aardvarkash10

Actually, up against the others it prices in ok - $900USD converts to around $1350NZD plus freight plus GST so not excessively more at less than $2k all up for their "standard" unit. Still expensive, but in reality its only 5 tanks of petrol in the car more than the others isn't it. Or 20 bottles of wine.

Spencer Saraband, tiller steering. Very light on the helm for its 3.75t, 10m size. Probably looking at a simple, one-piece, stand-alone unit - we are not crossing oceans here. Predominantly two of us on board. Simplicity and longevity/reliablity are the two key parameters. I'm going to assume any unit on the market is accurate, and not a power hog. Raymarine? Simrad? Someone else? Advice and added considerations please.

Mounting blocks cut out of some unidentified hardwood, fairleads procured to take 18mm lines, now the weekend to fit them. I'm proposing to shape, then epoxy glue and screw the blocks to the deck and toerail inside, then cove, then paint feel free to correct me. It's freaking hard work this sailing lark...

And there is the rub. Having sold the yacht, our hypothetical sailor is pretty much limited to returning to the UK on commercial flights. If the govt of the day restricts seat numbers inbound (as we have) the effect is the same regardless of the citizen's rights. - they join a queue of people trying to book a seat. I understand the PM has sent this specific situation back to the MoH for a closer look. She definitely will not want to get involved as decisionmaker but has likely given some "direction and guidance" to MoH. Kindly, of course.

Hire a NZ crew to fly up (or sail up) and bring it back.

This specific family probably could Fogg, yes. At the moment. If the UK goes to the NZ or Aussie model and significantly constrains inbound travel, that may change. And that is the presenting problem. Literally nowhere is able to give certainty about how they will treat their border during COVID.

One of the key issues for the govt may be the exit options for anyone entering NZ. Ths is where the cruising fraternity run foul. Anyone entering on a specific purposes work visa HAS to have a statement from the employer guaranteeing return or repatriation at the end of the visa. I know - I write them. Fruit pickers, russian fishers, american AC sailors, strippers and CEOs all have to have a repatriation guarantee. Visitor visa holders do not. It has just been assumed that they will go. Currently, that cannot be assumed since there may well be nowhere for them to go. This espec

Black smoke is good. White smoke is bad.

this should be in the canal boating forum shouldn't it? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

ah! Thats sooo good! The casually doing 75 to 80mph in a mahogany canoe with a diesel outboard strapped to it ! I travelled in Thailand in 1989 coming back from the UK. In those days Ko Samui was a sleepy little island very few people went to. We caught a longtail out across the bay from the mainland to the island. Great fun. In those days they were powered by Nissan 4 or 6 cylinder SD diesels. I don't think we had any safety gear apart from jandals...

We have Stepping Out in part because my FIL built 2 Spencers, a Sabre design "Claymore" and then the 45 footer Sirius, first of that design. Apparently Sirius is still afloat somewhere in the Tamaki River. John built Sirius specifically for ocean racing in the South Pacific. Basically a surfboard with a keel and a mast.

Good thing I haven't cut the tails yet eh! Its too bloody hard on the hands for full time work for an old fella, but good fun as an amateur. I've got to put a mid-line eye in one of them so that will be a real test!

The former, which ours currently is. I'm pretty confident the balance is right because there is a small but vocal minority saying the boarder should be opened wider, while an equally sized minority say it should be closed tighter. The vast majority of people are so unconcerned they are saying nothing.

It's well satisfying doing splices in new lines...

Anyone who regards their pleasure craft as an asset has not considered the full ramifications of ownership. Another argument could easily be made that $1m will probably be taken out of a productive asset (a business) and transferred to a non-productive asset (a yacht) thereby reducing the earning potential of the country. Your thinking is classic NZ business - the sole goal is the three Bs. Today, the boat. Next week, the bach and perhaps the beemer. Its a part of why NZ small businesses stend to stay small.

Agreed. But life can be sh*t for anyone anytime anywhere. Its not the greratest single reason for an immigration policy waiver in a time of global pandemic

They want to come to NZ not because their son died, not because of weather problems, but because their broker says the yacht will sell more easily here. They left and buried their son in the uk, then returned to the yacht. Get that - they CHOSE to return to the yacht, recently. They have a range of options avaialble to them before that. They could have stayed in the UK in August when they already should have known the position of the NZ govt on cruising yachts entering NZ. Having chosen to return to the yacht, they could stay where they are and sell there, or appoint an agent

hand-wringing and emotive string tugging in the Herald this morning... https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/grieving-uk-family-stranded-on-yacht-refused-nz-entry-after-son-killed-in-speedboat-accident/3XF7JRON3STNIT4OXZQAV64QI4/

In with a Saraband grin! Free mooring for boats from the designer's pencil? https://tinorawatrust.co.nz/events

wait for rain. Scrub then.

Newly insured our 1974 Spencer through Mariner Insurance. Wasn't cheap - around 6% of insured value with $500 excess... 3rd party only was not an option (they wouldn't do it) and the excess increase to $1000 only made a few dollars difference in the premium. AMI is closed to new policy-holders. Tried several others in a limited amount of time during the first Level 3 period in May - Mariner were the only ones who gave a positive response.

Thanks KM - I was hoping you'd look in. Also, your answer confirms what I was thinking, but the estimate of load and forces and resulting sizing of items eludes me so I really appreciate your expert advice.

We got back from our little cruise around Wiaheke over the weekend and had a bit of a fright when we went to moor on our poles in the Wairoa River (Clevedon). The mooring line at the bow had been chaffing on the bottom (deck) bracket of the furler and it had been chomped through about halfway… The bow is pretty crowded with (front to back) anchor and bracket, furler deck fitting, mooring cleat and then anchor winch, all in a line on the centerline of the deck. We have been running a single mooring line from the pole across all of this to the cleat (sheepish look at the floor as the

this weekend - Wairoa (Clevedon) River to Rotoroa Home Bay on Friday, pleasant day strolling around the island (water's still a bit cool for me for swimming) pre-evening drinks watching the sun go down and the moon come up in the company of about 12 other boats of various types. Saturday Rotoroa to Rakino - I've lived in Auckland since 1989 and never been to either. Slow going motoring against the tide up the Waiheke Channel but finally picked up some wind off Onetangi and circumnavigated Rakino before deciding that Home Bay must be good since they named it twice and everything else was

We are not scared of anything. Its called management. The COVID event is not finished. No-one can reliably say when that blessed day will arrive. In that situaiton, we could conceivably have people arrive here and then be unable to leave for an extended period - perhaps up to two years. Where would they go? Everywhere is some degree of closed. Movie crews arrive with documents stipulating their return to point of origin - its common for many work visas including some of staff I have. Cruising boats, not so much. They are germans. Germany has a well funded consular net