Grey Nomad yarns

[Mac26Mpaul]

My wife saw an older couple at Jacobs Well QLD a few weeks back, with an X. Apparently with Victorian plates and no mast. She seemed to think they were doing the grey nomad thing (as a caravan/power cruiser only (no stick and rag)). Just wondering about how many Macs might be out there doing the grey nomad thing. If you were going to do it with a boat, I doubt there is a better boat on the market for it. I know some of you have done some pretty huge trips with the boat.

If you have done/are doing the grey nomad thing, or have done some major road trips, how about sharing where you have been in Oz, the highlights and what you thougt of the experience. Also be interested to hear of any issues or likely problems with this sort of use of the Mac (wheel bearing failures is one we recently heard of ). And of course, many are taking certain risks with the traier I think Does anyone have any blogs about their trips?

I'm only dreaming at present, but this stuff is always interesting to read.

[Crikey]

Would like to do the 'Grey' nomad thing eventually some day too. I think keeping the mast and sleeping overnight on-board in 'Daily Waters' would work for me as well

Gettin back there.... That's the thing

[Boblee]

Paul
Been doing that for six years (winters) been 800 k's down the bottom end of the Murray, Gippsland Lakes, East Coast dipping in at various places up to Bowen and round the Whitsundays, three trips to the Gulf and Darwin, Kimberlies last year launched at Lake Argyle, Wyndham, Vic River, Darwin and the Roper (bar to mouth) on the way home.
Mind you am a bit young for the "grey" nomad thing as only 65 this year .
If you are interested in any info for a trip just ask but won't be home for a week or so as going to Nyngan to help a mate with harvest ( and catch some pigs).
Crikey
Spent three nights in Daly Waters last year camping in the park on the boat, they are much better tha many caravans.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Geez Bob, you have bin around a bit How many thousand ks you reckon you have done on the Mac trailer?

How long did you do in the Whitsundays? What time of year did you do it? Which Islands did you visit and in which order? Which of the Islands, if any, are the go for restocking water/food? Where is the best place to launch up there and leave your rig? Did you have any sort of a tender?

[Crikey]

We also did (in our younger days...) tenting for a week in Coral Bay, when it was first starting up. Forty feet away from a roaring Caterpillar diesel generator (talk about diesel and dust!). Consuming a slab of stubbies was the only thing that permitted sleeping for the next days snorkeling......

Would've been nice to have had a hull around us then too.

Ross

[bartmac]

NOT grey but nomadic when possible....used our 26X as a pointy caravan last week after blowing our outboard (faulty water pump) no point going home...our plans mmmm well my plan is to travel around Aust using the 26X....will have to let the foreignhand know.Was still able to test various off season mods whilst away...solarpanel setup (180watt) is more than keeping pace with our fridge...interested to see cycling of fridge when ambient temps rise....I feel the ventilation of the Mac cabin needs looking at as we saw 36deg C

[The Mutt]

We're setting ourselves up for touring as well, way too young to be Nomads, at the moment we are running trying to keep up with work, gotta take it while it's there everyone tells us, in the mean time new toys for our toys, I have just finished modifying the spreaders to telescope in for trailering and replaced the plastic boards on the swim ladder steps, Today I'm fitting a new VHF antenna, Humminbird Fish Finder and ultra bright LED strip lights inside.

Fair Winds
Glenn
VK2FUN

[Mac26Mpaul]

Glenn
Are you going to share these mods. Telescopic spreaders will get a lot of interest I'm sure! THe problem of spreaders is being discussed again at the moment in the "Raise the mast fast" thread

[The Mutt]

Glenn
Are you going to share these mods. Telescopic spreaders will get a lot of interest I'm sure! THe problem of spreaders is being discussed again at the moment in the "Raise the mast fast" thread

I have no problem posting the mod, I'll pull one of them apart Today to photograph.

I don't know how I missed the "Raise the mast fast" thread ...

Glenn
VK2Fun

[Mac26Mpaul]

Great, thanks Glenn
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... t&start=75

[Boblee]

Paul
No real idea how many k's we have done with the Mac trailer but except for basic maintenance and checking bearings etc would happily (now) hook it up and travel anywhere and will be taking it down to Payneville in the next few days hopefully to put in a yard for sale, mind you if it doesn't sell will not be too unhappy as the plan is then to take it North for the winter.
Crikey
Never liked Coral bay too much but it will probably be worse now as the Ningaloo reef is basically all National Park (Marine) and coastal (land) camping is banned except in very designated spots, as I understand, which is a shame as there were some great spots from Exmouth down when we were there about 7-8 years ago (camper trailer).
Every year more spots are closed or access is restricted both on land and water it is pretty sad really but the nomads are putting pressure on and creating opportunities for entrepeneurs to exploit which makes it hard for those who want to explore at their own pace and style.

[Crikey]

Crikey
Never liked Coral bay too much but it will probably be worse now as the Ningaloo reef is basically all National Park (Marine) and coastal (land) camping is banned except in very designated spots, as I understand, which is a shame as there were some great spots from Exmouth down when we were there about 7-8 years ago (camper trailer).
Every year more spots are closed or access is restricted both on land and water it is pretty sad really but the nomads are putting pressure on and creating opportunities for entrepeneurs to exploit which makes it hard for those who want to explore at their own pace and style.

Bob, that all happened so long ago for me that I can plainly say - those were the good old days! Both this place and Monkey Mia had hardly started, I can only imagine the amount of people that coach tour up in these parts nowadays! It's a shortsighted play on the part of the state government when they exclude people from these places instead of the other way around. Considering the relative remoteness of these regions, they would be far better off providing local employment for accommodations and management, instead of shutting them off for so-called protection. I hope the Nomads - as you say - can turn things around enough in time for my next visit down there.
As a youngster, I spent the greater part of my school holidays on Rottnest Island , and Penguin Island W.A and I know they are a far cry from what they used to be like!

Regards ..... Ross

[Mac26Mpaul]

Bob,
Best of luck selling her (if thats really what you want to do ) but as you know, the market is is a bad way.... We did think about downsizing briefly (I reckon I'd be very happy with a Southern Cross 23), but have decided to stick with the Mac......
Are you putting it on Boatpoint or Yachthub? How much are you asking if you dont mind me asking?

[Boblee]

Crikey
Unfortunately the nomads are contributing to the decline of opportunities to see many parts of the country, many only travel once and then park their van as they have seen it all? those who do a 2-3 month tour around the coastline wouldn't have a clue what the country has to offer so they use the commercial enterprises.
The commercial enterprises then lock up areas and activities for exclusive use and then of course the individual traveller is excluded unless they use those services which may or may not suit their liking or mode of travel.
Paul not sure I want to sell the boat but it is on the market, not sure what price the boatyard will be selling it for yet but will be dropping the price to suit his advice when he looks at it but if we can't get our new minimum with some extras removed will be keeping it as there is absolutely no comparable boat or method of travel that can get you to the places a can but expect about $48,000.
Unfortunately I am getting older and there are many other parts of Aust I want to see like the desert country and fossicking areas also hunting and need to finance a new way of travel but will still take a boat (4.5m Polycraft) for fishing and exploring on water but there are heaps of estuaries and coast that we haven't touched yet and still got 1500k's? of the Murray to check out so it's no drama to keep the Mac (for a couple of years).
Would also like to visit the Kimberlies again as it is a beautififul part of the world with fantastic fishing and nothing can beat a mac for seeing it, camping in the polycraft on water is definitely a far less relaxing experience but towing a small 4wd as well makes it better on land as it would to visit Arnhem Land compromises compromises.

[Nautek]

Hi Bartmac

Just a bit off topic but how do you mount that 180 watt solar panel on the X??

Allan