Fishing from an inflatable

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

No, they do not lose pressure anymore than any other section of an inflatable. Having said that, it's not unusual to top op the compartments of a boat once or twice a week. You should always carry the pump with you...Think of it a safety device rather than as a tool.

 

[CapeAnn]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

CapeAnn, I read some of your other comments in another thread re your dog. I have to say I thought your avatar was a photoshoppped pic of a dog but I now know different. My dog would freak out if I tried that.
Gaz

Gaz

Cheers. He's a rescue pup and a very needy Bichon. He will do anything lest he be left at home, or placed at a posh doggie day care. He's willing to wear shoes, life vests and go places where other dogs won't. I think he has abandonment issues too. On a mariner note - Schipperke's are great on boats and I think a gradual process of acclimating dogs and associating pleasure seems to work to make them your best second mate.

Best,
CapeAnn

 

[FTB530]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

MY opinion.If you are mainly going to use the boat to fish in i would buy a different boat, then an inflatable because if you buy a 12ft inflateable you will have to pick the good days,where we dive in Nor cal i have saw very very few flat water days, alot of days we can fish but its not easy.
I have the Saturn 14 ft with a 40 horse Honda,usually scuba dive two .or three people,we dont have chairs or seats in it ,if you are not using dive gear you will have a little more room for seats. As far as the PVC vs Hypalon, i think the Hypalon will last longer,but i paid 1300 just for the boat delivered to my door,we the boat is 40 or five years old and looks like brand new still,always washed and garaged after each use and engine flush with fresh water is a must,the only problem we have had with the boat is two pin holes i had to patch,not sure if a fish spine punctured it or if a fish hook got them,as far as bobbing on the water. if it is rough you will be bobbing on the water .

One more opinion,my boat says it it rated fro a 40 horsepower outboard,i think the Honda 40 is to heavy and i would have been fine with a 25 HP and still had plenty of power.If i was going to buy another outboard i would pick up a 40 e-tec or smaller e-tec because of the weight difference.

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

thanks FTB530. I was on Union Island yesterday (I have to travel across the Grenadines a few times a year as part of my job) and was watching, while having a lovely fried red snapper for lunch in Lambi's, how the inflatables and wooden boats all seen to 'bob' the same. but i did notice the wooden boats rocked along the beam much more than the inflatables.

Well chums, since I last posted, things have moved on. A co-worker on learning of my desire to purchase a boat, informed me that his father had a boat and outboard for sale - a locally hand built dinghy type craft plus a newish 15hp yamaha 4 stroke all for EC$9k about GBP2500.
My wife, on hearing me tell a neighbour, remarked that i might as well buy new. well after a short discussion I was given clearance to purchase a hand made boat from the builders in Bequia (world renowned) plus the tohatsu plus a trailer and could keep the whole lot down the side of the house!. woohoo!! I've been quoted EC$6700 for the tohatsu2 stroke 18hp but will have to collect from Grenada.
I shall be in Bequia in early April, so a trip to the boatyard is planned.

I am now worried that I must have done something right where my wife is concerned, but I can't work out what it was.....

 

[IraRat]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

...after a short discussion I was given clearance to purchase a hand made boat.....

I love the way you worded that, and isn't it amazing how men the world over all require the same clearance from their wives to buy our toys?

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

I love the way you worded that, and isn't it amazing how men the world over all require the same clearance from their wives to buy our toys?

It is actually the Toys to Shoes exchange rate.

A fishing boat for us = XXX pair of shoes:laugh:

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

LOL! It's a deal breaker all right!

For those still following this thread - Well I'm off to Bequia next w/e to see a boat builder. The traditional fishing boat design seems the favourite, plus it's what they can build well. If the pic is showing , the red boat in the foreground is a pretty good example of what I'm talking about. I'll be able to island hop in that with the right motor. I wonder how I can customize the basic design.
I feel I'm going off topic now that an inflatable is almost out of the picture now. Therefore I will stop posting to this thread and maybe start a new one a little more relevant.

To everyone that took time out to contribute, I can only say "Thank You" :thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

My desire to get a boat and go fishing and your knowledge and guidance has combined to make me so much knowledgeable and perhaps, wiser, than I ever could have hoped for. What a great idea these forums are.

I look forward to our paths crossing again.
And a special goodbye to that very needy Bichon....woof! woof!
Gaz

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Ha Ha! - never say never - LOL!!

The time in the photo should read AM not PM. It's pitch black at PM.

Gaz

 

[CapeAnn]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Right on Gaz56! We look forward to your adventures and it's great that you are supporting local economy and the art of boat building.

The boats in the pic are so much more cooler than a generic RIB,SIB. And thanks re: my needy pup.

Cheers,

CapeAnn

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Gaz56
This may seem like out of the box thinking but
Have you considered combining the two technologies
Your boat could still be built from hand but be a combination of wood and a sib?

It would sort of be a wooden rib

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

If anyone is still interestd in my saga. I went to see the boat builder, Arnold Hazell, on Bequia last Sunday at the fishing centre there at Paget Farm.
A very pleasant chap. We agreed on a 15ft with a 30hp moter - in all probability Yamaha. EVERYONE uses Yamaha on the island it seems. Not surprising as they have an outlet on SVG.

I'm still quite surprised that master boat builder would make a boat for me, but I'm not complaining.
I am assured the motor will be plenty powerful enough and I'll be able to island hop. We are planning in some fishing rod holders, a bimini shade and some storage under the foredeck. Mr Hazell will tell me what materials to purchase and he will charge me a sum for the build. 3 months to finish from receipt of materials. Just in time for my birthday. I can't wait.

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

30hp seems like a lot for a 15ft boat. Are you planing on adding a console ?
What else are you adding to the boat? (fish finder, radio, gps etc)

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Well, the man building my boat reckons 30-40hp will do for what I want to do - up and down the coast and island hopping.
He has 2 boats in Bequia, both around 17ft and kitted out with 40hp's and he says he can do anything 'locally' with this -this set up copes well with the local currents, tides, winds etc.

The boatbuilder's advice is that the 30hp motor is small enough not to worry about a console, batteries, extra fuel etc, plus the maintenance/repair requirements are not so high as for larger motors. However, the 40hp will only cost 2 grand more, so it's tempting.
The only boats I saw in Bequia with consoles were about 22ft with 75hp and up. To me it seemed this was another level up and beyond what will be ok for me.

I am currently researching GPS and fishfinders. I like the idea of the combo units but I suspect separate units might be better. Does anyone have any recommendations or advice for me in this respect? I don't want to spend big bucks on this if it can be avoided, but appreciate there is probably a minimum amount to be spent to get something decent.

 

[dan87]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Gaz,

These guys have good prices for the Tohatsu 2 strokes 18 HP short shaft :

Check with them if they have round ear muffs for flushing your 18 horse after use and Aerospace Protectant 303.

The Caribbean's Leading Chandlery - Budget Marine

Check : Outboards and Engines

Have many stores through the Caribbean, probably one near you.

Happy Boating

Thanks for the link, looks just what I'm after.




Marine Chandlery

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Thanks. I've already contacted them and they are competitive as you say. The problem is getting to St Vincent, they do not ship. Yes, I thought that odd as well.

The local advice is to go with Yamaha as we have a dealer on the island - I can get a 30hp for EC$7800 which isn't too bad. Plus warranty and servicing will be easier. As I mentioned previously, all the locals have a yamaha.

I need to get my skates on as the builder has nearly finished = almost 6 weeks ahead of schedule. I've still got to order the engine and get a trailer built!!

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

dan 87 - are you local to SVG?

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Hey everybody - I bet you thought I had forgotten y'all!! Pics of the boat attached. In the water w/e after next for running in and trimming.

 

[CapeAnn]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Your boat is so much cooler than any inflatable I have ever seen. There is nothing quite as beautiful as seeing the work of skilled artisans/carpenters.

Have a great time on your vessel....gotta give her a name!

Best,

CapeAnn

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Thanks Capeann. I think so too. I am so pleased with her. We had planned to run in the engine last w/e but the weather has been really bad. There was a small craft warning put out by the SVG coastguard. So that was that. Roll on next w/e.

The name thing is giving me a headache. I cannot think of one!!

 

[Gaz56]

Re: Fishing from an inflatable

Thanks Capeann. I think so too. I am so pleased with her. We had planned to run in the engine last w/e but the weather has been really bad. There was a small craft warning put out by the SVG coastguard. So that was that. Roll on next w/e.

The name thing is giving me a headache. I cannot think of one!!

How's is your canine crew member?