Home Tournaments Calendar Weather Merchandise Sponsors

Go Back   Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum > Boating > All About Diving and Fishing Boats

All About Diving and Fishing Boats We sure love boats for what we do! This forum is for boating related discussion from engines to ladders to trailers to propellers and the list goes on and on.....

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 12-06-2007, 11:59 AM   #31
Powerhead
Used Member
 
Powerhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Key West, FL
Age: 49
Posts: 1,409
Re: South African Cat!!

At this point, I'd be happy with one 130lb Yellowfin.

I always enjoy reading your posts Miles.

Keep, keeping us dreaming!

Rick
__________________
Something NEW coming soon....
Powerhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2007, 12:18 PM   #32
KEYSKILLER
Your Daddy
 
KEYSKILLER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lower Florida Keys
Posts: 2,529
Re: South African Cat!!

THATS AWSOME!!!

really quick, if you dont mind how much did the boat/rigging finally cost?

also how long did the entire build take?

the 2 fish boxes are GREAT
__________________
REST IN PEACE : JOHNNYLONGBLADES 09/13/83-07/08/07**JLB WE WILL HUNT AGAIN IN CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER WITH 100LB GROUPER**
KEYSKILLER is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2007, 05:36 PM   #33
Mobile Diver
Registered User
 
Mobile Diver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Key West, FL
Posts: 5,820
Re: South African Cat!!

Miles obviously doesn't require much in the way of electronics!! That yellowfin catch would be the envy of every tuna angler out of Venice, La!!!
__________________
Steve Moore
www.keysmobilediving.com
steve@keysmobilediving.com
305 849 0866
Mobile Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2007, 01:30 AM   #34
miles
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Posts: 496
Send a message via MSN to miles
Re: South African Cat!!

Hiya

Quote:
really quick, if you dont mind how much did the boat/rigging finally cost?
also how long did the entire build take?
Well, remember that this is a COMMERCIAL boat. The boat builder pretty much ONLY builds commercial boats, so his finish isn't that great. I paid him a deposit, drove 12 hours to get to his factory, spent 2 hours telling him EXACTLY what i wanted and 3 months later, as promised, he calls to say the boats ready!! That was bare boat, with cabin and fish box's. No stainless steel or upholstery or anything else!

Myself and a buddy fitted the lights and electrical stuff as well as the radar arch and all the other stainless steel bits and peices. Took two whole days!! Motors took about 4 days to be installed, because the bloke only arrived at 10/11am each day and then left at 3pm. All in all, the boat was standing on the HARD for 3 weeks.

Rough cost, as she is now is about us$100 000

Quote:
the 2 fish boxes are GREAT
Actually 4 fish box's. Each one is spilt into two. Its easier to use a smaller box, as you then add less water to make a proper slurry. On my old boat, my fish box would carry 20 YF carcasses, but needed about 800lb's of water to make that slurry. Very annoying if you've only caught one or two fish and you need to run 10-15miles to another spot, pushing an extra 800lb's of water!!

Quote:
Miles obviously doesn't require much in the way of electronics!!
On my 21' semi-rigid, i had a garmin fishfinder. Monochrome model that worked well inshore, but really battled to work offshore. So, i use to go out with only my Garmin GPS72 and i managed to do quite well, even with-out that fish finder. Thats why i was quite confident that it wouldn't be a problem to go to sea with-out one!! Seriously though, i won't settle for anything but a good furuno colour fish finder!!

Quote:
and I had no idea South Africa was THAT rough lol
Unfortunately, photo's don't really show you how bad the sea is, but here's a couple of pic's......

Pic1 - mono-hull passing us in a lumpy sea
Pic2 - crew getting wet on my semi-rigid
Pic3 - slightly lumpy sea
Pic4 & 5 - wife fighting fish in a lumpy sea
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	baot passing us 1.jpg
Views:	435
Size:	25.6 KB
ID:	65738   Click image for larger version

Name:	wet.JPG
Views:	435
Size:	63.3 KB
ID:	65740   Click image for larger version

Name:	miles 50kg YF small.JPG
Views:	436
Size:	62.5 KB
ID:	65741   Click image for larger version

Name:	1.JPG
Views:	434
Size:	76.7 KB
ID:	65742   Click image for larger version

Name:	4.JPG
Views:	431
Size:	51.8 KB
ID:	65743  

miles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2007, 01:34 AM   #35
miles
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Posts: 496
Send a message via MSN to miles
Re: South African Cat!!

Couple more.....
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	sea.JPG
Views:	433
Size:	56.5 KB
ID:	65744   Click image for larger version

Name:	sea3.JPG
Views:	444
Size:	50.0 KB
ID:	65745   Click image for larger version

Name:	sea4.JPG
Views:	439
Size:	56.9 KB
ID:	65746   Click image for larger version

Name:	kalk-bay-25aug05-17h30---fr.jpg
Views:	435
Size:	14.1 KB
ID:	65747  
miles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2007, 01:37 AM   #36
miles
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Posts: 496
Send a message via MSN to miles
Re: South African Cat!!

For all you surfers......
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	D1.jpg
Views:	429
Size:	97.4 KB
ID:	65748   Click image for larger version

Name:	d2.jpg
Views:	431
Size:	108.2 KB
ID:	65749   Click image for larger version

Name:	d3.jpg
Views:	434
Size:	85.2 KB
ID:	65750   Click image for larger version

Name:	d4.jpg
Views:	429
Size:	99.5 KB
ID:	65751   Click image for larger version

Name:	d5.jpg
Views:	423
Size:	96.7 KB
ID:	65752  

miles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2007, 08:54 AM   #37
SpearMax
Forum Administrator
 
SpearMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Florida USA
Posts: 16,466
Thumbs up Re: South African Cat!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by miles View Post
Maiden Voyage

Rigging my new boat has truly been a very rewarding as well as informative process. Almost EVERY person to climb aboard would offer his/her unsolicted advice, with nobody seeming able to agree on ANYTHING!!

After launching her, the first thing my fishing mates did was poke fun at the fact that i didn't have a echo-sounder/fishfinder mounted!! One of my buddies graciously offered to borrow me his old furuno Fcv668 echo-sounder, which i declined......... Wanted to show those guys that i can fish with-out a fishfinder and plotter!!

Sooo, ended up taking only a handheld GPS and off we went. The guys i sold my old boat to wanted me to show them how to catch tuna and i was quite happy to oblige. With a crew of 8, and only 3 being experienced tuna anglers, we left harbour.

A bit lumpy inside the bay, but flattened out beautifully in the deep, as predicted. Starting chunking when we got to the deep, with no idea of water temperature or even whether there were fish under the boat. Ten minutes later i see the longfin (albacore) in the chum line!! We catch a half dozen or so of these little buggers, sort of 20-25lb (8-12kg) class fish and then started using whole sardines to see if the YF weren't under the albacore. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..................YEELLLLLOOOO OW-FINNNNNN ON!!! 2 rods bent over double and now the fun begins!!

Firstly, i some-one borrowed my knives to a buddy and he promised that he'd put them back on the boat. Needless to say, he didn't and i didn't check either!!! So, i managed to find a couple of old, rather blunt knives in my tackle box. The sharpest thing we had was the knife on my leatherman!! Then, i hadn't taken into acount that the new boat is considerabily higher out of the water, making my 3' (1m) gaff's rather in-effective!!

With all the drama and much shouting and profuse sweating on my new crew's part, we ended up doing not so bad. Final tally was 18 Yellowfin, with the smallest being 60kg's (130lb+) and 4 being 85kg class (200lb's) fish with a couple of albacore thrown in for good measure.

Surely a sign of good things to come!!

Congratulations on the maiden voyage Miles!

Having been to the "World Within One Country" several times, I love your posts!

I remember seeing those monster seas on one trip along with lots of Great White Sharks.
__________________
"Spearing is the path to enlightenment." --- Lao Tzu

“Live this day as if it will be your last. Remember that you will only find 'tomorrow' on the calendars of fools.”

---- Success Unlimited Author Og Mandino b.1923 - d.1996
SpearMax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2007, 11:10 AM   #38
Mobile Diver
Registered User
 
Mobile Diver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Key West, FL
Posts: 5,820
Re: South African Cat!!

Love the pic of the mono hull getting pounded & soaked! Great explanation for you going with a cat. They can't be beat for carrying a lot of weight in rough water.
__________________
Steve Moore
www.keysmobilediving.com
steve@keysmobilediving.com
305 849 0866
Mobile Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2007, 04:27 PM   #39
HurricaneBK
Registered User
 
HurricaneBK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,322
Re: South African Cat!!

Miles, very nice maiden voyage and beautiful fish. How much does a 200lb yellofin go for in south africa?
HurricaneBK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2007, 04:13 AM   #40
"Yard-Sale Josh"
Kyle Porker
 
"Yard-Sale Josh"'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ur moms
Age: 32
Posts: 6,910
Re: South African Cat!!

sick boat
"Yard-Sale Josh" is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2007, 07:08 AM   #41
offduty
Registered User
 
offduty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 758
Re: South African Cat!!

Awesome boat Miles! Keep the posts coming.

I got a real kick out of this shot:
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	sea4.JPG
Views:	346
Size:	38.6 KB
ID:	66260  
__________________
Eric Sabbe
offduty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2007, 09:41 PM   #42
miles
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Posts: 496
Send a message via MSN to miles
Re: South African Cat!!

Hiya

Quote:
Love the pic of the mono hull getting pounded & soaked! Great explanation for you going with a cat. They can't be beat for carrying a lot of weight in rough water.
Most of our smaller commercial tuna boats are 28' Cape Craft mono-hull's. The reason they're so popular is because thats the largest size boat that you can legally tow on our roads. Makes you much more flexible in terms of where the fish are.
Those 28' mono-hulls how-ever, carry ALOT more weight when compared to a 28' cat. The downside is that they use the space under-deck of the mono-hulls for fish carry-ing space, which in turns robs the vessel of floatation. 2 years ago, 3 boats, 2x28'ers and one 25'er sent out maydays when the sea picked up and all three of them took so much water over the nose, that the skippers were standing almost waist deep in the water INSIDE their cabin!!! Since then, all of them have increased their flotation. Thats the reason my boat has a open transom!! To put it into perspective, a 28' monohull here, will carry about the same amount of weight as a 30-32' cat!! The cat rides softer and is MUCH safer though, as well as requiring less power!!

Quote:
I got a real kick out of this shot:
This is one of my favourites!! same trip as the previous pic. Check out the small blue shark at the bottom left of the photo!!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Dani3.JPG
Views:	338
Size:	47.9 KB
ID:	66318  
miles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2007, 10:25 PM   #43
xrispearo
you cant see mee
 
xrispearo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SORIAPP
Posts: 2,307
Re: South African Cat!!

Man, this thread just makes my day. What a fish, though this is probably everyday for you. keep us updated! and thanks for the new desktop picture
__________________
Man In His Element
xrispearo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2007, 10:26 PM   #44
SpearMax
Forum Administrator
 
SpearMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Florida USA
Posts: 16,466
Smile Re: South African Cat!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by miles View Post
The cat rides softer and is MUCH safer though, as well as requiring less power!!
Cats are sweet for sure Miles!
__________________
"Spearing is the path to enlightenment." --- Lao Tzu

“Live this day as if it will be your last. Remember that you will only find 'tomorrow' on the calendars of fools.”

---- Success Unlimited Author Og Mandino b.1923 - d.1996
SpearMax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2008, 09:13 AM   #45
kill shot
PELAGIC POKER!!!!
 
kill shot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: St. Thomas USVI
Age: 51
Posts: 2,417
Re: South African Cat!!

Miles,

Do you even have to walk down the stairs were they weigh the fish at the dock there in Simonstown to get on that rig? Looks like it sits nice and high in the water.

Any chance you will be in the Tuna comp in May?

Cheers
Eric
__________________
I need a beer!!!
kill shot is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:59 AM.


The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Social Media Forum Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2002 - 2014 Spearboard.com