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Part One
To Part Two
Well the builders plate is on and engraved and the HIN is attached
(major drama at Dept of Transport). The Transport Dept as they
did not know how to classify a HOME BUILT Timber boat in their
system!!
Eventually sorted after 45 minutes, and I left with the HIN,
and the yellow sticker for the Boats' passenger capacity.
The boat is painted with NORGLASS ENAMEL and NORGLASS NON-SLIP,
this paint has given good coverage and was reasonably priced and
good quality, and gave me a good finish for minimal effort. The
paint was rolled with a small roller, and done in sections.
The boat fitted well on the campers' racks, I have fitted two
brackets to the Transom for wheels, to move the boat around between
the Camper and the folding trailer, and this has proved very successful
and cost about $25.00
We went to BURRUM HEADS at the top of HERVEY BAY for a week after
Christmas, and as luck would have it, the other half (wife) did
her back. As a result she was not able to go out with me on the
Maiden voyage. So, I managed invited another fisherman in the
Caravan park to come out with me.
The Burrum River behaved it self for a change and as for the
MJ1 (Mangrove
Jack 1), well most impressive. With the 9.8 Hp motor
we managed a respectable 28 Kph (17 mph) on the river. The boat
was stable and handled the chop very well, with 180 kg persons
on board, not including the weight for safety gear, motor &
fuel.
I have had the boat out four times since the maiden voyage, and
it has continued to please. The boat has proven itself in skinny
water and the local river (North Pine) and Hayes Inlet. I finally
managed to get the Treasurer (wife) out, not because she did not
want to, but she has been incapacitated for several months. She
is rapt in the boat and said that it is the best we have ever
owned! Now as you all know this approval is always necessary ,
especially when you have to ask about new motors etc , or ever
want to build another boat of which you then have to convince
her will be better than what you have already… but that's
another story (article?).
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The MANGROVE JACK 3.65 has filled all the criteria I specified
Mark at BOWDIDGE MARINE DESIGNS for and I'm extremely happy with
the design, the service and the finished boat. I can lift the
boat onto the Camper Racks with minimal assistance; it travels
well on the camper and is easy to handle on and off the water.
Its weight is also with-in the design parameters 65 kg as asked
for. What more can I say. If you want a small boat for creeks,
rivers & lakes that can be roof topped, or carried on your
camper, the MANGROVE JACK will fill the bill.
Cheers,
Jeff
P.S. The video is now on MARKS'
web site.
Mangrove
Jack design by Mark Bowdidge is available at Duckworks.
*****
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