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Al G
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Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Tin Boat Limitations
I have read a lot on tin boats, but I am still not clear on what they can do and what is dangerous.
Let us look at a setup.
1) New or late model 14' Valco, Gregor
2)18 +- hp 4 stroke (25hp if 1-2 people can handle it)
3) Safety equipment ???
4) Depth and GPS
Would it be silly to try to learn/compete in the Mulege Yellow fin tourney with this setup?
Myself, I would not push any limits, still would like to know what they are. You never know someday, I might be an old salt again.
Albert
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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comitan
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The boat should handle anything short of a full blown Chubasco, The real limitation in boating is the operator, not just experience, but physically to
withstand the punishment the sea can give you.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Diver
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You'd have to be the adventurous type to stay out in your Gregor when the wind/waves come up; and a really wet ride home if you're down wind/wave. The
good thing is that many others will be out with you and they Gregor towes great behind a bigger boat if you adjust the tow line to put the boat on the
wake ! 
I've been out a few times in my 14' Lund when I wished I wasn't !
I would go to a 16' or 17' tin boat with console unless you want to "beach-wheel" it. They aren't much heavier to tow.
The larger size boat will handle a kicker along with the main motor and even a bait well.
[Edited on 9-4-2005 by Diver]
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Mike Humfreville
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I have used a 14' Gregor all over Bahia de Los Angeles for 30 years and had what could have been serious problems only once or twice. My engine is
now a 20 horse 4 cycle Honda and the Klamath is the model with the ~65 mils aluminum rather than the thin-skinned one. But I'm not a serious
fisherman and, for example, I would not take my boat to the big island (Isla de la Guarda) from the bay. Like Comitan says, it's a combination of the
pilot, the experience, the weather and luck.
Good luck and let us know what you end up with.
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comitan
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also remember 4strokes are heavy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Diver
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Good point;
My 14' Lund does fine with a 2-stroke Merc 15, you'd need a bigger 4-stroke and it wouldn't plane out as fast.
The 17' Northwestern has 4-strokes, 50 and 8 Yamahas.
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Skipjack Joe
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Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Al G
Would it be silly to try to learn/compete in the Mulege Yellow fin tourney with this setup?
Albert
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Your chances of winning a tournament against the bigger boats is very small. They would reach the fishing grounds long before you and be moving from
spot to spot faster than you. That's especially true if the water is not perfectly calm.
Once you started to fish your competition would be using live mackerel at a rate you could never match. Their live bait wells cannot be matched by a
tin boats. A tin boat's bait well is usually maxed out with about 6 mackerels or so.
A tin boat's greatest advantage is it's portability. The ability to access all of baja, not just the areas around the 12 or so launch ramps. Those
areas have been fished real hard over the years.
I agree with all of the earlier posts. Properly handled, a tin boat can manage some pretty rough water.
There is a really funny and amusing story in the Baja Adventure where Walter Peterson and friends overload an aluminum boat in the midriff area and
sink the damn thing. Well, it pops up, they put on their swim fins and kick to the nearest island where they drain it and proceed back home. Moral of
the story, if you are really in command of your equipment you will never perish. Peterson was an exceptional individual and often pushed the envelope
in baja but he never was out of control.
skipjack
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Al G
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
You'd have to be the adventurous type to stay out in your Gregor when the wind/waves come up; and a really wet ride home if you're down wind/wave. The
good thing is that many others will be out with you and they Gregor towes great behind a bigger boat if you adjust the tow line to put the boat on the
wake !
I've been out a few times in my 14' Lund when I wished I wasn't !
I would go to a 16' or 17' tin boat with console unless you want to "beach-wheel" it. They aren't much heavier to tow.
The larger size boat will handle a kicker along with the main motor and even a bait well.
[Edited on 9-4-2005 by Diver] |
I am the adventurous type, and would not panic (maybe pee my pants), but what's a little more water?
I think I am stuck with beach wheel now because of tow captivity( top of my jeep behind motorhome)
I have alot better feeling now because of your info about the Wave tow. What a great ideal!!
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
| Quote: | Originally posted by Al G
Would it be silly to try to learn/compete in the Mulege Yellow fin tourney with this setup?
Albert
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Your chances of winning a tournament against the bigger boats is very small. They would reach the fishing grounds long before you and be moving from
spot to spot faster than you. That's especially true if the water is not perfectly calm.
Once you started to fish your competition would be using live mackerel at a rate you could never match. Their live bait wells cannot be matched by a
tin boats. A tin boat's bait well is usually maxed out with about 6 mackerels or so.
A tin boat's greatest advantage is it's portability. The ability to access all of baja, not just the areas around the 12 or so launch ramps. Those
areas have been fished real hard over the years.
I agree with all of the earlier posts. Properly handled, a tin boat can manage some pretty rough water.
There is a really funny and amusing story in the Baja Adventure where Walter Peterson and friends overload an aluminum boat in the midriff area and
sink the damn thing. Well, it pops up, they put on their swim fins and kick to the nearest island where they drain it and proceed back home. Moral of
the story, if you are really in command of your equipment you will never perish. Peterson was an exceptional individual and often pushed the envelope
in baja but he never was out of control.
skipjack |
I am reading Walt's book now. What an amazing man!!
I do not wish to win, my dreams have not got out of control, but to know your limits is to keep the laughter down.
My goal the next couple years is to learn and not die.
I believe the information I can get from you great Nomads will make that possible.
It may even be possible to find each one of you and buy you a beer! I do hope so.
Albert
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Diver
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Registered: 11-15-2004
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I didn't see a Marine/vhf radio on your list.
Never leave home without it ! At least a good waterproof portable.
A flair gun and flashlight are a good idea along with a spare spark plug, electrical tape, and a piece of wire come in handy for bypassing switches
when they go bad at sea. A spare prop, cotter or sheer pin and some tools are a good idea but usually not needed. Water and snacks come in handy if
you run out of beer ! And don't forget the ice for your catch !
Look at tin boats like Klamaths with a little bow rise and a full 20" transom.
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Skipjack Joe
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Posts: 8084
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I thought you were referring to a 14' aluminum boat, not 16 or 18 footer. That's what my post referred to. Fourteen footer with 15hp engine. Sorry if
I misunderstood you.
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Skipjack Joe
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You're right Whistler, it does seem out of control.
But this sort of thing seems to occur to the writer all throughout his book. And yet his mechanical ability and resourcefulness seem to always get him
out of these jams.
There is an episode when he breaks the pin on his outboard propeller on some island. Then he fashions a makeshift pin out of a nail, or something,
which he breaks another four times in a storm and still makes it back to port.
Another episode he runs a large hook through his palm at Isla Esteban (great yellowtail fishing there, by the way) and uses a jigsaw to saw the end
off and back it back out. They disinfect the wound and keeps on fishing.
The stories are wonderfully told with a self-deprecating sense of humor.
The author knew that the boat he sank had enough flotation in those seats to support it and the motor. So, in that respect, he felt assured. They
tried to bail out all the water while in the sea but were unsuccessful because new water would come in over the side just as quickly. They tried a few
other things, also, but in the end they just swam for shore. I guess that's why they call it 'The Baja Adventure Book'.
As you can tell, I am a big fan of Walter Peterson - both for his writing ability and for doing all he did in Baja. His son has also written a bit on
baja, but lacks the old man's writing skills, in my opinion (whose style he imitates).
skipjack
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jrbaja
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Registered: 2-2-2003
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"I have used a 14' Gregor all over Bahia de Los Angeles for 30 years and had what could have been serious problems only once or twice.
"
Does that include when you forgot to tighten down the transom screws and had to replace your friends outboard?
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bajajudy
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Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Also,
Be sure to take plenty of drinking water....just in case!
Have fun and good luck
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Sharksbaja
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Good tin boat story
Funny, my best friend Chuck Finn, a commercial fisherman who broke his back more than once, regularly takes his 14' tin boat 30-50 miles offshore to
fish tuna with light gear.
Takes his EPIRB, his radio and his survival suit.
True grit these guys have.
Sorry to say the tuna did not materialize offshore this year. It has gotten better here in recent years but not this one.
Ditto for salmon.
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Al G
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Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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I sure have alot
| Quote: | Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Funny, my best friend Chuck Finn, a commercial fisherman who broke his back more than once, regularly takes his 14' tin boat 30-50 miles offshore to
fish tuna with light gear.
Takes his EPIRB, his radio and his survival suit.
True grit these guys have.
Sorry to say the tuna did not materialize offshore this year. It has gotten better here in recent years but not this one.
Ditto for salmon. |
to learn so don't laugh.
Sharksbaja, what is a EPIRB and is the survival suit for cold water or???
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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JZ
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EPIRB stands for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. When activated it transmits a signal of your location to satelites on a frequency that
is monitored world-wide (including by the Mexican Navy). Newer ones come with build-in GPSs. They cost about a grand.
Yes, a survival suit is for cold water.
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jrbaja
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And it's not a good idea
to run around testing them every so often either!
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JZ
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Al G: one of your most important safety items is your anchor. Make sure you know how to use it properly! and that you have plenty of rode that is
in a good condition. It is a good idea to have a back-up, but you might be pressed for room. I have three on my boat and two spare rodes.
Another thing you might think about getting is a ditch bag. These are pretty cheap. They float and are water resistant. You put all your basic
survival gear in it: portable VHF, extra batteries, flares, water, sun screen, small first aid kit, etc. ACR makes a good one, and you can order
them from the web.
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
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Mood: Wondering what is next???
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JZ
EPIRB stands for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. When activated it transmits a signal of your location to satelites on a frequency that
is monitored world-wide (including by the Mexican Navy). Newer ones come with build-in GPSs. They cost about a grand.
Yes, a survival suit is for cold water. |
They must be be for longer range use where marine raido can not reach.
Not that I intend to test it , but how far can one expect marine radio to reach?
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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