Gang,

I am nearly ready to hang the hat up for a new career after 20 honorable years of Naval Service. One of my choices for a new career was chartering the Sound. Obviously my present 16' (Salmonator) isn't going to cut the mustard. I am thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of a 21' - 25', room for 3 fisherman, maybe 4... As of now, I am partial to the 22' HT Arima... However, I am open to other's ideas and opinions.

Looks like I might start as early as this Fall during my free time.. If not, probably be working on tugs or a harbormaster position somewhere in WA.

So shoot me some ideas or opinions.

Downriggin'

DR,
Just went through the high end boat selection process with my old neighbor. He ended up having a Silver Streak built out of BC. Over 100k finished out for a 28 by 8.5, but a sweet ride. There's a bunch of guys building sport boats (welded alum) that are the six pack type of rigs out of the Lower Columbia area. If you are interested in any of the builders shoot me an email and I'll get some names numbers together for you. Obviously he spent a wad on his, but there were other outfits who were considerably less for a nice rig. His wife was calling the shots on the upgrades!

Arimas are nice boats, but ...

The 21' Arima is only 8' wide, others are 8.6'.

More importantly, if I were going to run a charter, I'd want something that would get my clients to the action quickly and comfortably -- Arimas are nearly flat-bottomed, and will pound in a chop unless you power back to 15 or 20 MPH. A deep-V boat will slice through at 30 MPH (and suck a lot more gas :-) ).

I really liked the Parkers I saw at the boat show:

http://www.parkerboats.net
2120 Sport Cabin
2320 Sport Cabin
2310 Walkaround

Regards.

Finegrain
Woodinville

Oops, I reread your original post, and saw that you were looking at the 22' Arima, not the 21'. Indeed, the 22' is 8' 9" wide, which is great for on the water, but can you tow it? I thought the legal limit without requiring special signage and/or equipment was 8' 6"?

Regards.

Downriggin-

Chris Bellows at Topwater Charters in Neah Bay has one of the nicest boats I've seen for chartering. Its a 26 ft Almar. His was built for fly fishing, but they make other models. You can take a look at his at:

http://www.fly-fishing-neahbay.com/

That boat has the most fishing room of any I've seen.

Hey Downriggin, good luck on your future endeavors I hope the charter thing works out for you, I've actually thought about the same thing but I must admit, I've been spoiled by my years in Alaska, I don't think I would have the patience to spend alot of time on the Sound, that, and its hard to give up the gig I've got going up there, someone elses boat, gas, gear and room & board to boot.

Anyways, if I were to do it, I would run a 24/25 ft. boat, (4 clients will make you more $ then 3), and 22 ft boats get crowded fast with 5 men on board (I actually fished 4 out of a 21 ft Glasply for a couple years, not fun) don't cut corners on the power plant either, I've run Yamaha-Merc-Johnson outboards, a 454 gas engine and currently a Volvo turbo-diesel, if I were out fitting a boat the diesel would be a no-brainer, a hell of a lot more reliable and 1/2 the fuel consumption.
Another consideration is insurance, I've seen alot of strange things happen, hooks through various body parts, a tuffline amputated finger, stitches in the head after slipping on halibut slime, there's more but you get the point.
Chartering is brutal on equipment, I can't even guess how many rods I'll go through in a season, and reels, if you don't know how to rebuild now you'll probably learn soon after starting up. Then there's the terminal gear, get to know some reps. that will help a bit.
If you are not Coast Guard licensed you'll need to get an O.U.P.V. or 6 pack license, with your time in the Navy sea-time isn't a problem, the test takes some studying for but not that big a deal.
Well, I hope this doesn't discourage you to much but there is alot to consider when taking passengers for hire out on the salt.
1 last thing you might want to think about if your serious about chartering is spending summers up north, I know I could not make half the money here in the summer that I will make up north from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and there are alot more and bigger fish.
I hope this helps a little.

Downriggin,
Sounds like a great way too retire after 20 years doing what you enjoy.As far as a boat you intend to use for charter If it was me I would stick with an aluminum boat.As mentioned above the Almars are a good boat and I was looking at the Boulton power boats website today and they have some really nice looking boats in there.The upkeep on aluminum is just so much easyier than glass. I have owned both I have also built both types.And im sold on aluminum boat.Do you remember the PHM hydrofoils Boeing built for the navy?? I worked on those

If you are really serious about chartering check out some of the vessels they have at fishermans terminal. Most of these were used in commercial fishing . They range from 20' to 80' with prices that are hard to beat.

I have seen several 30 and 40 footers with full galley and state rooms. along with many other feautures that would cost twice as much in a consumer boat. Equiped with Disel (cheaper then Gas) you can run it all day. prices starting any where from $ 20,000 to 40,000.

If you have the Lic to run a tug (Unlimited Ton / inland ?)then you should have no problems runing these. Isn't a 6 pack Lic. all you need for the chartering in the sound. Any way good luck. Worth a look.

DownRiggin, I am sure you know John K and Mark Abetz, from running into them at Narrows Marina. They are friends of mine from our Gig Harbor PSA and would be sure to give you some heads up on this question. If you are like most of us normal fisherpeople, you probably don't have a ton of money (or maybe you do) to purchase one of those elite vessels some of the guys suggested. I too have had a notion to do what you want to also, but with my 21.5 campion there are limiting factors, mostly with the seating capacity and room for the clients to get around. The thing that I like about my boat is that I can economicaly afford to tow and run this vessel with a single engine and a kicker. It does fine with my 135 Merc. and 8 hp fourstroke Yamaha. The kicker is set up with a TR-1 auto-pilot that as a charter would be like having a deck-hand with you to keep the boat straight , when you were checking the riggers and landing fish.
I would recommend at least a 24 foot vessel and insure that it has enough deck space and seating capability to comfortably seat your clients. After all, most of your clients here in Puget Sound will not be the fishing elitist types and may not be able to stand the weather, and sometimes long lulls between fish. Not that YOU could have a lull between fish LOL.
Take care and hurry back.....the summer fish are on their way.

Steve Ng

DR,
Two suggestions for boats, albeit high-end: Grady White or Eaglecraft. You probably know Grady White. Built for off-shore and fishing. A smooth ride and easily rigged as a fishing machine. Keith Robbins guides in the Sound as Spot-Tail Guide in a 22’ center console GW. He can accommodate 4 guests fairly easily.
http://www.gradywhite.com/222/
I have had the pleasure of using an Eaglecraft up in the Queen Charlotte Islands. They are one tough boat and also customized for fishing. They come in a 17’ center console model and/or different cuddy configurations. This is their testimonial link, which coincidentally starts off with a recommendation by a fishing charter:
http://www.eaglecraft.bc.ca/test.html
Good luck,
Current Drifter

Hey DR, Do you need a deck hand? I may be dropping my papers here real soon!

If I was going to run a Charter Boat in the Sound I wouldn't consider anything under 24' and with a deep vee hull. Most people going on charters want to catch fish but they also want comfort. So something with a hardtop for them to get out of the weather. We all know the grey days that happen. I would also buy a quality boat that doesn't require a ton of maintenance.
I guess my biggest question though is why you want to charter in Puget Sound. I have known a ton of charter skippers that have went out of business in the sound or moved to other more cash productive waters. Only a few can even make a partial living doing it anymore. Most of them have other jobs to supplement. The seasons are too unpredictable and catch rates limited. If money isn't an issue then more power to you. I can't think of a better place to be than a boat on the Sound.

Most of the charter fleet in Sitka consists of SeaSports, Parkers and custom configured aluminum boats.

One of the best charter boats I have ever been on was a 24ft Sea Sport. That baby was smooth, very fishable and the skipper was able to handel the whole operation without deck hands.

Thanks for the responses...

I know it would be a rough go as far as income, but hell, I'll already have income, full medical and dental. On a side note, I am already working on a govenment contract for our military members. There's always a market for our men and women in uniform.

I'll need something for a few extra bucks and to keep me busy on the side. Might as well enjoy life while I can...

Downriggin'

Downriggin--

After I retired last year, I became a charter consultant in my spare time. The way it works is I go out with different charters and for a nominal fee I rate them on how they performed that day. Extra high marks for getting me into a lot of fish that day, and poor report for being skunked, not enough snacks, etc.

Seeing as how you're just starting out, and a fellow vet to boot, I'll give you a special deal and let you take me on the first trip free of charge. Can't beat a deal like that, now can ya?

Sounds like a good deal...

However, I just received an email about a charter lic... Appears that someone has to transfer or sell me one as the state is not issuing them any more (I thought it was for commercial purposes...) So guess I am in a little bind until someone wants to cough one up!

Downriggin'

Expect to pay at least $15,000 for a six-pack license alone... most of the time, you'll need to buy the whole boat and business, like $100,000+ or so... the other option is to wait for a guide to pass away and then go talk to his widow.

-N.

Coldwater Boats. The best in the business. I have owned one for three years and was the best purchase I ever made. They build them anyway you want. It is a two man operation and they only build about 6 or 7 boats a year so there is a waiting list. I have owned a 25 Parker and a 27 Grady White and these things dominate either one of those boats. Tehy will build anything from a 28' to 34'. Mine lies 30 X 10'10''. I had it built to be a full walk around. A foot and a half on either side of the cabin to get by. Completely flush deck. The cabin seats six and fishing six is no problem. Not trailerable but if you are chartering you dont want to have to triler your boat anyways. I got into mine for just under 100K rigged to the max. Cruises at 26.5 knots in just about any weather. 3 foot chop means nothing to this boat. Mine is powered with Yami 150's. The new ones they are doing are powered with 225 4 strokers.

They built Bristol Bay boats (All Points Marine) for over twenty years and were known to have one of the best boats up there. They are located in Marysville (Bruce (360) 653 - 4733). Every weld looks like a dime sitting on top of another.