The Dominator retrospective-updated with a new species!
As you may have noticed from the For Sale section, my Dominator is for sale. I bought this boat intending it to be a keeper--it was bought from the original owner, I knew its history, and it was just sad seeing it sitting in the shed unused. He was getting on, and had passed it down to his son-in-law, who had never used it or even moved it from its regular storage. So I made him an offer, and it changed hands, complete with original purchase receipt. it needed a lot of updating, WRT electronics and wiring, so I did all that. Always shed stored, but never really polished, so a buff with 3M restore and wax bought it up a treat. It came with twin 60 Merc 2-strokes, late 90's with apparently very low hours. A s/hand F115a came up, a good trade was offered on the Mercs, so the install was done. A pot winch was added and a tipper, and later on, an anchor winch. I was happy with it, in general, I had an epiphany from watching people around my age and older dropping off the perch or just getting too old to get out, so the decision was made to go bigger and go hard for as long as I could. I've certainly fished a lot of days that I just would not have gone out in the tinny CC.
The Reefrunner is on order. I've only actually had this boat since early 2015, and looking back, I've really caught a lot of fish in under 2 and a half years. So here is the retrospective.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Ningaloo/Ningaloo-2015/i-f8KkMsd/0/80d21e22/XL/LR%20Edit%20Ningaloo%202015-1-2-XL.jpg 
https://photos.smugmug.com/Ningaloo/Ningaloo-2017/i-pRSDqtN/0/daeb0528/XL/LR%20Edit%20Download%2025.7.17%20%281%20of%201%29-2-XL.jpg 
Coastrunner
Posts: 414
Date Joined: 25/10/14
Nice pics
You have fished some nice conditions and done well, happy days. Good onya for going hard when some blokes just fade away sitting in the lounge chair or become a parody of their missus. Good luck with the new boat.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
We've fished some really shit days
Trolling with green water regularly coming over the bow, well over 20 knots--that big Black towards the end was in a stiff nor-easter, and he had dragged us miles offshore. You just don't take as many pics on the bad days
Yes, looking forward to going further afield--Monties, Abrolhos, Dirk Hartog, fishing more bluewater... bloody marlin suck you in ....
Dhulicious
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 26/11/17
Live life to the full.
My father bought his dream boat to see his fishing days out living in Kalbarri. It wasn't an extravagant purchase but it was exactly what he wanted. He ordered it and put down a deposit just before being diagnosed with cancer. We got 12 months of use before he got too sick to use it. I went out and bought my 5.8 metre Westerberg soon after he passed away. The boat was second hand and is modest by modern standards but I get out 40 miles safely and get out as often as I can. I was determined not to get to a point in my life when it was too late to do what we missed out on together. I am also about to buy the 4wd of my dreams and could probably put the money into super, real estate or shares but I'm not going to. Get the things you want and use them because you never know what's around the corner. We have an incredible coast to enjoy here in the west and I am going to do whatever I can to make the most of it. Some great fish there Ranmar,and I hope there are many more highlights with the new boat.
Happy fishing.
Tom M
Posts: 662
Date Joined: 22/09/15
Mate the pictures tell a
Mate the pictures tell a great story in itself, great fishing boat hope your next boat brings you as much pleasure.
Tom M
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17866
Date Joined: 11/03/08
gees that boat looks
gees that boat looks farmiliar. hope i catch fish like that lot off mine. even half as good would be nice.
lifes too short to sit back and do nothing , live life and enjoy. no need to have heaps of money as you cant take it with you. spend and enjoy . leave nothing but memories and shit loads of pics for all to enjoy.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Maybe a pity I wasn't selling earlier?
You could have walked into one all ready to go
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17866
Date Joined: 11/03/08
true. happy with ours in the
true. happy with ours in the end. in the water before xmas (only by a few days ). now to get the feel of her , gotta get some good weather first tho.
she handle well at 32 knots in the estury
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
fair bit of skill to go
fair bit of skill to go along side the solid boat
thats a big whoooo the young bloke is holding
gruntre69
Posts: 533
Date Joined: 15/10/16
That picture of the Sail
That picture of the Sail fish with its body eaten off is awesome!
Marine trimmer NOR (available for clears, tops, carpet, upholstery, custom equipment covers)
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Yes, a F*cking big bull shark, boatside.
fishwrecked.com/forum/shark-takes-sail got the whole thing on video. That wahoo was one of three we caught from 138- 141 cm, plus we had another of the same size sharked, only got the fron half back.
timboon
Posts: 2924
Date Joined: 14/11/10
Great pics Ralph.... Half of
Great pics Ralph....
Half of the photos would be PB's for a lot of boats.....
Your boat looks great out the front of your camp as it will its new owners....
I hope to have a beer with you in the coming years as you begin the new album with the new craft up at Ningaloo....
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
I'm hoping for 6 weeks or more this year
At least a month anyway. Keep in touch.
Jadeo
Posts: 269
Date Joined: 08/06/15
Some good memories and some
Some good memories and some awesome picks to go with it. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with the the new tub.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Just added a new species-Bonefish
Floating--if you can call dragging a 2 0z ball in 18knots of wind, floating
--a scalie in close down the end of the cliffs, trying to catch a snapper. Wind, swell, slop, filthy water--first fish I catch is a 63cm bonefish. Stoked. Then caught a nice sandy for dinner, followed by the biggest dart I have ever seen, and a spangled emperor. Not a pinkie in sight. Water is warmer,but dirty, still no pelagics apparent.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
And the boat is sold.
.
Darren253
Posts: 570
Date Joined: 23/07/16
Congrats...Do you have a date
Congrats...
Do you have a date for the new tub?
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17866
Date Joined: 11/03/08
well done on selling the
well done on selling the tub. well tested and proven fish hunter.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
New one is leaving the factory end of Feb
Mansfields have to do their bit, I'll probably get my hands on it mid March.
Darren253
Posts: 570
Date Joined: 23/07/16
Exciting times...Probably be
Exciting times...
Probably be perfect weather in Kalbarri for the next 2months now!
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
As it has been absolute shite all summer so far,
.....probably.