Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:01 pm
Hi
A mate of mine has hit on an interesting idea and I was wondering what you all would make of it?
He plans to buy a fully working 70 foot trawler and convert it to a luxury cruiser, complete with up to 8 seperate cabins, all mod cons includings showers, kitchen, dining / living room, bar and until I got involved, he was going to use it just for himself. I could not let him stop there...
Now he plans to get the full licence and run it as a charter boat, (he's doing his own master cert exams but I persuaded him of the need for an ex commercial skipper who knows the area, marks etc. to which is added a chef and a mate or two to allow for the fully catered service) but the idea is that he will take you out for a week (or more) at a time - maybe even round trips, say from the southern Irish or UK ports. Collect and drop at a port of your choice for a group of eight anglers.
It would open up lots of possibilities, fishing at night in deep water for 1000 lb six gill bluntnose sharks, albacore and swordfish in the Irish box off Cork... and no distractions from the fishing unless you wanted to head ashore somewhere...
Personally I think its a great idea that needs the corners knocked off it. Thanks in advance for any and all comments, criticisms, warnings etc. ...
Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:08 pm
ok visa number is ****-****-****-**** ....expires **-**....
When we leave.... :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
I know a few other lads that would be interested in something like that...
Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:42 pm
Kieran,
Deffo a good idea, any idea how much a week would cost?
Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:09 pm
Hi Adrian
My research has thrown up a boat in Whitby in the UK that can operate up to 150 miles offshore and takes people on up to 5 day trips, fully catered for 530 sterling per person. That boat accommodates 12 people at a time and also does trips down to 10 hours.
Eamonn is still in research mode but for a week at sea, say leave Sunday and be dropped back Saturday or similar, I would expect that the price would be similar, bearing in mind there is full board and unique accomodation thrown in. I guess it would be similar, depending on how the search for insurance and all the other required bits and bobs works out. Say 750 Euro?
Price of a holiday - bring your spending money and a very big box of tackle?
Boat will have fully commercial qualiity freezers for personal catches.
RSVP
Mon Nov 15, 2004 7:16 pm
Do you mean The Chieftain, Kieran? Sounds like it.
I was speaking with a very well respected sea-angling journo in the UK last year, he reckoned it's the way to go in the future. Mind you, a lot of his opinion was form by the lack of good Cod over here. If you want a good catch, you have to go out farther for longer.
Cracking good idea, if you ask me. Keep me a space! :D
Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:53 pm
Hi all
It is all very very very early days but a week would cost around 700 Euro
with trips less than that costing slightly more per day, say around 120 Euro
so three days, full board, would cost 360 Euro?
How does that grab youse? It all depends on insurance quotes etc.
RSVP
Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:32 am
Hi Kieran , sounds like a crackin idea ,friend of mine does something similar here in bangor but for divers , check them out on www.salutay.com ,their a decent crowd(used to work for them) so might be worth contacting them for a few pointers on insurance etc.
would definetely be interested myself !!!!
Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:46 am
I think it sounds like a great idea but the whole thing would hinge IMO on the quality of the fishing.
What destination would give the best chance of quality catches?
Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:21 pm
Hi
Quality I reckon will not be a problem. It does depend on the speed of the converted cruiser. At 10 knots, allowing say 12 hours steaming overnight and a hearty breakfast at sea (although the catering might be cheaper than anticipated :D ), you can reach 120 miles off shore. The maximum range allowed under licence (in the UK) is 150 miles.
Albacore, Swordfish, Shark (big oceanic species like Thresher, Mako etc.) would all be perfectly feasible and on a 70 foot boat, you ain't going to tangle your lines with other people!
Closer to shore you can try all the WWII wrecks around our coasts, most of which are inside this range, in depths from 100 - 400 metres. It would need a very impressive skipper, almost certainly a retired commercial trawlerman or RNLI skipper with a lifetime of experience but we have some people in mind for that , in fact they are very keen on the idea...
RSVP
Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:45 pm
I'll let the missus know that I have all my Christmas pressies sorted for the rest of my life tonight.
I agree with all the comments before this. It's a great idea and would have to be a must at least once in a lifetime for any sea angler. Will it operate all year around or will there be seasonal limitations?
Donal.
Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:48 pm
Kieran,
Sounds like a cracker and as some of the other lads have said sign me up. :D I'll even go one further. I know this is only in the planning stage but how about the first trip being open to sea angling ireland members only. You might even be able to put something together for Roger Baker and work a discount out for the lads :roll: 8)
If your friend is looking for specific information on the Albacore fishing let me know. My uncle fished for them commericially in the Pacific for two years and should know a thing or two about how to go about catching them and what to be looking for.
I have to admit Kieran, I think your mate might be on to a winner.
Kev
Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:25 pm
Thanks guys
Kev, anything you can get would be worthwhile.
It is all very much in the wistful planning stage - he is buying the boat and going to convert it for his own use, I just felt there was an opportunity...
More comments welcome. As for seasonal limitations, that will probably depend on the fishing and the insurance. A 70 foot boat can operate in most seas, the question would be the comfort of the passengers and their ability to hold onto those catered meals and get fishing in relative comfort.
If Eamonn does not give it a lash, I might be interested in it myself :shock:
More comments, ideas welcome. One problem that has been identified is passengers drinking excessively, either resulting in hangovers, unsocial behaviour and/or hanging over the guardrails or taking up the toilets... any suggestions welcome on how to effectively deal with this item! 8)
Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:42 pm
Walk the plank Arrr!
Tue Nov 16, 2004 3:15 pm
Kieran,
When we are sailing long offshores on yachts, We have a sundowner rule.
Basically you can have up to two cans of beer at sundown. Thats it.
This could be tweaked a little higher for guests who will not be in charge of the vessel I'm sure.
JK
Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:05 pm
Hi Guys,
I must say that I find this idea very interesting but the reality for me is that getting 2 weekends away fishing with the club is difficult enough with"She who who must be obeyed", without trying for a weekat a cost of approx E700. If your after the big fish then big gear would be needed just like the Tuna charters, Would the skipper supply the gear? Also not wanting to be the damp squib but this sounds a bit like some of our club planning trips, lots of suggestions for Scotland, Norway, and South of England but when it comes to ante up a deposit things become somewhat cooler....Previous arrangements ,weddings ,christenings , visitors from abroad you name the excuse ..I've heard it. All that said, I wish all of those who go tight lines and lots of them and I look forward to the pics.
Joe
Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:13 am
Hey Lads, this Yank thinks you just might have a good idea. For info and advice you might try to contact some of the operators of the Long Range Sportboats out of San Diego, California. They have been running trips of 1.5-21 days for over 30 years. Do a Google search for "Long range sportfishing, San Diego, Ca."
Another source of info might be Capt. Andy Mizerow of Seward, Alaska.
Try crackerjacksportfishing.com (I think this is the correct url). He has added 3 day trips to his menu so he might have some thoughts to share on that aspect of the business. Andy runs one of the best charter operations I have fished with. (I have the perspective of customer, deckhand and captain in my long and checkered career, so I know what to look for. If I lived in Alaska, I would fish with him quite often).
Good luck with the project. I'll be watching this forum for up dates.
Tight lines. Jim Parente.
Sat Nov 27, 2004 4:51 pm
Brilliant idea :lol: You can count me in for the first tirp! Was thinking of going on a fishing hol next year but i would definitely cancel and go out for a week fishing like that. When do you think all this would start up and what area would you be operating out of?
Sat Nov 27, 2004 6:58 pm
Whoa!
Hold on lads, just floated the idea as an option and only starting the research.
We have got some quotes for insurance and the like in and they are quite reasonable. They are a lot of issues, for example I have not even seen the likely boat yet and whilst it is 21.5 metres long and therefore capable of going just about anywhere, a venture of this size and scale, which will need to avail of the entire North European market, well, that takes some organising. Any of you speak Dutch, Waloon, German, Danish, French...
If it gets off the ground I would expect that it might be available June 2005, at the earliest but the probable skipper who will also own the boat is game.
More here when I know more...
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