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Sleeping on board
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=13400
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Author:  stringy [ Fri Nov 15, 2013 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

I've just returned from a 3 day trip where I was able to give the new gear a thorough test.
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I was dropped off at Patonga 2:00pm Wed, sailed to Cowan Creek and returned to Woy Woy at 4:00pm Fri. I estimate the time I spent 'off boat' would be about 4hours. I had planned to make this a 3 nighter but predicted thunderstorms had me returning a day early. I was disappointed as I was having a great time!
The area I explored has limited public moorings (yellow buoys in distance) that are exposed to the wind and often taken by bigger boats. There is only 1 campsite in the whole of the national park.
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Being able to sleep/cook on board allows you to get away from the crowd and overnight in some magnificent spots that you'll have all to yourself.
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Discovered the bimini doubles as a clothes hanger for quick drying:
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I was very happy with how the gear performed, apart from the anchors. The sand was much softer and they wouldn't hold. I need to invest in a stake-out pole as most of my camping is in the shallows.
While camped there where some strong wind gusts and the bimini/tent had no problems.
The stored bimini travelled very well in the strong winds and lumpy conditions I experienced getting there and back. The extra weight aft prevents nose diving/submarining. The haka proved their worth once again.
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Author:  Chekika [ Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Great trip, Stringy. And, a terrific setup for the conditions. I, too, find the hakas when loaded with some of the gear, greatly reduce nose diving of the AI. I'm not sure why, but it is a fact. It may be that the hull just does not ride as low, and, perhaps does not do as much wave cutting, hence it rides over the waves rather than cutting & diving. And, as you suggest, weight on the hakas shifts the weight more to the rear, lifting the nose up with less diving.

Your system avoids the problem of the Park having only a single "camping" site. Nevertheless, a single camping site shows the mentality of some National Park managers for catering to power boaters. You and other kayakers/AI/TI sailors should take every opportunity to point out to the powers that be, the inequity of the current arrangements.

Thanks for the story.

Keith

Author:  NOHUHU [ Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Clearly, Stringy's the right guy with the right boat, exploring the right place at the right time.

Makes me pretty damn jealous, too. :mrgreen:

A quality report. Keep at it, Mate!

Author:  Terry [ Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Very nice! Do you have any close ups with your camping gear on the hakas for this trip?

Author:  Hobie Crafte [ Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

I sure get jealous, man... Still half a year until temperatures starts to get decent here. I have thought about owning an Island in the North and one in the South and travel between them. I also have fantasies about going with my TI all the way from Sweden to the Canary Islands or at least Marocko or southern Spain. Actually I think I would go for it if summer was still here, but it´s too late now.

I have somewhat simpler solutions than yours. If it´s not raining I am sleeping in open air, just in a sleeping bag. Is there any reason you can´t do it in Australia? I might have to use something against the mosquitoes, but last summer there hardly were any!

I guess you have more need for a shield against the sun in daytime. I usually only use a cap.

Author:  Okiebobby [ Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

I've only slep on board my TI once. I built a 7' x 2' wooden strip deck, which is about the foot print of my one man backpacking tent. It was tight quarters in crouded protected marina, but it provided some privacy and shelter. The deck is very useful for stowing gear, things stay dryer than I do.

Author:  Okiebobby [ Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

A hamock seems like the best way to sleep on board, but I haven't followed through on setting up that arrangement yet.

Author:  stringy [ Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Thanks Keith, Nohuhu and Terry.

Keith, you raise a good point about lack of suitable kayaking facilities. Talking with other kayakers, it seems the authorities turn a blind eye to bush camping, which is the only real alternative for kayakers keen on exploring the park. The official campground is located at one end of the park, making it impossible to explore the park on day trips. We had previously camped in an overhang that was obviously used for camping by others. I guess the low numbers of kayakers overnighting in the park hasn't drawn the authorities attention.

Terry wrote:
Very nice! Do you have any close ups with your camping gear on the hakas for this trip?

I didn't take any onboard pics this trip and though I had the Gopro it doesn't work too well with the SD card still sitting at home in the computer...D'Oh!!!
My setup hasn't changed from my previous post. Was there anything you wanted more detail on?

Hobie Crafte wrote:
If it´s not raining I am sleeping in open air, just in a sleeping bag. Is there any reason you can´t do it in Australia? I might have to use something against the mosquitoes, but last summer there hardly were any!

I guess you have more need for a shield against the sun in daytime. I usually only use a cap.

The mossies here can be very bad as well. On my first overnighter I had to get into the bivvy at dusk as the mossies were swarming. We also tend to get heavy dews at night and sleeping in the open usually means you wake up wet even if it hasn't been raining.

Author:  stringy [ Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Okiebobby wrote:
A hamock seems like the best way to sleep on board, but I haven't followed through on setting up that arrangement yet.

Welcome OB,
You should check out Phil's, Chrisj's and Slaughter's excellent setups for hammocks seen from P4 of this thread. Also, your 'wooden strip deck' is known here as 'haka'. Read all about haka development here:
viewtopic.php?f=69&t=37645

Author:  Hobie Crafte [ Sun Nov 17, 2013 12:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

stringy wrote:
We also tend to get heavy dews at night and sleeping in the open usually means you wake up wet even if it hasn't been raining.


As far as I understand some kind of walls around the bed will stop most dew from entering the bed. Like the ones you have got on your tent.

In Sweden dew comes mostly late in the summer. My sleeping bag often is rather wet in the morning, but it´s just on the outside, so it doesnt matter much. It might take a few hours until the sleeping bag has dried up, so in case one wants to start moving early in the day the moisture might seem like a problem.

Author:  Chekika [ Sun Nov 17, 2013 7:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Here in south Florida, your gear (sleeping bag, clothes, etc) will be soaked most nights you slept on the beach in the open. Even sleeping in your tent without the fly (so you can watch the stars) will result in a soaked sleeping bag, etc. Also, here , you have to sleep in some type of fine mesh enclosure to prevent noseeums & mosquitos from feasting on you. Again, that is no protection from the high humidity and dew which will develop as soon as the sun goes down.

Keith

Author:  Terry [ Sun Nov 17, 2013 7:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Quote:
I didn't take any onboard pics this trip and though I had the Gopro it doesn't work too well with the SD card still sitting at home in the computer...D'Oh!!!
My setup hasn't changed from my previous post. Was there anything you wanted more detail on?


Nope, nothing in particular. I just like seeing photos of how people load their AIs & hakas for camping trips.

Author:  Slaughter [ Sun Nov 17, 2013 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Terriffic post Stringy. Seems like your setup is understandibly the envy of many. The bimini looks to be so useful, night and day. Can't wait to give it the 'once over' in the flesh.

Down this way you wouldn't want to sleep under the stars without some form of waterproof covering. Not as bad here though than it is in Israel. I remember waking up one night there with a heavy dew on me........but that's another story.

Author:  stringy [ Tue Nov 19, 2013 1:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Thanks mate ...and thanks for not sharing that "other story"! :wink: :lol:

Author:  Cowsgomoo [ Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sleeping on board

Most awesome! Words fail me :D

I must get up there and visit again. Just got inside away from the mozzies after working on my AI update.

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