DarkHorse

G'day Crew, currently drifting between 3rd runway and Towra point nothing, zip, nadda! Using blades, SP's and HB's. Didn't bring any bait ! Let me know where to go and I will check back soon! Regards, Rob

G'Day Crew, I hope you can help me with my trailer problem? Have a new stacer braked trailer. Single axle, cable operated, disc brakes. Getting alot of dust on wheels as well as can hear the pads rubbing on the rotors when pushing the trailer on driveway. Cable tension seems ok, loosen cable but they still rub. I can take pictures of the setup if required. Regards, Rob

G'Day Crew, Just wondering if any fellow raiders had upgraded recently to the new Navionics Platinum Plus charts yet? If so is it REALLY worth the extra $$$$ Any actual screen shots would be awesome. Maybe Craig from Huetts has had a play?? I cant just drive to a local chandlery as the closest is about 1.5 hours away! Regards, Rob

AJB, I recently got a HDS Lowrance as well. I decided on the 83/200 transducer, as all my fishing is estuary/rivers or shallow water. From what I read, the 50/200 is better for deep water............ Although the menu shows the 83Khz setting it wont let you use it, if you have the 50/200. My 83/200 cable states "Wide Beam Transducer" Regards, Rob

Johnno, Originally I was going to, but decided to trade my "old" boat as a complete package and buy a new engine. Old boat was a 40Hp, this one is a 50Hp. Looked at the new 60, but the $$$ were quickly adding up. As the Barra Elite is very similar to the quintrex hornet trophy, I was very interested in your specs to see how the new rig would handle. As I said I would love to do the trip to Glenbawn with you guys. Dangas, Intend to use in estuaries, rivers here in NSW, including Hawkesbury, Botany, Port Hacking etc. Went out today to Hawkesbury. Good day with 6 small flatty's and a flounder!

After a few problems and changes here is my new rig: Specs: Stacer Barra Elite, 439. Honda 50Hp 4 stroke. 65L under floor tank, Lights, live bait well and Bilge. Lowrance HDS-7 Sounder This is what I originally had, a very nice boat, but for the type of estuary fishing I do, it was not the best setup: Have had a quick shake down run, but not used it in anger yet. When $$ allow, I will get a bow mount electric, also the new lowrance structure scan............... Look forward to many days of good fishing and happy memories. A big thank you to Craig from Huett Marine for his input and help with this new purchase. Regards, Rob

Awesome catch Hodgey and Dene! As always a very nice and informative post Hodgey, I really enjoy reading your reports. Hopefully the missus, tin lids and I will be heading down your way about the 11th December for the weekend! I am stunned at the quality and size of the crocs, I have NEVER caught crocs that size nor seen them swimming around, it would be an awesome experience. Thanks again. Rob

Thanks for the replies guys. Checked the little arm and it moved freely. Put some inox on it anyway and still no go. The light on the gauge works, just no movement........... maybe just a dead gauge/needle. Oh well was hoping it was something easy/could look at myself without having to trundle all the way to the dealership. Regards, Rob

G'Day Guys, Took the boat out for a run today and the dash trim gauge is not working. The background light works, the motor can be trimmed, just the gauge doesnt show any movement. Any Ideas?? It is a Honda BF50D four stroke. Regards, Rob

G'Day Gary, Sorry I wasnt too sure if you worked with alloy. As I said the dealer tried making something, but they didnt have a tube bending machine to get a good result. This is what I am after: actually the prototype of the console or finish I am after, production sees the bar directly welded to console. This is the console that I have with the perspex windscreen, to which I want to add the bar: Obviously as you mentioned best thing to do is bring up the boat and go from there. I can call you the next couple of days to arrange a time if that is ok? Cheers Rob

G'Day Raiders! Hoping someone could recommend someone to custom make an ALLOY grab rail / bar to attach around my factory side console on a stacer Barra Elite. At the moment it only has a small plexiglass screen, which will easily be damaged. Tried the dealer and they couldnt get the alloy tube to bend sufficiently for a nice finnish. OTher option was to get the console of the larger Barra Pro, but alot of work involved. I want a "better than factory" look/finnish, not something that looks "tacked" on. I am not too sure if site sponsor "seriously stainless" does alloy tube or just stainless??? I do have something in mind, the picture is on the front of the latest stacer brochure, showing exactly what I am looking for. I will see if I can get a jpeg and attach to this post. Any help would be extremely grateful. Regards, Rob

Bergo, Due to the limited production from stacer, I purchased a 439 SF Barra Elite, in the two tone black paint. Put a Honda 50 4 stroke on it and hopefully a Minn Kota or Moto Guide electric up front.......... We had the 439 Seaway. Nice boat, but was difficult to fish in due windscreen, canopy etc, so decided to "upgrade". Looked at the 449/469 Nomad Elite, but couldnt get one, and the chances of ever going offshore were very remote. Are you modding it? Hopefully today is FINALLY my last sleep, set back after setback........... Rob

Bergo, From tomorrow I will hopefully be able to let you know!! Mate has a Quintrex Hornet Trophy and it is a very nice ride. The Barra Pro 459 and up are on the modified Evo II hull and supposedly very stable and smooth. You wont be dissapointed. I asked alot of questions, looked at many types of hulls and decided on a boat that was really going to suit my style of fishing, including a wife and 2 kids! Send Craig at Huett Marine (site sponsor) a PM or call him, as he stocks Stacer and might be able to offer a test run etc. Craig is a wealth of information and a top bloke to boot. Regards, Rob

Thanks for the info Poddy Trapper! Really appreciate it! I take it that the certain moderator in question may be partial to a drop of rum??? Definately want to try somewhere new and it looks awesome. Have to start looking for cabin type accomodation in the area.................. Regards, Rob

G'Day Greg, Awesome fish, if you ever need a deck hand let me know and I will join the que! What electronics are you running in the contender?? Is the transducer shoot through or transom mounted?? Thanks again for the information on engine choice! Regards, Rob

G'Day Crew, Been watching the Squidgy DVD 5 (S-Factor) with Starlo and Stuart Hindson. Anyone that has watched the DVD know where they are fishing in the first half of the DVD? Looks like an awesome destination, heap of different types of fishing would be perfect to take the new boat, wife and tin lids! Any information would be greatly appreciated! Regards, DarkHorse

Huey and others thank you for your replies. After doing a bit of research and speaking with the wonderful tech support people (Wayne) at Navico (Lowrance) I have decided to purchase the HDS-7. Although the-7 is only slightly larger, it has a higher resolution and colour palette than the -5. The -5 is only a 256 colour 480x480 screen. The -7 is a 16 bit FULL VGA screen, 480x640. The HDS-5 will display the structure scan image, but not as well as the -7, -8 and -10 models. The HDS-5 has the option of the 50/200 kHz or 83/200 kHz transducer, depending on what type or depth of fishing it is going to be used in. You can option either of the above transducers for the -7. I understand if you are primarily fishing freshwater lakes, rivers, estuaries and close inshore to 100m or less use the 83/200 kHz transducer............... Now I have to find the $$$ and get it past the I am not in a hurry to purchase at this stage. I will be looking forward to seeing some ACTUAL screenshots/images of the new lowrance structure scan in use here in Oz and fishraider boats!

G'Day Crew, Just want to get your thoughts on a purchase.......... Looking at upgrading to a new sounder to go with a new boat possibly. I used to have a Lowrance 527, 5" GPS/Fishfinder with Navionics Gold Card. Nice unit, worked well, but was not really used to its full potential I suppose due to my type of fishing. I really only fish the Hawkesbury, Hacking, Botany, Middle Harbour and Glenbawn etc. Have never ventured offshore (boat size) and really only chase species within river/estuary regions such as bream, flatty's etc. Is the extra screen size worth the extra $$$ given my pretty narrow fishing ability?? The HDS-5 comes with a 83/200 kHz transducer which I understand gives a better definition in shallow water such as rivers/estuaries. The HDS-7 does not come with a transducer included, but you can buy the 50/200 kHz for about $250. Decisions, decisions. Please let me know what you think! Regards, DarkHorse

Awesome catches! Boy I would love to come fishing with you guys. The biggest Bream I have caught was pushing 20cm! Would love to get shown the ropes by the pro's like you Robeebee, SwordFisherman etc. I havent fished the Georges river yet, wouldnt have any idea where to launch or drop a line (nudge nudge wink wink ) Keep posting pics so we can dream and smile with envy. Regards, Rob

On my 4.3m Stacer with 40Hp 4 stroke I get 29 knots with 2 adults........ On my other "ship" that I operate will cruise around 500 knots or Mach 0.79 to 0.82 The best ground speed I have had is 680 knots or 1237km/h I get to see alot of you fishing off the third runway whilst I have to go to work Regards, Rob

WAB, Maybe not the long shot you were thinking. I have a Navman 4430 that is no longer used except maybe one day for a yak or canoe. The transducer is still attached to the plastic/glass type bracket. I dont know if they are the same type? If they are let me know and it is yours for zip, nothing, zero. Hopefully they are the same and we can organise delivery, postage, courier pigeon to you. Regards, Rob

G'Day Greg, Wow what a series! I really enjoyed both reports, thankyou for taking the time to put it in writing for us to enjoy your highs and lows.......... Some very nice fish though. It is great to hear of the commaraderie and efforts of other tourno's offering spare electrics etc. Would have been easy to throw in the towel but you didnt and that in itself should be reward enough, you must feel very proud. I have only ever watched the abt fishing on tv and could only imagine what is involved. I feel like giving it all up at the moment as I have not caught a thing on lures or plastics now for the last 6 trips out in the "Tiny Tinny". Good luck in 2010, look forward to your posts then! Regards, Rob

Also a G-Loomis GL3 842-2 with Daiwa Luvias 2000 in the bottom of the Hawkesbury somewhere! My mate's son dropped it overboard during the fishing comp. He was not a very happy man, accidents happen. I don't know how I would have coped.............. Looking at a replacement value in the $1000 range! Personally I would have dived over and at least had a go or tried snagging it with some line. Rob

Congrats Pappy1, they are a beautiful rig. I am sure she is going to give you many hours of enjoyment and help you catch heaps of fish. Mate has the trophy hornet (similar hull??) and it is a fantastic boat, especially with your electric up the front, live bait tank perfect for flicking lures and soft plastics. In fact we took his up to Hinchinbrook Island into the creeks and scored a 87cm Barra on the second cast. Well designed and easy to fish from. What I wanted in a boat but with two young ones had to compromise, but that is life really..................... Enjoy, be safe and take care. Rob

Mitch and Slinky Thanks for the awesome replies! Some great information gathered, hopefully giving me and my son an edge in the "comp". As I have a fishfinder/GPS combo will be using the navionics charts a good looking over!! Tried Sandy Bay and Porto Bay including the oyster leases a go last Saturday but came up nil. Have only really fished around Milsons Island and pumpkin pt creek as well as the mangroves near pumpkin pt by trolling Chubby's. The lower Hawkesbury is the place I need to discover I think! Regards, Rob P.S. Mitch I sent you a PM!