Luke - did you put the Df150 on the poly?
Must go like sh!t off a shovel if ya did. What are your fuel numbers now - i remember you said u were very happy in another post
Luke - did you put the Df150 on the poly?
Must go like sh!t off a shovel if ya did. What are your fuel numbers now - i remember you said u were very happy in another post
Yeah she no longer strugles to get up on the plane now. Fuel numbers are great - a slow cruise of 18 litres an hour doing 23-24 knots @ 3600rpm and at 4000rpm im cruising at 27knots using 22 litres an hour. Got another prop there to try out this weekend to gain some more WOT rpm's so well see what happends. At troling speed im using 2.8 litres an hour at 4.5-5knots. A day out trolling for Sails I use 60L insted of 80-90L with the 115 suzy.
Cheers
sounds like a great boat,stable,strong because im really gettig over eastery fishing and want to do alot more outside stuff but still want a boat for getting up into the little creeks chasin bream/jacks (with lures ofcorse) i have strated looking at the 4,50 drifter, the 455 and now the 480 brumby.
Mate I wouldn't recommend the big polycraft for offshore, they just dont handle the conditions south east qld / northern nsw unless it is really flat. I have talked to a few owners of the big boats and they all confirm my suspicions. My 4.55 is great around the bay, but unless like I said in the big stuff you really need to throttle back to real slow spead or the nose starts following the wave rather than going through it. You dont want this crossing a bar. I have driven a lot of boats over the years, and I can assure you that this is not restricted to the poly, but there are a lot better and safer boats for offshore, especially if you are not familiar with boat handling in rough weather.
Hey Nuts,
A mate of mine just got a 4.5 drifter with a 60hp Merc 4 stroke, i have been out for a quick run with him and it is a great boat. On good days he will have no probs getting outside in it, it rides really smooth and quiet. I think you are dreaming if you think you are going to keep up with any of the pro bream boats with a 60hp....
Marty.
mate i didnt say i wanted to keep up with them as before i was entering the comps with a 390 hornet trophy with a 30hp, i have done pritty well in comps so far.
thats good new about the drifter is it a consol or tiller?
i just found a nice tabs boat with a brand new 60 4 stroke yammie im gettig a price on
It is a side console, he had Cunningham's Marine at Clontarf (Redcliffe) fit it out for him, he got the console further back than polycraft normally fit them. It has plenty of fishing space, but the front platform is small and there is no rear platform. However this does not matter as my mate is a bit of a handyman and is going to fit the boat out the way he wants it, the mods are going to include extending the front platform, a rod locker,rear cast platform, electric motor, carpet floors and decks, live bait tank etc.
As for the Tabs, another mate has a 4.55 Tabs sportfish, it has a 60hp merc 4 stroke and it goes ok on flat water and small chop, but offshore it is a wet underpowered nose heavy pig, maybe a hydrofoil would help it. I would go a poly over a tabs hands down.
If you decide against a poly, have a look at a Bluefin Predator or Warrior 4.5 they are a lot cheaper than a tabs and are built very well.
Anyway that is my opinion only.
Marty.
Have you spent any time in a big Polycraft?Mate I wouldn't recommend the big polycraft for offshore, they just dont handle the conditions south east qld / northern nsw unless it is really flat. I have talked to a few owners of the big boats and they all confirm my suspicions. My 4.55 is great around the bay, but unless like I said in the big stuff you really need to throttle back to real slow spead or the nose starts following the wave rather than going through it. You dont want this crossing a bar. I have driven a lot of boats over the years, and I can assure you that this is not restricted to the poly, but there are a lot better and safer boats for offshore, especially if you are not familiar with boat handling in rough weather.
I can't speek for the 4.55 because i've never been out in one in the rough. But with my 5.3 You will need to throttle back in the big stuff, just like any other 5m boat but I have never had the hull wanting to broach and follow the wave - ever. For a 5m boat I recon they do better then some of the bigger boats ive been in.
Cheers
Interesting, I originally had a deposit on a bluefin barracuda and cancelled to go with the 455 poly after a ride in a mates as I honestly though the ride and handling of the poly was far better, I have been out in a mates 465 territory pro and fitted with a 70hp suzi 4 stroke is a hell of a lot of boat and definately better sea going than the poly or the barracuda.
However
Tabs = $30000+
Bluefin = $23500
poly = sub $20000
These are approximate only, but needless to say with the dollars I saved the boat has been kitted out very well.
geoff
So let's get this straight Andy - have you been out in one of the bigger Polycrafts or not? Have you ever driven one at all? Please advise us all of your level of experience with a big Polycraft in any kind of sea.