zmk1962

Hey Raiders/Deckees

I'm selling our Liferaft - 4 MAN OCEAN REGATTA COASTAL ISO 9650-2  - VALISE

Purchased as Maria was concerned venturing out to the shelf, but no longer required as she is comfortable with the new boat.

Price new: $2,200 ... selling for $1,600.

Packed 4.10.2022. 3yr Service interval so 18months to go. 20yr Warranty. Never deployed. Full paper work.

PM me if interested. 

Cheers Zoran

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KEY FEATURES

Valise 650mm x 400mm x 220mm- 25kg
Made with high quality commercial grade rubber
Self inflating
Rubber floor
Highly visible canopy
4 x large water balast pockets
Webbing boarding ladder with large entrance for easy boarding and rescue
Observation port
Automatic internal and external lighting system
Solas Grade retro-reflective tape
Internal and external lifelines
ISO less than 24 hour emergency pack
3 years servicing intervals and 20 year warranty 
Full details: https://www.sailexchange.com.au/collections/life-raft-new/products/ocean-iso-9650-valise-4-man-11#

Looks very fishy even to a salty fisho like me. 
cheers Zoran 

Well done Albert .... they are aggressive fish and fight well. Lets hope the warm water sticks around a bit longer and the weather clears up.

Cheers Zoran

I'm no expert in this area (limited experience actually) so please treat this as a suggestion only. What about a long mono leader (2 x rod length) ... that should provide some of the stretch and give that you are seeking  and still give you most of the benefit of the braid. It's what I do offshore on my trolling rods (5m of leader backed by braid) as braid straight through can/will pull hooks on a strike.

Cheers Zoran

Well said Derek. You are a true mentor - it’s warming to see your students show of appreciation. 
 

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”

I have not seen you on @Bloggsy I hope my answer did not upset you. Most of the Arvors I have seen are kept moored - probably due to the towing issues I've highlighted. 

Anyway it would be great to know what you decided to do.

All the best with your decision.

Cheers Z

11 hours ago, DGL said:

This is where you need a cradle made up on yours. No need for fibreglass work. Sorry not the best markup but that’s where I saw this other guy put his  

Thanks @DGL. Great ideas. 

I started this topic in 2021 and since have sold the red Haines. @HerbMac found the post and reopened it last month - I hope he finds it useful. 
On my new boat I went with the Yamaha Helmaster system - one feature of HM uses the outboard as a spot lock. They call the feature Fishpoint. No need to worry about mounting another motor,  extra batteries, charging etc.
HM added about 10k to the motor cost, which was a little bit less than a 36V 80-100inch fully fitted leccy solution.

HM also includes Autopilot and other useful features in that 10k price so it made sense for me to go that way.  Autopilot alone is around 6k which I would have had to add if I went with the leccy. 

cheers Zoran 

Follow what @Little_Flatty said with all your catch for a better chew experience. I’ll add specific to blackfish (luderick) take time to scrape out the black stomach lining - sharp edge of your knife or a stiff brush gets the job done. You won’t get that weedy muddy taste. 
cheers Zoran 

19 hours ago, Little_Flatty said:

One thing I have thought of is getting some glow-in-the-dark paint that I could charge with a UV torch. Not so much to attract fish, but more so that I can see it in the water in the pre-morning darkness. Time will tell if it makes any difference to the fish.

Great work Mike and congrats on blooding your artwork.  I can see you now ... workshop full of tools, beavering away like a little elf - lathe, belt sander, carving knives .... hehehe. 

I've sprayed some of my deep drop jigs with this stuff ... from the big hardware joint that sells sausages on the side.... I've found the glow paint stays on quite well. Look forward to the next report.

Cheers Zoran

Masterful Rick. Well done. Would be a tasty menu at that. 
cheers Zoran 

I just realised I did not include the trailer manufacturer I was considering .... so I have sent you a PM with the information in case you decide to go down the Arvor path.

Cheers Zoran

Hi @Bloggsy ... I looked at the Arvors (and the Parkers) when considering our upgrade from the Haines. They do look great as fishing platforms... however if you look at the specifications you will see BEAM: 2.54M

This for me was the showstopper.  Yes you can get a trailer to suit (bunch of manufacturers can make them), however you will fall under the "oversize" towing regulations as the max beam you can tow in Australia without restrictions is 2.5m.  

The 4cm extra beam does not seem significant but they are the rules - especially if there is an accident.

There are a bunch of restrictions the main one for me was you are restricted to towing between Sunrise and Sunset - which did not suit me (keen fisho) at all, as I like to get to the ramp before dawn and on longer offshore days I often return on dusk. 

Read more here: https://www.boatsales.com.au/editorial/details/trailerboat-towing-regulations-guide-59777/

Cheers Zoran

ARVOR 705 SF specs

2 hours ago, bessell1955 said:

It appears that the Rivercraft stirring up the water bought the fish on the bite.

... its not the only thing it stirs up .... just ask any boatie trying to launch or retrieve !  🤯 😡 😤

cheers Zoran

Ahhem (he clears his throat )…. @XD351 @Larkin

Cheers Zoran

12 hours ago, campr said:

The cost of rental property for Mahi Mahi just went up again ??  Ron 

Can’t get away from supply and demand!

cheers Z

6 hours ago, HerbMac said:

Hi Zoran

Very interesting thread. I'm looking at a Minn Kota on a fiberglass bow mounted and would be interested in your final design.

Cheers

Herb

Hi Herb,

I actually sold the Haines before completing this project. I had settled on modifying the port bowrail SS tube and welding a mounting platform from the same type of SS tube - taking inspiration from the cruisecraft approach. 

I was in design and pricing discussions with a local welder when my wife and I pulled the pin - and decided to buy a new boat - on which we went with the Yamaha HelmMaster system as our spot lock solution.

But this was the conceptual design for the Haines;

Best of luck with it.

Cheers Zoran

On 4/22/2024 at 9:54 AM, kantong said:

a worthwhile trip, well done and thanks for sharing!

Thanks @kantong ... sharing info on rigs, conditions and fishing experience is what Deckee is all about. Happy to do my bit. 

Cheers Z

Nice few meals there Chris... you've certainly perfected being nimble and agile with your fishing on the jetski ... lots of target species and spots and the results to show for it.

Cheers Zoran

PS - the toads were out at browns the last two trips ... biting off 2.5kg sinkers near the surface ... B&%$%@RDS !

Well done Rob. Nice slab of silver there and congrats on getting both targeted species. 👍👍

cheers Zoran 

Congrats Dave. Smashing red. You’d be very happy with that. Well done. 
cheers Zoran 

Great read and report. Perseverance with mixing it up on bait, location and target species often delivers results. Well done. 
cheers Zoran 

7 hours ago, mrsswordfisherman said:

That is brilliant Zoran. 
If I was tying knots I would use the diy contraption there.

Luckily, Swordie ties every knot. He spends days before and after fishing trips getting things ready. It is a rare thing that we have ever lost a fish due to knot failure! He would be very cross with himself if that occurred  

Thanks Donna, Although I made that DIY jig primarily for the boat, I actually now keep it on land and use it when setting up rods pre or post trip.  I have found a much simpler FG knot tying jig on the boat ... here it is: 

11in long nose pliers (always carried onboard)... note the rubber grip handles, and a handle from a plastic crate (just happened to be the right size)

Tadaaaah ... the new DIY FG knot jig simulated as if sitting in a rod holder.  I find a couple of extra turns of braid on the rubber grip handles holds the braid from slipping. 

I'm very much like Swordie ... I've worked out a set of knots that work for what I do and they have not failed me - I'd be mortified if they did.  I also pre-rig everything so it only requires a snap swivel to change from live bait rig, to a paternoster etc.  Time is of the essence on the water.

Cheers Zoran

1 hour ago, lhan said:

Hi I'm trying to do a braid - light leader - heavier leader. I think a double uni will do on the light leader - heavier leader connection, just seeking if there is better knot and generally how heavy and long the "heavier" leader should be. Thanks!

I think a double uni would do the job. But you are fishing with relatively light lines so a double blood knot would work as well.  This is the easiest/quickest way that I have found to tie that knot ... infact I now use this for joining mono>mono or braid>braid and it has not failed me....

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4Z1GH_iE7Z/?igsh=MXVwdzRwZ2czdzgwcQ==

The video suggest to use this for braid>mono but I do not see how that would work ... 

Cheers Zoran

Pretty much agree with everything @Steve0 said. The only addition from me is that I prefer my leader length to run through the length of the rod with a couple of turns on the reel - I do a lot of boat fishing but I do this for my casting outfits (beach, spin etc) as well. Braid fails more easily than mono/fluoro from abrasion- which occurs most in those last few meters when bringing in a fish - whether rubbing against boat surfaces or rocks etc  I have found that when beach fishing braid has snapped at the top guide after repetitive casting- I concluded the braid had worn there due to a build up of dry salt on the top guide. Hence I prefer a long leader running through the rod length which means I use the lowest profile knot I know - the FG knot - so there is least resistance when casting.

The FG takes a little practice to master but it’s well worth it. Most people tie the FG using a jig as it’s crucial to maintain tension when tying this knot. You can buy jigs or make a DIY version- here’s a link to mine below, if you search the forums you’ll find others as well.

https://community.deckee.com/topic/88225-tying-fg-knot-with-diy-jig/#comment-646088

cheers Zoran 

On 4/18/2024 at 2:05 PM, Yowie said:

How do the alphonsino go on the plate?

Here's the reply from Gil ...  "Yes, absolutely beautiful, nice white flesh, quite sweet with nice texture,  not that different from snapper, big scales but quite easy to skin. good sized fillet enough for both of us (wife and I), still have the other fillet in the freezer, hope it freezes well, Cheers Gil"