abitfishy
08-08-2006, 04:28 PM
Hey all,
I've sat and watched here a lot (and learnt a lot), now I'd like some direct advice if you guys would be so kind.....
I bought my first boat about 6mths ago - its a very old dehavilland open aluminium 4.3m (from transom to bow in a straight line), forward steer, powered by a very clean 89 model 40hp Johnson (with receipts from a local dealer for $3k in 2004). It was a VRO, converted to premix, VERY, VERY clean inside - don't know what work was done on it but for $3k maybe reco????. Anyway I took a guy who has tinkered with motors for 20yrs who I trust who was also impressed with it when looking. It sits on a 2004 model Brooker 134 trailer (rated for 540kg)
My issue is I'd like something a tad bigger & wider, deeper V (my old girls pretty flat), windscreen etc, dont need bells & whistles, just a bit comfier and was hoping to keep motor & trailer.
Few issues:
1. Whats the biggest aluminium you would suggest powering with the 40? From what I've seen around I would say a 4.5 max no more (and then maybe JUST?) Its likely to only be in the wonnie, georges & port hacking rivers, never outside, only likely to ever have 2 men, battery, petrol, basic fishing gear.
2. The trailer is the type of setup with rear wobble rollers that overhang the rear of the trailer a tad, and the current boats transom sits pretty flush with the rear roller. Is a slightly longer boat going to overhang too much legally (can't seem to find requirements), or be too bottom heavy on the trailer?
3. Still on the trailer - I've been given a rough weight of 350kg for a 4.5 runabout hull, I assume the weight motor, petrol etc won't bring it over the 540kg rating? (its 190kg to play with for those who don't want to subtract 350 from 540!)
I'm wondering if I might be pushing it a little too much for the 40hp and the smaller trailer to do the upgrade but was hoping if I find the right hull without motor at the right price (quite happy to repaint, carpet, bring back to new) it might be cheap option to get a nice rig for a reasonable price since my initial setup cost me less than 4k.
Any advice appreciated.
Abitfishy.
I've sat and watched here a lot (and learnt a lot), now I'd like some direct advice if you guys would be so kind.....
I bought my first boat about 6mths ago - its a very old dehavilland open aluminium 4.3m (from transom to bow in a straight line), forward steer, powered by a very clean 89 model 40hp Johnson (with receipts from a local dealer for $3k in 2004). It was a VRO, converted to premix, VERY, VERY clean inside - don't know what work was done on it but for $3k maybe reco????. Anyway I took a guy who has tinkered with motors for 20yrs who I trust who was also impressed with it when looking. It sits on a 2004 model Brooker 134 trailer (rated for 540kg)
My issue is I'd like something a tad bigger & wider, deeper V (my old girls pretty flat), windscreen etc, dont need bells & whistles, just a bit comfier and was hoping to keep motor & trailer.
Few issues:
1. Whats the biggest aluminium you would suggest powering with the 40? From what I've seen around I would say a 4.5 max no more (and then maybe JUST?) Its likely to only be in the wonnie, georges & port hacking rivers, never outside, only likely to ever have 2 men, battery, petrol, basic fishing gear.
2. The trailer is the type of setup with rear wobble rollers that overhang the rear of the trailer a tad, and the current boats transom sits pretty flush with the rear roller. Is a slightly longer boat going to overhang too much legally (can't seem to find requirements), or be too bottom heavy on the trailer?
3. Still on the trailer - I've been given a rough weight of 350kg for a 4.5 runabout hull, I assume the weight motor, petrol etc won't bring it over the 540kg rating? (its 190kg to play with for those who don't want to subtract 350 from 540!)
I'm wondering if I might be pushing it a little too much for the 40hp and the smaller trailer to do the upgrade but was hoping if I find the right hull without motor at the right price (quite happy to repaint, carpet, bring back to new) it might be cheap option to get a nice rig for a reasonable price since my initial setup cost me less than 4k.
Any advice appreciated.
Abitfishy.