Hi guys,

I have recently purchased a 5.5 southwind (fibreglass) with a 130 yamaha 2 stroke salt water series outboard. 

I find the boat is sluggish when moving above the speed of around 8 knots and then over-revs  (35-40k rpm) without accelerating too much while trying to get on the plane.

It is also hard to drive at speeds from 10-20 knots. 

Eventually it seems to engage and manages to get on the plane where it drives nicely (30+knts). 

Do you think this is prop related or something else? 

The hulls were originally owned by Yamaha so I dont think that it would be an issue with the length of the leg but i could be wrong. 

Any ideas? 

Cheers. 

 Hey all, Im in the market for a new project boat to build over the winter. Looking for something around the  4.8 to 5.2 Glass and preferrably a runabout style. Looking for a Swiftcraft, Pacemaker, Haines, Bertram. The question is , Is there I any I should avoid? Any others than I should include in my searches? Derbens keep bobbing up, they seem to have a nice deep V but I cant find much on them. 

 Anyone know if any bills were raised/caught during the comp this year or what else was caught? Cheers Pauly 

Not only does he make good winches.brilliant fibreglass work /flow coat not many in my books can match him

 Blade Sharpening Fundamentals - YouTube

This a pretty good vid by someone that knows their stuff. Ignore the first couple of minutes.

 New bikini done yesterday at Melville trimmers 

 Had a new canopy / bimini done yesterday at Melville trimmers. A fold down one so I can fit in my garage. Very happy with the quality  

I’ve been using 2L milk containers for ice however they only last a trip or two before the bottle is split or lid is stuffed   What’s the best way to make block ice? Cheers  

We are going to Agusta in the middle of March and have a little tinny wondering if the crabs are in the Astri hope that time is it worth taking the Pots down.  If so where is the best place to drop the pots to go crabbing thanks 

Hi everyone,

Planning to spend some time in Darwin. Will visit Kakadu and potentially Tiwi and others!
 

The tours (and fishing tours) are expensive. I'm wondering if anyone has just explored themselves?

I have plenty of experience fishing but not in that part of Australia!
 

Genuine question, can you fish off river banks or a crocodiles too real?

Would appreciate anyone's input on freshwater, saltwater, car hire, boat hire, camping etc.

Cheers

 G'day all. Just wondering if there are any dollies on the FADS at the moment and if so what size. Are the divers still a nuisance? I only ask as I haven't been out there for a couple of years for that reason.

Thanks, John 

Enjoy

Anyone going in the Blue Water Classic this Saturday ?

Just be careful . Not mentioning no details on who is dealer . Someone called x . Got a call from a boat dealer saying I have buyer for your boat . But he only wants to pay x amount. Cut a long story short he seen his boat at ramp and said not being rude boat is great . What did you pay for it . Well sums didn’t add up ( fair bit of money) I will mention amount $8000 more than what he was apparently offered on phone by dealer. Both went to dealer and confronted him with. Not mentioning what they got out of it . Pretty sad in my books , I would have gone different angle .( legal action) How many people has he done it to . Will he do it again ? . No name and shame that sucks big time. Not all yards are like this piece of crap , guy is a smoker . If you sell boat by consignment anywhere ask for buyers details . Double check . Boating is a small world getting caught this way very sad .

I noticed today someone selling winches that look like Ian’s . Which are a John Collins design . Who unfortunately passed away few years ago . He use to own 2 rocks engineering. Ian’s mates dad . I actually still run one off his originals . I did notice he has safety latch to stop jumping out of gear . ( that’s solved since them days) also charging $750 dollars more . Also Ian said big thanks to Adam for letting me put a for sale ad up for him,Also Ian says thanks for all members who bought one . Ian unreal guy who always backs up his work . Good old days l. Any issues he fixes .

 Anyone from bunbury areea going to the Gamex or want to go?

 Hooked this bloke the other day he went like a demon stripping line like no tomorrow. Just wondering if anybody could give us an I'd on the species of hammerhead it is. Asked the fisheries and they said it was unusual but wouldn't give a positive I'd because of water distortion. Anyone got any ideas? Not the best photo but best I could do at the time. The shape of the head seems unusual with the curves on the trailing edge.

HEY GUYS AND GIRLS

SORRY I HAVENT POSTED ANYTHING IN AWHILE.....HERE'S SOME OF MY PREVIOUS WORK

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TIDY UP YOUR BOAT/TRAILER FEEL FREE TO PM ME OR TEXT/CALL ON 0418 660 354

Hey guys , have any of you fishing from boats that have a Bimini and clears come up with a way to stop the water pushing in between the windscreen and clears covering my electronics , the dash and my crew in water , honestly thinking about selling and buying a carrabean reef runner 

I had a freindly debate recently about soft plastics vs bait - however this was more around the impacts to the environment, not the catch rate:

One side of the debate was that there is already enough plastic in the ocean, why would we go about throwing more plastic lures into the ocean. Especially if a fish rips the plastic off and swallows it - how can it possibly digest the plastic. Would this kill the fish ? etc etc

My counter arguement was that if we really wanted to get into that side of things, then surely the impact of fishing line in the ocean, making and burning fuel, building rods, reels, boats etc etc all has a much larger impact on the environment. I also made a completely uneducated arguement that the gulps were "soft baits" and somewhat digestable/biodegradable.

Now there is merit to the scenario where a good fish strips the placcy off / bust's you off - as this happened very recently. So what happens to that fish if he did eat the lead jig and plastic ? 

I did some minor investigation and found that Berkely have indeed done research on a fish's ability to digest / pass the range of gulp plastics - which is positive. But I wanted to see if members on this forum had any thoughts/knowledge on the matter ? Would be keen to hear any feelings for or against it.

Cheers !

 Took the day off Friday and glad I did as it was awesome conditions out there. Didn't get the chocolates Dhuie wise but still pretty happy. 

 Here's a few photos from the last six months that I havent posted. Sorry my table makes an appearance 

 hey fishos,

can anyone give me any advice on wether trawling shark bay any good? What sort lures etc? Low divers / skirts way to go? Trawl anywhere or maybe through denham chanel? Or do need to travel a bit from the ramp before giving it a go? Never done it up there before. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

 Hi Fishos, i am chasing your thougths on a re-power.

I have a 1997 5.3m Caribbean with a 90Hp two stroke Mercury.

Looking at changing it out to a four stroke Mercury 115Hp Pro XS.

Does anyone here have one or know of a mate with one, and what are their thoughts on it.

Any opinions appreciated.

cheers

Has anyone got an EZ Sharp sharpening system and happy to provide some feedback on it?

I'm ok (just) at doing it by hand on an oil stone and can get it shaving sharp but looking to get a jig system for ease and speed and to do my larger and Jap blades at 10 degrees.

 Had a great day out yesterday. Picked up another Metro Macky and some nice extras along the way. 

 Hi everyone - I went there the other night for a fish and fhe place was shut with the doors boarded up with a corry for inconvenience sign posted, my guess from a break-in.

Can anyone tell me if its open again ? Cheers ! 

 Hey guys,

I hooked up to a big sambo yesterday, it inhaled a soft plastic and took me 20 minutes to bring it to the surface.  This thing was pulling like a freight train.  I got it to within 15 metres of the surface a few times, and then it would just take off, peeling drag (set to 8 kg) like I wasn't even there.

Eventually we got it to the boat and took some photos, the jig head just fell out because it had snapped the barb off the hook (6/0 hook, 1.5 oz jig head).  Skipper couldn't lift it onto the boat, it was too heavy for him.

The skipper said that it was the biggest fish he'd ever seen, it's certainly the biggest I've seen, was a heck of a fight.

Can anyone give me an estimate of what you think the specs were?  

 Hi All,

 Thinking of investing in a set of Wiha precision school drivers to help with the job of changing reel handle knobs and servicing bail arm roller bearings.

 However, I am not sure of the sizes or types to get. Can anyone advise ?

 Flat

 Philips

 Ponzidrive

 Torx 

00, 1, 2 etc ?

Thanks
Uluabuster

A very said outcome from last night- there boat collided with Marker. Threw both of them from there boat into the water,took awhile to find the boat,as it kept going.