Here we go: 32'x10.5' going to 16'x42'

Just got a permit for a private bouy in the Kenai river. Also have Senator Stevens Office working on documentation - they think I will have it this summer.
I'll post pictures later to day - didn't think anyone was checking them.
63 pound / 10 year old granddaughter wants to fish with me this season, so I added a 20 inch high wall to the handrails.

 

Did not think anyone was checking!

All is going well with the project. Welder will finish his work this week and I have to dump water out of fuel tanks, connect hyd. hoses, run & connect stern steering cables, start eng., check out hyd. equipment, install new bilge pump discharge lines. O - yes, forgot I have to install new fuel vent hose and tank fill hose because I want them on the outside of edge of new deck.

I did not get to weld as much as I had hoped to do because of other duties coming us plus I did all the old hull surface grinding and prep work for the welder.

I hope to build the new cabin my self next winter and also do most of the new stern fitting before the welder shows up.

 

Great photos! It is good to see that your project is nearing completion. I am curious to find out how the sponsons affect performance. Do you anticipate problems with turning or with water flow past the old hull/new hull point ? The new sponsons seem to resemble mini pontoons. Very interesting... It is amazing to see the difference when comparing the early pictures to the most recent! Am I wrong or does your drum stand slide fore and aft during the fishery or is it mounted on the tracks merely to make it easier to move it into position after your work is complete? Looking forward to more photos. Regards, Jay

 

The net reel will be pinned to the rail at locations to match what ever we are doing at the time. I will pin it so I have around 8 feet to pick the net and also get into the center foward hatch, then relocate and pin all the way to the rear if I need the ice under the center hatch. The center three hatches will be ice boxes for carrying more ice. I maxed out my hold last year with ice and fish. "That will not happen again."
The bow would have been sharper in shape if I had been on site when the new bows were formed. Better water entry. But I will live with what I got. He did it just like I told him, instead of knowing the bowes were a little blunt.
Turning will be slower and the side bowes will catch and pull when I am coming down off a big wave.

 

Having an adjustible drum stand is an excellent innovation ! We don't use this method in the south of B.C. Our drums are usually mounted in a cockpit set up that is lower than the deck height,attached to the aft bulkhead and deck and sit about 4-5' forward of the stern. The problem with this is that it can get pretty crowded if more than a few fish come over the stern roller at a time. Being able to move the drum stand furtherforward to make more room would definitely make things easier. Sorry to keep asking questions about this, but do you use a stern mounted power roller to help when you are setting out or do you just move the drum back prior to setting your net out? I also run into problems with keeping enough ice on board, slush ice seems to be my only alternative. Very impressed with what you have done so far.

 

I too am going to Slush ice this year for the first time. I believe it will reduce work on our part, plus I can go back to putting a 1000 pounds in one bag. If we just ice the fish we can not stack them deeper than 30 inch.
The power roller is free spooling / not used, unless we are in 8 plus waves, then I use it to help the drum bring the net in or if we have to get the net in with out picking the fish out. This new big deck will allow me to stack the net and pick while we are traveling if I have too.
The old configuration of picking was as your boat is now. I only had three feet of picking room - made for so slow work. With 8 feet of net on deck at a time I should get the net cleaned and back out fishing much faster.
The drum will stay in one spot as much as I can let it. Next year after I add more stern deck length the reel will not move at all unless I need to repair nets on board.
It's good to talk to a fisherman about the boat.

 

I like the theory behind why you have set things up. being able to get the net back in the water quickly is so important when the fish are running. As far as slush icing, after filling the hatch, I put a few inches of ice on top and mix up two or three handfulls of coarse salt in a bucket of water and throw it on . Once the hatch is covered up, the temperature drops considerably and really keeps the fish fresh! Of course, if you can't pump out the hatch before removing the fish, you better have a good pair of insulated gloves. The water gets bloody cold!!!

 

I've heard about adding salt and may try this. Our quaility program does not want the fish below 32 deg. but I might start talking against this.

 

I sell a pump that can pump 3/4 solids mixed with water and I hope to use one of them to pump out the slush just before unloading.

 

Phase one complete. Now to pull center engine and move eng.to sides.

All is well with the goverment - I now have a double endorsement - Fishery & Coast Wise Trade.
Moving on to Phase Two - putting engines in the new Sponsons. Most all work will be started next March / April.
Working to pull old engine and rebuilding it and a small diesel.

 

Phase one in the water for testing.

She is very stable - 10+ waves and nothing hitting the cabin floor!

 

Congratulations, she looks like a warship!

 

I still have a lot of work to do. The stern is a make do design so she could fish this year and move to the next phase. Bow needs to be recut to allow water passage easier - time and money.

 

Warship - is that good?

She has more changes to go through.

 

Winston ,it looks like things have progressed well so far. I can see that you might have some adjustments to make, but she looks good! Looking forward to more photos. Regards, Jay