Hi Guys,

The carpet on my boat is badly due for replacement, but I was wondering if anyone has gone with anything different for their deck? I have seen those Dri Deck type systems (basicly a vinyl interlocking mat that drains water) but unsure as to their suitability.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Cheers

Andy Mac

Right!  If I were starting over and looking for a new GPS and sounder, what you you guys recommend.  Not intending to get a microwave sized unit!  Not looking for combo units either.

Something up to a 8-10 in screen. 

im after a bimini with clears for a pacemaker trendsetter 18ft if any one knows were i can get one from or were i can get one made drop me a email cheers

(capt jack)

diff 

Checked the lotto ticket and it won't be this week :(

very clever.

 http://www.boattest.com/VLibrary/vPlay.aspx?ID=428&s=News20080319

A few days ago we woke up to descover that there was a huge puddle of oil on the marlinboard from the hydrolic hose having been cut and all the other cords cut as well. The motor had fallen onto the road and smashed the fiberglass cover to the motor. it just breaks my hart that some one would do this and bad timing as well as we were supost to be heading out that day luckely we should get most back on insurenca and we are thinking of upgrading from a 130hp to a 150hp.(the motor is unfixable as it will cost just as much to get a new one as to get it fixed)

G'day peoples...

I'm in the market for my first boat... exciting stuff!!

Looking to spend around $10-15k....

I'm pretty sure I'll end up with a dinghy, and have quite a few questions to ask... but first up I'd like to know that I'm heading in the right direction with my choice of boat...

Tending towards a dinghy as I think they're an awesome little fishing machine, and if I'm lucky enough to buy my dream 6-7m fishing boat in a few years I'd still like to hang onto the dinghy. So yeah, I want quality and am prepared to pay for it... I don't mind buying new or second hand just so long as it's quality (I want it to function well and last a long time)!!

I'm not in a rush to get one (like to have one within about six months). So, bearing that in mind, together with my budget what do you guys think I should be getting... as in open dinghy/runabout/centre console/half cabin...? new/2nd hand...?

The more info I get from you guys that happier I'll be, so please give me your thoughts.

Cheers,

damo

looking at buying a new boat soon.  whats better ally or fibreglass.  saw 6m haines fibreglass looked pretty sweet or a caroline or genusis alloy. i know alloy is  lighter but a bit rougher through the water 

Does anyone know of a mobile VIN number supplier as our new purchase is not trailable and need a vin to transfer ownership.
Boat south of river

Larry

i have a brand new gx300 radion 27meg,did a radio test and it was very poor,they barely could here me and same my end,checked all wiring,arial,turned off sounder gps sterio to see and no diff,anyone have any ideas,, i,m gonna try a new radio on monday..

Hi,
Just wandering have a ML Triton GLX-R Diesel in the handbook under towing it reads:
Maximum towing trailer without brakes - 750Kg
Maximum towing with trailer brakes - 2300Kg**

**= Subject to state regulations and towbar design.

Does this mean in WA I can't really tow much unless the trailer has brakes?
Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks

Hi All. I'm looking at buying a new boat. I have looked at Trailcraft ect and even though they are great boats there is 1 boat I haven't heard much about. Its an Evolution Titan 550. Does anyone out there know anything about these particular boats ie stability, Ride in rough seas, build quality ect. Any info would be a great help.
Cheers
Watto069

hi guys..

over the next few months ive decided to be on the lookout for a cheap as ali dinghy and motor.

i do not have much boat experience in the past, but i am after something <$1000 (for money and storage reasons.)

i know, i know, you hardly call that a boat but itll do me for around the river for bream/crabs etc.

can someone guide me through (gently!) what i would be looking at getting for this price, or able to offer me something in that budget.

cheers

wicksey 

Calling all 4 stroke owners, which brand do i get.

I have narrowed it down to 2 motors to repower with. A 175hp Suziki or a 225hp Honda. At this time the honda is only $3K dearer and comes with the Vtec but the suziki is 50kg lighter but only a 4cyl. I average 200hrs a year so also service costs if anyone knows.

Its a tough decision and as i will prob be in a remote area eother Exmouth or Woomera SA i need it to be reliable.

Any pros and cons would be good from guys out there with that motor.

Thanks 

Anyone have a unit for sale?

Hi fellow fishing addicts,
I am looking at buying a boat in the near future and was
after some advice or ideas from fellow fishers on what type of boat to buy.
I am after some thing i can take the family in on the river and esturay to chase crabs as well
as out in the cockburn sound.
Not wanting to spend any more than about $15,000. ali or glass?
I no im not going to get anything new, but type and names of boats to look at would be apprecited.
Any advice on buying a second hand boat would also be good.
Thanks all.

Firstly, thanks heaps Adam, for 'cleaning' the Boat Launching Sites - Information thread - good idea Salmo .

Secondly, I think it's fantastic how the Boat Launching Sites - Information thread now looks and it's starting to take shape quiet nicely.

So that Salmo's good idea of keeping it 'clean' and not to reverse Adam's hard editing work, I'm suggesting we use this thread to post comments or ideas. Of course, no harm either in posting comments to the original images either.

Hope you all agree.  

(Adam - Can you answer your email please ? ) 

Folks

Something I haven't done to date and am seeking your input on, is easy retreival of my boat by myself?

Launching is p*ss easy - launch boat and tether to fingure etc.

On the retreival:

1) I don't want to drive the boat on the trailer.

2) If I come in on the leeward side, the wind will push the boat out, then all I need do is teather to the finger at the right distance and connect and winch her in. But wouldn't that be a bit tricky if the leeward side is the port side of the boat? Also, not always available, due to other boats.

So what makes it easier?

The boat is a 5.5m Cuddy, so, whilst not huge, it's not small. 

Hi all,

Well a new boat is on the card for myself, but im very stuck for what to get.

I dont know much about the newer boats, brands and makes which are best to look at.

So if anyone has some info...would be greatly appreciated.

I will give you a run down on what im looking for, wanting to spend, and the purposes of the boat.

Budget. price $125,000 or less
Size. 21ft - 26ft
Can be either brand new or second hand...but no older than 2004 model.
Dual Engines would be nice, but must be 4 stks...Dual is not essential.
Would like to mix size with Fuel economy. but id imagine twin 150hp + 4stks??

Im stuck between going for a fibre or a ally boat. The purpose for the boat would be to suit both fishing anywhere, and be comfortable for me to take the missus and the future kids..whenevr that might be out on the river, or into the ocean with some comfort. So this makes a split decision for me on the hull type.

Would like a small cabin with enough room for 2 people to be able to sleep if we went out to rottnest or something and had a night over. But again this is not essential. Also as much tuck away storage would ne nice aswell.

If anyone has any brands of boats, or links to boat websites, or anything at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.

Hi Gang

Someone recently asked the question,

'Do you need a Skippers Ticket (mn RST) do drive (skipper) a hired house boat.....the RST workbook says anything over 6hp, someone needs a RST'

A lot of people hire boats and are probably even unaware of an RST.

So I emailed the DPI RST Coordinator last night and she was kind enough to have just sent me this very prompt reply:

Hi guys

I am looking at upgrading to an old Bertram 19 ft with a Mercruiser leg and 250 chevy motor ( petrol) 6 cylinder. its a great project boat.

Does any one know roughly the fuel consumption per hour of these types of motors?

Went out and bought a cable to connect my Suzuki to my Lowrance GPS NMEA 2000 network (Lowrance Part No. 120-55) a couple of weeks ago. Seems pretty good now as I get info directly out of the Engine ECU and makes it easy to drive the boat economically to to conditions. Much better to the Navman paddle wheel set up I had before which was really hit and miss. Really easy to fit too just plug it in.

The Suzuki Engine interface can provide the following information over the NMEA 2000 network:
• Engine RPM
• Alternator Voltage
• Engine Hours
• Fuel Flow
• Engine Trim
• Fuel Used
• Trip Fuel Used
• Seasonal Fuel Used
• Standard Diagnostics
• Overheat
• Low Oil Pressure
• Over Rev
• Low Battery Voltage

• Speed over water (DF300 Only)
• Water Pressure (DF300 Only)
• Current Gear (DF300 Only)

Highly recommend it and you can also get a cable to suit other motor brands (ETEC YAMAHA etc). Just need the motor and GPS to be NMEA 2000 compliant.

Apparently Mercury will only work with Navman units tho as they use a different system.

OK Learned Ones.

Went out on Christmas and Boxing Day and Murphy's law, being what it is (things always happen at the worst possible time) - the previously faultless motor faulted!

No problem initially on Chrissy Day, then after starting the motor after a bit of fishing, as soon as I went over approx 1600 rpm (fast idle speed) the 'continuous' alarm sounded and the Engine Guardian System cut in and reduced the revs.

Now, knowing that RTFM is not a radio station, I consulted the Warning System of my manual and it tells me that there are five possible causes:

1 COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM - Not Likely as I had a very healthy water tell tale.

2 OIL LEVEL IS CRITICALLY LOW - Not applicable as the OIL resevoir was full (always kept that way)

3 OIL PUMP FAILURE - Possible

4 ENGINE OVERSPEED - Also unlikely - the OB is propped correctly with a 3 blade SS vengence.

5 SENSOR OUT OF RANGE - not entirely sure what this means - but appears to be exceeding the guardian sensors at full WOT - so also unlikely.

So # 3 seems to be the only likely candiate. Another possible option may have to do with the oil filter/filtering system.

Any helpful and knowledgeable contributions would be greatly appreciated, including possible $s if it turns out to be option 3.

Donk is a Merc 2004 115 (Salwater) Optimax OB.

We were limited to very slow trolling speeds for the rest of the day and boxing day as any attempt to exceed approx 1600 rmp activated the alarm.  

Looks like most of you are on 27 meg, so my VHF is useless fro contacting you folks on the water.  Thinking of getting a 27 meg to as well, what do you folks recommend?

My water pump impelor has just decided to shit itself and wanted to head out tomorro. Can anyone tell me ifany boat shops are open tomorro or not or where I can get an impelor for a Honda 4 stroke 90 hp.

Howdy,

a mate just purchased a 6m f'glass boat and i reakon he needs to get it checked out!
Anyone recommend someone that does boat & motor checks south of the river and how much he's likely to pay?

cheers

I have decided to drag myself into the 21st century and buy a chart plotter.

What do you guys/gals have and recommend.
Who has the better screens and charts?

I have installed a new transducer and I was wondering what angle its ment to be on?

hi guys
i was looking at getting a lowrance LMS-525C combo sounder with a navionics gold xl9 card for my dinghy. iam not sure what the map looks like with the card installed. if anyone has this set up are you happy with it? is the map clear and show all the depths? if ya have a pic of the map that would be great to. thanx people