gibodfisho Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I have a 5m Side console tinnie. Its a great boat for me and lets me do all types of fishing that I enjoy. Its competed in many Bream ABT tournaments, and has caught a lot of fish in Sydney Harbour and more recently outside on close reefs and headlands. My question though is with a growing family I will need to get a bigger safer boat with a cabin and toilet. This set up will be unbearable when fishing for bream as I am so used to having the electric and open deck that the tinnie provides. Thoose that own two boats or more to overcome this how does it work for you. Is it a pleasure or pain in the back side having two options. My possible solution would be to sell off the big tinnie buy a smaller one with electric to fish creeks and rivers but also have 5.5m and up half cab or walk around for the family. Not sure if my question or points are clear but just planning for the future Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregL Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Good luck Dave! 2's a pain in the butt! Ya always be thinking "I should have taken the other boat today". What about a centre console with a loo in the console? Wack on a leccy and you'll have the best of both worlds. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iceman Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Good luck Dave! 2's a pain in the butt! Ya always be thinking "I should have taken the other boat today". What about a centre console with a loo in the console? Wack on a leccy and you'll have the best of both worlds. Greg And a good bimini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisg Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Dave You really need to weigh up the usage for the family. I've been there with a half cab and a tinny. Tinny ended up being used 95% of the time even with the kids and friends....just so much less to worry about. The Haines got used about 6 times a summer and the biggest issue was the maint required for those handful of times. Tinny just got the sand hosed out after family fun days. Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjbink Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 I have two. A 5.4m fiberglass for outside fishing and a 4.1m Polycraft for inside. Yes, I think it is worth having two if you want to cover inside and outside fishing. It's hard to sneak around with an electric on a large fiberglass runabout and hard/ too much work to launch by yourself. On the other hand a small open boat is not safe or comfortable for fishing outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 (edited) Ive got 2.. A Ally Craft 350 V Nose Punt & A Quintrex Estuary Angler . Not a pain to own them too .. But will be upgrading the Quintrex for something bigger later on this year/early next year .. If it was me i would have something like a 525 cuddy cabin with a 75hp and a little tinny for inside under 4.0 meters possibly with a 5hp so no rego would be needed for that boat, only the tailer and easy to keep something out the back, or somelittle space Edited August 22, 2009 by cut_loose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibodfisho Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 Some very good and varied views! Greg I wish the perfect centre console existed. The search will have to continue. I like the Seafarer 6.2 cc at the moment. Its very modular and therefore versatile but not electric friendly. Chris what Haines model did/do u have and are you still looking to upgrade to a tournament ready bream boat. Cut loose and Billfisher are u based in Sydney. Great idea about having punt with a small outboard for no rego. Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisg Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Some very good and varied views! Greg I wish the perfect centre console existed. The search will have to continue. I like the Seafarer 6.2 cc at the moment. Its very modular and therefore versatile but not electric friendly. Chris what Haines model did/do u have and are you still looking to upgrade to a tournament ready bream boat. Cut loose and Billfisher are u based in Sydney. Great idea about having punt with a small outboard for no rego. Cheers Dave Dave Haines was a 445c...gee I miss that boat. Kids were getting too big for it anyway. But yes..still looking for a tourney boat. Every time I get close it all just turns to poop! Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 (edited) The punts all you need to get around .. notting flash ! Heres my baby 2009 Ally Craft 350 Taipan.. Bought it new early this year & i love it ! Put my own motor (5hp Evinrude ) and gear in it. Its very stable and light easy to handle and only needs a quick wash with the hose when you get home and no paint means not having to worry about knocking it around and thats the fun part ! EDIT; yes mate i am based in sydney haha Edited August 22, 2009 by cut_loose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olitay Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Two boats are ideal! I was faced with the same dilemma recently. I owned a great 455 polycraft with all the kit but needed something for the family. Ended up buying a Signature that i love but my estuary fishing is non existent anymore. Im always on the hunt for a cheap river boat. something like cut loos's would be ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iceman Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Or you could get something like this for a smaller boat maybe up for sale soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewgaffer Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 (edited) Hi Andrew Did you have to cut the bow rail to install your electric? Does the electic motor and/or the mount etc affect your anchoring and your anchoring space at all Andrew ? I have clear frontal space between the bow rails on my savage and I don't wish to have the bow rail cut to install a Minn Kota Terova 55lb..... Any idea how much space is needed between the bow rails to mount the electric straight out off the anchor space in between the bow rails? I'm also thinking about the turning circle of the Minn Kotas ? .....I haven't hadn't a chance to have a proper look at that aspect as yet... Also my Savage is a 4.6 metre side console, that has three removable swivel chairs and also has plenty of room around the one swivel chair at the bow...It has a short bow nose with enough mounting room in front of the anchor well and doesn't really a need a casting deck.... I originally thought the 24volt dual battery 80lb Terova would be a better proposition as I usually have at least one or two fishing with me..... However, I'm now thinking of buying the 55lb single battery 12v Terova model instead and dual switching that up with my second stern battery so that I could use the back up stern battery as a fully charged auxilliary battery for the electric motor when necessary..... Andrew what's your opinion on the space needed to mount an electric out the front in between the bow rails and also regarding my going down to a 12v 55lb Terova instead of using a 24v 80lb Terova? Cheers jewgaffer Edited August 23, 2009 by jewgaffer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMick Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 (edited) Hi Andrew Did you have to cut the bow rail to install your electric? Does the electic motor and/or the mount etc affect your anchoring at all mate ? I have clear frontal space between the bow rails on my savage and I don't wish to have the bow rail cut to install a Minn Kota Terova 55lb..... Any idea how much space is needed between the bow rails to mount the electric straight out off the anchor space in between the bow rails? I'm also thinking about the turning circle of the Minn Kotas ? .....I haven't hadn't a chance to have a proper look at that aspect as yet... Also my Savage is a 4.6 metre side console, that has three removable swivel chairs and also has plenty of room around the one swivel chair at the bow...It has a short bow nose with enough mounting room in front of the anchor well and doesn't really a need a casting deck.... I originally thought a 24volt 80lb Terova would be a better proposition as I usually have at least one or two fishing with me... However, I'm now thinking of buying the 55lb single 12v Terova model instead and dual switching that up with my second stern battery which would be used as a fully charged auxilliary battery when necessary..... what's your opinion on my going down to a 12v 55lb Terova instead of using a 24v 80lb Terova? Cheers jewgaffer I've got a 55lb Terova and let me tell you autopilot and co-pilot are a fishermans best friend. This may seem overkill but grab yourself a 150amp/hr battery and a c-tek auto charger and mate..... put it this way you'll get back to the ramp if your petrol motor packs it in! 55lb suits my weight fine (4.2m) loaded with gear + 3 ppl, I'm sure yours would be fine too Lot of money for 24v and an 80lb IMO The auto pilot will work like an anchor if you use it right, my anchor has never been in the water. Auto pilot is always on when I'm using the lecky. Mick Edited August 23, 2009 by iMick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewgaffer Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Hi Gibodfisho....Sorry to stray off topic a bit by bringing up the ins and outs of installing a bow mount electric motor Dave, but these days using an electric motor with these ever improving hi tech artificials go hand in hand with owning a smaller second fish anywhere boat that you can easily slip in the water anytime you want to fish a backwater or an estuary at a certain time etc...... I have two boats myself but the 15' Savage side console I now have can do the same upriver work and also the close in outside stuff, so I'll probably sell my retirement boat which is 12' 6" Eagle Ray Tri Hull... If I had to pick one boat it would be an open type boat but I'd never buy a full cabin boat again, no one wants to travel and sit claustrophic in them in the day time so an open console boat with plenty of storage and sleeping room under removable covers etc in my opinion is a much better one boat option than a long nose bowrider or a cabin boat in my opinion..... Imick, thanks for your advice..... I will be buying all the options for the Terova first off and thanks also for the advice on using a 150 amp hour battery instead of a 100 Delcor that I thought would be the optimum to use with a 55lb thrust.. How much are these C-tech auto battery chargers Mick and do you use them on the water or use them to keep the battery charged up at home after each session... Cheers jewgaffer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMick Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Hi Gibodfisho....Sorry to stray off topic a bit by bringing up the ins and outs of installing a bow mount electric motor Dave, but these days using an electric motor with these ever improving hi tech artificials go hand in hand with owning a smaller second fish anywhere boat that you can easily slip in the water anytime you want to fish a backwater or an estuary at a certain time etc...... I have two boats myself but the 15' Savage side console I now have can do the same upriver work and also the close in outside stuff, so I'll probably sell my retirement boat which is 12' 6" Eagle Ray Tri Hull... If I had to pick one boat it would be an open type boat but I'd never buy a full cabin boat again, no one wants to travel and sit claustrophic in them in the day time so an open console boat with plenty of storage and sleeping room under removable covers etc in my opinion is a much better one boat option than a long nose bowrider or a cabin boat in my opinion..... Imick, thanks for your advice..... I will be buying all the options for the Terova first off and thanks also for the advice on using a 150 amp hour battery instead of a 100 Delcor that I thought would be the optimum to use with a 55lb thrust.. How much are these C-tech auto battery chargers Mick and do you use them on the water or use them to keep the battery charged up at home after each session... Cheers jewgaffer C-Tek Chargers are a home use unit that you plug in after a days fishing and forget about it, they are a 7 stage fully auto charger, google them and research them, mine cost about $200 When you're serious about getting one PM me and I'll give you the model name to suit your needs. C-Tek are a Swedish company I think, the bollocks of all chargers IMO, your battery will last for years, consider a AGM battery as well, expensive but the nuts mate, military grade stuff. Mick Sorry for straying off topic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjbink Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 (edited) Some very good and varied views! Greg I wish the perfect centre console existed. The search will have to continue. I like the Seafarer 6.2 cc at the moment. Its very modular and therefore versatile but not electric friendly. Chris what Haines model did/do u have and are you still looking to upgrade to a tournament ready bream boat. Cut loose and Billfisher are u based in Sydney. Great idea about having punt with a small outboard for no rego. Cheers Dave I'm in Sydney, Dave. I fish outside from Botany Bay and sometimes Port Hacking. I wouldn't mind consolidating into one boat but as I pointed out you can't really cover all the fishing options with one boat. Anything that is managable as an estuary lure fishing boat is of limited use outside. I don't quite follow Boomers reasoning. I agree that a 5.5m boat is not really suitable for Browns Mountain but there are a lot of other spots where it is the ideal boat, eg the Peak, the 12 mile, the Hump, the Plonk Hole etc. For these spots an open 4-5m boat is not a realistic choice. Also the seas off Sydney are seldomly calm ( often the heads are the roughest place) and you need a bit of room to take a few mates and all the gear to cover the outside options. Charter boats are useful but it's not the same as doing it yourself. Not everyone has 5 or 7 like minded mates on call to charter a boat and it can be hard to get a space when trying to book as an individual. Plus you have to share the action with all the other punters and I feel it's buying the fish a bit by relying on the professional skipper's experience. Edited August 23, 2009 by billfisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cut_loose Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 we have a 525 brooker cuddy cabin and its really good, take it outside around the heads handles very well and with a 75hp e-tec we did around 30km and used like 15 litres of fuel and 90 % of the time we were planeing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longy Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Hi, I started with a 5.2m half cab, after 6 months use, decided to buy a smaller tinnie 3.7m brooker. Reasons, alot of work taking out the 5.2m boat, alot more eblow grease after the trip (after a long night/day fishing is not what you look forward too), and use alot more petrol in both car (towing a near 1 tonne half cab), and for the 70 hp outboard compared to towing a 100 kg tinnie and a 25 hp outboard. So now, take out the half cab when we have 4 or more going out, and if staying out all night/day, and use smaller tinnie when only 3 or less people going out. Regards, Long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iceman Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Hi Andrew Did you have to cut the bow rail to install your electric? Does the electic motor and/or the mount etc affect your anchoring and your anchoring space at all Andrew ? I have clear frontal space between the bow rails on my savage and I don't wish to have the bow rail cut to install a Minn Kota Terova 55lb..... Any idea how much space is needed between the bow rails to mount the electric straight out off the anchor space in between the bow rails? I'm also thinking about the turning circle of the Minn Kotas ? .....I haven't hadn't a chance to have a proper look at that aspect as yet... Also my Savage is a 4.6 metre side console, that has three removable swivel chairs and also has plenty of room around the one swivel chair at the bow...It has a short bow nose with enough mounting room in front of the anchor well and doesn't really a need a casting deck.... I originally thought the 24volt dual battery 80lb Terova would be a better proposition as I usually have at least one or two fishing with me..... However, I'm now thinking of buying the 55lb single battery 12v Terova model instead and dual switching that up with my second stern battery so that I could use the back up stern battery as a fully charged auxilliary battery for the electric motor when necessary..... Andrew what's your opinion on the space needed to mount an electric out the front in between the bow rails and also regarding my going down to a 12v 55lb Terova instead of using a 24v 80lb Terova? Cheers jewgaffer No I didnt have to cut my bowrail It is 280mm between the rails and the leccie is a 155mm wide in hindsight I would have mounted it at an angle so it didnt protrude into the front deck so much it is also mounted up on some 12mm aluminium blocks to clear the raised rim I cant remember the last time I used the anchor but it would be tied off on the rail stb of the electric If your savage is ally then the 55lb terova would just be enough if glass then you will need the 80lb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewgaffer Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 (edited) No I didnt have to cut my bowrail It is 280mm between the rails and the leccie is a 155mm wide in hindsight I would have mounted it at an angle so it didnt protrude into the front deck so much it is also mounted up on some 12mm aluminium blocks to clear the raised rim I cant remember the last time I used the anchor but it would be tied off on the rail stb of the electric If your savage is ally then the 55lb terova would just be enough if glass then you will need the 80lb Andrew when you say "in hindsight you would have mounted the leccie at an angle" would you have mounted it at an angle of say 60 or 70 degress to one side of the bow, and preferably mounted to run on the port side ay... then the electric motor can be pulled back onto the side of the bow and out of the way when not being used ? also can the motor angle be compensated for to still give you equal steering on full turn to turn to each side when mounted offset, meaning by that, unlike an outboard which naturally had to be centred in it's straight ahead steering line when flush mounted, would an electric motor when mounted offset to the straight ahead position of 90 degrees to the boat have a facility in it to still have equal steering on both sides when trolling straight ahead, reversing and holding the boat parallel to the shoreline, or a moored boat etc when you're holding the boat on auto pilot? Thanks Cheers jewgaffer Edited August 23, 2009 by jewgaffer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iceman Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Andrew when you say "in hindsight you would have mounted the leccie at an angle" would you have mounted it at an angle of say 60 or 70 degress to one side of the bow, and preferably mounted to run on the port side ay... then the electric motor can be pulled back onto the side of the bow and out of the way when not being used ? also can the motor angle be compensated for to still give you equal steering on full turn to turn to each side when mounted offset, meaning by that, unlike an outboard which naturally had to be centred in it's straight ahead steering line when flush mounted, would an electric motor when mounted offset to the straight ahead position of 90 degrees to the boat have a facility in it to still have equal steering on both sides when trolling straight ahead, reversing and holding the boat parallel to the shoreline, or a moored boat etc when you're holding the boat on auto pilot? Thanks Cheers jewgaffer The shaft of the electric can be locked in on the mount to equalise the steering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisg Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Jewgaffer Unlike an outboard the electric has a full 360 degree steering circle so no matter what angle the mount is at you set the straight ahead position. Its still good to have the shaft of the motor on the centre line of the hull for manouvreabilty but theoretically the mount could point in any direction. Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibodfisho Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 Chris Good luck with the search mate. I saw an interesting boat which was an 18ft cat, fibreglass shallow draft, open design, low windage. Swiss cat I think it was called, but from memory u had to keep it under a certain length for storage?? Boomer Good point about using a charter for wider options. I don't have any experience with large boats say 6m and above when launching and retrieving. I guess two people are needed unless you have a big climb in and out of the boat. My Territory has a reversing camera which is handy for getting the tow ball very close but I would still have to store and move it around. Jewgaffer Your right about cabins, they can be claustrophobis and being a tall skinny bloke with a dodgy back I don't think I would get a half cab. Do you have any pics of a well set up boat with removeable covers. Billfisher Your right about the Heads as being the roughest and I hate the stretch from nth head to Bluefish . Or even coming back from the Hawkesbury through pittwater is a pain on a busy Sunday afternoon with all the crossed wakes etc. When you fish the deeper reefs as mentioned how many crew and how much more planning is involved in theese trips than the smaller estuaty boat. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjbink Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Billfisher Your right about the Heads as being the roughest and I hate the stretch from nth head to Bluefish . Or even coming back from the Hawkesbury through pittwater is a pain on a busy Sunday afternoon with all the crossed wakes etc. When you fish the deeper reefs as mentioned how many crew and how much more planning is involved in theese trips than the smaller estuaty boat. Dave I was thinking of Botany Bay. On a run out tide and with the shallow water the swells lift and can be quite peaky. In my 5.4m boat sometimes I have the motor trimmed well up and have a few anxious momments in the steep following seas. The longer the boat the better it handles these conditions. I normally have one crew member for offshore trips and sometimes two. I don't think it's safe offshore fishing by yourself and you can do with a hand launching and retrieving this size of boat. You need to carry a lot more gear for these offshore trips than in the estuary, ie more rods and reels, tackle, safety gear, electronics, big esky etc. All this has to be loaded and unloaded and makes for more of an effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggie Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 I have a 3.2mtr clark tinnie for estuary and freshwater and 6.1 mtr trailcraft for outside/offshore,derive a great dealer of pleasure out of both depending on time of the year and bloody nice luxury to be able to chop and change and no hassle in anyway. Cheers Reg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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