Mercury Bermuda bait board 900mm

[FNQCairns]

Anyone got one of these, what do you think of it?

Are there any other basic but large bait boards without stuff attatched or hanging from it on the market?

Here is one for sale on ebay, overly expensive though I suspect.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&ih=003


thanks and cheers fnq

[Wear the fox hat]

FNQ,
I've got one that is 600mm wide & they are a bit flimsy. They're OK if you don't lean on them or grab them when you get in the boat. Make sure it comes with the legs as I couldn't see any in the add. Freight will cost in the vicinity $30 at a guess. If I get another one I'd look at getting one of those aluminium ones you see advertised in Bush'N'Beach for $240.

WTFH

[FNQCairns]

Thanks WTFH sounds like a compromise from what you say, flimsy doesn't work for me at all! Think I will try a alum one also.

cheers fnq

[Wayne_Red]

Hi fnq, a mate has a one that looks the same as that. I find it quite good. reasonably solid, easy to remove and wash over the side. The small pockets are good for putting hooks, sinkers, cutters etc in during a fishing session. It cathes the slop without dribbling it over the boat. I give them the thumbs up imo.
Regards Wayne

[whichway]

Hi

I've got one - its OK, but it has this stupid tray along the front of the board. This stops you doing things like skinning fish because you cant get your hand below the top of the board when you want to run the knife horizontally - the lip of the tray gets in the way. I actually have a 12mm thick poly cutting board that I put on bait board. Other than that, its actually pretty good, and the tray at the front is useful for putting sinkers in when you've finished with them.

Whichway.

[finga]

Do they have a drain hole for all the blood and guts and wash down water to drain out??
Or do all the pockets fill up.
The ability to be able to fit a largish hose to the drain is also handy to get the crap into the water an not in the engine well or onto the deck.

[FNQCairns]

Thanks for the replies, decided I had better have somewhere to cut on (so it's not on the eskys etc) till I fit out the boat fully so I bought one they are now a discontinued line I am told so got it for $125, will glue a chopping board in it (thanks for the tip whichway) certainly is a big board!

thanks and cheers fnq

[Mr__Bean]

FNQ,

Drill a large hole in the bottom tray on one side and put in one of the large plastic skin fittings, a flush fitting one if you can get it. then put a couple of feet of hose on it to drain over the back.




http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_it...AbsolutePage=2

This way all the blood and guts goes straight back over the side and doesn't build up in the bottom tray, much easier to keep clean.

- Darren

[FNQCairns]

Mr Bean, bargain thanks for the good idea I will do that.

cheers fnq

[Fat Chilli]

FNQCairns - Hi mate, I hgave the same bait board, it was originally a 4 rod holder but the two outer rod holders took up to much space making it hard to climb over the transom to enter the boat. Plus the boss actually broke her ribs when she slipped due to the lack of room to access/egress the boat.

Due to her injury I cut the outer rod holders off.

Re: the drain idea that "Mr Bean" suggested, it is a great idea; however, Whitworths also sell actual sink drains that sit alot flusher, allowing the water to flow out better. The straight version is &4.60 and the elbowed version is $14.50.
No pic available of the elbowed version (see my pics), this is the straight version,
http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_it...AbsolutePage=1

The pics show the mods I made to my bait board.

Top view - a plug is available to fit the drain (not shown, but attached to a wire trace).


Drain was installed on the port side and pipe flows to the starboard side, less kinks, better flow.


Another view, the hand pump was recessed into one of the drink holders to give it a lower profile (less chance of me tangling my lines on it, supposedly . The pump was also from Whitworths and cost $21.90, works great, very easy to clean the crap and guts off with, and no more leaning over with a bucket. I also used clear pipe to allow me to see any blockages that might occur, nil to date.
http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_it...AbsolutePage=4


I drilled small holes into the areas where water would collect, e.g. cup holder, side trays.

I'd also suggest using stainless rod holders for the bait board legs to slot into, I went through 3 pvc rod holders due to them cracking from people leaning on the board and vibration at speed. The stainless holders fit tighter and the board feels less flexy, it's actually quite sturdy now with my fat ass leaning on it.



Cheers

FC.

[kevpun]

I got one from these guys through my local boatshop ...

http://www.pmmarine.com.au/

lovely and solid.

I've got a bigger snapper rack off the back too.

Not the cheapest though.

Kev.

[FNQCairns]

FC thats a pretty impressive setup, like the water pump especially, one thing about these boards, they are well laid out apart from the filleting and front tray problem mentioned above.

thanks for the pics,

cheers fnq

[GAD]

FNQ I have one a bit flimsy but as I go I modify it more , at present there is a light for night fishing a bilge pumping water up to wash my hands with the flick of a switch, mine cost 200 with legs and rod holders from ' blokes can't fish'. so the 180 is a bit steep if you ask me

[FNQCairns]

Cheers Gad for the pics, a light would be good, might be able to redirect the bait tank pump for washdown, all in the future ATM. Seen some glow in the dark baitboards for sale on the net!!!

cheers fnq