Boats

[Chris Upchurch]

As the old saying goes, "A boat is a hole in the water that you try to fill with money."

Any boat owners here? What kind? What do you use it for? Pics?

I'm not a boat owner yet, but it's something I aspire to (my dream is an '80s vintage Boston Whaler). But to tide me over until that day, I'd love to hear about your boat.

[CaptBeach]

BOAT...Break Out Another Thousand...

I am a USCG Captain, hence Capt Beach...I know a little about boats...I've got 2 now...been on the water my entire life...

I currently have a completely restored (better than new) 1974 Seacraft SC20 Center Console and a 28' Center Console, both running big Suzuki 4 strokes. I am Captain for a corporate boat as well, a 40' Twin Diesel Express Sport Fisherman. I also help ferry 40-60' gunboats (Refurbed/Repowered de-comm'd USN SEAL Boats without armament) for a local manufacturer to ports along the east coast for transport/export to oil companies in Africa and the Middle east...You'd be surprised what the oil companies are doing to protect their interests...

What do you want to know? I do it all, fibreglass work, structural fabrication, wood. composites, paint, gel coats, complete cap off restorations, repowers...

Capt Beach

[Valvert Lucius Fox]

Capt.: Admire your skill level in the many areas. Wish I had more skill with the mechanical aspects of running boats. I'm like a truck driver that can't do anything to keep it running. I do know how to point the bow in the direction I want to go. Have a 25 ton ticket.

[bae]

I have too many boats.

I have a 32-foot Nordic Tug with an experimental stretch hull integrated into what should be the swim-step/dinghy platform bringing it to 37 feet, for extra speed in a pinch. This is my go-to boat for the area, it will survive most any weather I'd care to be out in, and then some:



I have a Sam Devlin "Nancy's China" model, which is the smallest pocket-cruiser sailboat I could come up with that worked well around here. This is a picture of another fellow's, mine is also gaff-rigged, but with a more traditional wood spar/mast/boom:



I also have a 16 foot Swampscott-style dory made up by Gig Harbor Boatworks in Kevlar, with a sliding-seat rowing system, and a sailing rig. This is my main fishing/crabbing boat, and I also use it for travel between the islands here, it's great exercise rowing. (Picture of some other fellow's):



Then I've got a canoe, two sea kayaks, two inflateable kayaks, an Avon dinghy for my big boat, a partial share in a big skin umiak, and a Joel White Nutshell Pram along these lines:

[B+Shooter]

Here's our boat. It needs a little love...

[Netpackrat]

My rule of boats is, if I can't pick it up and carry it and it's propulsion system by myself, it's probably going to be too much trouble.

[bae]

I'd like to get something like one of these next, once my daughter heads off to college:

[Netpackrat]

My brother took this picture of me poling one of my canoes a few years ago.

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[Hooz]

I've got a Tracker Pro Guide V-17 SC with a 90hp Mercury. It's 17' 4" long and has a 7' 8" beam.



I've had this boat for about 4 years now, so I've spent some time (and money) getting it setup the way I want. It is first and foremost a fishing boat, but it hauls the family around the lake without a problem.

[CaptnCornerBanger]

Here's some shots of our last boat "Achilles Heel". My wife and I have been competitive sailor's since the mid-90's. She's a J/35, one of the "grand-prix" racers of the 80's. We raced her from 1999 til we recently sold her. We miss her greatly, but a boat that big is a WHOLE lot of work.

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