Most Sea Worthy Hull Design For Trailerable Boats

[Guest]

I live along the upper Texas coast and fish 40 to 60 miles offshore . I desire to build or buy a trailerable boat (prefer to build) that is as sea worthy and smooth riding as possible . I fear the gulf but love to fish . The waves are often as CORPUS SKIPPER describes 4 to 6 feet short , steep and confused . Real kidney pounders in 22 and 26 ft boats that I normaly fish in . What hull design will work best for a 28ft - 30ft boat that can be trailered ?

Thanks !

[Guest]

Catamaran. Final answer.

Tom Lathrop

[SailDesign]

When I read that question, I got the same feeling I get when my wife asks "Does this lipstick go....?"
I look forward to the multitudes replying with radically differing hull-forms, andthe bible-thumpers thumping their bibles.
We've had cats, by rights it should be the turn of the inverted "V" guys next... ;-)

Steve "there is no right answer"

[SailDesign]

Since I seem to have lapsed into rampant cynicism above, maybe this will help:-
Look at what everyone else is using, and go with the majority. Unsuitable boats don't last long in the hands of the same owner.

Steve again.

[yipster]

how deep a V boats you normaly fly and fish in? i know the bit bigger boats are much better going in short chop, but 26 ft isnt that smal eighter. think i know what you mean but cant explain these relations in theory or recall a site that explained... ah, wait, also as a stationairy fishing platform i second the cat.

yipster

[Willallison]

I'll go with SailDesign on this one - "there is no right answer".
Having fished offshore from both deep v (true 26 degrees) and catamarans, I'd go with the former. Cats are more stable at rest, but their bridgedecks pound terribly in even a small chop (when not on the plane) making the whole boat shudder. A good deep v will be the equal of a catamaran in most conditions when running fast too.
On the other hand, if fuel and time aren't too great a consideration, I'd go with a semi-planing monohull.

[Guest]

Since you go 40 to 60 miles offshore that must put you near the canyons, correct? You don't bottom fish at those depths so a good deep V hull is best there. One caveat, if you anchor up to bottom fish you'll rock pretty wild. All in all I would go with a good deep V that had at least 21 degrees deadrise at the transom and 50 - 60 degree entry angle.

TheFisher

[Corpus Skipper]

I have fished a 22 footer with a 19 degree deadrise and super sharp entry, and she still pounded and after 7 years, beat the half tower to pieces. I've ridden in a 29 Blackfin which has an extremely deep vee and she still pounded at speed. Even a 39 Hatteras I chartered pounded in these same conditions with her deep vee and length and weight advantages. This is why I'm exploring the lobster type hulls, but I don't think you'll find one in a trailerable size. One boat, a friend's 26' Shamrock rides decent, but she's REALLY wet. Isinglass is a must. The only bad thing about the Shamrock is poor engine access. Good Luck!

[gonzo]

If you want a dry boat, it will pound. A bow that cuts the waves produces spray. However, you haven't specified speed. That is the determining factor in hull design. I can suggest many seakindly boats at 10 mph.

[badges65]

Hi,
you could try and IVB has a good combination of V/Cat,
again depends on the speed you wish to travel from A to B!!
Pounding is reduced, but as previously stated there is no perfect hull that will do all things, hopefully you get one that minimises most and gets you home every time..
don

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies . Im a novice doing research . Have much to learn before trying to build a boat .
The waters I fish in are shallow , 60 miles from shore is 60 - 80 ft. deep . As for as boat speed is conserned ; 20 knot cruiseing speed works just fine for me .
Lobster style boats seems interesting . Don't think you will find very many along the Texas gulf coast . Most of the off shore sport fishermen have V hulls but don't think they are a true 26 degrees . Cat hulls are rare around here . Only seen one Pro Cat and looked like it was handling the chop just fine .

Thanks again !

[oddball]

do you have a truck that will pull a 30 ft boat?, maybe some here can give you an idea of wieght

[gonzo]

A Lobsterboat or a Carolina Sportfisherman would work great at those speeds. The newer designs are too beamy and handle poorly. One of the more conservative beam/ length proportioned hulls will drive smoothly into the waves.

[Willallison]

Now I don't know much about these boats, but they may be appropriate...
http://www.doradoboats.com/dorado30pick.html

[Guest]

Will : That may be what I looking for . I have never heard anything about Dorado Boats before . There is something about the hull design that looks right to me . I can't describe it in words because I'm not a navel architect . A test drive and seat of the pants feel would let me know if this is the goldie locks of boats (just right) .
Anyone else have any opinion or input about Dorado Boats ?

Oddball : Towing a 30ft boat would not be to much of a problem because I have access to my familys F-350 Ford turbo diesel crew cab, duel rear wheel 4x4. Four wheel drive Lo - range comes in handy pulling up steep boat ramps . I'm also only a 45 min. drive to the boat ramp and 4 or 5 miles by boat to the open Gulf of Mexico .

Will : What do you think about an aluminum version of a Dorado boat ?

[oddball]

F-350 Ford turbo diesel crew cab, duel rear wheel 4x4.

YIKES!..just put some pontoons on that:D theres your boat:)

happy thanksgiving to all

[gonzo]

I'm familiar with Dorado boats. They are sturdily built and ride well.

[Willallison]

Will : What do you think about an aluminum version of a Dorado boat ?

Why? If you have some particular love for aluminium, ok, but otherwise if this is the boat that best suits your needs (and I don't know for certain if it is...) then why not just take it as it is. Otherwise you'd have to have one custom built or find a manufacturer who build similar in aluminium.
Also, I suspect that the shape of the Dorado would make it very difficult to build in anything other than glass (or perhaps timber) as there looks to be many compound curves in its shape (in the bow flare for example)

Aluminium is tough - but it's also noisy, gets hot under foot in the sun - and doesn't like fish hooks and other steel bits and pieces being accidentally left in the bilge (aluminium is anodic and will corrode if subject to galvanic action). It certainly has its place, but personally I'd prefer a glass boat.

[oddball]

will you did forget to tell him aluminum is free:p I know I know..what do you mean "free" oddball , what I mean is save all your beer cans in the garage for 1 year then take them in have them melted and pressed and bingo you have your hull:D although it will only be 1/32 thick you none the less have your hull :p :D

happy thanksgiving all

[Guest]

Oddball : That F-350 is not all berries , sometime it seems it takes 40 acres to turn that rig around .

Will : I was under the assumption that aluminum is the best material for boat construction . I just don't know . Some say aluminum is best . Some say glass is best . All those that sell and make boats , say their boats are made the best .
I do know this ; boats require lots of maintenance and depreciate in value . Boats make a hole in the water that you pour money into . That is why I'm leaning toward building my own boat . At least I will know what I have when I'm done !
I hate to sound cynical but that is the way I see it .

Oddball : The 1/32 thick aluminum sheets would work if you could bond it to a foam core . Hummm ? Aluminum foam core laminate ! Probably been tried before and did not work for long .

[gonzo]

Any material has advantages and disadvatages. Boats that are holes in the water are usually a combination of bad design and owners who fill them with stuff. Commercial boats, in spite of their hard usage, make a profit. If you can keep it simple, mainteinance is minimal. I suggest you make a list of the least stuff you need. Then look for the boat that can carry it and performs as expected. Calculate a rough weight; an overloaded boat can be a problem.

[Guest]

I've been a fan of Dorado boats for several years. Their hull designs are tried and true, so rest assured that you wont be a guinea pig at your own expense. The real gem of the fleet is the 40 footer. Many of these are powered by single diesels of 400-500 hp with twin propshafts and transmissions, though I've also seen them with 3 and 4 outdrives. A great boat and good people to work with. Wish I had the cash to order one!

[gonzo]

I've worked on one with a Volvo diesel and outdrive/jack shaft setup. It is, of course, not too fast but economic. They are what I call hose-down boats. The cockpit liner cleans easily, a major advantage if you fish.

[trouty]

30 ft...BUT it is alloy and it is a lobster boat and it is for sale right at this moment and it would EAT the gulf any day of the week...

Course you might have trubble towing it at 65 ft - but more than likely you could turn the f350 around on the 40 acres of deckspace out back!

Just email me if your interested in her.....

Lets see...twin 750 turbo diesal fiats thru zf boxes swingin a pair of 1 meter dia props and cruises 22 knots, WOT is 28 knots, sleeps 6, air cond - colour ocean vision and everything else you'd expect. Oh yeah she has a hydraulic Lobster winch for those 'difficult to lift' fish!

Around $360K US and she's yours!

The gulf will never scare you again! ;)

Cheers!

[Guest]

The Dorado is a very well built boat, easy to maintain and much more economical (fuel) than a deep V boat. I know of someone that routinely heads out 100 miles off shore on his Dorado 30 and he loves it.

[jprev]

The only problem is the waves keep getting in the way. Where ever you go, if you go offshore any reasonable distance your going to deal with high seas, wetness and pounding. It is a fact of life. The only sure fire way to reduce pounding is, drum roll please, to SLOW down. Works everytime. Saves your legs, your kidneys, fuel and wear and tear on the boat. And if the truth be known gets your there in only slighty more time.

That said, buy the massively overbuilt 28' x 9'-6" 22 degree deep V with the twin turbo charged diesels and expect to roll a lot at rest. The are zillions of them for sale here in Florida... Try www.boattrader.com

Well, maybe not zillions...

[DTVM]

Has anyone tried the Stolkraft hull design in your area?

I've talked with the Capt Mike owner of Capt Mike Charters, in Homer Ak he may be able to give some advice.

http://captmike.com/wildcat.htm

I was a commerical fisherman in that area for years and the 4-6 ft chop was a constant pain but we often had to run it to get away from the real scary stuff. We are planning the release of a design that may help you in the near future.

DTVM

[Stephen Gray]

Look at the Sea Sport web sight the 26 is not too shabby Why not consider diesel, considering where you are fishing. Also look at what everyone else is using.
Steve Gray
Rain Forest Boats

[linuxweb10]

I've been in a Dorado 40' going 34 mph through Gulf of Mexico 6' waves and was surprised at how well the hull just walked right thru them. The boat didn't creak or make other complaining noises. Trailerable. Great fuel economy (1500 miles). Good pricing basic fishing setup with center console runs $182K No wood construction -- nothing to rot. I was impressed.

[THERIAULTMARINE]

This might be what the doctor ordered...