a test which came be negative. Just wanted to be safe. Anyway with the lockdown you are in you now have more time to do more videos. But in the end it’s not the videos it’s having a great Adventure with your wife and making memories that will last a lifetime. Looking forward to the next one.
Hi Mark, I couldn't agree more. Its always been about the sailing and being on the water, it feeds the soul and memories. I enjoy making the videos despite the work it takes but they are only about sharing the experiences and love of sailing with other sailors and dreamers. I also do them for my own memories and enjoyment. I don't post regularly unless I have new experiences to share. To be sure the our focus will be to enjoy this trip and the new experiences and the time spent together. But as both Helen and I love to take photos and video I am sure the videos to share will fill in those long evenings on some days..... gets dark around 5.45pm. Keep well and I hope you get out on a few more of those delivery trips. Cheers Mark
Hi Mark & Helen, that was some trip, well done, my wife & I have a Mach 28 and travel to various spots using the boat as a caravan, we often get funny comments from people when we pull into camps and caravan Parks, I cant imagine some of the comments you guys received travelling up the center of Australia, We will put it on our "To do list". Great video, cant wait to see more, Cheers Terry & Kim
Hi Terry & Kim, as we bush camped the whole way up it wasn't too bad, a few strange looks but we were the only one with a high rise view from our seats. In the past when ever I book in a caravan park I always say I want a site for a boat shaped caravan! Either way its a great way to travel. Cheers Mark
Thank Aaron, still 10 days in a very small space and then a frantic couple of days of final supplies, getting the boat in the water, car stored and catching the right tide to sail 48 miles in 6 hours. Cheers Mark
Looking forward to this trip, I actually pasted you when I was heading west just out of Catherine after the loss of your mate on your last trip. Phil of SV Seaka.
Its a small world but I suppose there aren't that many trailer sailers on the road in these parts. We are looking forward to the trip to but wont get too hopeful until we are heading out of King Sound. Cheers Mark
Thanks for sharing your trip North. I'm ex navy, my final posting being on HMAS Launceston a Darwin based patrol boat. I have fond memories of time spent on the Kimberley coast George's river and its twin waterfalls being a standout highlight. Happy sailing. One day hopefully i'll get the chance to do just as You guys are doing and sail the Kimberleys in a boat of my own. Take care. Cheers Ian
Hi Ian, yes the King George river is on the list, barring any disasters we will hopefully get there too. I am sure you will get out on your own boat some down, after all you have it in the blood from your navy days. Cheers Mark
Getting out of Victoria was the easy part. SA was only open for a few days so we were lucky there. Thought we would be home free in NT only to be met by a covid outbreak and exposure sites to navigate. WA was the biggest hurdle but out of all the states they were the clearest about their expectations even if very tough and locking us up for 14 days. If we get onto the water there should be no looking back. Cheers Mark
Good on you Mark and Helen. It must feel like a real achievement just to have got to King Sound! Good luck with quarantine, and we'll all look forward to seeing the first voyaging video. Cheers, Tony
Hi Tony, An achievement and just lucky to have got through. It will be a rush at the end of our quarantine to get the boat on the water and on our way before the tides get too late in the morning. Cheers Mark
Yes it stays with you for life. It was particularly hard as she was not even 2 years old. She was a great mate and that's what I need to remember. Another 10 days quarantine before we can launch, will be chomping at the bit by that stage, can't wait! :)
Awesome video mate. I just stumbled upon your channel. I'm looking at getting into sailing, and I think a trailer sailer would be perfect. My wife and I and two kids. I think a 27 or a 28 would be sufficient. I look forward to watching more i Of your content. One Life, One Search, Shane
Hi Shane, Trailer Sailers are a great way to have adventures with a family. 27 - 28ft would be fine. Back in 2006 when I started sailing took my wife and 2 kids 14 and 16 at the time from Cooktown in far north Queensland and sailed north to Lizard Island, other deserted islands and up to Princess Charlotte Bay on Cape York. We had a ball fishing, snorkelling, exploring ..... despite the kids being teenagers. Now hitting 30's and they both still rave about how good it was. That was all in a Southern Cross 23 (23ft), bit squeezy but doable. So yes I would encourage you to give it a go. The biggest thing to look out for is keeping your partner happy, maybe even try getting her out on a sailing experience or lesson before starting. Helen hated it initially but now is an old hand at it but there were some tense moments in the first few years. One life, make the most of it. Any questions I am always happy to answer. Cheers Mark
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES thanks for your reply and your advice . My kids are 2 and 4, so still a few years away right at the moment. My wife should be ok. She backpacked arpund the world with me, and across Aus in a 76 Kombi, twice. I agree on lessons, and perhaps joining a yacht club? Your adventure sounds epic, and full of amazing memories. This is what we try to do. We try to not focus on material things, and focus on experiences. I'm looking forward to watching more of your content. I'm sure I'll have heaps of questions. One Life, One Search, Shane
@@thisneurodiverselife Hi Shane, Kids at 2 an 4 are perfect, they are so much more adaptable to new experiences at that age. You sound very like Helen and I, life is about experiences and adventures and sadly way to short to do everything. Helen is tough and adaptable and we have 4wd'd around Aus for a year and pretty much visited most part of the country outside of cities with and without the kids on countless other camp drive trips. So important in creating a strong family and setting them up for life. It surprised me when Helen got scared initially. Monohulls heel over when sailing which initially feels really unnatural to some. That combined with some big seas out of cooktown had a negative impact on Helen that lasted some years. I think it may have been easier if I had introduced her to sailing in the presence of someone she perceived as an expert. All good now, just took a bit longer to get there. Back packing around the world sounds like a great adventure, I am sure full of great experiences and memories, some good and some not so easy, all part of what makes what makes it an adventure. Would love to do the around the world thing by yacht. The biggest hurdle at the moment is finding a good trailer sailer. The pandemic has seen the demand for them skyrocket, great if you are selling but not so much if you are trying to find one. Cheers Mark
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES your not wrong, covid tax atm. Everything is moving fast, and over priced. We are not 100% financially ready just yet. Still dealing with closing up my business. So hopefully after the covid tax settles, should be able to find something. Backpacking arpund the world was awesome, before kids. Visited over 30 countries. My wife is awesome, she loves the adventure. Even supported me when I decided to head to Antarctica for a year. I think the perceived expert might be a good idea. I might look at a yacht club first, get some lessons. Learn the ropes???
Thanks Tony. Yes Sunny was my first Jack Russell. She was the best travelling companion and needless to say there were a few tears shed 10 years ago and again a few days ago at the Mary River😥 but good to return where I buried her🙂
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES Jack Russell’s are a very brave intelligent little dog….I’m biased as both of us come from Devonshire. My family used hunt with the Rev Jack Russell ….known as the hunting Parson. I noticed Sunny in a very short video of yours 🥃 near Eden…
She loved the adventure and going ashore but wasn't keen on the sailing when the swell got up. I was never a small dog type of person but as you say the Jack Russell is a very intelligent dog and they think they are 10ft tall so don't really count as a small dog. They have totally won me over :)
Jeez wiz. The boat ramp looks a bit anti climatic after driving 5000 kms…still it is so much faster driving than sailing to get to your chosen cruising grounds.
Thanks for the comment. The boat ramp was just a means to an end. Really only 2 options for trailer boats to sail the Kimberley coast. Broome or Derby. Broom is a swell prone ramp surrounded by rocks and no handling jetty. Derby, despite its huge tides is easier to launch at if you get the timing right and with the right tide you can get to the top of King Sound in around 6 hours. It also saves over 100miles of sailing with not much to see or stop for if coming from Broome. Cheers Mark
Apart from having issues with Mazda and how they treat owners, the car is a great tow hack and tows the 3 tonnes of boat and the load in the car at 100km/h pretty easily. Significant hills slow us down and it takes a little time to wind up to 100km/h but no issue overtaking caravans travelling 10km/h slower.
Im guessing that 3.2t is fully loaded inc water tanks etc. . the RLs displacement was 1400 out of the factory.. Ad another 1000 for the trailer still leaves a gap of 800... Would I be right in thinking you had 800 kilos of "stuff" though? Hmm.. or did Rob provide that Displacement figure not including rigging, spars, sheets etc.. Im thinking of buying an RL and only have a triton (3t capacity).
The figure of 1370kg for the RL28 quoted by Rob Legg has always been questioned by owners. Most would say the dry weight is closer to 1500kg with mast and rigging. Add to this 140kg of extra ballast I have added for open water comfort and stability, 50kg for the outboard, 90kg of water (tanks half full on the way) 100kg of house and lithium batteries, 60kg of anchors and chains, probably at least 60kg of assorted equipment(tv, toilet, water pump, fridge unit, water maker, auto pilots, instruments etc), 40kg of davits and solar panels and bimini, 30kg for the drum anchor winch...... I am sure I have still left off a number of items in the boat on the way up out but even with these the boat weight starting at a more realistic 1500kg and a trailer weight of 1000kg (mine is probably closer to 900kg) would come to 3080kg, the remainder would have been in some supplies, assorted tools and spares and other fitout items I have overlooked. In other words it adds up very quickly when you set a boat up for extended cruising. When we launched we would have added another 200+kg in fuel, 100kg of extra water, 120kg in food supplies so once on the water the boat itself would have been around the 2500kg. I also have a friend who has bought an RL28 and stripped it down for racing and cruising and his boat on the trailer from what I have heard comes in at around 2300kg so it is possible to get them light enough for the Triton. Mine has been set up for extended cruising and I have intentions of sailing out in Bass Strait so have added the extra ballast as well. I would be confident that 3t capacity would be fine as long as you don't add too many extras and load up the boat at the destination on extended trips. If you check out rlyachts.net and look at the surveys page you will see the quoted weights vary quite a bit. Food for thought. Cheers Mark
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES Thanks for the advice mate.. I know the RL site quite well as I owned a 24 for many years and quickly bought and sold a 28 that I flipped for an assortment of reasons at the time. I never actually "got to know" the boat.. Im towing a 2000 kilo van atm and thats fine but I do prefer to have some headroom when towing and not be at the limits. (I run a trailer/van weighing business these days, so its important I am a good boy on the road lol) I have to say I am really impressed with your videos and the way you have set your boat up..
Just out of curiosity, in what conditions was the boat and trailer weight at 3.2T? Like was it fairly empty, or fully loaded up ready to launch for a few days, Like water tanks, fuel, gear, ect, ect
Hi David, We were very careful to load all of our food supplies and a fair bit of the equipment into the ute to keep the boat/trailer weight down. The water tanks were only half full to give us water on the trip up and all fuel tanks were empty. The whole rig was loaded up to very close to its maximum all up legal weight but drove and handled beautifully. I did make sure water tanks were emptied in a way to not upset the trailer balance along the way. Cheers Mark
Hi Mark. Unbelievable trip to take on! As your stuck in quarantine I may take up some of your time. Just a note to say that all your efforts with this channel have positive effects on people. I used sail off the beach in my youth. At 55 and living on a farm in Gippsland , with a great life I now miss sailing and have enjoyed watching the “ big “ sailing channels in exotic locations. But that is unattainable for myself. Then I stumbled upon your channel and it highlighted that The Lakes, Port Phillip bay and Western-port can provide unreal adventures especially with the benefits of a trailer sailor. I now own a Sunbird 25,1985. A little like an RL28 I think with good headroom. I’ve only had a test run in the Blue Rock dam👍at Easter but am hoping to make it to the Gippsland lakes with my 10 yo son this week. So many thanks Mark for bringing some reality to dreams! p.s. I’ve 1/2 copied your solo mast raising system, changed the head to include fresh water flush and holding tank upgrade and put in a small hot water system to include a deck shower👍( Victoria , winter right).
Hi Adam are you happy with Sunbird 25?
Thanks Adam for the kind words. The only reason I make these videos is to share and show you can find and experience adventure almost anywhere if you look.
Sunbirds are great seaworthy boats and it sounds like you are well on the way to making it even better.
I will be retiring to Metung next year for a whole lot more sailing on the lakes so may get to see you on the water some time. Cheers Mark 🙂
@@tonywoollcombe1799 Hi Tony , I’ve only had it in the water once and haven’t been sailing for a while except for a Hobie16! However my goal was for a “big” little boat. She has good freeboard and felt great and stable. I only sailed with the main and didn’t get the Genoa up on the roller fuller this time. ( hoping to sort this out later this week). A few freak gusts did almost over power her but she felt very controllable and reacted ,steered and healed with no surprises. I am looking forward to pushing her a bit down the track. The Sunbirds have a bit of a Skeg with the internal ballast as well as a steel swing plate. It makes them sit quiet high on the trailer but she was easy enough to launch I think. There is a great old article of 5 sunbirds sailing to Tassie and back in the 1980s.It’s on John Crawford marine website. I didn’t realise it initially but as a youngster I knew the lead skipper of this trip well. That read did sell me on the Sunbirds a bit. Ie a big little boat. Thanks for your interest Tony. Cheers Adam.
@@tonywoollcombe1799 Hi Tony , I’ve only had it in the water once and haven’t been sailing for a while except for a Hobie16! However my goal was for a “big” little boat. She has good freeboard and felt great and stable. I only sailed with the main and didn’t get the Genoa up on the roller fuller this time. ( hoping to sort this out later this week). A few freak gusts did almost over power her but she felt very controllable and reacted ,steered and healed with no surprises. I am looking forward to pushing her a bit down the track. The Sunbirds have a bit of a Skeg with the internal ballast as well as a steel swing plate. It makes them sit quiet high on the trailer but she was easy enough to launch I think. There is a great old article of 5 sunbirds sailing to Tassie and back in the 1980s.It’s on John Crawford marine website. I didn’t realise it initially but as a youngster I knew the lead skipper of this trip well. That read did sell me on the Sunbirds a bit. Ie a big little boat. Thanks for your interest Tony. Cheers Adam.
Thanks Mark. May see you on the lakes in the future. I will look forward to you future posts, Adam
Thanks Mark. I look forward to watching some of your travels. Best of luck.
Hi Mark and Helen, great to see you are on your way to some great adventures and what an Adventure just getting there.
I just got out of Sydney by a day or two before 14 days lockdown and back in Melbourne. But then I put myself in a 7 day lock just to make sure after I had a test which came be negative. Just wanted to be safe.
Anyway with the lockdown you are in you now have more time to do more videos. But in the end it’s not the videos it’s having a great Adventure with your wife and making memories that will last a lifetime.
Looking forward to the next one.
Hi Mark,
I couldn't agree more. Its always been about the sailing and being on the water, it feeds the soul and memories.
I enjoy making the videos despite the work it takes but they are only about sharing the experiences and love of sailing with other sailors and dreamers. I also do them for my own memories and enjoyment. I don't post regularly unless I have new experiences to share.
To be sure the our focus will be to enjoy this trip and the new experiences and the time spent together. But as both Helen and I love to take photos and video I am sure the videos to share will fill in those long evenings on some days..... gets dark around 5.45pm.
Keep well and I hope you get out on a few more of those delivery trips. Cheers Mark
Hi Mark & Helen, that was some trip, well done, my wife & I have a Mach 28 and travel to various spots using the boat as a caravan, we often get funny comments from people when we pull into camps and caravan Parks, I cant imagine some of the comments you guys received travelling up the center of Australia, We will put it on our "To do list". Great video, cant wait to see more,
Cheers Terry & Kim
Hi Terry & Kim, as we bush camped the whole way up it wasn't too bad, a few strange looks but we were the only one with a high rise view from our seats. In the past when ever I book in a caravan park I always say I want a site for a boat shaped caravan! Either way its a great way to travel. Cheers Mark
Glad you've managed to get away Mark, I hope you enjoy the road trip and I'm sure you can't wait to splash Neringa. Best Regards
Thank Aaron, still 10 days in a very small space and then a frantic couple of days of final supplies, getting the boat in the water, car stored and catching the right tide to sail 48 miles in 6 hours. Cheers Mark
Looking forward to this trip, I actually pasted you when I was heading west just out of Catherine after the loss of your mate on your last trip. Phil of SV Seaka.
Its a small world but I suppose there aren't that many trailer sailers on the road in these parts. We are looking forward to the trip to but wont get too hopeful until we are heading out of King Sound. Cheers Mark
Fantastic video Marcus! Hope you & Helen have a great & safe trip all the very best! Take care now & always 😊😊😊😊😊
Thanks Betty, fingers crossed, I will feel more confident when we are on the water, quite a bit of organising after we escape quarantine!!
Thanks for sharing your trip North.
I'm ex navy, my final posting being on HMAS Launceston a Darwin based patrol boat.
I have fond memories of time spent on the Kimberley coast George's river and its twin waterfalls being a standout highlight.
Happy sailing.
One day hopefully i'll get the chance to do just as You guys are doing and sail the Kimberleys in a boat of my own.
Take care.
Cheers Ian
Hi Ian, yes the King George river is on the list, barring any disasters we will hopefully get there too. I am sure you will get out on your own boat some down, after all you have it in the blood from your navy days. Cheers Mark
Great stuff , well done getting out of Daniztan . Look 👀 forward to seeing some sailing ⛵️.
Getting out of Victoria was the easy part. SA was only open for a few days so we were lucky there. Thought we would be home free in NT only to be met by a covid outbreak and exposure sites to navigate. WA was the biggest hurdle but out of all the states they were the clearest about their expectations even if very tough and locking us up for 14 days. If we get onto the water there should be no looking back. Cheers Mark
Good on you Mark and Helen. It must feel like a real achievement just to have got to King Sound! Good luck with quarantine, and we'll all look forward to seeing the first voyaging video. Cheers, Tony
Hi Tony, An achievement and just lucky to have got through. It will be a rush at the end of our quarantine to get the boat on the water and on our way before the tides get too late in the morning. Cheers Mark
It is tough when you lose a mate.
Looking forward to your future videos enjoy 👍
Yes it stays with you for life. It was particularly hard as she was not even 2 years old. She was a great mate and that's what I need to remember.
Another 10 days quarantine before we can launch, will be chomping at the bit by that stage, can't wait! :)
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES anyone for monopoly? No cheating now lol 😂
Awesome video mate. I just stumbled upon your channel. I'm looking at getting into sailing, and I think a trailer sailer would be perfect. My wife and I and two kids. I think a 27 or a 28 would be sufficient.
I look forward to watching more i
Of your content.
One Life, One Search,
Shane
Hi Shane, Trailer Sailers are a great way to have adventures with a family. 27 - 28ft would be fine. Back in 2006 when I started sailing took my wife and 2 kids 14 and 16 at the time from Cooktown in far north Queensland and sailed north to Lizard Island, other deserted islands and up to Princess Charlotte Bay on Cape York. We had a ball fishing, snorkelling, exploring ..... despite the kids being teenagers. Now hitting 30's and they both still rave about how good it was. That was all in a Southern Cross 23 (23ft), bit squeezy but doable. So yes I would encourage you to give it a go. The biggest thing to look out for is keeping your partner happy, maybe even try getting her out on a sailing experience or lesson before starting. Helen hated it initially but now is an old hand at it but there were some tense moments in the first few years.
One life, make the most of it. Any questions I am always happy to answer. Cheers Mark
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES thanks for your reply and your advice .
My kids are 2 and 4, so still a few years away right at the moment. My wife should be ok. She backpacked arpund the world with me, and across Aus in a 76 Kombi, twice.
I agree on lessons, and perhaps joining a yacht club?
Your adventure sounds epic, and full of amazing memories. This is what we try to do. We try to not focus on material things, and focus on experiences.
I'm looking forward to watching more of your content. I'm sure I'll have heaps of questions.
One Life, One Search,
Shane
@@thisneurodiverselife Hi Shane,
Kids at 2 an 4 are perfect, they are so much more adaptable to new experiences at that age. You sound very like Helen and I, life is about experiences and adventures and sadly way to short to do everything.
Helen is tough and adaptable and we have 4wd'd around Aus for a year and pretty much visited most part of the country outside of cities with and without the kids on countless other camp drive trips. So important in creating a strong family and setting them up for life. It surprised me when Helen got scared initially. Monohulls heel over when sailing which initially feels really unnatural to some. That combined with some big seas out of cooktown had a negative impact on Helen that lasted some years. I think it may have been easier if I had introduced her to sailing in the presence of someone she perceived as an expert. All good now, just took a bit longer to get there.
Back packing around the world sounds like a great adventure, I am sure full of great experiences and memories, some good and some not so easy, all part of what makes what makes it an adventure. Would love to do the around the world thing by yacht.
The biggest hurdle at the moment is finding a good trailer sailer. The pandemic has seen the demand for them skyrocket, great if you are selling but not so much if you are trying to find one.
Cheers Mark
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES your not wrong, covid tax atm. Everything is moving fast, and over priced. We are not 100% financially ready just yet. Still dealing with closing up my business. So hopefully after the covid tax settles, should be able to find something.
Backpacking arpund the world was awesome, before kids. Visited over 30 countries. My wife is awesome, she loves the adventure. Even supported me when I decided to head to Antarctica for a year.
I think the perceived expert might be a good idea. I might look at a yacht club first, get some lessons. Learn the ropes???
Very Glad you are on your way. Very glad you visited Sunny. Pets never leave you… all the best Tony Woollcombe was Sunny a Jack Russell?
Thanks Tony. Yes Sunny was my first Jack Russell. She was the best travelling companion and needless to say there were a few tears shed 10 years ago and again a few days ago at the Mary River😥 but good to return where I buried her🙂
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES Jack Russell’s are a very brave intelligent little dog….I’m biased as both of us come from Devonshire. My family used hunt with the Rev Jack Russell ….known as the hunting Parson. I noticed Sunny in a very short video of yours 🥃 near Eden…
She loved the adventure and going ashore but wasn't keen on the sailing when the swell got up. I was never a small dog type of person but as you say the Jack Russell is a very intelligent dog and they think they are 10ft tall so don't really count as a small dog. They have totally won me over :)
Hi Tony . Always happy to have a chat. Do you have, or are you looking at Sunbirds? Cheers Adam.
@@adamjohnston9504 looking at a Sunbird at the moment. Can you handle yours single handed
Jeez wiz. The boat ramp looks a bit anti climatic after driving 5000 kms…still it is so much faster driving than sailing to get to your chosen cruising grounds.
Thanks for the comment. The boat ramp was just a means to an end. Really only 2 options for trailer boats to sail the Kimberley coast. Broome or Derby. Broom is a swell prone ramp surrounded by rocks and no handling jetty. Derby, despite its huge tides is easier to launch at if you get the timing right and with the right tide you can get to the top of King Sound in around 6 hours. It also saves over 100miles of sailing with not much to see or stop for if coming from Broome.
Cheers Mark
How do you find the BT50 fulling your boat?
Apart from having issues with Mazda and how they treat owners, the car is a great tow hack and tows the 3 tonnes of boat and the load in the car at 100km/h pretty easily. Significant hills slow us down and it takes a little time to wind up to 100km/h but no issue overtaking caravans travelling 10km/h slower.
Im guessing that 3.2t is fully loaded inc water tanks etc. . the RLs displacement was 1400 out of the factory.. Ad another 1000 for the trailer still leaves a gap of 800... Would I be right in thinking you had 800 kilos of "stuff" though?
Hmm.. or did Rob provide that Displacement figure not including rigging, spars, sheets etc..
Im thinking of buying an RL and only have a triton (3t capacity).
The figure of 1370kg for the RL28 quoted by Rob Legg has always been questioned by owners. Most would say the dry weight is closer to 1500kg with mast and rigging. Add to this 140kg of extra ballast I have added for open water comfort and stability, 50kg for the outboard, 90kg of water (tanks half full on the way) 100kg of house and lithium batteries, 60kg of anchors and chains, probably at least 60kg of assorted equipment(tv, toilet, water pump, fridge unit, water maker, auto pilots, instruments etc), 40kg of davits and solar panels and bimini, 30kg for the drum anchor winch...... I am sure I have still left off a number of items in the boat on the way up out but even with these the boat weight starting at a more realistic 1500kg and a trailer weight of 1000kg (mine is probably closer to 900kg) would come to 3080kg, the remainder would have been in some supplies, assorted tools and spares and other fitout items I have overlooked. In other words it adds up very quickly when you set a boat up for extended cruising. When we launched we would have added another 200+kg in fuel, 100kg of extra water, 120kg in food supplies so once on the water the boat itself would have been around the 2500kg.
I also have a friend who has bought an RL28 and stripped it down for racing and cruising and his boat on the trailer from what I have heard comes in at around 2300kg so it is possible to get them light enough for the Triton. Mine has been set up for extended cruising and I have intentions of sailing out in Bass Strait so have added the extra ballast as well. I would be confident that 3t capacity would be fine as long as you don't add too many extras and load up the boat at the destination on extended trips. If you check out rlyachts.net and look at the surveys page you will see the quoted weights vary quite a bit.
Food for thought. Cheers Mark
@@TRAILERYACHTADVENTURES Thanks for the advice mate.. I know the RL site quite well as I owned a 24 for many years and quickly bought and sold a 28 that I flipped for an assortment of reasons at the time. I never actually "got to know" the boat..
Im towing a 2000 kilo van atm and thats fine but I do prefer to have some headroom when towing and not be at the limits. (I run a trailer/van weighing business these days, so its important I am a good boy on the road lol)
I have to say I am really impressed with your videos and the way you have set your boat up..
Just out of curiosity, in what conditions was the boat and trailer weight at 3.2T? Like was it fairly empty, or fully loaded up ready to launch for a few days, Like water tanks, fuel, gear, ect, ect
Hi David,
We were very careful to load all of our food supplies and a fair bit of the equipment into the ute to keep the boat/trailer weight down. The water tanks were only half full to give us water on the trip up and all fuel tanks were empty. The whole rig was loaded up to very close to its maximum all up legal weight but drove and handled beautifully. I did make sure water tanks were emptied in a way to not upset the trailer balance along the way.
Cheers Mark