MrWobbygong

So I've recently bought an electric motor and starting enquiring about the plate being fabricated to the bow.. I'm keen to add some flat gunnell to the sides of the boat and extend the casting deck to fit a livewell/ more storage...

so I got to thinking...

Being my first boat and also being an apprentice, why not have a crack myself?

I have never welded aluminium but weld stainless and carbon pipe regularly, have access to an AC/DC tig and can get enough materials to do all the jobs for a similar price it would cost to do just the bow mount...

I think I'm going to use this topic to document and record the progress, happy to hear any advice from people that fabricate or have any constructive recommendations to the build... 

To start, I'll give a bit of history on the boat.. I sold my Hobie PA14 when this boat came up. Pretty much a clean swap. It's a Horizon 2000ish 4.2m with a 30hp 2001 Honda 30hp on the back. Trailer was only 12 months old but I believe had been mistreated (along with the boat and motor, they lived on stradbroke)

the motor wasn't running so started with new fuel , fuel lines, filters, got it started but wouldn't get on the plane... 

Carbies next...

Bought a carby gasket set, thermostat, impeller service kit, new plugs and got stuck in. Pulled down the carburettors and took them to the local small motor mechanic to be ultrasonic cleaned, reassembled 

still wouldn't get on the plane.. 

Stripped down the carbies again, somehow there was gunk in the bowl so ultrasonic cleaned again then cleaned the jets by hand with oxy tip cleaners...

My first time on the plane, beautiful! Cruises around 20kts in good conditions, to date have not assessed l/km but it really isnt concerning. Have taken it for over 40km round trips up north. Just take some extra fuel ️ 

the tilt mechanism was damaged and the tiller arm didnt move vertically at all, sorted those out with replacement parts. Was very hard to steer for the first couple months until I found a bolt that restricted movement in the steering, loosened that and greased the nipples.  

In a perfect world, I would have a newer motor and a newer tinny but this is what I have to work with. She's not perfect or pretty but she's honest. 

I'll post photos and updates when things happen. if you got this far into the write up I commend you.

Hope I have this in the write sub category.. 

Also, in the meantime, I'm going to keep fishing, I'm keen to catch more fish on lures, if anyone is keen to come for a burn on the water and show me some things, let me know. (Really just want your GPS marks)  

Just to clarify, I always wear the kill switch lanyard and my daughters jacket, though a bit hot and cumbersome is always secured properly before being on the boat. Also, my partner has her license.  
 

man the deaths on the water are a bit much, if only they had the same luck as “old mate” 

out of curiosity, what jackets are you guys running? Stupidly mine are currently stowed under the bow after moving back home to QLD I’ve become complacent in not wearing it … Victoria law was its to be worn on any vessel under 5m IIRC…

On a brighter note, I bit the bullet on a trolling motor, got a water snake geo spot , fingers crossed I don’t have problems with it and hopefully will have me sorted until I’m at least qualified.

need to fabricate or purchase a mounting bracket as the bow is curved. Anyone have some extrusions/plate they’re willing to part with for beer or cash?

Got out with my partner and daughter on Friday, just caught the top of the run in and spent some time exploring some of the drains . As the tide turned we started to fish.

I was focused on drifting around with lures, running motor oil coloured grubs , paddle tails and shrimp. Laser ayu double clutch when I though a flatty might be sitting in the shallows. 

I missed a couple of hits throughout the day (amateur hour) and spite our efforts neither of us landed any fish.

The next day we took out a frozen mullet I netted a while ago to target the same drains, this time fishing the top 2 hours of the run in. We both caught at least 8 legal bream , at least another 12 undersized. the largest just on 30cm, all released to fight another day.

all bream caught on a 1/0 circle on strips of mullet. 10lb leader.
 

It was my partners first time on the boat since April last year so there was no complaints until it was time to load the boat….

When approaching the ramp my partner threw the rope around the cleat but not secured and stupidly I jumped off onto the jetty , pushing the boat off and away to the abyss. My partner panicked as it had been some time since she operated the tiller . I was struggling not to laugh which later cost me some snarls and awkward words. 
 

I obviously take full responsibility as I should have secured the boat to the ramp myself or at least checked what she had done … a valuable lesson … 

Take-offs from the day:

-it’s a juggling act having a toddler on a boat , definitely need to find more ways to entertain her and also keep her cool, keeping her under an umbrella did okay but she was definitely too hot. 
-need to spend some more time training my partner in boat operations in case of an emergency. 
-need to train myself more to try and avoid said emergency.

It sure was warm today Looking through the lens of a welding mask….

Nice report , my old man is keen on grassies… we spent 6 hours looking around for them around Bribie yesterday. Have done well in the past at inner gneerings but there’s only a handful of opportunities to take the tinny out there each year.

nice catch mate… enjoy.

Fishing goals for the year…

get my daughter on the boat more and hopefully get her a fish (she’s a bit young still, 2 in march)

Get more confident in the local haunts around deception bay..  burpengary creek, cab river and the passage.. 

get a trolling motor real soon.. extend casting deck, move sounder to starboard side..

A trip for a week on the sandy strait chasing travelly, jacks , scooping crabs off the flats and beer from the esky might be nice too..