New Boat essentials

 Hi All

The finance minister (who shall be obeyed) is keen for the family to upgrade our boat. During our recent boat yard crawl we discovered an Ocean Master Enterprise 590. It is essentially a bare hull sitting on blocks/tyres in a boat yard, no outboard or trailer. A GME VHF radio and Lowrance hook 7 have been previously installed and that is it.

I thought I'd ask the FishWrecked community their thoughts on the essential items required to make the "new boat ownership" experience a good one. While I dont have endlessly deep pockets for all the goodies that make my eyes widen and my wallet cringe I do want to get the basic set up right from the outset. I can add extras later.

The boat yard is offering a Yamaha outboard in 130 or 150hp. What is the general view regarding outboards? Four stroke or direct injection (ie evinrude)? 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Matt

 

 


ranmar850's picture

Posts: 2702

Date Joined: 12/08/12

Time to get the popcorn out

Sun, 2018-05-27 11:36

   No seriously, having a relatively blank canvas to start with can be great, if you weigh up all the options. Have these come up before? The Faulkners had a for sale ad for one of these here, selling for their sister-in-law?  fishwrecked.com/forum/2015-ocean-master-sale   I don't know what the hull is based on, perhaps others know? Saying this because there is nothing really totally new in hull design for quite a few years now, they are either flopped straight out of an old mould, or are a bit of a re-design. For the cheaper ones, usually think of old hull with a more modern cap, like Chivers did with the old Pacemaker 210,  a while back, re-done as the Predator 650. Nothing wrong with a lot of those old hulls, proven designs.

Anyway, onto the fitout. it really is just a matter of how much money you want to throw at it. How much is the boat yard asking for it, with, say, a basic trailer and 150 4s Yamaha? You really have a very bare boat there, I'd personally chuck the Hook 7, so much better available for not much more money. As a comparison, I saw the out-the-door price on a new Caribbean Reefrunner recently ( not mine) With a Mercury 150 4 stroke,  an Axiom 9 with RV-100 transducer, deckwash, Fusion stereo, dual batteries, extended hardtop, side clears, bilge pump, on a trailer, --just under $90K. It's not a direct comparison, as it is a bigger (6.4m) boat, but you get the idea.

When you start putting stuff on, you are either going to be doing it yourself, or paying a dealer. It sounds like you are going to buy as basic as you can, and add as you can afford. This is a good strategy, as long as you can do it without having to patch a lot of holes--do it thoughtfully, and you won't have to. IMO, I reckon you are far better off buying a better, larger hull then adding as you go ( provided the bigger hull suits your needs, of course) rather than going out and buying a smaller hull with "all the fruit" for the same price. As time goes on, that smaller hull won't get any better, but the larger hull can always have fruit added.

so, good  basics

  1. VHF radio--already done
  2. Sounder/plotter--there is so much choice out there, they are getting better all the time. Looking at the only dash picture I have of these boats, there doesn't appear to be a lot of real estate for flush mounting, which is better than having them up on a bracket, in most cases. Looks like you would be limited to a 9", max, in-dash. Is the Hook-7 mounted flush? Or up on the dash. If so, you may have a blank canvas to cut in something else. or just keep the Hook as a separate plotter, and fit a fishfinder, bearing in mind the Hook probably won't network with anything, even another Lowrance.
  3. Deckwash pump--plenty of choice out there, cheapie $200 kits on ebay that some people swear by, others swear at. Pay your money and take your chances.You'll need to cut a hole in the hull for the intake, and plumb it in.
  4. Any weather protection over it? you'll need a bimini as a minimum, and clears if you want to stay dry. if these are not on already, it will cost you over 2 grand, others may care to comment. 
  5. Rocket launcher-again, assuming not fitted, a fixed stainless one will cost around $1200--you really need something like this, unless you only take 2 or 3 rods out. 
  6. Safety gear--mandatory, obviously, you'll need a lifejacket for everyone on board, offshore flare packet, Anchor and rope. The anchor winch can come later. Make do with an anchor lifter and float, they work well enough.
  7. Trailer--make sure the dealer is not short-changing you on this--they are VERY prone ( all of them , IMO) to putting the lightest trailer possible under it to make the package price look attractive, right up to the point where you will be exceeding you ACM/GCM with a full fuel tank and no gear onboard. make sure that, fully fuelled, with all safety gear and normal fishing gear n board, that you have at least 300kg to spare, for those "trips up north" where it carries all the extra gear.
  8. Motor--again, plenty of choice, limited only by personal preference and the HP rating on the transom. i'm not looking to get into an Etec vs the four stroke debate ( forget Optimax, they are gone, Merc has dropped them) , except to say that they will reduce your resale substantially. I can hear all the happy E-tec owners rising up in rage  , but it is an undeniable fact. They have no price advantage any more, and, well, I wouldn't go with them. I did briefly consider a 200hp G2 for my new boat, but both the cost and the weight put me off. Very happy with the 150 Merc, they punch out the equivilant performance to a 175 Yamaha on any comparable hull. Look around for deals--you are not bound to that dealer tofit any particualr engine, get prices for supply-and-fit from other dealers and other brands, make him sharpen his pencil if he is selling what you decide on.
  9. These are the basics--if you want to look at how far you can take it, have a look at my build thread.  fishwrecked.com/forum/another-caribbean-reef-runner  or Darren 253's, he gave me the idea  fishwrecked.com/forum/caribbean-reef-runner

Posts: 28

Date Joined: 10/05/10

 Hi Ranmar Thankyou for your

Sun, 2018-05-27 12:12

 Hi Ranmar

 

Thankyou for your reply

I have been following your thread and admiring your new boat. You have done a great job.

The boat I am looking at is the same model and size in the link you posted (minus all the extras)

The dealer is asking around 52k for the boat, 130 Yamaha and a papas dual axle roller trailer. It does have a bimini top with a rocket launcher, Staying dry is one of the motivators for the finance minister ;)

I have read a few good online reviews of the G2 but prefer to take the advice of others (non media reporter types).  The hull is rated upto 175hp but I think a 150hp will be enough. 

The hook 7 is flush mounted but there looks to be plenty of realestate for something larger flushmounted. I have a pic of a close up of the dash from another boat but cant seem to load a pic

Thanks for the tip on trailers. Ill make a point to check ACM/GCM

 

Cheers

ranmar850's picture

Posts: 2702

Date Joined: 12/08/12

That sounds like a really good deal.

Sun, 2018-05-27 12:33

 How much more for the 150?  You can add all the stuff like bait tables, deck washes, stereos, etc, yourself, later, as finances permit. really, to go fishing now, all you need are some rod holders and the dafety gear. The expensive parts of the basic package are the Hull and motor--get that right to start with, and you can go anywhere fom there.

Posts: 80

Date Joined: 10/12/14

 Get in contact with Steve at

Sun, 2018-05-27 12:55

 Get in contact with Steve at Extreme Custom Engineering if you need a canopy/ T-Top / Baitboard etc.

 

If / when you want to put in a stereo feel free to give me a call. I am now the Aust dealer for wetsounds out of the states and will stand behind the product all the way.

 

Dan - 0419954117

Coastrunner's picture

Posts: 414

Date Joined: 25/10/14

Trim tabs

Sun, 2018-05-27 13:02

 Good addition

Posts: 546

Date Joined: 20/02/11

 Hi Matty, these are now

Sun, 2018-05-27 16:45

 Hi Matty, these are now Chinese made. They look ok though. Get someone to have a look at the hull and how it was manufactured. Some of the Chinese glass boats are pretty good, while I've spoken to local boat builders who've carried out repairs on others on behalf of the dealer under warranty who shudder at the thought of taking one past the three mile. I know these were a cracking boat pre-China and are very heavy for the size. The Yammy 130 has a lot less torque than say the Merc 150.

 

m.alibaba.com/product/60700770277/2017-20ft-hot-selling-good-reputation.html?spm=a277m.product-tab.0.0

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Mulie

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17862

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 Dont get it . Not a good

Sun, 2018-05-27 18:46

 Dont get it . Not a good option at all. I went out in the inlaws boat and wasnt impressed at all. For the coin you can do a lot better. . But thats just my opinion on it anyway.

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

You are talking about a fair wack of coin

Sun, 2018-05-27 19:11

 IMO I would ask mulie and the faulkner family for a pm to expand on their views about this type of boat.

Posts: 812

Date Joined: 09/10/06

 Good luck dealing with

Sun, 2018-05-27 19:13

 Good luck dealing with saltwater Marine.

Posts: 187

Date Joined: 19/08/13

beware

Sun, 2018-05-27 19:24

 These boats used to be made in Australia and as Mulie said are made in China now. The one I had a look at had a very poor fitout and was sloopy the way it had been put together.  Not saying they are a bad boat but you would be better off getting a second hand boat like a ReefRunner with a 4 stroke for around 50 to 60k in my opinion   cheers Ace

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17862

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 As ace said poorly fitted

Sun, 2018-05-27 20:35

 As ace said poorly fitted out and made. Several points on the new boat that had silicone of sort joining parts together after inly a few trips out were seperating. Andvthis was in calmish conditions. Also wasnt that stable on the water either . 

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Posts: 4563

Date Joined: 01/02/10

 Saltwater marine? I doubt

Mon, 2018-05-28 05:41

 Saltwater marine? I doubt you will ever have a good experience if that yard is involved in the deal.

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Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?

Posts: 28

Date Joined: 10/05/10

Cheers

Mon, 2018-05-28 09:01

 OK eyes are opening up a bit more.....

 

This is the good thing about a local fisho community. I'll take another look at the hull in detail but keep looking at other options too.

 

Thanks guys

Posts: 546

Date Joined: 20/02/11

 Hi Matty, don't know how

Mon, 2018-05-28 14:42

 Hi Matty, don't know how keen you are but I'm just starting on my build at home. Check out these Aussie designed hulls. My 16ft will be around 10k finished including second hand motor and trailer. 

https://bowdidgemarinedesigns.com

 

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Mulie

Posts: 28

Date Joined: 10/05/10

Great project

Mon, 2018-05-28 16:51

 Thanks for the link Mulie

I dont have the time, space or desire to undertake this kind of project. The boats do look great though!

 

I'll be watching for your progress thread :)

Posts: 546

Date Joined: 20/02/11

 No worries. I was in the

Mon, 2018-05-28 17:27

 No worries. I was in the same boat as you looking at hulls before I decided to build my own. I know that Scott Fury from Fury Custom Boats in building an updated version of the 18ft Pacemaker that should come in around your budget inc. trailer, motor and electrics. I don't hink there would be any worries about quality with that build. 

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Mulie