Small Sailboat Cruising

Small Sailboat Cruising Sailor and wooden boat builder with a lifelong weakness for Huon Pine, calm anchorages, and a good story well told.
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I build boats, fix boats, occasionally sink them (gracefully) I’m a sailor and wooden boat builder, drawn to the quiet charm of clinker planks, salty breezes, and the occasional boat ramp debacle. Along the way, I’ve also become a writer, filmmaker, and photographer — telling stories about small boats, big adventures, and the people (and mishaps) that shape them. From the Huon River to the Noosa E

verglades, and now bringing *Moonlight* home to Tasmania, I share slow journeys aboard small boats like *Sarah Ann* and *Moonlight* on YouTube and here on Facebook. If you like traditional boats, thoughtful storytelling, and the kind of travel where a cup of tea takes priority over top speed — you’re in the right place.

05/06/2026

Turns out, ignoring that tiny diesel leak was a stroke of absolute genius. What started as a harmless drip became a full-blown refinery in the bilge overnight, all thanks to a loose fuel return line. Nothing teaches you attention to detail quite like waking up to a boat that smells like a petrol station. A classic case of over-optimism meeting a very messy reality.

04/06/2026

Retirement can sound peaceful until peaceful turns into sitting too much.

That’s where a little boat helps.

You don’t need a big trip. You don’t need a flash yacht. You just need a reason to get out of the house, check the weather, untie a rope, and go somewhere quiet for a while.

A wooden boat slows a man down in the right way.

Not lazy.

Useful.

You still have to steer. Watch the tide. Keep an eye on the wind. Make sure the anchor holds. Put the kettle on. Fix the thing that rattled all afternoon.

That’s better than just drifting through another day.

A quiet creek, a small boat, and a bit of work to do can put life back in order.

Not because it’s fancy.

Because it gives a bloke a reason to move, think, and come home with a story.

The chair can wait.

04/06/2026

We often forget how vital a bit of routine really is. It’s not just about keeping busy; it’s about having a reason to get out of that chair and engage with the world. Without a clear purpose, things can slip away faster than we’d like to admit. Sometimes the smallest tasks hold the most weight in keeping us on track.

04/06/2026

The secret to having the entire ocean to yourself? It’s all in the timing. While most people are sleeping in, the real magic happens at the crack of dawn. Those early, chilly, and sometimes windy starts on the boat ramp serve as the perfect filter—keeping the crowds away and leaving the open water wide open. There’s a unique kind of peace that comes when the only competition you have is the rising sun. Sometimes, the best sailing conditions are the ones that keep everyone else safely tucked in bed.

04/06/2026

There’s a fine line between a quick fix and an engine quietly mocking your mechanical abilities. This Daikon Kubota conversion has definitely crossed it.

If anyone out there actually knows these setups or can point a bloke in the right direction for a correct impeller, the help would be massive. Seems the rarest part of these old engines isn't the hardware, but finding someone who remembers what they came from in the first place.

03/06/2026

There’s no need to sweat over every little hiccup under the hood. Sometimes, a boats quirks are just personality, not a catastrophe waiting to happen. Those strange engine noises or minor glitches often lead to unnecessary stress before you've even checked the basics. Take a breath, assess the situation, and remember that not every rattle requires an immediate, expensive trip to the mechanic. Keep the panic at bay and stay on the road with a bit more confidence.

03/06/2026

The worry of whether this system would actually fit is finally over. It turns out the engine sits about six inches lower than expected, creating perfect clearance right underneath the fuel tank. A major relief for this build and a huge step forward in getting everything positioned just right.

03/06/2026

Forget the gym and counting steps on a treadmill. There’s something about wrestling with an old boat engine that just works. It’s not about fitness; it’s about fixing something that’s been stuck for years. You bend, reach, lift, and twist, and suddenly you’ve been moving for hours without even realising it. It’s a quiet way to keep the gears turning in your own body, all while bringing something broken back to life. Turns out, the best motivation isn't a workout plan—it's a seized-up bolt and a bit of grease.

03/06/2026

There’s nothing quite like buying a boat to inherit the previous owner’s mechanical wisdom. Turns out, shiny metal on an impeller cover usually isn't a good look—it's a sign that things are rubbing where they shouldn't. This Dicon-converted Kubota 12hp is putting up a fight, leaving a bit of detective work to be done. Proof that old boats really do love passing their problems down the line, one grease-stained mystery at a time.

02/06/2026

Treating your body like a vintage engine is probably the smartest move you’ll make today. Turns out, it doesn’t need a gym membership and a mountain of supplements—it just needs a job.

If you leave an old engine sitting in the shed, it seizes up. Same goes for us. You’ve gotta give the chassis a reason to move, reach, lift, and twist, just to remind it that it’s still in service. Keep it running, keep it ticking over, and you might just get a few more miles out of the clock than you expected.

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Launceston, TAS

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