26'
Blackman Billfisher - The Grebe goes to Mag Bay -
2003!
By Steve
Bergo
My plan
to trailer down to Mag Bay actually started about 10 years
ago, only at that time my boat was a 14" Zodiac.
I had flown to Punta Hughes 3 time since the early 80's
in a 6 seater with 3 friends and all the surfboards we
could squeeze. The surfing, fishing, and diving were always
phenomenal. I had planned the Zodiac trip a couple of times
but our schedules never allowed it. After reading the story
on BOCA about the Fish-N-Fool and the Katie M, I new I
had to get the Grebe down there. I talked a good friend
of mine, Darren, into holding off on his career change,
(quitting his job) until we left for Baja. We started getting
serious about the trip in August 2002. Initially I wanted
to motor down, but the only time frame I had open was Sept/Oct,
hurricane season. I kept getting this picture in my head " 800
miles from home, nasty weather, single inboard takes a
dump and I end up aground somewhere". With a trailer
I could pull out of the water for weather or mechanical
problems.
Although I decided to trailer, pulling the Grebe
down highway 1 was my biggest fear. My tow vehicle, a
1994 F250 4x4 with its small V-8 was inadequate, 25 mph
on the slightest incline, and Grebe tended to throw the
truck around a little. Needles to say, I was tightly
puckered every time I towed. I knew I needed a diesel
in the new truck. I wanted Cummings and that left Dodge
as my only choice. I set up the 2003-crew cab 1-ton single
rear wheel 4x4, 19,000 lb towing La Bamba Cruz with a
4x4 pop-up camper. This truck knows how to pull, I felt
a lot better about the trip.
Next was the trailer. I wanted to sell the dual
axle EZ Loader and pick up a tri-axle. I thought it would
track better. I consulted with Aros, and they assured
me that my trailer was capable. To confirm this and locate
a secure place to leave the rig while on the water I
drove down to Puerto San Carlos in July 2003 to see what
I was up against. Although the roads were narrow they
were in good condition. I decided to have Aros rebuild
the trailer and go with it. Everything but the frame
and axles was replaced. Turns out the leaf springs were
shot and probably contributed to the poor towing, boat
bouncing, and truck throwing problems I had before. I
still feel this is the best money spent in preparing
for the trip. With the lane width measuring 10 ft on
a lot of the roads and the overall width of the trailer
being 10 ft, and the fact that most of the roadway has
no shoulder and usually a drop off, you can figure if
the boat leaves the road it will take the truck with
it, the boat greatly out-weighs the truck. A strong trailer
is a must.
Continued....
A
LOOK AT EL NINO...
Although
much remains to be learned about what initiates El Ninos,
and how to predict them, it is clear that they start
following a change in the wind pattern and direction in
the tropical Pacific. This change allows the typically
warmer water on the western side of the Pacific to move
or literally slosh to the east toward the coasts of Central
and South America. When this happens, the warm water
usually arrives around Christmas, sometimes a little earlier.
Read
the rest of the article
BOCA
SKIPPERS COMPETE TO BE THE HIGHLINER!
This
is a season long multi-species tournament that is tracked
right here on the site. Each skipper participating
gets his own web page to display the qualifying pictures
of their catch. Come on and join in the friendly competition! Read
the rules here!
North to Alaska...Blackman
Style! by Bob Compton
When I left the slip
at Port McNeill in the afternoon of June 14, 1999, I
was finally underway
after nine months of planning
and preparation. I would be single handing until I
met my first shipmate, Ken, who was to fly in and meet
me at Ketchikan
on June 19th. My boat was Sea Legs, a Blackman 26
Outerbanks. My destination was Glacier Bay. I had owned
Sea Legs just
two months and had been at the helm twice. I had much
to learn about the boat and the waters upon which I would
spend the
next six weeks...
Read the
rest of this adventure!
