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INFORMATION - FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

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Where do I find Ripples houseboats?
Ripples houseboats are are based at Sandbrook Inlet Marina, at 87 Brooklyn Rd, Brooklyn. We're about 1 hour north of Sydney, just off the F3 Freeway. Click for detailed directions.

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Can I come by public transport?
Yes. Brooklyn township has a railway station called Hawkesbury River. Check that your train will stop at this station because not all trains do. When you get to Hawkesbury River station, just phone Ripples Houseboats, and one of our team will come and pick you up. Click for CityRail timetables.

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What if I come from overseas or interstate?
If travelling by road from the south or west, you should head for Hornsby and on to Brooklyn via the F3 Freeway. If from the north then also use the F3 Freeway, but turn off to Brooklyn before crossing the Hawkesbury River Bridge. If coming from the airport,you can catch the train or you could consider using the door to door service offered by North Shore Airport Service.

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Where do I park my car?
We provide spaces for 3 cars per Elite and Resort houseboat and 2 cars per Islander houseboat in our lock-up car park. Although the car park is locked, we cannot be responsible for the safety of your vehicle so please do not leave valuables in your car.

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How many people can I have on the boat?
The limits are set by NSW Maritime. The number of berths on the boat is the maximum number of people allowed to sleep on board: 6 on the Islander, 10 on the Resort and 8 on the Elite.  Children 1 year and over count as a person. During the day you are allowed to have 2 extra people on board.

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Can I bring my pet?
Pets, firearms and fireworks are not allowed on our boats.

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How long will it take to check in?
Allow one hour for loading and briefing prior to departure. Once your houseboat has been loaded and you have watched the instructional DVD, a member of our marina team will come onboard, show you how everything works and answer any questions you may have. You will be piloted out through Sandbrook Inlet and then you will have your driving lesson. Once we (and you!) are happy that you can safely control the houseboat, our team member will disembark and you will be on your way. To allow sufficient time for this, please ensure all your crew arrives at our marina no later than 3.30pm. If you or any of your crew arrive after 3.30pm you may need to stay on your houseboat at the marina for the first night.


What if I arrive after the 3:30pm check in time?
If you or your crew arrive after 3.30 pm you may be required to stay on your houseboat at the marina overnight and depart the following day. If some of your team can get there before 3.30pm they can take the boat down to the houseboat moorings at Brooklyn and use the dinghy to pick up the rest of the group from Brooklyn. Just bear in mind that the boat cannot be driven after dark.

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How do I go about paying?
A 50% deposit is required to confirm your booking. This can be paid by credit card over the phone, you can send a cheque or money order, make a direct payment into our bank account or you can book online. Cheques must be received at least 14 days prior to departure, but are not accepted on the day of departure.

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Is there a bond?
A Security Bond ($500 for the Islander, $750 for the Elite & Resort) is required before departure. Cheques are not accepted. Normal payment is a credit card imprint/voucher which is held until the boat is returned. Provided the boat is returned clean, tidy and undamaged, the voucher will be destroyed on your return.

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I have not handled a boat before - will I need a licence?
No, you do not need a licence to drive our houseboats. You do need to be at least 18 years of age. To ensure you do have a wonderful time we explain navigation rules, brief you on the full operation of the boat and then take you for a short drive on the river to make sure you feel comfortable with the boat before setting off on your own. Ripples have developed their own DVD to assist with initial training.

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What if I need assistance out on the water?
Although you are unlikely to require assistance, Ripples Houseboats are fitted with marine radios, so you can contact our office (depending on location) or local rescue services. It is also advisable to take your mobile phone as an additional means of contact. Our office is open daily between 9 am and 5 pm and we have staff living on the river for after hours support. For your safety and security, all our houseboats are tracked by GPRS. We will ask you to give us several contact mobile phone numbers when you check in and to ensure your phones are turned on when you are returning to our base.

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What if I damage the boat?
The boat is fully insured but you are responsible for damages and losses of equipment up to the value of your bond, providing you have met our conditions of charter. Wilful or negligent damage is not covered, and you are responsible for damage caused by you or members of your group to other peoples property.

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What do I pack?
Our houseboats are fully equipped with cutlery, crockery, glassware, saucepans, frying pans and other kitchen utensils. Pillows and doonas (with pillowcases and doona covers) are also provided. You just need to bring sheets and towels, personal items, food and drink. You can hire sheets and towels from us for $10 per person. To assist we supply you with a complete inventory of what is included on the boats when you book. Be aware when packing that storage and hanging space is limited on all houseboats and soft bags should be used rather than suitcases. Non-slip shoes are recommended for safety on board.

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Is there any music on board?
All Ripples houseboats are equipped with AM/FM radios and CD players ( Ipod compatible). Our Elite houseboats have a TV and DVD player, but please be aware that there is no TV reception on the river.

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Can I arrange for provisioning for my trip?
Hawkesbury River Provisioning can arrange to provision or reprovision your houseboat.
Contact Ross (0411 443 944) or Pip (0422 883 609) for details.

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Are there any restaurants we can visit on the Hawkesbury?
Yes. There are several restaurants located around the cruising area on the
river, some that are only accessible by water. Please remember that you will have to anchor your houseboat and visit the restaurant in your dinghy, although some restaurants, such as Berowra Waters Inn have moorings available for clients and will pick you up by tender. See Links for details of the restaurants.

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How far can I take the boat?
You can take the boat into Berowra Waters and up river as far as Spencer, although most people prefer to go down stream to Cowan Creek or Bobbin Head (24km). Your limit towards the sea is an imaginary line between Juno Point and Challenger Head. This means you can take the boat into Ku-ring-gai National Park but for your safety and well being you cannot take the boat into Pittwater, Patonga or out into Broken Bay.

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Can I travel at night?
No. Charter Boats are only permitted to travel in daylight hours and must not move between dusk and dawn.

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Are there any shops in Brooklyn?
In Brooklyn township there is a general store that provides a limited range of groceries, dairy products, newspapers etc. There is also a hotel and bottle shop. There are no supermarkets in Brooklyn and we recommend you bring all necessary supplies with you, or contact Te Papa Provisioning (see above). There is also a small convenience shop at the marina that carries a wide range of fishing tackle and equipment for sale or hire.

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Are banking facilities available?
No, however we accept cash, EFTPOS or major credit cards. Cheques are only accepted 10 working days before departure.  The convenience store also has EFTPOS facilities.

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Do I need a fishing licence?
Fishing licences for four people (which allows you to have 8 lines in the water) are included in the charter fee. You can buy more licences from the convenience shop at the marina.

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What about water and fuel?
Water tanks on board hold between 600 (Islander), 2500 (Resort) and 3000 (Elite) litres of drinkable water and will last for 3-5 days. Because of the limited supply care should be taken with the use of water (particularly on the Islander houseboat). You can fill up at our base free of charge. Your boat will have a full tank of fuel which will be sufficient for approximately 30 hours of cruising time. Fuel is charged at $15 per motoring hour for the Islander, $25 per motoring hour for the Resort and $35 per motoring hour for the Elite - you are only charged for the time the motors are running. Most people motor for an average of 2-3 hours a day, and we would suggest you budget approximately $35 (Islander), $65 (Resort) or $85 (Elite) each day for fuel. Tthere is an hour meter on the boat that registers motoring hours so you can check how you are going at any time.

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Why do you charge for fuel by the motoring hour?
This allows us to just hold a credit card imprint for your bond – we do not take the money from your card.  When you complete your trip we take a reading from the clock on board the boat, collect your payment and you are free to go as soon as you have unloaded the boat. If you have any concerns we can run a report through our tracking system to check the accuracy of the reading. You do not have to wait for us to refill the fuel tank, calculate the cost and then refund the balance of your bond money (which may not happen until the day after you leave). Also, in our experience there can be splash back when filling the tank, so the reading is not always accurate.

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Is there power on the boat?
Ripples Houseboats are fitted with 12 volt inverters with a standard socket. Mobile phones, laptops or portable DVD players can be charged from this socket. They cannot be used for 240 volt appliances such as hairdryers, toasters or microwaves.

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What about keeping food cool?
The houseboats have gas operated fridges of either 460 or 660 cc depending on the size of the boat . A large esky is also fitted to the deck. Block and crushed ice can be bought at the Marina.

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What if I have to cancel?
If you cancel more than 1 month before your booking we will charge a $100 administration fee and refund the balance of your deposit.  If you cancel less than one month before the departure date you will forfeit your deposit unless we can re-let the boat.

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