new bimini installed - recommended tradie

[Huxstang]

Still cannot post pics but highly recommend Ray’s Canvas and Marine at Caboolture - he did the custom bimini for me and it is just superb.  Delivered exactly how I envisaged it - no guy straps, tall enough I can stand under (6’5”),  doesnt block the casting deck, clear space to the rear so you can face backwards and fish out the back as well

[kmcrosby78]

Nice one mate, would love to see a pic when they're back up and running.

[rayke1938]

take a vid ,post it to utube and then post the link to utube.

 

[Angry51]

Yeah it's good when you get a job done and everything goes to plan with the desired ending.

[Huxstang]

Well I have done a full walk around of the boat.  

Quick summary:

Formosa 525 SRT,side console.  Suzuki 140hp.

Dunbier dual axle gal trailer on 14” gal wheels.  I have done a lot of offroad travel and prefer steel over alloy as you can fix it just about anywhere and this boat will be getting some travel under its belt.

Electronics:

Garmin 12” and 9” in console.  16” on bow for the livescope.  LVS34 on a pole.

I hope the walk around gives a decent look at the boat.  I havent fitted some of the gear as I just got it back from having the Seadek done and fitting up the electric this afternoon.

 

Big shout out to Rayke who kindly has loaned me the Minn Kota for a trip up north next week.

Garmin continually are pushing back delivery on my Kraken trolling motor (the downside of wanting the latest on market).

I have overall had a really good experience in buying this boat.

Overall the Formosa is pretty decent build quality - yes it could be better but its a solid truck and rides really well.

I have had a good experience so far with everyone I have dealt with which I think is a nice thing in the marine trades.

NCBC down at Uranga - Dayne Taylor is the manager and has a similar boat and uses his boat how I planned for this one.  Really good advice on what was a good investment and what wasnt.  Sorted out everything even though I was coming from interstate.  Way too easy to deal with.   

Electronics were predominantly from Shotgun Marine at Port Macquarie.  No stuffing around just good advice and very good pricing.

Transducer Poles Australia - another quality tradie who is a fisho.  Just talked through the boat and what I was doing and got an extendable pole with a QD plate so I can remove it and stow it easily for travel.

Rays Canvas and Marine - found this guy through a Youtube video by Stones Corner Marine.  What a trademan.  He is a fisherman and knows exactly how it has to be to work.  

Boat Flooring Australia. Gave Lucas a call and the short time frame and he got it all done in 2 days for me.  

PS I have no idea on Youtube but it maybe that the video isnt available until tomorrow and no idea how to change it.

 

[ellicat]

That's great to hear you have had pretty smooth sailing (pardon the pun) with getting the boat up to speed.

Somehow you have set the video to premiere at 7pm tomorrow. I think you can change it by editing the details of the vid on your Channel Content page.

A generous offer from Ray. Good on you @rayke1938.

 

Where are you heading to first up ?

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Looks great Huxstang, I look forward to hearing about your fishing in it. 

[Huxstang]

I had a look at Youtube to alter it but alas no luck.

 

First stop is Clairview, wont get the boat wet but have two days in Townsville after that and apparently the wind is easing early next week so might get a decent chance there.

Some chance the wind is easing @ Wed- Friday in Cooktown so if its a chance its reef on Thursday and maybe duck up around Cape Bedford.  Otherwise we will fish Endeavour and Annand Rivers Friday to Sunday and see whether the barra are around.  

[ellicat]

I had to lookup Cape Bedford. Plenty of closer reefs there. Good luck.

[Bretto77]

41 minutes ago, Huxstang said:

First stop is Clairview

That's somewhere I have never fished but always wanted to.

Hope it all goes well for you

[Angry51]

5 minutes ago, Bretto77 said:

That's somewhere I have never fished but always wanted to.

Hope it all goes well for you

That's where low tide goes out 20miles.

No good if you dont know the channels.

Was good crabbing there.

[Bretto77]

2 hours ago, Angry51 said:

That's where low tide goes out 20miles.

No good if you dont know the channels.

Was good crabbing there.

Yes I know about the flats. I still want to spend a bit of time there one day. One of those spots I have always driven past.

[ellicat]

On 18/10/2023 at 7:51 PM, Huxstang said:

Well I have done a full walk around of the boat.  

Quick summary:

Formosa 525 SRT,side console.  Suzuki 140hp.

Dunbier dual axle gal trailer on 14” gal wheels.  I have done a lot of offroad travel and prefer steel over alloy as you can fix it just about anywhere and this boat will be getting some travel under its belt.

Electronics:

Garmin 12” and 9” in console.  16” on bow for the livescope.  LVS34 on a pole.

I hope the walk around gives a decent look at the boat.  I havent fitted some of the gear as I just got it back from having the Seadek done and fitting up the electric this afternoon.

 

Big shout out to Rayke who kindly has loaned me the Minn Kota for a trip up north next week.

Garmin continually are pushing back delivery on my Kraken trolling motor (the downside of wanting the latest on market).

I have overall had a really good experience in buying this boat.

Overall the Formosa is pretty decent build quality - yes it could be better but its a solid truck and rides really well.

I have had a good experience so far with everyone I have dealt with which I think is a nice thing in the marine trades.

NCBC down at Uranga - Dayne Taylor is the manager and has a similar boat and uses his boat how I planned for this one.  Really good advice on what was a good investment and what wasnt.  Sorted out everything even though I was coming from interstate.  Way too easy to deal with.   

Electronics were predominantly from Shotgun Marine at Port Macquarie.  No stuffing around just good advice and very good pricing.

Transducer Poles Australia - another quality tradie who is a fisho.  Just talked through the boat and what I was doing and got an extendable pole with a QD plate so I can remove it and stow it easily for travel.

Rays Canvas and Marine - found this guy through a Youtube video by Stones Corner Marine.  What a trademan.  He is a fisherman and knows exactly how it has to be to work.  

Boat Flooring Australia. Gave Lucas a call and the short time frame and he got it all done in 2 days for me.  

PS I have no idea on Youtube but it maybe that the video isnt available until tomorrow and no idea how to change it.

 

I just watched the vid. Great looking setup, @Huxstang. Now to give her a good barra blooding.

[rayke1938]

formidable weapon.

[Angry51]

22 hours ago, Huxstang said:

I had a look at Youtube to alter it but alas no luck.

 

First stop is Clairview, wont get the boat wet but have two days in Townsville after that and apparently the wind is easing early next week so might get a decent chance there.

Some chance the wind is easing @ Wed- Friday in Cooktown so if its a chance its reef on Thursday and maybe duck up around Cape Bedford.  Otherwise we will fish Endeavour and Annand Rivers Friday to Sunday and see whether the barra are around.  

Don't like your chances of good weather, cyclone forming in the east and wind forcast from 21/22 oct. It hasn't stopped blowing here since end July. But for your sake I hope I'm wrong.

Good fishing and good luck, be good to get a report on the new boat.

[Bretto77]

Really nice set up. Did you say 0.3L/km? That's pretty good for a 140.

[Ed.]

On 20/10/2023 at 7:49 AM, Angry51 said:

Don't like your chances of good weather, cyclone forming in the east and wind forecast from 21/22 oct. It hasn't stopped blowing here since end July. But for your sake I hope I'm wrong.

 

I hope you are wrong as well Angry31, heading up north with the missus on Thursday on a road trip, so hopefully it will fizzle out or stay away from the coast. Staying at Airlie Beach for a week, so will wait and see what it's doing before we decide if we will keep going up to Port Douglas.

[Angry51]

Road trip should be OK Ed, but with the windy weather we've been having I can't see any good boating weather. Might get some in the mornings but you'd won't to be on the lookout all the time. It seems to just come out of nowhere and around 30k's and then die off, then starts again. Can only remember one other year like this was in 2006, blew most of the year.

[Ed.]

Hopefully it won't affect the charter boats too much, I have two fishing trips and a sailing trip booked from Port Douglas and they are all large sized boats.

[Huxstang]

Not sure how Ed is going but Cooktown has lived up to its reputation.  Barra comp started Friday and wind started picking up early mid morning.  I’ll post a trip report later

 

[Ed.]

The wifey and I arrived in Airlie Beach last night and it was blowing a gale, probably up to 30knots. it eased up a bit this morning to 20-25knots. We went out on a 85ft sailing cat and went over to Dumbell island for a snorkel first, but the water was mucky due to the strong winds and big tides, then went to Hills inlet for a swim. On the way over I had white caps in my coffee mug! All in all it was still a good trip.

We are here till Wednesday before making our way to Mission Beach and after that to Port Douglas  where I have 2 Fishing trips and a sailing cat booked, then back to Cairns. Hopefully the weather will settle down a bit but keeping an eye on it.

At least the 4WD hasn't broken down...yet, touch wood.

 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hope the weather calms down for you Ed, good luck with the fishing. 

[Ed.]

Thanks Hamish.

[ellicat]

Yeah, fingers crossed, Ed.

[Angry51]

Yeah Ed, wish the wind would blow itself away, I've lost 4 dogs this year already, blown off their chains. Poor buggers are probably blown down to the border by now.