Flat rock high n dry. What’s going on this year?
ballinanewsdaily.com.au/2026/06/lucky-escape-for-two-after-yacht-hits-rocks-off-skennars-head/
You gotta wondering what is happening up there. I guess they will start putting out securite's when over 60s go past.
You gotta wondering what is happening up there. I guess they will start putting out securite's when over 60s go past.
I am a little intrigued by how anyone could be so dumb - again. The article from the Ballina Daily is illuminating. No charts and no proper nav gear and so they were going along the shore trying to feel their way into Ballina. The skipper suggests the reef should have a light on it because it is in the way from a direct course from Byron to Ballina. I would not feel positive about our need to acquiesce to his suggestion. Uninsured again.
ballinanewsdaily.com.au/2026/06/stranded-yacht-owner-battles-looters-and-the-tide-to-save-his-home/
ballinanewsdaily.com.au/2026/06/rough-seas-threaten-stranded-yacht-after-failed-tide-bid/
I have seen three poorly maintained boats that have sunk within 200 metres of my mooring in the last 18 months. I talked to a guy who sunk a Carmen and he was quoted about $35 grand to refloat and remove her. A guy who sank his trawler 50 metres away got quoted $50 grand for refloat and disposal. A young bloke has a big cruiser sitting on the bottom still and has been quoted $50-60 K for refloating and disposal. In nice and easy conditions - a 6 metre deep lake. Now this guy says he has no insurance - it could cost him a lot more than that to remove it
Owning a poorly maintained boat and not displaying proper seamanship can be very expensive.
I am a little intrigued by how anyone could be so dumb - again. The article from the Ballina Daily is illuminating. No charts and no proper nav gear and so they were going along the shore trying to feel their way into Ballina. The skipper suggests the reef should have a light on it because it is in the way from a direct course from Byron to Ballina. I would not feel positive about our need to acquiesce to his suggestion. Uninsured again.
ballinanewsdaily.com.au/2026/06/stranded-yacht-owner-battles-looters-and-the-tide-to-save-his-home/
ballinanewsdaily.com.au/2026/06/rough-seas-threaten-stranded-yacht-after-failed-tide-bid/
I have had three poorlt maintained boats sink within 200 metres of my mooring in the last 18 months. I talked to a guy who sunk a Carmen and he was quoted about $35 grand to refloat and remove her. A guy who sank his trawler 50 metres away got quoted $50 grand for refloat and disposal. A young bloke has a big cruiser sitting on the bottom still and has been quoted $50-60 K for refloating and disposal. Now this guy says he has no insurance - it could cost him a lot more than that to remove it
Owning a poorly maintained boat and not displaying proper seamanship can be very expensive.
It's off the beach.
ballinanewsdaily.com.au/2026/06/sad-and-costly-ending-for-owner-as-stranded-yacht-dragged-from-flat-rock/
? Prerequisite for Boat Rego -Third Party/Salvage Insurance ,as Green slip with a vehicle ?
$500/yr for 50 yo fibreglass yacht = cheaper than $30k+ to be skull dragged to the Tip !
I thought that third party insurance is to compensate the "other".
To cover this type of "accident" you would need full comprehensive wouldn't you?
In the long run, not running aground is the way to go.
gary
Select to expand quotePlanter said..
? Prerequisite for Boat Rego -Third Party/Salvage Insurance ,as Green slip with a vehicle ?
$500/yr for 50 yo fibreglass yacht = cheaper than $30k+ to be skull dragged to the Tip !
Hi Planter,
In Qld, the rule states you must have pollution/wreck removal Insurance for boats over 15mtrs. For my 12.5 mtr, I had to have full comp insurance to cover wreck removal, third party/fire/theft didn't cover it.
I dunno the exact ruling when a Qld boat goes aground in NSW though, but you'd be a bit of a muppet to rely on that saving you from incurring costs .
This is from Maritime Safety Qld....
Ship insurance
All ships over 15m, including those visiting Queensland waters, must have insurance to cover potential pollution clean up, salvage and wreck removal. Find more information about ship insurance requirements in Queensland.
Linky here.... www.msq.qld.gov.au/registration
There’s only 2 rules coastal sailing:
1. Don’t hit another boat.
2. Don’t hit Australia.
Compulsory insurance would have an interesting effect on the used market.
12 months notice to get your **** together then the state government comes along and pulls out all the old rotting hulks and cuts them up, bit like the brumbys.
1. Imagine how many mooring spots would get freed up for active boaters.
2. Market would start to reflect the real value of the boats - i.e. all these inflated prices for boats that need 50K to make them seaworthy.
3. Create some demand for shipwrights.
4. People learn to maintain their boats, like doing their own rigging, fixing motors etc etc.
If boats are unseaworthy they either a. Cannot be used (so why keep them) or b. Get used anyway and people die, including third parties.
BUT ,you cannot get into a Marina/boatyard without Insurance .
Unintended Consequences = costs are more than the boat is worth/ + restrictions on maintenance in situ ,so have Bays of debris/bird's-nest,until they sink/mooring fails ,and go ashore !
Have been in a bay for 4 years,with a number of boats having warning stickers then. Still there,and never seen anyone aboard - Waiting ?
