North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Did an overnight trip to Bynoe to have a look around. I played around on the back of Indian Is and picked up a few queenies.
On the way in, I hooked onto a couple of maccies and the usual batfish.
As usual, the soft plastics outfished the bait by a big margin.
Years ago, we camped up at Raft point with a PGFC outing so i knew there was a decent anchorage nearby.
I tried to find the jewie on the ledge on the other side of the channel but only managed a mass of sharks and a school of Powertail on bait rigs after dark.
The wind rose and by 3am it became uncomfortable so I moved over to Raft Pt and stayed there.
I started my way back home but lost all hydraulic steering. I topped up the tank but it didn’t last too long and soon I again had no steering. the hyd fluid container was now empty
I set up a jury rig to get some sort of return course; I ended up doing a lot of circle work before that.
Even with some decent hitches in the rope, I still couldn’t manage to get any steering at all using the ropes.
Anyway, I moved the eskies around in an attempt to steer but that didn’t work at all.
I ended up tying the ram a bit to the left.
Travelling at 5kms, I would turn slightly to port. 10-5 sort of straight ahead. And 20kms it turned slightly starboard.
I ended up calling on the Volunteer coast guard for assistance but being a week day, they took 2 ½ hr. to get a crew together.
Anyway, after 6 ½ hrs I managed to make it into the harbour and work towards the Cullen Bay sandbar, dodging big ships as I went.
I always pride myself on being self-sufficient but working out how i was going to the actual manoeuvre into the bay the tight spaces on the up to the jetty had me really scratching my head. This had me beaten and my brain was hurting

Anyway, by now I had made it to just inside the sandbar slowly ready for the final entry into the jetty when the Coast Guard boat appeared from the lock. They had me tied up to the jetty in a matter of minutes.
I hailed a taxi and picked up some more hyd steer fluid from the yacht shop and topped up the system and made it back to Dinah Bch ramp in no time flat.

remember that things are all sunshine until things turn to poop.
IOM fitted a couple of new seals and the steering is as good as new.

I’ve since re-joined the Volunteer Coast Guard as a working member and urge everyone to at least take out a marine Assist membership – for $50 its cheap as chips.
Thanks again fellas

Wow, that sure does sound like a headache. Good to hear you made it back safely.

The Volunteer Coast Guard are great people.

Well done and good on the volunteers!

It happened to me years ago and I Tried the rope rig trick with not much luck .
I unbolted the ram from the motor , and ended up standing on the transom
walking from side to side steering it in from Nth gutter ,, Yeah a fun trip.
Good to hear I didn't need to do a tow job Mark ,, But I would if needed Cheers.

Where's the fish pics ????

Where's the fish pics ????

Yeh!

Glad you got home ok

I recall having to hug a large outboard to steer it a few years ago ...

Happened to me last year. Steering cable snapped first day of a planned two nighter at Leaders Creek. MacGyvered up a rope system back to the steering wheel and ended up working a treat and used it for the whole trip.
It was actually a lot easier to steer once I had it up on the plane....
Mmm...dunno why the picture loaded upside down

Upside down as well Daz , Now that's a bit tricky

Had it happen to me going to the Vernons a couple of years ago. Luckily I realised that things weren't right leaving buff creek. By the time I turned and got back the the ramp the steering was gone. Glad I didn't have to go as far as you did.

Fishing with mates once, their steering seized on 4 mile. They steered by having a bloke on either side of the boat dig an oar into the water. They trolled up more fish than us too!

Happened to me once, disconnected both hydraulic lines and tied a paddle to the motor for a tiller, I controlled the throttle and the mate steered at the back of the boat.

Yeah I should have disconnected the hyd lines. I had nothing left upstairs by that time

I keep telling myself to take fish pics. I take the camera but ....

Good on the coast guard. I'm a member as well, cheap insurance.

jeffish wrote:It happened to me years ago and I Tried the rope rig trick with not much luck .
I unbolted the ram from the motor , and ended up standing on the transom
walking from side to side steering it in from Nth gutter ,, Yeah a fun trip.
Good to hear I didn't need to do a tow job Mark ,, But I would if needed Cheers.

Where's the fish pics ????

Kept you awake anyway can be very tiring out that way I hear

jeffish wrote:It happened to me years ago and I Tried the rope rig trick with not much luck .
I unbolted the ram from the motor , and ended up standing on the transom
walking from side to side steering it in from Nth gutter ,, Yeah a fun trip.
Good to hear I didn't need to do a tow job Mark ,, But I would if needed Cheers.

Where's the fish pics ????

I thought of how many times you (and I ) have towed others. Typical of Darwin, not one reply from other boats just Darwin radio.

With my luck, If I stood up on the ransom, I would have slipped into the drink and they would have been looking for a fat body floating around
I was happy enough to just plod back in

Sorry to hear nomad, glad it was just seals needed replacing.

I had the stainless arm snap on KAOS a couple of months ago, nearly to the Vernons, had to come back into buffalo using an occupied strap and my foot sitting down the back to steer, was hard work but made it ok.

I know your feeling about no one answering a call, had that happen too.