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Author Topic:   Navigation in Australia's Westernport

pete r posted 02-23-2014 02:15 AM ET (US)
I have to boat in a place called Westernport, at the bottom of Australia. The water is very tidal and at low tide if you get stuck on a mud bank you are stuck for many hours when you mess up. Because of this we are restricted to where we boat on the bay unless you have good local knowledge. I reckon,if one had a good chart plotter and sounder you could instantly have to ability to change the rules and access many complicated channels and hence access some good fishing spots without the worry of feeling stupid when running aground.
jimh posted 02-23-2014 02:41 PM ET (US)
Use of electronic cartography to navigate is often helpful, but electronic charts are not absolutely accurate, particularly for areas where the sea bottom is soft and channel are subject to change.
If you want to solicit advice about small boat electrical or electronic devices, please use SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL.
There is a good discussion in SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL about the accuracy of electronic charts and variables in their presentation at
Electronic Charts for Isle Royale
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/003452.html
You are welcome to begin a similar discussion about electronic charts for Westernport in Australia. However, you might get a better response if you posted to a website that concentrates more on Australian boating.
pete r posted 02-23-2014 05:09 PM ET (US)
OK, Thanks Jim
DirtRoad posted 02-23-2014 06:27 PM ET (US)
I live over in the western side of the Gulf of Mexico and the conditions are very similar. I like a light, small boat, with a 50 horse 4 stroke. Then you can wiggle in and out of the bays. Worst case you get out and push your boat along.
Nice fin fishing back in the bays.
Hello from Texas.
pete r posted 02-25-2014 04:53 AM ET (US)
Hi Dirtroad,
If you tried to get your boat unstuck in our Westernport, you find you are pushing off, and I've had to do it a few times now. You mostly find yourself wading in black mud up to your knees and worst.
The fun bit is when you have to haul yourself back onto the boat with your lower half covered in mud while your mates are no help to you because their too buckled over with laughter.
Many of the boats in Westernport are similar to yours. Light boats with 50 - 60HP outboards which can move in and out of the channels and powerful enough to speed home if it blows up.
pete r posted 02-25-2014 05:14 AM ET (US)
Dirtroad,
I have just spent a couple of weeks with friends of ours over from Houston, Texas.
He use to keep his boat at Charleston, unfortunately he's recently sold his boat and now at 70 years, most likely will not get another one. Sad really.
He loved it when I told him I had a boat made in the US.
(21' Conquest)

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Author	Topic: Navigation in Australia's Westernport
pete r	posted 02-23-2014 02:15 AM ET (US) I have to boat in a place called Westernport, at the bottom of Australia. The water is very tidal and at low tide if you get stuck on a mud bank you are stuck for many hours when you mess up. Because of this we are restricted to where we boat on the bay unless you have good local knowledge. I reckon,if one had a good chart plotter and sounder you could instantly have to ability to change the rules and access many complicated channels and hence access some good fishing spots without the worry of feeling stupid when running aground.
jimh	posted 02-23-2014 02:41 PM ET (US) Use of electronic cartography to navigate is often helpful, but electronic charts are not absolutely accurate, particularly for areas where the sea bottom is soft and channel are subject to change. If you want to solicit advice about small boat electrical or electronic devices, please use SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL. There is a good discussion in SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL about the accuracy of electronic charts and variables in their presentation at Electronic Charts for Isle Royale http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/003452.html You are welcome to begin a similar discussion about electronic charts for Westernport in Australia. However, you might get a better response if you posted to a website that concentrates more on Australian boating.
pete r	posted 02-23-2014 05:09 PM ET (US) OK, Thanks Jim
DirtRoad	posted 02-23-2014 06:27 PM ET (US) I live over in the western side of the Gulf of Mexico and the conditions are very similar. I like a light, small boat, with a 50 horse 4 stroke. Then you can wiggle in and out of the bays. Worst case you get out and push your boat along. Nice fin fishing back in the bays. Hello from Texas.
pete r	posted 02-25-2014 04:53 AM ET (US) Hi Dirtroad, If you tried to get your boat unstuck in our Westernport, you find you are pushing off, and I've had to do it a few times now. You mostly find yourself wading in black mud up to your knees and worst. The fun bit is when you have to haul yourself back onto the boat with your lower half covered in mud while your mates are no help to you because their too buckled over with laughter. Many of the boats in Westernport are similar to yours. Light boats with 50 - 60HP outboards which can move in and out of the channels and powerful enough to speed home if it blows up.
pete r	posted 02-25-2014 05:14 AM ET (US) Dirtroad, I have just spent a couple of weeks with friends of ours over from Houston, Texas. He use to keep his boat at Charleston, unfortunately he's recently sold his boat and now at 70 years, most likely will not get another one. Sad really. He loved it when I told him I had a boat made in the US. (21' Conquest)