Is my boat tuna ready?

Keta · Dec-20-2008, 04:48 PM

Little steps prevents big falls and even a little fall 50 miles offshore can be deadly.

bajadan2000 · Dec-20-2008, 05:57 PM

Dean, since I am snowed in, I am going to tell a little story on myself about how easy it is to make a mistake on the Pacific NW ocean. This happened last summer.

First a little background. Next year will be my 35th year to skipper my own boats out on the Pacific ocean. My regular first mate crewmember has over 50 years of skippering his own boats on the ocean. The third crew member had about 10 years experience of skipper his own boat on the ocean. I like to have crew that is experienced and can back each other up. We often take turns crewing for each other. We make one heck of a team and it makes for a more enjoyable trips.

Since all three of us are experienced ocean skippers, we often discuss the safety risks involved with decisions.. This day, all three of us made a mistake on the weather forecast. Part of the reason we where tricked was the morning weather was much nicer than forecast. We ventured out further than we should have and into known waters that get sporty. Then a front came through that hit us much harder than the forecast had predicted. We went from nice boating water (2'-4') to 15' mixed up waves getting Maytagged in only 10 minutes..

My first mate made a suggestion in the middle of this beating we where taking trying to get back to port. It was a simple suggestion that was a precautionary safety idea to prepare the ditch gear and survival suits to be easier to reach. It would have made things a little better if we had flipped over or sunk and we went into the water. I was so busy trying to make the right choice with each wave I shrugged his idea off. Not so much as I did not agree, I did, I was too busy to even think about it. When things get sporty, it is hard to think about anything other than just keeping the boat upright.

We made it out safe with no problems. Then it hit me about his suggestion and how wrong I was not to do it. I later apologized to him and told him his suggestion was in fact the correct thing to do. He just smiled. I believe if it was really bad, he would have smacked me in the head to get my attention. So even with 34 years experience, I learn something new on every trip out on the ocean. You never stop learning when it comes to running a boat off of the NW Pacific coast.

goatram · Dec-20-2008, 08:13 PM

Dean
Welcome to the brothahood

Where are you located at?

Something no one has mentioned yet is besides the
fuel range, (if you have a lowrance gps/ff get a ep 60)
FF does it support a chartplotter/radar

safety issues, you do need to think on that

after you go out the first time and you see the blood on the deck you will reliaze that it can't go into you bilge. it will burn up the pump. All the big boys here have self bailing decks. Do you have the off shore bracket? if so the fish go from the water into the trash can to be spiked and bleed. the other thing will be ice and fish storage.the guys use kill bags, fish holds and coolers.
Attend any upcoming get togethers. or hook up with some one close that will go out this coming Summer.

I have not taken my boat out to the grounds yet. went out as crew help out as I could. Been to Neah bay fished the hali's and lings close into shore. out about 10 miles max. could still see land. I am getting my boat ready for the coming year see winter time projects for my radar arch. still need to make a holder for the Bleed box on the offshore bracket.

Keta · Dec-20-2008, 08:17 PM

Another bad trip story.
Two years ago we were transporting the Northern from Ballard to her new home in Illwaco. Day one we cruised in sunny skies and frog watter. After a night in Nea Bay we headed out into the open ocean and fairly rough water. Before we got to La Push the life raft busted loose from where we had it secured so we pulled into La Push so we could get it into the rack. BTW, I like La Push and the people at the harbor masters office were very helpful. After we got everything secure we headed back int the ocean and had a rough ride to Westport and I was seasick all day. The next morning the Westport Bar was closed so we killed time until tide change and then headed out for what we figured would be a leisurely few hours to the CR..........WRONG, in about 45 minutes it looked like we were headed for a "three hour tour"!!! The ocean got progressively worse as we pounded our way south and we had green water over the pilot house many times, this is a 43' Delta. Arnie, looked at me and said that on a pucker factor scale from 1 to 10 it was an 80! He had both hands in a death grip on the wheel and would not let us relieve him. About 1/2 way to the CR the engine driven bilge pump tosses a belt and no spare, she was a new boat for Arnie and he hadn't had time to stock her with needed items. Fortunately I wasn't puking and I ducked into the engine room, closed the hatch so I didn't get a saltwater shower and worked on the pump to clear the jam and get it back to pumping. The whole time a faulty lazaret hatch cover was allowing the lazeret to fill FULL of water. After a bit the pump was back on and Arnie started her up and we were pumping bilge water. Several bad hours later we crossed the CR bar, THE BAR WAS FLAT COMPARED TO THE OCEAN, and into Illwacco on frog water.

Would I do it again...if I had to because Tom is a good friend but not if we can put it off until conditions improve.

I'll save the Puffin crossing the Mississippi Bar story for another day.

trickydogshow · Dec-21-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatram

Where are you located at?

Something no one has mentioned yet is besides the
fuel range, (if you have a lowrance gps/ff get a ep 60)
FF does it support a chartplotter/radar

I'm in the Kent valley. The boat has the factory radar arch and offshore bracket. dual batteries, dual bilge, in floor fish box. Icom VHF. Lowrance LCX113 ff/gps.

I absolutely love the boat. I just bought it a few months ago. Previously I had a 2004 17' montauk. the extra room and shelter offered from the northriver is a welcome change from the center console whaler especially when I'm fishing black mouth in the winter months!

BTW - I have a commercial Ice machine in he garage that will make about 400 pounds of ice in 24 hours. so if i ever crew on one of your boats... I got the Ice!!!

easydoesit86 · Dec-21-2008, 10:28 AM

Welcome to BD.

when you go to figure out your range and mpg, be sure to do it in a loaded boat. Last trip out I filled up with ice at WP thanks to TT and Triple V?, when I went out my boat was over loaded, I had to run another 500 rpms than usual to keep up on plane, I think in smaller boats it's hard to get enough floatation to curise slow when being loaded up. I agree with BajaDan and start small, fish in close at first for salmon and bottom fish then work your way up and learn what your boat needs.
Good Luck

lancaster · Dec-21-2008, 10:30 AM

just like tuna head said. hook up with some guys and go for it.Start with a few island trips to get comfortable and when your ready try the 302 and each time you will feel better. don't let these dorks examine your skill level and open water experience level. May be get a 5 gallon plastic tank with the hose and ball already hoohed up so can unplug one and plug in the next check the weather get vessel assist AND HAVE FUN!But be advised your life and your marriage will be changed for ever.

Keta · Dec-21-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

don't let these dorks examine your skill level and open water experience level.

Why? A skilled captain in a 18' skiff is far safer then a greeny in a 36' boat.

Mark R · Dec-21-2008, 11:38 AM

Dean, dont be scared of the ocean. Respect it but dont be scared. Be as prepared as you can to deal with the situations that come up and it sounds like the only thing you are missing is experience. Not sure where you would want to fish but living in kent westport is probably the closest. spend some time learning what makes the bar do what it does and the precautions that go with crossing it at certain times of the tide. like already said start slow, run out with someone the first few times and stay close. start going after salmon or rockfish and you will gain some experience. take a offshore boating class and listen to the forcasts.
by the way i see you do sheetmetal work also. Pm me and you can run out with me sometime or i am sure there are lots of guys on here that will do the same.

bassassin00 · Dec-21-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickydogshow

All this tuna talk has me fires up to get out there next summer but not sure about my boat... 2008 20ft northriver Seahawk 115 yamaha and a T8 kicker - Tr1 - VHF - GPS Etc... Its not a speed demon or anything but it will cruise at 28 mph just fine. question is... is this a safe enough boat to take tuna fishing? assuming good weather and possibly following a couple of you guys out next summer?

Like everyone else pointed out it depends on your experience. I'm one of the crazy ones and I followed Tower Todd out last year in a 20 foot olympic. We only had 40 gallons so we took 30 extra gallons. We went out 55 miles this year from Westport with excellent weather. Weather is the key 10 knots of wind and I wouldn't want to be out there because it can get nasty fast. Last year we went 40 miles out of La Push with 40 gallons and 25 extra. Radar is preferred because of the fog.

Keta · Dec-21-2008, 02:05 PM

How did you transport and transfer the extra fuel? Some ways are far safer than others and gasoline is not a safe fuel.

Mo · Dec-21-2008, 03:12 PM

Fish on an experienced boat as much as possible.
When you are ready to try your boat,try to have someone who knows what they are doing with you till you are comfortable. Being offshore and having something even minor happen can kill you.

I would start out Salmon fishing on the ocean to learn your boat.
Then with a 115 I would stay in the 30 mile range.

There is lots of good info to be had here on Bd. How did you find us?

Welcome to Bd.