Re: Murray River Boat
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:19 am
Hi Guys,
Love the sound of the Murray Run.
I would expect the Century seagulls to push that light a boat at hull speed, no worries. I have a long shaft century plus that I used to push an 18 foot trailer sailer (Hartley TS18) which had a loaded weight of close to a ton, which it did without any problems. When the wind got up to about 30 knots the Seagull struggled to make headway against it and the resulting waves, (mainly because of the windage of the Hartley's cabin), it was a bit like a floating caravan. You won't have that problem with your boat, also if you get winds like that on the river you can always take a rest day. The shore is never far away on the river.
After using the Seagull for about ten years, we got caught out in a storm with winds of about 40 knots, shelter was about two miles upwind but the Seagull could barely make headway against it and when the bows got blown off I couldn't turn back into the wind, had to go right around to gather some speed to get it facing into the wind again. Eventually we had to admit defeat and turn down wind and run for cover in that direction. This was a scary proposition as shelter was much further away and the down wind speed and danger of broaching was much greater. I had found the limit of what the seagull could reasonably do, and although I don't intentionally go out in 40 knot winds, if I get caught out I want to be able to get to the nearest shelter whether it is upwind or down. I sadly hung the seagull on the shed wall, where it still is thirty years later, and bought a 10 HP Johnson, end of problem.
So I really don't expect you to have any problems with the ability of your Century Seagulls pushing your river boats.
Good luck, bon voyage!
Pete H
Victoria, Australia
PS I sold my Hartley last year to a friend who is refurbishing it with the intention of doing a Murray trip in 2014, so I look forward hearing about your adventures.
Love the sound of the Murray Run.
I would expect the Century seagulls to push that light a boat at hull speed, no worries. I have a long shaft century plus that I used to push an 18 foot trailer sailer (Hartley TS18) which had a loaded weight of close to a ton, which it did without any problems. When the wind got up to about 30 knots the Seagull struggled to make headway against it and the resulting waves, (mainly because of the windage of the Hartley's cabin), it was a bit like a floating caravan. You won't have that problem with your boat, also if you get winds like that on the river you can always take a rest day. The shore is never far away on the river.
After using the Seagull for about ten years, we got caught out in a storm with winds of about 40 knots, shelter was about two miles upwind but the Seagull could barely make headway against it and when the bows got blown off I couldn't turn back into the wind, had to go right around to gather some speed to get it facing into the wind again. Eventually we had to admit defeat and turn down wind and run for cover in that direction. This was a scary proposition as shelter was much further away and the down wind speed and danger of broaching was much greater. I had found the limit of what the seagull could reasonably do, and although I don't intentionally go out in 40 knot winds, if I get caught out I want to be able to get to the nearest shelter whether it is upwind or down. I sadly hung the seagull on the shed wall, where it still is thirty years later, and bought a 10 HP Johnson, end of problem.
So I really don't expect you to have any problems with the ability of your Century Seagulls pushing your river boats.
Good luck, bon voyage!
Pete H
Victoria, Australia
PS I sold my Hartley last year to a friend who is refurbishing it with the intention of doing a Murray trip in 2014, so I look forward hearing about your adventures.