Nautique out on the great barrier reef

[bwana50]

Very cool!

Some years ago a friend took us to Catalina island (off the SoCal coast) in his small outboard Ski Ray. A pod of dolphins swam beside us for awhile. It is a bit unnerving, though, to set off across open ocean in a small boat for a destination you can't see.

[Grant_West]

This year we went out on the San Francisco bay for fleet week in a friends 33 Foot Off shore boat. We went out under the Golden Gate bridge. The swells were Huge. Nothing was breaking. they were far enough apart that it was like driving on a roller coster. The boat owner had never been out in the ocean. He was playing it cool and kept the speed low and was being safe. I can say I was a bit nervous. We looked over and there was a 19-foot Barefoot Sanger zooming around. We were all in dis belief. We were like WTF is that guy doing out here he is gonna get swamped. He is either a super experianced boat driver and knows the current and conditions and what he is doing or he is a complete wally and has no idea WTF is going on.

We kept trying to take a photo of him but the swells were so large they would hide the boat. You had to be super close to se him.

That being side. It looked like he did fine. If you know where to place your boat you could move in and out of danger and be just fine. Kind of like how you see thoes fish swimming on the underside of the shark's as long as they stay in the right locating they are safe as can be LOL

[srock]

In open seas it sometimes does not matter what kind of driver you are and I speak from experience. Some gusty winds can kick things up to the point were a short ski boat with a downturned bow and reliance on sump pumps versus a self bailing boat and your vessel can get overwhelmed instantly. I been in waves, salt and fresh water, where just keeping the bow up was impossible becasue of the size and interval of the waves and it can happen very quickly as seas change.

[rosconole]

Love the pics....But the burning question is....DID YOU CATCH ANY FISH! 19nm out must have been something out there!

[pjdave]

Not suggesting to anyone that they do the same. We didnt get lucky, all the correct safety equiptment including epirb, flares, v sheet, gps, a manual ballast pump were on board along with the correct lifejackets. We also did some research on the weather paterns. The furthest point we reached form the main land was 25mile, but only 5mile from a safe harbour on one of the islands. The Whitsundays is a perfect place for boating with the outer reef protecting the island groups (84 odd) from the swell.

I personally didnt throw a line in, more there for the scuba diving and snorkeling, to get a wakeboard in was a total bonus, hey i nearly had a barefoot just cause the water was so perfect. Saw some great sized lobster, but they were in an illegal "harvesting" location. On the dive we saw plenty of reef fish, sea snakes, dolphins and large sea turtle along with some of the best coloured coral. The sea was also "boiling" of tuna at a few points aswell. Dave

[pjdave]

Heres a google earth shot of the Whitsundays. Red is where we dived and yellow is where we wakeboarded.

Another summer teaser shot, and with that every positive has a negative.

On the way home miles from any citys and 1000klms from home we hit a small pothole sheering two U bolts holding the rear axle in. 3.5 hour wait for a flatbed and a 40 minute fix in the next town and we were on our way.

[Hollywood]

Were you hauling all that extra gear in the boat while trailering?

[Grant_West]

That suck's. At least you had a Epic day on open water with your boat. I believe you 100% its just had to imagin the sea dead calm. I have seen picks where its flat as can be but to be there would be mind blowing. I have to see it for my self in a life time must be so cool your very lucky. Thanks for the pick's

[saceone]

I wouldn't even mind a broken axle after riding in such a beautiful place

[Teleman]

WOW, WOW, Wow!!!!!.......That looks incredible!!!! I love the look of the shot with the skegs under water!!! Today I was shoveling 2 inches of ice and 8 inches of snow. I am ready for the blue water and warm air. Hope to get there some day. My wife and I are big divers. We would love to get there. We tried to dive to "Lady of the Lake" in NH this summer in my Sport Nautique. There was 3 of us diving and 2 that stayed on top. Other than crowded, it went OK. Didn't see the ship.....Too mucky. Vis was about 1 foot.

[NAWTEAK]

On the way home miles from any citys and 1000klms from home we hit a small pothole sheering two U bolts holding the rear axle in. 3.5 hour wait for a flatbed and a 40 minute fix in the next town and we were on our way.

That's what you get for buying an Easytow...

[pjdave]

On the way home miles from any citys and 1000klms from home we hit a small pothole sheering two U bolts holding the rear axle in. 3.5 hour wait for a flatbed and a 40 minute fix in the next town and we were on our way.

That's what you get for buying an Easytow...

Our 09 is sitting on a telwater (Eagle) trailer

[Teleman]

That's what you get for buying an Easytow...

Ouch.....That hurts. Take a bad thing and make it worse.

[PARA]

Re: Nautique out on the great barrier reef

[quote="pjdave"]We took the 220 19 nautical mile off the Queensland, Austalia coast out onto the great barrier reef and whitsunday islands for a bit of snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing and even got a set in on the glassy water.

Can`t believe you have wetties on in summer!!!!
was out on the reef a few weeks ago in was 29 degrees!!!! Don`t you just love north qld!!