garfield28

G'day Raiders, Just wondering if anyone could give a ballpark figure on what new Transom and stringers would roughly cost to DIY as against paying a pro? Anyone who has recently done one and can just let me know what I'd be looking at roughly, much appreciated. Thanks Geoff

Yeah would have been good Rick. The meet up sounds good too. Nah no shame but it's a long way to drive thinking you'll Cross's it but turns out you cannot. Yeah could have did that but I could see the waves etc from where I was in the boat also. As for giving someone else the wheel with no experience, it would have been no different if it were me as I have no experience either. The difference is I froze and couldn't do it and it may have been a problem mid bar if I had kept going and attempted to cross it myself. No Spanish mate either ☹️

Just want anyone else that reads this thread by coming across it in a search that the bar is everything that has been stated here in this thread. After speaking with the local Marine rescue it was advised to me that I do not launch at my original desired time of 5ish am but instead launch when there was daylight so I could sit back and look at the bar and try and read it a bit before attempting to cross it. So I launched at 7am there was plenty of daylight and it was roughly half an hour after low tide. I sat back and watched and thought I'd seen enough of the waves breaking and the direction I needed to go. I saw a few boats go out and stopped one who said the bar wasn't too bad today (yesterday) and stated it was fairly tame at that time. He gave me some advice on how to cross it and explained the lights that direct you back in when I returned. I watched him go through and saw his boat point upwards a few times going over the waves, It freaked me out a bit but thought I'd now go across. I started to head towards it and as I approached the first couple of waves I went to jelly I couldn't do it, I turned around and started to head back to the ramp, I was bloody sh@tting myself! It was just one wave after another, after another. I freaked out and just couldn't do it. In the end a mate and young fella passenger I had in the boat who does have boating experience but had never crossed a bar stuck his hand up to have a crack because he was keen as mustard to get out and fish. He did it and he did it well on the advice that a boater from the area had given us earlier, and just when we thought we were through it 2 more waves really stood up in front of us and it was bloody hairy, I really paniced. The young fella did well, he said he was a little worried but you know these young blokes they think they're bullet proof and don't think of what happens if things go wrong. Bottom line is it was super, super scary and it wasn't even anywhere near its worst or even bad so the locals were saying yesterday, and it froze me. I totally respect what everyone said on this thread and it still didn't prepare me for how scared I was when I started to go across it. If I had to drive over it yesterday I would have drove to SWR for nothing because I couldn't do it. It's scary scary stuff.

I sent you a pm Rick. Asking if ya did any good. We got 2 small macs mate. We saw a few decent bust ups but bait was real hard to find and we trolled livies and lures for what felt like forever for nothing mate. I stayed up there Friday night so expensive little trip for nothing... Could have fished home for a feed also. Oh well enjoyed the trip with my son and a mate.

Supposed to be decent conditions this Saturday if it stays that way... I'll have a look at the Scott's head option. Thanks Thanks Pete. I won't have the time to have a look as I'd be getting up there late Friday night.. and as luck would have it Saturday morning early is a run out tide so looks like I need another area to launch from. What are you up to Friday night/ Saturday morning Jeff? Hahaha Any Spanish or spotties been caught at Crowdy head mate? Cheers Frank. You know any places more south that are safe to launch and get out where I can catch the target species? I'll go to another location but really wanna try and have a crack at the Spanish

Cheers Rick. Swell is looking ok at the moment for Saturday but the low tide is at 6 am-ish which is around the time I'd be heading out I guess. I'm not the most experienced boater and I'm pretty worried about it.

G'day all, I am hoping to get up to South West Rocks on the weekend and just looking for some info on the Bar crossing and other alternatives please. I've heard the Bar crossing at SWR is pretty dangerous and has claimed lives in the past. I have never ever been there before and I don't know if it is safe for a 5.2 metre Savage boat to cross at all, or at any particular time. I have been trying to search up info and cannot find a great deal, and some people have suggested other ramps like the back creek and Goal but some seem to think that they are dangerous also, and can only really be used at certain times. If anyone could please give me some info as if it is too dangerous I will give it a miss. I wanted to get up there this weekend and chase some Spanish and Spotted Mackerel. If SWR is best avoided, can anyone please suggest a safer area where I may still tangle with a few Spanyards or Spotties please. I've heard Spotties can be caught at Forster too which would be a lot closer to home, but I'm not 100% convinced or know much about when is roughly the best time/month to get them etc. Any info would be really appreciated, Thanks Geoff

Thanks for the replies everyone but sorted it out. Turns out it was a bad relay, and when I swapped over the one that was working and when I put it back on and it wasn't was due to me disconnecting wires from both switches as I pulled the relays out. I pulled the below guard part off so I could suss out for loose wires as suggested by Sigma and Frank and discovered that I had accidentally disconnected the both of them. Thanks again for those who replied. Geoff

Thanks Sigma. I started reading your thread today but am not all the way through it yet. I'll give that a go when I get home from work mate, thank you. Hi Frank, cheers mate I'll have a look when I get home mate. Frank wouldn't it still make a noise in that the motor will want to operate but can't because of the oil? I press the button mate and there is absolutely nothing and the strange thing is how when I swapped over the relay the one that was actually working before I switched isn't working at all now.

Thanks for that I'll have a sicky.

HI all, Looking for answers with a tilt and trim issue. The other day I was out with my son fishing and I noticed that my tilt up was working but I was a little intermediately, I'd press the up button on my outboard throttle and it wouldn't go up straight away, I'd have to press/tap it a few times. By the time I got back to the ramp it wasn't working at all via the forward control and even on the outboard switch on the side. The whole time though the tilt down was working perfectly normal. When I got home and washed the boat I decided to check if it was the relay that was the issue so I swapped over the relay that was working with the one that wasn't and it didn't still work, but the weird thing is as soon as I put the relay that was working back on it was now not working! Thinking maybe it was on its way out too I bought a brand new one today and put it on and it still isn't working. Could someone please tell me if there is a fuse for this part somewhere? I do notice however that when I press on the button even before, it is making a clicking noise which I assume is the circuit opening but it is just dead with no movement almost like when a car has a flat battery, it makes that clicking noise but there's nothing. When I turn the button to start the outboard there is no dramas at all, I'm really perplexed with this one. Any help would be much appreciated as I really want to get it sorted so I can hit the water again this weekend. Thanks Geoff

Hi all, Just wondering if any of you members have a new Mercury 75HP 4 stroke, and if so give some feedback on them please. I am close to purchasing a new boat and it has a Merc 4 stroke so would just like to know how they perform and what they are like with fuel economy etc. It would be pushing a 484 Alloy Side Console. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks Geoff

Thanks for that mate. If it has a self draining deck, does that mean it has scruppers on the back? As I don't remember seeing those on the one I was looking at. Thanks

Cheers Sydney South. Would those add ons only be for newer boats? The one I'm looking at is a 2015 model and as far as I know it hasn't got the big kill tank under the casting deck either.

Cheers Baz. Yeah I'm thinking the new outboard is good and it comes with some warranty too, but think I might go the bigger of the 2 boats which is the Top-Ender. Along with the bit of extra length I'll get some items I'd otherwise have to buy like VHF radio, sounder, Bimini, ladder, some life jackets etc. I'll still have to add a bit like a UHF radio, an electric motor, steep system to mention a few.

Cheers Baz. I have the 2 to choose from at present so not sure if the specs change but the Top-Ender I'm looking at is a 2015 model and the Renegade is a 2019 model.

Hi all, Just a quick one. Does the Top-Ender and the renegades have the same hull? Just wonder what the main difference is between the 2? Thanks Geoff

Have 2 boats at present that I am stuck which one would be best. I can get a 2019 demo model 460 renegade with a 75hp ETEC that has 20 hours for 25kbut it is unpainted,so not sure if that is a good thing or not. Has nothing special other than it has a offshore washwell. I have also been looking at a 2015 Quintrex 481 Top-ender with a 2015 ETEC that has 30 hours on it that the guy wants 27k for. It also has the offshore washwell. Which way would you guys go? Thanks

Thanks for the info Jeff.. they are definitely on my Radar now. I need to take one for a test drive, and a side console too for that matter.

So you're up at Port Stephens at the moment Jeff? Yeah when I looked at pictures of the stacer easy rider along side a Quintrex Renegade or even a Stacer outlaw the hull looks the same so I guess it's sort of the same boat except it has no glovebox and dash for the passenger and it has a casting deck, where the other has all of the comforts and some escape from the elements when needed. Does the Stacer easy rider have a underfloor kill tank Jeff? I know all of the Quinnies Freedom Sports I have looked at online and questioned didn't have a kill tank or built in live tank.

Cheers for the reply Jeff. How long have you had her mate? By the sounds of it you either didn't but it solely for fishing or you don't get out much... Do you have the Bimini on it? I saw one at the boat ramp the other day and was amazed at how much room there actually was in the Stacer easy rider... Fair bit behind the driver's seat in cockpit which really surprised me. They look perfect to cover family and fishing but I'm a bit concerned how I'd go taking it offshore on occasions

I just had a look at a formosa side console boat. No comparison on build quality really. But more pricey and looks heavy though I'm not it would be.

Has anyone got a bowrider boat they use for fishing? With the front seating arrangement, I've seen a few pics where they have taken the cushions out and put in an infill to make a casting deck. some seem quite roomy in the back too. My only concern is can you somehow mount an electric motor though

You looking for one too Mii11x?

Thanks for the reply mate. Yep still looking and researching. What make and size outboard you get with her widd? How is she at rest also that is the only bad thing I heard about the anglapro boats from a guy at work Thanks Geoff