Spearfishing boat

[foxfish]

Keep your eye out for Boston Whalers, American made but fantastic boats, even the old ones dont seem to suffer any really serious issues!!
I have never owned one myself but I have worked on a few & been out in a few too.
They are one of the few low gunnel boasts with a water tight deck & loads of storage.

 

[ickledevil]

Thanks and will do, guess the seach is underway. Just had a call about a Shetland Alaska 500 fairly local I might go see at the weekend, although its possibly a little small and perhaps underpowered (60hp) but don't think I have seen one before so hard to say. That said the price is right and actually well under my budget.

 

[foxfish]

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?

No cant say that I have Bob, that osprey looks great but it sort of defeated the advantages of the soft landing inflatable tubes.
The New Zealand's guy are really into alloy rib style boats too & there is one plastic version available that is sort of half house because there is some give in the tubes.
I think this would be just about the best of both worlds, there are about 5 in the UK but they are no longer available unless you import one from new Zealand ... I had the chance to buy one a few year ago & have always regretted not doing so!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21WXhZFbG5Y&feature=relmfu]Macboats 3 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[ickledevil]

Mmmm import from NZ, a large portion of my family are there including my spearfishing boat loving engineer uncle...

 

[ben]

There you go then- your problem is solved, just get a stabicraft- something like the 2150supercab. A quick google seems to find them listed at about.....erm.. 50 grand OMG!!!!!! you could get a house for that money !!!!

There's one on the mooring near ours and its simply gorgeous.....

Ive got an orkney strikeliner (with cuddy) - had it for 20+ years now and its been a great familly/fishing/diving boat. To get back in after a dive we just use a ladder that hooks over the side and that's it- although for years i just climbed over the transom. Its 16-17ft , with, until recently a 25hp 2 stroke which will give about 22knots flat out.
It doesn't have a self draining deck which is a PITA but otherwise brilliant, tough as hell, light enough to launch and land single handed and has been trouble free. Think its just needed regular anti fouling and one replacement keel band in all that time.
Depending on age and condition - you should find one within your budget....

 

[foxfish]

Thanks and will do, guess the seach is underway. Just had a call about a Shetland Alaska 500 fairly local I might go see at the weekend, although its possibly a little small and perhaps underpowered (60hp) but don't think I have seen one before so hard to say. That said the price is right and actually well under my budget.

I have had one of those with a 60 on too, bit of a slamming, light build boat & def underpowered with an old 60 & I would guess a two stroke?
Still there are still plenty of them & around and if it is cheap enouth, best you have a look....

 

[Jonny250]

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

I could easily draw you up a simple alu design and give you the CNC cad for the plates to be cut. I'm pretty busy at the moment, but if its a winter project then i expect we could work it out. if you're interested then check out how much you can get 6m x 2m 5083 H111 plates in say 4, 5 or 6mm [Aalco] and how much your buddy would charge to weld it all up...

 

[ickledevil]

Mmm ok NZ may be out then.. But will have a nose at boston whalers and perhaps take a closer look at the shetland too.
As for the alu, I will look into it for sure and let you know, many thanks

 

[bobdonny]

No cant say that I have Bob, that osprey looks great but it sort of defeated the advantages of the soft landing inflatable tubes.
The New Zealand's guy are really into alloy rib style boats too & there is one plastic version available that is sort of half house because there is some give in the tubes.
I think this would be just about the best of both worlds, there are about 5 in the UK but they are no longer available unless you import one from new Zealand ... I had the chance to buy one a few year ago & have always regretted not doing so!

Macboats 3 - YouTube

Very interesting... I saw a 100% fibreglass rib a few years ago going for nothing and I regret not buying it.. I've been on the look out for a small rib hull to make a spearing boat. I was thinking of glassing the tubes for fin and gun storage.

 

[bobdonny]

PS love the guys diving without scuba tanks but without fins

 

[bobdonny]

Here is a link to a UK company who have a model like the one in my vid
Menai 540RTB 5.4m rigid tube rib

Think I may have found a local 5m rib hull... might give it a go after all!!

 

[ickledevil]

Hey all well the search continues, I havn't got cash in hand yet so thats fine kjust filling the gaps in between work courses etc with visits to boats that I know little about to see if anything jumps as what I am after.

So far saw a wilson flyer like this:

A Boston Whaler 22' Cabiny type thing like this:

A italian thing like this:

and a Shetland like this:

All have been nice boats and give or take fit in budget but none have been quite right apart from perhaps the italian thing which was priciest and probably had the least space but did seem good lol, perhaps I was overcome with its looks!
Also seen a few more RIBs which I know are a sure fire way back into ownership if I cab pursuade the Mrs we dont need some form of shelter!

May the search continue.. or may my budget expand!?!

 

[foxfish]

The flyer looks like one of the smaller models 17' perhaps = they slam like b..srds but the 21 & 24 are big enough to avoid that issue!
That 22' Whaler would be a superb sea boat but I guess it has a big V8 petrol inboard?
The italian thing looks great but is an unknown to me!
The Shetland , 535 is it? have a bad reputation for slamming too!

 

[ickledevil]

The flyer looks like one of the smaller models 17' perhaps = they slam like b..srds but the 21 & 24 are big enough to avoid that issue!
That 22' Whaler would be a superb sea boat but I guess it has a big V8 petrol inboard?
The italian thing looks great but is an unknown to me!
The Shetland , 535 is it? have a bad reputation for slamming too!

Well the Shetland was a 535 assume that pic is as well (library pics used) and was my least favourite but most common thing I came across, the boston whaler was rather nice but has been the only one I have seen although surprisingly in budget if I had cash in hand I may have been temtped, despite your correct guess at a rather hefty V8 inboard.. I am thinking outboard would be most appropriate. The most intriguing was the italian thing, basically the same as the pic but with a lower windscreen, walk round cuddy etc. Seemed wildly underpriced though as a very similar 'looking' boat to the Arvours (sp?) And the likes which are priced more like 15k upwards, I also saw a 20ft boston whaler centre console which was rather nice too although a compromise on shelter etc. And also a 2010 model so stupidly high price.
The search continues, hoping basically to find one and go oooo yes one of those for definite.. Then know what to search for when the money arrives lol

 

[foxfish]

My mate owned a 20' BW center console when I was in my mid 20s, it had a 140 two stroke on the back, petrol was pretty cheap in those days but unfortunately he was paying back so much on the loan that he still couldn't afford to take her out much LOL
Still it was a fantastic boat & is still in the island, now with a 150 Honda, I would buy it back tomorrow if the chance came up.
I would suspect the Italian boat is designed for the Med & would be a bit hard chine for our sea.

 

[ickledevil]

Mmmm yes I think the boston whaler I saw must be an anomally the centre console one I spotted was 22ft and 22k which after a quick search seems the going rate once you hit the 20ft mark, 15ft ones can be had at a fairer price but that certainly sounds too small!

 

[ickledevil]

The search continues.. I am loving the research and the viewing of boats.. so having seen a couple more I want to run a couple of makes past you all to see if there is any thoughts on them, first is quicksilver. Are they any good I have heard mixed reviews?
my second current thought is a brand new Wilson Flyer hull.. they are actually priced pretty competitively, and the thought of a new hull is rather appealing, I would end up fitting it out with second hand bits of course to keep costs down, some of the bits I have already but the main one to buy would be an engine. I am thinking anything above 17ft should be fine but not 100% sure how wise a move this is, there are plenty of second hand 17ft ones available but bigger than that are few and far between and seem to be oddly priced (10k for a 2ft one I saw recently) considering a bare hull with small cuddy and trailer can be had new for around the 4k mark.
Thoughts as usual appreciated.

 

[foxfish]

You can ask jonny about quicksilver boats....
As I have already said Wilson Flyers are very slammy in the smaller sizes, they are basically flat bottomed boats that go fast with small motors, are stable at rest, have very low sides & slam like ba..rds.
Fitting out your own boat is great fun but very expensive & extremely time consuming.
I just would not consider a two stroke motor so it is either a four stroke outboard or inboard or if you are splashing out an inboard diesel but if we are still talking about 5k then bear in mine a 5 year old yam 60 FS is worth 4k alone!
Things like hydraulic steering can cost £500 & everything else related to boats cost much more than you would think, it soon all adds up!!
Renovating an already kitted out boat is far more cost effective...
The 21' Wilson flyers are OK but have a very narrow beam, the 24 is a serious boat though & lots of guys use them professionally & for off shore work but you will need at least 150hp.
keep looking mate, winter is a great time to buy...if you get the chance, try to get out in a raider 18 or a warrior 17 then see the difference if you get get out in a flat bottom boat like the WF or any of the Mediterranean stye boats!

 

[ickledevil]

Cheers, yeah I thought as much, I have been in a dory a few times diving and it did slam a lot (16ft) and that was my main concern with such a similar hull design. So if its a WF its go large or go home lol. I appreciate the comments about fitting out a boat and the costs involved, while I have a fair amount of 'bits' already I guess it would end up costing much more than I expected, although the spread of that cost would be easier to stomach.
Other makes I have been nosing around include Pilot and Bonwitco (sp?).
I have nosed over a raider, it was nearly new and well out of my price range but I was impressed so i will keep my eyes open.
Perhaps I should admit that I either need to double my budget (not likely to happen) or stick with what I know and get another RIB?
After all the shelter, high sides etc are nice to have for the family but chances are they will only come out on nice calm days for a bit of mackerel fishing or a trip down the coast. I know a fair sized RIB can do what I need from the diving side of things and can handle some pretty nasty seas if I ever get caught out.. hell I did three trips to the eddystone on a 3m inflatable in questionable weather (I was young and foolish!)
Perhaps I could just erect a tent on the bow and stick the MRs in it?!
The extra deck space and useability of a 'fisher' would be a bonus though so I wont discount anything.. other than nasty tat of course lol.

 

[Jonny250]

We had a quicksilver simply because my wife wanted a cabin or shelter of some sort. In practice she came out on the boat only a couple of times! We bought the QS to meet that requirement and it was a major mistake [learn from my bad!]. Its not my style of boat really. I personally think that for angling and diving there is a benefit from an open or bow rider style of boat, large centre consol with decent screen/windbreak. The open aspect lets people fish with some space, so more boat for the length.
QS, Arvor etc are light weight boats and with such large chines they all slam, or bang, a bit. Some are a bit better than others.
If you can find one then a pirate 18 or 21 are good... take the wheelhouse off and fit a centre console...
sounds to me like a rib is the right boat for you tho.
I love my smartwave 3500 for the ease and simplicity to use. launch off the beach etc.
shame its not made of something a bit harder. theres always a compromise. interestingly the smartwave doesnt slam much which isnt what i expected from such a flat hull, maybe it needs more horses lol.