...down-sizing?

Yeah I know its getting a bit like that, 2 Workmates, 1 hardtop and now the centre console, looked long and hard but for what people want for second hand boats with el cheapo engines I decided to get one built, I really toyed with the 5.5 centre console but couldnt justify the extra 10-12k this 4.7cc should get along alright with the 70 on the back and I reckon there is as much if not more fishing room the the 4.7cc than there was in the workmate or hardtop. I am really looking foward getting it.

Mine differs slightly from a lot of the others I have seen, as it does not have a fold down screen. This allows the mounting of GPS and VHF aerials on a plate above the screen - keeping them completely out of the way. The VHF Aerial can be unscrewed from the mount , allowing the cover to fit properly.

 

Radio is flush mounted. Note a gap between the tach and radio - that now has the networked gauge.

 

The one mod I would highly recommend would be hydraulic steering. My cable steering hardly lasted a year. The mechanic put it down to the number of tight angles the cable had to take.

 

 

I ordered hydraulic steering as I often fish solo and it is great to not have the boat go in circles when you let go of the steering wheel! No problems with  frozen steering cables too. I fitted a live bait tank in the engine pod, mainly to prevent the pod from being flooded with water everyt ime I stop. I would strongly advice having the pod sealed at the factory. 2x sturdy cleats next to the bait board are handy for towing a dredge (the boat does not get pulled to one side). I also replaced the puney  standard bilge pump and piping with a much bigger one.

The electronics fit under the collapsable windscreen and I made up a little stand for the screen so it does not lean against the equipment. The VHS radio in mounted "in dash" as it is a bit in the way when mounted under the lip and you want to put things in the shelf.

I keep the top shelf in the CC as clear as possible as it is handy for storing clothes, extra tackle etc. The EPIRB, stereo (speakers under the combings for max stereo effect!), fuel filter, battery isolation switch for the electronics etc live here.

An extra 35 liter under floor fuel tank sits in the (useless) kill tank, giving me a total capacity of about 72 liters - plenty in light of the very economical 60 Yam 4 stroke.

The lifejackets live in a cargo net under the anchor well, with the drogue behind them and I fitted the emergency canister with flares, knife, torch etc under here too. The cover over the well is my fabrication too.

The VHS aerial base and tubes for the removable T-top  ("bimini)"

The space designed for the battery houses tackle boxes - one for SP gear, one for jigging gear, etc. Easy to get the desired tackle on board before a trip! Note the bungy over the bait board to secure it - I have lost a few while towing!

This custom made box takes  the place of a tote tank and is handy for extra storage, always handy on a small CC. The rod racks under the shelves along the sides take a rod on each side and keeps them out of harm's way when traveling.

I stuck the fire extinguisher in here,just ahead of the right stereo speaker, again to save space and it is easily accessible. The net has it's own hook to keep it out of the way when not needed. The lower shelf houses the battery, rain coats, binoculars, sinkers, jig heads, first aid kit, and a cubby under the shelf takes the car keys, wallets, cell phones and provides 2 drinks holders.

An upright rod rack sits in front of the CC. Hopes this will give you a few ideas!

 

Hogdog, you've owned a few boats in the short time I've been on this forum - what makes a good boat for you? I'm genuinely interested as you are an enthusiastic fisher and maybe you have found the right combination of size, fishability etc?

 

I'm very happy with JayDee, but as she is our first (bigger) boat maybe we are biased...

Where did you get that black tackle box from that sits where the tote tank would go?

Also where did you find that lock box? and is it waterproof?

I am really looking foward to the arrival of the boat, get it decked out and back on the water....

Hi Brooook, glad to hear your still enjoying JayDee, my idea of a good boat is something thats quick and easy to get ready,handles well, economical,easy to launch & retrieve and easy to clean at the end of the day, also something that has good resale is good for me when I change my mind so many times, hopefully this new CC will keep me satisfied for a while 

 

Ab

Good luck with the new boat hogdog, the worse part when buying a new boat must be the wait after putting in the order. For some reason it always takes longer than the optimistic manufacturer confidently tells you it will take! I hope you will be as happy with it as I am with mine. Like you, I down scaled from bigger boats ( note - down scaled, not down graded!!) I still get a smile on my face every time I take it out and fish the deep pins off Tairua, over the Manukau bar and all over the gulf and up north. It is a very seaworthy boat.

Hi Tec plastics in Hamilton made up the storage box and the little lockable cubby hole is a Quintrex accessory, I think I bought it from Smart Marine in Westhaven. It is not waterproof but I have never had any water getting  in there.

Cheers to everybody for the kind comments on my little waka!

 

Enjoying your SWF rods as Softee Flickers...can't go past the Fenwicks eh?

Huntfish, I am not a boat tester, just an owner! The Surtees does handle very well, has a remarkably soft side, is very stable at rest and is wet in a quarter sea! I cannot really comment on pontoon boats as I have never owned one. I fish sometimes with a mate with a 589 Stabicraft and it is not my cup of tea. It is a very safe and stable boat but the ride too hard in a lumpy sea and the deck space is small for a boat of that size. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder but pontoons are just too ugly for me to want one!

The prop choice depends on the size and weight and intended use of your boat. I swing a 13inch pitch SS Solas prop on my boat

A few pics of the build at the factory

Pick it up tomorrow, been a bit a of a fopar which means a few changes in January but thats all Ill say it will all workout in the end..

feeling for you bro.

Complete new hull arriving in January as too hard to retrofit in this hull

did consider hydraulic but the motors so small and light that it seemed pointless, took it out last night and this morning definatley doesn't need hydraulic as its light as

Sorry Will I have just seen this, PM sent.

First pic in water, have done 3hrs in it so only a couple more then I can see how it performs

 

Easy enough for one to launch? Like to go on my own often (bad day at work etc...) . Also  i have a mate who reckons alimnium hulls can break/crack etc and wouldn't go near one. Long time ago i had a Fyran 440 which seemed fine. Maybe he's just taking the pi$$.

 

Will really have to think about the CC as well - I was 100% cuddy till I read the thread. CC looks pretty well set up to me (except when cold and in the rain)

brmbrm, they are very easy to launch on there own, I often fish on my own. Some aluminium boats were apparently made from a lesser grade aluminium in the past and they would eventually start cracking. My brother had to sell his late 80's model Ramco Fisherman as scrap because of this problem - it eventually needed welding after every trip! I do not know of any such problems in the newer aluminium boats. There are hundreds or maybe thousands of them around and one seldom hear of problems with them , in fact, they have a reputation of being very hardy and can withstand a lot of abuse.

CC's  are not everybody's cup of tea but they are certainly very practical, more so in a small boat were space is at a premium. You are without doubt more exposed to the elements but nothing a good set of weather protection clothing cannot sort out. I do mostly softbaiting and jigging and they are very well suited to this type of fishing.

Yep got the sealed pod, just clicked over 4hrs today so starting to open it up a bit and seeing how it performs 30knots at 4800rpm plenty more to go

Is that Matarangi? should try and catch up over xmas I will be at Pauanui should do a mission?

What prop you running? I have a 13 1/4x17 which I bent badly yesterday and trying to workout what I am going to replace it with?

Mooring up closer to wharf

Just working on some of the final details for the new weapon and see a number of comments about hydraulic steering and in particular issues with cable steering on these because of tight angles etc.  Considering having this option fitted but can you give me an idea about what I should expect it to cost.

cheers

 

 

Primo.

Do they do a wider C/C that you know of?

 

Great alround value for $$$

 

You will not see it wearing, as it happens internally. Probably the first sign will be a clicking from the helm unit as the the gears break / slip, possibly followed by total failure.
Hit them up for the specs on the cable steering, and check the number of bends for yourself.

Bimini is being done by Pilcher's in Paraparaumu.  Looked at a targa top which I could have had for the same price as the bimini but it wouldn't fit in my garage and wasn't easily removed. Also the one I looked at was only available with a blue canopy which wouldn't go well with the red and black  (good Canterbury colours) that I have on the boat.

Also getting some clears fitted which will dome onto the front of the console and the go across to the rear bimini stay which will help deflect the worst of any spray that might get blown aboard on those rare days when it is windy down here in Wellington.

Initial thoughts are really positive.  So much more room than the Stabi 389 that I had and it feels like a much bigger boat but still easily launched and retrieved single handed.  I suspect the motor may be mounted a bit low in the water and might need adjusting up.  The other thing was that it didn't seem to want to plane at anything below about 3800 rpm but once it got up it took off like a rocket.  I suspect this may partly be weight distribution - I'm about 120kg and with just me aboard and standing behind the console it might need a bit of extra weight forward to balance the trim a bit - as it was I had to trim the motor right down to stop while I got it out of the hole and then trimmed up while on the plane.  Interested to hear what others have found in regard to this. 

Also - if anyone out there is running a Suzuki 60hp on one of these, what prop are you running?  They have put a 19 inch on mine which seems big to me (not that I'm an expert) but the dealers tell me it's what they have put on a number of 4.7 workmate / suzuki 60 packages they have sold.

Anyway, so far so good.  Just need to start fitting the toys now.  Will make a start on some of that today and post some more pics when it's done.

Strangely yes and no - once it gets to 50 hours there is a function that uses the rev counter needle to indicate number of hours on start up and there is a warning sound that sounds on start up when it is due for scheduled service but no specific hour gauge like on my last Yamaha. (I think you can get one but it doesn't come with the "standard" set of gauges.)

The boat looks great BTW. Well done.

Dealers seem to get the props quite wrong fairly often. I know everyone loads and uses their boats differently but I would have thought with a bit of experience it wouldn't be hard to get the selection close to right the first time.

Definate thumbs up for underfloor tank, I now have the capabilities to easily carry 100 plus litres with the underfloor plus 2 totes but usually just have the underfloor tank which is forward of the console so especially good if you are just fishing by yourself as otherwise the can be a little light in the front end

 

We did have eight PoB on Saturday and managed 20 knots with the F60 though (12P)

 

Been speaking to the dealer and we are going to try a few things to sort out the trim.

Hi Seadoc - Yes Battery in in the CC and engine pod is sealed (both of these are now standard configuration).  Engine is not mounted as high as it could be so will be getting that adjusted.  At the weekend I was fully trimmed down when accelerating on to the plane. Will see what difference raising the motor makes before going any further.

Still running in so haven't been able to feed it the fat and open it up all the way just yet - will be able to do so next time out.