Advice on Maine Winter Boat

[Joshua Gray]

Is there a vendor you would reccomend for these mufflers? Have you used them on any of your boats? Thanks for the advice Josh

[longliner45]

joshua ,,take a look at JC boats ,,,im not kidding these are the best riding and working boats ever ,I would like to see someone disagree,,,,and prove me wrong ,,longliner

[blacklab]

Joshua - ever look at aluminum? We sold a boat to a marine construction company in Freeport and they were over here the other day removing the last of our floats - they first broke the ice, then grabbed docks all day without fendering then ran the 4 miles home at 47 mph!

Bill Lincoln at Response Marine (a friend) could design you a very cool aluminum hull that would be a great commuter and great workboat (could also cover those 4 miles a bit faster and with less fuel..). Maybe add a jet and a drop-down bow so that you needn't worry about low tide and you could bring lumber, etc to the island!

Best of luck in your search - you live in a beautiful place...

Jay

[charmc]

Originally Posted by Joshua Gray

Is there a vendor you would reccomend for these mufflers? Have you used them on any of your boats? Thanks for the advice Josh

Josh,

Here:

http://members.aol.com/catawampus/silencers.htm

http://www.pacificmarine.net/hospitallevel.htm

Properly designed dry stack systems do not have to be noisy, and the hospital critical mufflers work well. The distributors listed should be able to give references.

Fast Fred has a good point: Better to have a system you don't need to do something positive to in order to have protection. That way no one can forget, run out of antifreeze, etc.

[Joshua Gray]

I think I am going to go with the dry exhaust as it follows the KISS method (keep it simple stupid). Jay I really like the aluminum boats that you make. I saw the 23' I believe in offshore magazine a couple months ago. But I am thinking that I would want to build some of the boat myself to cut down on costs and I really dont have any skills with metal nor does the shop. Are the majority of walkaround pilothouse boats similar to your designs in aluminum? Thanks again Josh

[Guest-3-12-09-9-21]

All of the above sounds good - but if I had to choose what boat to use in the depths of winter in Maine I would choose a small fishing skiff like I saw in Mexico....



...actually I don't remember what kind of boat, but it was IN MEXICO.

That was just for humor - to throw in my two cents if you are planning on creating a workboat style of vessel I would have to agree with the keel cooler and dry exhaust. If you sound insulate the engine compartment (don't skimp on the sound deadening material) and get a good muffler there shouldn't be any problems. I have worked on a bunch of small boats and am partial to steel above aluminum (it's higher on the galvanic scale for one...and harder to dent) although most of the workboat I have been on have been aluminum and there weren't many problems as long as the zincs are kept up. Have you though about catamaran styles? I saw a catamaran patrol boat up in Canada last time I was in Prince Rupert and fell in love with the design. I was just thinking for commuting the speed and fuel efficiency might justify the initial purchase price.

[longliner45]

no need to expose yourself to the elements,,,you can get a used jc boat ,,made from airex that will float even when swamped,and with stearn drives you can make 13 airtight compartments,and with its semi displacement and planeing hull get good fuel economy ,,,and get to where you are going in just about all weather,Iv hauled sword gear in constant 70 knots gusting to 120 in the gulf of mexico ,,rode out 3 hurricanes and many tropical deppresions,in a 31 ft jc ,,but dont take my word for it ,,do your homework ,,and then let us know ,,,,,,longliner

"Well it is for the workers at my boatyard"


That is considered to be a Benifit for your workers and you must have a USCG licens as well as a Maine Guides licence as you are operating for "Profit"

The USCG and Maine Fish & Ganme both consider any exchange of services/barter/money as being used for profit.



A duffy would be a nice boat for your purpose.

But a Alum hull outboard would not need winterizing maintaince on the engine every day.

If you have a pier with electricy just get a diesil and plug in your blockheater and an electric cabin heater.

Capt Walt

Master Maine Guide

44 ft 49 passenger "LUCY LARCOM"

[FAST FRED]

If you have $75K US , we will bring LUCY up , 50 ft ex USN launch , heat both engine and dickinson already installed.

Big enough to handle the weather under 3gph at 8K , 12 gph at 10-12K

Already keel cooled and dry stack.

See her in FL , we will deliver in spring , or you can head north now.



FF

[alan white]

Hi Joshua,

I assume you are landing at the SW or NE Harbor docks. Have you looked into a Simmons sea skiff? Light and seaworthy--- good for island-hopping, fast because the weight is low. The West Pointer skiff is also perfect for that area. Both boats are generally open style, both light and dry.

Alan