Croydon

The Bay is a great spot all right, and by the long weekend the water should be warm and the fish on the bite. It looks like I'm working but if you want a bit of info on what's happening on the water drop me a line. All the best..... Dave

That makes 3 of us, I got the little one, my mate got the one in the picture...... He hasn't learnt yet, you don't out fish the captain.............. Dave

Hi folks, It's been a while since I've had much to report down here. Between work and searching for the new boat, I sort of ran out of time. A little while back I sold my 5m Seafarer Viva (very sad to see her go actually) but I bought a new toy, not too long after. I ended up buying a second hand Barcrusher 560C with a Yamaha 115hp 2s, which only had 34 hours on the motor. I've put a few on her since though. Here's a pic, I ended up caller her 'Bar'z Open'...... Have to do a bit of work on the sticker, she's a bit small. The boat's like it just came out of the showroom, lots of fun extras without the extra price. All I added was a new stainless solas prop and a colour Raymarine sounder. I'm really loving the boat. Anyway to the report. Hit the water about 5am and within half hour had 15 - 20 slimies and yakkas in the tank. Decided to head out to the eastern most Marine Park bouy as listed on their you beaut maps. You guessed it, the bouy ain't out there yet!! They've put a few in close but nothing to define the eastern limit of the Park. It's got me buggered how your supposed to know if your doing the right thing or not. Anyway, moved on to South Durras and fished the 25 fathom mark. Had 20 - 21 degree water which looked pretty good. Plenty showing on the sounder but fairly slow morning. Heaps of small nannygai, leather jacket, mowies and the like. Picked up one small red and my mate picked up dad....... All in all a pretty good day once the wind dropped and sea calmed. Come on Friday for round two. All the best...... Dave

G'day Bardup, I also have a 560C but I'm not having the same problem. Having said that I notice the boat is quite weight sensitive when the livebait tank is full and I need to distribute the weight to the opposite side. Having some weight in the kill tank also seems to help. When removing the bungs from the transom the air is also expelled under pressure. I haven't fitted trim tabs, so i'm not really much of a help. Good luck with it...... Dave

Hi Kilp, For the past 12 months or so I've been looking at changing boats. I decided to change from a 5m glass boat to a plate alloy of around 6m. Most of my fishing is inshore, and out to about 60 - 80m for things like snapper, flatties, kings, dolphin fish etc on the south coast. But I wanted a bit more cabin/deck room and also the option of heading towards the shelf if the weather/sea and my particular want of the day allowed. I looked at a lot of boats, spoke to as many people in the industry as I could and read a heap. I took a few alloy boats for a ride but was most impressed with the Stabicraft 609ht. This or the similar boat sold by Huey would have been my favourite, but ended up being out of my price range. I got in touch with Blakes and had a chat and at their suggestion they took me out on the Harbour to the heads in 2 - 3m sea with 10 -15knt winds and gave it hell. The test boat had the 115hp etec which was fabulous. However, the new packages were also outside my price range. After a lot of searching I eventually bought a 2006 560c in showroom condition, with a Yamaha 115hp saltwater series 2s motor which had 34 hrs on the clock, and all the usual trimmings for well under $40,000. I've put about 30 hrs on the clock in the past few months and can honestly say I love it. It probably wasn't my first choice of boat or motor, but it was the best compromise I could find for the dollars. The more time I spend in it the more I like it, but like anything there are negatives. The ride can be noisy, the driving position a bit of a pain with the top rail of the windscreen at eye level when sitting and a bit wet in a cornering wind/sloppy sea. But this is fixed easily with the tilting roof and clears. I guess it's like anything, work out want you want/need, what you can afford and find the best that suits your particular circumstances. I guess to many there are better boats/motors out ther but for me I love it and I'm happy. If your down Batemans Bay way, drop me a line and I'd be happy to take you out for a day. Best of luck with your hunt and I hope you find what makes you happy. It's easy to get hung up on what eveyone else thinks is best, in the end what you thinks is best is right for you. Good luck and enjoy the process..... Dave

Hi Red, I've also purchased a 560c recently, but mine is second hand, about 2 years old. It has outriggers attached which I think are factory fitted but have'nt field tested yet. But I hope to shortly. If you'd like a photo of the set up and details of the rig let me know and I'll send you a few photo's. All the best for the new year........ Dave

G'day Zuluboy, I've been using a Tekota 600 for bottom bashing, snapper, kings, dollies etc for the past 2 years and they are as tough as nails. Recently I picked up second hand a Tekota 800 and a Tiagra 30. They are both exceptional qualtity reels. The Tekota is simple and easy to use and a bit more of an all rounder. The Tiagra is a great trolling reel. Both would do the job just the Tiagra is a little more trolling specific. Good luck and all the best for chrissy...... Dave

G'day Fish lipps, Can't speak for their towing ability, but a few months ago I was at a local panel shop after being rear ended and was talking to the owner. He showed me a near new Territory that he was repairing for rust in the base of the rear door. He says he does a lot of this 'warranty' work for Ford and it is a common problem with the Territory. Other than that one experience I can't comment on the cars. Thought you might like to know. all the best...... Dave

Thanks guys, Nice one I love the name and the art work........... Dave

Thanks a lot guys, I'll check out all three and see what I can come up with. Much appreciated.... Dave

G'day folks, I've tired a search of the forum but haven't been able to find anything. Does anyone know where I could go to get a boat name 'sticker' or the like made up for my boat. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...... Dave

G'day Dom, Nice to hear you've got your new pride and joy. It's a great thing but like anything new, takes time to learn. I just bought my fourth and largest boat, in a bit over 10 years. Each one is different. Handling, performance, fuel capacity/efficiency, etc. changes with each. I bought the new boat with the intention of getting into some light tackle game fishing as well as continuing to chase kings, snapper and the like off the inshore reefs of the south coast. I can't wait to hit the shelf and chase a tuna or two, but won't be going anywhere near it until I've spent quite a few hours in the new girl. Each trip I've had out lately, has been in different conditions and I've learnt something new each time. My confidence in the boat and my own skills increases with every hour on the water. I agree very much with Warnie, if you ain't sure, don't go! Enjoy some time in her, close to home. There's plenty of fish not too far away. I'm not sure about you, but if I'm out in conditions I'm not confident with, I certainly don't enjoy the day. In the end, that's what it's all about. Having a great fun, safe time on the water. Enjoy the new boat mate and I hope you put a few fish scales in her. All the best..... Dave

Thanks Ross, That's stuff all oil when I think of what I was using in my '95 75hp Merc! No comparison, things have really come a long way. I've found it a really difficult choice between the two, especially when you speak to a few different people in the marine industry and they all have a different oppinion. That's what makes it interesting I guess. Thanks for your input it's appreciated...... Dave

Ross, How does the price of servicing and the addition of oil to fuel stack up against service costs for a similar size 4s? How long does it take 'the average' boat user to chalk up 300 hrs I wonder? So many options so many questions! It's fantastic that manufacturers are making some great new motors but it does your head in making a decision between them all. Thanks... Dave

G'day Red, Didn't mean to be rude asking about the price mate sorry, my mistake. She is a beauty, I've been looking around for much the same thing and in the end tossing up between this and another brand. Still not sure on motor choice, either the etec or suzuki 4s, both have many merits, that's why I was asking. Enjoy it I'm sure you've earnt it........ Dave

Great Pic that! How's she going pawing the baitcaster????

G'day TAG, Welcome to the site! The boat looks sensatinal your a lucky man..... I'm looking at buying something very similar, do you mind if I ask if it's new of 2nd hand? What sort of price are you looking at? And if you've had a chance, how does the ETEC go mate? Would be really interested in your replies. Thanks............. Dave

No worries Mat, it's the same as the link you have above, I missed that one. Good luck with the project... Dave

Bayfisher, Have a look at www.seamedia.com.au they have some free downloads about this sort of thing, which might help. good luck....... Dave

No dramas James much appreciated.........

Thanks Rod and James, My current boat has a Raymarine DSX400, which I've been very happy with. I don't think I'd go back to black and white after this. My decision will have to be either stand alone or combo unit and then brand/model/price, I guess. So many brands so little time..................Beats thinking about work though! Dave

Thanks Huey, I wasn't aware they made such a unit. I'll look them up and have a read. Warnie, Your right in what you say. I am tending towards something more permant and functional than a handheld gps, but just not sure how I'll set things up yet. Still a lot more reading to do. Much appreciated guys......... Dave

Hi folks, Thought I'd pick the brains trust before I jumped in and made a bloody mess of things myself....... In the not too distant future I should be the proud owner of a newish, 6m or so, plate alloy cuddycab. I fish out of Batemans Bay and for the last few years have concentrated on fishing for kings, dollies, snapper, gummies, flathead and the like in depths of water from a few metres to around 70m. The intention with the new boat is more of the same with the added bonus of heading to the shelf on good days to chase tuna and marlin as well as bottom bash the depths with a deck winch at times. To date I've done without a GPS and have managed OK. With the new boat I'm looking at installing a new sounder, gps and or chartplotter. I'm undecided on brands and the electronics will most likely be dash mounted, under a metal canopy with side clears. Without getting into a long winded dispute on brands, as I think all the new gear is pretty good these days, I'm wondering what type of setup you guys have found to be successful. My main priority is the quality of sounder! As always cost is an inhibiting factor, but I'm realistic in what a decent electronic setup will cost. I guess my questions are these? - Do I go for a stand alone sounder, gps/chartplotter or combo unit? - As 99% of my time on the water will be between here and Narooma, do I really need a chartplotter? - Would a handheld GPS do the job as most likely, all I need (other than the safety aspect) is something to mark waypoints and tracks and get me back to them at a later time? - Would a handheld GPS, mounted on the dash under a metal canopy function correctly? What do you think? Thanks.......... Dave

How about dumbest fisherman? A couple of years ago I was with my brother fishing at Shady Camp in the NT. It was a real stinker of a morning, more sweat pi--ing out of me than I could put in! We we're working some small bait which were being boofed by the barra. As I was on holidays I was borrowing my brothers gear, a nice little baitcast rod, calcutta reel, you beaut gel spun, a 6" nilsmaster, the works. Well you guessed it, one cast too many and rod, reel, the whole shebang ends up duck diving with the crocs. No way I was going in after it. After a few choice words or wisdom, my brother grabs a hand line with a heavy sinker and trebble and starts to cast after it. Ten, fifteen casts later, nothing. I'm about to have a go to save me breaking out the credit card, when he yells, 'Got something.' He starts to bring it in, next thing I see is my leader, the red/brown/black nilsy, the rod and finally that expensive calcutta reel. You bloody beauty! But then I see another couple a feet of mono which wasn't mine, hanging off the reel. He keeps pulling, and bugger me there's another 6" red/brown/black nilsy at the end!! No bloody second rod and reel though. So in a matter of minutes I'd gone from loosing $500 bucks of my brothers most loved fishing gear to being the proud owner of a new $15 nilsy lure! Even caught a few barra after that. Needless to say I was hanging on a little tighter for the rest of the day...... Dave

G'day Red, A few weeks back I took a test drive in a new 560C which had been fitted with a 115 etec. Can't tell you about economy but I was more than satisfied with the level of noise and performance with 3 blokes in a 15 knot breeze and 3m swell at the heads. Unless your carrying big loads I can't imagine really needing anything much bigger. Just comes down to personal preference I think. Loved the whole package, just didn't like the driving position and a bit of spray which the side clears took care of, mostly! Just my two bobs worth.. Dave