Has anybody compared the Raymarine A70D with the Lowrance HDS 5? Which is the best unit? Not familiar with Raymarine.

I have to store my boat for about 3 - 4 months and was considering adding some STAB-BIL fuel stabilizer that's been advertised on TV. My boat has a 70 litre under floor tank and as it is nearly full of fuel, I don't want to drain the tank if I can avoid it.

Has anyone used this product and know if it is any good?

Your ideas/advice/thoughts would be appreciated.

Now this is driving me bonkers. What I do is probably the opposite of wiring electrical things. Some wiring involved in my job but not this.

I have new led lights, with 2, 5 wire cables running into the 7 pin standard plug. Somehow one of the cables got pulled out one week after getting it back. Probably shonky from the start.

The colours are Red, Green, Yellow, Brown and White, so I have 10 wires running into a 7 pin plug. Y and G are indicators, and I have tried all the others in combinations in the "what I thought" correct posy, to no avail, and it is now driving me nuts.

I have looked at all the diagrams, and was going to take the boat/trailer back to get re-wired on Saturday, but up here everyone is at the FeNaClNG festival, and also an Army of Unfriendly non local cops so no good just running the Gauntlet. The local Cops will understand, Perth Traffic -- No way.

Any help appreciated, would love to go for a fish.

Neels

Hi guys

          As i work through this rebuild i will post pics and give you info on what i am doing and why. Some things i wil not share though as it has taken me 15 years to get this  knowledge and the laminate materials i use in certain areas though i will write down other fibreglass mat to go in their place.

          So cut the floor out this weekend which is 12 mm ply with a layer of chopstrand mat over the top and extra layers over the edges rein coated on the bottom you need a 4 inch grinder with thin metal cutting disc,pinch bar ,hammer and chisel cut down the chine where the the floor meets the hull just pierce the fibreglass press to hard you will cut through the hull it is easy done.Cut across the trany and front then down along the inside stinger where it meets the floor once complete leaver up from one of the inside corners and pull up the floor once this is done you are ready for prep work.Cut out the side pockets same principle place the blade against the hull side and apply light preassure there will be avoid where the timber meets the slice all the way then bash out with a hammer. 

          This hull has a monocoque box beam stringer system the stringer system performs the duty of preventing the bottom running surface from deforming and creating stress that would destroy the structual integrity of the hull if this was to be rotten some boats use ply encapsulated strigers and are usually rotten after 10 years depending how well built and looked after.This can usually be found by deformed running surface stress cracks in the hull and by tapping stringers for soft spots.Glass stringers can be prone to splitting and delaminating from the hull this is where proper use of materials comes in to play . 

         To grind the boat out i use 24 grit sanding discs  you can use a 8 inch machine for open spaces 4 inch for tight areas this is messy make sure you have appropriate safety gear dust mask,earplugs,safety glasses ,disposable overalls and most people will find this quite itchy work at the end of the day so hot shower opens the poures in the skin not cold then talcom powder your self.

         This whole procedure took me 5 hours cut floors out 1 bulkhead,sidepockets and full sand down of stringers side walls and trany now this is a 18 foot runabout  i would normally allow 7 for this and obvisouly if we had to do front cabin another hour for v berth top if stringers were to be cut out that would be around 6 hours and a trany another 8 so that is a labour estimate i am pretty fussy on my grinding i like to have a clean preped surface for the rebuild next stage will be changing the drainage system as this boat had around 15l under the floors then mark out floors bog and glass them here are the pics for stage 1.

Next week is the Avon Descent spectacle and this year the event is part of an international Championship.

Who is going and or participating?

Question;

Is the Swan river on day 2 closed where this event is happening or are other boats able to moor off and watch the spectackle from their Gin palace and roar around in a dinghy filming etc the event?   

Hi crew, I picked up my new rig on Wed and put it inside my workshop to get her ready for the big blue.

All looks ok in tis picture but the bimini was broken. ( I knew this at the purchase )

First thing to sort out was the bimini, that was broken right through the two front poles.

The aluminium tube was fractured and old, so i decided to take it of and make a new one. It was also a bit low for me and needed to be raised about 15cm.

The electric system was also removed to be organized and replaced.

I would realy like a new sounder + plotter and would appreciate some advice . ( budget up to 1500 combined )

I am installing some tackle storage box's and other modifacations overall before i hit the water. ( going to take a few weeks ) I hope to update the progress and get some advice as well .

Cheers  Grant

Can anyone tell me what is special about the 1993 Johnson 150hp Silver Star Series? I have just bought one and want to know if there is anything I need to look out for. It will be going behind a 19ft Douglass Craft which we are remodelling.

Hi all

Wondering how everyone keeps their batteries charged/maintained over winter when not in use. Have dual batteries and dont want to keep swapping a charger which keeps battery in float, like a CTEK charger, from one to the other constantly . Can you connect them in parallel or in a bank system ? I have seen chargers in the US that you can connect both batteries to as a bank with individual wiring for each battery but not in Oz.

Boat sits oustside and althoughhave a solar panel, still same issue changing it over (and for security reasons dont want to keep panel outside in view)

Have same issue with the landcruiser which is now parked up in the garage as have a work car. Jumped into it and dead flat.

Cheers

 Hey guys

Anyone out there know the easyest way to get boat carpet out of fibreglass boat that has been glued down.

Any surgestions would be great. I want to rplace it with stuff i can remove

tilbs 

Any sugestions on what and how of fishfinders in small dinghies.

Hi

Having some trouble with a steering ram on a boat.

It was weeping some oil, so going to take it off and get it looked at by somebody.

I have unbolted the lines from it, and taken off the bolts that hold it in, but the ram itself goes through a bracket on either end, with a nut on the end of it (see bolt on the ride hand side of the photo).

To get the ram out, I assume I have to remove the bracket from one end, to allow me to manoever it out. I have undone the nut (left hand side of the shot), but the little bracket bit will not come off the shaft.

I've tried persuading it with a hammer and a few other bits and pieces, but it doesnt come off. It doesnt look like it is seized up, and when force is applied, you can move it up/down/left right very slightly, but it wont go forward and backward (ie - come off).

Is there a knack to this?

Cheers!

Dan

Hi guys finaly got a new project boat which my  Family bought a 18 ft Douglas Craft $3200 all registered in original gelcoat faded and flow coat in side.The floor is rotten but has glass top hat stringers new trany as it use to be a inboard.The trailer is sound all fittings and seats included radio safety gear.

so what is the catch the 90 johno is stuft  and the old owner stripped her a part intending to do a refit

                                                                                                                            So the plan is a budget of 10 k approx to install new floors stiffen hull and stringers new side pockets custom pod with swim platform raise screen height with new custom dash to flush mount electronics built in esky's built in water tank built in fuel tank  bowsprite full cut and polish  and gecoat repairs where needed cold gal trailer finish brakes  oh and a old 2 stroke which will be rebuilt .So this tub will be 21FT when i am finished and heavier a 225 hp should get this rig moving reason for the old engine low budget and  can tune and maintain it our selves.Not the ideal engine for now but the opti will have to wait till the bank balance grows again.I will keep posting pics of the project proceeds showing you how the build progresses.

Hi guys,

Decided on the used boat I want, for my first boat:

- 5.0 - 5.5 m fibreglass cuddy/half cabin.

- 4 stroke engine ( ideally yamaha, suzuki, honda ).

- no earlier than year 2000 boats.

Particular models that seem to fit the bill are :

- Haines Signature 540f/542f.

- Cruisecraft explorer/outsider 550.

- Haines Hunter cuddy cabs in this size range.

However been looking on all usual used boat internet sites ( boat point/boatsales/boatsonline ) for several months in WA region and nothing has come up in above preferences.

Though different case if look in other states where such models appear more frequently.

Getting to point where I am wondering if any such boats are likely to appear any time soon and how long I may have to wait.

Wondering if I want to get the boat I want, will have to buy new ( new Signature 540f qoute as mid 50k from allboatbusiness ).

I'd be grateful for any advice, any of you guys been in similar situation ?

Cheers, Joycey.

i have a 5.5m boat at the moment, its not a hard top and has a split screen at the front and clears.

it lets water through when the sea is heaving and spray is going anywhere...i am wanting to get the screen and canvas removed and a hardtop built on top.

has anyone done this before and is there any tips or things i should know???

does anyone know who does this aswel? i have spoken to hayway marine about it but its soo expensive to get it done through them.

any help would be great.

cheers

G'Day,

I was wondering if any one knew what's involved with repairing a starter motor. The gear won't come out and engage. If I muck around with it, it will work for a couple of revolutions and then go back to not engaging. I have checked and it is receiving full power from the batteries. Otherwise the motor's in great nick and pushes a 20 ft Berty runabout along at 37knots WOT or 24 cruising.

Any info would be appreciated.

Stu

Hi Guys

            Can anyone give me info on Pacemaker hulsl 21 Half cab looks very similar to Haines Hunter / Bertam hull i guess 20-21 Degree deadrise when where these built and by who? I have found one that could be a good restorer as my hands are getting itchy for more Glass work and plenty of custom mods and i also came across the moulds but dont think i have the space and time to build from scratch. Any help would be good

                                     cheers Nico

I am fitting out our 3.9m stacer tinnie and want to add a windscreen anyone know of a good place to purchase one that is at a fair price?

Also anyone made a icebox in a bench seat?photo`s would be good

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone owned a 350HP Yamie. I am considering getting one. Any troubles with them??? Pro's and con's, fuel efficiency?

any help will be appreciated

Having a bit of trouble with the old GPS. It is a navman tracker (5500 I think).

Was working fine, but last few times I have been out, occasionally it would take ages to get signal and would require a bit of a jiggle of the wires, turn on/off etc (not sure what it was that fixed it, but always came good in the end).

Last time I went out, the f'n thing wouldnt get signal at all. Ended up fishing the day putting my marks into a mate's mobile phone and using that.

Tried jiggling all the cables etc, but I am thinking that perhaps the cable that runs from the unit to the external antenna is cracked internally. The cable seems to be sealed at the antenna end, and then screws on to the back of the unit. Tried a bit of RP7 in the connector on the cable, connectors otherwise look clean.

Anyone know how I can test the integrity of the cable? Or alternatively, any other possible causes? Thing fires up fine, shows all the maps etc, just cant get a reading from the sattelites - remains in the 'searching for signal' mode.

Any help greatly appreciated, as don't fancy another GPS free trip out (or another boat toy purchase if can be avoided!).

Cheers

Dan

Looks like a lot of people do have dinghies and do make modifications/add ons to them to make them work better.

Just to give people ideas could you share these with the forum, please?

Hi all

Just replacing my spin on fuel filter(Racor S3214) on my Yamaha 150 4 stroke and have noticed that there is a gasket about 1" in diameter that I can not find a home for. Has anyone come across this before. I've replaced the gasket where the spin on filter meets the housing and the o ring where the clear bowl screws on. This little 1" gasket/oring has me stumped.

Thanks in advance

CCC

Having a fair old time splitting the Savage and Quinnie apart... And havent written of the Stacer 429 Seahorse either (I looked at the Ally Craft, just wasnt conviced)

I already have a near new 40HP Yamaha Tiller Steer...  (I bought a year ago new)

Inshore work only in the right conditions (Inside Garden/Inside Naturaliste) and the odd river foray when I want a change...

Leaning towards the Savage, mainly as all reports have thier build as being the most solid...

Quite happy to get it as new hull/trailer combo, though I go a 2nd hand one if the price/condition was right...

Any thoughts/pointers ???

I have encountered a problem with my HDS 5 combo unit. Whilst out the other day the GPS system essentially froze up on me and wouldn't track. Turning the unit off and on again reset it and it worked again for about 30 seconds then froze again (did this a few times with same result - now it doesnt even seem to reset and work again as still has my position out enar garden island somewhere). I have done a 'soft' reset that hasn't fixed the problem. A hard reset will wipe all my marks so if I can avoid that I would like to. I will obviously be backing them all up paper based and on my navionics app on my iphone as well.

Has anyone had similar probs or know what might fix the issue?? Any help appreciated.

Just thought I would ask.

I have a 200S Cruiser and took it out where it belong into some mud. Washed after the trip but it has left some stains on the chrome where the mud was. Have tried polish without a dent in the stain.

Anyone have any idea about this nuisance problem please.

Neels

just hunting some info on 4 blade props?

was thinking of putting them on the boat because it planes pretty slow and would help it get out of the hole a little easier

and what pricing i am looking at for 2 115 yammy 4 stroke props?

Hi all,

Just wondering if there's any DF-150 owners out there, and interested in what props you are running - along with what boat you've got it hooked up to.

Regards,

Dizz.

Hey all,

Just wondering what you guys have used for hole saws through fibreglass

I've got a few new gauges & speakers to install, and need to drill holes from 50mm to 150mm through fibreglass and FG / Acryllic where I've had some panels made up to recover the old hole layout.

Not a lot of big hole saws around anyway, but it seems most have a really agressive saw tooth pattern, and I'm concerned something like that is going to rip the shit out of my new work !

I've got proper grit-style jigsaw blades for FG, but (apart from it being a rough compromise for doing the job) I won't be able to get the right access using my jigsaw.

Anyone around got the right gear to do it right ?

Thought it might be best to mark up where they have to be drilled and get someone to drill them for me.

Advice appreciated !

Regards,

Dizz.

As you can see the difference in size of the 600w in hull on the left.

 Sounder pics added, pretty sloppy conditions, no fish only green eyes today until we headedto the 90m late arvo and got our bag limit in 1 hr - close to the tide change.

Hi All,

Need to fit  electric brake controller to an 09 Prado and hoping that I can get some information on electric brake controllers, are there any that I need to stay away from or are they all fairly similar, do you need certain controllers depending on the make of the electric over hydraulic brake system on the trailer (trailer has brake rite system) and also info on some good auto sparkies that are able to install preferably NOR.

thanks

Mark