antonywardle

pick yourself up a portable battery jump starter too. Good to have it on board, and they can just about fit in your pocket these days. Pretty soon, you want to look at the dual battery option and we can help with that too. Its all in the search box!

Well, for mine if Its been running recently, I can just turn the key and away it goes. Othertimes I need to push the key in. I don't very often use the fast idle leaver. good luck!

Don't forget to take a fire extinguisher with you Nice looking boat frank

Have a look and see how its sitting. Its pretty inexpensive to replace them. Also, consider using stainless rods as the spindle.

I had a 5m FG boat and it was ok, but I never really felt all that safe in it. It was an older boat so it was probably all in my head. It rode quite well, but always seemed to get water in it. I moved to a larger plate boat, and I really like it. Loads of room and high sides, so I can take my young feller out and he won't easily fall over the side. The ride is ok too, although I think that a lot of ride issues are related to the throttle! In the smaller size, there will be more choice in the the alloy market. Most people will say that the weight is what gives the FG boat a better ride. An alloy boat will most likely be lighter meaning your trailer can be smaller and unbraked which means no inspection (in nsw) required and is cheaper. Alloy will be easier to put an electric up the front too.

The Stabicraft or a Mclay look to be really nice boat.

Thanks for the tip Ron ( @campr ) It might help me with the bungs too!

I had some welding done on my plate boat, and i was pretty happy with the work. It was expensive, but I had a lot done. You might be looking at $100 One the small boat, I had a small hole. I cut a small piece of aluminium that when over the hole, one for each side. Drilled them put sixaflex between them and then pop riveted it. Seems ok to me Your boat sound like it is in between my two. If you want to give it a go, try the rivet method and see how you go.

I've got a sabiki rod. works well the other thing that works well, it to get one of the better quality rigs, or make your own with heavier line. It really helps avoid the tangles. The cheap ones are basically a one use item

I've been using a mixture of hooks, but most recently, the Eagle Claw Kahle hooks on the paternoster rigs. I've found that they seem to survive the jacket plagues too, so less lost gear and the Jackets are pretty good eating. I've also used the @zmk1962 squid on the sinker, and have found it to be very successful, but the main thing is, you gotta be on the bottom.

I've wondered if they are any good. My lowrance came with CMAP and Navionics. I only used the Navionics because they were on my phone as well.

I guess its good that you've got something to clean @flatheadluke!!! If you are in your boat, maybe clean them when you are tied up. I usually do that as @PaddyT said above. I mostly just do the gills and gullet though, and that was because I used to get bugged by a lot of tourists. I do the fillets at home, and if I have flathead, the backbone is good for the dog. I lost a luderick to a pelican at the entrance. Lept across the table to grab my arm, then got it on the rebound. My boy was doing a rubbish job of squirting them with the hose! Maybe we need to go for a flathead drift soon?

I'm with @noelm I've been in IT for a while and have grey hair!. I think that technology has improved so many things. Unfortunately, it makes people lazier. I had a trainee at work, and I just could not get him off his phone, He was watching Anime all the time. I spoke to him about it a few times, and he started doing the sneaky kid thinking I didn't notice. I escalated it a few times, and there were no consequences and he then moved to his next rotation where it was a SEP. It can affect the way people approach problem solving. Kids that have used word for a couple of years think that they are computer savvy, but when it comes down to it, as soon as they hit a problem, they stop. Depending on the kids, some will have a go at trying to figure out the issue, and some will sit there, back on their phone, waiting for the spoon feeding. I've not yet had too many issue with my kids on their phone when we are at dinner, but no doubt it will come. At that point I'll withdraw to my cave become more of a relic!

Nice report. I was out yesterday, really nice day for it and managed some flathead too.

great stuff! They cost way more to replace.

I had the same thing with my boat. The thread was wrong,and I went to two different places. I ended up replacing the whole fittings as I really wanted to have a spare. Use loads of Sikaflex 291 when you replace them,

nice work shaun!

@Tarik - can't help a jafa mate - I'm a mainlander! One day, come up the coast and I'll take you out for flathead. You need a fishing license over here, I think you only needed a fresh water one back in NZ but its been a while since I've fished over there, so I don't know if the rules changed. cheers

I went and had a look first hand. Its a big motor, It was trimmed down and a little of the ground but it was still taller than me. Zoran's beard looks more magnificent in real life than in his photos, and he serves a very good beer! Thanks for the catch up!.

Took it out yesterday, no issues, but it was pretty flat. The extra clamps have now turned up so when i get a chance, I'll put it down and turn it around. Just annoyed I didn't realize until I put it back together.

Hi On my last trip out, I noticed that my rocket lanuched had come apart, so I took it down and decided to tidy up the paint work. I also wanted to see if there was anyway of improving my travelling light. I found a rocket launcher clamp that is designed for just this thing, so I put it on and attached a fold down light. I can't decide if the lean on the rod holders is now too much. Its a bit more than it was originally, I think I put them on the other way around this time. It does mean that putting the rod in is now easier. I've got another light clamp, and I'll add my anntenna to it, so after a water test, I'll consider a change. I used some etch primer, and I realize that painting aluminium is not always going to be sucessful. but the paint that was on it looked rubbish. the clamp can move around a little bit, so atm, I've put silicone underneather. I might end up putting in a screw too. cheers

Pretty big $$$$, nearly 20K which is a lot of electric motors, but yes i's cool to see.

Hi Anyone seen the Yamaha Helm Master? Looks like a good (although very expensive) system and an alertnative to having an electric motor. The basic premise is that you can GPS Spot lock your single engine outboard. I can see it would be pretty good for offshore fishing, but maybe not for inhore, where you'd prefer the quieter running electric. It would be interesting to see if other manufactures come to market with a similar product Check out the Yamaha dealer saying how good the product is😉

I agree @motiondave, its not all that easy to find. My local only has one.

50:1 is good for that outboard. You can also just use regular 91. There isn't any benefit in going higher octane, just stay away from the ethanol! Did you go on your first trip yet?