rkessner

Good on you Steve and Iain, it was a top catch. Your decision to keep it was your decision and your decision only. Don't let anybody crap on your success. If you catch another and keep it, again, its your right. I bet you were totally stoked Iain. Its a shame I couldn't go out on Sunday or else I would have been right next to you as Steve called me Saturday night to go. One of these weekends we will all get out on the Yankee Doodle and smash em mate. Again, congrats to all involved. Rick

Jon, Good going on your dolphinfish and kingys. Those are nice sized kingys compared to alot of the rats that are around. I bet you went home with a smile after that. I think I heard your name over the radio today. Next time I will say hi. Cheers Mate... Rick

G'Day all... Kamil, Aqua and myself started our day by having the boat in the water at Botany at 4:30 this morning. After getting to the shelf shortly after the sun came up, we decided to troll to Southern Canyons. On the way we spotted some bait schools with birds and dolphins working the schools, so we decided to run with the school for awhile. As our lures swung into the school, "smack" we got hit by a striped tuna. After landing the stripey, we continued on running through the school a bit more until we lost sight of it. At this time the water temp was reading 23.9. We continued our course to the canyons with no further luck. After trolling around the canyons a bit, we changed our course to a spot I know 10km. south of Browns from the canyons. On the way there, we seen some acrobatics on the water with two nice dolphinfish jumping through the air. As the rear dolphinfish broke water, it was good-bye as a striped marlin found himself a morning meal. Of course, we had to work that area a bit to see what we might get, but no luck here so on we went. When we found the current, the water temp took a dive down to 23.3 and remained there for the rest of our trip towards Browns Mountain. Nothing was happening at this spot so we turned the boat around and started heading back towards the canyons again. On the way back we ran into Brett/TunOFun and Steve/Outwide. We trolled together for awhile until we got a few miles past Southern Canyons, then we decided to go back to the spot where we seen the bait schools earlier in the day. After finding the current and riding it to around the 40 fathom mark 8 miles out from Botany, one of our lines started screaming. Then it stopped and then the shotgun started screaming. I harnessed up and grabbed the rod while Kamil drove the boat and Aqua brought in the lines. The marlin was every bit of nearly 60kg. and stubborn as they come. I got him boat side four times, but he wasn't about ready to give up. Every time the double got on the reel, he would go for another dive. Kamil worked the boat well, keeping the marlin at a 45 degree angle to the boat at all times. Aqua was busy with his vidio cam making a movie while I was doing my best trying to get this fish to the boat in gaff range. After he took his forth dive and he was about 20 meters under the boat, he spit the hook and the line went dead!!! No sashimi tonight. Guess this stiped marlin will live to fight another day... This was my first fight with a marlin, so I am quite stoked. I have done well this year on the yellowfin, but you can't compare the fight between the two. Maybe better luck next time. We worked this area for another couple of hours with no luck, so we called it a day. Good job Kamil and Aqua. Rick "Yankee Doodle"

My boats name is "Yankee Doodle"- my wife came up with the name three boats ago and I kept the name...might be because I moved here from the U.S. and she thought the name suited me. Rick

Weather is looking friendly for this weekend...anybody going out wide? Might do me a troll and possibly stop in at the fads on the way to the canyons to see if we can score a few dollies. Tight lines and have a Happy New Year... Rick "Yankee Doodle"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prior to purchasing my Cruisecraft 625 Explorer, I didn't know the differance from one trailer to the next, but I now have a full understanding on the laws, requirements and types of trailers on the market. I purchased my boat/ trailer as a combination package. The trailer supplied was was a Dunbier cable braked trailer system rated for up to 2- tons. Since my last post, I have contacted Cruisecraft Australia in Queensland, the RTA, my insurance company and the BIA, all of which had been helpful. All responandances informed me that my trailer supplied should have been suplied with a breakaway system. Attached is the coreespondance from Cruisecraft: Hi Rick, Confirming our recent conversation, it is our recommendation that the Explorer 625 should have a T-EH Trailer underneath as the BMT package would weigh over 2.oT with some fuel and std supplies. The information we provided in our past Brochure indicated that the Explorer 625 had a Static weight of 2196kg and a towing weight of 1996kg (after Towball down pressure). Now depending on who gives the interpretation you could get a differing answer! Our current brochure and website now states that the weight of a (typical) BMT is 2300kg approx; approximately because each Rig set-up varies because of fuel load, engine size weight and brand, not to mentioned what additional options or items a customer may load into the boat when towing!? I hope this information helps to resolve your situation. Regards Peter Benston Sales & Marketing Manager CruiseCraft Boats Pty Ltd -----Original Message----- From: Rick and Simone [mailto:rs_kess@bigpond.net.au] Sent: Wednesday, 8 November 2006 8:16 PM To: Peter Benston Subject: Re: Explorer 625 Trailer Query Through various conversations with the dealer, they ordered me a proper Mayfair Redco Tinka trailer with electric brakes. They came to my house approx. a week and a half ago to change the trailers out. No adjustment to the rollers or supports were made, and after a four day trip to Port Stephens, upon my return home, I found that all the bottom hull centre roller brackets had not beenadjusted or tightened had collapsed and that the boat was only being supported by the side rollers only. The dealer had me sign over the rego papers for the original trailer and sign new rego papers for the new trailer so he could register the trailer. He now wants me to sign another loan paper for an additional $2,000.00 for the additional cost of the new/ proper trailer for my boat. At this stage, I am hesitant about doing so because I feel that the proper trailer should have been on my boat in the first place when I originally purchased the boat, in which I financed. If I knew in the first place that I should have had a breakaway system, to add a couple of thousand of dollars to the original loan contract would have been no problem. Any comments or suggestions in this matter would be apprieciated. I have been informed that I should take this matter to the consumer affairs tribunal for resolution. Thank you, Rick Kessner "Yankee Doodle"

Dear Raider... Just got me some new outriggers and need a couple of pieces of stainless steel (preferrably) backing plate, or aluminium will do. Need two pieces about 150mm X 320mm X 6mm (min). If anybody could help me out, Call: Rick on 0412 968 273 I live in the Earlwood area. Thanx, Rick