hi guys , just wondering as i am after a good grip paint for my new deck on my douglascraft runabout. any ideas would be appreciated.

Hi Guys,

Looking at touching up quite a few scratches and chips in the white paintwork on my ali boat but not too sure how to go about it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which paint to use, how to prepare it etc? Will I need to paint entire panel sections on the boat so the new paint and old paint don't look different?

Cheers

 G'day all. I'm about to buy an epirb for my tub and have been researching the available options. On GME's site they have a safety alert www.gme.net.au/public/pdf/brochures/epirb%safety%20alert.pdf   

OK so all this talk of heavy boats on trailers with the associated risks is starting to worry me.

I am running a 685 Cruise Craft with twin 4 strokes on a 3t trailer. Problem is that with a full tank of fuel and a couple of full water bladders plus all the fishing gear and bits and pieces that we lug around I reckon I am very close to my legal limit. This is especially so when we do trips away to Carnarvon, Coral Bay etc with all the additional gear that goes into the boat. So questions are:

• If I am running overweight and I am involved in a MV incident where towing may play a part, do I get any leeway legally ie do they allow say 10% over  or is it 3,000 or less = OK, 3,001kgs or more = not OK
• exactly what is involved in upgrading the trailer from a legal limit of 3T to 3.5T
• I guess I have to assume new axles, springs, hangers etc but can I retain existing hubs, calipers, rims etc
• I am currently running ford slimline bearings in my hubs but I think these are too light and would prefer to go to a heavier bearing, does that mean new hubs and if I get new hubs does that mean new calipers as well.
• Can I get to 3.5T with 14 inch alloys (standard Dunbier issue)
• My trailer looks to be in reasonable condition but perhaps a couple of the cross members look a little tatty so if I am upgrading would probably change them over as well

Now having 10 thumbs and not being that technically minded I would be looking to have someone reliable do the work. Can anyone recommend anyone who can do the job from start to finish including the re-registering part ?

I would appreciate any feedback on the above and any recommendations for prospective people to do the work. I should add that I am SOR

cheers

After my last post of a broken steering cable, I bought another and ready for installation.

When inserting the end of the cable (outboard end) through the tilt tube, do you use grease or oil?  I have heard so many different views, I am confused.

Thank you

I hope you guys can help me as i have a black oil coming from the join between my mid and lower unit. It's only recently started to show the oil after its been sitting for a few days. Could it be my oil mixture is too rich? Outboard is a 55hp 2 stroke Evinrude

Thanks in advance

So looking at getting a new canopy put on the boat as the old one has ripped and stretched and was thinking at the same time I'd get some clears put on.

Been ringing around a few places but quotes are varying from $700ish to over $1000. 

I don't want to get it done cheaply and have it fall apart in 12 months but at the same time don't want to pay anymore then I have to. I live SOR so somewhere close by would be great but don't mind travelling for good work.

Does anyone familiar with the river know if any of the yacht clubs etc rent short term (3 or 4 days) casual pens for 7 meter boat?

Thinking about bringing the boat over the xmas holidays and staying on board with a couple of the kids while exploring the river and Rotto.

My local and very underused ramp has now decided charge for parking which pisses me off (as it is an underused ramp).  So, I am making a pledge, and asking all of us to do the same.

If your parking ticket has extra time on it after you come back, put the ticket in the machine's slot so that the next person may use it and save.

FW followers,

I have recently replaced my old 27mg radio with a new icom VHF and new antenna

I am also running a Fusion ipod/am/fm stereo setup as well.

Question being my old am/fm antenna is passed its used by date. Can i use the newer 27mg antenna for my am/fm stereo? Or will it not pick up that frequency?

Cheers,

I'm on the verge of going halfs in a first boat with a friend. Just wondering has anyone any info on the CARIBBEAN BARON 18ft type boats? The hull is 1986 and is in exceptional condition and the outboard is a Mercury 2 stroke 135hp year 1995 with which we plan to get rebuilt for a quoted price of $2000. 

Any info would be really appreciated on the type of boat, engine and quoted price for the rebuild.

Cheers Lads

 Guys i have just purchased this boat from PH sea rescue and i was wondering if anyone knows what happended to Barrington boats or the person who designed it. i also want to do a few things to it like put some trim tabs on it. just wondering what kind of trim tabs you would recommend along with an anchor electric anchor winch, and high pressure deck wash. 

Guys....

Hopefully everything will  be good . Next week I will launch my first tub .

Just wondering  any recommendation for  easy boat ramp not too many  people and don't want to make other fisho angry as well, therefore I am looking to find an  easy boat ramp.

Will try to practice launching and retrieving and will try to do this on weekdays

I live near osborne park  anywhere within radius of 15 km will be good

Cheers

Bono

 Hey guys I'm currently looking at a 4m (13ft) fiberglass half cabin for my first fishing/crabing boat, it has a 30hp mercury on the back bilge pump nav lights bow rail so on so on. 

Would this be ok to take to rotto for a day or two? 

Also what are people's views on fiberglass boats? The one I am looking at was made in 1970 but has been looked after by the owner for the past 7 years and in that time it has been repaired and resprayed in marine/aviation grade paint. 

Views and advice anyone? 

Cheers

mike

Hi All,

Am Chasing a little info form any trailer experts who might be on here!

I recently broke the rear axle on the boat trailer that tow's my 3+tonne fury around, going round a round about.

I went down to Martins trailer parts to get some pricing on replacing the axles. I knew the axles were under rated for the weight so i asked the guys at Martins trailer parts to quote up bigger axles and any additional parts required.

Now Martins recommended replacing the current axles with 2.25T axles (Total 4.5 Tonne). This requires new hubs(2.25T Each), discs, Rims, Tyres, bearings and possibly brake Callipers. This is where I am unsure on the actual rating requirements to support the weight of boat and trailer.

Currently i have 2 x 1T axles, 1T Hubs. (the 1T axles is actually the Stub rating, the axle itself is 2T.) I've had these in for 5 years.

The question i have with Dual or tri axle trailers, is what should the actual load rating be per Axle / Hub? Does each axle need to be rated to the weight of boat and trailer? Same with each hub? or does the gross rating across all the runn ing gear need to be equivelent or above the actual boat and trailer weight?

There is an option to use smaller Axles 1.5T axles, which would then allow me to use the current Rim's and Tyres rather than shelling out another 1,200 - 1,500 for new ones. Still 1.5T axles will only just cover the gross weight of the boat and trailer.

Any advice would be appreciated. I've no problems doing the work myself. The only Concern i had from Martins trailer parts was that they wouldnt order the Calliper bracket for the new axles, and wanted me to cut off the old ones so they could weld them on. Doesnt make a lot of sense welding on a rusted bracket to me.

Cheers

Bodie

So how do you extend your journey if your fuel tank dosn't have the capacity. Do you have a reserve tank, and a selector valve.
Do you carry jerry cans, how do you safely transfer the fuel?

 Does anybody know if you are allowed to use a plastic jerry can as a fuel tank?

With a little modification of the pouring cap (drill a hole in it) and add a strainer/weight to the end of the fuel line to keep it at the bottom and a stopper so it doesn't get pulled out of the tank and you have a $30.00 fuel tank.

It sits better in my boat with a retaining strap and doesn't take up a huge amount of floor space.

I already carry a small 10ltr one for emergencies.

Any thoughts?

Steve

 Fishing out of port hedland and wanting to get out to 24 beacon which is a few hundred metres into the offshore requirements needing a radio and offshore flares... I only have a 14 ft tinny and was wondering if I can get a hand held radio to use both onshore and offshore I lieu of wiring up a fixed unit in the boat... Is this able to be done? 

A bit of a boating mishap today with a snapping noise heard then no control of the outboard. The steering wheel has now got unlimited travel. The outboard can be moved by hand left and right and the steering arm rod moves with the outboard.
When the outboard is manually moved, there is no movement at the wheel.

The outboard is a 100HP Yammy 4 stroke with cable steering.

Sounds to me like a broken cable but cannot tell where it is. In either case, I presume a new one is in order.

Thank you

Gday all,

Anyone know where I can get my canopy fixed around the Dunsborough/Busso area? The stitching has deterioated along the zippers, but the rest is still in pretty good nick.

I'd prefer to use a local mob, but if need be I'd take in to someone in Bunbury.

Hey guys

Chasing any info to point me in the right direction. Looking at giving a 20+ yr Haines a birthday and was thinking of replacing the Moulded front screen that is still serviceable but showing signs of wear and tear. It appears to be a smoke (dark) tinted acrylic or similar and 1 piece so it would have to be a exact dimension copy to fit into the same edgeing and support etc.

Does anyone have personal experience of a good local supplier (reliable) and any ideas on what sort of costing can be expected. I would appreciate any info related.

Hi Guys

After working for sometime

Just trying to find out whether anyone has used Meguires PlastX to restore their Acrylic windscreen?

Currently the screen has some light scratching from the cover travelling back from Shark bay, hoping this may clear it up again as just replaced the windscreen it 6 months ago.

 Hi all, 

i remember seeing a while while ago at one of the boat shows a completely removable trailer hub assembly. By this I mean that the square axle was bolted to the springs as per normal, and then between the springs and the actuall hub there was a square flange plate assembly. So should you manage to cook a bearing it is a case of simply removing 4 major bolts that bolt the 2x square flange assemblies together and then bolting up another complete hub ready to go.

i am chasing the info on who actually makes these and if anyone has any feedback on the good and bad points of them.

any info greatly appreciated

scano

Had a mobile mechanic come around and do a mobile service on my outboard several years ago in Onslow, he had a vacuum oil extractor for removing the sump oil. It was bloody brilliant and he was selling them as well, but he wanted $300 for one.

Anyway I didn't buy one but about six weeks ago I needed to service the quad so I thought I might tried and find one online.

I ended up getting one from West Marine in the US, it was on special and after postage it cost me $161 AU. They do have a smaller version (2.5L) but I got the larger 6.5L model.

Just gave it the test run on the quad, and I'll be doing the 150hp yamaha outboard next weekend. Too easy.

Good thing is the oil is all contained in the pump reservoir and can then be poured straight from the reservoir into a waste container, no mess and very quick.

Here's a few pics for those who may be interested.

 Hey guys, I'm buying a quintrex 385 explorer and want to know the best way to mount an electric motor? Motor will need to be front mounted but there isn't much room up front? Can a minn Kota or similar electric motors be mounted to the railing? Also it has a 15hp Honda 4stroke on it, what size would best suit this boat? Will be mainly used for chasing bream on lures. Thanks guys, Ash

 Hi guys 

Looking at putting a seat behind the centre console.

The reasons for putting the seat in is to get more storage, make somewhere to sit for long drives out, make a place to anchor the t top without drilling holes in the deck and somewhere to keep the ice box.

My thought is to get an ali toolbox and put the icebox on top, with the idea of using the box for the storage of random stuff, tools, spare anchor, spare jackets etc... im looking for a box with the dimensions of 700 wide by 350 deep by 350 tall. conveniently the icebox is the same width as console.

I have had a look online and called a few places but cant find anything to suit with close to my dimensions, anybody had the same dilema ? Any experience with a custom fabricator? One guy said he could do it for 350 to 400 which is a little bit over what I was hoping to spend. The other option is to just get a box that is 700 wide by 350ish deep by 700 odd tall and put the ice somewhere else.

I have a rear backrest that needs re covering etc. Can anyone recomend someone that does a good job at a fair price..thanks Scott

 Hi crew

i have 2 pacific aerials fitted to my boat they look to be the long reach range 1.8m with stainless steel ferules(the screw on bit).  One has a white tip and the other has a blue tip.  I am assuming one is 27meg and the other might be vhf.  I have new vhf and 27meg units but am not sure if my aerials have been operating correctly as I sometimes can't get some reception to transmit.  I think I could have them the wrong way around or may need to check the ferrule connection.

i have googled extensively but been unable to find out what the tip colour means on this brand, can any one help?

cheers

Rig

 Hi all....I've just purchased a new boat and want to install a desalination unit on it. I've done my research but would be interested in what subscribers to this site have to say. Trying to work out which unit to go for and what capacity i should get. I've seen ranges from 70 - 240 L/hour. Main use for boat is visiting Rotto for a few day (a week at most). Any suggestions / feedback welcome. Cheers