Fab1

Thanks,will do.

No problem.The wheel bearings,coupler and light check are the final things I do before I've purchased the boat before I tow it away.

Yes,I've had one that bulged on the tread face years ago as it can happen there also.The beauty of it there is you feel it bouncing as your driving along giving you time "hopefully" to stop and address the problem.

Agreed.The road and driveway can tell you a lot also in regards to fluid leaks.

Soft transoms and cracks can be an issue with boats as they age as well as soft floors,cracks,chunks missing out of gelcoat etc. spider cracks are not such an issue it's the deeper gouges,chunks that you have to worry about especially when located under the water line. From what I've seen and dealt with in the past the cracks tend to usually start right in the crease or peak of internal/external corners or where there is a step in the design of the hull as this is usually where there is a join in the underlying structure of the hull. Transom cracks can be anywhere but they to tend to start in corners.This transom crack is advanced and that boat shouldn't be anywhere near water until it's fixed.This is what I mean by the cracks will start in the corners most times.This crack should be dealt with ASAP.A common way to check for a loose/cracked transom is to tilt the outboard leg up as this man is doing and use it as a fulcrum pushing/pulling up and down to check for movement in the transom.There should be very minimal to no flex at all.This is really a superficial flaw known as a spider crack in the game.It is only a surface flaw which is quite common if you look around.Its the deep into the substrate damage you need to concern yourself with.Deeper damage that penetrates into the glass like this on the keel should be fixed up ASAP as it will allow water to penetrate.Damage on the keel like this is common in glass boats from what I've seen mostly due to carelessness beaching the boat on the ramp or rocks without a keel guard.This is what the underfloor structure can look like in a glass boat.Those timbers can rot and cause a soft/springy floor. My technical way of checking a soft/springy floor is to walk on it bare foot while bouncing my weight on the floor keeping my weight on the balls of my feet the entire time.With experience you can feel the difference in the firmness of the floor in several areas if there's dry rot present. Another way is to use a rubber mallet tapping along the floor Taking note of the sound and rebound you receive back.Both methods really require some experience though and I would strongly suggest you seek out someone that knows what they're doing for this part of the inspection process before the final exchange of funds prior to purchase. Like I said before there's a million things that can go wrong with a hull but these are some of the most common ones that can cost you big $$$$.

Other things that should be checked are the trailers electrics,lights,rollers,skids,brakes,coupling,jockey wheel,spare are all there working and in good condition.Here I'm showing my boat as an example.When you inspect any boat look to make sure that cap is on the winch post as some have them missing which will lead to water and crap accumulating in the bottom of the post which will rust it out which can eventually lead to it breaking off.Also ensure you pull out all the webbing/cable/rope from your winch drum to be able to have a good look at the material for frays,cuts,broken strands,etc,etc. They will usually snap/break right at the hook for the bow eye as this is where most of the strain,wear and sun damage occur.A tip after washing your boat is to release the strap and let it air dry to prevent a rusty winch drum which I always do. Also check all u/bolts holding the winch to the winch post are tight and secure working the winch in its full range.In my opinion this is one of the most important parts of a trailer,the winch post base plate and u/bolts.Again there is a huge amount of strain put on this area when towing and braking as all that boat behind you wants to push fwd.Make sure there is no cracked welds or corrosion and the u/bolts are in good condition and tight.Again these are the crossmember welds.These are fitted with your boats rollers/skids and support the entire down weight of the boat above them.You don't want any cracks/rust in these for obvious reasons. Thats just the basics guys as I could go on forever and can only add a few photos each time due to space constraints. Next up will be hulls in both glass and alloy. Cheers.

A trailers frame will rust from the inside out if made from RHS usually being contained to the rear third of the trailer where it is submerged underwater during launches/retrievals. The main problem areas are the rear most crossmember,the second from the rear and the back third or so of the side rails as these are the areas that are submerged during the launch/retrieve process. Other common areas for rust which will lead to component failure are the springs,axles,u bolts etc.This photo shows a trailer with badly corroded leaf springs which have led to a leaf breakage and should be replaced with a set of new galvanised ones and those leaf spring hangers I'd replace while I was there.This shows a trailer with rusty mudguard,side rail,axle and u/bolts.I can tell you from this photo this trailer will take a lot of work and expense to get up to scratch.Here's a photo if the inside of my side rail.This is what you want,minimal corrosion all the way throughout.Here's a photo of a used trailer with good condition axle,springs,wheels and frame.Mine. Check the integrity of all welds when inspecting the trailer frame paying particular attention to the winch post as they can crack/break right at the base.This is exactly what has occurred here. Cont pt 4.

With wheels the main thing to keep an eye out for is rust,dents,cracks,broken/split welds,missing/broken nuts,missing weights etc. I won't go into great depth here as rust is obvious enough if you are unlucky enough to be dealing with steel wheels. Most wheels will be either alloy,powder coated alloy or galvanised steel these days. Alloy wheels will tend to crack and galvanised steel will tend to buckle/dent. This is a common place for an alloy wheel to crack. This is an example of a dented and cracked alloy wheel,look for similar in galvanised steel. Later on when I crawl underneath the trailer is when I look at the insides of the wheels/tyres for damage and finally jack the trailer up for a quick bearing inspection. Have a quick look that all the wheels haven't got missing wheel nuts,weights,dust caps/buddies or broken studs also. Basically look that the wheel has minimal corrosion and is as it should be. Pt 3 will be the trailer frame and accessories.

My Bin that has moved up to Qld a few years ago is taking the plunge and getting into boating/fishing and has asked if I can give him some tips on buying a used boat,so I will be making up a list of things I look for with photos to send to him and thought I'd share on here also. This is a question that is commonly asked so I thought I'd share what I've learnt over the years that may help others looking at purchasing a used boat giving them a bit more confidence and knowledge in what to look for.A lot of this stuff will cross over into doing used car inspections also. First of all I take a small torch,note pad,pen,rag,empty lid,screwdriver/s,spark plug spanner and compression gauge. Here goes. When I am presented with the boat by the seller I like to start with a quick walk around the whole boat taking note of anything that grabs my attention to be inspected further a bit later. The first thing I ask myself is does the boat look like it's been taken care of overall and is it in the condition described by the owner in the add? Does the price asked fit in with the market value of the boat being looked at? Keeping in mind at all times the CONDITION plays a big role in the money being asked as well as engine options and any extras. This is where homework on your part comes into play.(Know the market). Once you've decided whether you walk away there and then (You'll know as soon as you see the boat)or have decided the boat warrants further inspection I like to start from the ground up. I like to have a set routine so I don't miss anything and will always start at the tyres,wheels,trailer,hull,engine in that order. Tyres-What to look for? I look to see that all the trailers tyres are the same brand,size,tread pattern and are all showing the same wear pattern. They should have no visible cracks,splits,bulges,cracked valve stems,dry rot,etc. This tyre above is showing the classic signs of dry rot with all those cracks running across the sidewall and should be replaced ASAP.This tyre has them in between the tread blocks and should also be replaced.This valve stem above has very bad cracks when bent back and should also be replaced ASAP.This is what a bulge in the sidewall of a tyre looks like and should be replaced immediately and not be driven on. Also check the manufacturing date on the sidewall of the tyre falls within the last 5years or so. In this example the numbers 1411 tell you that the tyre was manufactured on the 14th week of 2011.The first two digits in this case 14 always represent the week and the last two 11 the year. So in this case April 2011 which would make this tyre almost 6 years old going by today's date and should be discarded. That's just the basics on common things that happen to tyres to keep an eye out for. In pt 2 I'll share what faults to look for in wheels. If anyone has tips to help someone out feel free to add them. Cheers.

Well done mate!Im sure plenty of the freshwater fishos will appreciate the tips,time and effort you've put in to this article. Cheers.

Gone Fishing Four old timers were Fishin and one remarked how for Christmas this year he'd love to wake up on Christmas morning, roll out of bed and without an argument go directly to the lake, meet his buddies and go fishing. His buddies all chimed in and said, Let's do it! We'll make it a priority, figure out a way and meet here early, Christmas morning." Months later, that special morning arrives, and there they are on the lake. The first guy says, "Boy this cost me a fortune! I bought my wife such a diamond ring that she can't take her eyes off it." Number 2 guy says, "I spent a ton too. My wife is at home planning the cruise I gave her. She was up to her eyeballs in brochures." Number 3 guy says "Well my wife is at home admiring her new car, reading the manual." They all turned to the last guy in the group and he is staring at them like they have lost their minds. "I can't believe you all went to such expense for this Fishin trip. I slapped my wife on the butt and said, 'Well babe, is it sex or Fishin?' and she said, "Take a sweater..."

The company's rod's would be Intresting I'm guessing.Lol.

now I've seen it all.

I'd say the tradies know something.

At least you managed to get out mate.It certainly beats anything else. I can only imagine how the waterways have been after the recent rains. Thanks for sharing.

Bloody Mongrels at it again.Hope he was covered by insurance. Did he have any security measures in place and where they home at the time?

As the others have said,a pair of beautiful fish there mate.

In my opinion nothing beats a day out on the water mate with a good feed on board even if you don't catch anything which we do often enough. Be thankful that the weather gods kept the rain away for you this weekend to have a crack. Im itching to get out for a night fish. Cheers.

You'd be surprised how many people that rockfish from different ethnic backgrounds can't swim let alone save themselves when they end up in the drink. You wouldn't get me in a boat let alone go rock fishing if I couldn't swim.Then again I have common sense . The family's and friends are the last ones left grieving when it's all said and done.

Good job there mate. You need to make yourself up some wedges to sit on the crossmembers to level whatever plank/board you'll use.I used a solid square length of nylon on my old boat. A lot of the manufacturers have them as standard or optional.My trailer came with the walkway but I find it a bit narrow at around 8" wide. My solution was to add grip tape every where I walk as I stand on the walkway and trailer rails at the same time as well as climb over the bow and through the windscreen. One of the best mods I did to the trailer was putting that tape on as I slipped and nearly lost the Crown Jewels prior to that. If you make a walk way try to make it at least a foot wide so it's not such a balancing act.Cheers.

Does it matter that much if there's 1" of water left in the bilge after using the bilge pump/s? Those bungs are one more thing that can fail in my opinion but it's entirely up to you if you want to install them. Cheers.

The old milk crate comes to the rescue again.Top stuff!I hear they make great billy cart seats for kids.Oh the memories I've got from the old billy cart days not to mention my scars. Cheers.

Sometimes cheap n nasty is all you'll ever need mate.If it's functional and meets your needs it's a winner in my book. My mrs wishes I had one of everything mate.I'd say the same is true with you guys and all your fishing gear.

The esky will be more stable also being rectangular.The glued foam or a simple cushion will be welcomed by the buttocks.

Good job there mate.If those ground nuts are scraping on your legs get yourself some acorn nuts like these as they're nicer on the legs.Also if you want to push a bolt through foam next time try using a length of hollow tube first to push through and twist which will remove a foam plug for easier fitment of the threaded rod. Off the top of my head if you want that bucket to swivel and be padded I'd get myself a swivelling bearing like this , attach a plywood board to it then u/bolt that bucket to the board. (If you want you can leave the bucket separate and just sit the bucket on top of the board). Have you thought about mounting a pedestal and seat where you have the bucket?You could still mount it to be removable using wing nuts that sit flush with the floor for when it's not in use. For the seat there's options from a simple cushion to cutting out a round piece of ply,padding it and covering in vinyl,the choices are endless. Cheers.