new boat help

I just got a 4m cat with an offset 50hp Merc which seems reliable after servicing.  I have been out of Hillarys twice and on the Swan once in the last week.  I am a new inexperienced skipper with years of experience in shore fishing but little open ocean fishing exp.  Anyone up for sharing some tips and helping me figure out what this boat's limits might be?

 

Cheers! 


Posts: 22

Date Joined: 12/04/10

Mate, fastest way to learn

Wed, 2010-04-14 15:04

Mate, fastest way to learn is to go out in conditions less favourable. Don't have to go far out, you can then test the boat with different angles of approach to the waves. Try to keep your engine tilted up to just before prop cavitation especially in a following sea to prevent broaching. A day with 1metre seas is a good start.

Posts: 402

Date Joined: 04/11/09

what brand of cat is it

Wed, 2010-04-14 15:39

because there will be disadvantages with only one motor like not having a good turning power when not on the plane, but the best way is to take it out with at least a 10k westerly or southerly, just stay inshore so theres not much of a distance to get back to the boat ramp it conditions get worse

is your boat a websters twinfisher 4.0m   

wide open's picture

Posts: 444

Date Joined: 24/12/09

go out in

Wed, 2010-04-14 15:52

for days say to carnac island or garden island and more than often a seabreeze will pick up and youll learn in no time

 

watch other boats handle weather

 

the best way would be going out witha experienced skipper.

 

i dont reccomend going out on a bad day because trouble can start with a snap if you panic or weather you dont know how to handle comes up.

 

post up a pic of your boat so we can see it, ally or glass etc

 

when heading into rough weather it is much easier for a inexpiened skipper to go directly into the waves as opposed to a following sea because the boat is much more predictable.

 

go very slow starting off and just slowly learn the boats abilitys

 

if going into the waves trim engine down to smooth out the ride

 

if going with the waves(following sea) trim engine up to reduce the chance of broaching

Posts: 1392

Date Joined: 08/01/09

the best advice I can give is

Wed, 2010-04-14 17:25

make sure you have enough safety gear. Go through it and make sure it all works so that in an event it is usable. You dont have to go setting all your flares off but more that they are in good condition. A lifejacket for everyone on board. Even practise putting one on. Go through a mental checklist of what needs doing before you drop it in the water. Bungs, fuel level ect. Driving a boat is like riding a bike, a bit of practise and your on your way. In a following sea you can also slow right down and just let the waves go under you rather than trying to surf em in. There is a heap more to learn than what we can tell you here. Get on it and get boating.

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FEEEISH ONNN!!!

wide open's picture

Posts: 444

Date Joined: 24/12/09

yeah

Wed, 2010-04-14 18:56

slowing down in a following sea is much safer but it may take you a lot longer.

 

i was once driving with a following sea at 10 knots, my grandad pushed me off the wheel for driving too slow and started driving a 25 knots, 

 

i always sit down on the deck when he drives, so i dont end up in the water

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 18035

Date Joined: 11/03/08

get out there in average

Wed, 2010-04-14 22:53

get out there in average conditions to see how you feel and the boat handles in a bit of slop. try not to have too much swell untill you have got the confidence in youself and the boat. it took us around 3 to 4 months before we ventured out past the 30mtr line from rocko , dont be in too much of a rush . there are plenty of fish to catch that are close to shore

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Reefmonkey's picture

Posts: 711

Date Joined: 22/09/08

walk before you can run

Wed, 2010-04-14 23:22

Being a new skipper i wouldn't advise pushing your boat to find out its limits as yet. No point in taking your boat out in unfavourable conditions just to catch a fish. More so if your not yet fully confident in your vessel. Just keep it safe and go out in good weather and learn your boat under ideal conditions. when you then have an idea of how your boat performs and you have more confidence in your vessel and motor then start to push it if need be.

Plenty of inshore fishing of our coast all within a safe distance of a ramp and many good days of weather to come our way

Check your weather forecasts or take it for a few fangs in the river on the melville water in a seabreeze as it can get pretty sloppy, then you can always run for cover. or take it out in the open limit areas see how it handles. Make sure you have all relevant safety gear for river or ocean and study your "boat start"(or was it smart) book for your rst and memorise how to use your radio properly,safety, what to do in an emergency and what not.

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 Dave J.

sea-kem's picture

Posts: 15002

Date Joined: 30/11/09

Try out Melville waters on a

Thu, 2010-04-15 21:52

Try out Melville waters on a weekend, if you can navigate through all the idiots who can't even pass you on the right side and cope with the huge wakes created by all the pompous assholes in their cruisers you've earnt your stripes.

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Love the West!