Billy2014

Just on the cracking, thin lower grade pressed panels supported by folded channels and pressed ribs isn't the strongest way to build an aluminium boat. The panels will flex and the supports will move, the issue with the welds is that they are either inadequate or there aren't enough of them, many welds I have seen in mass produced hulls are also defective in terms of there size, locations and appearance. I don't think it's an issue if you don't use the boat every day in rough seas and also take care not to launch of waves. If you are rough with the boat then cracking is always possible. The tack weld could have been cracked all along. Generally, you tack a hull together and then proceed with the final weld out. Tacks sometimes will give way as the panels distort under heat, this is normal and sometimes desirable, just depends on the scenario. Once a hull is fully welded, the tacks serve no purpose. If the tack cracked afterwards while the boat is being used then this would suggest that there could be movement in the structure.

Mate, that sounds epic! Looking forward to seeing the photos! Were the charter costs reasonable?

If I were going on a charter, Id only go with Reef Magic to be honest. There are plenty other good charters out there but for the sort of fishing you want to do, try and get onto one of their charters. Sent from my RM-875_apac_australia_new_zealand_243 using Tapatalk

Yes, I'm still waiting for the reply also, thank goodness that we weren't holding our breath Paikea.

Hi mate, Have you had any offers yet? If not, can I suggest that you hook up with a good charter operator, get out with them, one trip is all you will need to do to get the idea.. If you can't get an experienced crew offer, a charter will short cut the learning curve and you will be able to confidently get out in your own boat well offshore. Cheers, Bill.

Yeah, nice. Done that one a bit, when I was training before I decided to build a boat & fish again I was riding with Lidcombe Auburn Cycling Club or LACC. Trying to build up the minerals to get out there a bit more seriously again but I hear you, winter its easier just to get fat!

Yes mate, trying to watch it anyhow, late nights are torture though. Do you ride too? I'm a cycling nut, MTB & road, yet to find another like minded fisho that's also a cyclist.

No, that wouldn't be too nice.

I'm pretty sure it's berley too, we could always revert to using the word chum but that just sounds really silly.

The resurrection of the black anchor.

Lucky you.

Tinnie or tinny?

Nice footage, huge school of Dollies was fun to watch.

I've been told the complete opposite. I have found that the system is excellent. It does the job more efficiently than a human could, always on time, always accurate and always knows exactly what condition your batteries are in. I prefer this because its a real set and forget system, one less thing to worry about and its far more accurate about what it wants to charge and when to shift charging than we will ever be. Not sure why you wouldn't run one? Sent from my RM-875_apac_australia_new_zealand_243 using Tapatalk

Yeah, it's great watching them gobbling it down when most nights they just complain.

Hi mate, I should be able help, built my own plate boat. It would be more a case of design, the photos will help, what brand, model of boat is it? The main issues could be the type of alloy, the surrounding material you have to work with. The well would need to fit in simply to keep water out and still allow for the motor to be trimmed up. You would need to make sure you have enough space internally to sacrifice for the well and also not interfere with hulls structural integrity. I'm assuming also that the boat currently has remote steering? Engine well would have to be pretty shallow if it's a tiller steer boat or it may not be possible at all.

Photos would be good, it will help us help you if I am understanding correctly, your transom would have a lower section in the centre for the outboard so you are worried about water rushing in over this lower section? Can you also measure the transom? Short shaft, long shaft outboard?

Do you have any photos of the motor well? Sent from my RM-875_apac_australia_new_zealand_243 using Tapatalk

Good read guys, couldn't agree more.

Ok, it's a flying fish except mine was a little more decomposed. Always learning but I won't fall for the same trap again. Anyhow, kids demolished the Dollie at the dinner table last night, even after finishing their own serving they would be immediately eyeing off my share! That's what I call providing for the family, worth the effort. Cheers, Bill.

Hi Guys, My first trip wide offshore yesterday in my home built tinnie, Tailor-Made, mixing it up with the big and even bigger boats all day. Although we were aiming for yellowfin, it was more of a trip to get to know the boat, fuel range and performance. We headed out of Sydney harbour, over the 12 mile and then over the shelf to Browns and a little beyond Browns. There were two largish storm cells pretty much over Browns in the morning so we stayed a couple of klms away until the cells moved South. I feel for the boats stuck in that weather which I believe also had some hail in it and a fair bit of lightening as well, not to mention ‘black’ blankets of rain. VHF Channel 21 was pretty busy all day with the usual silliness and calls of yellowfin busting up at the back of Browns, South of Brown’s etc but no luck for us on the fin. We did manage to score a nice winter dollie though and the biggest one for me so that means fresh fish all week. Probably our biggest mistake was to leave fish to find fish, where we hooked the dollie there was bait, stripeys and a nice Yellowfin caught that day in the same area so it may have paid to stay in that area for a while, grass is always greener though…. Can anyone identify the bait fish in the photo; is it what’s left of a flying fish? The dollie was gorging on all sorts of bait, small white baitfish, little squid and this little bait fish which looks like a small pilchard but with really long pectoral fins or wings? Cheers, Bill.

Lucky you have two engines then!

Nice one or should I say two..., solid fish, thanks for the report, we will be heading out this weekend too, seas are looking good for it!

Nice one!!!!!

I'm yet to catch a dollie anywhere near that size, please let me know when the fin arrive Steve I've always been a Yamaha man, then Honda almost got another great Yamaha but the small but important features of the Suzuki swung me over this time. Self adjusting timing chain, not a belt, offset drive shaft and a few other little features like that were enough to go Suzuki this time around.