Would any of you undertake this journey...

[Noelm]

I have done that trip a few times now, and even though it is well within your Boats capacity, it is a bloody long way, you will get bored sh!tless steering after a few hours I can tell you, Navigating is fairly easy, with proper charts and a GPS, you should also take a back up GPS, been there and done that with a dud GPS, as mentioned, there is a lot better places than the Whitsundays a lot closer to you, are you going just for the "holiday" of it all? it will also be a very nerve wracking experience for you, as any small click, squeak or rattle will see you grim faced at best, so best off to think long and hard about it all and set a much more realistic cruise speed to base your trip on, the boat is more than capable of speed, but not for days on end, also following a Game Boat is an option, but they will just go on when you will need to stop for fuel or weather conditions.

[Offshore^Jack]

Croc,my figures are based on a a few runs down to Byron,she cruises around 32-35 l/h.

Noel,we holidayed in the Whitsundays a few times and we think it'd be great to cruise in our own boat,Airlie for a couple of nights,Whitehaven,Chalkies,Blue Pearl Bay,Nara Inlet,it'll be great especially wetting a line everyday and we're both certified divers,so they'll be loads to do.When you say they're are much better places closer,are you talking about Keppel,Musgrave,Heron? Most of the legs are 3-4 hours,like Southport to M'ba,so there's no rush,might do a bit of trolling along the way,stop and cook up a barbie,we'll be right.

Like i said,i'd like to do it with twins,maybe one day.

[GBC]

Do the research on spots to stay inbetween - some awesome places. Percy's have been mentioned (find the treehouse and have a look) - there used to be fresh goat at the homestead but I dunno anymore. Around Pine is also worth a look.

Maybe a run past North Reef if you like diving - and big Tigers.

I really am jealous - I think your timing could be a bit iffy but I hope you get a window.

[Crocodile]

Hello O Jack,
I don't mean to drone on but every other similar boat that has a test that has fuel usage figures uses about 45 to 50 litres per hour at about 3500rpm at about 25knots which is about 2.5 nautical miles per gallon.
How did you measure fuel usage? by a meter? has it been calibrated?
The only accurate method is to fill the tank, use the boat, and then re-fill the tank.
Calculate the nautical miles per gallon from that, (this assumes that the bowser at the marina is accurate?????).
Your figures result in about 4.5 nautical miles per gallon which is about what a 1 tonne 5 metre boat uses, not 3 tonnes of cruiser.

[BrewGuru]

Just beware there is not a lot of protection from Bundaberg to Gladstone