Smasher

Do you still have to wear a life jacket if you're fishing from a high and dry ledge that doesn't ever get wet?

Thanks guys, i'll snap some pics of the boat over the weekend. Mounting it up high for drainage makes sense. One other alternative I've been thinking of is having two identical pumps, mounted inside a 55L esky (already have a spare one) on the opposite sides . Inflow and outflow hoses could come up through the lid and then be tossed over the side (tethered together and weighted at the end to keep them in the sea). http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Practical-Low-Consumption-DC12V-500MA-Motor-Submersible-Circulation-Water-Pump-/232342450946?hash=item3618b07302:g:nREAAOSwNnRYhCVN That will draw 1amp of current, so a 12ah motorbike battery strapped to the side in a box will theorectically run it up to 12 hours.

Is it possible to get a live bait tank with water pump that is completely removable and doesnt require drilling holes? I'm thinking something like this, with the pump mounted on the side of the tank, plugged into a 12V outlet or aligator clipped onto a motorbike battery. Obviously it wouldnt run while I'm motoring, but once at my destination just throw the hoses over the side and voila. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/65L-Live-bait-tank-acrylic-lid-800-GPH-water-scoop-1-5mt-hose-/302177098539?hash=item465b289b2b:g:SYsAAOSwo4pYYK9R - or am I dreaming?

You can buy siphon pumps for about 5-10 bucks from supercheapauto / autobarn / boating camping shops etc. Should hopefully make it easier for you.

Thanks rick. Roughly how many hours does it take? (just trying to calculate hourly rates of a mechanic)

G'day raiders My mechanic told me that the exhaust manifold on my Mercruiser 3.0 stern drive should be replaced every 5-7 years. Looking through the service history, I can see that it was last replaced in 2013 (previous owner). He quoted me $2200 to do the job. As did another marine I called. Now I've seen the kits for sale around $680. eg: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3L-3LX-MERCRUISER-MANIFOLD-KIT-GENUINE-4CYL-3-0L-12-MONTH-FACTORY-WARRANTY-/231930871324?epid=1571059663&hash=item3600283e1c:g:yzcAAOxyoA1RPVDP My questions are: 1. How do I know when it needs replacing? I know that if it rusts through, salt water will pump through the engine and FK the whole thing so you definitely do not want to wait until that happens. But at the same time I don't want to do it prematurely if I can put it off for another year or two. 2. Does this seem steep or reasonable? 3. Is it something I can do myself or with a mate in a day with basic tools (socket set etc). Cheers

Just reading the Navionics app SonarChart page. What I "might" be able to do is this: Replace the WiFish with my DragonFly Pro4. Since they're the same size, use the same transducer and connector plug. Despite it being mounted behind the back seat inside the hull, I'll only ever need to turn it on before heading out. The Navionics app will connect to it, as its compatible. It will display the (very decent) map, and the sonar downvision and finder (from the Dragonfly) in a split screen, on my 10.5" iPad Pro. Ive got a 2 week free trial of the Navionics app. I'll give this a red hot go this weekend. If it works, I can save myself >$1000 on a new finder combo and put it to something else constructive. If not I'm back to square one... https://www.navionics.com/usa/charts/features/sonarchart-live/

Yep if only I could find an replacement original dash panel I would mount one somewhere entirely different. eg: on top of the dashboard in the center where it can be seen from anywhere in the cockpit.

Yeah I've considered replacing that entire panel with a combo large enough to cover the whole thing, eg: 9". I would lose the wood grain panelling with the "Islander" signature which would be a bit of a shame, and I would have to move the charging point to somewhere else entirely. Its not looking likely that there is going to be any elegant solution without compromise.

Hi Guys, So I've recently upgraded the old boat to a newer, much more comfortable vessel. Super happy with it etc, except I'm not so pleased with what came as the Finder/GPS system. There is an old Navman Fish 4100 installed in the dashboard - that doesnt even work. It's measurements are 126 x 126mm. See pic below. Also installed in the stern is a Raymarine Wifish. This connects via wifi to my iPad that sits in a mount on the dash, but after using that on a day out I'm feeling underwhelmed. There is no fish finder, just downvision and the chart plotter is a very, very basic google maps style map. I've considered buying the Navionics app and just switching between the two but I'd really like a finder so that doesn't solve my problem. On my old boat, I've got a Raymarine Dragonfly Pro 4 with the navionics map. I was never 100% happy with that either (the user interface is a bit clunky, no touchscreen) but it still offers much more than what I've got here. If possible I would prefer to stick with one system so that I didnt have to have two transducers mounted on the transom, and ideally I would like to replace the Navman so that I didnt have this dead bit of equipment staring at me. The problem is that all new finders/GPS plotters are much bigger than the Navman so I'm struggling to come up with a solution that won't look ugly and occupy too much real estate. I've looked at: Raymarine a6 164mm(W) x 144mm(H) Lowrance Elite-5 Ti 174mm(W) x 136mm(H) Hummingbird Helix 5 191mm(W) x 108mm(H) Furuno and Koden 5.7" units are even bigger. It's such a pity that the Wifish is so inadequate as having the ipad as the screen is a brilliant solution. What would you do in this situation? Cheers

Nice boat dicky21! I'm actually going to go have a look at a Stejcraft 580C Islander on Sunday

There's got to be more abandoned anchors in the bottom of Botany Bay than there are in the entire a shop chain. I was told that the reason it's so easy to snag is because ships used to (or maybe still do?) drop their chains upon departure from the port - or maybe coming in, I forgot, but once your anchor gets stuck in a giant chain link it's as good as gone. On a side note here's a funny story: A few months ago my mate and I were trolling about 50m off from the rocks between North Head and Blue Fish pt when suddenly the reel on the rod that had a skirt lure starts screaming. I backed off and my mate starts reeling it in, 15-25kg rod bending over and my mates fighting it like mad we're thinking we've hooked up a good sized kingy....when after about a minute of that all of a sudden a white rope appears out of the blue! So I gaffed it up and started pulling it in, 50 meters of rope later up comes up a chain and an anchor! W.T.F. Anyway we had a good laugh, but bloody lucky it ended up on the lure and not wrapped around the prop. Drifting around powerless in the swell 50m off the rocks would have been hairy AF. I'm still baffled on how and why it someone abandoned it there.

Damn, when it's too windy for fishing I'm kitesurfing in the bay, either at Brighton or Kurnell. I'm going to try spend as little time in the water as possible for a while...

Even after all the rain from the past 2 days? Georges river gets pretty brown and skanky quite quickly from my experience... Bloody nice King Krispy!

That's terrible news. Certainly a sobering thought of the dangers we face.. Admittedly I never wear a life jacket unless I'm crossing a bar, but reading this has made me think twice. Open waters in pre-dawn light = jackets on from now on.

Pretty sure seabreeze sources its data from BOM. But I always check the BOM coastal waters forecast before heading out, and while out keep an eye on the rain and wind radars if I see clouds moving in on the distant horizon.

Another report states that there'll be more plastic in the ocean than fish (by weight) by 2050. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-21/more-plastic-than-fish-in-the-oceans-by-2050-report-warns/7105936

Nice work! We got to Rose Bay wharf just before 5am and was surprised to see only 1 other boat at the ramp and 3 trailers in the carpark. Picked up half a dozen yakkas then went out the heads. Yep, she was pretty gnarly at that time of the morning. Saw about 10 or more boats clustered around at Colours? Or the artificial? (I can never quite tell which one they're at from a distance) so rather than join in the herd we headed up Northwards. Picked up a rat, and keepers a morwong & a samsonfish in half a days fishing. Returned to the ramp and again, only one other boat getting collected at the ramp (carpark was full of trailers however). I've had to wait there for half an hour on days like yesterday. I guess people are still away on holidays. Wish they'd stay there!

Yes, an 8000 is what I have on it. Not sure about the 250 sorry. You could try calling a local fishing shop that stocks both and ask them to explain the difference.

I've got a shimano t-curve 200. Great rod, but you want an 8000 or 10000 reel on it for fast retrieval, especially in deeper water.

Years ago (20+) I used to fish for them in the channel around Sussex Inlet with varying success. Small hooks + balls of dough under a stick float.

Yep, I hooked up a 35cm live Bonny and it got chomped! Not sure what by as it got off but it must have been huge. Next time I'll put a hook behind the head and another through the tail with wire trace between them.

For line to line, I do the improved albright knot. I find it easy and quick and hasnt failed me.

Staying at Mungo Brush he's on the wrong end of P.S for Stockton. Thats up past Hawkes Nest / Tea Gardens way. I was staying at the next campsite up (Dee's corner) last weekend. Chased whiting in the gutters off the beach with live worms for hours at different times of day...Barely even a bite! All of the other guys I spoke to at the camp had nothing either (they were using pipis). As for beach driving, from the access point just past Mungo Brush you can only turn left and drive north up the beach. From there you can go about 9km up the beach until you get to a little headland with rocks. It would be worth throwing a line in up at that end if you can because I had bugger all. It is easy enough but there's a few things to keep in mind. As mentioned drop your tyre pressure and get at least a basic recovery kit. Snatch strap, shackles and a shovel. Find out where the recovery points on your vehicle are, not tow hooks or tow ball. If you do happen to get bogged and you cant dig yourself out, other 4 wheel drivers are usually more than happy to help pull you out but it can be stretching the friendship to expect them to pull out their recovery gear. Aim to go on the dropping tide as wet sand is usually hard sand and you want to give yourself plenty of time. Don't go over 40km/hr, wear a seat belt and drive over previous tracks where possible. When you stop, park perpendicular to the beach facing down towards the water, it will make taking off easier. Other than that have fun! Looks like you're gonna get much better weather than what we did...

I simply never fish from ledges that have evidence of ever getting wet. There are more than enough spots to fish from that are several meters higher than the sea level. I have no idea why people insist on getting down to where it's slippery, wet and dangerous.