BajaNomad - Boat Recommendations? Thanks - found one!

Boat Recommendations? Thanks - found one!

chavycha - 10-8-2014 at 11:01 PM

We're headed south again this winter and this time, I'm thinking of bringing a boat. The past couple years I've done a lot of beach fishing and have loved that, but would really like the opportunity to get out even a quarter-mile or so when the weather allows. We're planning on December/January in Asuncion, and then February/March in La Ribera (or nearby).

Here's my criteria:

Carry the two of us and some fishing gear comfortably, and maybe a couple other people in a pinch.
Able to handle some minor chop (Pacific-side bays, nearshore Cortez). I'm not about to run 20 miles offshore in the Pacific but don't want to freak out every time a slight breeze ruffles the water.
Easy-ish to launch from unimproved ramps/beaches with two people.

Leaning towards a Smokercraft Alaskan (either the 13' or 15') or Klamath, but would love to hear other ideas. Not dead-set on a welded vs. riveted, or aluminum vs. fiberglass, either.

For safety and reliability I will be looking only at recent (< 15 year old) four-stroke motors - I have had good luck in the past with Yamaha but Honda would be fine too.

Thoughts?

[Edited on 10-9-2014 by chavycha]

[Edited on 11-16-2014 by chavycha]

thats a no brainer

captkw - 10-8-2014 at 11:26 PM

14' Livingston with pull start 25hp 2 stroke and the small console ...will run circles around any panga...soft,dry stable,safe in any wind or chop !!! easy beach launch and does it ALL !!

chavycha - 10-8-2014 at 11:26 PM

We have also discussed bringing one down and either leaving it with friends in La Ribera to use next year, or selling it. Is there any legal/title/etc. issue with doing that?

captkw - 10-8-2014 at 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by captkw
14' Livingston with pull start 25hp 2 stroke and the small console ...will run circles around any panga...soft,dry stable,safe in any wind or chop !!! easy beach launch and does it ALL !!

chavycha - 10-8-2014 at 11:30 PM

Thanks, not familiar with Livingston, but will check them out.

livingston

captkw - 10-8-2014 at 11:49 PM

running charters all over the pacific from Baja to panama I have had well over 200 boston owners swear at the end of the day say"""Im selling my Boston and buying this"""talk is cheap !! the problem with any caterman is very few guys have a clue on how to rig/set them up correctly...also ck out "Twin Vee" and Glacer bay" or for giggles ck out "MooseBoats" that they now will not sale to the gen public!!! bad ass boats that you the gen public are not to own !! FACT !!! :cool:

redhilltown - 10-9-2014 at 12:02 AM

I am not a expert on this by any means but have done quite a bit of car topping a small aluminum boat to some pretty remote places of Baja norte. I assume you are bringing a trailer? You mention beach launching of a 15' boat with a larger motor? That just doesn't sound that easy to me but then again, I have never done it! There is always the bang for the buck scenario with bringing your own as to opposed to going out with the locals. On the Pacific for me it is always the locals but there is nothing as fun as bopping around the Sea of Cortez with your own boat and following the dramatic and inspiring coastline.

chavycha - 10-9-2014 at 12:41 AM

Yes, we would be trailering it. My SUV is not set up for cartopping anything substantial; the roof rack wasn't happy last year with even the light luggage box.

I'm not set on a 15' - a 13'-14' seems like it would work just as well. Anything smaller than that is going to be a 15" transom which doesn't make me very comfortable.

Now that I look at a few pics, I have seen some of the Livingston boats around. There are several on our local Craigslist for decent prices.

[Edited on 10-9-2014 by chavycha]

[Edited on 10-9-2014 by chavycha]

dtbushpilot - 10-9-2014 at 07:19 AM

14' Gregor with a 20" transom and a 15hp 4 stroke outboard. Big enough to go wherever you want (or should) go and still light enough to handle by yourself. Livingston's are ok but I think the weight might be an issue.

woody with a view - 10-9-2014 at 07:29 AM

4 people on a 14' is doable, but sketchy! don't ever ask about the time I took 3 people from Villa Bahia to Don Juan Cove and back. i'll NEVER do that again!

Cypress - 10-9-2014 at 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
4 people on a 14' is doable, but sketchy!

bkbend - 10-9-2014 at 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot
14' Gregor with a 20" transom and a 15hp 4 stroke outboard. Big enough to go wherever you want (or should) go and still light enough to handle by yourself. Livingston's are ok but I think the weight might be an issue.

As a point of reference I can beach launch this setup alone. I wouldn't go any smaller on any of those components. You won't be able to fish 4 from it, maybe 3 on a flat day. You'll still need to stay within a few miles of your launch if the wind comes up, it's too small when the whitecaps hit. Livingston would be a good choice and has some advantages, not sure about handling the weight at launching. I've looked for them at times, but can't seem to find one very close.

bkbend - 10-9-2014 at 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
4 people on a 14' is doable, but sketchy! don't ever ask about the time I took 3 people from Villa Bahia to Don Juan Cove and back. i'll NEVER do that again!

Been there, done that! You don't notice the wind coming up when you're in there. I found out why the cruisers hunker down there.

rts551 - 10-9-2014 at 07:45 AM

Gregor Baja if you can find one or one of the newer Gregor Alaskans. Most folks I know that beach launch prefer 2-strokes because of the extra weight of a 4-stroke.

Most of my beach launching is on the Pacific where you can not just dump a boat in the water.

[Edited on 10-9-2014 by rts551]

Skipjack Joe - 10-9-2014 at 08:11 AM

There are no launch ramps at Asuncion. You'll have to figure out a way to get it from your trailer to the water. A 14' aluminum boat without the motor is about 220lb and the motor is 100lb. You'll need several people to lift that weight. The cove has people coming and going so you may get help if you wait long enough. Driving the trailer into the sea would mean salt on your undercarriage. Launching backwards results in water breaking over your transom. Launching in the pacific lagoons (esteros) like Coyote or Bocana is simpler.

I think there is a marina now at La Ribera which would make that launch easier for you.

rts551 - 10-9-2014 at 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
There are no launch ramps at Asuncion. You'll have to figure out a way to get it from your trailer to the water. A 14' aluminum boat without the motor is about 220lb and the motor is 100lb. You'll need several people to lift that weight. The cove has people coming and going so you may get help if you wait long enough. Driving the trailer into the sea would mean salt on your undercarriage. Launching backwards results in water breaking over your transom. Launching in the pacific lagoons (esteros) like Coyote or Bocana is simpler.

I think there is a marina now at La Ribera which would make that launch easier for you.

Igor

I launch all the time in Abreojos (depending on surf conditions) and have in San Roque in the past as well with a 15 ft Gregor Baja Special, 35 hp 2-stroke. Back the boat up to 6 inches of water...off-load - turn it around and push it into deeper water. Or even easier...use launch wheels. Takes 2 people but people do it all the time here. Takes practice and do not try it in even moderate surf.

Russ - 10-9-2014 at 08:39 AM

Quote:

X2
You'll want something as a starter boat in Baja. I know Livinston's too and they are heavy. There is a reason you don't see a lot of them down here. Now with a good launch ramp and conditions I'd love to have one again.

SFandH - 10-9-2014 at 08:55 AM

I use a 14' aluminum boat with an outboard and beach launch it. Get a dolly with fat tires for the trailer, it makes things easier. There is usually a downhill slope for launching. I recover it by tying a long rope onto the dolly and pulling it out of the water with my pickup, which stays high and dry, out of the sand.

Boat trailer dolly

Skipjack Joe - 10-9-2014 at 11:19 AM

Oh sure there are ways to launch into the surf but it usually requires additional equipment or manpower. The transom on a 14' gregor is less than a foot. And when is the surf small enough to drive your truck into it. Perhaps in the morning. But what happens in the afternoon when you're coming in?

I don't question that you do it Ralph but I don't know any surf that stays 6". If you've launched in 6" of water then you are sometimes on bare ground and sometimes in 12" of water. If on bare ground then my boat is resting on the prop (even when it's up). Even a small wave will go over the transom. In fact if I lower my boat into 6" of water my bow will be so high during the launch that my transom water line may be just a couple of inches. If you go deeper then the surge will go past your trailer and around the truck tires. There is usually some surf at both the San Roque cove and the Asuncion beach launch site, even though they are protected.

I don't know. I want my adventure of the day be fighting the fish, not launching the boat. Launching needs to be a quick smooth operation where all the unknown variables are accounted for and prepared for. I've seen it all - boat sideways in the surf with man holding on while his partner is wading around retrieving floating seats and sunken tackle. And it goes downhill from there.

Martyman - 10-9-2014 at 11:23 AM

Inflatables with launching wheels are worth looking into. There is no perfect boat

dtbushpilot - 10-9-2014 at 12:13 PM

I have launch wheels on the stern of the boat, I usually launch the boat with a quad or my side by side. With the wheels down the motor can also be in the down position without hitting the ground. Mine has the tall transom, I wouldn't get one with the short (15") transom. I can handle it myself but it took a while to figure it out, it's better if you have help.

chavycha - 10-9-2014 at 02:47 PM

Thanks everyone for your feedback!

Sounds like the consensus is a 14' aluminum boat with 20" transom, and launch wheels.

Asuncion doesn't have a ramp per se but the past couple years I've been able to drive right up to the water's edge to dump kayaks. I can't imagine it to be that much more difficult with a trailer.

La Ribera has a great ramp at the marina. There is also a decent beach for launching. The marina ramp is $20 per use, so I think I'll try the beach first.

I haven't done any beach launching with powered boats before but I do have plenty of experience launching and retrieving a driftboat from rivers around the NW. Ramp? We don't need no steenking ramp!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISRVScQvwSw#t=101
(not me, but I've launched here plenty)

chavycha - 10-9-2014 at 03:05 PM

A couple local options:

http://corvallis.craigslist.org/boa/4678059086.html
Klamaths have a great reputation around here. Not sure how I feel about older Merc 2-stroke or the stereo system

.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/boa/4704973120.html
Gregor Baja Special with even older Merc 2-stroke. Would probably want to repower this.

http://roseburg.craigslist.org/boa/4678012424.html
http://salem.craigslist.org/boa/4705773257.html
Cheap old Gregors. Could drop a nice 15 or 20hp 4-stroke on here and still be way under budget.

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/boa/4687911566.html
Hmm. Certainly turn-key but perhaps a bit overbuilt and awkward for beach launch.

http://bend.craigslist.org/boa/4650496168.html
Would need to put a bigger motor on here.

http://portland.craigslist.org/grg/boa/4671181317.html
Decent-looking little setup.

ChicaSierra - 10-9-2014 at 03:47 PM

For years, we used a neighbors borrowed 14' aluminum with 5 hp 4 stroke Nissan and launch with the quad, to do the same kind of fishing you are interested in. But, this year, we decided we wanted to explore more of Baja, so we just got an inflatable 15' Saturn Kaboat (Alaska series) and will use the 5hp (I think the Kaboat takes up to a 15 or maybe even 20hp.). We took out the Kaboat to test on flat water then windy chop alpine lake and it was AWESOME! It was the 2 of us with 2 dogs, no gear and it had no problem planning, even in the chop. The thing turns on a dime, so the dog better be paying attention or in the brink, she goes. We will be taking it down to Gonzaga, Asunscion, and wherever else we can manage with the current road conditions and our little Aerotow trailer with the boat inside and surfboards on top! Here is a youtube demo video if you want to check it out: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_nbl9tXjqq4 Hopefully, we will have our own videos after the upcoming 6 wk Baja adventure!

hey kids !!

captkw - 10-9-2014 at 11:55 PM

take a ride on a proper set up Livingston boat !! It will change your life !! only boat I know that loves wind and waves !! and fishes GREAT !!! I would have say at least 90percent something are set up wrong !! just the way it is !!! stable,soft riding,,dry in the snot,safe.. easy beach launch and retrieve in waves and wind...and get 50 percent better fuel consumption than a mono...beer cans are a JOKE !!!

chavycha - 11-9-2014 at 07:06 PM

Capt - how would you set one up for beach launch? Transom wheels as with the tin boats?

There are a couple of 14' Livingstons here locally which look decent for the price. I do like the wide/stable idea and have had experience fixing fiberglass boats so that's another plus.

MMc - 11-9-2014 at 07:53 PM

Tandem kayak is the ticket.

BajaDanD - 11-9-2014 at 09:45 PM

there is a launch ramp in Asuncion where all the Coop pangas launch it may not be concrete but I launched my 14 aluminum boat there 2 weeks ago using my Quad no problem. there are a few other spots there to launch a boat from all good spots if you have 4x4 I launched my boat with my van too not 4 wheel drive.

jakethedog - 11-10-2014 at 06:36 AM

I have a 12' Livingston that I bought for the motor that I do not use. I would let it go for $600 and even deliver it around La ribera when I need to make a run to the airport. Has nice beach launch wheels on boat and seats. May be a little heavy for one peoson to deal with, but so is a 14' aluminum with motor and gear.

Inflatables suck unless they have a deep V hull. They pound you in any chop Fall apart at seams in the sand, sun and salt. I tried one and could not get rid of it quick enough.

Let me know if any interest in Livingston

livingstons

captkw - 11-10-2014 at 08:34 AM

the older ones are a bit on the heavy side...that would be the ones with the blue gelcoat (paint) on the innards...there are two 12 foot designs the 12T and 12C which stands for cartopper and trailer...the 12T is a lot bigger...a 14 set up correctly can be be runned down the beach with a wife and pulled back up with the anchor rope with a old two wheeldrive Volvo...did that all over B.C.S. for many years....just a very little heavyer than a beer can..BUT, the ride is sweat,soft,dry,stable....take run for a ride!!. Ill post back with the weight....K&T :cool:

PS..the new 12 is 235lbs and the 14 is 315 lbs its sure nice to have two big guys leaning over the gunnel gaffing a hog (big fish) and not tiipng the boat...small catermans ..

[Edited on 11-10-2014 by captkw]

chavycha - 11-13-2014 at 10:05 PM

Thanks captkw! The two that are local are the older 14' with the blue gelcoat. One has a 30hp Yamaha 2-stroke and a center console... the other a 25hp Merc 2-stroke tiller. I may check out the 30hp CC.

When you say 'set up correctly' I assume you mean with a CC and most of the weight forward?

Jake, unfortunately we're going to be in Asuncion first and would want a boat there.

I do have a 4x4 Trailblazer with highway tires. Not the best sand launching rig but not the worst. Should work okay if I air down.

chavycha - 11-16-2014 at 12:18 AM

Found a nice 13'4" welded Westcoaster today and pulled the trigger. One-owner boat with everything all set up to fish. Nice trailer, good little Yamaha 15hp LS, gps/fishfinder, Eide launch wheels...even a few rods included. It's not going to take on any big water but should be great for putt-putting around on calm days and exploring lagoons/backwaters. Towed home great. Can't wait to take it for a shakedown once the weather warms up a bit here.

Thanks to all for your help. Action pics in T-minus-30 days... :spingrin:

sd - 11-16-2014 at 03:03 AM

Have fun! Sounds like a great boat.

chuckie - 11-16-2014 at 03:19 AM

That'll do it....enjoy

AlanDow - 2-12-2015 at 09:00 AM

Chavycha, now that you have put some time in with this boat in the Asuncion area, how has it worked out for you? I have followed this post with much interest since I too am thinking about getting a 14 foot aluminum boat to operate from the Asuncion and San Roque area, particularly the discussion early in the post regarding the potential challenges to beach launching into the pacific around that area. From other posts it appears you did end up doing quite a bit of fishing in that area these last two months, rather successfully it appears, so I thought I would ask what have you learned? Overall were you happy with the 13ft 4 inch boat, did you mostly beach launch from the trailer or use the launch wheels, etc? If you had it to do over would you still have gone with that set-up, or now with some experience under your belt, what would you now consider the ideal setup to recommend for use in this area, Asuncion or San Roque? Thanks

Tod - 2-12-2015 at 10:42 AM

Good questions. Expiring minds want to know. I am in the same situation as far as looking for something in the 13-15' range that I can beach launch Cerritos/Punta Lobo and other Pacific beaches.

Pompano - 2-12-2015 at 10:48 AM

Here's what a 15' WestCoaster looks like...should be a good rig for calm waters. and Having Fun!

Barry A. - 2-12-2015 at 11:09 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chavycha

Thanks everyone for your feedback!

Sounds like the consensus is a 14' aluminum boat with 20" transom, and launch wheels.

rquote]

This set-up gets my vote too. I spent 30 + years with 12' and 14' Gregor's in the SOC in ALL kinds of weather--------worked for me, and I never used a "boat ramp" in all that time. Normally we were solo, or at most 2 people, with multiple similar tin-boats. A few times the pucker-factor was considerable in high winds and waves, but never really had a serious problem other than breaking the boats back one time on a big wave hit going too fast.

Barry

chavycha - 2-12-2015 at 11:38 AM

Alan,

Hoo-boy. That's a big set of questions. First off, thanks to all who posted on this thread. The boat we ended up with has worked well both in the Pacific and on the Cortez (so far).

Our first few tries at beach launching were adventurous to say the least. The smaller beach wheels were no help (and actually can cause serious trouble if they get stuck in the sand). We just left them at home after the first couple tries. Easier to manhandle the boat in and out of the water. Not a one-person job when the wind waves are pounding the beach. That said, I launched it by myself a few times when it was real calm.

Our procedure was (roughly): drive the trailer to the edge of the water, kick the boat off. Drive the trailer back up beach to park. Both people spin the boat, and drag it in. Row out a bit, tilt the motor down, start the motor, ship the oars, and off you go. Reverse the procedure on the way back in. Kill the motor within about 50 yards of beach. Tilt motor up. Put the oars out. Row in (stern first - bow into waves). Pull the boat up onto sand. Spin it. Run and get the trailer while other person holds the boat. Load boat. On the Cortez where the beach drops off quickly the rowing steps aren't necessary; just motor right up to the beach.

A 13' (or 14', or 15' for that matter) is too small to be out in the big pond when the wind comes up. You'll have to pick and choose your days, and be ready to head in quick if you start seeing whitecaps. The folks who rented the casita next to us brought a 21' center console and were able to fish a lot of days when we couldn't. Then again, they burned a million gallons of gas and had to have a crew of six to put the thing in the water. We got washing-machined pretty good once, and that was enough. We were on the west side of the island - the wind came up out of the SE...since we were in the wind shadow, we didn't notice much until we came around the north point and had a couple of feet of chop in our face as we ran in (or puttered in, as it were, at about 4mph, slosh, slosh, slosh).

What I like:
The 15hp 2-stroke Yamaha is a GREAT motor. Reliable, fuel efficient, and light. We burned only about 8L / 100 pesos a day on average - usually running between 15-25 miles when you factored in getting there plus trolling around. The hull does reasonably well in a light chop and is more stable than I expected. Now, don't everyone lean over the rail at once, but I stand and fish fairly often when we're drifting. Pretty fast for a small boat in calm water - 22-23mph at full throttle with both of us and gear. Does okay with three, just not as fast. Several locals have remarked what a nice combo the hull/motor are. GPS and fishfinder have been fantastic for learning new water and structure. HIGHLY recommended.

What I don't like:
Boat was set up by previous owner as a ramp-launch freshwater boat. Thus, it had way too much gear/weight. We took out one of the plywood level floors, big deep cycle batter, anchor, etc. Still too heavy - with the built-up transom, heavy gauge hull, motor, seats, gas, etc. it weighs about 500#. The hull alone is 350ish. Transducer setup off the transom sucks for beach launching. One misstep and "snap!". Have to take it up each and every time. A nice size boat for two people, but three is one too many for fishing. It fishes great solo, but you really need two to feel comfortable launching/retrieving.
The trailer it came on has 4.80X12" tires - they do surprisingly well on the beach but would've preferred something a little bigger for the process of trailering it down.

What I would look for if I were doing it again:
I'd go for a slightly longer, deeper, yet lighter hull. A 15' or 16' boat with a 74" or even 80" beam doesn't weigh much (if any) more than our setup, and could still be pushed with a 25hp 2-stroke. Some of the older Bayrunners have a big swept-up bow which would be great for beach launching. Keep the weight to a minimum - no floorboards, no livewells, etc. I would lean towards a 2-stroke for the weight savings and ease of maintenance. Yeah, you have to mix, but 100:1 for the Yamaha means we've gone through a whole two bottles of oil in two months. Good electronics - doesn't have to be complicated, but a GPS/fishfinder and small 12v battery will help a lot. I will also bring a handheld VHF if we are out of Asuncion again. The cell service in town was in and out many mornings (bad battery or something on the relay tower) and not having any form of comm is disconcerting. I would certainly not touch anything with a 15" transom. I wished for a 25" a few times. Solid galvanized trailer with larger tires (13" at least). Same tiller steering arrangement - no need for console/remote. Rod holders - lots of rod holders. We had two rods set up for trolling, two for jigging, and two for light tackle bass. I also usually have a fly rod or two aboard as well.

It's windy here today so no boating. Did that show in the length of the reply?

[Edited on 2-12-2015 by chavycha]

AlanDow - 2-12-2015 at 04:00 PM

Wow, outstanding feedback. Yes the thoroughness of your reply does testify to the fact it must have been too windy to fist today. Thanks again for providing such valuable feedback.

redhilltown - 2-13-2015 at 01:11 AM

Now now...c'mon...let's grow up and let it go...

chavycha - 3-7-2015 at 09:20 AM

Aforementioned pre-rigged boat setup is for sale. Would love to sell down here rather than towing home and storing outside for the summer. My garage already has a boat in it!

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=77959

[Edited on 3-7-2015 by chavycha]

chavycha - 4-13-2015 at 05:43 PM

We sold the Westcoaster to a nice guy at Playa Coyote. It'll live out its remaining years on Bahia Concepcion. Perfect spot for that boat.

Since we got home, I've kept my eye out for next year's Baja rig. I found one this past weekend and pulled the trigger. It's a 16' Bayrunner. It's a project for sure but the price was excellent and I've got plenty of time to get it 'right' before Baja 2014/2015.

We took it out yesterday for its inaugural voyage and it did well. It's a bigger boat for sure... noticeably more stable and roomier. 16'x80" versus 13'4"x68". More freeboard and a higher bow, too. Should be great for two people, okay with three, and doable in a pinch for four.

It's currently got a center console and 28hp Evinrude SPL. Though the motor runs well and the steering wheel is nice for visibility, I'll probably swap it out for a 25-30hp 2-stroke manual start for weight savings. By ditching the console and big battery I can probably lose 125-150lbs. I think I can get it down to about 525# dry weight which is only about 125# heavier than the previous.

So really, it's a turn-key metal panga, after I replace all the seat ply, floorboards, transom, swap the motor, fix the trailer...

10945271_773886438402_7434622261597324785_n.jpg - 112kB

[Edited on 4-14-2015 by chavycha]

woody with a view - 4-13-2015 at 06:20 PM

nice!

vgabndo - 4-13-2015 at 06:24 PM

As always, flyin' in style! Not a bad beach launcher....

boats

captkw - 4-13-2015 at 08:32 PM

I told you "boys" about LIVINGSTONS a while back,,let me guess....you think the "Baja catch" is the bible right......No wonder the china folks are taking over...lol,,,tell ya what,,I will bank,,bet all on crossing the sea of cortez in a proper rigged 14' Livingston in the mid afternoon...I get BOSTON WHALERS owners trying to sale their boat so they can move up to a cat..don't reply unless you have run pwr cats..thxs.....PS also go take a test ride on a "TWIN VEE" or if you want to sea some of the best......ck out out "MOOSE BOATS"

[Edited on 4-14-2015 by captkw]

Tod - 4-13-2015 at 09:09 PM

That's a keeper. That extra elbow room with be nice as well as more seaworthy. Congrats.

chavycha - 4-13-2015 at 09:14 PM

Only read the Baja Catch once... I must not have paid much attention since I think he says that 16' boats are worthless in Baja. :yes:

I'd love to build up a Livingston but they're hard to find around here. I'm more comfortable working with glass, wood, and epoxy than with aluminum. I have only seen a few of the newer models in the past year of looking locally...and those have been awfully spendy since they usually come with a big ol' 4-stroke.

Who knows, if I see a good Livingston hull I may pick it up and try it out side by side with the Bayrunner. Both have pretty good reputations for seaworthiness and durability.

[Edited on 4-14-2015 by chavycha]

chavycha

captkw - 4-13-2015 at 09:27 PM

Hola, as a boat mech/tech I'm swamped now with salmon season in Monterey CA. but,,, where are/is your US based home ?? this is WaYY past a bad joke as a pro boat guy with many,many years in Baja a the BS tinnys gig..a yahoo writes a book about fishing Baja right off the beach in a tin can excuse for a boat and all the newbies ate it up !! U2U me a Land line and I will show you a better way...talk is cheap,,,right ??

redhilltown - 4-13-2015 at 11:42 PM

The Baja Catch is what it is...they were just giving their experiences of how they fish in Baja...it wasn't an advertisement (well...maybe for Fastrac lures!!) and it wasn't a arrogant "this is the only way to do it book". You take from it what you can, you discard the rest. The way it should be when you approach anyone's opinion or writing.

To dismiss it outright is to ignore thousands of hours of fishing on the shores of Baja. If some of it is wrong well-and this may be a shock-but some of what everyone says is wrong. Including those posting...

the baja catch

captkw - 4-14-2015 at 06:57 AM

I myself did cover to cover many,many times.and the maps were to me priceless and also the bit about a can of flat black paint for shiny leaders has helped over the years......BUT,, a beer can for a boat does,,can,,will limit what and where you can go and do....so I got smart and looked around and found a far better boat and system...when a 14 footer can fly 35 knts in the afternoon winter northerns and stay dry,,,Well I'm sold and I get paid to consult about boats and fishing...(now)..most guys have a "wagon wheel'' thinking,,sorta like bob has a F150,,,Guess I need a F150...you, yourself limit yourself !!

[Edited on 4-14-2015 by captkw]

vgabndo - 4-14-2015 at 07:55 AM

Hey Captain...just for a bit of comparison...how many times have you beach launched your "perfect" catamaran boat through the surf in Baja in, say, the last year? My bet is that Scott and Julia have put their boat in the ocean from the sand at least ten times more often. They launch and recover by themselves and usually with a boat load of fish! The fact is, I'd trust Scott's choice about the right boat for his purposes than almost any of your suggestions because they spend a lot of time fishing in Baja. How about you? Maybe Scott would be willing to post how many times he's put his "beer can" boat in the Mexican ocean in the past year. just for a bit of comparison...

Warf - 4-14-2015 at 08:24 AM

I use a West Marine inflatable with beach wheels and 15 hp Johnson 2 cycle short shaft. Easy to transport, easy to launch and easy on the gas.
Perfect for the gulf side. Love it!!

Vagabundo

captkw - 4-14-2015 at 09:06 PM

Hola,ahhh,,, Last year..not one time myself..winter never came to calif. and the phone kept ringing......But,,thats not the issue and a "cat" is not the perfect boat !! aint no critter made yet..as for beach launching up and down Baja surf with a small "cat" after the gregor and a valco..lets see,,, 25 yrs towing a boat down,,,,4/5 months a year.... fish some times more than others..I cant say with numbers, but I can with conviction, a Hell of a lot of beach launchs (Ya think) anyone here knew "tapedeck" at chivato,,,If anyone repliles yes than I will make sure his letter gets posted....PS,been in Baja since 77 and my claim to fame is I have dragged a boat more miles than anyone I ever have met !! to Alaska and to panama and back..I think Roger (pompano) is close !! So, IF you want a weekend warrior or a pro's thought's (its what I do for a living) no problem..I'm very used to this issue......get a grip !!..God,, do I miss DavidE,,,someone around here that had a clue !!! Any how ,,if you wanna talk bs about boats,,count me out..If you want solid,good,reliable,proven info I might try ,,once again here......but soooo, far I only see/hear old farts that are set in there ways and don't/cant hear from someone younger that knows what the hell is the real storey.....K&T

[Edited on 4-15-2015 by captkw]

[Edited on 4-15-2015 by captkw]

chavycha - 4-15-2015 at 05:44 PM

Aw hell, I'd bet I'm a good bit younger than y'all...so the 'stuck in yer ways' argument doesn't quite apply. Hell, I wasn't even on this earth in 1977. I hear that back in those days all you could find in Baja was balsa rafts with pictures of the sun god Kon-Tiki on 'em. I may be a weekend (well, all winter) warrior, but an old fart I'm not! :lol:

That said, I'm plenty open to ideas of how to do things 'a better way' especially from people like captkw who have been there, done that. I think the ship's sailed, so to speak, on this particular purchase as the boat is sitting in the garage. Of course, there's always next year if we get in the habit of bringing one down and then selling it at the end of the winter.

However, I do need to repower it since all the weight with the console setup just ain't gonna fly for me. The four-stroke route is tempting for the fuel efficiency and emissions but I'd need to find a screaming deal on a 30hp in order to justify the weight penalty, and it's hard to find one with manual start/tiller steer/long shaft. I was hoping that I might be able to squeak by with a 20hp, but my lake trials last week convinced me there's no way a 20hp is going to push this hull.

So that brings it back to what's appropriate - a 25-30hp two-stroke.

I would love to find a 25hp or 30hp Yamaha but sounds like most motors from the late 1990s onward are pretty bombproof. If I could find a 2-cylinder 30hp model that would be perfect. Any recommendations?

Someone is wrong on internet.png - 38kB

[Edited on 4-16-2015 by chavycha]

DavidT - 4-15-2015 at 10:40 PM

http://www.torqeedo.com/en/products/outboards/deep-blue/deep...

Plus $16,276.00 for the battery and you'll never have to buy fuel again.

:biggrin:

chavycha - 2-22-2017 at 12:53 PM

The initial reviews are in on the Bayrunner hull and ETEC (posted in the other ETEC thread about the motor). Overall, I'm happy with the boat - it's led us to plenty of fish over the past month or so.

I stripped it bare, had a new all-aluminum transom put in, and then rebuilt the interior. I went with a fly deck up front and a compartment for the gas tank under the center seat. Used 1/2" marine ply for the bench seats. 1" of marine ply for the fly deck. 3/8" AB ply for the floorboards. Everything was epoxied and polyurethaned. Covered the deck and floorboards with vinyl high-traction flooring. I put some rigid insulation foam (pink stuff) under all the seats for structural support. Seems to be holding up well, even with heavy people on the seats.

The hull itself weighs about 375 pounds with all installed, and then another 175ish for the motor and battery (lightweight li-ion motorcycle starting battery). Around 550 pounds dry.

Overall, it's quite a capable little boat - the extra beam is GREAT for having two people on one side while gaffing/landing fish. It gets on plane at something ridiculously slow - around 8-9mph. It's no speed demon but solo I can get it up to just under 30mph, and it's happy with two people cruising at 'light-chop speed' 15-20mph, with a top of around 26mph. Planes out fine with four adults and actually fishes pretty comfortably with three people jigging / trolling. Lots of room for just two people.

It's light enough to be able to manipulate somewhat when launching/retrieving. Pretty much have to back the trailer right up to or even into the surf to launch - the old drop it on the sand, spin it, and run it bow-first into the waves would be quite difficult.

Biggest downside is that it's a rough ride in chop, especially when lightly loaded. I also did not have a splashwell / motor well put in, so the 20" transom occasionally takes a wave over the top when landing on the beach.

I also redid the trailer, adding 185/13 tires, new bunks (with plastic sliders) and a heavy duty winch. It's possible to winch the boat onto the trailer from sitting dry on the beach (though just barely). The trailer sits high off the ground, so the bow has to come up at quite an angle. Not sure how well it would work on the Cortez side where the beaches are steeper. I will consider an extended tongue for beach-launching this rig in the future.

[Edited on 2-22-2017 by chavycha]

Hook - 2-22-2017 at 02:00 PM

A turn-key metal panga, huh? I think it probably slaps WAY more than a panga in chop.

Tell me about your beach launching area. That sure seems like a lot of boat to try launching with those narrow tires. How far into the water are the rear wheels on the launch vehicle going?

chavycha - 2-23-2017 at 12:02 PM

The only things that it has in common with a panga are that it's a boat and it's in Mexico. Hard to compare a 375lb shallow vee aluminum hull with a 3000# fiberglass panga.

The tires are no problem, I sink more with the rear of my launch rig on 255/18s than with the 185/13 on the trailer. The trailer is different than the one pictured above - it's a slightly smaller, lighter EZloader galvanized rig which weighs only about 275#.

A couple people talked about the Asuncion/San Roque launches earlier in this thread. The beaches are somewhat sheltered in the bays so they don't catch any of the NW swell, but do get some of the SSW swell when there is one. We have not tried launching/retrieving in anything over about 3' of swell component... if there's more than that, the conditions on the open ocean are going to be nasty. The two main beaches in Asuncion are good hard sand launches. I back the launch rig down where just the rear tires are lapped by the surf, which puts the trailer bunks right at water level. Hop out, both people push the boat off, spin it in the surf (and/or push out past the break), and then one holds while the other parks the car. The beaches aren't steep so on bigger surf days we have to push the boat off and pull the trailer from under it with the car, then wait for a big set to float the boat and spin it around. I put the plastic EZ-slide things on the trailer bunks which have helped immensely in pushing the boat off the trailer when it's dry. With just carpeted bunks, it'd be a huge chore.

On the way back in, I put the motor in shallow water drive about 100 yards from shore, and then just run it up towards the beach. When I get within about 10 yards of the break, I kill the motor and coast in. Then, if the surf's up a bit, we will hop out and pull it up the beach with a big set. If it's not, we'll push it out and have one person just hold the bow line with the boat out past the break. Other person goes to fetch the car, backs down, hops out, and loading is the inverse of launching.

We've got it choreographed pretty well with two people and these launches. I can actually do it myself as long as the surf is down, there's no wind, and I didn't park the car too far away.

As I noted above, the launches which we've used in the past on the East Cape (La Ribera beach, etc.) may be a little more challenging on the retrieval side of things. We won't make it down there this winter but are planning on doing it next fall, and with a few minor tweaks to this rig, I feel pretty comfortable we'll be able to launch/retrieve successfully over there.

[Edited on 2-23-2017 by chavycha]

luv2fish - 2-23-2017 at 12:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by captkw

14' Livingston with pull start 25hp 2 stroke and the small console ...will run circles around any panga...soft,dry stable,safe in any wind or chop !!! easy beach launch and does it ALL !!

What's the advantage or disadvantage of an aluminum boat i.e. Bay runner etc?

chavycha - 2-23-2017 at 01:43 PM

I am still curious about the Livingstons too. When I did my test drives of the Bayrunner at our local lake in December, there was a fellow raving about his. I'm going to try to get a ride in one this summer.

willardguy - 2-23-2017 at 05:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chavycha

I am still curious about the Livingstons too. When I did my test drives of the Bayrunner at our local lake in December, there was a fellow raving about his. I'm going to try to get a ride in one this summer.

good call....its not always easy but listen to the captain :yes: