Allgearnoidea

Finally finished the sanding and fairing. Because the boat was built in 1972 I went to BCS auto paints in Milperra who colour matched it by eye! Sprayed it on and will clear coat soon. Could use a third coat but I didn’t buy enough so I’ll make like Elsa and “let it go” Then polish and wax

Gday all, managed to get it done. I took a bit of advice from all the different posts. Connected the trailer to the tow bar. Jacked it up against some timber and a carpet tile against the hull around the middle. Once it was up, I put some timber and carpet tile further back towards the stern, and had a bit of structural timber at the front of the boat against the bow to hold it up. Then pulled the jack out (very, very carefully!) It wasn’t pretty, but got the job done. I was able to get the fibreglassing, ship shape, and some top coat on before I had to lower it again - because I had to go to that place that funds my amateur boating and fishing…work. The boat now looks like a beige rainbow, and I’ve got a lot of fairing and painting left to do, but it’s repaired and almost done. Thanks again everyone for all the great advice

Gday everyone, firstly - how good is the Fishraider community! Cant believe how helpful everyone has been. Really glad I came on here for advice before I ended up being crushed by my boat. Frank - that is a bloody generous offer! I'm actually not too far from Berala, but I reckon i'll give this a crack myself because I will no doubt be needing to do this again some time in future. Zoran - helpful as always! I'm going to give what you did a go. Managed to pick up a pallet off the side of the road last night so have some spare timber to use. Seasponge - Yeah thats what i've tried so far and was hoping to get away with. Because I want to run a long piece of woven strand to increase the strength, I couldnt get away with it because its not been possible to get a flat join next to the rollers Campr/dmck - thanks for your commentary too, good to know others have done it I'll give it a go and post some updates of what I hope will be a successful lift and repair. While its lifted I might as well give the trailer a cold gal treatment too. Thanks again everyone

Hi everyone, Apologies up front if this has been answered or in the wrong spot. I did a search but couldnt see anything. I have a 1973 fibreglass runabout trailer boat. Its 5m and around 500kg. I've been patching up some gouges underneath the boat with epoxy and fibreglass. I've started to put down some fibreglass strips along the hull for extra protection. I'm struggling to get it right around where it meets the rollers, and was hoping to lift the boat slightly (say 5cm) so I can run some long fibreglass strips without joins. Looking online, there are videos about removing boats from trailers on land (e.g. using tyres, wooden frames etc), but I dont really have the equipment or skills to do something like that for what is ultimately a preventative improvement. I've been thinking about hiring acrow props and using a timber beam to hold it up, but I dont want to punch a hole in the hull or anything using a jack in the wrong way. Has anyone got any tips or tricks for a job like this? I'd only need to do it for a day or two, and it would only need to come up slightly so I can get the fibreglass strip down and then do the fairing/primer/topcoat. Thanks

Thanks heaps Zoran! I’ve been out a few times with others, so have a bit of knowledge but not the personal experience. The other posts you sent were really useful. The Steber is a runabout. I’m pretty confident with handling it these days, so thought it time to give it a crack. thinking if I get the right conditions I’ll take it out of Botany Bay and test myself

Gday, I have an old fibreglass Steber 500DF. It has a 2019 70hp Yamaha that I got put on. It’s my first boat and has done me well in rivers around Sydney. I haven’t been offshore yet, but I’m keen to give it a go. I would be staying under 2nm. Wondering if any raiders can give me their thoughts on if this would be a good enough boat to do it? I would only go out if it’s calm. Apologies if this is a dumb question, just don’t want to make any mistakes. Understand I need to get the additional safety gear etc Thanks!

Hi, hoping a newbie (me) can get some advice. i have an early 80s 70hp, evinrude 2 stroke. I got it put on in August and it has been running well. last weekend I took it out and it was running fine. Halfway through the trip the engine seemed to be missing when in gear. top speed dropped from 28kn to 6kn. Engine sounded fine though and slowly made it home. Same mechanic who installed it came and looked at it today and said the spark plug had burned out the top cylinder and it would need to be rebuilt with new piston. He said there was very little compression from this cylinder (top one). like many of you, I’ve taken leave for a couple of weeks to get out on the water with the kids. The mechanic said I could still use it, but don’t flog it too hard until I have the cash for the rebuild. And to carry some spare spark plugs just in case. so just wondering if it would be ok to take out? Am I asking for trouble? Is it worth getting a man second opinion? Only planning on going up and down the Georges river in Sydney to fish. No offshore. Seems to start well. This is a serious situation. If I can’t get out on the water I will need to start painting rooms in the house, as I won’t have any excuses not to do this job I’ve been putting off. I really don’t want to paint. thanks Jim

Thanks all for your replies, it’s been really helpful. Think I will for for at least a 70hp, and if I go for 2nd hand will go to a local dealer. Moby at Mortdale are near me and all reports seem they are decent.

Hi all, New to the forum and hoping for some advice. I bought a 1976 5 metre fibreglass Steber last year. Has a 1975 Johnson 70hp outboard. Hull is in good condition, but outboard is buggered. Worked well for a while but is now too unreliable. I was planning on replacing it with either a reasonably new (last 15yrs) outboard (around $4-5k), but my mrs had someone in her ear suggesting something new as more reliable, warranty, last longer etc Im happy with less power (50hp or so), but at $10k for new I’m finding it hard to justify to myself. Ill probably use it a couple of times a month. Any thoughts on if New is worth it? I’ve been told to wait for the boat show as apparently they have good deals. Any advice appreciated! thanks Jim