Thoughts on boats.
- This topic has 34 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated Feb 14, 2014 at 5:10 pm by
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I have half a mind to get some sort of boat and came across the Gheenoes.
Any thoughts on them ?
I like the look of some of the custom shop fit-outs with the casting decks ext.It has been suggested to me that they would only be good in calm flat water ?
Also, is there anything like them, but another brand worth a look ?
Cheers.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
David the main issue with the Gheenoes–especially from an international standpoint–is that they are *extremely* lightweight in their build. You can press on the side of my boat and flex it; you could push a butter knife through the side with ease.
On the one hand that means they’d be lightweight to ship out to you, and they also are relatively easily repaired. But, depending on how rugged the places you plan to be are, the possibility of damage may also be a factor. I wouldn’t love to use my Gheenoe in a croc-infested mangrove swamp.
You might also look at the Towee boat, which is similar but more rugged, and at the Carolina Skiff. But, if I were looking for a one-size fits all boat that I had to get around the world well away from repair facilities, I’d look hard at Travis Wile’s Hog Island Skiff. Those things are super burly but can be repaired with chunks of plastic and a hot iron. They’re also modular in a very creative way and not unattractive.
Zach
Cheers Zach.
The Hog Islands do look a little more substantial..;)
What sorta money are they ?
I don’t think there’s any crocs in our two local lakes, but there’s some pretty chunky cod.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
They’re not terrible, David. Similar to a well-equipped larger Gheenoe. The $900 Craigslist boat is probably not in play from Oz.
As for specific cost I am not sure. Travis Wiles owns one so you might be able to PM him, and I have found the guys at the factory to be very nice if you can get ahold of them on the phone. There’s also a podcast interview with owner John St. John when he details what is going on with these boats–they were new when we recorded though so prices may have changed.
Zach
Thanks for the podcast Zach – very informative.
I like that guys attitude and his enthusiasm for the boats.Also sounds like a better option for croc infested mangrove swamps..lol
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Google “tarpon boat Australia” and you’ll see a picture of a small open skiff not too dissimilar to the one that Zach posted – made in Australia by someone on QLD (can’t remember who). There’s one down at Millbrook Lakes. Maybe Phil Weigall or Jon Clewlow can point you in the right direction?
Best Regards,
Beechy
That’s a cool little boat Chris, but maybe a bit small for what I’m after.
Then again, what am I after ? lol
Small lake boat that’s cheap to run or larger boat I can hit Hervey Bay in ???An Aussie boat I like the look of, but not price of, is the Haines Signature 485SF because of all it’s configurations and epic fuel tank.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
A mate bought one of those – can’t say I was very impressed. Have you spoken to Dave Bradley?
Best Regards,
Beechy
Yeah, spoke to Dave B about Hewes ect.
I want to get up there for a fish with him and have a look at his new boat – that’s the best way to check them out.Curious, what was it you didn’t like about the 485 ?
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
It sat bum heavy with a Suzuki 85hp, and listed to the side because of the side console. Worst of all, the engine could turn more one way than the other because of the transom design (the engine fouled the transom when turning to starboard). Plus I found the whole shape of the inside a little uncomfortable… No side decks to brace against so if you ended up against them you would be about to flip out of the boat. No outboard well on the transom either – old mate said he copped a green one over the back in fairly calm conditions.
Hey, build quality was there and I know Scotto loves ’em – but pretty unrefined when you compare it to the US boats. Dave’s new Maverick was just terrific.
Best Regards,
Beechy
Hey, build quality was there and I know Scotto loves ‘em – but pretty unrefined when you compare it to the US boats. Dave’s new Maverick was just terrific.
The Mavericks look the business no question, but it’s been suggested to me that your line could easily blow off the flush mounted decks and that they’re not good in the rougher water ?
Just dreaming in that price range at this point – my budget is more float tube. lol
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Hey David –
The key on the flush decks is to throw water on them; that will hold the line on there except in a pretty stiff wind. And even then you can back up and toss your line down into the well of the boat in front of the center console, or if that doesn’t work you can use a Fly Line Tamer or its ghetto cousin the pop-up laundry basket:
One more boat you might want to look at for a budget skiff is the Mitzi or the older Dolphin Superskiffs. I saw a used Mitzi for sale in Arkansas one time for $12,000US fully outfitted with 40hp two-stroke motor. Again there’s the shipping issue but that’s a very versatile boat.
The reason I recommended the plastic skiff up above is that is in fact made of HDPE plastic — not fiberglass, so it’d be super durable given how far you are from our domestic U.S. boat factories.
One more good option is the straight up Panga. There’s a US manufacturer but those things are available all over the world and may be the most versatile craft I’ve ever been in.
Zach
That’s very true Dave – there isn’t any lip around the casting decks to prevent line blowing over the side. And I wouldn’t want to be in one in rough weather. But for sheltered water, can’t be beat. If I was buying a boat like this for myself I’d be looking at a ‘bay’ style of boat. But hey – I get around in a Savage 435 Bay Cruiser that I’ve tidied up for fly fishing. With good line management its not a drama (I use a tub like Zach posted). I checked this out last time I got the engine serviced – 5.1m package is $23k on the water with a Merc 60hp 4s
http://brookermarine.com.au/singleboat/500/
Very basic but a good foundation and sits a little higher than a float tube. And you don’t cry when you crunch a rock 😉Best Regards,
Beechy
Chris, thanks for the Brooker link, I have looked a couple a few years back and you can’t argue with the price.
Really, a good aluminium boat with custom built decks (like Justin Duggans old boat) would be fine as well.Zach, that’s a MUCH better use for a laundry basket than laundry !
Long live the floordrobe. 🙂www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
From my Experience on shallow water boats, here’s what I found:
16 ft SeaArk. This boat was my passion for a couple seasons. Advantages: super shallow draft. You can customize a Tin boat in numerous ways adding rodholders, casting platform, removable bracing bar, tunnel, pods….etc.
I had Flat LED lights incorporated into the bow, a 24V double battery for a 80lb thrust MinnKota Riptide, onboard 3 bank charger, and a casting deck with “key-like” removable lean bar fabricated by a private welder.
I loved this boat, and I still do, but I found the 2 stroke 25hp Yamaha was a bit underpowered, and the extra bow weight caused the front to plow during heavy waves. The high power trolling motor would stay charged for almost 2 entire days of hard fishing.
Bottom line, the boat was quite heavy, and it made me VERY nervous when motoring around rocky shoals, or floating around shallow current obstructions like mid river rockpiles. If you hit something, you plowed it, and the chances of denting and piercing the aluminum became a major safety factor in making it back to the ramp.
IMO, an aluminum boat is good, but you either keep it simple, light, and hollow, or you get the super pricey rock-proof hulls and strong HP if you’re gonna run in shallow rivers.
For camping out and reaching skinny water fish…This combo worked out real well:
Now for my favorite…Plastic Boats.
My Coleman Crawdad and Hog Island Skiff are two of the most versatile boats I’ve ever used.
I’ve had the Crawdad in about every river scenario imaginable. No boatramp needed, just drag it down a bank, carry the battery/35lb trolling motor/2.5hp kicker ina sled and drag it in next. I’m working on a way to stack it on the Hog so I can take both to remote waters when a ramp isn’t available. It does take on water in larger rapids, but most time, I just drag it on the rocks to dodge the large waves.
Travis I sincerely hope we are in for a run-down on your Hog Island next. I am very interested in those boats myself.
Zach
Cool, thanks for all the pictures Travis – looks like your boats get a work-out !
The plastic stuff seems like a good idea for their toughness.www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
You beat me to it, Zach…work keeps interupting my post.
The Hog Island skiff is a very unique craft.
Pros:
You can take it anywhere (as long as there is a ramp) and it takes the paranoia of banging the hull on rocks. Unlike aluminum and fiberglass that make a God-awful screeching sound when you crunch a rock..this plastic makes a pleasant soft skid and it’s very quiet when you drop something or step heavy.
The plastic is supple, and has some give/flex when you drive it up on rocks or a concrete ramp. It stays relatively cool in the bright heat of midday sun. You still may get a little hot, but I can fish barefoot on the floor on a sunny 90 degree day without major scorching of my feet (unlike an aluminum boat).
The boat weighs about 500 lbs, but surprisingly it slides over rocks quite well enough that 2 people can drag it up a skinny shoal over dry exposed boulders..
Very stable–unlike some canoe-shaped craft, this boat barely rocks when you shift weight or stand on the gunnels.
The poling platform is high quality and can be removed by one person in about 15 minutes.
SPACIOUS–there’s TONS of room. You can run it empty and have tons of open space, or you can accesorize it with Yeti’s or my choice–a large Contico truck box from Lowes. The bench seat and the Transom space also have ample room for gear.CHALLENGES:
I’m not sure about now, but when I ordered my boat, The skiff was in it’s early development, and this required long waits of uncertainty for the welders to fabricate the parts. John takes on alot of tasks, and for several months the demands for the boats outnumbered his ability to make them.You have to build or coorinate a trailer order to acquire the boat.
It becomes the burden of the owner to coordinate motor installation and transom weld changes/bilge pump/electronics, trolling motor platform.
It rows OK, a little slow to turn, but after a bit of heavy digging it can be swung to avoid major boulders.
I havent done a plastic repair..but it takes a little finnesse to make it melt correctly. HI’s website shows a soldering iron technique.
The boat is customizable with options of pushpole holder/rod holders etc…but this takes some creative engineering and drilling of Fastenal taps to srew in anchors into the hull plastic.The boat is weight sensitive and the jetfoot sits a bit lower in the water than desired. The passengers must ride on the bow in order to counterbalance the jet and keep it from bogging down and losing power. A more desirable design is a “rockered” hull like a Supreme that keeps the jet foot flush with the water with a slot tunnel cut into the hull to protect the rectangular jetfoot intake.
I have nailed a shallow rock shelf and already broken a chunk of the jetfoot plate off.
It you choose a prop, you have to choose a long-shaft motor for proper length.Im still very impressed with this boat, and it has all but replaced my SeaArk.
Here are some videos of the jet running:
Last thing…here are some pretty decent shoals that I ran around Christmas:
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