zmk1962

Hey Guys... so I have done LOTS of digging on this topic...so apologies this is an EXTRA long post. First I went to RMS general website... https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/safety-rules/road-rules/towing.html I had a quick look and found Australian Vehicle Specification Rules AVR 2015: https://www.ntc.gov.au/Media/Reports/(4AA304CE-973F-48CF-999F-6D7B046B5470).pdf The very last topic is about Trailer couplings: Rule5 - makes the Ark Coupling Lock part of Rule3. Rule 3b clarifies that when you build your connection you need to ensure that... "normal angular movement of the coupling is permitted" although it is more concerned this happens "without unnecessary slack". I could not find anywhere a definition of "normal angular movement" ie specifically how many degrees (vertical and horizontal). But I imagine the public carpark ramps, service stations, boat ramps etc would all have to be built to fall within "normal angular movement" . So in my case, when I create my specific "draw bar coupling" , it is made up of: 1. the Landcruiser mounted genuine towbar/towball and 2. Trigg 3.5T Trailer ball coupling AND 3. the ARK Coupling Lock, I find it meets all of the above rule conditions and I can operate with normal angular movement. So then I went to look at the manufacturer product.... it basically says "NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE WHEN TOWING" .. so its a recommendation from the manufacturer not a rule. I then went and wrote to RMS .... see the reply in the attached PDF. But basically they pointed me to three websites and concluded....... " and the coupling lock while fitted to the towing attachment does not interfere with the normal operation of the vehicle in combination in any way then it would not be an issue." I could not find anything that I contravened on the three websites they referred me to. Technical Enquiries .pdf Finally I went to Police enquiries 131444 and spoke to a constable who took my name number and referred the case to Highway Patrol Road enforcement area. Next day I got this text: At this stage... I am comfortable to to continue towing with my coupling lock fitted and locked. If anyone can find anything contrary PLEASE post. Cheers Zoran

Great writeup and result. Wish I had been out there this weekend the forecasts were very inviting. Cheers Zoran

Well @Ryder best let some songs sum up my thought ...... “Timing is everything “ but “Two out of three ain’t bad”. Cheers Zoran

Yeah @The Iceman its accounted for many a bonnie but staying true to @GoingFishing's topic I cannot claim a single kingy on it... nevertheless it is the closest to the Qantas Colours in that kit bag. Cheers Z

💰💰💰💰💰💰💰 Luv your work Fab ! Cheers Z

Well done @Fab1 .... you will set the record for having the longest serving primer bulb !!! Cheers Zoran

Yup... all these had good write-ups somewhere and ended up accumulated in my tackle box over time hehehe. No idea why I have not had success with the hardbodies. Like the other guys ... I troll 4-7kts (7-12km/h) ... and watch the rod tips to make sure they are showing lure action. The skirts I troll faster 9-16km/h (typically 12) depending on conditions. To @PaddyT's great advice, I have downrigged and had some success with squid (live and frozen) but have struggled with live yakka/slimies as my 200hp 2stroke idles at 700rpm and in gear that pushes my rig close to 4km/h and its too fast and the bait doesn't last ... ideally with live yakka/slimies you should be at dead slow 2-3km/h. (I don't like to troll near rocks on the 15hp Aux). Cheers Z

Pictures as promised. For me - all these skirts worked on Kings at different times (the pink pakula even landed a 70+kg striped marlin) Top two are resin head and bottom two solid metal heads All these metal jets have also caught kings This Rapala is yet to catch a fish (it caught me in the tackle store though) !!! Infact not much luck for me with all these hardbodies - rapala, halco etc .. But then when I look at them through @Volitan's eyes -- they are mostly natural colours maybe that's my problem. Anyway ... I have focused on the skirts mainly ..... but this season I'll certainly try airbrushing "Qantas colours" on a few and have another go with the hard bodies ! Cheers Zoran

@PaddyT Awesome. Thanks cheers Z

Hmmm maybe thats where I've been going wrong with hardbodies ... my collection is largely "natural looking" colours. Think I might try my hand at air-brushing in red and white. Cheers Z

Hahaha... sure Bear... I'll put up some shots of mine over the weekend. Cheers Z

Hey @Volitan and @blaxland ... what size rapalas and what speed do you troll at ? ... if you don't mind sharing. I've been trying a rapala 100mm body (about 125mm with metal bib) blue pilchard colour. Also a couple of other brand lures in slimy mackarel green colours - must admit I have not tried the qantas paint jobs - will do that next. Cheers Z

Hey Sam, Great and timely topic. I'd love to hear other experiences. For me I have only had success trolling for kings with resin head Pakulas (various colours zuchinni, hot pink etc) and with metal head skirts both solid or jet design (again various coloured skirts depending mostly on the light conditions - light colours bright days, dark colours overcast days). I troll the Pakulas out back as they float and don't sink onto the prop and the metals off the sides. The metals travel deeper in the water column. But then again I have mostly trolled for kingies around headlands in around 20m water, where there have been pinnacles or drop offs at 5-8m depth with foam wash above them 👌. So we are not talking about a very deep water column and both the surface and mid water trolled lures are within easy striking distance if the fish are interested. I have tried but had no success with hardbodies of all sorts deep divers, poppers and various brands rapala etc. Would love to hear others experiences and tactics as kings are one of my favourite target species.. Cheers Zoran PS - Heres a "family" video from way back 2009 - with 2 newbies on the boat - Michael had never been fishing and first day out lands a 1m king.... bugger me - can't beat beginners luck .. ffwd the boring stuff to action starting 4:38 (I stayed on helm and camera given the proximity to the rock formation we named the "buggers")! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aFIZ7ndLhs&t=497s

Hey @blahblah I decided to check FR on my afternoon coffee break and see that you still haven't got to the bottom of this (sorry for the "sonar" pun). ... so decided to devote the rest of my coffee to your Hook2 4x... Found the lowrance resource page here: http://support.lowrance.com/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1001&PARTITION_ID=1&secureFlag=false&TIMEZONE_OFFSET=&CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=4251 There it states: Hook-4x GPS Reset Procedure: To restore the unit to default settings - go to Settings Menu/System/Restore Defaults. Also found the Operation manual here: ftp://software.lowrance.com/Documents/Hook2-X-Series_OM_EN_988-11747-002_w.pdf Chapt 6 is all about the sonar -- seems pretty standard operation wise so back to your pictures. --------- Some thoughts: Can you please check that you have zoomed all the way out (I note that there are 2 buttons on the front of the unit that zoom in on a view). I am wondering if you have actually zoomed in to look at the very bottom 1m of water between 5-6m and are stuck in that mode or you have somehow set your Range to just look at between 5-6m? I am basing this on the fact that in all the photos, you are not seeing any surface and your screen shows 5 to 6m range ... You should be seeing something like this -- note the surface "noise" and 0 at the surface (not 5 as in your case): If zooming out with the buttons doesn't do it, you will need to go to settings, turn off Auto - go into Custom and check the Range - which should itself be set to Auto. I note that in picture 2 and 3, you have those purple vertical bands - the top and bottom of which have a numeral 3 - its curious that all purple bands have these 3's regardless of what else is going on in sounder. It seems like the unit is trying to show you something at the 3m depth - but being stuck to look at only between 5-6m it may be creating this strange effect on the screen. In this picture you clearly see the 5-6, 3-3, 5-6, 3-3. This tells me the unit is confused with what its been asked to do. Anyway, give the Zoom Out or Custom>Range>Auto a go. Personally, as I said previously, I'd Reset the unit to Default Settings ... and that way any tinkering would be gone and you'd be starting with a fresh sounder that should completely reflect and behave as you see in the manual. If you took it back to Lowrance or the dealer - the first thing they would do is the Reset. Hope that helps. Cheers Zoran

Oh... I thought that was the turbo kicking in ... adding to the propulsion.

BAHAHA... so in actual fact you carry an auxiliary on board... great stuff. Perhaps you should write it up in the Personal Outboard experience topic.... we know the Brand: Fab+, but it would be good to know - What fuel is preferred, what consumption do you get, how often do you service ? ... Cheers Z 😂

Mate 7yrs thats an excellent run out of a fuel primer bulb - mine usually need to be changed every 3-4yrs - they go hard and brittle but then mine are outside exposed to the elements. The only real test I know of is that they don't hold pressure - bulb goes soft. The valve is either a simple diaphragm or ball type thingy. IMO not worth trying to fix - the replacement bulbs a relatively inexpensive (to the point that I usually carry a spare in my onboard kit). So overall, thinking back to the original post and the symptoms you described it looks like you had a combination of problems. 1. carbie needle wasn't seating properly - primer bulb going soft, flooded chamber and running rich with wet plugs, 2. bulb check valve was leaking - bulb going soft. Re fishing. At least you got out and had an outing with the Mrs... better then anything Netflix could dish up for sure ! I'm sure the fishing gods will smile on you one day soon.. Cheers Zoran

I have parked at the ramp overnight without problems but not as long as you are planning. Best of luck Zoran

Could be.... but you were meticulous in the re-assembly of the carbie. The low pressure fuel pump is a relatively easy test - unplug the fuel feed line at carbie and crank motor to see if its feeding out fuel. But before you go look at the fuel pump - When did you change the primer bulb last? The non return valve may be buggered and letting the fuel siphon back into tank (sucking it out of the carbie). Cheers Zoran BTW - did you catch any fish ?

Hahaha. Sorry mate. No fishin just workin! Also. In my case my test prop is the actual prop in my mechanics 8m3 water tank. With land cruiser attached and handbrake on!!! cheers Z

Agree.... its KRAKEN size ... e n j o y !!! Cheers Zoran

Geez this makes me hungry ! .... (again) ... Good stuff folks keep sharing.... Zoran PS - I am a fan of lemon to vinegar ... except I love my salt and vinegar chips !

I guess Fishing Chat or Boating would both work for this question. I'm not a user of that model sounder so please take my advice as generic. It looks like its showing way too much bottom. Picture 1 shows what would normally be a muddy or soft bottom but I've never seen a sounder dedicate that much screen realestate to the bottom - its almost like its in some zoom setting ... or in some demo mode. Picture 3 seems like its chopping and changing - giving you a normal reading for a few seconds then switching to some zoom mode .... or again in some demo mode. If it was mine, I would read the manual and figure out how to do a RESET. Get it back to a known starting position with all the settings -- then work my way through the settings one at a time, pick the options you think make sense for the type of boating you plan to do ... and then take it on the water -- that way you will be able to correlate what you see on the sounder with the settings you have selected. Best of luck Zoran PS - It's not quite clear where your transducer is mounted. Personally I only have issues with my sounder when I reverse as the prop throws bubbles under the transducer - going forward all should be good for quite some speed if the transducer is correctly set up... in my case mine is good > 60km/h.

Excellent report. Felt like I was there. Thanks for sharing. Flatties are somewhat territorial bet I know where you will be heading out soon. Best of luck. Zoran

Well blow me down... and here I thought that @big Neil was being tongue in cheek and joining our light hearted take on the matter with his succinct reply referencing "$hit$" and "crap" ... aka the mullets mentioned previously ! Apologies Neil ... I always thought it an enviable Aussie trait to raise awareness by making light of an otherwise ugly situation ! It doesn't mean we care less ! Cheers ...the renamed zmURk1962 PS1 - isn't it amazing how in less than one generation we've lost that slang - I guess it basically means the issue that spawned it no longer exists - maybe its time to reintroduce it when we speak to the Council and Utilities about the matter - their negligence has caused the resurgence of this obnoxious and invasive species ! PS2 - @wazatherfisherman ... you should submit this to wikipedia as the official explanation !