Back up motor , for tuna runs.

[id. painter]

This is a ? for the tuna fisherpeople out there. It was mentioned that for me to run my boat to tuna town i should have a back up motor capable of getting me home from 50 miles out in bad weather. What is your back up motor?
W.P. You have the same boat, what is your back up? id. painter

[Popeye]

ID....my back-up is a Cummins 330 Turbo...Had to use it last Sept....47 miles worth :grin:

[Threemuch]

I think for most of us, the back up is the USCG. Very few of us carry the fuel to tow someone in from the tuna grounds. I could motor in on my 15hp kicker, it would only take me about 10 hours from the 50 mile mark. Don't laugh too much, I have done it from 47.

KB

[Popeye]

Kurt...I'm not laughing, it took about 5 hours, got in at 9:45 dark-thirty!

[Miss B Haven]

id- There's a lot of variables in your question. How far out are you going and how fast do you want to get back on your "kicker"? Are you going alone? What's the weather window. Can you contact assistance from 30-40 miles out?
Consider the outflow if you get stuck coming in slow and have to come across on an outgoing tide. Your 9.9 probably will not get you back over the bar at the CR or in Tillamook on a good ebb tide (I'm guessing it pushes you 5-6 max). I have personally seen the CR flowing at 8 knots (Sept. low water too!) on the ebb.

Rather than put a 20 horse kicker on a boat like yours (to do 10 plus knots), consider the buddy system. There's a big advantage to this. A lot of motor problems are caused by fuel. If your big motor dies because of fuel and you are running the kicker off the same supply, guess what! :shocked: :whazzup:

PS - Like Popeye, my "gethome" is a 300hp diesel. To avoid the fuel problem (tanks are separate, but I fill both sides from the same source!) I carry about 10 filters on board. I may need to change them all the way, but I'll get home!
PSS- The coast guard may not come and get you unless your ship/life is in danger. Being dead in the water 40 miles out does not necesarily meet there definition of in danger. Normally a small boat like yours they would respond but they may not tow you in. They may ask if you want them to call a commercial tow boat. They normally respond to small boats around the mouth of the CR (I think they believe that all boats disabled at the CR are in danger) but it is not clear to me what they would do if about a boat 40 miles out on relatively calm water. :whazzup:

[ 01-06-2003, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

[Popeye]

HALFWAY BACK Thank God it was flat! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[id. painter]

Thanks again to all who write back. I am only planning to fish tuna with another boat or two going along. I woulnt want to be a burden , but,i like the idea of nearby help. It sounds only prudent. I like the idea of adding a three way to the main gas line , that way i can plug in as needed, and can also use the extra gas cans for the kicker if needed. Different gas sources sound like it makes sense also. Thanks again ,,,, Im learning,lots, and thank you all so much. id. painter.

[WP]

I have a 9.9 honda as a back-up. In smooth conditions I can make 7.5 MPH on it. In fairly rough weather (stopped salmon fishing to run back in) I was able to maintain heading and could easily run 5-8 MPH over water. The teering was less than robust and steep seas were not easy on course but I have confidence i could return even from tunatown, if needed. Not fun, but do able. The worst part is that the trolling motor is not centered so thrust is directional. Could be a problem with a strong sea to the beam while running.
WP

[Mr. Fisherman]

My 8 horse 4 Stroke Honda pushes the Sea Lion at 7 to 8 mph. It is plumbed to the main tanks though. I love my kicker, it has already brought me home once. It sure was nice to have the EZ steer setup. Got to go inside, close the door and enjoy the ride.

[id. painter]

thanks everyone ,,,, From the sounds of what other tuna fisher persons have for back up, im O.K.. It sounds like id be some better with a 15hp , but my 9.9 will do .
Now , the list again. I can take care of my range thing with a 3way and extra boat cans.
My trolling motor will work as a back up.
Ill give my boat a good shake down. ie. run the poo out of it .
Ill have two of most everything, V.H.F.,compass, plugs, cell phone,ect...
Run with other boats, (who know what they are doing)
Ill start learning more about open ocean navigation, with compass.
Ill keep my gray matter safe , so i have some for tuna fishing.
What else???? id. painter

[bait boy]

Can you make the water warm up faster and the winter go away faster?

[Miss B Haven]

id - don't forget the TUNA gear, ice and chests! :grin:

[id. painter]

Oh yah, i may end up needing a big cooler or two, just in case i actually end up catching some of these bullets. It sounds like a blast!!! id. painter

[fish assassin]

IDP:

Start thinking about saftey equiptment ... EPIRB, survival suits,
life raft ... any or all could save you in case of a real emergency!
Probably first on my list would be survival suits for everybody on
board with a strobe light (for sure) or even (better yet) one of the
personal (mini)epirbs attached to each suit.

Mini epirbs are about 200 bucks each ... survival suits about $250 each ...
strobe lights about $10 each.

A 406 epirb for the boat is a good idea, but not a necessity ... IF you
are fishing in a pack (multiple boats) ...about $650 to a grand for
the manual release type.

A life raft is nice, but I fished TUNA in my dory without one for
years ... I now have a 4 man raft in a soft sided valise ... they
run about $1300-$1800 for a for a 4 man setup ...

My take on saftey equiptment:
1) Minimum needed for the ocean:
--------------------------------
Flares
life jackets (w/strobe lights)

2) offshore (TUNA) minimum (fishing in the pack):
-------------------------------------------------
survival suits (with strobe)
VHF with a good range
spare fuel
dry clothes
rain gear (even on the nicest days)
LOTS of fresh water!!
Big first aid kit (long ways from a hospital out there)

3) In case you are seperated from the group:
---------------------------------------------
survival suits!! (can't say that one enough!)w/mini epirb
Parachute flares!!
406 manual epirb

4) If you plan to go it alone ...
----------------------------------
406 manual epirb (minimum) for the boat
survival raft
secondary power

Add the equiptment from the previous catagory to each new
catagory as you go down the list! It's a lot of stuff and you
will probably never need it, but if you do it may well save
your life! I've fished out there with less equiptment, but feel
a lot safer now that I have most of the above ...

-assAssin-

[Sensei-san]

Wow, How quickly we move from trying to get back in on a backup motor to EPIRB's. One good thing that might be in order is to quell the tuna fever with some practical seamanship. Most of the boating safety groups offer classes in the winter. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadron usually have classes beyond the basic boating safety class right now. These classes could answer some of the questions that people post on ifish.

Like the idea that you can "run" meaning at planing speed on a kicker back to port. Wrong... No matter how big the kicker (unless it is humongous), it is almost impossible to make a boat plane on a kicker. Something about the bow wave, buttocks plus some physics and math.

How to use that thing that has a needle, lubber lines, numbers in a circle and turns when you change course. You can even find your way back using it and a watch.

Learn how to use a simple AM radio to find your way in the fog.

Yup, one can never learn enough about the sea and seamanship. ifish and the salty dogs are great but cracking a book with people that want to pass on their knowledge is even better.

[ 01-07-2003, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: Sensei-san ]

[Popeye]

Sensei-san,
Are you going to make the AA meeting?

[id. painter]

Thanks, assAssin,very good info.
What is an eprib?
What is a 406 manual eprib?
Survival suit , yes , ill get some.
Raft. yes, ill get one.
My wife has known me since we were in 5th gr. Ihave not changed.She knows my newest interest. Im glad she isnt involved in these conversations, she would be thinking we need a loan to get outfitted for tuna.It may take me a couple of years to get everything , but im still excited and interested. id. painter

[fish assassin]

It's a satellite signaling beacon that tells the Coasties exactly
where you are at. The 406 MHZ unit is the "big one" that is on
your boat and only used for specific emergencies (read that: life
threatening).

There are a couple of three types ... but by far the cheapest model
is the manual release kind.

Take a look at:
http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/
to get an easy primer on what it is ...

epirb stands for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.

-assAssin-

[id. painter]

That is some great advice Sensei-san. My fither is very bright and can navigate at sea.I will start to learn from him as well as start looking into classes.. Thanks id. painter