Home Forums Fishing Saltwater More talk about various engine/drive combos...

So how did you hear about Ottercraft? I found their website, but it's under construction.

I like the engines spread out like that. It makes perfect sense.

Fuel costs money? I've heard that, but I just swipe the plastic and get gas. Maybe that's why the wife assembly gives me dirty looks when the white envelope with the green printing comes in the mail. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Did ya know, the 24 hour pump still works near the harbor master office. The red plastic thing I stick in there doesn't even look like a credit card, so the gas must be free!

The Uncle had a friend who turned him onto them, he's having a 28' landingcraft built. They are a couple of ex-Munson people. Very professional and do absolutely beautiful work. I dropped buy the shop this spring and checked out four boats they were working on and talked to someone who just had one built by them. I was thoroughly impressed as was the gentleman I spoke with. Out of six builders who actually bid, many were backlogged over a year, they were second lowest. The low bidder was a backyard builder and his boats showed it. Bids were from $140,000 to $375,000

Check out Specialty Marine. www.specmar.com They sell "kit" boats to builders. Stephen will customize any hull for you. We almost went with one of them except the 35' was a chopped down 42' so it was overbuilt and heavy. One of these was just delivered to Juneau and I'm going to check it out soon. Ottercraft designed this one from scratch so we were able tailor the design to our needs. The 42' "Gust" pictured was just built in Sitka this winter.

TK

I've checked out the Specmar website many times. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Their plans are very popular around here too.

In fact, I've checked out 'Gust' in person down at the dock. Lot of boat for the engines.

Thanks for the info!

You have a couple people over there who could build you what you'd like. Allen Marine was third, fully capable of building a nice boat, we just didn't want the Specmar hull. TK

I'm in the same boat (pun intended) when it comes to Specmar hulls. I want something a bit different. Allen Marine has some interesting cats running tourist around town, but they are diesel inboard jets.

There was a another Maxweld Cat at the fuel dock today at the same time I was there. So after I fueled up, I talked to the guy. It was diesel, but not sure if it was inboard or outdrives. I ask him if it was a displacement cat, and he told me it was a planing hull. Said the water actually touches the hull inbetween the sponsons just before the transom, rather than exiting at the rear with an air gap. That apparently adds life while cruising.

I ask him if it was a 34 foot boat, he said Maxweld calls it a 31ft, but they don't count the engine platform behind the transom, and stop at the bow where the sponsons reach up to the main hull. Overall length was 36ft.

They are NICE boats. Also a good company to work with, according to the owner.

They started our hull last week!!!!

Do me a favor, and keep the pictures coming!

The sides go on!!!

Nice!! Keep the pictures comin'........grin.......

Here's a pic. of the keel where the "delta" pad starts. If you look at the stern view it's the flat between the engines. Hopefully it will allow the boat to sit upright when beached.

Stern view of the delta pad.

Thanks for the updates!

That jig is certainly beefy enough! I assume they plan on making more than one boat. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Any updates?

I just arrived back in town from visiting the boat builder ironing out some details. The hull is virtually done and the cabin plate is at the cutters. That's a 6' wide bow door. It's a huge boat. The square hole in the deck on the left side is a fish hold that is above the waterline so it will self drain.

TK,

Thanks for the updated pictures!

That is really looking nice, I love the huge bow door.

I think Allen Marine is busy right now, they ran another tour boat over a rock last week. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It was a smaller 36ft(ish) boat. Seems the Coast Guard is starting to take a hard look at their safety program.

I've got my 22ft skiff in their shop now. The Honda 130 is getting water in the oil. I'm still waiting for them to check it out and let me know the damage.

They asked if we wanted an 8' wide bow door! I think 6' is plenty and less likley to cave in.

Sorry to hear of your Honda woes, tell Chris and the gang to get on it! You've got shrimp to catch!

Here's a pic of the built in transom stairs.

The cabin goes up!

Nice!

Might ask them to save the aluminum they cut out for the windshields, and make some windshield covers for shipping purposes.

The boat is looking great.