Project Seafari Tuna-fication

[Bushwacker]

Bill - nothing wrong with a little overkill! We used the belt & suspenders approach on Pratt engines a lot! Here's another example of structural overkillThe VHF and bimini brace photos I promised to send.)




The bimini braces really stiffen it up, so the bows can be used as handholds when going around stbd side to front deck. When I want to fold the bimini, just pull the screw out of jaw fitting on bimini frame.

On the VHF antenna (a 9'9" Phelps-Dodge 9 db gain unit, mounted so tip is flush w/transom when laid down), I fg'd a wood block and a couple of pad eyes to a 1" ID x 33" schedule 40 PVC pipe and slid it down over the antenna. Attached the 2 ss turnbuckles to windshield frame with pad eyes/pins and used fastpins at antenna end. The turnbuckles pull the wood block up snug against the bimini brace, so the whole deal is fairly rigid. When antenna is lowered, I just connect the turnbuckle ends with one of the pins, and that locks them out away from the glass. Looks a little ratty because the 20 year old paint is peeling off, but it works well - it's a soft enough support at the antenna to allow it to move a little and avoid a concentrated stress, but it takes most of the cantilever bending load off the deck. Mount scheme would probably work on a Scepter also.

[NoBones]

Bill,
The boat looks great! You may now qualify as one of the
"Gold Spoon Trailer Queens"
But the "Spidercrab" 2x8 gin pole may hold you back.
Keep up the good work...
See ya, Ken

[oldbluesplayer]

alright - without the "spidercrab" gin pole

it's coming.....slowly




Bill

[BigLew]

Oldbluesplayer,
It really is "looking good!" Keep up the good work.

I must say, I first thought that I saw a raydome mounted between the bowrail, but realized it is a backboard for a basketball hoop. It reminded me for a moment of the guys on the 33' Egg's and 32' Silvertons who end their child bearing years by mounting their radar arrays on the front of the flybridge. The RF fries the "Family Jewels", not something any of us want to do!

[nestorpr]

The boat looks great! From what you describe the riggers will work very well and you shouldn't have any flex. Those tuna better look out, Oldblues is coming!!

[oldbluesplayer]

a post sea trials update -

Finally got everything (well almost) done, close enough to go fishing. early on I talked about, and showed, how the forward bulhead had cracked out the tabbing, here's the repair - turned out to be very significant -



Also got all the basic fishability improvements done - the boat can work a six rod spread now - not that I can handle that when fishing solo, but I have the gear to do it



First trip out, just did southern CCB, fingers and Billingsgate - some good chop over there - I immediately noticed that the forward bulhead repair really tightened the boat up - a real improvement over the looseness I felt last year - everybody with a Seafari needs to check this.

Second trip out, last friday, the morning was calm, so I headed up to Stellwagen SWC. The stiffener plates for the outrigger mounts definitely did the job, those work solid. Hooked, but lost, one fish. saw tuna on the surface which made me doubt that even the Senator 114's were adequate - these were BIG fish. Spent some time over by Peaked Hill Bar, around the backside, and then decided to go home around 2pm - thought I'd fish my way down the Bay..... NOT.

came around Race Point, straight into a very strong SW breeze, that obviously had been working awhile. For myself, and another fellow from reel-time, we fought 6 footers all the way down the bay - took me over three hours from Race Point to Sandwich.

The Seacraft can do it. She was solid as a rock, all the way. I'm just not sure I can. Felt like I was doing a personal re-enactment of the Perfect Storm movie. Had blisters on my right hand fingers from gripping the wheel so tight, for so long.

Time, for a time out.

Bill

[nestorpr]

She looks fantastic! Bet she looked good running down those 6 footers but I agree, that's something better left for the young'ns! That's why my wife insisted I sell the 20 and get another boat with a sharper "V", she hates it when the boat pounds on a choppy sea!