Off Season 28TE Upgrades

[Jaredh]

After our first full season fishing ISLA there are some upgrades I am considering for the off season. We got 5 keeper bluefin and 1 short this season fishing commercially in Maine and while the boat has been awesome to fish as always there are some areas that could use refinement. I will update this thread throughout the research and completion of these projects, and appreciate any input of BTDT that can be provided.

1. Transom helm station

After getting a mean kink in my neck looking aft for over 6 hours during one fight this year, and realizing that running from the helm to dart the fish with only 2 on board was less than ideal, I would like to add a jog lever and throttle on the transom. This would also allow me to fish solo when crew schedules don't work. I am thinking that a side mounted throttle in the transom door pass through, and a jog lever on the top to port of the opening (opposite the fish box) may work. Access through the under gunnel rod holder insert should be painful but doable.

2. Livewell

We had trouble keeping herring alive in the well throughout the day after catching them at night. I am thinking of adding a fill at the bottom of the well, and maybe an additional pump. A stand pipe should be helpful as well. Any additional thoughts on optimization would be helpful.

3. Battery Charger

While the portable generator has been helping with running everything at night when on the hook, I am drawing more than the battery charger is putting out. I am considering a larger charger, and an ACR so I can leave both batteries on without worrying about them killing one another. Having to run below to switch both batteries on when one of them is mostly discharged during the hookup fire drill is less than ideal.

Any other ideas would be appreciated. Overall its been a great first season of Albin ownership with 145 hours on the engine, and more than that sitting on the hook fishing! Ive attached a couple photos from our last trip earlier this week (79" on deck monday and 84" on deck tues to close out the season!).

[RobS]

IMO, the livewell issue is due to the shape of the tank (corners) more than the amount of flow.

[Jaredh]

IMO, the livewell issue is due to the shape of the tank (corners) more than the amount of flow.

Maybe some big fillets, fairing, and blue paint will help the livewell situation then.

I had also been considering doing the same to the center storage space and making that a livewell.

[catalina_mike]

I messed with my bait tank a bunch and finally put a Kodiak 32 on the transom. I can unplug my built in one and keep squid in it if I get any and the other bait does great. Our file server is down after it's up I will post the link to the project I did.

[catalina_mike]

As promised..

http://photo.pwcsecure.com/~Mike%20Owen ... e/Rmvm7AUJ