Hey all......

[eddie haskel]

Well,I'm about to do the "stupid"......

Yep....buy my first ever boat (the ones I name and take in the tub with me notwithstanding )

I will mostly be fishing in the Puget Sounds,but I'm sure as my ability and comfort zone increase,I'll want to venture further north and out to the Albacore grounds.

Boy....buying that "perfect" boat is hard....maybe because it don't exist :depressed:

I'm all over the place with this stuff....
Just when I think I'm getting close....I get the "un-sure" shakes and have to start all over again.
I've bought (in my mind) boats from 37 foot,all the way down to a 24 footer.
Single,twins,outboards,to twin diesel straight shafts.....I've considered them all!

Most of the input I've received is from boat owners in the socal area,which we all know....is an area all to itself in another galaxy
They have different "needs"......

I will clean my mental "slate" and listen to the ones that actually BOAT in the area I'm to enjoy.

Could you all please take the time and enlighten this numb-wit into some of the desirables of boat owning in the Pacific Northwest?

Also....slip vs. trailer.
It's the one I'm having the most problem with.

Thank you so much....
I'll remember you took the time and tried to help....I'll invite you aboard when I get her all set up and we can roast some weenies

Thaxs,
eddie

[Knucklebuster]

How much money do you want to drop?
I'm in the sound every chance I get. I've got a 18' whaler outrage. Works good. Sopunds like you are after something bigger. I'd go with a grady white, or something in that neighborhood. Striper maybe. Skagit Orca is a nice one too.

[HOGGEMIN]

If a fiberglass is wanted look at the Sea Sports or Skagit Orcas or C Dorys in Aluminum look at Norvelle, Ed Wing, Koffler, or Motion Marine. All make nice high sided deep vee hules which is nice in rough salt water.

[fish assassin]

As to slip or trailer ...


Trailer boats:
--------------
- A trailer boat spends less time in the water, so it has less maintanence issues.
- You can take a trailer boat with you if you want to fish someplace else.
- You can park a trailer boat in your yard so the fees don't cost an arm & a leg.
- You don't have to bottom paint a trailer boat!
- It's eaisier to patch holes in the hull when you boat is on the trailer!!
(Don't ask me how I know the above! )
- You never have to worry about your boat getting beat against the dock during stormy
weather when said boat is on the trailer in your yard!!
-Electrolysis is generally NOT an issue.

Moored boats:
-------------
- You never have to worry about a broken axle on your trailer (I just KNOW this, OK?)
- You never have to worry about a blown tire on your trailer.
- Line to get to the launch ramp?? What line?
- Typically, a boat that is moored gets used more!
- You get to pay higher prices at the fuel dock than at the gas station!
(for gas, but diesel is usually cheaper at the dock)
- It's SOOO nice to walk down the dock to the boat, fire her up and GO!!
- A boat at the dock can be used for a party platform if it's too rough to fish!

Just a few things to think about! I've got both and like 'em both, but perfer
being in port!

-assAssin-

[fish assassin]

... Or, if you've got fairly deep pockets ... take a look at the Maxweld Maxcat
built in Hebo, Oregon. High sides, smooth on the ocean, FAST!, and a very comfortable
ride that makes an excellent fishing platform ...

I will attest to the fishability/rideability of the 30'x 11.5' Maxcat with queen
bunk, head with shower, galley, twin diesels and Merc Bravo III outdrives!

-assAssin-

Originally posted by HOGGEMIN:
If a fiberglass is wanted look at the Sea Sports or Skagit Orcas or C Dorys in Aluminum look at Norvelle, Ed Wing, Koffler, or Motion Marine. All make nice high sided deep vee hules which is nice in rough salt water.

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[Birdnest]

Welcome.

Lets here some more details about what is important to you in a boat. It sounds like you are looking at big and fancy. Crabbait and Skein are each in the process of having Ed Wing make them a couple of REAL nice boats. I think the Seasport is another very popular hardtop boat in that same strata.

If you are in the Whidbey Island area, Cap Sante Marina (On the Swinhomish Channel) has a real nice indoor storage facility that would be about the same price as mooring, with the advantages of not soaking her in Salt. No need for a trailer either. Disadvantage is I am sure it is a busy spot during key times of the year.

Anyway, glad to have another Puget Sounder around here.

Joe

[corrirod]

Welcome aboard Eddie H.!

[Sea Jypzee]

First off, Welcome to ifish. I've not been around here all that long, but feel right at home. Of course, maybe that's cause I just moved in and made myself at home too. :shocked:

I think every person here can give you a list of what's good/bad about any specific boat type. My first boat was a custom built 25' dory I bought off a commercial salmon fisherman. Was a very solid boat, while at the same time, had lots of maintenance issues due to being run by a commercial fisherman, and jury-rigged heavily to suit his needs. The trailer literally rusted out from under it.

Then my second boat was a 20' Sea Ray cuddy cabin. The only real problem with that boat is that it was raw-water cooled, and the engine literally corroded out the block. 350 mercruiser I/O. The boat was very sturdy, and easy to fish with, even for tuna 40 miles offshore. Admittedly it was a little on the small size (for me now) to be out 40 miles solo, but the boat itself handled it just fine. I have moored it through the spring-fall fishing seasons, then trailered it the rest of the time. This worked out well, as I live only 1 block from the harbor and enjoy being able to go hop on the boat anytime I had a little spare time to go out.

My current boat, (taking delivery this weekend) is a 30' Sport Craft Offshore Sportfisher boat. Built with twin 350 inboards. While I have not had it offshore yet, the boat was built to handle the type of water we have here with little to no problem. Sport Craft are made in Florida, and built very sturdy and solid. Give me a bit of time, and I will tell ya what's good or bad about it after I've had time to work with it a while. :grin: :grin:

Due to the size of my current boat, it will be moored year around. A boat in the water year-round requires hauling out for bottom maintenance, and you occasionally have to have a diver go down to check/change zincs, etc so these are also considerations you need to make.

At any rate, welcome again!!

[eddie haskel]

Thanxs all....

My wants in a boat are a "wee" bit different than wifeo's....
If I had my way....I would stop off in Oregon on my way north,and hook-up a Bounty 30 with twin diesels and a fly.
She say's it looks like a....get this....A FISHING BOAT (and they seriously think they(women) could be President :shocked: )

But I've a "hunch".....when we get the house all settled,and we move on to really "important" stuff....like buying a BOAT....
The sales people should really be able to tell her,and "back it up"....why a "pretty" Florida boat....is not a good idea in the Northwest.
Besides....I think when she see's the fit and finish on some of these new rigs,it will be I saying....."Honey...bigger is not necessarily better" :depressed:

Thanxs....
Keep the advice coming....I'll let you all know how it plays out....

eddie

[corkyking]

Keep looking-you'll know it when you see it. :grin:

"Some day my boat will come in, and with my luck I'll be at the airport."
Graffito

[Miss B Haven]

Oh Eddie- this is so easy (don't ask me how I know this) :grin: . Take the wife out and look at Aluminum sleds. They are so sturdy, they are so maint. free, they are so cheap, they are so easy ( :shocked: ) etc etc.
Then- after she beats you severely about the head and shoulders and hangs you by your nose hairs for even thinking about buying a "military vehicle boat" (with no porcelain potty):

THEN take her and show her the Sea Sports, the Bounty's etc etc etc. You just gotta start small and uncomfortable and then work your way up dude!

[cdj356]

Eddie.Bounty is out business. I had to buy a used one when I bought mine three years ago .
I should have it in the water in warranton by the 4th. stop on by on your trip north and we can try for some coho .
C.D.J.

.

[corkyking]

"If rightly made, a boat would be a sort of amphibious animal, a creature of two elements, related by one half its structure to some swift and shapely fish, and by the other to some strong-winged and graceful bird."
ATTRIBUTION: Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

"I hope you ain’t going to blow up my boat, Mr. Johnson. Like my wife, she’s not much, but she’s all I have."
William Alland (b. 1916). :grin:

[Mark Mc]

Oh My God.....WARNING! WARNING! This is no ordinary newbe to i-fish. This character has quite the reputation in Southern California on a certain chat board. But I suppose we all deserve the chance to re-invent ourselves and start fresh, right? So Eddie, welcome aboard! You will be expected to provide the standard, obligatory "new guy story", preferably saltwater fishing related.

So did you relocate to that new house on Whidbey Island? (Yes, I've been spying on you).

Shoot me an e-mail sometime: waterwise@attbi.com

Again, welcome aboard. Your tuna talents & humor will be appreciated here.

- Mark Mc

[OceanBlue]

Hey Eddie - When the wife exclaims about the boat looking like a fishing boat, just remind her how grateful she will be that she doesn't have to worry about how to get the blood and smell out of the carpet and upholstery. :grin: