Tender choice

[lee]

I am negotiating to buy older 55 Fleming, seller is taking Lindell in trade. Lindell has been a great fishing and crabbing boat, Fleming won't be. But Fleming has 13.5' Nouverina with 40 hp Merc, console, depthfinder, etc. I have never owned a RIB but it does not look to me that it has much space for crab pots or much ability to function as a fishing boat. Thinking about options like aluminum boat or? Davit will pick 1200# but lighter is better. We plan to cruise NW as far as Alaska. Any suggestions?
I could also tow 22.5' Grady if that is viable. Fleming likes to run around 10Knts.
Thanks in advance for your comments.

[SomeSailor]

What a beautiful boat! Maybe you could tow that Whaler?

[kwb]

Tow the Grady - it is a bit big but at 10kn should tow just fine.

[lee]

The Whaler left in 08 when I picked up the Grady. I think you are right about towing it instead of dealing with swapping out the tender, I can't seem to edit my signature...

[bradvo]

I am negotiating to buy older 55 Fleming, seller is taking Lindell in trade. Lindell has been a great fishing and crabbing boat, Fleming won't be. But Fleming has 13.5' Nouverina with 40 hp Merc, console, depthfinder, etc. I have never owned a RIB but it does not look to me that it has much space for crab pots or much ability to function as a fishing boat. Thinking about options like aluminum boat or? Davit will pick 1200# but lighter is better. We plan to cruise NW as far as Alaska. Any suggestions?
I could also tow 22.5' Grady if that is viable. Fleming likes to run around 10Knts.
Thanks in advance for your comments.

Great boat and your right the Ribs do not make good fishing boats and are tight with pots but doable if ya have to. The Grady would be a great boat to run around and do what ever in ... but when it comes to docking with that size a tender ya will have to be very picky when going in unless your partner takes the tender in first.

Try the Grady, ya got time before big trips, if it does not work out, look for a 13 foot Whaler or similiar.

again Congrats on the new boat if the deal works out for ya!!

[kwb]

The Grady is big but if in the same position no way would I go with a 13' whaler too low of freeboard. I would look for a 16-18' center console fiberglass (cheaper) or a similar sized aluminum boat.

Towing isn't that bad to do once you have the routine down and with 16-18' foot 'tender' you open up lots more fishing grounds than what is comfortable to do in a smaller boat. I know a fair number of guys with 35-45' that are towing that size without problem, 55' boat should see less impact to handle when you have it tied tight for mooring purposes.

If you want to be able to set boat on deck with davit - I know a couple people with Bullfrog boats and looking at them they are better suited to fish, crab, shrimp from than a RIB even with overall shape being very similar.

[Papa Charlie]

Nice looking boat. As a lot in common with the Defever 49 and 50's. You will enjoy her. Good luck.
I would think about an aluminum high side fishing boat. Weight isn't that much and they would be good for fishing and pulling pots out of.

[bradvo]

The Grady is big but if in the same position no way would I go with a 13' whaler too low of freeboard. I would look for a 16-18' center console fiberglass (cheaper) or a similar sized aluminum boat.

Towing isn't that bad to do once you have the routine down and with 16-18' foot 'tender' you open up lots more fishing grounds than what is comfortable to do in a smaller boat. I know a fair number of guys with 35-45' that are towing that size without problem, 55' boat should see less impact to handle when you have it tied tight for mooring purposes.

If you want to be able to set boat on deck with davit - I know a couple people with Bullfrog boats and looking at them they are better suited to fish, crab, shrimp from than a RIB even with overall shape being very similar.


I was thinking more of the whaler going on the deck. We have a couple down our way that got rid of the RIBs and went with the 13 ft Whaler, provides more room then a RIB or Bull frog and a larger motor. If you try hanging a cannon ball from a RIB or Bullfrog you will be disapointed in the performance of your boat, it really frustrates when ya try turning it.. your best bet fishing with small boats is mooching or troll with deep six. Lee probably has already heard this .

If you choose to tow, get a camera mounted off the back so ya can monitor, or ya will not enjoy your cruising as much. I do agree the larger towed vessel will provide the best fishing opportunity and can be used to run for provisions but your gonna have to deal with the pucker factor when or if docking if that 22 ft boat is hanging on your side. I know when I tow and go in for fuel or dock it makes a difference , but that is me.

[lee]

Thanks for the feedback.
I have actually docked the previous boat 38' with the 22' boat lashed along side on my personal dock in Gig Harbor. Never in a big wind and most of the time single handed but as usual "I approached the dock as fast as I wanted to hit it" and all was well!
The 13' Whaler is a good call as well as a larger Aluminum skiff. I don't understand the popularity of the RIB's but if getting on and off easily and putting through the marina is the primary use it might work. Understand that the light weight is a bonus.
I liked the idea of trying the towing out before committing to some other solution.
The other thing that towing the Grady solves is how to see things over a wide area quickly. If I picked a central location to moor or dock I could easily explore 30-40 miles in all directions in a few days. The other option might be to take the Grady up on a trailer to Campbell River or somewhere on Vancouver Island and leave it for a few days until we got into the area where it would make sense to have it. That way I would not have to deal with the Strait of Juan De Fuca or the Strait of Georgia with a boat in tow.
It looks like the last meeting to make a deal will be tomorrow

[Tedster]

The best idea so far was your last thought of trailering. It would really make the trip less harrowing.

[bradvo]

Lee, your going to pick your times before crossing either of those straits, I wouldn't let that stop me from towing. I generally tow my 11 ft Caribe with 30 hp motor across all the time...but I have a watch on board , that makes a big difference.

AS far as RIBs go, why the make sense to a lot of us. weight factor in most cases as you said.
good luck on negotiations.

[kwb]

Trailering works well but the cost to take a trailer across on the BC ferry is not trivial.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Trailering works well but the cost to take a trailer across on the BC ferry is not trivial.

Actually pretty inexpensive compared to the water route... For my truck and boat on the Black Ball ferry, its around $180 one way. To take the boat to McNeill Bay by water would run around $1K...

[kwb]

Actually pretty inexpensive compared to the water route... For my truck and boat on the Black Ball ferry, its around $180 one way. To take the boat to McNeill Bay by water would run around $1K...

So round trip you have $360 in ferry costs, and from seattle area to mid-north island is ~400mi one way, 800 round trip about 80gallons of fuel x $3.5/gallon you add in another $280 and are at $540 and haven't factored the time to do it, the miles to return home empty, drive back empty and still get his big boat north. I would bet that the penalty to tow behind big boat is less dollars than towing but piece of mind and if single handing still probably money well spent to get the little boat up north on a set of tires instead at the end of a line.

[The Peddler]

How about towing the Grady to the SanJuan's, then hiring the bitterend (Tow Line) guy to take it the rest of the way. ;)