Bleeding Green

Good Stuff. I'm so glad prawn season is back. Now I just need these ridiculous temps to rise.

How often should fire extingquishers be checked? Is it easier/cheaper to buy a new one?

Hi I did mine with Australian Boating College, Wollongong Branch. It cost a bit but suited me as I didn't have any prac expereince. The course was clear and helpful. Would recommend it if you have no expereince. If you know what you're doing go the cheaper options.

The current tyres are only rated to 350kg. So that's inline with the 700GVM on the build plate. I'd need to replace them to increase the weight limit and possibly the rims too (where do I find the rating for them). Where do you go to get tyres such as these?

Just to confirm, you are talking about having brakes added? This is what I was afraid of with the brakes. Also, if the trailer is only rated to 700kg then how can having brakes increase the strength of the trailer? I think it is easier to buy one with brakes fitted but the cost of a new one will hold me back. That's why I'm considering second hand.

Hi, I've been looking into having brakes installed on my trailer which would enable me to carry more wieght. Another option would be to replace the trailer to one with brakes already fitted. Seems like an easier option but if I go second hand (which would be much cheaper) what do I need to look for in regards to trailer design/set up? I have a 4.80m alu hull boat. The current and original dunbier/quintrex trailer is a straight forward design with rollers in the middle and skids to the sides. Would another trailer design work? Is it just a matter of adjusting all the rollers on the new trailer to work in with my boat? There are plenty of differant options, and if I look for a heavier duty trailer, meaning it can carrier a bigger load they generally look more complex in terms of rollers etc. Any advice would be much appreciated.

So I've done a bit more searching and have found that 'allycore' has been used in boats for a few years now. Does anyone have it in their boat? What thickness is it? Thanks.

Yep it's on the plate on the boat. 380kg to be precise. I'll double check it though when I take the cover off. A quick search and boatpoint reviews say the the 2009 quinnie 470 top ender weighs 403kgs, so my 380 sounds right. Maybe this figure includes the engine but I don't think so. It's says 'hull' weight. Th ething that seems odd is the review I mentioned above says the boat weighs 403, max. engine weigth is 157kg, max. people is 5 (max. 370kg) but the overall weight including all of the above cannot exceed 607kg. Hull and engine could weigh 560kg, so that only leaves room for one person?? Odd.

Thanks twin1, I'll look them up. I've had another recommendation. So I'll keep both of them in mind.

This might be a coincidence but usually it takes me a while to get my oil injected 70hp yammie running after it has been sitting for a month or more. Today, knowing the tank was quite low I ran it down to the servo and popped 35 litres of 95oct (there was no std unleaded) in it. Took it home and started almost immediately. So I'm not 100% sure, but I think the fresh fuel made a differance. The only other thing I did differant was I gave it a few extra squirts with the hand pump before turning the key. I made sure the bulb was hard. Normally I'm reluctant to to pump it too much as once I went overboard with it and fuel started pissing out from some over flow on the outboard and when I eventually got it started there was smoke everywhere. I've gone off topic now. My tip would be to try and keep it fresh. I won't be putting too much fuel in the tank from now on, but the more air in the tank the more chance of water forming in it also so I can't win.

So I've finally got around to having the canopy replaced with a nice black bimini (I'need to update the photo of the boat on the avatar). Two things left: The floor which I mentioned in another thread, and the trailer. The boat currently sits on a dunbier/quintrex trailer which is in good conidition. Problem is, the plate states a GVM of 700KG's, which doesn't leave any room for gear (trailer 140kg, Hull 400kg, Motor 80kg, then fittings and fuel etc and there's my 700kg). On longer trips, such as camping trips, I need to put some stuff in the boat so I am exceeding the 700kg's. On top of that it's not braked so I shouldn't go over 750kg's anyway but I'd be doing that too. I really don't want to be over legal weights for obvious reasons so I need to attend to this issue as a matter of urgency ($$ pending) The question: Should I get brakes fitted to this trailer and would this then mean the GVM could be upgraded, Or, should I buy a heavier duty trailer with brakes already installed and a GVM of around 1.1/1.2 tonnes? The boat is 16ft, so what would I be looking at for the cost of a new trailer? Thoughts?

Hi, I was speaking to the guy who fitted my new bimini and travel cover today and just mentioned that I wanted to replace the floor. He said that the latest advancement is instead of using ply the manufacturers are now using an aluminium floor which has a waffle or insulation of some sort to the centre. I imaging would would keep the weight down and would certainly last longer then marine or eterior grade ply. Has anyone seen this? I did a google search and found that some people in the states are using alucobond which is used for signage and the clading of high rise buildings, but I don't think it would support a person or two standing between the boat's ribs like ply would?

I tried fitting a bike rack to my towbar and hooked up the boat trailer to see if they would work together. Aside from the rack getting too close to the winch post, the draw bar, being about 75mm shs, is very close to the towball when hitched. I can't corner without the shs pushing the bike rack bar into the bumper bar on the back of my ute. Anyway, wondering if I can get a coupling which would be longer then the one I have atm, and would give more clearance between the shs and the towball; hence make the trailer slightly longer. It would have to have the same hole centres as the one I have as I don't wont to drill or modify the drawbar. The current coupling is a two holer. Or an alternative solution?

Haven't got much to add re your problem except fuel weighs less than water. I think it's about 3/4's. So 50 litre will weigh under 40kg. I would think you could store upto 100L up the front without to much hassles if you don't have much else up there.

My boat has the two nav lights plus the white light on a short stem on the gunnal towards the stern. Thi slight is blocked by the captian/ windscreen/canopy. If I extend it so it is the highest point on the boat will this qualify as the all round white light and anchor light? The other option is to install another light closer up the front near the windscreen and not use the previous. What have others done to overcome this issue? I really can't wait for the weather to warm up a bit more so I can get out on the water at night.

Hi maiders, Your trailer needs it's own plate. You can't use the same plate as your car in NSW. Head to the RTA and they will sort out the trailer rego for you.

Cheers Anthony. So if I was fishing in a channel with the tide either going in or out there is no point throwing out burley? Do you just relay on your bait and tide to attract the fish?

Hi all, This may sound like a stupid question to most but I am new to fishing and really have n.f.i. I was wondering, amoung many other things, when is the best time to burley? Is all the time or only when your targeting a particular species or fishing in a certain area? Do you burley once your anochor up / drifting and only when set up to drop a line, or when on your way to your destination. I fish out of a boat mostly on lake Illawarra and will start venturing just off Port Kembla soon. My boat doesn't have a burley pot but I was thinking of just throwing it by hand. I know I sound like an ameteur, that's because I am. Any help much appreciated. Thanks

Hi all, I notice that some call signs seem to be 'official', as in ENS987 (this is just an example that I made up) and others hav listed them as their boat name. I am new to the airwaves, what is proper procedure with call signs. I will be launching from Port Kembla and further down the south coast. Thanks.

Might take that on board. I have trouble lieing though, and considering the dent was there when I bought the boat that story will be much more then bending the truth.

Hi Whaler, thanks for your input. It makes it quite hard to know whats best when I get a few responses similar to yours and then Huey comes out and says pretty much the opposite. I cam probably more confused now then before I opened the thread. As I said a couple of times, I'm not storing for a 'long' time. I just get lazy over winter and prefer to be on the water on warm sunny days.

So how would a professional repair it? Fill it in completely with bog?

Thanks to all for your input. Just to clear up on my point in particular, I hope my boat never has to sit for as long as 6 months (unless I'm doing a once in a lifetime trip OS). I'm probably looking at 2 or 3 months max. If it's only been a couple of weeks since it's been used I have no problem. And it's not like it gives me issues after long periods, just that it takes a few goes. Running it on flusher every couple of weeks is a bit of a hassle, because my boat's locked up right at the back of the garage. I'd have to hitch it up and drag it out (do I sound lazy?). Huey, where and how do I disconnect the fuel line. I like the idea of not having fuel sitting in the carbys going stale. I might give it a go next time and see if it takes any less time to start.

Plan C should be what Plan A should have been in the first place; go out and work for it like the rest of the law abiding public. Scum Bags. My opinion, the best way to stop, or reduce criminal activity is harsher penalties for those caught. I'd have no problem with a government who imposes a $10,000 fine for such an offence. If the perpetrator can't afford the bill they can go and work for it till it's paid off. But our governments are too weak. Apologies for taking thread off topic.