Hello - drifter

[4.50_Drifter]

Hi guys,
I'm about to purchase a 4.55 open drifter, for soft plastic luring, trolling close in-shore, crabbing and prawning. I mainly intend on fishing nth qld rivers when I return there shortly. I'm currently in Canberra but don't hold that against me. I also have financial expenditure approval from the Minister for War; Finance; Recreation and Justice, so the boat is a sure thing.

I used to own a 4.75 *cough* aluminium and am glad that I'll never own another tinnie again, a mate of mine bought a poly SC 4.5 years ago, plus there was a 5.99 CC on the island I was living on, I almost bought that CC and should have! Anyway, no turning back now, small open style craft to ply my poor attempts at catching fish. Bloody looking forward to it, woohoo! Just have some small renos to do around the house, then sell it and move back to gods country.

Thanks to those that have posted pics of mods etc, very enlightening!

Drift.

[Dave]

Hi Drift welcome. Were u up here in the straits?
The yellow CC is up for sale again BTW.
Hope u enjoy the 4.5

[4.50_Drifter]

yeah,
Are you crazy-dave from the old camera shop?
cheers.

[Andy]

the polycraft in the 4-5m range I reckon are one of the best boats currently on the market. You cant go wrong. I had one of our junior sailors parents on my boat last weekend and he came back today and told me how he has started looking for a polycraft to buy. He was very impressed. Had another guy take mine out for the junior sailing today, he told me not to buy one in the first place and now he is commenting on how good it is.

For what you are buying the boat for Drift, you cannot go wrong.

[4.50_Drifter]

sweet, thanks Andy.

I figure for the occasional offshore bash I'll join a game fishing club and pitch in for fuel or something like that. What do you have?

[Dave]

yeah,
Are you crazy-dave from the old camera shop?
cheers.

wtf wot camera shop? laugh1

No I live and work on horn.

[Andy]

sweet, thanks Andy.

I figure for the occasional offshore bash I'll join a game fishing club and pitch in for fuel or something like that. What do you have?

I have an old 4.55 Centre console. Its a bit beaten up but still going strong. I use it mainly for crabbing, prawning and estuary fishing with lures, although lately it has spent more time at the yacht club getting bashed up by junior sailors and crazy seniors.

I spend a lot of time in boats now, the polycraft in the range I am talking about is certainly not without its faults (I can list them all!!) but it has a lot more pros than cons in my opinion. Especially so for the work I do, and by the sounds of it the same work as you do!

[4.50_Drifter]

Yeah,

I just like the idea that I can hit a floating log at 4am that I didn't see, or a submerged rock and I might destroy my outboard leg but i'll be floating.

I'll instal chines to minimise the wet ride but that will mainly be for the occasional in-shore scoot to troll for Macks or cast lures to trout etc.

I realise they're heavier so need a bigger motor etc but that's fine, the stability at rest and the solid construction make up for that. Plus I'm sure I'm about 3cm shorter from having a tinny in rough water.. i'll enjoy bashing through the waves more comfortably in a poly!

Cheers.