South alligator
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:10 pm
G'day all,
Just putting it out there, I'm keen to a trip to the mouth of South this build up, I've only done it once in the runoff and didn't hsve to worry about tides to launch/retrieve and negotiate river. Just wondering if anyone has done it in the build up and wants to share there experience was thinking neap tides would be the go but not sure on launching navigating etc, am keen to try for both barra and Jew etc. thanks in advance for any info and if anyone else is keen to team up for a trip let me know
Cheers
Just putting it out there, I'm keen to a trip to the mouth of South this build up, I've only done it once in the runoff and didn't hsve to worry about tides to launch/retrieve and negotiate river. Just wondering if anyone has done it in the build up and wants to share there experience was thinking neap tides would be the go but not sure on launching navigating etc, am keen to try for both barra and Jew etc. thanks in advance for any info and if anyone else is keen to team up for a trip let me know
Cheers
I used to work out my tides, get to the ramp around an hour early and watch the tidal movement. When you observe the tide slowing down but still pushing up is a good time to depart. On your way down don't travel flat out, I used to do comfortable 35-40 ks an hour. Stay in the deeper channel (as to where this will be changes year to year). Keep an eye on your sounder and and might have to wait watch for ripply water ahead indicating shallows. Don't try to cut the corners to save fuel as some do (then they wonder they run aground). If you have Polarised lenses on you may have a slight advantage.
about the SA downstream of the ramp..it's all sandbars/mudbars no rock bars that I know off. The worst thing that can happen is you run aground and have to wait for ten minutes to get off. That's why you don't travel fast or long distances downstream on low or dropping tides. Get stuck then and you might have to wait many hours to get off the sandbar.