Spearfishing boat

[ickledevil]

Hi all, quick brain picking of the spearfishing community if I may. I am hopefully going to be in a position to purchase a boat in the near fututre (assuming I don't end up buying a house) anyway I am looking to spend about 5000, with a bit of room either way.
Obvious choice is a RIB but I have been there done that and now have a family to consider that would like to join me on occasion and would appreciate a bit more shelter. So boat will be used for spearing, a bit of fishing and enjoying days out with the family. Needs to be towable ideally, will be stored in a boat yard but not on a mooring, not too stupid expensive on fuel, capable of being out and about in all day and as said fit for both diving and family.. I do get this will be a compromise but best keep the Mrs happy! Any suggestions on possible makes or models etc that you have used or indeed own that may suit me greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Joe

 

[ickledevil]

Oh and apologies I am UK based!

 

[scallywag]

Somthing like this perhaps?

http://boatsandengines.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/p1010080.jpg


you may find a second hand one in your price range.

 

[foxfish]

I reckon you are asking quite a lot for 5k!
Sound like you are talking about three people on a family day out?
Anything less than 16' & three people is very crowded so realistically you are looking at 17' +
17' boat with a planing capability & 60hp motor + trailer for 5k- it is not going to be in that good a nic unless you are really lucky!
If it is just for two adults & a very occasional outing with a child on a sunny day then yes 5k will get you something.
Maybe an open boat with center console around the 15' would suit?

 

[scallywag]

Always wanted a Rigid Raider myself.

 

[ickledevil]

Yeah guess I am asking a lot but you never know, the boat definitely needs to be useable and reliable but neat shiny and smart.. not likely. i enjoy refitting things so the boat would very likely end up getting some work anyway. As I said my price range is flexible but hoping to spend around the 5k mark. If its not enough to get what I need its not enough I guess! Having nosed around yes I am thinking 17-21ft (over 21ft the price goes up a LOT for storage. Realistically 90% of the time it will be me and however many dive buddies we stick in going on diving trips, the last 10% would likely be split between occasional fishing trips with non diving friends and taking the Mrs and little one out.
Having owned a couple of RIBS now I know they would fit the diving and occasional fishing spec. just fine and and knowing what I have paid before i could go that route comfortably again. However I like change and I would like to be more comfortable subjecting the other half and child to the sea if there was a bit of practical shelter.
I like the link posted and it could work, anyone dived from a boat with high-ish hard sides I haven't so not sure how manageable it is in reality. I am having a job knowing model names etc that may be up to the task so feel free to share those.

 

[foxfish]

I am pretty much up to speed on most small boats but like I say you will be very lucky to find a decent 4S motored fast boat of that size for that price.
Perhaps look at displacement craft with a diesel inboard.
I bought this one for £3.500 but spent a similar amount on it & then bought a trailer, so it probably cost me about 8.5k & is probably worth about that!
http://forums.deeperblue.com/diy-homemade/94543-boat-rebuild.html

 

[ickledevil]

Cheers for that, have you dove off the boat or just fished? I am doing a lot of wondering on how easy boats of that style are to dive from.
Thinking and searching ebay for likely candidates I may have to admit defeat on the pricing unless I get lucky and get something cheap needing work or end up doing boat and motor separate etc.
I am back to thinking of a RIB as the most likely candidate for not only money but ease, so perhaps a change in tact.. how can I make a RIB more family friendly.. mainly how can I reduce spray and wind as much as possible?
The sensible bit of me says buy a RIB, after all 90% of use will be me and others spearing, and buy the Mrs and little one the best boat clothing I can find lol. Interested to hear any other options though!
Joe

 

[foxfish]

Well I also have a far more suitable dive boat, in fact I feel plastic boats are far better than ribs for inshore work as you can really abuse the boat by running up the beach or even bouncing off rocks, there is no fear of punchers either!
My pioner Viking...

 

[ickledevil]

Mmmm good point well presented and nice boat.. can you give me any goo names/brands etc. to search for? Cant see on your photos there but do you have a swim step/ladder or are the sides not as high as they look?

 

[foxfish]

There is a step ladder on the Vilmar but with the viking it is quite easy to climb on from the transom. interestingly the Viking is more stable at rest the the bigger vilmar.
PS I might sell my Viking.

 

[bobdonny]

nice boat foxy...didnt realise you had two!!

No point giving you names, you best see what is available nearby! and then go for that!

After a few boats I picked this up last year.

I got it for about half price as the hull + body, engine and trailer needed work.

I was looking for a big deck space with some protection from wind. I use it for my family cruising, fishing trips and hope to use it diving.

The weather has been cac here to test for diving but I have hoped in and out when inspecting my mooring. I used a side ladder which was far from ideal but OK!

Over winter I might try to engineer some better solutions for boarding.

Incidentally, I have only dived of my small inflatable and Johnnybuoy's 17ft dory. I have to say the dory is a great boat for diving off and is quite low to the water. It is very fast but a hard ride in any chop over a few inch. Johnny has an open boat with a canvas cuddy that can be raised.

When I was researching a proper dive boat I came across this, some good points to consider. The Isis Project
I actually went to pick up a pilot 590 (19ft dory) as it had buckets of deckspace and i was going to fit a dive ladder like attached but was guzumped when I got there.

When I saw the orkney 590tt I couldnt say no to it!! Slight compromise on the diving/boarding etc. but a fab boat for fishing and cruising! By the time I got the engine and hull sorted the season was almost over and there were no opportuinities to dive from it... or we took johnny's dory.

 

[ickledevil]

Cool thanks guys.. I am liking the Orkney but like you said will need some thinking on boarding.. nothing is insurmountable though. And Foxfish.. keep me informed on your thoughts on the Viking I may be interested..
Basically to put you all in the picture I am soon to be recieving my long awaited compensation for the accident that kept me out the water and off the forum for so long in 2010, its going to go one of two ways.. either enough for us to put a deposit on the house we rent, in which case great but no boat. Or not enough for a deposit in which case a boat is on the cards.. you can guess what I am hoping for! lol.

 

[ickledevil]

Well I did the sensible thing and went for a wander round the local marinas and boat yards yesterday, I looked at a number of things that may potentially fall within purchase price range.. Bayliner and Regal type bow riders, a couple of RIBS a shetland (540?) and a Warrior (Orkney type).
Initial thoughts were the bowrider type boats were lovely, would be relatively easy to climb on after a dive and had plenty of seating, however storage space was nearly non existent, where would I put my spearguns and fins!?!. The Shetland had a nice cabin and almost reasonable deck space but really high sides with little useable room to install a ladder, and to be honest struck me as likely a bit more of a plodder.. The Warrior thing was again nice, cabin was much smaller but plenty of scope for making it more comfortable but there was much more deck space. High sides again but at least a bit of scope for ladder install. Then finally there was the RIBS, both plenty big enough and fast enough however they, and indeed most I see, are centre consoles with 2 or three jockey seats, this completely ruins the deck space and I don't see that set up as the best seating arrangement, much prefer the rear bench and side console I spotted on a brand new Zodiak RIB. Guessing however centre consoles are easy enough to remove and I could replace with an alternative more suited arrangement.
So no ideals really but definitely food for thought. If I could solve storage issues a bowrider type boat may work and be 'more acceptable' for the Mrs.. not to mention I know a bit about the 3L inboards, especially the Volvo Penta which could be a bonus. A RIB with better seating arrangements would likely be just fine but the more modern seating means either a newer boat and increase in cost or some custom work (I am capable of doing this myself but its additional expense again) The Warrior was most interesting to me.. all is there and that style boat seems plentiful, it 'could' potentially be an easy fix to solve boarding issues, or of course could become a complete pain lol. Having been to sea in all but the Shetland and Orkney type boats any one care to comment on the handling characteristics?
Cheers
Joe

 

[Balpherus]

Hi, :wave

I think the colder months will get you a better price on 2nd hand boats. I've done two myself in the past, complete strip downs of 16 and 18ft with cabins. The cabins had no door on factory build so I made some. If you know someone with a big enough garage to put one in for repair, it could cost you a lot less than £2500. Buying a boat with no outbourd will generally cost less (taking in to account purchasing a 2nd hand outboard to put on it) than one that comes as a whole package. The 18ft cost about £450 for materials to restore and make sea worthy again. It helped knowing a welder to do the trailer, a windscreen fitter to re-do the windows and the 15 days of work I put in.


I'm sure if you don't mind getting your sleaves rolled up and calling from friend for help you could do it for a lot less.

If however you are looking to just jump aboard then I would agree with the other posts; could be a tight budget to stick to.

 

[ickledevil]

Cheers for that and yes it would strike me that you are right all the boats I saw were within price range give or take a grand. 3 were brokerage jobs and three private sales. Garage wouldn't be an issue really if I had to do any work, and as for skills I can weld, rebuild engines and fibreglass if required so not daunted by the prospect, that said in an ideal world I would much prefer something sound and solid perhaps due a service and in need of 'smartening' up upholstery etc. Presence or absence of electronics don't bother me either, I have probably enough in the spare room to fit out if required. Showed the other half pics today and she liked the potential of the Orkney type and did like the bowriders, so now thinking more about storage solutions, am thinking potentially rear frame/wake tower for gun storage, pockets at sides of captains chairs for fins and under bow seats storage for other bits.. Am I being insane or is it possible and practical?!

 

[foxfish]

Most people cry out for high sides mate, a nice freeboard is what keeps the boat from swamping. Boats with low freeboad really need a watertight deck & they are few & far between in any boat less that 20'.
You can get old hulls as Balopherus points out, in fact there are usually plenty of boat going for free around most coastal ports.
However the work involved in restoring an old boat can be huge & with the risk of osmosis in many old craft but it is the motor that can cost the money.
I am a boat builder by profession & have been buying & selling boats all my life (well from about 12 years old)
A lot of small craft have center console because it allows a much better balance, very often an offset console will really tip the boat over to one side & will almost make the boat go around in circles on the move if there is just one person on board!
Raider 18s are really good sea boats with really high freeboadr & good speed with relatively small motors but expect to pay a min of 12k for a basic one.
Warrior 17' are also very good but are even more expensive & need slightly bigger motors. Both these boats are extremely sellable because of there reputation. Warrior make a 16' version but it is like calk & cheese in comparison to the 17'.
A lot of bowriders are mast production American models & are terrible sea boats!
Probably the best place for small boat info is on WSFF, just dont mention you are a spear fisherman!!

 

[bobdonny]

Yep what foxfish said. I think a lot of bowriders are not great stable platforms at sea.
The warrior is a decent boat allright and I was looking for one specifically as a local spearo has dived off them before. They are pretty light and Very!! fast. Good use of deck space too.

Be careful of putting rear seats on a rib and making the back so heavy it wont get on a plane.
And due to tubes you can get more deck space outta a 17ft fibreglass boat than a 20ft rib. But if I had cash I'd buy one of these....
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPSO2L18e1g]Spearfishing boat - YouTube[/ame]

In fact, did you ever think of building a Fibreglass rib Mart?
Would I be naive in thinking you could use a standard rib hull mould and add on some diy tube moulds?

 

[Jonny250]

Joe, can you weld aluminium well?
i might have an alternative solution for you...

 

[ickledevil]

Cheers for that guys a few things I hadn't considered, so I will remove the bowrider type things from my potential list. I will leave the RIBs for further consideration but start to look a bit more seriously at proper boats, high sides and all, after all I guess they make ladders and swim steps for a reason!
As for aluminium, I have dabbled but wouldn't be confident in welding it, that said I know a man who is about as good as they come, so tell me more
Joe