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Message
1
Posted on 3/27/24 at 4:43 pm to KemoSabe65
quote:
35' SF is going to be a day boat in the gulf at best,
I've done lots of over-nighters out of Cameron on a 35 Cabo. Longer runs out of Cameron. Also ran it out of Venice, but since deep water closer there, those were always day trips, but we did do some over nighters for tuna. Cabo makes great boats, but OP is going to go into sticker shock on fuel and maintenance, slip fees, etc.
Like someone said earlier, just buying the gear to switch to marlin fishing will cost $5k to $10k.
If it were me, and just getting into Marlin. I'd prob buy a center console for quick trips, and gauge how much everyone likes it. They I'd switch to a sportfisher maybe. But those bigger boats are money pits.
Posted on 3/27/24 at 5:03 pm to CP3
When buddy went from 263 Calcutta to 37 freeman and added 2 drivers I had to submit experience forms to Markel. One was a river pilot the other a Dr.
Possible it was the $684,000 value they were concerned about.
Possible it was the $684,000 value they were concerned about.
Posted on 3/27/24 at 5:23 pm to MarsellusWallace
A good friend bought a Hatteras sports fishermen.
He had it a couple of years and he now says "I could afford to buy the boat, but I couldn't afford to own the boat."
He had it a couple of years and he now says "I could afford to buy the boat, but I couldn't afford to own the boat."
Posted on 3/27/24 at 5:39 pm to TopWaterTiger
quote:
If it were me, and just getting into Marlin. I'd prob buy a center console for quick trips, and gauge how much everyone likes it. They I'd switch to a sportfisher maybe. But those bigger boats are money pits.
I agree with this 100%. I think getting a mid-30ft CC would be best bet to start out.
Posted on 3/27/24 at 8:15 pm to MarsellusWallace
quote:
Anyone have experience with boats like this?
A fair bit.
quote:
want a sport fisher so it opens up overnight trips and more comfortable family rides as well.
I love a sportfisher as much as anyone, but it's either a very rich or very handy man's game, and the handy man still needs to be very well off. By handy I mean everything - engine overhauls, exploded shitters, crapped out hvac, electrical nightmares x1000, glass work, the list goes on and on and on and on. You either live to work on the boat or you write really big arse checks to someone else to work on your boat.
It's not a game for a center console owner to lightly get into.
Posted on 3/27/24 at 9:59 pm to MarsellusWallace
Looked at doing the same thing last year, after much research from folks I trust in the industry I pulled back on the SF idea. Just couldn't justify the extra expenses. I ended up buying a 27' Glacier Bay Cat with a cabin as I got tired of trying to find the 33'+ models, not a lot were made. Being able to trailer it saves 1000s per year, we went out about a dozen times last summer up to 60 miles to get our feet wet. Looking to do some over night tuna trips this year, still acquiring offshore tackle, holy crap, it doesn't take long to get to 10k in that department. It has outriggers and we are slowing learning the trolling game, previous owner is a captain on a big SF, he has caught billfish off it in the past. We run out of Port A in Texas. Biggest adjustment for me is the speed, going from my SCB to chugging along at 28 mph can be maddening at times. Still have my eye out for a 33' World Cat EC or GB 34' with a cabin with twin 350s.
Posted on 3/28/24 at 7:10 am to MarsellusWallace
Fished out of fourchon the past 20 years on a CABO 35 flybridge. We caught a good bit of billfish. It’s a long ride out but fun as hell. If you go all the way out there you are going to start trying to find the yellowfin at night which for the past 10 years have seemed to be about 20-40 miles past the range of that Cabo… it was a 95 Cabo so maybe the range on newer models has improved. Plenty of great trips to MARS and Brutus and Frontrunner. Plenty of blackfin to catch at these rigs too. Gets some cedar plug daisy chains. 20 lbs blacking all day on those.
But to make that fuel bill more worth it you are going to end up wanting some yellowfin while you are out there to bring home some meat. Can be as simple as a fuel bladder but look at the range needed to Marco Polo and shenzie in green canyon and other long range rigs in Mississippi canyon.
There might not be yellowfin where you catch a marlin… but there will almost always be a marlin around where you are catching yellowfin.
Then after that you are going to start getting the deep drop itch if the yellow fin meat haul is out of range…..
But to make that fuel bill more worth it you are going to end up wanting some yellowfin while you are out there to bring home some meat. Can be as simple as a fuel bladder but look at the range needed to Marco Polo and shenzie in green canyon and other long range rigs in Mississippi canyon.
There might not be yellowfin where you catch a marlin… but there will almost always be a marlin around where you are catching yellowfin.
Then after that you are going to start getting the deep drop itch if the yellow fin meat haul is out of range…..
Posted on 3/28/24 at 9:01 am to MarsellusWallace
quote:
What am I missing?
Don't give up just because everyone says it "expensive" or "foolish".... They are correct, but it's also relative to your situation.
Best two pieces of advice I can give you if yall are serious is:
1) Contact Galati or Bluewater. Most salesman are captains that will be glad to help you. Ask as many "dumb" questions as you can think of. They will be glad to work you numbers because they make few sales per year and need as many leads as possible. Also, you have access to the network of captains when you need one.
2) Charter. They are not cheap in the gulf but extremely valuable. This is how you build the network of crew and maintenance for your boat You will find that most mates are part time, and spend the other time detailing, repairing, selling parts, or working at the local boat/bait shops. Friend them on facebook and get there numbers. Stay in touch and take them for a beer or lunch whenever you are in the area. They will give you most of the info you seek, and if you jump in, you have a phonebook of crew willing to jump on. If they see yall drop that kind of money on a charter and take care of them, they know you are serious and someone to consider working with/for.
Posted on 3/28/24 at 9:18 am to Sparetime
Yea, it's great if you are committed enough. There's some really good deals out there right now on sportfishers with so many people switching to large center consoles.
Posted on 3/30/24 at 4:51 pm to MarsellusWallace
Missing your wife shortly.
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