Key West Sept part 2

**Hook** · 09-23-2007, 10:14 PM

Leaving home day 2

Some of the targets

Boca Grande key

Hey, lets take a picture of the sunset

This island was formed by hurricane Wilma. Shortly thereafter someone put up a homemade sign that said " Bruce's Key "
shortly after that someone came along with a marker and crossed out " Bruce's Key " and wrote " Brewski " we all call it brewski now.

The Navy was pretty busy dogfighting all weekend, I didn't see a whole lot since I was underwater most of the time.

Here ya go Warthog, one 31' Yellowfin on Brewski

Thats all I got with my meager point and shoot steeze.

**warthog** · 09-24-2007, 09:00 AM

That boat is pure sex on the water.

I am looking at a '83 Mako 254 that looks a bit like it, for 1/100th the cost. That is why I wanted to see the full shots.

Looks kinda similar-

Maybe not, but close enough for what I want.

**schwerty** · 09-24-2007, 09:30 AM

Damn, I wanna be there right now! 40 and raining here in Jackson.

**teleee** · 09-24-2007, 09:51 AM

Hey Hook,
How is the Tarpon fishing in Key West at the moment? I am toying with a quick trip to get my fishing on.
I am a salt water novice, but I went flyfishing for Tarpon in Puerto Rico last spring and I am ADDICTED!

**Tye 1on** · 09-24-2007, 10:51 AM

Schweet. Heading to KW for a few days right after Thanksgiving family gathering in Ft Myers Beach. These pics are a treat!

**Hook** · 09-24-2007, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by warthog

That boat is pure sex on the water.

I am looking at a '83 Mako 254 that looks a bit like it, for 1/100th the cost. That is why I wanted to see the full shots.

Looks kinda similar-

Maybe not, but close enough for what I want.

If you want a good view of it you should come fishing on it with us sometime, there's no better view than that!

The Mako 25 is a good boat, I've been on several. The older ones like that are far superior to the newer crap they've been turning out since johnny morris bought the company and moved it to N.C.

This may be interesting reading for you, keep in mind it's one of the newer ones http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=591219

A new 31 Yellowfin rigged like Paul's is around $150,000.00, but it's also his office. He guides around 200 days a year so his boat is just a business expense to him.
Since I no longer guide, if I was looking for a weekend boat I would be doing exactly what your doing. I would find an older hull and customize it to my tastes. Good luck on that.

**Hook** · 09-24-2007, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by teleee

Hey Hook,
How is the Tarpon fishing in Key West at the moment? I am toying with a quick trip to get my fishing on.
I am a salt water novice, but I went flyfishing for Tarpon in Puerto Rico last spring and I am ADDICTED!

The big Tarpon are migratory, The Tarpon run used to start just about the same time the lifts stopped turning at most resorts. (March-April-may) With global warming their migration has been a little earlier each year.
If your looking for the big ones (over 100 lbs) think early spring. Right now is not a good time for Tarpon in KW. The only fish around are the juveniles and like all other shallow water fisheries in the summer months, you fish for them in the morning and evenings when the water is cooler. Personally I prefer the smaller fish since they jump more and you avoid those 1-2 hour slug fests that the big ones can create if the angler isn't experienced with them. I believe the best spot in the state for the next two months is the Mosquito lagoon, banana/Indian river estuaries. on the east coast.

Good luck with that addiction, I've been flyfishing over 35 years and in many countries. My heart still races at the sight of a fish that's almost as big as me, swim up behind my fly and engulf it. Plus you never know what kind of chaos is going to ensue after you set the hook.

Tarpon are one of the reasons that I live here instead of Alaska.

**SkiEvil** · 09-25-2007, 05:07 AM

I heart KW.

**warthog** · 09-25-2007, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Hook

This may be interesting reading for you, keep in mind it's one of the newer ones http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=591219

That guy is a sadist. I will never bite off that much. Maybe fill the old transom and do a bracket off the back. That is the max, and I would prolly pay to have it done right. I think this is a great case of where it pays to get a marine surveyor involved.

Edit- notice that guy warthog5. He is a mod over at Classic Mako. They wouldn't let me sign up as warthog over there. They must have thought I was fuckin' with 'em.

**Hook** · 09-26-2007, 06:51 AM

^^ That's practically an advertisement for marine surveyors. I have the experience doing that level rebuilds but I sure would try to avoid it....it sucks.

I've toyed with the idea of picking up an older Mako so I sometimes check out Classic Mako. I wondered if that was you. It's a good place to learn about problem areas to look for.

If you pull the trigger, you can trailer it down to KW and we'll take it and pauls boat out to the Dry Tortugas. He's always up for stuff like that.

Do it mang.

**warthog** · 09-26-2007, 08:39 AM

A 25 would be my dream boat. But, with no vehicle big enough to tow it, and no room at the inn to store it, it would be a high and dry queen. Prolly won't happen. I did find a schweet 20' in Nokomis that I am going to look at. I can tow a 20 and fit her behind the house.

Dry Tortugas eh? I never have made that trip. Thought about doing the sea plane once, but breakfast at Pepes and boozing at the Atlantic Shores pool sounded better at the time. Are there naked people at the Tortugas too?

I'll be down there in Feb. this year. Taking the boat out of Ft Myers. Maybe we can make it a FL mini.

**warthog** · 09-26-2007, 08:44 AM

Here she is-

I like the teak. Very yachty look.
Sorry about the hijack

**Hook** · 09-26-2007, 11:04 PM

^^^ Is that the 19'6'' Mako? if so check out the gunnel adjacent to and immediately forward of the console for cracks. I've seen several with that crack pattern, nothing structural just cosmetic but annoying anyway. That particular hull has minimal deadrise so it pounds quite a bit in the chop, that's generally the source of the cracks. It's not really an issue if your doing mellow family boating or staying shallow with it.

I've always liked how Mako used to put enough wood in their boats to distinguish them from the pack.

Trigger pulled?

**warthog** · 09-27-2007, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Hook

^^^ Is that the 19'6'' Mako? if so check out the gunnel adjacent to and immediately forward of the console for cracks. I've seen several with that crack pattern, nothing structural just cosmetic but annoying anyway. That particular hull has minimal deadrise so it pounds quite a bit in the chop, that's generally the source of the cracks. It's not really an issue if your doing mellow family boating or staying shallow with it.

I've always liked how Mako used to put enough wood in their boats to distinguish them from the pack.

Trigger pulled?

It is listed as a 1976 Mako 200, and says Mako 20 on the side.

I went to look at it. It is pretty nice. CMC hydro lift, custom cover, push pole(carbon fiber), rollng motor, paint is in good shape, wood needs no current maint, floor was sturdy, gas tank has been replaced already.

Negatives- 1995 Johnson Ocean Runner 225 with 100 hrs on a rebuild. Really clean engine from what I saw, but I dread a re-power.

Surface cracks- prolly not anything, but there.

Leaning post needs some love- reupholstering.

Controls need to be replaced- they are just really old looking, nothing wrong with them.

No tower- which is ok, cause I want to do my own custom thing. I will be incorporating a wakeboard tower with a t-top type cover.

This will be used mostly as a family ride, no big offshore adventures in a 20. We will use it for wakeboarding, wakeskating, suntanning, fishing, beachgoing. My wife is the one really pushing for this, which is a nice change.

Trigger not completely pulled, but placed back in the sellers hand. I hope to hear from him today.

He wants $11,999. I can live with $10,000. But I made sure he knows it is getting checked out thoroughly before I pull the trigger completely. He has one other couple looking, but they are having trouble with the financing- I am paying cash.

Am I crazy? The boat is in great shape. The engine is a question mark, but a compression test will tell that tale. The extras are what really set this one apart. The CMC lift would be about 700 new, the trolling motor another 700, Custom canvas covers run about $2,000, carbon fiber push pole another $500 or so.

I am seeing other 20s and 22s in the 6,000 to 10,000 range. Most of them have older engines or need a complete update. I have the glassing skill and general knowledge to fix just about anything boat related, but with the baby I just want to enjoy the boat. This one looks like the most solid platform for just having fun and not having a new project.

Here is a better link if you want to check it out.
http://www.coastalmarinecenterinc.co...arinecenterinc

I'll let you know how it turns out.

**likwid** · 09-28-2007, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Hook

The big Tarpon are migratory, The Tarpon run used to start just about the same time the lifts stopped turning at most resorts.

They'll be chillin drinkin $1 Heinekens and Red Stripes in about a month.

**Hook** · 09-29-2007, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by likwid

They'll be chillin drinkin $1 Heinekens and Red Stripes in about a month.

Good to see you back, I think the decision to leave TGR is like the decision your going to stop drinking the next morning when your heads pounding from a hangover. The rational for both gets fuzzy over time.
Didn't you go for Tarpon in K.W. this past spring?
If ya got pics, throw them up.

**likwid** · 09-29-2007, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Hook

Good to see you back, I think the decision to leave TGR is like the decision your going to stop drinking the next morning when your heads pounding from a hangover. The rational for both gets fuzzy over time.
Didn't you go for Tarpon in K.W. this past spring?
If ya got pics, throw them up.

Eh someone else mothballed it.

I've been chasing Striped Bass, Bonito, Albies, Blooooooofish, and BFT all summer. Mostly switched to fly/spey only now except for slinging eels at night.

And only lost one Rio Leviathan and backing this summer! (And thats on a Penn Int 4G-AR!) ......and a pair of gloves in the process.

Eating well though.

I'll be down in the Carribean this winter babysitting a boat and fishing every day most likely.

Currently working on the website for a buddy who's gonna start light tackle/fly charter fishing New England during the summer and Florida during the winter. He's pretty well know from a few years ago down in Islamadora. Won't say who it is until he's up and running in spring. Trying to convince him to buy a Gause Built and bring it up here for working the islands.

**warthog** · 09-30-2007, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by likwid

Trying to convince him to buy a Gause Built and bring it up here for working the islands.

Smart man. Let me know if you need me to supervise the building of said boat. They make 'em right up the road in Tarpon Springs. I see the testing them all the time. Sweetest boats around.