posted 08-04-2008 02:22 AM ET (US)        

MM DD TIME
(PDT) WDIR WSPD
kts GST
kts WVHT
ft DPD
sec APD
sec MWD PRES
in PTDY
in ATMP
°F WTMP
°F DEWP
°F SAL
psu VIS
mi TIDE
ft
08 03 8:50 pm NW 23.3 29.1 8.2 6 5.3 NNW 29.84 -0.02 53.8 51.3 - - - -
08 03 7:50 pm NW 25.3 29.1 7.9 6 5.2 NW 29.84 -0.04 53.8 51.3 - - - -
08 03 6:50 pm NW 21.4 25.3 7.9 7 5.4 NW 29.85 -0.04 53.8 51.4 - - - -
08 03 5:50 pm NW 21.4 27.2 7.5 8 5.3 NW 29.86 -0.03 53.8 51.4 - - - -
08 03 4:50 pm NW 21.4 25.3 6.9 9 5.3 NW 29.87 -0.04 53.8 51.4 - - - -
08 03 3:50 pm NW 17.5 21.4 6.2 8 5.2 NW 29.89 -0.02 53.4 51.4 - - - -
08 03 2:50 pm NW 19.4 23.3 6.6 8 5.7 NW 29.89 -0.03 53.4 51.3 - - - -
08 03 1:50 pm NW 15.5 17.5 6.2 8 5.6 NW 29.91 +0.00 53.1 51.3 - - - -
08 03 12:50 pm NW 15.5 19.4 6.2 9 5.2 NW 29.91 +0.00 52.9 51.3 - - - -
08 03 11:50 am NW 15.5 19.4 5.9 8 5.2 NW 29.92 +0.03 52.7 51.1 - - - -
08 03 10:50 am NNW 15.5 19.4 6.6 8 5.1 NW 29.92 +0.03 52.5 51.1 - - - -
08 03 9:50 am NW 19.4 23.3 6.9 8 5.3 NW 29.90 +0.04 52.5 50.9 - - - -
08 03 8:50 am NNW 21.4 25.3 6.6 8 5.2 NW 29.89 +0.04 52.5 50.9
________________

Hmmm...that sure didn't reproduce too well. Anyway, the red pennant was flying and it was a little lumpy, but the boat performed like a charm (especially because we mostly played around in the shelter of Bodega Head ;-)

Small is beautiful, they say, and so far it seems to be true. I think I'm in love again with yet another Whaler.

posted 08-04-2008 08:08 AM ET (US)            

btw, Columbia River salmon bite is on. Bring it.

posted 08-04-2008 09:40 AM ET (US)            

Boy is Strike3 going to be jealous!

posted 08-04-2008 10:32 AM ET (US)            

Anyway, you folks will all understand my excitment at acquiring such a fine craft. I'd love to see some photos on this thread from you other BW 15 owners and prior owners(and please explain the BW 15 nomenclature--I'm confused about 'Sport', 'Super Sport', 'Classic', etc). Also, how about some advice re props (I'm sure not inamored with the crappy one that came with the motor from the Yamaha dealer) and motor height (as it is, the anti-cavitation plate is about one inch above the bottom of the transom). And thanks for the nice comments so far.

posted 08-04-2008 10:56 AM ET (US)            

Mounting the radio and chartplotter is going to be a hassle with the battery under the bench seat rather than in the console, however, and with no grab rail up and over the windscreen to mount their antennae. Speaking of console grab rails...any suggestions?

posted 08-04-2008 11:17 AM ET (US)            

Congratulations! You're going to love that 15. There's something that's just ultra 'usable' about that particular size.

posted 08-04-2008 10:40 PM ET (US)            

That's a great looking 15. I had a 15 Striper with a Yamaha 70 many years ago. She was a little race boat. I really enjoyed it.

As far as a grab rail goes- maybe one could find a console grab rail off of a standard console and shorten it up to fit the 15 console? The shepards crook may be out of proportion, but maybe one could bend one a little smaller?

posted 08-06-2008 12:03 AM ET (US)            

If you cant find a resonably priced fab shop that cant do anything unless it has a blueprint...
I went to a friends muffler shop to see about bending some 1" stainless pipe and he turned me on to a guy who builds custom boat rails & canvas frames all the time.

I tend to sit more than stand.
The helm seat needs a back and swivel so I can sit at an angle and my feet rest on the gunwales.
hehe. 6-2, 220.
And, sitting down most of the time, I dont need a windshield that constantly needs cleaned.

Point is, you know your habits and where you wanna grab and where you dont...think about designing your own rails. I am constantly modifying my Tug to serve a specific purpose and one day I will find time for my Guardian.

mk

posted 08-06-2008 12:13 AM ET (US)            

quote:

---

the bar was fogged in yesterday and today.
fish arent bitting inside. crabbing is poor

---

Sounds like a good reason to just order another drink - also is it really that bad when you can't catch crabs at the bar? I guess it's all relative.... especially if you live in Arkansas.

posted 08-06-2008 08:31 AM ET (US)            

congrats on your new Whaler. If you would like to have a rail custom made for your console, try Svedsen's in Alameda. They can make anything and do beautiful work. They made side rails for my Outrage 18 exactly to my specifications and did a perfect job. They are very nice people as well.

posted 08-06-2008 11:53 AM ET (US)            

So, what are you gonna name your new baby?

posted 08-06-2008 12:31 PM ET (US)            

As for names, I'm thinking about SETI for the little skiff, short for Cetaceous, my last Whaler, meaning Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence...God knows we've gotta find some somewhere ;-)

Tony

posted 08-06-2008 07:44 PM ET (US)            

The second photo is another of my new 15, this time located where she belongs and where she will spend a lot of time--Bodega Bay, California, better known as Blow-dega Bay, a quaint little drinking harbor with a fishing habit located 60 miles north of San Francisco.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/elaelap/Fishcops15008.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/elaelap/Fishcops15012.jpg

So what should I name this beast? (The boat that is, not the fish & not placerville Matt.)

posted 08-06-2008 07:49 PM ET (US)            

Warren

posted 08-06-2008 10:09 PM ET (US)            

You know that you are going to have to sell that boat back to me sooner or later, so don't bother with a name ;-)

My boats are all named "Finreaper" and that one was probably number XVII or so! Maybe more including the Grady's.

If it is still there, on the Port Stern, you may still be able to make out the original name of the boat. Let me know if you can....

That was my all-time favorite skiff and only sold it to our friend to keep it in the CW family.

Best wishes and let us know what you name her.

posted 08-07-2008 04:49 AM ET (US)            

http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/ktswhaler15/ Minitauk-1985%2015%20foot%20center%20console/?action=view& current=IMG_8889.jpg

posted 08-14-2008 03:45 PM ET (US)            

Congrats on the 15. I actually was in contact with the last three owners (fishcop included) as I was considering buying the boat when it had the 90 on it. Let me know if you want to know more about the boat's history.

posted 08-15-2008 12:41 AM ET (US)            

And sure I remember your very sweet 15 from the NorCal rendezvous two or three years back, Jim. That's probably one reason I bought this one. They are truly unique boats, and this one reminds me a little of my father's old M.G.T-C that I learned to drive on fifty years ago (but let's hope the boat's motor, especially the electric system, is a little more reliable). Maybe it's because there isn't much freeboard at all, even compared with the classic 16s, and because I remember my dad striking wooden matches on the pavement to light his cigarets as he drove the M.G., and maybe it's just the rough-but-nimble ride, but the boat and the old car really seem like long lost cousins, in my mind at least.

Thanks for your continued comments, guys. I'll probably post some more photos when I get the boat together. Tight lines,

posted 08-15-2008 10:49 AM ET (US)            

Tony

posted 08-15-2008 06:50 PM ET (US)            

Cavitation is creating a vacuum on the surface of the prop
blades. Puts pits in the prop. Very noisy on a submarine
trying to go fast. Uncommon on small boats like whalers.

posted 09-12-2008 11:20 PM ET (US)            

I'm six feet tall, and I always stand when cruising at sea, so I decided add another six inches to the console height. I bought two very pricey ($50) 1x12 lengths of Starboard (or whatever they call it at Tap Plastics), and "we" used the same brackets to mount the console on top of the stuff. I cut two wider aluminum brackets to stabilize the console forward, and Bob's yer uncle!, I've got the helm right where I want it when I'm standing up, and it's much more substantial than the previous set-up.

I picked up those rails for another fifty bucks from a local boatyard. For some strange reason they had been stored on the dealer's roof and were in very raggedy shape when I got them, but they cleaned up fine with steel wool and lots of WD40. And what a difference they make, both while cruising in any lump whatsoever, and when moving forward past the console even if drifting in calm water, which was difficult without them in the somewhat tender craft.

The motor is doing just fine, and holds no surprises for me since I had a Yamaha T50 (carbureted High Trust) four stroke on my old Katama and a Yami F115 four stroke EFI on my Outrage 18. Like the other motors, this one starts instantly, runs quiet and smokeless, gets good "mileage", and I especially like the ease of flushing the motors with the nifty and easily-accessed flush ports, identical on each of them.

Happy, happy. But not so happy with Ike pounding the Texas coast...kinda puts other things--including new boats--into perspective, eh?

posted 09-13-2008 12:57 AM ET (US)            

Let me know when you are done playing around with my boat! I want her back ;-)

Very nice job on the console and replacement risers. She sure looks sweet! Throw a SS 17p prop on her and call it a day.

Just be cautious when walking around her in any kind of seas. She is a great ride while running, but not like your other boats at rest while fishing or fighting a fish.

Thanks for keeping us posted with your progress.

posted 09-13-2008 11:26 AM ET (US)            

Here's a photo more clearly showing one of the console risers: http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/elaelap/LakeSonoma15CC022.jpg

posted 09-14-2008 11:26 AM ET (US)            

The 15 is looking very nice. As I remember, running the 15 is a lot like I imagine surfing to be. Standing up on the center line in less than calm water probably feels "right", if you understand what I mean.

One of the reasons I moved up to my Sakonnet was to be able to stand while operating the boat. My 15 Striper had the somewhat low side console. You could operate the boat from a standing position, but I usually only did it while manuevering the boat to the dock or trailer, not in sloppy water.

posted 09-15-2008 11:20 PM ET (US)            

I was curious as to how bad the ethenol reacted with the Epoxy. So last summer I removed a 12 Gal tank from my 15. It was less than half full with 10% ethenol diluted Gas.
stood it on its end against the fence in my back yard for the winter. Come this June I opened the lid and looked in.....to my amazement the fiberglass cloth used to form the tank was lifted in Sheets, as if it was wrinkled as it was layed out. I dumped the fuel into another container. It was milky white and small quarter size chunks of soft epoxy kept pouring out. Once they were exposed to the air for a couple of days they hardened up again.
What amazed me the most was that even the portion of the tank that was not submerged in the ethenol laced Gas was also lifting up.