I am chasing some advice from experienced Rottnest surfers.

I have just moved to Fremantle. I own a 4.2 meter aluminium Super Duck.
Powered by 30 hp 2 stroke , will do 30 knots in calm water with driver only.
Hull is stable but not so great in short chop.

I hope to be able to shoot out to Rotto , chase waves and maybe a free dive.

Is it realistic to try and do this and expect to be safe or am I dreaming?

mate that trip can be uncomfortable in a 23ft fishing boat

Bahhh!!! You'll piss it in, if the weather's gnarly early you wouldn't be heading over anyway and if it turns to $hit in the arvo then just follow one of the ferrys back and sit 20m off it's stern. Smooth as silk.
You'd have to trying really really hard to phuck it up in a super duck, if your donk is reliable and you have all the safety gear then you'll be more than fine.

Okay , so pick my days carefully.

Head out with easterly and return with the seabreeze.
I hear of guys doing this trip in thundercats which is interesting.

So what is the average sought of boat you would see on the pick over there?

Love the enthusiasm Smicko.

Yes the boat is good seaworthy condition with all required safety extras.

All input much appreciated.

mate it would need to be a perfect day for you to do this in comfort, it's a 30k round trip. Don't forget you need an EPIRB and offshore flare kit onboard. The average Rotto enthusiast uses a boat 18foot or over, you'll make it over in virtually anything, even smicko's orange bath tub esky thing will do it! Just expect a slow, bumpy and very wet trip home if the breeze swings. Fuel may be an issue too, carry 50l just in case.

I am a bit of a conservative boater and my only concern is, I tried sitting behind the ferry once and I couldn't keep up with it. Also, I find sitting in wakes somewhat dangerous because you are sort of encouraged to go faster than usual, then when a set of three or four rollers come, you have little room for movement in terms of hitting them at a good angle. Basically, you're stuck in the wake when you may want to hit it 45 degrees. Also, sometimes the rollers double up on the wake of the boat and make things worse. My boat is 5.2 and I'm conservative. Better safe than sorry. You can certainly get there, my old man once took a ski boat. But pick your days. You'd want red arrows all day.

People swim there but i wouldn't

Your super duck will do it, and honestly safely but as far as comfort goes, that's another story. Might need a new spine and shoulder reconstruction afterwards

Need to be careful with the ferries. you can't count on them as they will often try and shake you off and to the point of driving hard to get away from you or i even had one stop dead and wait for me to leave his tail[}:)]

To be honest I am not real keen about sitting behind a ferry.

I do have my coxswains ticket and have done a small amount of commercial skipper work so I can appreciate the responsibility these ferry skippers have.
If think you are right about the body copping it. I am thinking thick cushion and maybe a steering dampner like the thundercats have set up.

Thanks for your response.

seen two diff thundercats over there, thought they were rubber ducky types though which surely adds comfort, one sped past our anchor at stricks at 25 knots plus looked like only its prop in water, the thing was a weapon, don't think an ally duck is comparing apples for apples.

the thundercat guy prob also paddled out at box and killed it he looked like he knew what was going on.

your boat would be better if u were staying on the island.

I agree , definitely not apples for apples. Just looking at some of the good ideas used around the place.
I would look at thundercats but I have nowhere to store a boat other than in the sun outside my front fence.
I am only new to the area so just trying to figure out whether it's worth upgrading to a bigger boat or just stick with what I've got.

Why not try garden island as a tester. There are some waves over there and relatively quick to get to.

Great idea , thanks.

Are there any sought of restrictions for visiting the island?
I remember something about spearguns being prohibited?

also check with water police im pretty sure the minimum is about 4.5mt more than 3nautical miles offshore they"ve been nailing plenty of ski riders on the crossing !
ive also seen that thundercat go by while surfing there ,fastest thing i recon ive seen on water

Have crack on the weekend of the rottnest swim there be plenty of help around

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swalkington said...
Why not try garden island as a tester. There are some waves over there and relatively quick to get to.

Ha ha the naming police are back

pretty good safety advice Sam but now you've alerted everyone to the fact that a giant swell catching island exists off our coast that was previously a well guarded secret, I think you're a douche. This level of insanity goes beyond a red thumb my friend please desist from pointing out the obvious within this thread and don't you dare post photos of any wave within 300km of this Garden Island place you speak of.

bakesy u should listen to your own advise, stop posting SR

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kwalkington said...
bakesy u should listen to your own advise, stop posting SR

I think Bakesy was posting in jest. I say stuff the location cops. Honesty I'd say the ones who red thumb naming spots more than likely wouldn't even post or contribute normally so stuff them

Bakesy, I take it u r taking the piss!?
It's waves are actually pretty average.

yes and yes they are.

How was it up your way bakeys there seem to b a bit of swell off Preston on sat morning

not too bad Sat morning, wind stuffed it today.

will my duck do rotto?