TheDon

Thanks Idolz, but I really want to get something a bit closer to my price range. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I would like a GPS and am thinking about getting a combo colour GPS/Fish Finder given that my existing Fish Finder is an old Monochrome hummingbird 128x64 resolution sounder that came with the boat. Can anyone recommend a colour GPS/sounder combo for around $600-$850. Most of my fishing is in the Harbour and possibly a few kms outside, but wouldn't expect to go too far as I'm using a 4.75m aluminium runabout. I'm considering a Lawrence HDS-5 which I've seen on online shop for around $850. Also there are a few Eagle units which have similar specs, except even higher resolution for around $700-$800. (I've heard Eagle and Lawrence are the same company) Any advice for something in my budget is appreciated. Thanks TheDon

Thanks for the help guys. I ended up contacting Marlin, they can send me a new post with an added brace for strength for $45 plus $25 delivery. Cheers Don

It is a Marlin Trailer with a 50mm wide by 75mm deep drawbar. The boat is a 4.75m quintrex bayhunter.

Hi, I had a bit of a nightmare at the boatramp on Sunday. I was trying to winch the boat out of the water on to the trailer when the post holding the winch broke off at the base. Initially I thought the boat was going to be stuck in the water, but I was eventually able to drive it fully on to the trailer (hoping not to go too far), I left the engine running to hold the boat in place while we tied the boat to the front of the trailer with ropes. We managed to get it out of the water, put straps on and drove it home very slowly. I now need to buy a new trailer winch post. Does anyone know where I can get one, preferably not too far from Central Sydney. Thanks TheDon

Hi Raiders, this is my first fishing report here. Went out in Sydney Harbor on Sunday Morning. Launched at Rose Bay just before 6am with hope of getting on to some kings as we haven’t caught any since we bought the boat 4 weeks ago. I invited my father-in-law to come with us who is visiting from overseas. He knows nothing about fishing, Went to a couple of bait spots and managed to get 1 good sized squid, and about 8 yakkas. Tried quarantine point with yakkas. We kept losing them without hookups. Got a couple of pulls here and there but definitely were not kings. Tried Middle head next. The sounder showed a bait school and some larger fish. Again we lost our last 2 yakkas without a hookup. I had tried hooking through the nose, through the mouth or in front of the dorsal fin but didn't help. Then we changed to fresh squid strips. Had three rods out and of course the lightest rod that my father-in-law was holding gets hit hard (20lb braid with 40lb leader). The fish was pulling hard and he was struggling to hold the rod. After a couple of strong runs the main line went “ping”. I rigged him up with another squid strip and again he gets hit, but this time it was much more manageable. He landed a baby King (under 50cm) and a 1st for our boat. Quick look at it and then back in the water. None of the heavier 50lb gear got touched. It went very quiet after that, pickers were pulling apart the rest of our squid. Tried a couple of other spots but got nothing. Got back to the boat ramp and, you wouldn’t believe, as we were winching the boat onto the trailer, the winch post broke off. Luckily I was able to drive it on and then a very nice guy at the ramp knew some good knots and helped us tie the boat to the trailer and we managed to get it home in one piece. Cheers TheDon

Wow, what a great morning of fishing. Were you guys downrigging?

Nice catch. That's a great haul of Snapper. What bait did you catch them with. Cheers

Nice Report. Just wondering what sort of lures you were using? cheers The Don

Based in the eastern suburbs, near Bondi Junction. Not sure what to do. One member says do it yourself and the other says pay the professionals. By the way $270 was just for the radio, although that included the housing for the unit which he said was $70. I haven't even got a quote for the other things. I'm a bit more worried about installing the livie tank because that may require drilling holes in the boat.

Hi fishraiders, I recently bought my first boat, a Quintrex 4.75m runabout and I'd like to add a few things. I'd like to have some music on the boat. I can buy a radio/cd player with marine speakers for $150, but I got one quote from a guy who wants $270 to install it for me. I'm new to boating to am a bit inexperienced. Is this something that I would be able to install myself, or should I just employ a professional? I'd also like to put in a live bait tank with pump and possibly upgrade the old fishfinder which is on the boat to a new gps/fishfinder combo. Would it be difficult to install these myself or is there someone that you would recommended to do it for me. Another question, if I'm running all these things should I have a 2nd battery or can I just run it off the same battery that powers the rest of the boat? Your help is appreciated Thanks TheDon.

Thanks for the help guys.

Hi Raiders, I'd like to ask for some advice from you experienced boaters. I am considering to buying a 5m quintrex runabout boat and the owner has agreed to take me for a test run in the water. It is my first boat and I don't really know what to look for during the test run to ensure it is running as it should. Can anyone please give me some advice as to how we should put it through it's paces and what issues I should look out for. Thanks TheDon

Hi, I'm looking to buy my first boat. I don't know much and need some help as to what to look for. It primarily be used in Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay with the occasional trip out of the heads and along the coast on a calm day. I'm only looking to spend around $10K so it will need to be a used boat. I'm considering both aluminum and fibreglass. What should I look for when I inspect the boats? How old is too old for the hull, is around 1990 ok, or too old? What about the engine, how many hours is too many? Are there any brands of engine which are more reliable in older boats, are there any I should avoid? Your recomendations are appreciated. Thanks TheDon

Went to the channel marker a quarantine point. Had live yakkas and fresh squid, but didn't get any hookups. There were a lot of other boats there, we only saw about 3 other hookups between them. One guy in a tinny by himself picked up a very nice king, must have been at least 90cm or more. Tried middle harbour, nothing, tried the wedding cakes, nothing, then finally saw a bustup on the north side but the fish were very fussy, quite a few boats casting to them but only 1 or 2 hookups for bonito. Saw some kings amoungst them.