boating across foveaux strait

has anyone had much experience crossing from bluff to stewart island in their own boat? is it a stupid idea or is often done?

2 mates and myself are heading down there in feb and we were thinking of taking my boat across, a 5.5m alloy pontoon with a 75 merc. we were thinking mainly for the freedom of cruising around the island and so we can go do some decent fishing during our trip. our block has a sheltered little inlet where we were thinking we could moor up in or tie off with long ropes to the shore.

has anyone done this?
cheers

Weather should be settled in Feb, you could talk to the ferry guys about following them over to Halfmoon bay, as long as you are well equiped & pick the weather it shouldn't be a problem.

Be flexible on your return date as well.

Often thought of doing this myself but I doubt you could take much gear and spare fuel in a 5.5 but if there is only a couple of you it should be sweet.

Mine is roughly the same size and I was going to just get it loaded on the ferry thee and back.

JoshC has done it in a little bit bigger boat I think?

Watching this thread with interest😆


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What is the distance travelled to achieve a one way trip ?


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Do it all the time, flat sea takes us about 35 minutes. Rough sea up to an hour or more. We usually stop to fish on the way over though.

I have crossed it in 4-5 metre confused seas in our 7.5 but have turned back in worse (like 6+ metre seas with waves going over the boat). So like stug said, you have to be flexible. Almost every time we've gone for an extended trip, we altered what day we come home. I know quite a few people that go over in <6m boats.

Just pick your weather properly and you'll be fine. Early morning crossings are the best, preferably on slack tide.

Generally the worst part first 3rd of the way from Bluff heading over, same coming back - if its rough in the strait, the last 3rd to Bluff will generally be much rougher.

The mouth of the harbour can be pretty exciting on a shifting tide, but in a smaller boat you can skip around the sides of the rough stuff normally. Again, if weather is good, you'll piss in.

The worst thing about the strait is it is shallow, so it cuts up real quick. Knowing what the forecast is for the day is pretty important.

Over on the island there are plenty of places to anchor up in shelter around the eastern side. There are moorings in Halfmoon Bay which are spare, most guys wont worry about you tying up, if they're not in use. It pays to ask around first though. Otherwise pull up on the beach outside the pub like we do. Haha.

You can buy fuel on the island, its not any more expensive than you would expect. We always take our own fuel because we know what we are getting, and we are more versatile that way. We normally head over with 300-400 litres total for a 4-5 day trip (350 chev jet). Normally we head way down to Port Adventure or even down to Pegasus so normally so a fair way from home.

I watch this Boating Forecast Conditions and Marine Weather Information from WeatherMap and this Southland Boating Forecast from MetService.com to check on weather conditions.

Also, make sure you let Bluff Fishermans Radio (Meri) know of your intentions before leaving harbour, Ch61 & 63 off the top of my head. She's happy to take a phone call prior to heading down if you want to check on strait conditions, normally I will call her a couple of hours before heading down and make a call based on her advice. She's very knowledgeable and helpful.

Just be prepared, take all the safety equipment you would anywhere else, don't over load (to prevent overloading you can organise to send stuff over on the ferry), let people know where you are going, more than one form of communication, life jackets etc etc. You should be sweet.

Any questions just ask. :)

Pretty informative post there Josh. Good work

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We took a 12 foot pontoon on the ferry, just borrow/steal a smaller boat and do that

This is awesome information thanks guys. Our block is the murray beach so were pretty much just going to head striaght there for a start. I was planning on taking 200+ litres of fuel. itl boogie along good still I think, we can cruise at 30mph+ easily on a nice day with 4 adults and dive gear.

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good luck be safe

Most of the guys we have gone with can lift boats like your on
That way we take our boat and shite loads if gear
Get there safe and comfortable and still have our boat for mucking about in

I hope he's still not trying to cross or that would be one long crossing ;)

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Originally Posted by rugerman

I hope he's still not trying to cross or that would be one long crossing ;)

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Just noticed the dates....

Haha yes we got over and back no problem.

Took us 4hrs 20mins to row across.

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Originally Posted by ghosts

Took us 4hrs 20mins to row across.

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Were you with the Invercargill Rowing club crew that did it in a Quad??