Bunyip

[michael]

The first side of the bottom has been primed and the boat is now flipped up on its other side and is has half of the paint removed aswell. I have been awaiting for some epoxy glue but the store I buy it from hasn't got anymore for the last couple of months, might have to go shopping elsewhere!

[michael]

Ok, well the Junction Rally deadline never happened, so now looking for the October Heritage Festival (if they have one).
I ended up going shopping elsewhere for glue, eventually finding some on my holidays while in Canberra 8hr drive from home!!
So port side has been glued, pink primed and today primed and undercoated with a 'epensive' marine paint aswell as the stern. Once dry will sand and flip back on to the other side to do the same, then need to get topcoat paint, also expensive! Paint the inside and fit a new 'bit' and cleats.
I have also stripped the paint off the trailer, and begun repainting it, re building the rollers, mudgaurds and will need to get new tyres and rewire the lights. It can be done, it must be done!

[michael]

Well yesterday I got myself another little boat (18th August 2007). Its a clinker hull fibreglassed outside 3.4m long and 1.4 wide. It is propelled driven powered by a Pilot petrol engine and carried on a Rice tipping trailer, all made in Melbourne Vic.
She needs abit of work before she goes into the water, abit of fibreglassing needs to be redone and alot of timber work inside needs replacing. Engine needs a check over, I don't even know how it starts!
And the trailer needs a fair bit of work done too.

[anth]

ha ha ha i was going to bid on this boat on ebay.....but it was little to far to drive and pick up .
well done at least it's gone to a good home and for $ you can't complain.
perfect for a little steamer :wink:

 a year back there were heaps of clinker hull's for sale around my area  can't find a single one . :?:

good luck

anthony

[Roderick Smith]

IIRC the original PS Bunyip had twin hulls (with a paddle between them)?
Michael's latest acquisition could well be used with the older hull in a small-scale version of this Cambodian concept.
In Cambodia, the deck lashed across three hulls could carry two or four minibuses.
On two hulls, Michael could mount a deck capable of supporting just one chick magnet.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Well today I flipped Bunyip upside down and painted her bottom, was the easiest way to do both sides, unlike having it on it's side. Will put another coat on tomorrow, get new tyres for the trailer Monday and hopefully some paint for the topsides during the week and by then will hopefully beat the October deadline.

[michael]

Tonight I got the tyres on the trailer and with a little help got the hull onto the trailer, I've tapped her sides so I can now go and paint her topsides.

[michael]

A big weekend of boating ahead. Tomorrow me and are a mate are taking steam launch Breezy out on the Murray around picnic point for the day. On sunday, if all goes well Bunyip will be going into the water, to check that she is water tight. The topsides have been painted, although some section look bed so they'll need sanding back and recoat, most of the inside floor has been undercoated aswell as all her sides. Will also fit her 'bit' and fittings during the coming we, and hopefully get some topcoat for the insides. Also making up fittings so I can hand my kero navigation lights on her. Then purchase some timber to deck a floor inside, and maybe some seats.

[michael]

Bunyip went back into the water this morning for over a year and a half! All went well no leaks, and she sits higher out of the water with no cabin or heavy deck, will pull her out later today so I can continue work for heritage festival.

[michael]

Not much has happened to Bunyip this week, work getting in the way, althoI have painted and fitted the 'bit'. So for a bit of fun I put my new boat in the water today, she had a few leaks, but still managed to hope in it, one hand with a bucket and the tiller in the other hand while my brother pulled me along the bank!! I'm now considering taking all the fibreglass off and replacing the timber, more expensive but will make it more authentic, engine is just about ready, needs its magneto fixed.

[thewharfonline]

Nice new boat Michael,

Sorry I haven't been around lately everyone, school and other hobbies have been keeping me relatively busy.

Not to mention (on a side note from this thread) my families financial situation hasn't allowed us to venture near Echuca for some time.

We are in desperate need of a holiday though...and with exams on the horizon who knows when that will be.

So what are the exact plans for the new boat Michael? Bunyip looks good on the water.

Hmmm with no more school next year...or at least a fair gap before Uni, I should tinker on Grebe a bit more, maybe get her floating, next to the 'wharf'.

Sean

[michael]

Computer is playing up so can't post a photo of Bunyip as it is now, with 'bit' fitted and blue trim painted. Did some more painting inside the forward hull today, will fitt out for storage and cd player+ speakers.
New boat has had the fibreglass stripped so she's back to timber, fair few large holes. Don't know if I should re plank her or do the cheap way of patching. Engine is in at work, just needs the magneto fixed then it can be ready to go back in.
I may even get a third boat in the next couple of weeks, will just wait and see.
Shame you didn't make it to the heritage festival. Last year was better any way!

[michael]

We'll I have had Bunyip floating out in the back dam, but she has been filling up with water, Rainwater that is! So I have back out.Sunday I went to a Clearing Sale near Bendigo at a old museum, lots of interesting things there. I got myself a nice little outboard motor for Bunyip, apparently its in going order and came with a manual and spare parts booklets, all for $70. Its rated at 5hp so hopefully it will get me around no problems. I also picked up a couple of pressure gauges which will look nice once cleaned up. I've got the rest of the week off, so will be fixing up the outboard motor and working on my clinker hull.

[Roderick Smith]

I mentioned in a different thread that I photographed a Bunyip in an irrigation channel on Monday.
Yes, it was Michael's boat.
A bunyip comes from Australian aboriginal folklore: a large serpentine creature, occupying rivers and lakes (an Australian version of a Loch Ness monster).  It is usually interpreted as a large snake, with multiple arches in its spine rising above water.  Once again, google has heaps.
The name appears in Victoria in the town of Bunyip, and Bunyip River.
Michael chose it because of an ancestral farm in that region, and maintaining the tradition of using river names for river boats.

It certainly looked very smart sitting where I photographed it.  Even with no cabin, it can't go for more than 200 m: low-height bridges lack the clearance for anything but a riderless kayak.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith

[thewharfonline]

Ok that's it I'm going to get back to work on Grebe on Wednesday because Michael's boat i making me jealous.

I actually like the idea of the little old outboard too- I might try something like that until I can upgrade to paddles.

Michael she looks great, you've done a brilliant job.

Sean