garfield28

Thanks for the reply mate. I thought flow coat was OK for marine applications??? It would seem from what I have read on here and other forums, that it is used quite a fair bit on boats etc.... You sound like you've done this before Bill and know what you're talking about. Where would be a place you would recommend to buy the gear needed and a place where they can give help with any questions etc in Port Stephens - Newcastle area?

So where are you up to with yours billfisher - any pics? I'm keen to get it done, and would love one on my boat.... the prowave ones look tops but are exy, be interesting to get feedback on the prowave ones if someone has ever owned one. I wonder if they add unwanted weight to the back end of the boat.

G'day Raiders, I need your opinions once again I'm thinking of having a crack at making a fiberglass bait board/live tank. I've done very limited fiberglass work and a little gelcoat repair, but seeing it won't be structural I'm thinking of having a go at making myself a bait board live tank like the attached picture. I think it's worth a go just to save money for a start, but strongly believe I could make it, but probably worry about how the gel coat would look in something with sharp corners not curves. I was thinking maybe make my box with 6mm ply and glass over it all, then make the lid/hatch glass that prior to attaching it to the box then glass over the corners to attach it with strength if that makes sense. I could then make a couple of angled pieces like angle channel and glass that to the side to attach bolts etc to the boat.... Hoping someone out there may have already had a go at it (successfully) and can advise on a few do's and a few don'ts. Once made I could install a bung and the plumbing. Thanks Geoff

Yeah I need to decide if I want it to look cosmetically beautiful and matched in so get it done under insurance, or just do it myself have it structurally sound but not as nice looking. I've never made a claim on boat insurance before, if I make this claim will they put my premium up - or jack up my excess if I have a future claim??

Thanks for the replies. The bollard is in the drink in about 50 meters of water... it snapped off and went down with the rope. Any rough idea what it might cost for this type of repair at the glass shop? And any chance I could claim repair of this and the cost of my anchor, anchor chain and rope, a long with the bollard? Thanks Geoff

Hi Raiders, Went out for a fish yesterday and had a shocker!! First I lost my anchor, as the rope I joined it to come apart. So a guy I was out with suggested I throw a rope to his anchored boat and stay fishing like that. Well it was quite rough out yesterday and before I knew it I was drifting away from him and just thought the rope had come off his tie point or just fell off the bollard on my boat. I was wrong. I looked down at the front of my boat and notice the bloody bollard snapped off. I believe that bollard was probably never installed correctly from the start. I think it was only screwed in not bolted with a backing plate. Anyhow I need to get it repaired so I can get back on the water and need a few opinions. I would like to repair it myself to save some coin and to get it done quicker, but don't really know how to, and also am worried it will look crap as there is like a textured pattern embedded into the fiberglass and I'd like to match it but wouldn't know if it's possible to do so DIY. If anyone has some advice if it can be done or if it can be fixed to the same as it was I'd love to hear from you. Thanks Geoff

Thanks for that mate. If anyone on here can recommend someone in the Port Stephens area that would be great.

I actually bought it like this mate, I didn't remove the cylinders. Are you saying like a fixed say T bimini top type setup?

Hey tef1on, Mate to be honest when I have a few rods on board with a couple of guys out, I hate all of the rods in the way when I'm fishing up the back. I'd much rather they be up top out of the way. Would you think I could possibly get someone to weld me on some new cylinders onto the existing bar?

Thanks for the replies guys. I have uploaded some more pics. I removed the bimini which was installed incorrectly and can now see better what I believe is an existing rocket launcher with the cylinders removed. You can see in some of the pics what looks like grinding down of where the welds would have been for the cylinders that were removed. I now think that maybe I just need to track down someone to custom make me a bimini only, and chase down someone who can weld stainless steel to throw a few cylinders on for me.... what do you think?

Hi all, Just need some advice on a rocket launcher - Bimini set up. I have a Savage Escort 5.2 meter boat, and originally wanted a custom made bimini and launcher setup, but think cost wise it's out of my budget. I'm wondering if anyone has done a setup off ebay - or Whitworths bimini/launcher pack and whether they recommend it. I have a bimini on my boat at present that was installed by the previous owner, but he installed it wrong and it looks sh@thouse! There is a bar that looks like and old launcher setup with the cylinders removed, but I'm no expert and cannot be sure, but it is connected to the boats body (hopefully you can see in the attached pictures) Would just appreciate any feedback on others thoughts of the ebay and Whitworths setups, or some advice as to some options I may have with my current frame work etc. Thanks Geoff

Hi all, Hopeful that someone may be able to help me please. I have a Lowrance Elite 7 with chirp and on my last trip there was no broadband display. I just thought that I hadn't tightened up the cord at the back properly, but I've just hooked it up to see if she's good for a trip tomorrow and it is blank once again. Would anyone have some ideas as to what it might be please? Much appreciated. Geoff

Could anyone please tell me what size life jacket I need for a 10 year old please?? I have a small one for my nephew to wear but looks a bit small and I don't wanna get in trouble. Thanks Geoff

Hi All, Just stumped on this one if someone can help me out please. I have a 5.2 Savage Escort, and I plan to head out through the heads tomorrow and was wondering because I know the amount you can take outside is different to inside am I OK to take out 4 adults and one child 10 years old? Cheers Geoff

Thanks for that mate. Good to know it might be possible then. I'm happy to go aluminium if I save a quid and the quality is still there.

I just want something similar to the picture attached. I have also attached a pic of my boat (the one without the launcher or clears).

Thanks mate. You know anyone who has done it this way and if it looked good? $3000 WOW I'm not even anywhere near that sort of dough.... I would really love to get it done though as it adds so much more to the boat when the conditions turn

Hi all, I want to get a custom made Bimini top made with a clear front screen and rocket launchers, think it will be possible to get this and have change from $1000? If I have some change I wouldn't mind getting some upholstery done also. If anyone can recommend someone around Newy or Port Stephens I'd really appreciate it. Thanks Geoff

Top day out on the water Scratchie, where else would you wanna be as you say heaps and heaps of fish hanging around the boat I've never seen so many fish in my life, certainly made it hard to get the bait down as it got smashed as soon as it went below the water. Was the first time the young bloke and I have ever caught live bait too which was a buzz, and what a spin out to see so many boats all congregate in one area it looked like a cab rank outside a disco.... shame to see the livey get dropped after whatever had it screamed a a few meters of line off. Bites all day and plenty of just undersized snapper, sure made for a great day, and what about that monster Bream The wife was surprised for me to come home with fish for once Was a top day Scratchie, I second the great company and the awesome weather over beautiful Port Stephens... Cannot wait for the next one. Cheers Geoff

Hi all, Got the skin fitting and also some conduit for the outlet, but now I'm confused on how I can get the hose from the bilge to the spray head going through the back just above the transom. I'll post some pics tomorrow of my boat transom etc, but in the meantime I have posted a pic I found on google which is sort of what I need to do so that I don't just try and snug fit a hose straight from the bilge to the spray head.....any ideas? Thanks Geoff

I like it! Thanks for the idea. For my setup, I have a rule 500 GPH bilge along with a water pickup that the bilge will sit on. The only thing I was stuck on was the outlet, as I was worried I might lose bait through the hole - also squid ink blocking the strainer. I caught some cuttlefish on the weekend that was kept for bait, and I was blown away from the mess they made in the my friends portable tank which had to be changed quite regularly. Must be a snug fit the conduit into that skin fitting to hold the water also. I'll look into buying some conduit to fit a skin fitting and give it a go. Cheers Geoff

Thanks for the replies. I was at Whitworths yesterday and couldn't find anything that would do the job. So does electrical conduit fit inside the skin a fitting? I need some ideas on the cheapest option.

Hi all, I'm about to make a live bait tank and just wondering if anyone has ever had any dramas with the live bait escaping from a 25mm skin fitting? Cant seem to able to buy or come up with an idea for a strainer for it... but if there is no need be easier for me just to whack the skin fitting inside it. Also I bought a water pickup and 500 rule bilge pump, anyone have a pic of how the bilge sits on the water pickup and if I need a tap to switch from bilge to water pickup when on the way and vise versa when stopped. Thanks Geoff

Thanks for the replies. So I need to raise it a touch you think hey...?

Hi All, Further to my problem of my transducer giving me incorrect readings, I put the breadboard on the transom and moved the position of my transducer, well now I have a massive spray of water coming out the back - a rooster tail I believe I have read. Any ideas if its just a case of moving the transducer or if I need a cover or something? It's quite annoying looking back and seeing this spray all over the cowling of my outboard etc. Thanks Geoff