Protect Your Lures

WARNING: DOES NOT PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS PROTECT YOUR LURES

By Stephen Booth

There are a number of plastic lures that simply do not like being friends. Even the hint of another plastic is enough to turn some plastics into ugly deformities that can never, ever be fixed.

Usually, thermoplastics are the biggest candidate for having an obvious dislike of other plastics. But, to be on the safe side, it is best to keep any plastics from one brand separated from other brands.

The Zerek range of plastics is almost exclusively made from the stretchy and strong thermoplastic. Because of this, it is definitely best to keep Zerek lures away from other plastics, even other thermoplastic lures.

Let us look at the best practice for keeping plastics safe from this horrible form of disfiguration. Step 1 - USE A WORM-PROOF TACKLE BOX/TRAY

These days, it is difficult to find a tackle box or tray from any larger supplier that is not worm-proof. Worm-proof tackle boxes were designed not to react with soft plastic materials and allow anglers to take plastics out of their sale bags and have them stored within tackle trays. This is the single most important thing to ask when buying a tackle storage tray or box if you are planning on putting soft plastics in it.

Step 2 - KEEP IT CLEAN

If you are using an old box, do yourself and your plastics a favour, and clean the box thoroughly to remove any residue from other branded plastics. This residue is a silent killer of new plastics. It takes surprisingly little 'other' plastic to melt your new plastics into a very unappealing blob. This is the gremlin that got me and cost me half a dozen soft plastic vibes that were not cheap! It was not the fault of the lure, but the fault of the foolish person who did not clean the box. You really only ever do this once!

Step 3 - KEEP PLASTICS SEPARATED

The biggest killer of plastics in modern times is storing unlike plastics together. Plastics essentially hate one another, and will refuse to play nicely together. Always keep plastics that are of the same type stored together, and do not mix them up with others. For example, I will store my Zerek Fish Traps only with other Zerek Fish Traps. There should be no other soft plastic vibe that goes anywhere near that box! The same goes for my Live Shrimp and Live Shrimp Hot Legs, and my Live Flash Minnow Wrigglies.

I will concede this takes up a lot of space and you may not have enough boxes to do this, but it is the only way I have found to be totally foolproof when it comes to storing plastics and avoiding disaster.

Step 4 - PACKED FOR LIFE

If it is at all possible or practical, for that matter, storing your plastics in the sale container they came in is the best way to ensure your plastics never get destroyed by other plastics. It also means your plastics do not usually get bent out of shape.

In many cases, this cannot be done as the plastics are sold in a way that makes it impossible to store them in their original container.

So there are a few tips on keeping your plastics in good working order. If you have stored other plastics in a container, I cannot guarantee there will not be damage done, even after you have washed it out. Plastics, and thermoplastics in particular, should always be kept separated. Do this and your plastics will last you a very long time - or at least long enough to hook that monster!

A Village ForBoaties And Locals

Barbershop & Massage

Cafe & Car Museum

Afavourite pit-stop for cruising and competitive yachts travelling the east coast each season, The Boat Works continually evolves its offerings and has created a thriving, welcoming Village for boaties and locals. A range of new tenants have enhanced the community and boosted the options adding an extra dimension for visitors. Being a village in itself, the site has opened Hair Works Barber + Massage providing top quality cuts, beard trims and therapeutic massage that will revamp your look and revive your energy levels. Hair Works; located adjacent to Espresso Twenty5 Café and the Car Museum, is already attracting clientele from the surrounding businesses and locals who drop by for a snack. A perfect sun-trap in winter and a shady oasis during the hotter months, it’s a cool, casual backdrop for socialising and a magnet for Car Clubs that gather to ‘show and shine’ and motoring enthusiasts who appreciate vintage and unique vehicles. The Galley Café, Restaurant & Bar is a perennial favourite for breakfast, lunch and functions capitalising on marina views and River breezes, with a menu to please every palate and preference. But back to boats: The Boat Works is a genuine “resort for your boat”, catering to every facet of repair, maintenance and refit, whether you want to DIY or rely on the experts – 80+ marine professionals are

Tony Longhurst and Stefanhelp to opent Hair Works Barber & Massage

conveniently based on-site within the hub of the Coomera Marine Precinct. Creating the one-stop-shop for all things boating, the massive Marine Trade Supplies & Chandlery Superstore is the largest in the region with everything you could possibly require for fixing, preparing and enjoying your boat. And if they don’t have it in stock, they’ll source it and get it in as quickly as possible. For those considering buying a boat, the boat sales precinct has a huge selection of new and brokerage vessels in a on-water and out-of-water display area for ease of pre-purchase inspection and on-water trials. Brands include Dufour yachts, Ocean Alexander, Galeon, Palm Beach Motor Yachts, Whittley Boats, Clipper, Cobalt and Bennington Pontoons, Lagoon, Axopar, Bayliner, SACS and multihull marques in power and sail, including Hudson, HH, Iliad, Fountaine Pajot, Sunreef, Catana, Privilège and NEEL. The Boat Works is QLD headquarters to one of the leading insurance companies, Club Marine, providing boat owners with a host of options for insuring their cherished vessels. With all the added benefits of a resort-style facility, teamed with exceptional service, skills and knowledge you have the ideal marina, shipyard and refit facility for every type of watercraft. More at www.theboatworks.com.au

TOTAL YACHT SERVICES

THE EPICENTRE MARINE TRADES

More than just a boat yard, The Boat Works is the epicentre of marine trade services for repairs, maintenance and complex refit work.

For boat owners and crew, The Boat Works offers a comprehensive array of marine professionals, services and suppliers on-site – currently 80+ tenants with the completion of Stage 3 additional workshops hub onsite in the North yard.

In the past two months, The Boat Works has welcomed close to 10 new businesses This has provided a further boost to the A-Z of everything marine in one centralised location. The Boat Works has also facilitated the expansion of several of our long-term tenants who have moved into larger premises, bringing on additional personnel and investing in cutting-edge innovative equipment.These include Stella, Australia's leading manufacturer, distributor and engineering specialist of premium marine equipment who have consolidated all manufacturing and engineering components in one, stateof-the-art headquarters. Choice Stainless has expanded its premises and its range of services, investing in new laser cutting tools and in-house CAD. Bayline Marine Covers has taken up expanded workshop space with the bespoke marine upholstery service using the finest materials available providing customers with everything from boat accessories to full boat fitouts. Paradigm Training has also increased its footprint providing more training facilities for boaties, commercial crew and aspiring skippers by delivering a range of accredited and non-accredited courses in the areas of Maritime, Business and First Aid.

REPAIRS & REFITS

Yachtsmen International, a full-service superyacht agency, further expands and diversifies to highlight their technical knowledge of complex refit and repairs in order to offer a dedicated Service and Refit division. In addition to the expansions, the latest partners to join us include Onboard Electrical (OBE), a trusted and well known marine electrical company, catering to all your marine electrical needs, from repair, service and installation to custom-designed electronic components. DBM Management, the experienced concierge team will ensure everything is ready to go when you step onboard. From vessel maintenance programs, exterior / interior detailing, teak and various repairs to the supply and manufacture of soft furnishings and dry cleaning services, they will cover EVERY DETAIL. Superyacht Solutions bring decades of experience in every facet of the craft. The professional refinishing team offer a comprehensive package of yacht finishing solutions. Producing high quality finishes on time and on budget, Superyacht Solutions will also actively collaborate with trade services for the entirety of your project, whether it's a new build, refit or simply refinish. Specialising in Custom fairing and finishing, refinishing, restorations and reproductions, maintenance and repair, interior finishings, or composite componentry and repairs, this unrivalled diversity of marine services covers every aspect of boating. For customers, this equals freedom of choice to select the trades that fit your brief with totally transparent quoting. Or you can trust your job to the qualified Project Managers onsite who will oversee works from quotation to completion. Check out the array of trades and services on site www.theboatworks.com.au/onsite-trades

J2

The Home of Marine Engine Parts

Marine Generators - Petrol & Diesel

www.marineenergy.com.au Tel: 07 5502 7771

RodTwitchin

VESSEL REFITS & MAINTENANCE DIVISION

Still conveniently located at The Boat Works, Rod Twitchin Marine Pty Ltd (RTM) recently consolidated all operations under the one roof, within Office/Factory G4.

RTM’s unique business suite of services allows us to utilise the offices to conduct our professional services and manage all operations. Our factory area incorporates a mezzanine floor that offers our qualified and very experienced marine team adequate room to perform a variety of works in-house.

RTM is proudly a family-run business, and Rod’s wife Renee is an integral part of operations, supporting both the professional and refit divisions. Our professional services include all types of vessel surveying from pre-purchase to insurance condition reporting, vessel valuations, project management and consultancy, to expert witness and all things in between.

Our refit and maintenance divisions cater for all types of projects on vessels large and small, and welcome our local vessel owners to join the RTM family. Our experienced team specialises in complete boat maintenance including, repairs and painting, fibreglass and woodwork, fine finished cabinetry and fitout, servicing and installation of machinery, servicing of ancillary and propulsion systems, along with partially or fully refitting vessels, of all types and sizes.

We work with recreational and commercial boat owners, crew, and operators. RTM’s services offer virtually everything a boat owner or a boat operator requires for safe, reliable boating and smooth management. RTM are your perfect partners for your entire lifecycle of boating.

Refit and maintenance work to any vessel starts with good planning. RTM’s unwavering integrity and experience ensure your best interests are always principal, with timeframes and finances in mind. From coordinating your works to conducting them, RTM’s specialist team can cater for all aspects, right to the end with conducting sea trials.

With our team’s diverse skill set, collective experience and sea miles covered in boats of all types in all conditions, we understand all facets of construction, componentry selection and seaworthiness.

During any refit or maintenance project, we pride ourselves in our ability to communicate all matters at hand clearly and regularly, with transparency being the key factor. Where possible RTM will offer our clients an estimate or firm quotation to reflect the scope of works required, and if the scope varies due to the nature of refit, RTM will advise the client of any variations to the costing to gain permission prior to conducting any additional works. No matter what work we are performing for you, we work with you to suit your individual requirements, financial and time constraints.

RTM would be delighted to assist you, whether you are looking for a total refit, minor repairs, or general servicing of machinery aboard your vessel. RTM also specialises in tailoring and managing full or partial maintenance programs ensuring your vessel is reliable and ready for you to “step on and steam away”. These well documented maintenance plans are also an asset to your vessel with insurance and future sales in mind.

The supporting testimonial is an example of RTM’s ability to assist our clients from the point of purchase, through to servicing and refit, and ongoing support.

“It is our firm belief that best business practice is to have the difficult conversations at the start of the project and a handshake upon completion.”

The RTM team upgraded many aspect of M/Y Nisi superyacht

Beyond Capricorn refit by RTM Marine

Captain Todd - Master 500t Early 2021, I spoke to a number of companies regarding what they could offer for a Pre-Purchase Survey. RTM stood out as the most professional in their survey detail, what was included or could be covered, and the prompt communication. The three team members who attended the sea trial and survey were excellent in their knowledge, interaction with seller, broker and buyer as well as the detail that was covered. Due to the professional quality that was received, I engaged RTM to undertake the refit, upgrades, repair and owner requests, post purchase. All work from shipwright, fibreglass, mechanical, plumbing, rigging, sourcing to review and recommendations has been of equal standard to any of the best I have received from the 16 shipyards I have visited around the world on superyachts. The open communication with all work, plus jovial attitude and respect shown to the crew and vessel while working, is first rate and highly commendable to the staff and management of RTM. It has become unusual to find such honesty from contractors in the superyacht world. I would highly recommend RTM based on my experience and would be happy to provide a reference or answer any questions.