Topics

1

Boat or Boat Building (or related) Items For Sale / For Sale 8725 Ventura Trailer 2021 Built for a 28' to 30' GA or Kodiak $7500.00

« on: February 17, 2024, 05:49:13 PM »

Originally ordered specifically for a Great Alaskan. Total GVW 8725 pounds, ordered with leaf springs for a smoother ride. Located in Bend Oregon ready for pick up at anytime. Built wide enough for my Kodiak but will fit a standard GA just fine. Trailer has been sitting most the time as have always moored my GA. Now that I'm in Mexico full time I see no need for my trailer sitting in Oregon. Any question call my cell 541-653-7838 Look real close below the last photo for a PDF file showing listed extras when ordered.

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Blood on the Deck! (And Other Grand Adventures!) / 400# Black Marlin

« on: May 18, 2023, 01:44:04 PM »

Went out on a shakedown fishing trip to work out all the bugs before really going after it. What a surprise when this baby decided to kick our butts. Took 4 1/2 hours to land it, all 5 of us had mutable turns at cranking on the reel. I originally guessed the weight at 350 but have had many here say it's at least 400+. Its going to be a fun summer, fishing season is just starting

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / What's Your Rod Holder Solution on a GA?

« on: February 20, 2023, 06:07:37 PM »

I would love to just put the typical rod holders on the top, but with a dingy sometimes living up there doesn't work so well. So to start with I picked up just some clamp-on RH. Had some aluminum bars fabed up to clamp the RH too. I'm going to put them the outside of the pilot house just as you step up on the sheer deck as you enter front the cockpit. Should work out well, nice built in hand hold and a rail up on top to grab getting around the rods.  I will post pic's when I can. I hope to mount these just as I leave for PV, figure they will come in real handy on the way down.

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Blood on the Deck! (And Other Grand Adventures!) / San Diego to Puerto Vallarta 1200 Miles One Way

« on: February 13, 2023, 06:16:19 PM »

Thought I would post some trip information I have put together. I have done so much research for this trip it's a lot of work like building another boat:) What I have posted below is a copy of an Excel spreadsheet I have come up because I'm running 2 tanks I wanted a back up to my Garmin information. I'm sure my Garmin would do it all somehow but I'm still old school, I want a secondary conformation of what fuel I have left. There are only 3 for sure fuel stops in 1200 miles so fuel is super important. I have 162 gallons below the deck and just picked up a 60 gallon pillow style fuel bladder to sit on top of the deck. I like the spread sheet because I can estimate how long I can travel at any given mpg and see what I should have at my destination. I have also posted my planed route from San Diego to Cabo. I put this together on my Ipad Active Captain App then I can download it to my chartploter. I will post some pictures at the end of the trip, pretty much no cell service all the way down. Hope to be on the water by 3-3-2023 planning 8-14 days, depends on how good the fishing is on the way down. As you will see in my excel file there is a lot of cruising at trolling speed by design. Also save on the fuel bill:)

Not sure why the fule calk did not show up...PGN files should work? Thanks for the heads up Brian, I see the thumbnail for my fuel calculation chart attachment now:)

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Custom Lasered Engraved GA Logo

« on: February 08, 2023, 08:58:52 AM »

Cool logo one on my employees made for my bathroom door. He can make these in different sizes and wood. He get's about $25 for them so if anyone wants a custom sized lasered logo let me know.

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Blood on the Deck! (And Other Grand Adventures!) / Shake Down Tuna Trip

« on: August 06, 2022, 02:55:22 PM »

Took Izzy J out on her first Tuna trip. We went out of Newport 55 miles chasing Albacore, ended up with 16. We did better than most that day. What a blast getting blood on the deck. I was amazed how well we kept up with the heavy boats without pounding. Love my twins:) So impressed with the design of these hulls. I've owned a Grady Marlin 300 for 3 years so I know the difference. I'll take my Kodiak any day hands down all while getting better than twice the MPG...Thanks Brian   

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Great Alaskan FAQ / Marine Surveyors & Insurance

« on: April 11, 2022, 10:36:04 AM »

I have been asked about who did the survey on my Kodiak. I had to have this done at the request of my insurance company as I was insuring for a declared value of $225K. Just know you should have your boat as compete as possible before getting your survey done. Mine came in at 185K without the motors and was declared to be at full value of $225k once the motors were installed. Below is the contact info for the surveyor

A. MAZON & ASSOCIATES, MARINE SURVEYORS
1425 NORTH MARINE DRIVE, SUITE B, PORTLAND, OREGON 97217
OFFICE (503) 358-6985 pat@almsurvey.com MOBILE (360) 600-0451

My insurance was through Ron Brockman he was instrumental in getting this all handled and also directed me to the surveyor. Getting insurance on a custom built boat is no easy task, I went through a lot of research to get this done. Ron is also a hard core fisherman and has also purchased a 30 foot Kodiak kit. Ron come's highly recommended by many people. Ron's website is  http://www.therbiagency.com/

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Blood on the Deck! (And Other Grand Adventures!) / The Inside Passage (Trip of a Life Time)

« on: November 19, 2021, 03:22:45 PM »

For years I have been wanting to do the inside passage, one of my Bucket List items!!! I finally have a boat that was designed for this very type of trip. Just the fuel savings alone in a GA Kodiak Vrs some manufactured glass or aluminium boat in the same class will save me almost $4000. Not to mention the hours of wear & tear on my outboards will only cost me half as much since I'm only running half the HP of the big heavy boats.
 
Any Words of Wisdom for the trip Please Chime IN!! I have been reading The Wagner book that has a ton of good info in it for some of the problem areas along the way. I also have some other books and charts for more precise navigation. I'm planing to do more of the site seeing and fun (longer) stops on the way up. So I will plan my route this winter while I have plenty of time. This will take a lot of planing and reading all the do's & don'ts along the way for each stop. I plan on pre-programming my chart plotter with all of my intended stops, as much as possible.
My trip back will be more direct with fewer stops. I'm soooo looking forward to this trip. If anyone has the time and wants to buddy boat all or part of the trip let me know. I haven't decided yet if this will be a guys trip for me ( currently have lots of volunteers) or bring my favorite lady along. Just need to find that special lady that loves this kind of stuff as much as I do!!!! Hope that electric flush toilet wasn't installed in vain'''lol

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / 140 HP on my Kodiak

« on: June 07, 2021, 05:42:37 PM »

So I called today to check on the pair of Suzuki 140hp I ordered a good 3 months ago. The counter rotating motor has come in. I can't get an answer on the other motor arrival status as of yet, still waiting to hear from the Suki rep. I talked with the marine shop today to ask if they could rig up just the single port-side motor (counter rotating) and run on it only in a worse case scenario. Sounds like he can do it with out much trouble. I'm pretty sure a single 140 would get my GA up on plane maybe get 20-25mph?. Might be a bit sluggish going up some steep swells but I think it would be doable.
I'm looking for any pros and cons on the idea!

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Wheelhouse Finishes With Hull Liner

« on: May 07, 2021, 08:18:41 AM »

Originally I was going to sand and paint everything that wasn't clear finished mahogany. But now I am thinking about using some hull liner in select areas that would save a lot of time prepping for a nice paint job. Problem is I know nothing about the pros and cons after install how it holds up in the long term and what problems if any to look for. I see this stuff all the time on other factory built boats. I'm thinking of using the hull liner on the upper side/window walls and the windshield frames. Maybe the roof which will have a bit of mahogany framing. All cabinet boxes will be painted with mahogany door/drawer faces. Both bulkhead faces will be panted as well as the helm.
I am curious as to how others are finishing their wheelhouse interior? Anyone have any pros & cons about Hull Liner

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Radar Reflectors

« on: April 14, 2021, 09:09:58 AM »

I just started thinking about how visible is a GA on the water in the soup to other boats radar without a radar reflector. I suppose a GA would be close to how visible a fiberglass factory boat would be. Anyone have any good knowledge about this? I'd hate to put an ugly Radar Reflector on my topside!!! Maybe something to deploy only on foggy days or being out at night

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Posable Alternate Cabin Heater

« on: March 26, 2021, 03:52:12 PM »

Looks like might be a less expensive option than a Wallace. Have looked it all over yet but looks viable
https://planarheaters.com/product/diesel-air-heater-planar-8dm-12-24/

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Pilothouse Sliding Door Track

« on: March 07, 2021, 10:31:37 AM »

I did a search and didn't find much at all on this subject for pilothouse sliding doors. I have looked quiet a bit for good solid hardware for a sliding door for the marine environment. Just wondering if anyone has any good ideas? What I found and purchased doesn't seem like it would be super secure. Not real excited about using this system pics below. The OD of the track is 1 3/8" square so it is a little bigger than it looks. I think it would hold up just nut as secure as I would like it.
Even with a nice thick door with a dead bolt won't keep someone out if they want in. With a super secure door they go through a window so maybe what I got will work. The door can only be 1/2" thick and I have found decent marine lockable door hardware that wood work.

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Boat or Boat Building (or related) Items For Sale / 2013 Tolman WideBody CC 21'4"

« on: March 05, 2021, 05:22:15 PM »

I hate to do it but I decided to sell “REEL SWEET” to help pay for a set of twin 140 hp Suzuki’s for my current build project. This hull really handles well out on the pond in any water I ever wanted to fish, it’s very seaworthy and VERY well set up. She's had a lot of bloody decks but I just don't see her getting much attention one my new girl is ready to go fish:)

•   Self-bailing deck
•   Marine epoxy paint inside & out
•   Non-skid floor
•   Graphite bottom (not much sticks to it)
•   Flotation under deck (not spray foam it causes problems I used pool noodles)
•   28 gallon below deck fuel tank (140 mile range)
•   28” x 60” long below deck fish well with separate bilge pump
•   Anchor Caddie on pulpit
•   Dry storage under front deck
•   Dual batteries new 2020
•   Onboard trickle charging system (plugs into 110v shore power)
•   2012 90 hp Yamaha 600 hours+- (replaced impeller ect last year) Has troll mode
•   With the 90 hp I get 34 mph with 2 guys, loaded with all fishing gear and large ice chest
•   Lowrance Auto pilot on main
•   2018 Yamaha 9.9 High thrust with electric start and hydraulic tilt
•   Garmin Reactor 40 Auto pilot on kicker with both helm and handheld remote
•   Lowrance HDS7 Gen 3 GPS linked to main auto pilot
•   2 Digital Yamaha Command Link gauges
•   Main bilge pump
•   AutoTether wireless 'kill cord' and man-overboard sensor
•   VHF Radio
•   Aluminum tandem axle trailer
        2- Scotty power twist plugs for downriggers or electric halibut reels
        2- Scotty downrigger base pads near stern
        4 Scotty Rod Holders around cockpit
Price- $36,000.00  $30,000.00 If I keep the Yami Kiker and the Garmin Reactor 40 Autopilot

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General Discussion about the Great Alaskan / Scupper Cover 2x6

« on: January 26, 2021, 12:18:55 PM »

I thought I would have to make some scupper covers but I found some very nice ones all made up and will work perfect. The the bright stainless finish is superb and the plates are heavy so they are well made. The rubber is thick enough to last a long time and easy enough to replace if it ever wears out. Not cheep at $68.00 each but well worth it. I also show where I got these this place really does have some hard to find items and shipping was quick.