Ep 11. Boat Tour and Sleep Setup in an 11 foot 3 inch Heron. Now with packing list link.

A video set in Middle Harbour Creek, Sydney, Australia with 3 segments - timecodes below.
00:00 Intro
01:44 The Story of Kingfisher - her backstory.
03:57 The boat tour.
09:04 The sleep setup.
Packing list for all of Kingfisher's standard gear:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Other References:
Roger Barnes - / rogerbarnesmusings
Mirror Cruising - / msf60khz
Heron racing photo - heronsailing.com.au/the-heron/...

[@snort455]

I live on the central coast of California. Grew up in and around the local harbor. Always daydreamed of boat camping up and down the coast in the warm summer. Cherry pick the finest days. So many great spots. The adaptations for dingy camping could easily be applied to a small van, or truck and camper. There's so much to see out there.

[@nickmalone3599]

I think Kingfisher is a marvelous little vessel loaded with DIY Charm. The best! Thank you for sharing.

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

I think so too!

[@storagebox88]

Just getting into dinghy sailing as a 33 year old and loving it. Your channel is great, very inspirational. Keep it going. Looking forward to seeing more of Kingfisher. Cheers from Melbourne.

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Welcome to dinghy cruising. Thanks for your kind comment. Hope you get some decent weather, and find a group who sail too. Stay safe, Josh

[@johnbiddal5951]

Hunting the Internet for ideas and glad to find your videos. 14 foot Tideway dinghy owner here in UK with a similar set up. I use the removable floor gratings as a bunk base, which with a bit of juggling and a headboard fit between the midship and after thwarts. Still busy with the scissors and tape making the boom tent and finding some of your ideas very useful thanks. 👍

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Glad these are useful. Sounds like your setup is coming along nicely. Thanks for your comment. Josh

[@davidsumner6536]

Congratulations on fixing up the Heron so professionally. Looking forward to more videos. David

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks David. Glad you liked it. Loved your videos too. Inspirational stuff.

[@wilsnich02]

I really enjoy your video's and the others from the Raid Sydney group. Like most Australian 70's kids, I learned to sail in Mirrors or Herons with Dad, for me it was 1974 / 75 at Clontarf and Balmoral, our Heron was no. 3667. These video's encourage us to get out on the water and have a crack, well done !! I really enjoyed the Myall Lakes videos and were a big reason why I wanted to get up there.

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks for your kind comment- I am into your Careel 18 stuff too! Glad sailing is the fundamental we all share, regardless of type of boat. Josh

[@robstevens5503]

Nice video, narration and editing, and nice personalisation of your boat. The more videos of this genre there are the better!

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks Rob. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@boxer75010]

Great presentation and a very informative video. Thanks for taking the time to make it! Greetings from Europe.

[@rexguy7823]

Great video. After a fair bit of windsurfing when I was younger (now mid 40s), I'm planning to get a sailing boat and this was a useful video. Also narrated well. Thanks

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks Rex. Yes these little boats have replaced my hiking/backpacking days. I get to explore, without the carrying stuff. Cheers, Josh

[@chrisleggatt3240]

There's an uncanny set of common similarities to this dinghy cruising lark. I share these and the passions with what this clip has to offer. Thankyou for such a nicely made video. 👌

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

You are most welcome. Thanks for watching. Josh

[@philiporourke7896]

Great vid, thanx.

[@simonabunker]

These are great videos! You have a great style!

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Cheers Simon, thanks for your support.

[@TonyKeyes]

That is excellent, thanks Josh!

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks Tony! Still trying to sit down with your latest Beluga vid. Been editing for 3 days...

[@RogerRoving]

Lovely video!

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks Roger. Hope you didn’t mind me sampling an image of you in the history part! Take care, Josh

[@sailingseriously2035]

Look forward to you vids very much.

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Good to know you enjoy them. Take care.

[@jesusislord-ht1nj]

nice video...I think when you restore a boat it builds a bond between captain and craft

[@SailingKateLouise]

very good Josh

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks for the editing tips!

[@bloodspatteredguitar]

I already knew of the difference, but it's strange to see a heron without the slats underneath that the UK heron has. Thank you for sharing her with us.

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

By slats underneath do you mean under the side seats? Yes she only has four floor slats running lengthways - leaves extra storage room if its ok getting wet sitting in the bilge.

[@bloodspatteredguitar]

@@DinghyCruisingKingfisher no- in England our Herons have two strips on each side of the hull rather than an entirely smooth bottom. According to a friend who has sailed both they change the handling slightly.

[@jumpyair6705]

Great video. I’ve not found many good channels on dinghy cruising / dinghy sailing so it’s nice to see you doing it properly, Roger Barnes is my the main channel I watch for dinghy cruising but if anyone knows of any other good channels please do say. Also I’ve recently acquired a GP14 which I’m hoping to start cruising on soon, so this video was very helpful for all the camping / sleeping arrangements. Thanks.

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Sailing Kate Louise is an excellent channel from Australia.

[@kenegan7649]

My first boat was a heron in the early 70s....now ive lived on my 26 foot tasman for thr last 15 years sailing the east coast

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

I love the 'had a heron' stories I get whenever I pull up at a boat ramp. Such a great little boat.

[@byronbarker6860]

Just came across your channel. Brilliant, I love it and just subscribed. I have a mirror dinghy set up for cruising / camping but need to make time to use it more :( New Zealand, Feilding.

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Thanks Byron. Love NZ! Time really is the hardest thing to get hold of. I just went out with the Woollahra Mirrors in my latest ‘quiet’ video. Josh

[@complexlittlepirate3589]

LOVE the Doofus!

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

I hope I never have to be the doofus that uses the DUFUS. Happy holidays!

[@complexlittlepirate3589]

That fact that you set up the DUFUS means you're definitely not a doofus! MC and HNY to you 👍

[@55longboarder]

Great video. Hello from frozen coastal New Hampshire in the states. Not many dinghies found in these parts, unless you'd count an O'Day Daysailer....

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Hi, thanks for your kind comments. The oday is rare here, but we do have one in our group. I believe its an unofficial copy. Great boats! Stay warm, Josh

[@alexrus1713]

Спасибо!👍

[@SailingWithDave]

Nice video I had no idea the Heron dinghy existed but she looks like a great little boat. Currently trying to see how I can sleep on my Mirror!! There seems to be a lot less room on my boat though!!

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

The heron is the cousin of the mirror- both Jack Holt designs. I have seen some of your videos Dave. Keep up the good work!

[@johnstarkie9948]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3a3aXR5itWjadUsi=ysa3PvHvr2JBYZ_Z

[@paulathomas4944]

Your Heron must be a similar vintage to mine which I think was built in the early 1960. Not that I've had her for that long LOL. I learned to sail in the late 1960s and our first dinghy was a Heron. We raced her for a couple of years before the lure of high performance dinghies took hold (as it tends to when you're young). Raced Ospreys and Merlins for about the next 20 years before giving up sailing to pursue other pastimes. Then about 12 or so years ago I started thinking that it would be nice to have a little sailing dinghy to explore creeks and estuaries when I'm on holiday. Not having rescue boat/support boat cover it would have to be a very safe boat. It would also have to be small enough for me to launch and recover on my own. A Heron was the obvious choice. Unlike my performance dinghies, which were really just large pieces of sporting equipment, she quickly became part of the family. I did race her a bit soon after I bought her (and won quite a few races) but these days I'm just happy to use her for what I bought her for. Obviously the pandemic has limited that over last few years but I've got my finger crossed for this summer .

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Great story Paula. Make sure you share your heron in action when you get out. Dinghy Cruising Association on Facebook is a good place to connect internationally with dinghy explorers. Take care, Josh

[@paulathomas4944]

@@DinghyCruisingKingfisher I've known of the D.C.A. for many years.The less said about them the better. If you want to know anything about dinghy cruising then look at what the Wayfarers do. They're the experts.

[@leemelbourne3297]

Nice video. Can I ask, what is the point of the pool noodle on the end of the sprit, that I can see at the end of the video?

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

That was an attempt at a mast float. When the gunter rig is up, the gaff is vertical- the float is there to prevent turtling. Thanks for watching. J

[@Helliconia54]

nice video. where do you usually sail from? and,,,,,sailing outto islands? you meanbass strait and the southern ocean? i sail a ts16 and i'm not game to off shore

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Bass Strait! Not likely- I see a few out of Port Stephens that look interesting. Cheers Josh

[@sailormarttiki3197]

Does that tarp material create a lot of condensation?

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

I would think yes in an enclosed space, or cool climate. The end stays open for ventilation on this set up and the edges going over the sides of the boat lead moisture away. I agree it’s a ‘fast and nasty’ boom tent!

[@jimmyjohnstone5878]

Are there any crocs there ?

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

No mate, they are way up north of us here in Sydney. There are bull sharks in the water here though so swimming is not advised.

[@pauljessome5718]

The anchor rode is running through a chock , not a fairlead. Paul

[@johnstarkie9948]

It looks suspiciously like a fairlead.

[@drugtalk101]

How is the duct tape holding up on the tarp?

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Its hanging in there fine. It held up to the windy raid at Elizabeth Island and I don’t see any stress on it. It was a brand new tarp so was a very clean surface.

[@drugtalk101]

@@DinghyCruisingKingfisher that duct tape is magic!

[@dooleyfussle8634]

Bugs? Don't see any mozzie netting...

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

I rarely have a problem with them, and when I do, repellents work well.

[@mogliilgom5055]

I must disagree. Surely toilet paper is software? If you consider it hardware perhaps try another brand?

[@DinghyCruisingKingfisher]

Lol... I think I needed it close at hand that day! Thanks for watching.