Karratha what boat?

I am moving back to karratha at the end of the year i have a 12 foot tinny with a 20hp which i may keep for the creeks, but i am looking for a boat that can get me to some good fishing grounds, islands and the likes. I have jumped from ali to poly to fiberglass and now im just confused. So i figured put it to the world and seek some advice.i have a 20k budget. Let me know what you think! 

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Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17830

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 it depends on weather you

Sun, 2018-10-14 16:57

 it depends on weather you plan on running up onto the beaches . a lot of people go the ali for that reason. glass can do it easy enough but you gotta watch for rocks at the sand level

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Posts: 93

Date Joined: 06/06/18

 Yep beaches are definately

Wed, 2018-10-17 11:39

 Yep beaches are definately on the cards! I do like the idea of glass for comfort in the wind chop.i just dont want the hassle or stress if im going to the islands with the misses and little tackers

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Adam Gallash's picture

Posts: 15607

Date Joined: 29/11/05

6m

Sun, 2018-10-14 18:36

 Can do the islands in less than 6m comfortably enough but if you want to go billfish and bulk bottomies has to be 6m or more for mine. You can do it in less, just keep an eye on the weather changes as can make a fun day crappy pretty quick.

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Posts: 93

Date Joined: 06/06/18

 Definately taking your

Wed, 2018-10-17 11:56

 Definately taking your advice on board, but all the local lads I work with are saying they have around 5m ali boats. Im not that interested in bill fish but I will chase mackies, cod,jacks,reds,trout,blue bone etc. Do you reckon i need a 6m boat for that? 

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backlash's picture

Posts: 335

Date Joined: 12/10/10

age old question

Mon, 2018-10-15 12:53

I agree with Adam; 6m is not quite long enough to get you out of the brutal wind chop you get off Dampier/Karratha.

I've lived up there for work related reasons twice now; 2002, and 2009.  Joining the Nickol Bay Sportfishing Club was great, and the guys will share tips (not spots...) on how to target various species; qute a few of them hold world records; so they are very good fisho's

some of these guys target sails and marlin out of their barra boats; the minmum safe size I'd do that up there would be 4.5m, but it would need self draining decks.

If it were me, I'd flip the 12' boat for as much as you can and then get a decent 5-6m plate centre console; hopefully with a large fuel tank, 4-stroke outboard, and self draining decks.   

I do not think that a strict $20K budget will get you into a name-brand 6m long time reliable boating option with the above criteria; espeically if you want to fish out wide for Reds AND barra fish in the creeks

Getting any mechanical engine work done up there costs a lot - labour is expensive and you have a captive market.

Also make sure your trailer is in tip top condition - often overlooked, and as above any repairs can cost a lot, plus take a long time.

 

 

You can get away without outriggers if you're gamefishing, or easily retrofit later one when your budget allows; live bait is a big help, but you can also retrofit later.

Here are some options I'd maybe be considering in your budget - subject to flipping the tinny, as you can see from the pricing for some of them - I have tried to provude you with some ideas: 

www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/millbridge/motorboats-powerboats/21-ft-centre-console/1197104168

www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/east-bunbury/motorboats-powerboats/sea-jay-5-35-magnum-with-60-hp-yamaha-four-stroke/1197240829

www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/forest-grove/motorboats-powerboats/boat-centre-console/1195384043

www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sorrento/motorboats-powerboats/trailcraft-475-profish/1192115124

After numerous boats, I now have a 5m plate centre console which does the job I bought it for, and is very cheap to run in comparison to other boats I have owned; you just need to remember it's all a compromise.

 

Posts: 93

Date Joined: 06/06/18

 What sbout a 2007 stacer 619

Wed, 2018-10-17 11:35

 What sbout a 2007 stacer 619 oceanmaster with a 115hp 4 stroke joihnson ssme year? 

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Posts: 93

Date Joined: 06/06/18

 www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/aust

Wed, 2018-10-17 11:44

 www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/australind/motorboats-powerboats/stacer-619/1195858536

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Posts: 93

Date Joined: 06/06/18

 Or maybe

Wed, 2018-10-17 13:41

 Or maybe this?

www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/joondalup/motorboats-powerboats/6-3m-wa-built-plate-ally-boat/1197694934

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Feral's picture

Posts: 1508

Date Joined: 01/11/06

 So many options up here I

Tue, 2018-10-16 07:29

 So many options up here I think you need more than 1 boat :)

Keep the tinny for crabbing and barra, as stated about something in the 5 to 6 meter mark will do the job. I used a 4.5m polycraft cc for a while and it was great but if it blow up it was a slow 10kn back to the ramp . If your not interested in real skinny water fishing I'd go a glass boat to deal with the chop easier. But if casting lures is your thing in shallow etc I'd go Ali (poly uses a lot more fuel and hp for same size)

Enjoy your fishing as its a great place to be 

Posts: 93

Date Joined: 06/06/18

So i have decided im

Wed, 2018-10-17 11:51

So i have decided im definately keeping the tinny for barra and crabbing. I plan on fishing every weekend so if its blowing up i will hit tgge creeks 

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Wannafish's picture

Posts: 158

Date Joined: 20/05/12

I lived up there for about 7

Fri, 2018-10-19 17:15

I lived up there for about 7 years, and the whole time wished for nothing more than my 5m 1982 Quintrex Centre Console... For me, I found it perfect to launch at Fortesque, Balla Balla, Wickham etc - it would get into shallow water at the top of Flying Foam for camp trips, could sit on the bottom at low tide without worry, towed to Exmouth easy, was great for trips to Delambre, perfect for Barra fishing in the creeks, didn’t use much fuel (90hp Yamaha 2 stroke) and is cheap enough that it doesn’t matter if it gets scratches / dents covered in mud etc....Now living in the South West, I still have it and still think it is too versatile to consider something bigger (or smaller...). I would suggest something similar! (And find a mate with a big boat for the Montes....)

morgs's picture

Posts: 109

Date Joined: 25/10/11

5m

Fri, 2018-10-19 21:01

5m will do the job, 6.1 is a magic number for creeks and offshore. will have to be ali for the rocks and lockable storage or empty it every trip. You don't need a big boat to get out wide for a good feed just plenty of fuel to get the distance you need. I had a 5.4m trailcraft with a 115 etec and it spent a lot of time 40nm+ out and the islands.