Building a Sailfish S8 - Radar advice needed

[vinvaite]

Sailfish is definitely my No.1 boat. Thought i would try the big boat thing-- big mistake. Glad i still have the trailerboat, it's been 100% reliable. We've been as far as 100km out to sea, i totally trust it will get us home every time.

[feral cat]

I guess an update is in order. I've had the boat for about 18 months, and have done just over 800hrs and about 6000nm. We've caught a lot of fish (kingies/tuna/marlin). The boat has been great with no major issues whatsoever. Getting transducer placement right probably the biggest bugbear. Regarding the radar, yes it's been good for spotting boats / markers etc at night, and for gauging the size of incoming storms, however completely useless for spotting birds in Sydney chop. Any questions about the Sailfish please ask, cheers.

I allways wondered the big price difference between 4G and the 4KW HD digital. No dramas what so ever pinging birds weather there flying or sitting on the water with the HD 4KW system from a few km's away. Have tracked single birds flying a fair distance away as well. Awesome looking sailfish mate.

[vinvaite]

I allways wondered the big price difference between 4G and the 4KW HD digital. No dramas what so ever pinging birds weather there flying or sitting on the water with the HD 4KW system from a few km's away. Have tracked single birds flying a fair distance away as well. Awesome looking sailfish mate.

Interesting, thanks. Do you think the 4KW HD digital would work in a small trailerboat? Average conditions off Sydney are 1.5m about 8s swell duration or worse.

[koastal]

Ultimate trailer boat - I cant see what hp it is powered with.
Very jealous !!

[Spaniard_King]

Ultimate trailer boat - I cant see what hp it is powered with.
Very jealous !!

150's I would say there not v6's

[vinvaite]

135 hondas - top speed is 38kts in smooth waters

the average day off Sydney for me is about 100nm round trip-- consisting of about an hours run out, 6-8hrs trolling and a one hour run back home. It usually burns about 2L/nm on average for such a trip, so for that 100nm i will put 100L in each tank = 200L for the day. Very happy with that, most of my mates with singles will burn around the same.

[Heliduck]

I guess an update is in order. I've had the boat for about 18 months, and have done just over 800hrs and about 6000nm. We've caught a lot of fish (kingies/tuna/marlin). The boat has been great with no major issues whatsoever. Getting transducer placement right probably the biggest bugbear. Regarding the radar, yes it's been good for spotting boats / markers etc at night, and for gauging the size of incoming storms, however completely useless for spotting birds in Sydney chop. Any questions about the Sailfish please ask, cheers.

Reviving an old thread here, I'll be visiting Webbe marine in a few weeks to start the S8 process & appreciate the info from your build. Can you elaborate on your comment re the transducer placement being the greatest bugbear? I get very frustrated with top of the shelf electronics that don't provide what I need due to transducer placement/function & any tips you could provide to save me some heartache would be appreciated.

[ranmar850]

I've used open array Furuno and Koden radars commercially, extensively. 10kw and 25 kw sets. I'd be amazed if you could reliably pick up birds on one. On exceptionally calm days,we could sometimes see our 8" polystyrene floats on the surface BVR, but that was very rare. All sorts of surface conditions will work against you-even areas of different temps/humidity across slight wind changes on glass-off days will give you a confusing return. Any wind around, surface clutter will take up the screen. Swell also, bit of wind and a big swell will show as lines across the screen.

[vinvaite]

I've used open array Furuno and Koden radars commercially, extensively. 10kw and 25 kw sets. I'd be amazed if you could reliably pick up birds on one. On exceptionally calm days,we could sometimes see our 8" polystyrene floats on the surface BVR, but that was very rare. All sorts of surface conditions will work against you-even areas of different temps/humidity across slight wind changes on glass-off days will give you a confusing return. Any wind around, surface clutter will take up the screen. Swell also, bit of wind and a big swell will show as lines across the screen.

Totally agree. Radar in a trailerboat off the east coast in average sloppy conditions offshore.. forget it.

[vinvaite]

Reviving an old thread here, I'll be visiting Webbe marine in a few weeks to start the S8 process & appreciate the info from your build. Can you elaborate on your comment re the transducer placement being the greatest bugbear? I get very frustrated with top of the shelf electronics that don't provide what I need due to transducer placement/function & any tips you could provide to save me some heartache would be appreciated.

A lot has changed with sailfish in this respect-- whilst they simply refused to do through-hull for me.. they are now offering it as an option. I know a couple of people that have gone with this option from sailfish. Send me a PM for details.

Good on sailfish to meet the market in what they want.

What pisses me off are boat builders who want to divorce themselves from the fact their fishing boats need to mark fish.

[Back In Black]

A lot has changed with sailfish in this respect-- whilst they simply refused to do through-hull for me.. they are now offering it as an option. I know a couple of people that have gone with this option from sailfish. Send me a PM for details.

Good on sailfish to meet the market in what they want.

What pisses me off are boat builders who want to divorce themselves from the fact their fishing boats need to mark fish.

Can they retrofit one?? never been satisfied with my readings above 15 knots & it would be great to rectify

[vinvaite]

Can they retrofit one?? never been satisfied with my readings above 15 knots & it would be great to rectify

PM me.

warrants a discussion

[Back In Black]

PM me.

warrants a discussion

PM sent,

Tony