Thread: Pimping my tinny

I think power “ratings” are regional and probably a bit personal too!

I can assure that IMO 12 foot stacers perform just about right with a 30 2st . 40hp was a little hard to control but 30 is just right!

a 4.2 for mine will be wanting with a 30 once you’ve got it loaded up - the 70 was a bit tongue in cheek but I ran a rude 50 on a 3.9 for many years and it was powered about right. Many years ago one of the outer island lads won the Prince of Wales challenge in the Torres running a 4.2 quinny and modified merc 90 on the tiller… that thing proper flew.

At least mild steel rusts and leaves the ally mostly ok unlike stainless !!!

I will only be mucking about in creeks/rivers and inshore and fully loaded is 2 people one tiny dog with 3-4 fishing rods a tackle box and esky.
I am not envisiging doing long runs so speed really isn't an issue for me and the tides here and even in the Pilbara creeks I fish are not an issue either.
Loading up a little 14 foot boat doesn't give me much elbow room and I can't see the point in it.
I am setting this tinny up so that it is uncluttered lightweight, comfortable and importantly economical. So far the "Pimpimg" has only cost me $680 and replacing the outboard will add considerably more to that tally.
The little 30 hp that came with the boat is a good little runner and I have fully serviced it So I think I will stick with it for now

I do enjoy screaming over the water at 30-40kts But in a little tinny even in good weather that sort of speed is bloody uncomfortable and hard on the spine.

The fitout is pretty much now complete.
I have added a couple of folding swivel seats, a couple of glove boxes in the thwarts and some rod holders.
I will be fitting some LED strips to the gunnals and nav lights at a later stage.

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Now to start on the trailer

I ran an LED light strip along the inside of the starboard gunnel and inside the bow locker.
Puts out plenty of light so that I can see everything inside the boat and NO direct glare in my eyes from the LED's and it lights up the inside of the bow locker beautifully

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This is the list of jobs completed so far

Cleaned all the crap out of the boat.
Filled the hull with water to check for leaks, Found none
Degreased outboard and fitted new spark plugs.
Removed old dead battery and replaced it with an ARK 115AH power pack.
Moved boat back on the trailer and replaced, moved added rollers.
Painted the sounder mount.
Replaced and varnished the floorboards.
Replaced perished stern decking with heavy-duty polly decking.
Replaced crappy anchor and rope.
Changed oil in the leg.
Fitted new impeller.
Closed in foredeck and added a door.
Carpeted the deck pieces.
Carpeted both thwarts
Carpeted transom deck pieces.
Carpeted bow area and bow locker.
Cut out hole for second glovebox.
Removed crappy steel fittings.
Fitted automatic bilge pump and wired it up with a manual switch.
Fitted through hull fitting and hose for bilge pump.
Moved battery and secured it.
Fitted voltage regulator and associated wiring installed
Fitted rod holders
Replaced ALL trailer wiring and fitted new LED indicators and numberplate light.
Fitted deck lighting and switch.
Fitted 2x glove boxes.
Fitted 2x swivel seats and mounts.
Fitted old Garmin sounder.

I took the dinghy out today for sea trials and she does 23kts loaded with 2 people on board
I did however notice the the voltage regulator/ rectifier when running flat out was putting out 16V+ so I disconnected it ASAP before it cooked the battery.

i had a spare MPPT controller and fitted it between the ouput from the outboard to the battery in an effort to overcome the over voltage drama.
I am now getting 12.8v feed to the battery and have the option of topping up with solar as well

Forget pimping the tinny now there is an excuse for a bigger boat...

"So we definitely encourage people to choose a bit bigger boat when they're fishing in croc country."

DES investigates as Queensland fisher describes 4-metre crocodile jumping into his boat on NYE - ABC News