Our Tommy has 800 litres of fresh water storage below decks. I I have installed the Seagull IV X-1F system which changes “virtually any treatable non-salt water into delicious drinking water that is both safe and enjoyable to consume.
Seagull IV X-1F drinking water purification system
Because the Seagull IV X-1F unit was developed with aircraft, yachting and recreational vehicle applications in mind, it is especially rugged, dependable, simple, and easily serviced. It requires no addition of chemicals and no electricity. The Seagull IV X-1F is a chemical free drinking water purification system
All Seagull IV purifiers are certified to meet US EPA Guide Standard for Microbiological “Purification” for the removal of bacteria, pathogenic cysts and virus.”
Chief Engineer, Paul Saunders, installing the new Seagull IV under the galley cold water tap. The filter only needs to be changed every 1000 litres or once a year – the picture below shows the old filter on the left after one year of filtering plain tap water on Our Tommy.
My Spry+ waterproof drone/camera arrived today. I purchased it from Fishing Drones Australia and it arrived by free Australia Post in two days! Here’s the manufacturer’s promotional video to introduce you to this drone.
“The aircraft and remote controller of Spry+ are totally waterproof and corrosion-resistant, so that you can bring the drone with you when surfing or in any weathers. Even when you throw the drone and the controller into the water, they can safely float. Landing and taking off from the water with 100% peace of mind, dunking under the water for a quick adventure, Spry+ opens your sight to the limit.”
Needing a drone to record my sailing adventures made finding a completely waterproof drone imperative. Waterproof drones tend to be expensive and the range is small but the price tag for this unit of $1,380 beat both the Spry Store and Harvey Norman by $200.
Before buying any technology I always research the $#@t of it first and I quickly discovered the Spry+ has been very widely, favourably received – such as in this video review from Captain Drone.
I found the set-up and calibration straightforward and it was ready to fly after less than an hour. It doesn’t come with a microSD card so I picked one suitable for large 4K video files from JB Hifi on the way to the park for my first flight.
It flew perfectly and operation was simple and intuitive. Unfortunately none of the batteries or the remote had much charge so I couldn’t fly for very long. Each battery provides 15-20 minutes of flying time so I bought an extra two to stretch my time to 45-60 minutes before recharging.
The video quality is excellent and the 4K Sony camera provides high resolution and fantastic colour saturation. Here is a video of my first test flight. Unfortunately, I cracked the protective plastic camera dome by incorrectly securing the drone in the travel case so you will see an imperfection later in the flight. It’s not expensive to replace and I have ordered a replacement.
The replacement arrived after 2 days by express post – great service again from Fishing Drones Australia. The dome was easy to replace and here is my first test flight over water with some iPhone footage edited in for good measure,
I have been sailing since 2004 when I bought a old 14′ Wayfarer dinghy in Abu Dhabi and taught myself to sail from a book bought at the Marina Mall.
Since then I have owned a 21′ wooden gaff-rigged trailer sailor (2005-2012 – pictured below) and a Northshore 27 (2012-2017) before acquiring Freebooter in 2019. I sailed her down to Tasmania in early 2020 and plan to explore the waters there for a few years before, with luck, cruising up the Whitsundays and beyond to the South Pacific.
The Good Ship Elsie Brown on a small island west of Abu Dhabi (2006). Her shoal keel was perfect for Abu Dhabi’s shallow waters and made beaching and sleeping on the benches at night easy.Freebooter is a Laurent Giles Salar 40 designed to go anywhere in the world quickly and safely. She is currently based in Franklin, Tasmania.
I cruised to Refuge Cove in January 2020 with Paul Saunders on our first extended sea trial after the refit. I also returned in March bound for Tasmania.
As many others before us we found an all weather anchorage protected from Bass Straight. There is a lovely beach with a fresh water stream for rinsing after a swim as well as for washing clothes.
It is quiet as access to Refuge Cove is limited to boats and overnight hikers from Tidal River who stay at the camping ground. next to the stream.
Route from Hastings to Refuge Cove with an overnight stop at Cleeland Bight
Screenshot of route in iPad during voyage
Refuge Cove as seen from Telstra Hill where you can climb to try for a mobile signal
Waterloo Pt lighthouse
Skull Rock off Kanowna Is
Our neighbours at anchor off south beach
With Paul Saunders, Chief Engineer.
A fresh water stream feeds into the cove through the camp ground
The camp ground is accessible only to hikers or boat
