Custom Paul Mann

[Questsportfishing]

we had a 1970 48' guthrie for years ...she was wide rode like a dream (was not fast but back then who was???) we raised a bunch of fish on top and loaded her with 4,000 lbs of ice and fish every damn winter in bad weather, made tire reefs with her, took 2 cars out at a time on her aft deck at a time to make reefs and fishing on a Mann / Ricky / Merritt or any other custom boat usually blows away the fiberglass rigs. I do remember years ago as they started a PM that they started building the keel and then figured "just how long she was gonna be".. I laghed at that but what a great boat she turned out to be. the old Guthrie actually had 6-53's in her and seen thousands of days fishing. was always fun re-caulking her with a mix of fiber and 5200 a hammer and a blunt chisel. I was taught to pass your hand over everything you have and keep it up because of old timers that had vision and common sence.

[TROPHY SPORTFISHING]

Originally Posted by Phat Mann

Keep up the good work Capt. Danny.

Mann I thought this thread was dead!

Mark you crack me up. Is Dave gettin ancy for a white marlin yet. Of course you know the best is MANN made.

[Phat Mann]

I can't resist mentioning that Paul Mann boats took the Carolina Boat Builders Challenge. Pelican first, Qualifier third. Phat Mann only fished one day due to cancellation of last day. Did manage a 38.5 lb dolphin for 2nd place dolphin.

Paul Mann was Top Angler.

Can't believe they called tourney in this Boat Blder Challenge!

[dubb]

I was suprised they cancelled the last day also. Once you got through that piece of crap inlet the seas were not that bad sunday. We only went wreck fishing so maybe they were worse offshore.

[stimmy]

I've read this whole thread, too, and found some interesting opinions. Like most arguments, there are valid points on many sides.
Having spent a great deal of time digging rotten end-grain balsa out of the cabin sides and roof on one 10 year old boat, repairing the glassed over gunnels on another 15 year old boat, and replacing the plywood in the transom of a 20 year old boat, my opinion is wood and water don't mix. No matter what you do, water will eventually intrude on whatever you cover the wood with and make it rot. The boats I mention were all fiberglass boats with obviously some wood, making them perhaps worth repairing. A $4,000,000.00 wooden boat has the same value as a $1000.00 dink when it's rotten, except for maybe the salvage.
I have had the opportunity to see some incredible wooden boats that have 100 times more class than any F/G boat could possibly aspire to and the craftsmanship of the builders is literally legendary. Despite that, I would never own a wooden boat. Plastic, glass, steel, and aluminum should be the only ingredients in a hull. IMHO
I also don't believe boats catch fish, fishermen do. I know many hulls have a better resonance than others, but I've caught fish from the shore, from a rubber raft, from a small boat and from about every other type of boat, as well. Some fish like tuna have excellent eyesight, but let's face it, they ain't too bright. If I was at the lunch counter and the guy next to me bites into his sandwich and all of a sudden gets dragged by his mouth out of the room, I sure as he** ain't gonna bite into my sandwich.
BTW, I'm a newbie to this site and I'm wondering about that middle finger post icon. Cute, but I hope it is rarely used!

[clt_capt]

Originally Posted by stimmy

I've read this whole thread, too, and found some interesting opinions. Like most arguments, there are valid points on many sides.
Having spent a great deal of time digging rotten end-grain balsa out of the cabin sides and roof on one 10 year old boat, repairing the glassed over gunnels on another 15 year old boat, and replacing the plywood in the transom of a 20 year old boat, my opinion is wood and water don't mix. No matter what you do, water will eventually intrude on whatever you cover the wood with and make it rot. The boats I mention were all fiberglass boats with obviously some wood, making them perhaps worth repairing. A $4,000,000.00 wooden boat has the same value as a $1000.00 dink when it's rotten, except for maybe the salvage.
I have had the opportunity to see some incredible wooden boats that have 100 times more class than any F/G boat could possibly aspire to and the craftsmanship of the builders is literally legendary. Despite that, I would never own a wooden boat. Plastic, glass, steel, and aluminum should be the only ingredients in a hull. IMHO
I also don't believe boats catch fish, fishermen do. I know many hulls have a better resonance than others, but I've caught fish from the shore, from a rubber raft, from a small boat and from about every other type of boat, as well. Some fish like tuna have excellent eyesight, but let's face it, they ain't too bright. If I was at the lunch counter and the guy next to me bites into his sandwich and all of a sudden gets dragged by his mouth out of the room, I sure as he** ain't gonna bite into my sandwich.
BTW, I'm a newbie to this site and I'm wondering about that middle finger post icon. Cute, but I hope it is rarely used!

First of all, Welcome aboard.

Secondly - Boats - made from any material are a losing battle. One day they will all wind up on the bottom or in a scrap heap. So until the day that happens, it is a constant battle.

Boats are always a trade off between materials, speed, weight, cost, upkeep, etc.

IMHO, the use of coring material to increase the thickness of Fiberglass skins is a good compromise. Of the possible core materials, wood - especially marine grade plywood is a very reasonable trade-off. It doesn't generally fail catastrophically like the Vinyl and urethane based cores.

End grain Balsa is a sponge - even if you seal the grain.

I do love the look of teak and mahogany covering boards and decks, but for now, my rule on my boat is no exposed wood
that can't be removed, taken home and refinsihed.

[stimmy]

Originally Posted by clt_capt

First of all, Welcome aboard.

Secondly - Boats - made from any material are a losing battle. One day they will all wind up on the bottom or in a scrap heap. So until the day that happens, it is a constant battle.

Boats are always a trade off between materials, speed, weight, cost, upkeep, etc.

IMHO, the use of coring material to increase the thickness of Fiberglass skins is a good compromise. Of the possible core materials, wood - especially marine grade plywood is a very reasonable trade-off. It doesn't generally fail catastrophically like the Vinyl and urethane based cores.

End grain Balsa is a sponge - even if you seal the grain.

I do love the look of teak and mahogany covering boards and decks, but for now, my rule on my boat is no exposed wood
that can't be removed, taken home and refinsihed.

Thanks for the welcome. Like you, I love the look and feel of real wood, I am just too lazy to put up with the work it requires.
This past weekend I was on a friends 50' 1980 HATTERAS. That 28 year old boat is still a beauty with many upgrades (like 12 cyl MAN's) but it's worth keeping because it was built like a brick sh** house (it weighs 79,000 lbs) and will be around for many more years. Do cold molded or other glass over wood boats last that long?
The only problem I've seen with the old F/G beauties is that water gets to the encapsulated wood stingers, supports, etc. Aren't cold molded doomed to the same? If someone builds a new F/G boat that is structurally strong enough w/o any wood, couldn't it last a very long time? Like 50 years?
I believe the reason balsa was incorporated was to achieve the necessary strength without the weight, allowing the same engines to reach higher speeds. Now folks like searay use mystery materials to achieve low cost (low strength) construction. Look great, but last how long???
I have another friend that has a 20 year old 31' Rampage. Beautiful small boat. He spent $40,000 last year repowering, now he's found out the hull is all stress cracks, I assume due to water infiltration into the balsa cored hull. Do you know anyone that would like to buy a pair of 300 hp Volvos with less than 100 hours on them? How about someone who could use a 31' planter for their yard?
I believe the life expectancy of many of the early boats built with "high tech" construction has been reached while the older solid F/G Hattie will outlive them all as long as he keeps those stringers dry. And yes, he's raised many tuna with his battlewagon.

[Phat Mann]

Ditto on the welcome. Fyi the Qualifier is like 20 yrs old and was Paul Mann's original Charter Boat. She is still doing her thing after years of daily trips out of OI.

I also believe anglers catch fish. I absolutely believe certain boats "raise" fish not only differently but some are better than others.

If I were buying a used offshore boat, part of my survey would include how did it raise fish? Who wouldn't?

If I were buying a new boat I would still buy a PM. I do believe in the Carolina tradition. Personal preference (dream)

Them old Hats are tanks. Don't forget the 54 Bertram or even a Striker.

[anthony]

Ditto everything Phat Mann said.

I own a 1977 42' Hatteras that was refit in 1999-2000...the thing's a tank, will probably outlive me! But all you have to do is search the brokerage listings and you will see plenty of 20+ year old wooden Carolina boats still gettin it done!! And most of those fish 150-200 days a year!

[clt_capt]

Take a look at the Albatross fleet in Hatteras. All wood and Albatross 1 is pushing 60 years of active fishing - both commercial and charter.

Also Dolphin 1 out of Morehead. I still see it fishing most days I'm out.