Just a Little Ranting about Broken Boat

[Tuna Tyme]

Well just when I get the itch to start fishing another area my boat takes a crap. I’m talking the canyons off NJ. Trailer the rig up to Manasquan and ride around the place to get the feel, see what it looks like on the radar and plot the markers on the garmin and set a course for the Lindy, Toms or were ever the ROFFS says to go. Stop off at the Draggers and snag a 100+LB Blue Fin then head to the deep, set up the troll and see where the night time chunk bite happens. BUT NOOOOOOO not this year. The rig is down and from what I see it will not be going north this fall. In matter of fact I will be lucky to make it to Hatteras for Christmas. I like to be free and hook my rig up and go where ever the fish are. Three years ago me and the wife towed it to the Keys and spent 17 days fishing and having fun. But at these gas prices my boat will never see the Florida border again. Just think 1175 miles at 8 MPG!!!!!!!!!

It started with a fuel pickup in the tank and when I got the covers off the deck to get to the tanks you could smell the gas. Yup cracked fuel tank on the bottom it started between two oxidation spots. What a freaking nightmare from the start, I just keep saying thank god it didn’t find a spark and go off like a bomb. Back to the nightmare, the tanks were sealed in by closed cell foam when I was done my 8’ bed was filled with 112lbs of foam. I felt like a miner making a tunnel into gas soaked, fiberglass covered foam in this heat we have been having. To make things even better my T Top is all cracked up and needs to be replaced. When I think of this I wonder why did I purchase a used boat, not just used but it was a charter boat in Hatteras. A 1996 Sea cat that was once the Stalker that was out of Hatteras Landing, I know this rig has seen some rough seas in the years that Bob ran it but MAN why on my shift. A friend and I made the tanks in the last 3 weeks and they are almost ready to go in, they need to be pressure tested and painted with Coal tar epoxy. I replaced the tanks in both hulls and added one more in the CC. This will give me 200 gallons with twin 115 4 stroke Yammis so this should get me to the Flemish Cape if the bite is hot. Back to the repairs, they will be in by next weekend and then we start to make the new T Top. It will be made out of 316L SS Tubing and it will look all most the same as my old one, I want to have seat backs made for the leaning post and the two seats in the stern, then the cowling pads for the gunnels. So when I get this back together it will be a custom to MY design and I like that.


I check the forecast every day, look at the SST shots, look at the fishing sites and tell my friends the good and bad news on the boat. The Refinery that I’m working at will be shut down for 6 weeks starting in next month and that means 12 hours a day, 7 days a week so I need to get this show on the road. A friend of mine just called, one of his boys overnighted inshore of the Washington and came home with One Yellow fin and one Mahi. He said he got tired of shagging grass so they gave up and chunked all day and night. That tells me that the grass is thick and there is Mahi in those waters. He has never seen so much grass in his life off OC, the storm must have pushed it up from your way Marty. So I will keep on reading, working and praying for the people how are really hurting in this country.

Thanks and Tight lines Dave

[WAHOONBOX]

AWESOME I MIGHT ADD......I HATE THE BAD LUCK BUT DO UNDERSTAND YOUR PLIGHT....

MANY GUYS DOWN MY WAY LOOK FOR GUYS TO FISH WITH THEM AND PAY EXPENSE...AND WAHOO/SAILFISH SEASON IS HERE FOR THE NEST 6 WEEKS!!!

37-41 MILE RUN!!!

[74Formula233]

Originally Posted by WAHOONBOX

37-41 MILE RUN!!!

Damn you guys are spoiled down there

That's a MINIMUM run up here, with 80-100 miles more like it LOL