Sea Ranger

Ouuch. Maybe leaving a sign at the ramp with a reward offered depending on how sentimental the gear is. Hope you get it back Bear

I'm still shopping fellas.. I have the cash to buy a new 4.2 ish tinny but as these things go started thinking I need 5 meters or close to it and finding a used one that is decent has been very difficult.

Rick Do you have the 5 or 4.7 meter vsea?

Not sure if it is Dodgy but you can get the new model with a new 30hp for under 9k so I don't know why anyone would want to pay 9k for one 2 years old that has been used. Mate I sent you a PM with the details for the new one

NOICE I've been looking at some older Vsea's but not found anything decent yet Good to hear your thoughts on HP Bear

I looked at the boat and tried to wheel and deal a bit but they were not keen. In fact I gave up because I was not getting called back when I was interested in purchasing. However that was a while ago now so perhaps they are more interested in selling now. It is a 2015 model not 16 and does not have power tilt and trim as listed also per Savage the min hp is 30hp. Specifications: Big Daddy Length maximum 4.27 m Length of hull 4.27m Beam 1.96m Depth 0.89m Length on trailer 5.40m Height on trailer 1.50m Bottom sides 3.00mm Top Sides 3.00mm Transom material 3.00mm Transom shaft length L/S Weight (boat only) 210kg Min. HP 30hp Max HP 40hp Main motor weight 120kg Number of people (basic): 5 Number of people (level): N/A

This one was actually at a well know dealer. The salesman walked away when I started questioning what this spot was. He said "I'll give you and your wife time to look at the boat"

Thanks for the ideas guys. I didn't buy the boat.. I was at a dealer tonight looking at it and after I left someone else did. I was totally perplexed as to what could be rusting in a fiberglass boat other than a screw. I hope it doesn't leak for them bear

it was mid ships on the bottom of the hull no other pictures.

Ok looking at boats today. I was looking at this fiberglass boat and saw this spot. To me initially it looked like a screw or something had punctured the hull and was rusting. I'm not so sure that it is rust or a screw. I had a go at scratching it with a key but didn't expose any metal like a screw or nail. This spot is about the size of a thumbnail and protrudes up and out sbout 1 to 2mm. Any thoughts Bear

Tarpon are useless to eat way too many bones,, Tarpon are an excellent game fish for fly or lure though. The clown probably killed it ramming his fist through the gills. I believe they are pretty delicate there. I seem to remember one had to be careful putting them back in the water if taking them out at all because they didn't survive well after catching. My friend used to fly fish for them.. Awesome game fish. Bear

When I get my Boat Yowie I'll give you a wave mate as that is the area I intend to fish Bear

Great post Fab

Gday all Recently I've been looking at quite a few boats. Some of these have a common thread. Usually a 5 to 5.5 meter fiberglass boat that is rated at 150hp or more and they are sticking brand new 4 stroke 70hp , 80hp, 90hp engines on them. At the cost of a new motor for these old boats first why would you? and then second if you're going to spend 12 to 15k on a new motor why put such small donks on these boats? Any ideas? Bear

The nerve of some people Jon You should have put in somewhere else and asked for fuel money or get off the boat and find a taxi. LOL

I'm sure this goes both ways. As a buyer in the market now I cannot believe how many boats I have looked at over the last month where the seller is truly delusional at best and an outright liar at worst. Take my experiences recently. One seller tells me that a qualified shipwright has redone the floor and transom of his 30 year old boat in the last year and has receipts to prove it. I arrive after a 2 hour drive to find soft spots all over and no receipts because he lost them after a move 2 years ago??? Hmm thought it was done last year. Another has a boat his father owned since new and it is in excellent condition always garaged and washed after use. Just had a service and the mechanics could find nothing wrong. Just left outside now because he needed room in the garage. Pictures look great. I drive another 1hour and a half to find that boat is outside in the chook yard full of chook poo, the gelcoat powdery looking nothing like the pictures in a nice garage and rough patched holes in the hull all over. Soft spots all over the floor. The father died 5 years ago and I imagine the boat has been a chook coup since then. I assume the pictures then were at least 5 years ago probably more. just the other night I look at a 10 year old boat with nice pics and the owner states he has full service records and receipts. . I call and actually he doesn't have the service records but his "fully qualified friend" has done all the work and I can call him if I want. eBAY Starting bid is $6000 I have a budget not a great deal more. Boat is 3 hours away. I'm thinking of putting a bid on it but don't want to bid without looking at it. I Don't want to drive 6 hours round trip if my bid is not at the reserve. I politely explain this to the seller and ask for his reserve. I get abused and called a low baller and he is not going to let his $18k newish boat be sold for $6000 and he refused to tell me his reserve. SO WHY start it at $6000 why not start it at the lowest price you would accept??? I'm almost at the point of believing every boat I go to look at it is worth half of what is being asked if not less. If sellers put a fair price to start and were totally honest with the condition and If buyers recognized a fair price and didn't try to weasel down a fair price The world would be happier But,,,,,, Bear

I recently started looking for a boat. I'm obviously not an expert by all the questions I've asked lately and sure do appreciate the assistance that raiders have provided so far. My wife and I spent several days looking at boats this past weekend. I was very dismayed to see so many pieces of junk that people were flogging off as in great condition Especially at dealers. Soft floors and transoms, puttied holes in hulls, cracked welds,and moldy seats. Are there any decent fishing boats over 4meters under $15k preferably under $10k in NSW ?? sorry for the rant but my goodness what a waste of time it was looking at those boats. Ok boat collars . Do these things work with the stability issues inherent in some Tinnys? From what I'm reading on broaching it seems that all tinnies should be easily broached with a following sea. Pointy nose and flat wide backs seem to make the issue worse. These boat collars look interesting but you need to drill holes in your hull to install them. Not sure I like that idea. Any experience with them? Bear

Thanks mate,, I've already decided to give this one a miss

You are right Caribbean are very friendly and helpful. But the boat does not have it's plate anymore and the rego just says Caribbean runabout. The fellow from Caribbean looked at the boat online with me and it didn't look familiar to him. Sounds like too big a risk to me.

Thanks for all the replies. The dealer is happy for me to do a test run if I purchase the boat and have a sea trial as a condition. Allegedly the engine only has 1 hour on the clock. I will try calling Caribbean today. I just don't know the model.

Mate this one has a new F70 Yamaha 4 stroke

Good Idea Jeff,, however after extensive negotiations with the minister of finance last night, I don't believe in my long term survival if I were to pursue further funding. I've drifted quite a bit from my initial planned budget of under 8K so I might have to set my sights a bit lower. It's a shame as I was really sorted taken by this Yellowfin. Bear

Thanks for the replies raiders. Yes this one has a fresh coat of paint. The owner claims he's had her for 19 or 21 years only selling becuse of a new 7 meter boat parked in the driveway. 800 hours on the donk with full service history. I like the Caribbean as well but concerned that for a 5.2 meter fg boat she is a bit underpowered with a 70hp new yamaha on the back. She's a trade in at a dealer. Over the next couple of days the wife and I are looking at a few boats and I'm trying to research each one as much as possible. Several are no brainers like a raider 166 which there is plenty written along with a Haines Hunter. Btw I do have some of Jeff Websters used boat mags and using them as a guide. I definetly want a stable platform and at least in my mind dont wish to venture much past the heads on good days. I have limited experience in a 475 Bayhunter Quinny that my dear friend who just past used to own. Difference being he was 20 times the skipper I'll ever be. Thank you for replying.. Bear

Hi All, This boat is a 1987 Stessl Yellowfin with a 120 Evinrude same vintage on the back. I can't find much info on this boat when doing the google research except some comments on another board about stability issues. Was this design tippy or prone to broaching? I found one thread that suggested that it was. Bear

Hi Guys, I can take it on a water trial so that is good. I guess I'm not overly concerned about top speed but like you Jon see the benefit in getting on plane quick. Most of the boats I have looked at so far at 5 or more meters seem to have 100+hp motors so I was concerned that this might be a bit under powered. I am looking at a boat solely for fishing/crabbing harbors, bays, and maybe a quick duck inshore outside the heads on a good day. I've a bit of experience in a Quinny Bayhunter 4.75 with a 50hp Yamaha doing all the above. My good mate Jim has sadly passed away and I no longer have access to his boat so looking for my own. This one has been done up a bit and at least from my very novice eye looks like a boat that would suit my needs Bear