Ariat Fishing

Good idea mate, I'll call by the camping store on the way home and a look
 

Thanks Ellicat - think I worked out the anchor alarm yesterday whilst playing around with my chartplotter/gps.
I have a small travel oven built into the cabin of the boat which has been fantastic for nice hot pies, sausage rolls, cooked sausages warmed up in alfoil, curry etc.... I always take a thermous of hot tea when I go out, but would be nice to find a way to boil some water in the morning to make a fresh cuppa

Hi Hweebe
Thanks mate, good to know that bigger boats make it easier. I have the same boat as Bill a Cruise Craft 720 Explorer HT with a 300 hp Yamaha, he is actually going to do the course in my boat and also spend a few hours once we cross the bar setting up my Garmin Sounder correctly. 
The main issue I face probably like a lot of people is finding the time to get out whilst trying to balance work, home life, children etc... 
I have never stayed out on my boat overnight - so going to try that soon as well.
My boat pic attached.

Will let you know ellicat, will most likely go out later this week coming when the Southerly brings the bigger swells, Bill is the only guy who looks forward to crap sea conditions 😂

Will let you know ellicat, will most likely go out later this week coming when the Southerly brings the bigger swells, Bill is the only guy who looks forward to crap sea conditions 😂

Will let you know ellicat, will most likely go out later this week coming when the Southerly brings the bigger swells, Bill is the only guy who looks forward to crap sea conditions 😂

Hi AUS-BNE. 
Thanks mate hope you get some tight lines ( and not on snags 😀 )
Terry

Hi Guys,
New member, purchased first boat about 18 months ago, Cruise Craft 720 Explorer Hardtop and have been running out of Manly Trailer Boat Club up to Flinders, Hutchies, Deep Tempest and alike - I have no friends with boats so have been trying to learn and understand the idiosyncrasies of the Comby Bar to safely cross it and the decision making when looking at the weather on when to go or not go. Basically I have adopted the following rules that I work by - Wind less than 15 knts, Swell 1.5 mtrs or less and out of the East or South - no go on NE or North Swell direction, Point Lookout Wave Rider Bouy less than 1.5 > 1.6 mtrs indicating. Anything greater than this I don't normally go out and to be truthful I rarely go outside with winds above 10 knts.
To cross Comby Bar I have adopted these rules - if the above parameters have been met, wind, swell, tide all running the same direction then all good to cross. If any parameters are working against each other eg.. tide against wind and swell, I will only cross if wind is very light. If wind is up above 5 knots and opposite parameters exist I will normally play it safe and travel out between Venus Banks and Salamander Banks up the North East Channel to the Trench and then turn right and go across to Flinders from there.
Can you guys let me know if I'm on the right page with my thinking and what to watch for so as not to get caught out ?
I am doing a South Passage Bar Crossing Course with Bill Corten tomorrow just as a point of interest.
Thanks in advance
Terry