Next message: Tom Egan: "TWL: Tach Problem"
Several years ago I converted a Bass Strait lobster boat. These boats are
generally between 35 and 60 ft with wheelhouses and accommodation well aft.
The reason I chose this type was that "the Strait" is recognised as one of
the most contrary pieces of water there is, so seaworthiness was the primary
consideration.
I purchased the boat about 500 miles west of Port Phillip and because of
time constraints, had a professional fisherman skipper the boat on one leg.
This guy ran a 60ft aft-wheelhouse shark long liner, which he had back at
the builders for some major repairs resulting from a grounding incident.
Whilst his boat was being repaired he looked for another boat to keep him
fishing and bought a fwd wheelhouse boat of slightly smaller size. He sold
it two months later, his own boat was still at the repairers and would be
for another couple of months.
When I asked him why he'd sold the fwd wheelhouse boat he said "Couldn't
eat!"
These guys are out for a week at a time, often in weather that would make
most of us shudder. His point was that the aft-wheelhouse boats are easier
to eat and sleep on in rough weather.
Anybody who's tried to sleep in a fwd bunk whilst punching into a head sea
would know he's right. How you would manage to cook or maintain a steady
bowl or plate escapes me...and obviously my fisherman friend too.
Indeed I chose an aft-cabin trawler for just this reason. The watch below
can sleep in an aft cabin when it would be impossible in a fwd cabin.
As an aside, it's interesting that virtually all yachts have their primary
steering position well aft.
Again, when you watch a yacht punching to windward in a decent sea, the
helmsman dosen't bob up and down as much as the forward hand!!
Cheers
Glenn
_______________________________________________
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawler-world-list
To Unsubscribe send email to
Include the word "Unsubscribe" (and nothing else) in the subject or body of the message.
