macka17

Little tip. When rubbing washers on wet/dry. get a little rubber washer, or something. It wears the skin off tip of your finger..Where it sticks through hole in drag washers. Macka17

Hi. I'm thinking of getting a light Popping rig. A Capricorn 4500J. or Caldia Kix 4000 reel. (I'm not a shimano man) also. What sticks would suit? I'm not into egg beaters. and can't get my brain round the sort of prices people pay for some of them. No problem with my O/Heads though. So I thought I'd go this way first. Then When/if it shits itself. My brain might accept a better reel. All my life. e/beaters have been for 6lb and below..only.. Regards All and thank's in advance. Be gentle with an old fart.... Macka17

Hi. I got those ones on my trailer.. $73 each. and they came from Autopro. In Rockhampton...They same size as th $45 double sealed globe ones. (With the clear covers Over the lenses.) And no globes. Fittings to rust. My globe ones lasted 4 1/2 yrs.. Macka17

Hi. I use the Penn 8500. on a fenwick HMG stick. Last fish it pulled in, was a 56 lb Gold spot. After several 20ish kg Cobia. T'is a clunky reel compared to SHimano and good Daiwa. But. for heavy fishing, I'll back it against ANY Jap reel for strength. There's no need for upgrades of anything either. Just 50lb Braid, Good leader, and go for it.

Caprice 1500. Macka17

Don't agree with all that Boof. I'm a Yachtie. and a hell of a lot of yachts run Yanmar inboards. Classed as one of the best and most reliable on market. Most prefer them to Volvo... Last two boats had yanmar in. 1 was 1984 vintage. Still going strong. Other was earlier. '74/75ish. Was rebuilt about 8 yrs ago. Still in boat. They're one of the most respected marine engines on the market mate. Including up to 150 ft boats that I've seeen them pushing. Ps I was a diesel fitter for yrs. (Marine.) Oh. They've been self bleeding since early '90's

I'd be looking at Stessl. Bluefin Savage, etc. B4 the brookers. They were at the lower end of quality boats. Don't know if they've changed. We have a lot of Sea Jays up here. None have a bad word for them..Same with the Quinnies, and Stessl's. Although stessl had terrible welding on some of the earlier ones. That's why I went S/Jay in the first place.. Good welds. and great boat at sea.. Enjoy whatever you get. Macka17

Hi. Alternatives.. Look at the Sea Jay Magnum 4.15. Wide deep and Great sea boat. I sold mine last year for a 5.25 stacer. Been out in some real nasty seas in it, Alongside Quinnies.. and others. Get the sea Jay... 30 hp more than enuff. 3 blokes . 12 km offshore at night. 4 x 25plus kg Black jew. plus LOTS of fishing gear. Still came back in seas at 16/17 knots. (GPS) Definitely tracks better than Quinnie, and Stessl in 3 to 4 ft seas...They were with us. Probably best Factory production boat on market.. Regards Macka17

Hi. I've had several on the smaller motors. 25/40. They help lift you out. Hold your bows down. Plane at lower speeds. Take a bit OFF top speed. and Had no noticble difference to fuel consumption. Now.. The one on my 90 Etec... That's there cause a bow rider rides bows up. Trims her out. lifts arse up a bit. She runs on fresh air anyway. so that side's not a problem... and outruns the others with Etecs on... They're better off your boat. Unless you need them for extra lift... or a bit of bows down. .Most weight in back of boat Like the bow riders. They have all weight behind the wheel.. They have GREAT casting platform at front though... Regards Macka17

I carry 2 anchors. Fit one to suit. whenever we go out. Tighten with 6 in Shifter. (Kept in glove box) Never had any troubles. You start putting extra's in line. Carbeneers etc. You asking for trouble. Takes 2 min's to switch anchors when needed. Plus.. DON'T use cheap shackles. Go to Nobles. and buy small lifting shackles to suit. Or a Locked pin Stainless shackle. Pin can't come right out. Cheaper in the long run. Macka17

Hi. You buying B/W. Get Furuno.... Colour stick with Furuno. Koden. Raymarine. Fuso. Combi's Probably Garmin. Others any good. Are bloody Exxy.... Regards Macka17

Always use a Synthetic oil in your Outboards...All the manufacturers make one to suit, As long as it meets the spec's your engine Mfg, puts out. The label on the oil can is irrelevant.. If you're fussy. Find out which oil co, makes the oil for your label motor, and use their oil... I run a mMerc. Optimax. Their oil. From them is $110 for 6 ltrs. I buy Caltex Same spec's for $120 a 20 ltr drum. Same oil, same spec's.. Motor don't know the difference. I went to a coupla big Merc agent Workshops, while in States/Canada. Both said the same thing. Don't use Full Synth, for long trolling. and. As long as oil meets Spec's.. Name on label,is immaterial I go by them. Macka17

Hi. I got the Merc Optimax. They have 2 types of oil. Semi and Full Synthetic. They say Don't run Full Synthetic if trolling a lot. Also. Caltex put out an Oil for these High Tech 2 strokes. Only 2/3rds the price.. Works fine in Merc... Exactly same spec's. Check on spec's for E'tec... Only about $120 for a 20 ltr drum... I'm paying $110 for 6 ltrs Merc oil... What's that about paying for the name...... Macka17

Live Fibre...... Macka

Hi Friend of mine is the Evinrude/Johnno agents Mechanic here. He says. Take out ALL external bolts. Grease, and replace them. Change oils and check seals. and waterpump every year. Remove prop. Biggest problem they have. is removing bolts after 3 yrs..Have to grind and extract 1/2 of them... NOTHING will last for three yrs. Untouched. In a Saltwter environment.. (Maybe alright in fresh ??) I run an Optimax..... Macka17

Kilwell Blanks are used for the Live Fibre rods over here.. Very good rods. I think. (Have 7 of them) Make sure you get composite blanks though. Not fibreglass ones. Good tips. Lots of power mid range. and Good lock up. Lower than a lot of rods. (Strokers) Which makes them better for bottom dropping..Easier on your back. I'm starting to use some of these Japanese Jigging rods lately. For bottom dropping. A bit expensive. But. Nothing else in same class in Australia...Apart from a few Yank ones. Which still aren't as good. Shimano T Curve 400 Jigger not bad. But Daiwa Catalina. and other serious jap ones leave them..... Send me email. I'll give you a coupla contacts for rods etc. Shipping worldwide Regards Macka17

Hi. You want to swap those Live Fibres.. I have a 10/15 Backbone. and a 15/24 Backbone. One roller tip. Never used them...... I'll swap you for Livies, any day of week. If they in good nick.... Regards Macka

Hi. I got Saltist 30 and Saltiga 40. Email me. I'll send you scans of paperwork. Macka17

Hey you lot. Tell him about the Penn SS reels too. Cheaper. and a damn sight stronger...Last fish I brought in on my 8500 was a 56lb gold spot cod.. Dragged him up alright. and these new ones have rectified the anti reverse problem. and smoothed out the line lay, to suit braid.... Blokes fish for marlin with them.... Apart from that. Those BTR's are plastic, aren't they? Look at the rest of the market. not just the Shimano......You'd be surprised what's out there...... Daiwa do good egbeaters too...... Regards Macka17

Hi. I reckon the Hi Tech 2 stroke is the way to go. I have Optimax 90. on 5.25 stacer.... Mates have similar sized boats/Weights.. So far. on the long trips..100plus km and more. The Opti, is noisier. faster. and drinks LESS juice than any of the others. 4 stroke. and E'Tec.. Uses virtually no oil, and as smooth as.. Trolls all day on nothing... Uses 35/ 40% LESS juice than mates Yammy 85 on same trips.. (He's pissed) Servicing costs similar, to 4 str,. But.. When it comes to more than that...2 stroke is 2 stroke. and 4's are 4's.. Lots more bits to replace. Fuel systems are both complex. Both expensive. so that levels that side of it..... Time will tell. They'll never be on costing levels with std 2 strokes though. Much more expense in manufacturing....... Mainly fuel systems.... Regards All Macka17

Hi Simple basic way. to keep rods in proportion. Use tripod. (to steady camera). take several shots over length of rod. Moving rod. or camera. Use any basic photo program to stitch them together. and give one full shot of rods... Simple, easy. and all in proportion Macka17

Hi. Have the Sw. loaded with 55lb jigbraid. Use on Barra on impoundments. Can't kill it. 32 1/2 kg best so far. Also a blacksheep 250. that is the pure beast........Used it on Spanno's and Big Cobia..(spooled on that one.) The drag and gear strength of Daiwa,leaves all other makes for dead.

Hi. I have several Sounders. Lowrance. Raymarine Digital, and Furuno. For your price and a bit more. Furune 4100. Under $400 on Ebay. 6100 approx $600/650 retail. They're virtually commercial units. and correspondingly, better than the other toy ones. Lowrance... There's three in my shed if you want. X51. Hmmmmmmmmmm. X71. Ok When it stays at the depth reading you set it at. Seems to like the 500ft readings. No Matter where you set it. Bit of a bummer when you're in 40ft...and turns off when you go over a bit of a bump. X85 Not much better. Accurate Temp and Speedo though.... Every Lowrance I, or my mates have ever had. have shat... X71 had to be changed when I got it home New. Big Damp patch in centre of screen First time on. apparently, it's a regular occurence. Another mate bought a new combined Sounder/Plotter this year.... . $1300... 2 months old. Back to Lowrance in States. They paid freight, he said. Whoopy Doo He's got my X85, and I said don't bother bringing it back. Garbage bin when you finished with it..... Furuno not as fancy... But speak to Pro's. Can't fault them.........Dual Beam. and tons of horsepower...... Regards Macka17