Fab1

January 6

I have the same motor in forward steer which is basically going to be the same thing for a side console.

you’ll need the side console, helm, forward controls & cables, and steering cable and linkages.

Where to get it all I don’t know but I do know looking at mine you don’t need to be a brain surgeon to put one on if you’re handy.

January 6

1 hour ago, noelm said:

Looking after a pool is almost fun, getting out with the hose and fooling around, picking up the thousand pool toys the kids leave behind is not such a big hit though, or picking up the crap they just drop on the ground…..but that’s how “kids” are, even though they are 40 years old.

I don’t have those issue mate.99% of the time it’s only me in pool or sometimes the mrs and I.Just the way I like it.

I have an outdoor shower by the pool and when I mow and am boiling over I rinse of under shower and I’m in there.

It’s the best.

January 5

1 hour ago, noelm said:

Yep, couldn’t agree more, even after a beach swim, or in the lake behind, the pool is so much fun. People always tell me how much work they are, but….they are wrong! Once you get the hang of it, and it’s setup (we have salt water and heated) plus a robot cleaner, and it’s about half hour a fortnight during summer. I enjoy it actually, even manually vacuum it lots of times.

People that day pools are lots of work wouldn’t know hard work if it hit them on the clacker.Send them to me for a day and they’ll go home realising the rest of their life is a holiday camp.

January 5

3 minutes ago, noelm said:

There’s a lot of truth in what you say! We are fit and healthy, certainly not speedsters anymore, but, mowing a small lawn, general building “stuff” and fixing things is still no problem, gardening is a kind of hobby for us, it’s not a “job” and we live by the gardeners motto “do a little bit often” rather than let everything get over grown, you just get out and “potter” (I hate that word, it implies old age) I will still have a small vege garden, the new lawn is at best 15 minutes mowing, including putting the clipping in the green bin. Our current house is double brick, but rendered, so, painting is a huge job every few years, the new place is not rendered, it’s just brick (and to be honest, not great looking bricks, in my opinion) it’s got a huge driveway and lots of boat/car parking without fooling around, there’s a big Gumtree in the front yard that I will attempt to remove, Council pending approval. First plans are a pool and a fire pit, something we have always had since the early ‘80s. People ask why a pool when we live on the beach? It’s really simple, nothing beats a family get together, in the summer and grandkids/kids/adults having fun in a pool! I always act like a cranky old fart and yell “no bombing” until I get close, then bomb the smallest kids……..

Your own pool at your own house leaves any beach for dead in my opinion.I’ve always had one and have one now.Nothing like putting your favourite tunes on or not and lying on your floaty watching the world go by.(I watch the birds and listen to their chirping and have slept out there many times).

Everyone is different.I enjoy my own company and don’t like humans.Give me peace and animals any day over humans.😂😂

January 5

50 minutes ago, noelm said:

It’s funny, we are “downsizing” to 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, triple garage……….but, it’s a “downsize in maintenance and ground floor living. As it stands, the stairs are no problem, we are a long way from a nursing home (I hope) and when that time does come, a suitable place might not be available. Going from where I live now to anywhere else is a step down (in my opinion) so there’s only a couple of places I would consider moving to, and this place is one of them, and it’s on the market, so now is the time (I hope)

That’s far from a downsize mate.😂Once it’s done you won’t look back.

You don’t want to get to the stage my father in-law is at where he basically sits on the lounge watching tv 24/7 living in a house with lawns, gardens etc going to ruins and being a silly old bugger that won’t listen.

He does nothing and everything’s gone to 💩.

When the day comes I can’t mow my own lawns, tend to my gardens, maintain everything myself is the day I hang up the keys for ever without a second thought and I can tell you even at 49 it’s approaching very fast.

I won’t let family, contractors, tradies, anyone do anything for me even if they did it for free as A it’s not right and B no one will do as good a job as I will.

Look at it as turning another chapter in your life.

January 5

21 minutes ago, noelm said:

Getting professionals in to do the move, can’t be bothered with utes and trailers, carrying stuff down stairs and so on. The garage is going to be a big job, all sorts of tools and fishing gear, kayaks (4) surfboards (5) bait freezer, cabinets and who knows what else, then there’s the back garage as well……one issue is some of the furniture doesn’t fit down the stairs, it came up over the balcony, so that will be “interesting”

Don’t blame you mate.Lower furniture by rope over balcony.

January 5

17 minutes ago, noelm said:

It’s a big thing for me, I am not a big mover, my life has always been stable, boring almost, but, that’s just me, only a couple of jobs my entire working life, and only ever lived in this street, pretty dull hey? But not only does the new house suit us now (it’s not small by any means) we will walk away with a decent bag of dollars, which is a bonus too.

I’m the same mate.Not interested in moving or even knowing anyone.We stick to close family and that’s it.Any neighbours in our lives get a quick wave/hi and that’s it.

I reckon I’d need 5 life times to move all the 💩I’ve got and that’s just mowers and tools.

I had one of the mrs friends over the other week to look at our pool and she looks up on the top tier of the yard and says “That’s a huge granny flat you guys put in”. I said that’s my shed and she nearly curled over.😂😂

January 5

13 minutes ago, noelm said:

After years of living in the one spot, we are thinking of moving, same street, but without the fabulous view, still on the water, but just thinking about the future and downsizing. The new place has all the living/entertaining on the ground floor, so as age creeps up, it’s time…….a house has come up (rare in my area) that suits us, we know the owners and they are moving on (medical reasons) and I can’t believe it, but, we are on the verge of signing up, probably official on Tuesday, all going well. The whole thing scares the living daylights out of me, talking millions of dollars send shivers down my spine, I am very much a “comfort zone” type, and this is way outside that. Sure I will miss the view, the back street access and living in the premium location in the entire Headland, but……….I will still have fishing in a 30 second walk, beach access in a minute, it’s all still there, I just can’t “see” it as good, still have a view though.

I’ll swap my hour drive for your 30 second walk if you’re not happy.We’re we all live there’s pros and cons for all of us.I can guarantee you guys have all the water views all around there but I can also guarantee none of you are on 100 acres like us too.

pros and cons.

Enjoy your new home and just tie the furniture to the dog to move it for you.😂

January 5

2 hours ago, dunc333 said:

thats including your trailer weight as well in the 550kg ?

Yes fully loaded and ready to go fishing as it sits on trailer in garage.

I did my homework when I bought it and my criteria was Must fit in garage, weigh less than 600kg, unpainted, no bullshit on motor,etc,etc.

January 4

9 hours ago, jenno64 said:

Great session Fab!

plenty of action and fish!

Thank you.We enjoyed our time there.

January 4

10 hours ago, Crabstar said:

Great catch mate, yeah the river is pretty horrible clarity wise. Will take a long time to clean up!

It sure was.Wasn’t expecting that to be honest.

January 4

2 minutes ago, Yowie said:

Fab, you are alive again. Thought you had gone. 😂

Good to see you pull up a few flatties, would have been a nice feed if you kept some of them. Regardless, a good day on the water.

Still kicking mate.Not much has been happening on the fishing front for months mate.We caught 7 or 8 keepers today but like my report says I couldn’t be bothered keeping any of them.After 2 xmases and my mom saying go on just one more plate of food after I have eaten the 20th I don’t want to see food or fish or anything until 2089 I think.

sitting here on lounge I can feel my bloated stomach trying to lift the ceiling off the house.😂

January 4

Seller….engines flushed with salty captain every use.Promise.

January 4

I bet if you got an archeologist to chip away at it they’d find a set of fossilised ear muffs.

January 4

On 1/2/2024 at 4:15 PM, JustJames said:

Buy a bigger boat than you think you need. It will be more versatile in every way.

If the major consideration is getting the boat to its parking spot without being able to use the two vehicle to get it there, there are battery powered "pushers" and ratchet/lever jockey wheels to help with moving it.

Agree 100% about where to house boat.Personally if I couldn’t put my boat in garage or at least in enclosed yard I’d never have one.So many do though.

January 4

8 hours ago, OZrevhead said:

To be honest I was looking at a cheap quad bike with nobby tyres and a towbar attached to the front, then I need space to store that too.

Lets look at my questions a different way:

What is the lightest 4.5m (non tiller steer) boat I can get? Does any of them have a weight advantage or are they all in a similar weight bracket? 350-400kg without motor, trailer and accessories?

A Stacer 429 Outlaw is listed at 371kg bare, the tiller 429 is 351kg. My old Stacer 3.9 tinny was 110kg surely a floor and casting deck doesnt add 200-250kg? I would be happy with a bare tinny with a side console added, I dont need car-like luxury on the water

Cheers

The lightest boat in any length you’ll get is basically an open boat with a tiller steer on it.

No wide gunnels, rail work, floor, etc.Just a boat and engine basically.

like I said before my Quintrex 420 estuary angler weighs 550kg on dot as per weigh bridge ready to fish.

If you look at it it’s basically an open tiny with additional items like windscreen, enclosed bow, rail work, seats, carpeted floor which all add weight.

Like I said the boats you are looking at will weigh more, need brakes and you’ve got Buckleys pushing it on its jockey wheel over grass by yourself or even with a helper any distance.

January 4

Forgot to add I’m 6,2 size 14 feet 126kg if that makes any difference.

January 4

Thats how they are designed mate.The lower now narrows there where you sit or stand.

My 4.2 runabout is the same .

This is me sitting in it in garage how I drive and stand with no issues at all even in rough inshore waters.I got rid of my Factory seat pedestals years ago and bought new ones and moved front seats back a few inches as the front edge of the seat with the original seat posts would hit me behind the calf when standing.(I was cramped between seat and steering wheel).

Small boat to begin with in runabout configuration doesn’t leave much room. A side console/centre console would have flat floor under your feet.

January 4

1 hour ago, noelm said:

Always good to get out, it’s a bit of a mission to go to Nowra from your place?

1 hr to windang, the port, botany etc.

1.5 hrs to Nowra around there.

We always enjoy getting out regardless mate.

1 hour ago, BaitDropper said:

Great report Fab...

Yeah, the river turned Choclate 3-4 days back, I see it every day driving past the Bridge ramp, it stayed fairly clear after the rains we were having, or have had , then surprisingly turned to coffee 3-4 days ago. At least you got to get out on the water for an outing and boated some species.

Thought the boat ramp would have been packed out more than it has been, over the festive times, but again surprisingly not as busy as I thought it would be.

Thanks mate.There was a few out but I launched/retrieved with no one in sight.

53 minutes ago, Little_Flatty said:

Good to see you getting out @Fab1. Better than mowing the lawn!

Bait or lures?

Cheers..I love my lawn and gardens mate.Mrs always wants to know why I have so many mowers and gear.

we used bait only..School prawns fresh and salted and pillys caught all fish.

46 minutes ago, big Neil said:

Well done Fab. Must feel good getting out after a layoff. Catching a few is a bonus too.

bn

It’s always very enjoyable getting the family away for a few hours mate.Thanks.

33 minutes ago, Bluebenbomb said:

Glad to see you get out @Fab1. Great report.

Thanks mate.We are trying our best to get out mate but family comes first when they have terminal illnesses/health issues it gets put on back burner.

January 4

Got out to Nowra after months and months of no fishing for us today.

Launched from Nowra bridge ramp and headed down river drifting and anchoring several spots.

A couple quick snaps and overboard they went even though plenty of legal fish caught this time as I honestly can’t be bothered half the time..About 7-8 legal flathead caught.

prawns and pillys where the bait.

water like coffee.Don’t ask me what tide it was or wind conditions etc as I didn’t even check I thought last night stuff this we are going fishing tomorrow.

As usual we had a great time even though rain threatened the 5 or so hours on water.

tight lines.

That flatly in the net was a pearler.Other one was barely legal.Other flathead were legal and a bit smaller than the one pictured in net.

Thanks for reading.

January 2

On 12/31/2023 at 8:35 AM, OZrevhead said:

Thanks mate, lots up to 4.75 area have no brakes so I just have to pick and choose. I guess my main question is which outfit is lightest overall, or are they all in the same weight bracket?

Cheers

Lots of boats with no brakes that should have them mate and will weigh more than 750kg.

January 2

On 12/31/2023 at 8:35 AM, OZrevhead said:

Thanks mate, lots up to 4.75 area have no brakes so I just have to pick and choose. I guess my main question is which outfit is lightest overall, or are they all in the same weight bracket?

Cheers

There’s plenty of overweight boats with NO BRAKES around mate.I have a Quintrex 420 runabout with a 30 2 stroke that weighs 550kg on the dot.The boats you’re talking about I’d be getting brakes mate as you’ll find if you weighed them ready to fish they’d be over 750kg.

December 22, 2023

For us it’s the whole day out as a family that makes it extra special regardless of if we catch fish or not.

It’s what you make of anything you do in life mate.Boring is a frame of mind.You can make anything more enjoyable just by having a different mindset even work which a lot of people dislike.

We never get bored and to be honest I could sit out there every day if I could.

November 28, 2023

What I picture when I fumble a slippery fish after finally catching one and it ends up back in the drink.▶️ Watch this reel https://www.facebook.com/share/r/cnhxcYdVyZ7c5N3r/?mibextid=WdyKie

October 26, 2023

I’ve had the same one for 30 yrs..She won’t leave.😂Congrats mate.

Profiles

Forums

Gallery

Events

Fishing Tips, Advice and Articles

Blogs

Store

Posts posted by Fab1