Montebello Experience and Advice Sought
Planning a trip to the Montebello's in a few weeks. Keen to hear some thoughts on logistics.
Leaving from Perth. Not planning fill up extra fuel and water to keep weight down. Planning to get Minilya or Lyndon River first night, generally just pull over somewhere for the night. First set of questions:
1.Do I Fill up in Carnarvon with fuel and water so I can go straight to Fortescue River to launch, fill up at the nearest roadhouse to Fortescue River (Nanuturra), or go on to Karratha to fill up. If I go to Karratha, I'd probably stay the night there and stock up on food as well, then head to Fortescue the next morning.
2. Are there any concerns getting over De Boulay Creek on the way to Fortescue River for launching? I know we need to go low tide. Is it a solid bottom or can it be a bit dodgy?
3. Retrieving the boat from Fortescue. I hear reports of it being steep, plus it's unsealed. Should that be of any concern given I don't have a winch or tow points should I not be able to get up. In a Ranger 4wd with all terrains and boat will be approx 2.2T.
4. Is there any reliable mobile phone signal over at the Monties? Is it worthwhile throwing on a signal booster? I have got a SMS satellite communications, but no voice or data. Just worried about keeping up with weather forecasts. Planning on being there 3-4 nights.
5. Crossing conditions. I've not boated north of Exmouth, so don't know the relationship between sea state and wind speed and tide for that matter. Wondering what wind speed and directions I should be concerned about. 6.5m ally boat and I'm an experienced skipper (MC4).
Any experience, things that have and haven't worked, what you would do next time, appreciated.
Cheers,
Clay
Coyote_Dave
Posts: 82
Date Joined: 04/03/13
I've been over twice in a
I've been over twice in a 6.5 m coralline. Once from Onslow and once from Dampier. I had wanted to launch from Fortescue but as we are spearos we prefer neaps and my understanding was we would not have reliably sufficent water to launch and retreive at times that suited us. I was also put off by the idea of something going wrong and having to wait for more water to retreive the boat. I've been over in glamour and fairly ordinary conditions.
The biggest thing to avoid IMO is a rough crossing when you are fully loaded on the way there. We stayed at blue bell island both times and had phone reception at the top of the hill. We did also take a sattelite phone but didn't really need it. You tend to pick up a bit of reception when driving around also picked up plenty of other boats and rig tenders etc on the radio. As for where to fuel up - I wouldn't worry too much, just select the option thats easiest and suits your set up the best. Our set up does not tow well fully loaded with fuel and fridges so we try to avoid filling fuel until the last possible moment.
Its an awesome place - you'll have a great time!
Hope that helps.
clayd
Posts: 132
Date Joined: 07/12/15
Thanks heaps. Yeah, having
Thanks heaps. Yeah, having the boat heavy does change how it behaves. I'm not so keen to head over unless under 15 knots. Not so worried coming back, should be a few hundred kg lighter.
Coyote_Dave
Posts: 82
Date Joined: 04/03/13
Double post
Double post
Rob H
Posts: 5905
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Don't camp at the river
Don't camp at the river mouth, midgies are a killer.
Retrieving, higher the tide the better, unsure of the state of the ramp but I'll ask my boss as he goes there weekly for water sampling
Launching is pretty easy at most tides but theres a rock just to the side of the ramp at lower tides.
Crossing river, bottom is quite firm but just follow others tracks
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
clayd
Posts: 132
Date Joined: 07/12/15
Cheers. That's great. Good
Cheers. That's great. Good to know the track across is ok. Keen to avoid midgies, mate those little buggers. Appears tides will be neaps and looks like we'll be mid tide - hopefully all ok. Thanks for the tip regarding the rock on the launch.
really appreciate the feedback guys.