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Clay
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| Joined: | Mon Jun 12th, 2006 |
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Posted: Thu Jul 20th, 2006 04:19 am |
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| We have been fishing SC for about 10 yrs with a lake deck boat. We did several modifications but it still is not the safest, and time to look into a real boat. We had a sea ray prior and not happy with it. We couldn't go inside the cabin without getting sick, and after the deck boat we are fans of the cat or double hull types. My question to you that have more experience is for recomendations. Gas or diesel, and inboard versus outboard, also how much does the flying bridge help in spotting reeds and marlin ect?
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Sea Fox
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| Joined: | Sun May 21st, 2006 |
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Posted: Thu Jul 20th, 2006 05:46 am |
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Clay,
This question is a tough one since the answer depends on at least a million different variables that must be prioritized by you. In my case (back in 2001) the list of "essentials" I envisioned at the beginning of my search "evolved" as I became more knowledgeable about what was available, at what cost, etc., etc. My best piece of advice is to not be in a hurry. After that, here are a few thoughts for pondering.... for San Carlos I would love to have a 28-32 foot sportfisher where 4-6 people could fish comfortably, get out of the weather/spray and where the ladies could use facilities without asking the men to turn their backs. It would have outriggers and a flybridge and would be a twin diesel for safety and economy. Flybridge is nice for taking photos, looking down into the water at fish and feeling like a "captain". You can find billfish and weed pattys a little better but a keen eye to the sky will be nearly as helpful (esp. frigate birds). On the other hand, if I can only have one boat, I like having a trailerable boat. Maybe you could split the difference and go with a 25 ft skipjack with the diesel and a short tower on a triple axle trailer?
Have fun figuring it out 
-Dave
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Catch-22 Steve
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| Joined: | Tue Dec 6th, 2005 |
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Posted: Thu Jul 20th, 2006 03:37 pm |
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Clay- I agree word for word with everything sea fox said, I have a 25ft skip jack , with a diesel, On a triple axle trialer, every Captain I have that drive all the boats In my fleet, always want to Take the skip jack !
hope this helps
Steve
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Stuart
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 26th, 2005 |
| Location: | Tempe, Arizona USA |
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Posted: Thu Jul 20th, 2006 05:07 pm |
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Psssst, Clay -- you know you really want a cat! 
I agree a flybridge is nice. However, the cockpit of my cat rides pretty high on the water, too. Nothing stopping you from putting a tower on a cat, except the trailering factor. I have seen them with folding towers.
You can get a cat with diesels, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. Most of them with diesels are dogs, not cats! Twin four-strokes are the way to go for performance and ease of maintenance with a cat. As far as fuel efficiency, you're not going to see a huge difference between diesel or outboards with a cat. The diesel will give you a little more range, but not by a lot, and it will take you longer to get there.
Skipjacks are great boats and all the guys I know that have them have only good things to say about them. You can't go wrong with a Skippy.
There are a few boats I really like right now. One I have had lust in my heart for years. Center mounted Yanmar diesel with jackshaft drive to the I/O. Somebody in San Carlos actually has one; it was fishing in the Rescate tournament with us, the TE288 by True World Marine: http://www.trueworldmarine.com/ They are primarily an East Coast boat originally developed for big bluefin tuna fishing. You can find some fair deals on used ones, but you'll have to go back east and tow it home.
The other is a brand new model, the Strike 37 Walkaround by Strike Yachts: http://www.strikeyachts.com/newmodels.html This is a gorgeous boat with true walkaround capability. Way more than I can afford at the moment (base price of about $385K), but that doesn't deter me from wanting it. Obviously, not towable, but certainly the kind of boat I'd like to have when my ship comes in!
The third is a boat I came very near buying. Trailerable, great ride with a Radon hull, diesel, and more cockpit space than boats three times it size: Bahia 25 by Davis boats. http://www.davisboats.com/bahia.htm These boats seem to hold their value well as even gently used ones I've seen bring top dollar. Harold Davis has been building these boats, one at a time, for years and they have a fabulous reputation and a rabid fan club of owners.
This guy has had this cat up for sale for awhile. It's like mine, but is diesel, is a sport cuddy (not WA cabin like mine) and has a tower. He might be getting hungry enough to make you a good deal on it if you really want a diesel cat (dog).
http://www.sdboats.com/images/hiroshim.htm
By the way, this is a great site to browse sportfishers up for sale. You can do a lot of comparison shopping from your computer chair. I browse it often just because I like seeing what's out there. Most of the boats are located in southern California. http://www.sdboats.com/fishing/
Anyway, just more food for thought for you.
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kjstm
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Posted: Fri Jul 21st, 2006 06:42 pm |
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| I have a friend with a Davis...fish it often...great boat.
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azfoote
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| Joined: | Fri Jul 7th, 2006 |
| Location: | Phoenix, AZ, USA |
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Posted: Sun Jul 23rd, 2006 05:08 am |
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| Having owned and kept 2 boats at S.C. Marina, both of which were 35 footers, I learned that keeping a boat in the water will increase maintenance costs ten-fold. I decided to get a smaller, trailerable boat and settled upon a 23-foot Boston Whaler Conquest, which also comes in up to 32-feet. BW and Grady-White are comparable in quality and cost, but I have been in rough water with Whalers and never worried about sinking or capsizing--"The Unsinkable Legend" is no sales hype. The 23-foot Conquest is very comfortable for 2-3 fishermen and has a cuddy cabin and head. The larger Conquest has a shower and is also trailerable. The dry storage facility at S.C. is very good and they will put your boat in the water with advance notice. I have twin 150 Mercs, which are very good on gas--went out 30 miles and trolled all day on 25 gallons of gas. With outboards you don't have the fire danger that you have with an inboard gasoline engine, but diesel is, of course, the safest way to go if you don't want a trailerable boat. Whalers are hard to find except on the east and west coasts. I found mine in San Diego with only 72 hours on the engines. Good luck whichever way you go.
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