2023 new boat

[tugger]

Got my new boat last year after 20 years owning my last tinnie. So I talked the wife into an upgrade and bought a 651 Mclay hardtop.

I got straight into getting some good mojo for the boat with a few trips offshore brisvegas and a trip out on the bunker group up north.

I very happy with it so far and here is a few pictures now we can load them up again on AFO.

[ellicat]

Very nice rig, tugger. Is it the same model as Ted's or a bit longer ?

[tugger]

28 minutes ago, ellicat said:

Very nice rig, tugger. Is it the same model as Ted's or a bit longer ?

Ted's is a bit longer

[Bretto77]

Very nice boat.  Looks like you definitely have got it's mojo on track too! Congratulations. One day.... One day I'll be able to get a bigger boat

[kmcrosby78]

Nice boat Mark - I've seen Ted's and they're a good design, plenty of room and also shade/shelter from the elements. Good to see you've transferred the mojo over to the new rig, not that that was in doubt ...... .

[tugger]

3 hours ago, Bretto77 said:

Very nice boat.  Looks like you definitely have got it's mojo on track too! Congratulations. One day.... One day I'll be able to get a bigger boat

Did plenty of miles in my last tinnie they're fun no mater the size.

[tugger]

1 hour ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Nice boat Mark - I've seen Ted's and they're a good design, plenty of room and also shade/shelter from the elements. Good to see you've transferred the mojo over to the new rig, not that that was in doubt ...... .

Loving the shade especially our hot summers.

[GregOug]

Nice boat. Nice fish. Well done.

[Bob9863]

I tend to like small tinnies myself, but a boat like that would definitely be a hell of a lot nicer to fish from.

It looks like a brilliant place to fish from.

[mzaakir]

nice boat mate, looks amazing

 

[crazywalrus]

20 hours ago, ellicat said:

Very nice rig, tugger. Is it the same model as Ted's or a bit longer ?

They are pretty similar boats. Mine is a 671 cruiser and Mark’s is a 651 cross over. You would have to get the measuring tap out to tell the differences. There is no difference in the fishing area just a tiny bit more space in the cab.  And the paint job is excellent. 

[tugger]

23 hours ago, Bob9863 said:

I tend to like small tinnies myself, but a boat like that would definitely be a hell of a lot nicer to fish from.

It looks like a brilliant place to fish from.

Yeah I had small tinnies for over 30 years but the long trips offshore up north helps to have a bit more room and comfort. 

[tugger]

21 hours ago, crazywalrus said:

They are pretty similar boats. Mine is a 671 cruiser and Mark’s is a 651 cross over. You would have to get the measuring tap out to tell the differences. There is no difference in the fishing area just a tiny bit more space in the cab.  And the paint job is excellent. 

Mine in need for some trim tabs that's the only thing letting it down. Talked to my mechanic just recently and he will hook me up in a few months with a set of lencos.

[crazywalrus]

1 hour ago, tugger said:

Mine in need for some trim tabs that's the only thing letting it down. Talked to my mechanic just recently and he will hook me up in a few months with a set of lencos.

Yeah I use the trim tabs all the time. I have my weight in the boat a bit to the port side. That way if I am to use a tab, it is the port one and does not effect the transducer. Are you going to get a bow mount leccy? 

[tugger]

18 minutes ago, crazywalrus said:

Yeah I use the trim tabs all the time. I have my weight in the boat a bit to the port side. That way if I am to use a tab, it is the port one and does not effect the transducer. Are you going to get a bow mount leccy? 

Not yet no coin for that for a while do you have auto pilot

[Bob9863]

4 hours ago, tugger said:

Yeah I had small tinnies for over 30 years but the long trips offshore up north helps to have a bit more room and comfort. 

It definitely would at that, not just more comfortable but a hell of a lot safer too.

I do freshwater lakes and rivers so a small tinnie is brilliant, but for open water you definitely want something bigger like that.

[Rebel]

Top boat.

Great haul.

Well done.

[crazywalrus]

8 hours ago, tugger said:

Not yet no coin for that for a while do you have auto pilot

No auto pilot. Do not seen the use for it. 

[Corry]

Nice set up.

For your future mods, when you look at the trim tabs, go the auto version, I've found them handy as. While up and moving anyone can walk around the boat and it stays level no matter what, it also helps with hole shot.

Autopilot wise, I tossed up about this when we bought the boat, didn't do it, then after the first couple of trips went and got it added. One of the best mods I've done. We fish out of Cairns and do a fair bit out wide, when travelling for an hour, or even only going a few klms it makes the trip so more pleasant. One of the best add-ons I've done. 

[tugger]

12 hours ago, Corry said:

Nice set up.

For your future mods, when you look at the trim tabs, go the auto version, I've found them handy as. While up and moving anyone can walk around the boat and it stays level no matter what, it also helps with hole shot.

Autopilot wise, I tossed up about this when we bought the boat, didn't do it, then after the first couple of trips went and got it added. One of the best mods I've done. We fish out of Cairns and do a fair bit out wide, when travelling for an hour, or even only going a few klms it makes the trip so more pleasant. One of the best add-ons I've done. 

Yeah I can cruise for more than 2 hours in one direction out from 1770 and turkey beach so it payed for itself now I use it everywhere 

[Hweebe]

On 12/03/2024 at 7:50 AM, Corry said:

Autopilot wise, I tossed up about this when we bought the boat, didn't do it, then after the first couple of trips went and got it added. One of the best mods I've done. We fish out of Cairns and do a fair bit out wide, when travelling for an hour, or even only going a few klms it makes the trip so more pleasant. One of the best add-ons I've done. 

@GregOug did you go autopilot as well?

[GregOug]

46 minutes ago, Hweebe said:

@GregOug did you go autopilot as well?

Yes @Hweebe. As well as joystick which gives the full suite of Yamaha Helm Master EX. There’s a lot to learn!

 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Great boat and some great fish @tugger!

[Huxstang]

16 hours ago, GregOug said:

Yes @Hweebe. As well as joystick which gives the full suite of Yamaha Helm Master EX. There’s a lot to learn!

 

Its great looking kit and seems like its probably a good alternative to trying to fit an electric onto the front of a larger boat - and using one where you need to go and deploy it or put up with the unreliability factor of the auto deploy units.

I guess only downside it you are using engine hours?  But gives you the key benefits and also work better when its fairly rough.

I am guessing its probably cheaper to add than a suitable electric anyway?

[GregOug]

3 hours ago, Huxstang said:

Its great looking kit and seems like its probably a good alternative to trying to fit an electric onto the front of a larger boat - and using one where you need to go and deploy it or put up with the unreliability factor of the auto deploy units.

I guess only downside it you are using engine hours?  But gives you the key benefits and also work better when its fairly rough.

I am guessing its probably cheaper to add than a suitable electric anyway?

The complete kit is around $20,000 but the autopilot component was already an upgrade that the dealer had selected when they ordered the boat. From memory adding the joystick and all the features like fishpoint cost me around $7,000 extra. 
 

With regard to adding extra hours, the way the weather is this year I’ll be lucky to add two hours! Anyway, the dealer said with modern motors they can quickly bring up a report which shows engine hours by revs per minute. So you can quickly see how many hours the boat has done actually travelling and how many at idle, etc. He said, in future, buyers of used boats will look at the two figures separately (idle/low revs versus cruising/open throttle range).

[Huxstang]

I hear you, the weather has been tough this year already.  Fingers crossed winter settles it down.  

Even at $20k it is reasonable….easily spend over $10k on a good electric.  I know Suzuki have electric steering and throttle available on their motors from 140hp up but not the real benefits of an electric helm like you have.