Boat Builder Central - Builder Forums

Hi all,
i have been looking over this forum for quiet a few moths now. After a lot of painful thinking and weighing up things i purchused the ph16 plans. im starting to doubt if it was the right decision. I live in queensland australia, however i have spent most of my life flyfishing down south for trout. I was looking at moving back down there, however it looks like my wife loves it up here to much, and we both have really good jobs up here as well. The ph16 would have been perfect for all the fishing down there. i was intending on fishing the big impoundments and also a bit of saltwater fly in the esturies. The ph16 still my fill my needs here in queensland. i want a boat that i can fly/lure in the esturies up here as well as the freshwater dams they have for barramundi and bass. i also would love to chase some tuna and mackeral out in moreton bay on the fly, but it can get a bit nasty out there. Im happy just to pick the right days for the bay, but want to know if it blows up can i get back home reasonably safe. This bay is basicly the ocean, but is pretty shallow. Should i look for something with a bit deeper v that i can still take on smaller waters, or build the ph16 and pick my days for the bay? want i want in a boat (which is probably too much as we all are guilty of) is casting deck, bow mount electric, bimini for the lazy trolling days, centre or side console, any hp, live bait tank, hatches/ storage, stable, can take a bit of chop, shallow water, and not too big (over 18,19ft). Im probably fussing over nothing and the ph16 will do more for me than it wont, were as another boat that can handle rougher water will probably only do just that! any ideas you guys have would be much appreciated. This will be my first build. I have been looking to build for about 9 years now and was never in the position to do so with work and previous relationship. i am now,and have a very supporting wife, and watching bassmuns build has inspired me like you would not believe. Thanks, Leigh.

Welcome Flea. You will find this site and the fellas here very helpful. I don't have any idea of where you're at, but I would suggest you trade your plans for the 18footer. You won't forget it. Some of the fellas having built this boat should chime in soon with some suggestions. Ask a lot of questions, have some fun, share some frustrations, and best of luck. John

Hi Flea,
I have been down there on Morton bay several times and fished the Tangalooma Classic tournament in the early 90's. Yeah it can get rough on the bay as the ride over to Tangalooma in a big sportfishing boat was not exactly smooth.

I think I would go with the FS17 as it should handle the chop on the bay a lot better than the flats boat hull on the PH16. I have no personal experience with either hull but from the hull shape, it looks like the FS17 is the way to go.

We went offshore one day when the Tournament was cancelled due to high winds and the 18 ft seas offshore were a lot of fun. Had 4 sailfish on at once and we released one.

Regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

Thanks for the advise guys, not sure i will trade in the ph16 plans cottontop, as i may well build that boat one day if cicumstances change. and i just like the design. i had a look at the fs17 thb, and its one i have not considered! looks easier to build and can be customised to suit. not that i have any experience in building yet! its good to hear from someone who has fished my neck of the woods, and knows what elements im faced with. your a braver man than me going out in those 18ft seas. now.... sailfish on fly...... mmmmm. i probably would want the 23ft carolina! lol

2 things:
1) the PH16 is an awesome boat. it is a true skinny-water, pole-able flats boat with lots of advantages. However, I wouldn't expect it to ride well at all in a large bay with a steep, short-period wave chop of even 2 feet (trough-to-peak). That's not it's forte.

2) don't let the fact that you already have the PH16 plans sway your decision. If that's the right boat for you, great. If you decide it is not, than buying a different set of plans is such a miniscule cost/wait period as compared to the time & cost it takes to build a boat that it should be of no concern.

(after spending the last 10 hours just making/placing cleats for the sole, I feel myself qualified to make the above statement )

wade

[quote="wadestep"]


2) don't let the fact that you already have the PH16 plans sway your decision. If that's the right boat for you, great. If you decide it is not, than buying a different set of plans is such a miniscule cost/wait period as compared to the time & cost it takes to build a boat that it should be of no concern.

Great advise, i think this boat would suit my style of fishing, i just have to be sensible about where and when i fish out of it! i just want to make sure there is not another design that can still meet my needs and take a little more chop. I might not have built a boat yet, but im aware there is always a compromise with what boat you choose (manufactured or built!)

Hi Flea

Welcome to the forum. It's nice to have another fly fisherman here. I'm building the PH18 and lovin it.

Casey

THanks Casey, i have been following your build, and bookmarked it. As a fellow flyrodder i am very eager to see how yours turns out. hope u dont mind me chiming in every now and then with a question and grabbing and idea or two. Cheers Leigh.

thb wrote:Hi Flea,
I have been down there on Morton bay several times and fished the Tangalooma Classic tournament in the early 90's. Yeah it can get rough on the bay as the ride over to Tangalooma in a big sportfishing boat was not exactly smooth.

I think I would go with the FS17 as it should handle the chop on the bay a lot better than the flats boat hull on the PH16. I have no personal experience with either hull but from the hull shape, it looks like the FS17 is the way to go.

We went offshore one day when the Tournament was cancelled due to high winds and the 18 ft seas offshore were a lot of fun. Had 4 sailfish on at once and we released one.

Regards
Tom in Steinhatchee

Well it is a small world... I was an official and radio man for the Classic during the early '90s...

Moreton Bay can change very quickly and I'd hate to be caught out there in a flats boat. Maybe the FS17 is more the trade off you are looking for. Not the best in either situation but good enough for both...

I moved from Brisbane in 2003 and now live in the Mid North Coast of NSW...

Hi Aussie boater,
Small world indead. I have settled on building the ph16, and no.... i dont intend on taking it out into the bay! After living here in brisbane for two years i have a bit more knowledge of the place. Mind you im thinking that once my boat is built it will never see salt water anyway. I have somerset dam not so far away to chase bass and yellowbelly. I have just about convinced my wife to move to Tasmania once the boats built ( 3 years im estimating). And fishing the windlanes, loch style, and boat poloroiding the lakes of tassie is really my bread and butter fishing. That place is world class trout fishing. Before moving to brissy, i came from canberra and spent most of my time flyfishing the snowy mountains. I use to guide up at thredbo, and lived in jindabyne working at a fly fishing shop. Trout runs through my veins. Flyfishing is my life. Why i moved up here to this humid, non trout area is beyond me! inlaws i think! But i have a goal to build the flyfishing boat i want, move to the most beautiful place on the planet, and live out the rest of my life with someone i love and doing what i most love doing (flyfishing for trout).

Leigh

Flea wrote: I use to guide up at thredbo, and lived in jindabyne working at a fly fishing shop.

I worked at a fly shop for several years too. It was definitely one of the most fun jobs I have ever had. You gotta love fly fishing.

I was just talking with my wife about wanting to visit Australia to do some fly fishing out there. What a trip that would be. Some day... some day...

I look forward to you starting your build.

Casey

flyfishingmonk wrote:

Flea wrote: I use to guide up at thredbo, and lived in jindabyne working at a fly fishing shop.

\n\nI worked at a fly shop for several years too. \n\nI was just talking with my wife about wanting to visit Australia to do some fly fishing out there. What a trip that would be. Some day... some day...\n\nI look forward to you starting your build. \n\nCasey

\n

when that someday arrives, let me know, my wife and i would love to help you guys out with accomodaton when the time arrves. just give me time to get my ph built!

Oh man that would be great!