Bleeding Green

Here is a photo of the current prop: and another showing how close the current blade tips are to the underside of the cavitation plate. I measured it at 20mm: Also, another showing that the cavitation plate is approximately in line with the bottom of the boat. Probably slightly above it I'd say. The motor is trimmed down all the way in this photo:

Any info is helpful, even if it's not what I want to hear. No point spending money on ski gear if my boat will be useless. Sounds like we'll be able to give it a go, but we need to expect that it's going to be a slow learning process. 100km/h ?? wow! I hate to stack it at that speed.

Looks very similar to the one in the photo, b ut I'll run down and take a look. I'll also look to see where the cavitation plate is in relation to the bottom of the boat. When you changed your prop to the larger diameter, how much clearance did you have remaining from the end of the prop blades to the cavitation plate? I currently have about 30mm, but I'll measure it to be sure. That wouldn't leave much clearance with a 15 inch prop.

Thanks BFB, Sounds promising. As I and most of us willing to have a go have never skied before will it make it harder to learn becuase the boat will be a bit slower to pull the skier out? If I was to change the prop I assume it would just be a case of making sure that the revs don't go over the recommended and there wouldn't be a problem. Am I correct? What type of speed would a novice to average skier ski at? Currently with 1 or 2 on board the boat will hit about 40 knots at w.o.t and under 6000rpm (assuming all gauges are correct) which is within rev range. I doubt we would need to get upto 40 knots, I'm thinking about 20-25 knots would be suitable?

After a heap of fun with the biscuit this week, we'd love to try skiing. Problem is, with a 70hp outboard I'm not sure it will be enough to pull an adult up and out of the water. I think it will come close, but I'd hate to buy some gear for skiing to them find it's not going to work. So, as a back up, is it possible to change my prop to increase torque and lower some top end speed? Or will this do harm to the engine? Th current prop is the oem alu 13 1/4 X 17K. Will a S/S of the same size and pitch make any differance, or a smaller pitch maybe? Opinions please, don't hold back, tell me what you think.

HI Raiders, I have always had the issue of loss of power/slipage in sharp turns with my boat. I am not sure if it's cavitation or ventilation, but from what I've read it sounds like it a ventilation problem. Basically when heading out of a sharp turn at speed the prop will slip and the speed will drop. It's likle a loss of traction in a car. It seems to be worse the higher trimmed the outboard is. Question is, how can I fix or eliminate it? Is it possible to stop it altogether? Do the permatrim attachments fix this problem? Is it a prop issue? FWIW, my boat is a 4.8 quinnie with a 70hp yammie 2 stroker. Thanks.

I had a quick play with one at the shop today. Can you set the screen to fish finder only, or can you only have the fish finder with the split screen? Also, is the transducer an additional item, or is it including as standard?

So gave the tubing a go today. Went well and everyone had fun, including me as the driver. Took it easy at first then generally got the hang of it. One question; my bridle seems a bit to short because on cornering it grabs the back corners of the outboard cover. Can I just get a longer rope and replace that part of the bridle? If so, will any rope (of suitable diameter and strength) do, or does it need to be specifically for towing use??

I'd love to be in on this info, can you PM me too? Being local I keep saying I'm going to head out from there but am yet to get around to it. Love to have some idea before I try. Cheers.

Thanks guys. It's not for a present, but for myself. It is a hard copy book that I am after. I'd prefer to have a book that I can pick up at anytime, without having my face planted on a computer screen (I do that for work). Also I can easily take a book anywhere. I saw Geoff Wilson's Complete Book of Fishing Knots & Rigs, which sounds good, but it's printed in 1998. Being over a decade old is the info a little behind in terms of technological refinement of certain products? Maybe I'm complicating things too much.

I'm guessing that if you have 5 people you can expect BASIC floatation, if you have 4 people you will have LEVEL floatation. I'm not sure what the differance is. So I'd say you can carry 5 at a total weight of 75kg each. If the people weigh more, as most grown men do, than it's less than 5 people up to a total weight of 375kg.

Is it possible that no one here reads books?

LOL, AWESOME!

Honestly, using your car to pull that up Mt Ousley often you will be murdering it. Take the hilux, and when other half uses the daewoo for the horses and kills it you then have a good argument for her getting rid of the horses.

If your BMT weighs in at 550kgs then I'm guessing that with gear, fuel etc you'r probably over the 600kgs. I wouldn't do it, definately not long distance. Maybe a k or so down the road if you must but I really don't think it's a long term solution.

Thanks for the advice so far. Yes cornering is one of the things that worries me a bit. To be safe I guess I'll stay at least double the length of the rope away from anything. Is there much risk of the biscuit flipping, or is that based on the rider and the wake? Also, in knots or k's can someone give me a guide as to what is safe? I'm thinking around 12-15 knots which would just keep the boat on top of the water. Does this sound alright, or too fast?

Hi Raiders, I'll be towing a ski tube for the first time this summer. I'll mostly be towing kids, on lakes. My tube it one of those flat 2 person biscuit type things. I'll be towing with the 70hp 2 stroke, a harness and tow rope. I'm familiar with the rules, including having to have an observer, the wearing of minimum type 3 jacket by skiers, and the distance I'm to stay away from others. Has anyone got any tips, such as appropriate speed and acceleration, cornering etc? I'll only travelling at speeds which the riders are comfortable so we'll be using hand signals for this I guess. I'm not too sure about cornering, as if I turn too sharply the tube will swing wide out. Just after any tips as I want the kids to have fun, not be s**t scared!! Cheers.

Hi, I'm looking for a good book on rigs, knot etc, something that will explain differant setups and what to use when targetting differant species. If anyone has one that they can recommend it'd be great to hear about it. Alternatively, if you know of a book that's not so great let me know as well. There are a few on online bookshops but I thought I'd ask for advice before I threw a dart and picked one. Cheers

x 2 for what's already been said. I have a 475 Bay hunter Caprice with yammie 70 2 stroke and millenium hull. I never had 4 adults in it (had 2 adults and four kids) and I'm more than happy with the power. Infact I'm more than happy with the whole boat. Great boat, and so far great motor.

Buy one of each

Cheers for the advice. I guess I need to get down to some shops and have a look to see what is available. I fish the Sth coast, from the Illawarra down. I'm not prepared to spend my full budget now, that's why I'm trying to work out which way to go. If I go with seperate units I'd consider replacing my seemingly faulty sounder now and getting the gps later. I'll have a look in store.

Hi Trary, welcome to the site. I've been prawning in the channel a couple of times. Although I've only caught a handful of prawns it's great fun. From what I have gathered, best time to go is when there is at the start of the moon phase (when there is no moon), on a run out tide. What happens is the prawns what for a dark night to make their dash out to the ocean to give them the best chance of survival. You stand in the channel up to about waist deep with the tide coming to you. Once you notice a prawn by it's two glowing eyes you position your net so the current feeds it straight into the net. I have a tub which floats behind me and tight to me with a rope. In this I put the battery which powers my light and a bucket for my catch. I have also tried prawning with the boat in the channel but had no success that way. My favourite spot is down off king street. I sit on the edge of jetty with a beer and a net. Great times.

I'd be interested to know how they go. With the gps, does it need an aerial? How long does it take to get a satelite lock? Did you have to buy a map card or was it ready to roll?

Units look good. Did you wire them up yourself? Have you been out since you have had them on the boat and if so are they what you were hoping for?

Thanks for the input from all. Tarree terror, what size units are they? If I can get away with it for 1K I'd be happy. It seems the general concensus is that combo units are good, what made you go with the two seperate units? But I need to wait a bit otherwise my spending will be out of control considering I'm about to pick up the new trailer. Unless I get a xmas bonus....