Pre-Charter Briefing - Morning of Departure

Please Note: You will not be able to stay on our bareboat the night before your departure and are encouraged to book accommodation prior.

You will be thoroughly briefed before you leave on the cruising area, the Moreton Bay Marine Park rules, the weather, the tides, the charts, radio procedures, island facilities and your boat systems. You will be asked to demonstrate your navigation and boat handling skills at this time. The briefing takes around 2-3 hours to complete (depending on your level of experience). Your charter fees cover the briefing costs. It is an important part of your pre-charter experience and safety and as such the skipper and at least one other crew member must be present at the briefing . To learn more about this press the button below.

Training Guide - Available on request

If you need a little more training and want to refresh your boating or navigation skills you can hire a ‘training guide’ for half-a-day. You will be shown how to do everything with some practical hands-on training.

Tides - Trip Planning Tips

When cruising the Pumicestone Passage and Moreton Bay Region tides will impact your trip planning. The difference between the lowest and highest tides experienced under normal conditions is known as the tidal range. The tidal range is usually under 2m in our region, but extreme weather events can cause significantly higher tides. The Moreton Bay coast experiences semi-diurnal tides, meaning there are two high tides and two low tides each day. The tides create currents as they ebb (outgoing) and flood (incoming). Generally, the incoming tide flows from the north to the south.

Weather - Importance in Planning

This information provides a general overview of seasonal conditions. All weather predictions should be revised closer to charter hire.

Weather -Concerns and Insurance

Please read the information on the following page if you have any concerns about the weather and your insurance cover to find out how it all works and what you can or can’t claim.

Battery Management - 12-Volt System

Island Bareboat Charters rely on a 12-volt lithium battery bank to run the on-board appliances, such as refrigerators, freezer, lights, water pumps, toilets, navigation equipment, anchor winch and inverter.

Navigation - GPS & Boat Instruments

It is important to have knowledge of basic navigation for safe cruising through the Pumicestone Passage and Moreton Bay region.

As an aid to navigation instrumentation is provided. Keeping a good lookout and using the charts in addition to instrumentation is recommended in order to avoid costly accidents.

Trip Planning - Plot a Course to Steer

Preparation before your boating holiday is key to better equip you for your boating adventure.

Overnight - Anchoring & Moorings

The waters of the Pumicestone Passage and Moreton Bay region are tidal. It is vital that correct anchoring takes place in these tidal waters to ensure a good night’s sleep and to ensure that you do not wake up in the middle of the night with your boat adrift or resting on top of a bank. Children or inexperienced operators should not use the anchor winch as it is dangerous and can cause injury if not used correctly. The operator of the anchor winch must be fully versed with its use and it is the skipper’s responsibility to ensure that they are. Demonstration of correct anchoring and mooring procedures are part of your pre-charter briefing.

Dinghy Use

The dinghy is also additional mechanism to abandon your boat in emergencies, so take care of it!

Every dinghy is a rigid inflatable with an alloy bottom and fitted with:

• an anchor

• bailer

• fuel tank and tray

• bow and stern lines

• flares, V sheet & a reflective device for emergencies

Moreton Bay Marine Information

Moreton Bay Marine Park includes the waters of Moreton Bay, from Caloundra to the southern tip of South Stradbroke Island, extending three nautical miles seaward from Moreton Island and North and South Stradbroke islands. The Marine Park also incorporates the marine and coastal environments of the area, which include rocky shores, wetlands, coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass meadows and sandy beaches, provide seasonal resources for migratory and resident species.

Moreton Bay is special because it is one of the largest Estuary bays in Australia and sits in an ‘overlap zone’ where tropical and temperate species mix. The marine park is managed by the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing (NPSR) as a multi-use marine protected area. Moreton Bay Marine Park was first declared in 1993 to protect its unique values and high biodiversity while still allowing people to use it.