Hey guys I am trying to do some research on boats as im keen to buy my first boat! (cant wait!!)

Anyhow im after something ally hull, atleast 4m or so, newish engine (preferrably), and i dont wanna spend over 10k (as its my first boat and all)

First of all is this possible without buying a lemon?

If so just wondering if anyone has some suggestions as to what type/brand i should look into.

Im only really looking at fishing in the sound and the river but would be great to venture out deeper as i get more experience (if the boat/weather allows).

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated cheers!

Chris

I'm redoing the dinghy carpet as the old stuff is perishing.

What adhesive would you recommend to stick marine carpet, to marine ply, and where can you get it?

Cheers
Scotto

Hi All,

I have a 2004 125hp Mercury saltwater series motor with the oil tank under the cowling.  Unfortunately, if the tank is more than 1/2 full the oil comes out of the reservoir cap when I trim up but the cap does not look damaged at all.  Has anybody else had this problem and what did you do to fix it?

Cheers

Toby

Recently picked up a Crusie craft bowrider with a 175Hp Merc V6 1997 model with about 400hrs.

Have had no issues with engine at all starts up first go every time and goes like a rocket but yesterday an alarm started sounding (highpitched and constant) after wakeboarding for a few hours.

Oil tank was 50% and tell tale working fine but alarm would cut in and out when moving along.

Any have any ideas on what it might be?

Cheers

 Looking at making a lifebaitwell set up on my boat and looking for some input how to do it the correct way!

I did buy a 80ltr bin and a bilgepump I had laying around, but the 80ltrs of seawater on the marlin board makes the boat to heavy on the back

When i first bought my boat a few months back i kept having problems with water in the fuel tank. my tank is inside the hull so removing it was out of the question. I tried the metho trick but there must have been too much water as that didn't solve the problem. The only access point i had to the tank was through a round deck hatch which was for the fuel gauge sender unit. I ended up making a little syphoning device out of a bit of copper pipe, 8m of clear flexible tube and a inline fuel pumping bulb. here's step by step how to get the water out.

1. fuel floats on top of water so work out which end of the tank the sender unit is and then raise or lower the jockey wheel so that the tank will drain to that point. once you've done that let the boat sit for a day or so to make sure the water has properly settled to the bottom of the tank

2. open the deck inspection hatch to expose the fuel sender gauge. the sender gauge should have 2 wires going to it. remove the fuel gauge sender unit. mine was held in place with 8 screws. there is a rubber gasket that seals the unit to the tank.

3. make up syphonig device. join clear hose to copper pipe. i used 8mm clear hose from the hardware with a fuel pumping bulb thingo

3. put copper pipe end in fuel tank through sender unit hole. try and feel for the lowest point in the tank.

4. put other end of hose in a gerry can or drum

5. pump fuel bulb to get it syphoning and watch the clear hose for change of colour in the fluid. it should start pumping a clear, half fuel half water colour. after a while the colour will change to a darker fuel colour. once there is no clear colour coming through the hose any more, thats when you know most of the water is gone.

6. after i got most the water out i put a litre of metho in the tank and i reinstalled the sender unit.

7. i dont think this mehod will remove ALL the water in your tank but it should make it more manageable with the help from a good fuel/water seperating filter. some of the ways to prevent water in your tank in future from what i've heard and read is to keep your fuel tank as full as possible year round (less condensation), check the fuel breather hose which should have a loop or non return valve to prevent water ingress and also check the fuel cap seal is ok. also if you dont have a fuel/water seperating filter with an inspection bowl on the bottom it's worth getting one installed and check it each time you use your boat.

Cheers everyone

Guys when I purchased my boat recently, the speed sensor paddle wheel was missing from the housing (still attached to the transom) Is this common, has anyone had this before ?

I've finally managed to get a replacement paddle wheel assembly, is there any trick used to make sure this doesn't happen again. I was thinking maybe a spot of silicone or araldite over the round clip that holds the pin in place ?

hi all, my wife just got a new work vehicle that we have full use of with fuel etc supplied, we just had a tow bar fitted and realised it only has a down force load rating of 80kg although it has a towing capacity of 2000kg, I checked the down force of the boat which is 130 kg, I can move the axle forward to reduce the down weight but was wondering if it is safe to do so and what effects it would have on towing? any help would be appreciated thanks.

 It's come time to replace the 3!! Batteries I have in my 23' jackman. It had the RAC marine ones it it when I got the boat 3 years ago. They have been fine but I'm sure there would be better ones available now. I use 3 cause I'm running a FCV 295 with twin 2kw tranies an I'm looking at a 3kw, 2 electric reels an the sterio runs a amp an 2 subs. Any help would be appreciated 

Just wondering what Brand and/or Type of grease people are using for their boats/trailers(not for inside the motor, i'll leave that to the boat mechanics when they service it for me). 

Dont know what has been previously used on my boat trailer but want something for the bearing buddies for the wheels and to grease up the hitch brake. I have used just normal Castrol multi purpose grease once in the past in my grease gun to top them up and refresh it. But wondering if there is a specfic type which would be better, the multi purpose Castol Blue stuff has worked fine since the last time i put it in but then again i dont drive very far to the ramp so they dont have much of a chance to heat up. I am planning on doing some longer towing periods in the future and have been told that apparently you need a grease that has a high temp rating for disc brake trailers and obviously highly water resistant too.

Any advice on what other are using would be most appreciated.

Out of interest have also notice some grease nipples on the mount for the motor, the part the hydrolics raise and lower, and the steering arm/ram? was wondering what grease i should use for those nipples?

Thanks, Buz.

As anybody used this company to have their outboard motor serviced. Just recently bought a boat and it as been serviced by All Boat, who charge way too much, by the recipts i have. My motor as only done 120 hours, and had a 100 hour service in May 2010. Is it really worth having it serviced again so soon??

Any advise would be appreciated.

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if anyone who has a Savage Mako 5.5 could let me know the height of the boat whilst on the trailer (to the top of the windscreen).

I found an old spec sheet that said about 2.4m but I'm not sure if that's to the top of the windscreen or to the top of the bimini / rocket holder.

My Dad has one stored up North which I am thinking about bringing back down to get more use out of it, but not sure if it will fit through the garage (which is 2.1m). If it's 2.4 to the top of the rocket holder I could hinge it.

Cheers ... Gregg.

Well bak to work for me tomorrow so I cleaned up the boat made it all tidy and put the covers On it for the three weeks away. Well Im Not happy with what I've found on the starboard side halfway alOng the boat there is cracks on the top above the rubber bump. This wasn't there before our trip to rotto On the weekend we parked on the fuel jetty at rotto overnight and stayed at the lodge and it looks like the dickhead who parked next to me used my boat as a means of slowing down I can't believe it all the care I take bringing it in to the ramp parking alongside jetties and some dickhead comes along and just smashes into it without even leaving a note. Even though I could find his rego from rotto rangers what chance do I have getting him to admit he did it can't believe it. At least it hasn't damaged the hull only the fiberglass that is above the hull but I'm still going to have to get it fixed

hey guys i'm chasing some info on ally boat builders that were around in 1981, the one im chasing had a name like ASB or ABS or something like that.  just trying to find some info on the old mans boat.  its a 6.1m plate, with a 6mm hull and sides. anyone know anything??????

cheers

matt.

Hi Guys

I have a 1984 70hp johnson 3 cyl outboard i know its an old motor and it only has to last another 6 months and it will be upgraded to a new one but recently it has had a problem.

i launch the boat head out 10-15kms at almost full noise do some fishing crank it up again it starts no problems but when i give it some throttle it bogs down like its over fueling or something does anyone have any idea what it could be.

if i nurse it for a couple of minutes i can slowly get it up to full throttle and it makes the journy home with no problems and i can bring it back to idle and give it full noise and have no probs. it had a new head gasket fitted recently but was doing the problem before hand aswell. i have replaced all fuel lines to the motor but none inside the motor.

cheers

Rod

Wanting a new Bimini/rocket launcher and also a ski pole + mount for a 5m trailcraft. Can anyone recommend a place which either sells off the shelf or can make for a decent price?  Anyone got a ball park figure for each?

cheers

 hey crew,

I've got a couple of small nicks and in the gellcoat of the boat and was wondering if anyone can recommend someone to have a look at it.  They are not big, but I just want to get on top of things. 

thanks in advance

Jared

OK, this thing is gone. Its a Trailcraft trailer for my 5.4 Sportscab. Ken thing lost its left wheel for the 3RD time. Now I am pissed off. Its a single axle and the boat is parked on Dampier Hill.

Previously replaced all the running gear.

Its Fken jinxed and now I am going to get a new one. Twin axle for the boat. As mentioned Traily 5.4.

I dont realy care because it ruins my hobby, but what is the guesstimate on cost for this please.

On the way out, so sorry no pictures off the fish we were about to catch. Trying very hard not to swear on here, I might get banned if I said what I feel.

Neels

 if you dont ask, you wont know.....

any suggestions for below water line sealant over existing 'patches' on a fibreglass hull. repairs seem fine, just added peace of mind until summer is over and winter refurb commences. ie fixed professionally. cheers

 north of river service and fibreglass repairers please. anyone to avoid or fully recommend would be very helpful

 Hi all i have a 1976 johnson 70 hp 2 stroke 3 cyl and was looking for some help. The motor will run like a dream once it is started sometimes can take up to around 30 turns and almost a flat battery to get it going?? it doesent seem to be pumping to much fuel as there is no slick on water when trying. also after ive head out and found some ground to fish (not to far) it will some times start with no issue but if i give it to much throttle it will just stall and i have to travel at 4-5 knots for about 5 mins and then very gently apply the throttle. do you think this is related? i have fitted new plugs, new water pump housing and impeller, also new main jets to carbs stripped them down and cleaned all new gaskets ect. the two needles seem to have been removed??? seats stll in place so i have no needles to adjust (i was very confussed) not sure if this is normal practice on these old motors?????? any advice or help would be much apreciated thanks Dan

gday everyone!first time here,who knows may even contribute something worthwhile....

 can anyone id the year of this 40hp? or direct me to a website that can? yes i have googled every combination possible of 'yamaha 40hp four stroke photos/pics/images /identification etc etc'.thinking (hoping) its 2006

Thanks in advance

I'm mounting a new transducer on my tinny transom. The holes for the new transducer don't line up with the old holes and I'm not too keen to fill the old ones and drill new ones, so thought i'd go with the chopping board mounting block solution that I have heard of others using i.e a square piece of thick nylon chopping board mounted onto the bottom of the transom using existing holes (and some sikaflex) and then new transducer (and any future ones) can just be mounted onto the block.

I had a piece of standard, thin nylon board lying around but it is only about 10mm thick and didn't inspire much confidence when I put a test stainless self-tapping screw in. 

Does anyone know where I can buy a nice thick (25mm plus I suppose) chopping board that I can use. 

Thanks for any help.

I was googling around for info on new 250 motors and came across this!

2000 horses made up of 8 x 250 yammies.

dunno if true or not, but would make for one helluva quick fishing trip!

Does anyone know of where to get descent cheap marine carpet?

BCF = $30 linear (1.8m wide i think)

cheers

Guys after 3 trips out in the new boat starting to get used to how it handles, but having difficulty with maintaining speeds. 5.5mtr Runabout with Johnson 130hp 2 stroke V4 motor.

I'm either just pushing through the water and possibly chewing juice no end, or if I attempt to throttle forward to pick up even a bit of speed, and start to get up onto even a bit of a plane, the boat virtually without me even touching the throttle any further, just increases both speed and revs and just begins to take off and get quicker and quicker, until I back the throttle off, but when I do that the boat virtually comes to a standstill, mind you this is trying to keep to river speeds. 

I went out with a mate in his boat on the river on Saturday and he said my bow was sitting up out the water a lot, but no matter how much I trim it I don't seem to be able to keep it down in front under power.

My mate suggested a Hydro foil  or Permatrim.

What are your thoughts and suggestions ? 

Engine Has 320 Hrs on it, was last serviced at 300. Now it seems to be leaking oil out of the leg some where. Has any one else has any issue with oil seals or what not on the suzuki? is it expected only after 320 hrs to be leaking oil? Any info would be greatly appreciated from anyone with some marine mechanical history.

brett

 Anyone recommend where I can get a CDI unit for a 70hp Yamaha 2st

Im expecting the cost to be outragous so looking around for cheapest options

cheers

were do you guys get your work done for biminis?

Hey Blokes... hunting a plate hull with a latish outboard max $15000 ...currently looking at a 18ft westy with serviced 90hp 06 optimax with 400hrs ...under budget ..I know its a bit like how longs a piece of string, but do you think 400hrs is a bit long in the tooth or not...and if anyone knows of a plate within my budget throw me a pm....cheers Chris...