Andrew's Crayfishing adventure in his Sea Strike 16 (Australia)

Hi All.

Hope you are all well.

Just thought I’d send you a few photos of recent fishing trips. Have been loving the SS16 18 months post launch day, just love this boat!

Have been getting a few crays with my son, the old man and my uncle. 

Last weekend we were the only boat to venture out.  It was a bit swelly (1.5-2m)with a bit of easterly weather thrown in the mix.

As usually the SS16 did it easily, just feels so solid and safe.

Love it!!

Here's a few photos from recent weeks

Gavins Mushulu 14 (Australia)

 

It was great to see yet another launching recently, this time From Gavin and his family from Melbourne and their Mushulu 14.

He writes:

Well, boat is officially splashed. Glad I went to a lake to try it as its the first time I've driven a boat. Took a little more getting used to than I thought it would.

Can't fault the boat. Felt rock solid and very safe. Plenty of room with 2 adults and 2 kids, or 3 adults all up.. Glad I chose this design.

This is why I built this boat. To share and enjoy with my family. I now consider her properly splashed. Some more photos to come but here is a couple. Thanks to Mark and his on going support and passion to see his builders succeed.

This is why I built this boat. To share and enjoy with my family. I now consider her properly splashed. Some more photos to come but here is a couple.

Thanks to Mark and his on going support and passion to see his builders succeed.

This is what happens when you're bending over to check the prop, your lifejacket decides to initiate emergency procedures and your daughter thinks its hilarious.

Headed out solo this morning before sunrise.

First solo launch and retrieval. So easy with this little boat. A bit of me time on the quite before the rest of the family woke up.

Boat is now blooded too.

Its great to see Gavin and his family enjoying their New Mushulu 14 that they built.

We wish Gavin and his family all the best with their new fishing adventures

Nathan’s Pro Tournament 23 (Australia)

 

Its great to see another launching recently, this time from Nathan from the Gold Coast - Qld and his Pro Tournament 23.

He writes:

Well it’s splashed, went like a dream and what a ride. Feels so steady under way. Big moment to finally get it on the water I had so much going on I forgot to do half the stuff I wanted to.

Currently topping out at 40 kts doing 5000 rpm. It’s a little low and having a good chat with Mark on sorting it out. Going to lift it up one hole as the cab plate is still underwater at 25 kts. Will see what happens and maybe lift it again or look at a different prop. At a easy 25 kt cruise it’s only doing 3400 rpm and burning 27 litres so pretty happy with that.

Didn’t mean to but got it airborne off a wake at 36 kts, hardly tell it had happened it landed so softly, pretty much don’t have to worry about crossing any wake as there is no pounding or slamming at all.

Few jobs left to go, but all in all very happy. Even ran into one of its smaller cousins at the ramp, guy didn’t build it but raved about how good it was for it’s size

Well, I found out why it would only do 40 kts and 5000 rpm.

It was only running on four cylinders!!!

Two coils on the stbd bank, No.1 and No.5 are dead.

Have ordered two more and a spare plus a new throttle, all due tomorrow afternoon so hopefully I can get back on the water this weekend for a proper run, really want to see what this engine will do

Test run this afternoon up to Jumpinpin Bar, two new coils and a new throttle made all the difference.

47 knots at 5710rpm (78lts a hr)

Launches out of the hole now, even planting the throttle at 25 knots will launch you backwards.

Cruises at 25 knots using 28 litres a hr, even a fast cruise of 35 knots is easy using about 40 litres a hr.

Such a smooth ride the kid fell asleep 

Another good run on the weekend, still no fish on board but starting to get some confidence in the boat and engine.

It is different to drive, really likes a bit of speed and not to much weight in the bow, at 20kts you can feel a bit of chop, at 35-40 can’t feel anything even crossing 50ft game boat wakes is best done above 35kts 

Have sent Mark some performance numbers, was very surprised that her best economy is at quite a fast cruise. 

Another great day on the water, 67 mile run up Morten bay.

This boat is a weapon. I have been on Ton of trailer boats from all the big names and and nothing comes close.  Forty knots in to 1 meter or 3 ft Morten Bay chop and you don’t even spill your drink.

Biggest problem I have is, waiting for the big Barcrusher to catch up.  (LOL)

With all our clients, I ask them all...
"Walk the Plank" !!!

Talking with Nathan tonight, he mentioned that Nitro Marine after inspecting and seeing his boat and Nathan's workmanship, they asked could he produce 20 boats per year and if so, they would buy and sell everyone of them.

Why?

Because they said they could sell them for $200,000 each.

Also, they thought it was a production boat because they saw our logo on the back of his boat (Another reason why I keep saying.."Put our logo on the back of your boats)

They didn't believe him, so.... he had to pull out his phone and show them the build photo's and then explain that the logo is BMD's signature.

Well.. that impressed them even more as each boat would be a "custom" boat. 

Nathan writes:

As a example of how long and mean the PT 23 hull is compared to a Grady White 228.

The Grady White is slightly shorter over all. ??? Hmmmm

As for the day out on the water, .... perfect.

On his way home, Maritime Safety were out in their 9 meter (29 ft) boat pulling everyone over. So they waved Nathan to pull over and Nathan just waved and floored it. So they took chase and he left them for dead. (The conditions were crap so they couldn't keep up :lol: :lol: :lol: )

Boat is now all packed away in the back of the shed, no idea when it might get a run again. A few family members have been making a bit of noise so took note of engine hrs. (LOL)

Probably the end of me on the forum for a while until I get home and start building the PT 32, until then thanks to all the members for your input and advice.

I will be stalking your builds in the background as always

Cheers fellas

Anyway....As some of you may know, Nathan is a helicopter engineer and is off to Dubai tomorrow night with his family and won't be back for several years. (He leaves Australia tomorrow night). 

So we wish Nathan and his family all the best with their new venture and ... as for the boat... its going into storage 

LATEST UPDATE:

Currently in Dubai working on helicopters, so I don’t think I will be building any boats here.

Just lots of dreaming at the moment.

My PT has been getting used buy my brother though,  so all is not lost.

Just enjoying the day – Glenn and his wife on their Broadwater 5.8 (Australia)

Sometimes its great to just get out on the water, kick the pick over the side and just relax and take it all in. Well.. thats exactly what Glenn and Kim from Victoria did this week in their Broadwater 5.8 

He writes:

Kim and I decided that Sunday was too good a day not to go boating. No real fishing planned, although rods and some bait were (of course) taken. Cruised from Hastings over towards Tankerton on French Island in Western Port, and dropped the pick. A picnic lunch was prepared and served, along with some of Atlanta's finest and a fine local cider. Western Port was glassed out and pretty busy - lots of action at the boat ramp.

We then wandered around to Rhyll on Phillip Island to have a look, stopped for afternoon tea on the way back, then cruised back to Hastings

Also recently, one of our other builders (Steve - Sea Strike 18), went out fishing with Glenn in his Broadwater 5.8

He writes:

A ripping day out on the bay with Glenn today.

Jack (pictured with Glenn) and I had a ball.

What a great job you’ve done, Glenn. Your boat handles like a dream and is very professionally constructed.

Well done mate.

Thank you for a fantastic day out and I hope to reciprocate on the Sea Strike very soon.

Its great to see our builders getting together from time to time

Mor’s Sea Strike 16 (Israel)

 

Its great to see yet another Sea Strike 16 hit the water, this time from Mor in Israel.

He writes:

All the big jobs are done and the engine is installed 60HP Yamaha.

The boat is 800 Kg total (with fuel and engine) - it is amassing how Mark told that number before we started to build.

Now we are waiting for the test in the water and registrations.

Finally we have got the License and the boat is on the water.

Now we need to look for the big fish 😀

The boat with 2 people and full tank sit 1-2 mm above the flat chain.

We had choppy sea and I was afraid to push up to the end of the throttle (still learning), so we got on 5000 RPM 40 Km/h around 25 mp/h around 4000 RPM we go planning and the boat keep her course nicely. We have 60HP  4 stroke YAMAHA

Mark and Friends - thanks for all you help and advice.

Mark, thanks for you to be patient with all my requests !!!!

Mor

After few fishing trips with that boat I have to say - It is a PERFECT boat !!!!

it is amazing how great it is !

we are in love.

Finally Trophy Fish on our SS16

Mat’s Sportzmaster 19 (Australia)

 

G'day Mark,

We launched our Sportzmaster yesterday off Carrum.

It was mid afternoon with an easterly wind picking up and the associated fetch driven swell from across Port Phillip Bay. The boat felt composed and cut through the waves easily. The boat / hull tracked nicely and was predictable on any point into and off the weather.

With a following sea acceleration up onto the plane is phenomenal, the boat jumps onto the plane (THERE IS NO HOLE) and feels like it is gliding / flying above the water. Once I've finished the motor run in I'll do some performance testing and share the numbers.

This boat feels different to any other I've helmed -from my brothers bar crusher, my mates' Haines hunter, my old Cruisecraft cubby etc - the design of this hull is at the next level.

I wanted to thank you for your support over the years, I admire your designs and wish I had the time to build them all. To the members of the forum past and present; thanks for sharing and safe boating. Pulling out all stops to get this in the water by Christmas.

Cheers,
Matt

View from the bow...

Should go all right i reckon..

I missed the Christmas deadline but didn't want to rush the end anyway.

Finally got the trailer finished and boat out of the shed.

And then the storm hit Friday Arvo.. rain water was pouring out the scuppers. so its gotten wet.

But will be splashed this weekend some time off Carrum Melbourne.

One with the cover off and in the sunshine yesterday.

Time to launch her !!!

Glen's Broadwater 5.1 (Australia)

Ian writes:

I was motoring across Western Port Bay yesterday when I saw another boat heading towards me waving like crazy. I came to a stop thinking it was Fisheries but it was Glenn in his BMD. He thought my boat looked familiar.

Great to see Glenn and two home builds out in the middle of the bay enjoying the water.

Glenn writes:
Saw an open boat coming towards me with an antifouled hull and a wrap that looked familiar, saw the BMD logo and thought
"That's Ian's boat!"
Good to catch up on the water Ian. Salacin looks the goods! Nice to see her finished in the flesh and on the water. Maybe we need a Melbourne BMD get together...

It's great to see two builders out on the water catching up.. even though it was accidental. :lol:
I have no doubt that you both had a great time yakking boats, sharing fishing tips and stories and... you’ll be crossing paths and catching up again in your fishing ventures out on the water.
All the best.!