I've been busy lately

[Fishaholic]

Here's a few pics of the freshly welded modifications to my hull. As you can see I cut out the foredeck and bow rails, and relocated the console about 800mm rearwards. The hole in the floor forward of the console shows how far it came back, it will eventually house the deep cycle batt's.

The big Motorguide isn't mounted yet, it's just sitting where she'll eventually be fitted. That foredeck will eventually get a pedestal seat, and another somewhere down the back. It's a pretty big foredeck area (the hull is 5.3 meters), bigger than I anticipated.

Yeah, it's probably too big a boat for breaming but there's other species apart from bream I can see the leccie coming in handy to hold possie against the wind and current when throwing slug-gos at structure for kingies around the wedding cakes, and headlands.... Anyhow, heres a few photos.

[Fishaholic]

Another...

[Fishaholic]

It's a big area, bigger than it appears in the picture...

[Fishaholic]

My baby

[chris_lemess]

Nice work. Big boat, but not too big for breamin'. As long as it's manoueverable and can be launched/retrieved relatively easy it should make a very fishable boat.
Have you considered raising that forward deck? All it woul require is a foot or so of elevation - you'd get great sight-casting options (think trevally on the flats if you go up north) yet you've always got the freeboard in the rest of the boat should you come across a bit of swell and don't want to be perched up in the clouds.
cheers

[Fishaholic]

Chris,

She is an easy boat to handle, I launch and retrieve by myself with ease.

Raising the foredeck is still an option that I'm considering. It would be a great place for heaps of storage and a livewell. The only downside I see is that it would render it unusable with any sort of swell without risking going overboard. I'll live with her as is for this summer and see how I feel about it come next winter.

I suppose if I decide to get involved in the bream tournaments I'd probably lean more towards raising it.

Cheers,
Gab.

Looks like you have a 'plan' for using her for your sort of fishing and thats what boats should be rigged out for...to make fishing life comfortable and fun & theres never such a thing as too big a boat - haven't you heard of "two foot itis" (the ideal boats always 2 foot bigger than the one you currently have!)

Thats the excuse you need to tell the missus why your selling the one you have for a new (bigger) one.

Some thoughts for you...off the top of my head.

While putting fuel and batteys below floor to keep the centre of gravity low (and make her more stable at rest) is a good idea, the idea of batterys in the Bilge is generally frowned on.

Reason 1

If (more like when) fuel one day leaks into your bilge - you definitely DON'T want the potential scource for any stray spark in the bilge with it.


Reason 2

If the boat cops a greenie over the bow (or worse stern) and ships a LOT of water - you want to be able to pump it out fast before the next wave does the same thing and compounds the problem (making the boat sink).

If the battery terminals that operate the bilge pump are underwater in the bilge, then they are effectively "shorted out" to all intents and purpose - meaning the flick of the bilge pump swith may bring a deafening silence. This then means you have to access the bigle with a bailing bucket and bail like a banshee to keep her afloat. (while the next wave is about to hit and you probably should be concentrating on getting the engine started and the hell outta there!).

Tis usually not a bad idea to put your batterys on a slide out shelf in the console ( secured with a clip or pin / bolt) so that you can slide em out to check fluid levels, tighten or clean terminals, attach jumper cables or trickle charger clamps and the like and it isn't a hassel.

If you put em high enough in the console that the terminals are above gunnel height then if your terminals are shorted from saltwater - your already sunk and a bilge pumps not much good to you anyway!.

As far as console position - up front like that will often keep you dry because the spray throws clear but ioften the trade off is a bumpy ride.

Often putting the console more to the rear gives a wetter ride in a cross breeze (from wind blown spray) but more comfortable ride in chop / short period swell.. (bit of a trade off really).

Still reckon she looks like a corker tho and emminently fishable...

Hope the suggestions help.

Cheers!

[Fishaholic]

Trouty,

Thaks for the feedback, very informative as usual.

I completely agree with you re. the battery setup which runs the bilge pump, but this location in front of the console is just to accomodate the deep cycle batteries to run the leccie. They will be housed in an alloy box that will be welded in place (structural member), the hatch will be a waterproof seal, and the box will be vented via some tubing to the top (inside) of the console. The cables will terminate in an S-50 plug/socket arrangement under the gunnel next to the leccie so that I can unplug the leccie and plug in the charger at that point. Effectively, it would require the gunnels to be a foot or so underwater before the batteries start geting wet.... in theory, anyhow.

The bilge pumps (2 X 1100GPH - you can never have too much bilge pumping capacity IMHO) run off the cranking battery which is high and dry in its housing under the gunnel against the transom. The deckwash pump, when fitted, will also have a Y-valve on the intake so in a pinch it can supplement the bilge pumps.

I agree with you re. the tradeoff with the console possie but as I see it it's an open boat and when push comes to shove you're going to get wet regardless, which in all honestly doesn't really bother me too much, I just slip on the wet weather gear.

The fitout is never ending, it seems that the more I work on her the more that needs to be done!!

Cheers,
Gab.

Looks like you got it covered!

Excellent idea having the battery compartment vented up above gunnel height because in a sealed watertight compartment the gas given off by the batterys while charging is also explosive!

Neat lookin boat - needs a poling platform over the OB!

And under gunnel fuel tanks with rod holders!

Oh yeah - a manual whale gusher bilge pump never goes astray (mine saved me once).

Fire extinguisher, chart tube, ahh - I'll prolly think of somethin else you can never have enough stuff in a boat!

Cheers!

[Jocool]

Looks great Gab!

Is that new hull, or did you start on something you already had? What hull is it?

By the way..im in Greystanes near parra. You anywhere near me?

[Fishaholic]

Originally posted by Jocool
Looks great Gab!

Is that new hull, or did you start on something you already had? What hull is it?

By the way..im in Greystanes near parra. You anywhere near me?

Thanks Jocool,

The hull started as a a Stessl Track Rail Truck 5.3, I bought it new 14 months ago.

I'm out at Cecil Hills, pretty much on the corner of Elizabeth Drive and Cowpasture Rd, so I'm not too far from you. Whereabouts do you usually fish?

Cheers,
Gab.

[Jocool]

Gab...Unfortunately due to the fact that I bought a new house...and renovated...and started a new business...and bought a new truck...and went overseas...PHEW...fishing has taken a back seat!!!

I did fish the Lane cove river out of a 18 ft Bayliner the other week..LOL. And a couple of times rock hopping at Avoca.

But now...with my new boat being delivered next week..Ill be out there EVERY chance I get!!!

We should catch up and get both boats out soon!!

When will yours be ready?

[Fishaholic]

Joe,

I know what you mean, I've gone through a bit myself lately.

I just checked out all the pics in another thread, of your boat being built, man that's a sexy looking rig! I'll bet you're not getting much sleep in anticipation

I should be ready to go again within a week or so. Let me know when you're ready to hit the water, I'd love to see your new rig up close

Cheers,
Gab.

[Jocool]

well Gab....

Looking at delivery early next week i hope.

Water trials tomorrow...he will ship it out prob monday