Finally on the water!!
Hi guys,
I don't normally create topics for help but im calling on all you experienced skippers to point me in the right direction with boating. I've finally bought my first boat and would really appreciate some advice with it. The pictures of my new rig are below. It has a 02 Yamaha outboard (40hp) and the boat size is a small 4.6m. Its small but its a size im comfortable to start with.
How far off land do any of you think is realistically safe to go fishing? I'm guessing with this size boat to go anywhere other than cockburn sound and the river i need a pretty flat do where conditions are good? Any info on swell sizes etc will be really appreciated.
I'm located NOR and my nearest boat ramp is Ocean reef.
Thankyou very much in advance to anyone helping.
P.s. for now it has all saftey equipment minus an epirb.
Iceman
Posts: 747
Date Joined: 17/03/09
Off Ocean Reef
Depends on what you want to catch.
Anywhere inside the reef is OK. Could go on the west side of the 3 mile reef if conditions good.
Out from Hillarys and Mindarie are also good. Just need to know the reef locations in these areas as may not be visual on calm day.
If you don't have a GPS go down the Hillarys Boat Shop and get local charts.
What radio do you have onboard. If 27mhz use channel 90 and logon with us (Whitfords Sea Rescue). Call sign is VJ6LQ. You can use you boat rego (43266) as you call sign. Make sure you are outside the marina before you call. Limestone walls can cause issue with transmission.
details of what to do on our website - http://www.whitfordssearescue.org.au/boating_radio.php
Just advise number of people on board, amount of fuel, leaving from and going to, and expected return time.
Don't forget to logoff when you return.
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rocket73
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 07/09/11
Matty22liverpool
Posts: 34
Date Joined: 16/09/11
Thats really good advice and
Thats really good advice and something i wasn't aware of. I do have a 27mhz radio so will certainly be reading the details on the website and taking note.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
new boat
Hi Matty looks like a good little rig you have there. As you mentioned the sound and river will be a walk in the park for that tub, out of ocean reef is the 3 mile reef which will aslo be easily accessible to you just anchor and burly for starters usually works. I have a 4.7 Ali runabout with a 40hp on the back and after initial years of inshore trips and learning the ins and outs I regularly take mine 20nm out in good conditions, being that your boat is fibreglass and looks to be low in the nose your boat will ride a fair bit differently to mine. A good start would be getting some nautical maps or a good GPS with a map overlay so you can steer clear of shallow reefs etc
maybe while your getting used to it stick to days with a swell below 2m but light winds is really what you want
Ericl
Posts: 480
Date Joined: 02/05/11
Navigation
Hi Matty
If you have an IPad with 3G and GPS, you could pick up a Navionics all of Australia Chart for about $45. Great for Navigation and can certainly assist you getting through the 3 mile. If not I have old paper charts which I am happy to give you. I go out with 3 sets of GPS so I reckon I can dispense with my Paper charts. Lowrance HDS plus IPad plus Android phone
Cheers
Eric
Don't spend all your money on beer, boats, and fishing. Save some to spend foolishly
Matty22liverpool
Posts: 34
Date Joined: 16/09/11
Thanks for the advice Eric.
Thanks for the advice Eric. I've got paper maps for the majority of the WA coastline already but really appreciate the generous offer. I will certainly be investing on a GPS before i go anywhere! Last thing i want is to met reef head on
Thanks again
southcity104
Posts: 1659
Date Joined: 27/01/09
Nice rig!
Id say dont rush into it, plan your trips ie study the chart before going there, take somebody who is willing to teach you, and go real slow/ stop if your unsure for a moment where you are.
With a vessel that size you'll be able to get out the back of five fathom bank, three mile but only in good weather. You can venture further when your more confident.
Swell? Anything over 2.5 meters you'd want to be very careful on the main outer reefs. A little swell is good too because it will show you where shallow reefs are. Still flat conditions can be decieving and i have seen plenty of people come unstuck having not seen the reef
Anyways enjoy.
Just take it slow
"Its a life style job"
Matty22liverpool
Posts: 34
Date Joined: 16/09/11
Reponse!
Wow am absolutly blown away by the responses... the advice so far has all been noted and all sounds very very helpfull. Exactly what i was after!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Hi Matty
thats a great looking rig you have got yourself,i think the best bit of advice you can take onboard is crawl,walk then run if you know what i meani don't know anything about the northern subs but the advice the online community looks all good to me.The dept of transport marine division in fremantle put out a brochure which outlines what winds produce what size waves and what size swell means in practical terms to various size boats i'm sure that if you give them a ring (sorry don't have their number) they will send all their safety stuff to you,it's all free of charge and is all good info. They are in Capo De Orlado drive (i think) From my experiance the good people on this site bend over backwards to help new boaties and will freely give you good advice it only takes an ask. Happy boating
davidbland50
Posts: 392
Date Joined: 24/07/11
PM sent
Cheers
Wherever you go, there you are
Tank
Posts: 358
Date Joined: 12/05/12
Enjoy the new toy but treat
Enjoy the new toy but treat the ocean with respect...buddy up with another boaty going out if poss for a few trips...
tantrum
Posts: 79
Date Joined: 09/06/12
^^ beat me to it Tank. Yep
^^ beat me to it Tank. Yep the buddy system is the go. Pick your days/weather and trust your instincts. I too have only owned my boat for a little less than a year and the best bit of advice I could give you is ask lots of questions. There's heaps of people on here with valuable info.
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
very good advise
very good advise from tank and tantrum
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Get your skipper ticket if
Get your skipper ticket if you don't have one and check up on the bag limits Boat will get you out a couple of miles on a good day ,Just go slow to start and thing will fall into place.
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Olliej
Posts: 155
Date Joined: 27/08/12
i fish 5 fathom with my 4.7m
i fish 5 fathom with my 4.7m fibreglass no worries. looking at your hull it might bang abit into the chop but take it easy and it will be comfortable enough. with a few people onboard and a 40 on the back don't leave it too late to come in if the weather goes south.