I got a boat

    Quote from Dan

    Thanks guys.


    I can't believe I had a thought at one point to spent about a grand less on a PWC. Thanks for talking me out of it Alan. After going to see one and sitting on it I knew it was a waste of time.


    Jeeze Don is there anything you don't know :) Yes there will be an ample supply of tip protectors on board. And the rule is they go on before the gun goes in the boat which means if you're diving with me you have to find a place for it on your person. Ironically a couple of years ago I was very taken aback when asked to do the same thing on this one person's boat but it wasn't an inflatable and wasn't his boat anyways. He wanted it done for safety reasons so no body gets poked. But this is a different situation, some people like to really sharpen their spear points and the day can easily turn into a disaster on an inflatable boat. I plan on making a bunch of tip protectors out of fuel line with a constrictor knot in one end, they're very compact.


    Here is my first Cali blue water boat in 1982, a 12' Zodiac GT with 18hp Suzuki, I named her Breathless.
    Sorry for the crap disposable cam shots. Here she is 32 miles offshore putting me and a friend on small
    local Yellowtail. Later I packed it in my Baja van and crossed the Baja peninasula ( 80miles of no road)
    and found some bigger fish. The boat had a motor cycle battery for the VHF, navigation was state of the
    art dive compass. My custom transom mounted gun rack held 4 game guns. I had indoor/outdoor carpet panels
    sewn to help keep tips and grouper spines from damaging the compartments, I never had a leak.
    I'll be using the boat to take my 10 year boy fishing with this spring, but not offshore.
    Cheers, Don
    PS.... I know yu guy's are going to give me Shite about the Looooong bands on my 7' teak gun, but I had a broken hand from bouncing and it was the only way I could load it.:D it completely lined the big Yellowtail though.

    From a dinghy to a vessel :) thanks again guys.


    Davie, I don't know how much HP, maybe Frank can say.


    Don, my biggest concern right now is where to put the guns. I don't understand how you did it, could you explain please? & cool pics.

    Don , you are a true legend for this sport, Much respect and admiration for you. I was still swimming in my fathers testicles at that time.


    Nice pics:thumbsup2:


    Happy New Year


    Alan

    Dan you have a hard bottom but what is the flor made off? give me 10min I'll show you the rack on the boat I lost.
    Here is the other rack made of teak.
    Dan, when you get some time post some shots of you boat's deck, I'll brain storm this weekend.
    Yeah I know I have a cocked gun racked, but that's how I roll, no one to shoot where I dive.
    Cheers, Don


    Thanks mate, this one's just for you. This is Carlos Eyles (author of Last Of The Blue Waters) before he
    wrote the book. We were close friends and the sea fed her son's well.
    Cheers, Don

    Awesome Dan, congrats on the boat, give me the time and place and I will bring the drinks for afterwards...lol.

    Thanks John :)


    Since the seat folds down to open a compartment underneath, I can't build a rack onto it which is the only logical place. Therefore I will build a frame around and over it fastened at four points, two on the floor and two on the seat box. This frame will also serve as a good place to grip when the boat is running in chop and someone wants to stand. It will have a few attachment points with the option of holding the guns all vertically or all horizontally.



    I need a place that will build the rack for a reasonable price?

    Don, your retro pics remind me of "The most interesting man in the world." -Stay thirsty my friends.


    Thats too funny !:laughing3::laughing3::thumbsup2:
    Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    This frame will also serve as a good place to grip when the boat is running in chop and someone wants to stand. It will have a few attachment points with the option of holding the guns all vertically or all horizontally.



    Dan, I would go with the vertical option, that way the floor bears the wt of the guns. The tips are pointing up out of the way. Crew will also have more room to move aft if need be. I would do it in SS.with poly
    bungies from west marine. I bet a lot of rail makers in Florida could use the work. You could also use SS rail
    tube and fittings. I like welded stuff for strength though.A teak top header can be fabricated for the top.
    Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    MAZEL TOV Dan!!! congrats on the boat...she is a beauty....may she carry you and yours on many many safe missions for years and years to come. :)





    I agree w Don about keeping the guns vertical, seems like it will rob you of too much room horizontally.


    I cannot wait for the first voyage and report.....so Dan, wanna dive?

    i like to spear fish

    Thanks :)


    Yeah I wanna dive but I'm not going out until some things are done. I can't run the risk of spearguns bouncing around for example. I just moved the gas tank from behind the seat to under the seat which created space for a cooler between the back of the seat and the transom. For this reason the back of the spearguns can't sit on the floor and would have to go very high up if vertical. I prefer horizontal with the tips pointing to the right side of the boat where there is no space to walk and therefore no one can get poked.


    Nice space saving, be sure to add a vent and a fire extinguisher now.


    I didn't realize that you only had one side to walk on. Now the horizontal mounting makes sense. Just make sure they don't extend past the bladder or it will be a pain at the dock.

    Davie Peguero

    Dan - If there is a Mastercraft or similar ski boat dealership near you, stop by and look at the different ways that they stow skis and wakeboards. Not that you would do it exactly the same way, but it might give you some additional ideas.

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