macka17

Hi Spoke to My Opti Supplier today. Also the best O/B mehanic round here. He said. on the 2 strokes. The bearings are roller. they are loose. just clean up shaft. so the cage will bind. and reinstall after wiping with oil. 4 str. Diferent. Regards Macka17

Hi As far as threels go. Regardless of what people say. If you can afford the two speeds go for it. You never know when it'll come in handy. not much more exxy. very little weight difference. I'm slowly changing all mine over. What the hell, It can't hurt. and feels real good when a big Samson or a kingie. turns on you. Just drop a cog. and give it to him. feels great. Well worth the money. Macka17

Ring Merc. Workshop and ask for Min oversize. and Dia of journals. Maybe Google on net? If sloppy. get shaft ground down to first. O/S. Fit new bearings. THAT size. and go for it. You put it back together sloppy. You're asking for it to bind when running somewhere 20 miles offshore. That is one thing you don't take risks with... it could be your life. Macka17

Don't worry. A decent welder knows what he's doing. Changing oil on my part was just covering my arse. it was nice and clean. Macka17

I got two if you want one. Yeppoon Queensland. Where the big trout. Reds and Spanno's live. Macka17

Hi. Penns are grouse reels. But look at the twin disk AVET's. and Alutecnos. They reckoned to be the better reels in than size range. Specially at the price. I've beeen using a Daiwa SLD 30 2 spd . 50lb braid 80lb Fluro leader.with no problems. But maybe a bit down on line capacity for you. But a strong. Cheaper way to experiment. Only use mine on Smaller Tigers. Cobes and Spanno's though. Braid/ Mono. is good. just use long Leaders to give a bit of stretch. I use spliced, loop to loop. No knots. Tuff Line. Power Pro. both good. Proven. YGK Japan for 8 wrap is better,but more exxy.. We use that on the Barra in dams. But good for game too. People I've spoken to, doing game fishing. reckon Nylon more forgiving. Just accept next size up reels to give decent capacity compared to braid. Must admit though. You get a mountain of 50lb braid on a 30. regards Macka17

When they go for the kelp and rocks.. It's like us on the reef. If you don't lift him clear of it. Bye Bye. Once in the open you can play. macka17 I

Hi. I don't mount mine. It's a 2 ft length of 4in Sewer pipe. Bottom end glued on 3/8th hopes drilled in it up about 6inches. Screw cap on top. Two holes in top of sides. Hang it on a piece of light ripe. Can adjust depth then (Have a coupla leads in bottom of.) To where /what you fishing for. Load up on bait board. Clean out at home. Take on other boats. No holes in your boat. CHEAP and works. Go 6in if want bigger. Macka17

Look at the Penn SS or Slammer series. They metal NOT plastic like SHimano. Will outlast 10 of them. Stronger too. Alveys went out with the ark. I've spun for Jewies (Butters) and Barra off beaches all over the world. with my ABU 9000 Reds.for over 40 yrs. Never had a problem. Same with my big side roller Mitchels. Nowadays . use Penn 8500 too. Can't kill them..I always used the 5120 series rods too. 10 ft 6 in. Will lob a 4 or 6 oz bait, as far as you can. Bit longer prefered with egg Beaters. See Ya Macka17 [

If you going to just do post. You can buy posts ready made. With U Bolts and bottom plate. Cheapest would be to Hacksaw/grind. old post off. Transfer winch to new post and adjust position to suit. 1/2 hrs work. Just paint some rust converter Silver colour over grind and watch it. Macka17

Hi. Take to any welder that does ally. If you still have peice. He'll weld it back for you. If not. He'll fabricate new bit and stick it on. Tip. Change oil in gearbox after. Ally transfers a LOT of heat. Better safe than sorry.(where do you live?) See Ya Macka17

And make sure there's always at least 70kg on drawbar For stability when towing. If it's over 5 mtrs in length, and you can pick up drawbar without a struggle. It's too light on. I've got a 5.25 Stacer. 90 Opti on back. I can't pick up my drawbar. and it tows just nice. Regards Macka17

Easiest way. Is google "Bonzer imports". He's not the cheapest. But the easiest to handle. Price includes "to door" and warranty normally 1 yr. There are others too. You can buy good units for 1/2 to 2/3rd the Aust prices. Enabling Furuno. Raymarine. Koden. over the toy ones. Lowrance Hummingbird etc. for the same price. Also the better ones don't normally need warranty. I've got Furuno gps.radar and sder. years old. never missed a beat. Lowrance. I've had three. All had to go back. Last one went over side after second replacement. and it was a $1500 combination unit. $950 landed here. Wouldn't have one on my boat. Hurry up though. and buy a reel while you're at it too. Labour in power. Dollar going down again. I just bought a couple at 94c to the dollar. It's down to about 86 at present and falling fast. Regards Macka17

That's very true. Try moving the post first. Load boat, and check balance. If you have suspension mounted on frame that's adjustable and fixed with U Bolts. You can readjust to suit easy enough. Otherwise you may find trailer too arse heavy. (Depending on size/weight, of boat). Small boat not too much a problem. Heavier boat. Be careful. If you cut. Grind rear rail off first. and move boat forward to where it'll be. If balance ok. Fine. Grind off side rails to suit. and reweld rear back on. Check on suspension unit first. lot's are made adjustable. If so, not a prob. Shorten. Move to suit. If not. You'll probably find it's better to move post 4 in and trim trailer 4 in. Won't affect the balance so much. Always think. B4 you cut things. Other things can be affected. and once grinder bin there. can be embarassing. After welding. Grind back to clean steel. Mix up some epoxy to suit. and coat with that first. B4 painting.. Can add some grey colour in it first. To Keep colour same as. Bit long winded. But I've made a couple of them. If suspension not adjustable. on heavier boats. you can stuff up with the balance.. Small light boat.. Go for it.. Enjoy. Macka17

Hi. Wheel bearings need HMP(High Melting Point) Grease. Don't use anything else if towing any distances. Marine grease is Tacky. Or a gel Like Ampol. Like he said. Remove strip clean. Replace if necessary. When filling with grease after. You'll find that the end plate with nipple on it. Is spring loaded. Pump grease till 3/4 of way out. NEVER fill it up. Leave room for grease/air to expand when you stick them in water after a long trip. Otherwise you can blow rear seal. and negate reason for having them on there. Regards Macka17

Sorry. Can't help you there.I'm Central Queensland. YEPPOON....... Keppel Islands Group... BCF up here sell Furuno. Check with store down your way. Alternatively. On the E.Bay. Macka17 PS. If this attatchment works. I used to operate Draglines and Bucket wheels. This is the granddaddy of all Bucketwheels.

Hi. if your 90 2 stroke did 30. The Opti will do a little more. on half the fuel consumption. Less than E'Tec's too. Realistically. How often do you fly round at full throttle. I do most travelling at 3.900/4100 revs. 19/21 knots. Fuel consumption av. 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 km per ltr. Depending on seas. Wind it up to 4600/5000 on long trips out wide. Weather permitting. Still quite economical. These people go on about quietness. It's a two stroke for christ sake. Does it matter if there's a bit of noise. It's all behind you anyway. ALso. these new models have SmartCraft built in. in price of boat. Would have Cost me $2 1/2 k extra. I want to go faster. Mates have 21-25 ft boats with 200+ hp's on backs of. I go out with them and pay juice bill. Just make sure you get a spare compressor belt in deal. and I carry a replacement hub bush too. Just in case. I played with props too. 16/17/19 in. settled on 17in for my boat. Your dealer should do same. I got one of those Plastic, replacable blade props too. As a spare. ( $350 with spare blade.) Seems to work ok. Think I'd go Ally next time though. If you go above 115. Look at the 135 Opti. V6 2.5 ltr. I think they take that one out 175hp.. So it's a well detuned donk. Macka17

Hi. 5.25 Stacer. Anchors to suit. 15in Ball. 4 in ring. Never failed to lift anchor yet. Just drive back over anchor if it does stick. That should fix it. We often straighten H/Duty tines on mine. So it's quite efficient. and at my age. Saves a hell of a lot of hauling. Specially in a hundred feet and more.. Also have H/Duty clip on end of anchor rope, fastened to bow in anchor well. 1 x50 mtr rope. 1 x 100mtr rope, Can shackle together quickly if extra length needed. and only takes two tic's. to clip onto Bright orange float with boat name and Ph No burnt on it. If I have to drop and chase. I also welded Boat rego no. onto the shanks of all my anchors. With Stainless rods. Takes a lot of grinding off. and nobody can take it and say it's theirs.(How many carry a grinder and genny in boat hey). Get one. You'll never regret. Macka17

Hi. Just buy a Furuno 4001. Transducer on slide. You can take it right off when travelling.That way. you get a good Dual Freq, Sounder. with removable T.Ducer for about $370. I mounted mine on seat beside me. On my Quinnie 3.7 roof topper. One Stainless screw in centre of mount base. so you can swivel to suit sun. Run from a gell Cell. Kept in plastic Kitchen box. Velcro'd to seat .. Alternatively. Look for a second hand Raymarine 400 Digital colour. Brilliant little machine. cost about same 2nd hand. Both 1000 times better than any of cheap ones. For not too many more $$$. Might as well get best for money if you can. Just another alternative. Regards Macka17

Sorry i'm late. Been out doing a green zone fishing survey for last two weeks. I get about 5.400revs. flat. That's in a Slight sea though. Not on flat water. That only happens about three days a year up here. We live with the S.E Trades. or 20+kn Northerlies. most of the year. I've been out wide 4 times since last chistmas.. Out of interest. We did survey on mates new 6.6 Trailcraft centre cabin. W/Around. 225 Verado on back of. Motor. Brilliant. Boat. Great fishing platform. If you could borrow a Glass boat to get out there and back.. Mind you we travelled everywhere at 23 to 31 knots. in seas with 15 to 25 kn winds Mainly the 25kn end of spectrum. Not one day wind under 20 knots till last Friday. (And I didn't go. Crook neck) Great fishing platform. But. we had whole boat out of water quite a lot. Prop as well. When travelling into it. Running at 23/26kn. Don't they come down with a bang.. NOTHING beats that Deep V. when in a seaway.... See ya. Macka17

Hi. I had an MXL 6.3. Gave to my mate last week. Don't find it very strong when winding reefies up. His MXL 4.6 much better reel. I use my Accurate now, instead of. I have a coupla other AVETS. they all nice reels. AND. a great price if you go through charkbait. or cabbagekey. Regards Macka17

[ Only 31 knots? i get around 36kn in my 5.3m runabout in calm conditions!! how much does your stacer weigh? You Ain't seen what I carry. 2 or 3 large people (I'm 110kg) 100ltr underfloor tank. Plus 60ltr in bows All fishing tackle for three. and Scotty takes the shop with him. . Icebox. ice. bait.Auxhiliary motor. Swags. food/drink. We go out overnight.40/70 km. Plus hours of trolling at 6 to 8 knots. 17in prop. I reckon she does well considering. Spends most of her life at 3.9/4.100 anyway. plus trolling. Open her up occasionally when a bit late for sunup. She's a great seaboat for her size though. Come back safely quite a few times when it blows up out there. 20/25/30knots on stern quarter. Sitting on the 16/18 knots. Riding the backs of. She doesn't dig her nose in and veer off like the Quinnie's do. Cuddy cabin would be safer. But I use this boat on the dams for Barra. That lovely open foredeck (Bowrider) is to good to miss out on, and towing grandkids on Tyre too. It's a compromise. Oh. I carry two commercial 1 1/2 in bore bilge pumps for trawlers under floor too. Plus a fitted bow cover when travelling out wide. Regards Macka17

Not up here they're not. Long distance. 40 to 70km each way. 3.800 t0 4100 revs. 19/21knots (Bigger boats go faster.)They use a lot more than the Opti's, and the Suzi/Johnno's in same hp range. Opti a beautiful motor. But based on the mileage we doing now. I'll be going 4 str next time. Macka17

Hi. I've got the 90 Opti too. On a Stacer 5.25 Bowrider. Brilliand motor. But. Possibly a bit light on power wise for a glass boat. Mine does 31knots flat on glass out water. You'd do less. I'd go a Yammie or the new Merc 4 str. be4 an E'Tec. They not all that popular up here. Some have problems with dropping into Limp home mode. And all our foshing is wide. Minimum 40km. Quite often a lot more.(60 to 70km each way). Straight out. Apart from the islands. 15km If those new Merc 4str, had been out, I reckon I'd have got one of those over the 2 str. Nearly bought a Suzi/Johnno 4 str. Evinrude good strong motors. But I've done a round world trip twice in last 4 yrs. Canada States Both say same thing. Still got problem with fuel System. Brother in law. Johnno Service in Canada. says to me.There's always a lot in wksp. Look elsewhere or the 4 strokes.. I did. Macka17

Hi. There's a substance called "Ensis Fluid SDC". The trawlers up here use it on all their deck gear. I got a tin in 2002 with my then new boat/trlr. Sprayed all trlr, with this stuff b4 using boat. Reapplied twice since. Trailer goes the colour of the dust in your ares. (It's slightly tacky.) BUT. After 5 yrs of constant use. I'm retired and use more than most. Apart from said threads/bolts. There's no sign of rust anywhere on trailer. Macka17