Foghorn

Don't get me going on how Bullrout stings!

I must admit, they are great props, my outboard came with a alluminium prop, the solas cost about $500 but worth every penny, better speed, lower revs.

Morwong, I was going to try out square or arrow pieces on the ends of the reef pick, I have in the past carried 2 anchors but now I usually pick either outside or river I am trying to make a small universal anchor.

Check all for looseness?

I dropped off about 3 metres of chain, that left about 1 metre and put sheet lead on the sand anchor to give it weight, made a reef anchor with 40mm od water pipe inserted 35mm solid steel bar ( $32/metre ), 300mm for weight, and have not a problem, you can have a large anchor but without weight it is useless you have to drag to set it. Fixed the problem of using a large anchor.

Pilchard More important than what sort of batteries you have when boat is stored you should have the batteries on constant charge, I have had all types in the boat and settled on a optima for main and 2 off 20ah deep cycle for aux always on charge, even the old lead acid will last several years.

I use my lanyard in rough conditions it is fairly long so if I came out over a bar, by myself, it would cut out, I use it when spinning by myself in rough conditions but it would be a pain in the arse in the river, fishing at anchor, travelling outside.

Picture showing spring attached to chain for anchor.

Mackerel Mine is free fall, you do not need to clip the anchor, you need a spring which clips to the anchor and onto the chain, this also prevents from over winding and tearing out the bow sprint, I paint the chain so I know the right possy, this spring will put tension on the gear and holds it in place when travelling, when you reach the next spot just drop it.. Hope this helps.

I run 2 batteries connected through a on off switch, one battery runs motor and some instruments the other runs the winch and fm radio both have a common negative bus with the battery actives switched via the on off switch. I start off with both batteries with the swich on the on position and fish with the batteries isolated on the off position. Winch up with the winch battery only and start and run on both. Nothing automatic but it has not let me down, when home both batteries are left on a electronic charger 24/7.

I have had a free fall since 2007, great gear, have jammed the anchor on reefs a few times, take up the slack, stop the winch and drive the boat forward, drops the nose a bit but gets it off, they do not recommend to use the winch this way but I have had no probs, just make sure the installation is good, that is bracing under the glass.

I purchased a unit at the sydney boat show and went to hook everything up, I am a sparky and it looked straight forward, nothing worked, sent emails and phoned Lowrance support and have received 3 answers on how to hookup the LMS-337c and the Link 5 unit. Finally got the units talking to each other only to find when the radio was turned off/on it could not get the position from the GPS. Before making this purchase I asked if they were compatible, only to be told by Lowrance that it was an old unit. Do these people know what they are talking about! Should have bought a GME.!