Select to expand quoteYara said..Ramona said..2Shakey said..
The Duncanson 29 is a very capable sea boat, a friend of mine sailed his, with one crew, from Kangaroo Island around the bottom of Tasmania non stop to NZ!
He explored Fiordland before returning via Bass Strait back in the 90's. Another couple from South Australia sailed one around the world over several years. Both stories are told in a chapter of a book "More Yachting Yarns from South Australia" available to download on line.
The D29 mentioned for sale here looks to be a good example. The wheel steering without an autopilot and the small 10hp motor could be a concern on the long solo voyage. Most D29's have been re-powered with 15hp engines.
Also as mentioned in earlier posts, it would be good advice to do several shakedown cruises. There are many beautiful destinations in both Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Practice sailing in a variety of sea conditions, especially the technique of heaving to, which the Duncanson 29 does well.
Good luck with your adventure!
I agree, the wheel steering in a small boat like the Duncanson 29 would be a handicap. The 10 hp motor not so much. At sea yachts are usually sailed so the difference between 10 and 15 hp in a seaway would not mean much.
10hp is fine to get you on and off a sheltered mooring. Useless if you need to fight your way over a bar, or off a lee shore. Way off-shore not relevant, but most of us want to eventually enjoy the pleasures of our destination, and you are back to coastal work and bars and lee-shores. (For the education of a newbie, a bar is not a pub, but a shallow dangerous area at the mouth of many ports.)
Could a bar be described as a port at many mouths?
Select to expand quoteYara said..Ramona said..2Shakey said..
The Duncanson 29 is a very capable sea boat, a friend of mine sailed his, with one crew, from Kangaroo Island around the bottom of Tasmania non stop to NZ!
He explored Fiordland before returning via Bass Strait back in the 90's. Another couple from South Australia sailed one around the world over several years. Both stories are told in a chapter of a book "More Yachting Yarns from South Australia" available to download on line.
The D29 mentioned for sale here looks to be a good example. The wheel steering without an autopilot and the small 10hp motor could be a concern on the long solo voyage. Most D29's have been re-powered with 15hp engines.
Also as mentioned in earlier posts, it would be good advice to do several shakedown cruises. There are many beautiful destinations in both Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Practice sailing in a variety of sea conditions, especially the technique of heaving to, which the Duncanson 29 does well.
Good luck with your adventure!
I agree, the wheel steering in a small boat like the Duncanson 29 would be a handicap. The 10 hp motor not so much. At sea yachts are usually sailed so the difference between 10 and 15 hp in a seaway would not mean much.
10hp is fine to get you on and off a sheltered mooring. Useless if you need to fight your way over a bar, or off a lee shore. Way off-shore not relevant, but most of us want to eventually enjoy the pleasures of our destination, and you are back to coastal work and bars and lee-shores. (For the education of a newbie, a bar is not a pub, but a shallow dangerous area at the mouth of many ports.)
That's right: trying to motor the D29 out of trouble with a 1GM10 (which is actually only rated at 9hp per the Yanmar data sheet) could be a real struggle. I've endured something comparable to this at Wilson's Prom in my Compass 28 (almost the same as the Dunc), and let me tell you a few more hp would have made a very stressful situation much easier. I now have the full 13hp available from my 2GM and the ability to make progress into weather is dramatically improved.
Yet another reason to truck it or engage a delivery skipper/crew.
You can read, ask questions and look at videos til the cows come home. It's the same as if you were learning to drive a car, asking questions, reading and watching driving videos doesn't mean you will be able to drive a car. There are so many factors to consider in bad conditions and Mother Nature will keep throwing curveballs at you. Nothing beats experience. Reading, asking questions and videos will certainly tell you how to set your boat up to handle these conditions but will not turn you into a competent skipper. As has been said in this thread " You need time on water" I know a fellow who had little experience and tried doing exactly what you are look at, in the same area and he ended up on the floor of his 36 foot boat praying. If the boat is a good buy and a good boat, truck it home, gain some experience and then tackle an adventure.
Perfect delivery rig
No 4 and the motor at about 1500 revs
Autopilot on.
Go to sleep!
Interesting clouds, Lydia. Looks like Cirrus outflow from a big Cumulus at high levels and a roll cloud, maybe signifying a gust front, at low level.
OK OK Total capitulation...the Dunc 29 needs a good workout in Spencers Gulf and moored in the marina as a holiday destination. No Ocean for now ...not for a while and not without an experienced crew. Was led to believe the ocean was more friendly than what you folk have suggested even by the salesman selling the yacht...suppose he would get to sell another yacht ha!!! thank you people...will stick around here and learn a bit. Was surprised that the 10hp would not be sufficient. Southace is probably earning his keep with his charges but a pity it is so expensive...keeps a lot of people out of yachting when we need more in the game for political reasons. Our local club has had a few deaths lately with no one replacing them...will be a trend.
Select to expand quotehipopp said..
OK OK Total capitulation...the Dunc 29 needs a good workout in Spencers Gulf and moored in the marina as a holiday destination. No Ocean for now ...not for a while and not without an experienced crew. Was led to believe the ocean was more friendly than what you folk have suggested even by the salesman selling the yacht...suppose he would get to sell another yacht ha!!! thank you people...will stick around here and learn a bit. Was surprised that the 10hp would not be sufficient. Southace is probably earning his keep with his charges but a pity it is so expensive...keeps a lot of people out of yachting when we need more in the game for political reasons. Our local club has had a few deaths lately with no one replacing them...will be a trend.
I don't do it for a living it's a pain, i like my own yacht buddy. I got offered to fly to panama to bring a large catamarn back to Fiji all expensive payed $2500 cash per week. I through the job but to bloody hard basket!
Select to expand quotehipopp said..
OK OK Total capitulation...the Dunc 29 needs a good workout in Spencers Gulf and moored in the marina as a holiday destination. No Ocean for now ...not for a while and not without an experienced crew. Was led to believe the ocean was more friendly than what you folk have suggested even by the salesman selling the yacht...suppose he would get to sell another yacht ha!!! thank you people...will stick around here and learn a bit. Was surprised that the 10hp would not be sufficient. Southace is probably earning his keep with his charges but a pity it is so expensive...keeps a lot of people out of yachting when we need more in the game for political reasons. Our local club has had a few deaths lately with no one replacing them...will be a trend.
That sounds like a plan. Spend some time getting to know the boat and work out priorities. Do some local day trips first in nice weather. Then do some longer day trips around Spencers Gulf. Throw in an overnight passge when you are ready. Definitely treat it as a holiday. Over the next 6 months the weather will start to improve and you can plan for the trip along the coast in summer. Or not and base the boat in South Australia for 12 months. Last night I went to a talk about a 38 ft yacht doing a Sydney to Fremantle passage (accross the top) which all up took three years from purchase in Sydney to arrival in Fremantle. Left the boat in Darwin for the wet season, plus lots of stopovers in interesting spots. Sounded like he had a great time.
For getting the boat ready I have a high / medium / low priority list of jobs to be done, which constantly changes as you learn more about the boat. Every time you go sailing you will find something that needs doing. It is a never ending list. Welcome to owning a yacht!
Ilenart
I spent at least a year from memory traveling back and forth between Perth and Brisbane once a month every month when I bought my boat. Taking it out into Morteon Bay getting use to it and making subtle changes that worked for me before sailing her home to Perth. Like you IIenart, I had Low Mid Hi priorities on jobs that were somewhat fluid in importance (learning that I needed new engine mounts changed everything).
Hippop, you could well stick your nose out, turn left and have calm seas and favourable wind leaving you to wonder what all the big deal is. Hell, I got lucky a few times in a moment of naivety. You are obviously no fool, but you are better off on land wishing you were out there, then being out there wishing you were on land.
How good is overnight Tatroubridge Shoals
In one of my book, Watch full blown storm from Althorpe Island cove,
make you shiver. / 10m swell with 3m waves on top.
Select to expand quoteToph said..
I spent at least a year from memory traveling back and forth between Perth and Brisbane once a month every month when I bought my boat. Taking it out into Morteon Bay getting use to it and making subtle changes that worked for me before sailing her home to Perth. Like you IIenart, I had Low Mid Hi priorities on jobs that were somewhat fluid in importance (learning that I needed new engine mounts changed everything).
Hippop, you could well stick your nose out, turn left and have calm seas and favourable wind leaving you to wonder what all the big deal is. Hell, I got lucky a few times in a moment of naivety. You are obviously no fool, but you are better off on land wishing you were out there, then being out there wishing you were on land.
+1
It took me 3 years of sailing around Port Phillip starting as a complete mug, with the occasional between-tides day trip out through the heads in benign weather before I did my first real Bass Strait sail. Even then, looking back, I was very underprepared compared to what I would now require. Take your time and enjoy.
This doesn't sound like capitulation to me.
It sounds like a man preparing to have fun with his new boat exploring an interesting part of Australia. I gather that you're retired and have the time to head over to Adelaide for a few weeks at a time.
I'm kind of jealous.
If you look through the profiles of the other respondents you'll find that they mostly have far more experience than you or I. The advice being given seems sound and well intentioned.
Where is home base eventually to be? I gather that talk of Portland was just a staging point (in company with a delivery skipper) before taking the boat onwards yourself. One of your earlier posts mentioned trailer-sailing Gippsland Lakes, so maybe Paynesville / Lakes Entrance?
temp home at portland yacht club to learn the ropes re ocean sailing before bringing it home to paynesville...no time limit can travel.
Select to expand quoteCharriot said..
How good is overnight Tatroubridge Shoals
In one of my book, Watch full blown storm from Althorpe Island cove,
make you shiver. / 10m swell with 3m waves on top.
I anchored here in light south easterly it's really not much of a island.
where is the best place to buy offshore nautical maps for navigation adelaide to gippsland (lakes entrance)
BoatBooks online: www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/ at $40 a pop.
When you get to Lakes Entrance, check the weather & tidal info first (plus the days before arrival): www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au/boating/waves-tides-and-weather/lakes-entrance-waves-tides-and-weather/
and somewhere on the Gipps Ports website are instructions & photos for entering the bar.
Or you can photocopy some charts. Paper charts are good. Electronic charts are good too, but not so good for an overview/passage planning.
www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ms20140716-gippsland-lakes-ocean-entrance-and-bar-marks-in-line.pdf
hipop, buy this fabulous book: www.cyav.com.au/cruising
You will enjoy countless hours armchair cruising the Victorian coast and imbibe pricelss knowledge.
Cheers, Graeme
Select to expand quotehipopp said..
where is the best place to buy offshore nautical maps for navigation adelaide to gippsland (lakes entrance)
mapshop.net.au
As far as angles to the wind, you might like Ed's talk on the 98 hobart at 28:30.
Select to expand quoteAndrew68 said..
As far as angles to the wind, you might like Ed's talk on the 98 hobart at 28:30.
Another place that talks quite a lot about storm management for older boats are the interviews with skippers on the last GGR.
goldengloberace.com
59 North has recently had a few good segments as well.
www.59-north.com/podcast
and of course there is this book on line
www.sfbaysss.org/resource/doc/SinglehandedTipsThirdEdition2.pdf
but the one you pay for is much better and worth it.
Overall there is still much debate on whether to go into the wind on a storm jib or with the wind using a drogue. It is very boat, conditions and situational dependant.
This should keep you amused for a long time following all the posts and vids.
More important to pick a good forecast imo. You would be pretty unlucky to have a forecast 20 knots wrong.
A
Cool video Andrew, thanks!
Hipopp, lots of good advice here already, but stooging around sheltered waters getting the feel for your boat sounds fantastic. If you can practice safely, some things to try in fresh winds;
- leave too much sail up and learn how to downsize your sail plan. The most common issue is getting caught with too much sail area, and being able to down-size using reefs or smaller headsails is one of those must have skills.
- Try dropping the main and making headway with just the jib. Reverse it, and then try dropping the jib and using the main. Sailboats pivot around a point in a line with the keel and mast, so if you are lucky you might get a boat that handles this without complaint. Most boats will handle like a pig in heavy airs with only one sail up, you'll know because you'll be constantly applying an excess of weather or lee helm and the boat will handle sluggishly and fight your efforts in maintaining a path forward. Hence why reducing sail area equally, in front and behind the mast, is such a needed skill.
- practice heaving to. Awesome technique that doesn't get practiced enough. Tack the boat and don't touch the jib sheets, ie: leaving the headsail on the 'wrong side'. Tie your tiller to the leeward stops, so the rudder is trying to drive the boat to windward. Play your mainsheet or traveller to hold the balance point and the boat will park at 50-60TWA and slide backwards and to leeward at about 1/2 a knot sedately and comfortably. You know you have it right when you look to windward and see the swell magically appear to flatten out. Go and make a cup of tea 
.
There is lots of practice you can and should do in sheltered waters, you need to have those fundamental skills and an awareness of your boats characteristics even if you're planning to sail in even sheltered waters. Above all, try and get a feel for your boats balance point, knowing this can be the difference between terror and complete discombobulation compared to a feeling of slight unease and discomfort. Much more fun to find this out in controlled conditions!
All the best to you!
SB
Select to expand quoteshaggybaxter said..Andrew68 said..
As far as angles to the wind, you might like Ed's talk on the 98 hobart at 28:30.
Another place that talks quite a lot about storm management for older boats are the interviews with skippers on the last GGR.
goldengloberace.com
59 North has recently had a few good segments as well.
www.59-north.com/podcast
and of course there is this book on line
www.sfbaysss.org/resource/doc/SinglehandedTipsThirdEdition2.pdf
but the one you pay for is much better and worth it.
Overall there is still much debate on whether to go into the wind on a storm jib or with the wind using a drogue. It is very boat, conditions and situational dependant.
This should keep you amused for a long time following all the posts and vids.
More important to pick a good forecast imo. You would be pretty unlucky to have a forecast 20 knots wrong.
A
Cool video Andrew, thanks!
Hipopp, lots of good advice here already, but stooging around sheltered waters getting the feel for your boat sounds fantastic. If you can practice safely, some things to try in fresh winds;
- leave too much sail up and learn how to downsize your sail plan. The most common issue is getting caught with too much sail area, and being able to down-size using reefs or smaller headsails is one of those must have skills.
- Try dropping the main and making headway with just the jib. Reverse it, and then try dropping the jib and using the main. Sailboats pivot around a point in a line with the keel and mast, so if you are lucky you might get a boat that handles this without complaint. Most boats will handle like a pig in heavy airs with only one sail up, you'll know because you'll be constantly applying an excess of weather or lee helm and the boat will handle sluggishly and fight your efforts in maintaining a path forward. Hence why reducing sail area equally, in front and behind the mast, is such a needed skill.
- practice heaving to. Awesome technique that doesn't get practiced enough. Tack the boat and don't touch the jib sheets, ie: leaving the headsail on the 'wrong side'. Tie your tiller to the leeward stops, so the rudder is trying to drive the boat to windward. Play your mainsheet or traveller to hold the balance point and the boat will park at 50-60TWA and slide backwards and to leeward at about 1/2 a knot sedately and comfortably. You know you have it right when you look to windward and see the swell magically appear to flatten out. Go and make a cup of tea .
There is lots of practice you can and should do in sheltered waters, you need to have those fundamental skills and an awareness of your boats characteristics even if you're planning to sail in even sheltered waters. Above all, try and get a feel for your boats balance point, knowing this can be the difference between terror and complete discombobulation compared to a feeling of slight unease and discomfort. Much more fun to find this out in controlled conditions!
All the best to you!
SB
Excellent advice.
Select to expand quotehipopp said..
!978 Duncanson 29Lying : North Haven Marina Sth AustraliaVery clean example of these well loved iconic boats, also a rarer model with space saving wheel steering!Extensive work carried out over the last years.New Yanmar 1GM10S diesel engine 2015 (60 hours) New dodger/bimini 2016, New boom bag /lazyjacks 2016New Electronics (GPS/Sounder/wind instruments) 2016. New rigging 2016GME VHF radio,sound system.Great buying and ready to sail away!
southace just got a quote...3700 plus 1500 expenses....same as yours i suppose.
What is the name of your lovely new vessel? I have arrived in Adelaide on my vessel and have been walking past a Dunc 29 daily I assume it might be yours?
