themerlin

Here we go. No pics on the water yet.

themerlin

That seems like a good deal!

I ended up getting the Quintrex for the same price as the Stacer in the end, looked at second hand models and a 2004 with a 2 stroke is only a few k cheaper then a new boat with a 4 EFI 4 stroke crazy. One of the reasons I went with Quintrex was the resale value so in a few years if I want to upgrade it won't hit too hard.

themerlin

I was put off a cabin in a tinny, the only time I would use it was in rough seas and the last place you want to be in a tinny in rough sea is in the bow with no view of the horizon, sea sick city.

Grayling

Nice boat

A couple of bits of advice:

Avoid the popular ramps at the weekends until you get very good at launching and retrieving. There are often queues to launch and people get very angry if someone is hogging the ramp too long....there have been numerous cases of 'ramp rage' ending in violence. Some ramps are also known for car break ins and trailer theft so be aware.

As I said earler be very careful on the bay....it is not the serene mill pond it sometimes seems and which some would have you believe
It can get very rough and dangerous very quickly especially in the afternoons. You may already know all this but safety is a key concern with small boats. I have been out on the bay in a 50 ft. boat and it has got very uncomfortable at times

enjoy

BadgeIsBack

It became immediately obvious to me that there was a lot of skill or experience required here to observe protocol/best practise. Stress levels would be high especially when people and partners are watching.

Also that no end of (spectator)sport could be had from just being a casual observer. Infact a newbie could spend a few hours watching others at the ramp and learn quite a bit from observation.

NedKelly

Like last year at the Santa Barbara boat ramp when a guy forgot to shackle his chain to the boat and when he drove of his boat rolled off the trailer and onto the boat ramp.

cresta57

I avoid busy ramps as much as possible, far to many selfish & ignorant users that will hog a ramp for ages while readying their craft. That's what the rigging lanes are for yet these guys drive passed the queues of boats in the rigging lanes & then jump on the ramp & proceed to rig up.
As I often launch & retrieve on my own I tend to go to ramps where there are only a few others, my boat rolls off the trailer effortlessly & I can retrieve it in just a few mins, however it needs to be left unattended while I fetch the trailer & I often find at busier ramps the wash caused by incoming or outgoing boats refloats mine & that causes problems, even chucking the anchor out way up the beach leaves to much room for it to swing into other craft.
I've seen cars reverse down the ramp & just keep going straight over the end, seen boats fall onto the ramp from the trailer, boats that are dragged out up the ramp with the leg still down, boats where three or four blokes were pushing with all their might to launch from a trailer only to find that there was still a ratchet strap on the stern
My own favourite is the boat that goes out without the bungs fitted lol I've done that one myself when my boat had twin bungs & my deckie only fitted the one Lucky for me my boat is powerful enough to get up on the plane with 40 gallons of water aboard & empty itself.

Buzzy--Bee

Yep I've seen all of them - the worst mistake I made was launching with the washing headphones still on - luckily it was spotted before any disaster.

There seems to be a propensity at my ramp for people to launch and then somehow get broadside on to the ramp, followed by a lot of pushing off with oars etc to get into deep enough water to drive away....

BB

jothefw

We've joined the tinny club!

First outing this weekend - 3 x burnt foreheads and 1 x burnt feet but lots and lots of fun!

Why didn't we buy one sooner!

Sherlock Holmes

Might just be me but can't open the bitmap picture.

themerlin

My worst mistake so far is driving to Bribie with the trailer brake still on
Still sounds like you can do worse.

The shorncliffe ramp never seem busy, not sure why I think it had a bad rep until they upgraded it last year and put a pontoon in.

The builder across the road also told me about a quiet ramp on bribie.

steve`o

your going to have some excellent fun mate


ps going out to the 23`s early tommorrow

themerlin

Joined the VMR and they have a private boat ramp pontoon and lockup, so that should solve the "low life" issues.

Found launching the boat easier then I expected.

Buzzy--Bee

Here's a video of myself in our boat and two friends in their boats out on Port Philip this weekend. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j6fYllpvKw

BB

jothefw

Fantastic! We go to the river so much, you forget how gloriously bright blue the sea can be! Loved the seals too!

Boat novice that I am - the boats round here are either tinnys, speed boats for skiing behind or sea going fishing things. What is the main use of a boat like yours? It looks good enough to ski behind but do many people do that in the sea??