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Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
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Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
Well, I am thinking about selling the GB. Don't get me wrong, I love the boat and as much as I have on it for options, this is not a rash decision. My dilemma is while she is set up perfectly for offshore fishing, she isn't ideal for spear diving. I am now moving to the category of needing a boat that has a larger cockpit that can accompany 5 or so divers, 3 tanks each, and all the gear. At this point, I am not willing to let all of that gear in my present boat. I can fish 5 guys easy, if you are a diver, you know what kind of room you need for 5 divers and all of their "stuff". I don't know if I want togo back to a mono hull and thought I would ask you guys about other cat brands. I like the idea of a pilot house type boat. Are there pilot house cats with large decks, and if so, what brands are they? I went to the Parker factory about a month ago to look at the 2820XL. The reason for this wasif I went back to a mono it would probably be along these lines or something similar to give you anidea of the deck size that I am interested in. TV has gunnels that are too low I think for what I am looking for. I want to stay in the 28' range so I can trailer it. Lets here about a couple of cat ideas and if someone is considering a GB, I have a LOADED one that will be on the market soon.
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
A guy in my area uses a 36' twin vee cat for that purpose. I don't know much about the larger twin vee's but there are 2 in commercial use around here. I think the new TV have higher gunnels.
__________________ Glacier Bay 2670, Twin Yamaha 150 Four Strokes.
RE: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
The new 30' GB sounds perfect for you but $. I trailered my 30' Hydrocat w/ 10' beam for years. (need minimum 3/4 ton 4x4 though) Not as good a ride as my 26 GB, but of course much faster. I am seriously looking at 34' GB's for a short term (2 year) boat. You won't believe how much bigger that extra beam makes it feel over that narrow 8'6".
A world cat or renassaince-prowler would be a 2nd and 3rd choice.
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
I'll second looking at the new 30 ft GB with it's 10 ft beam and tons of deck and storage space, and rated for a pair of 250's, etc., although I have not been on one. Has anyone?
RE: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
Twin Vee has a new 29' CC model that may fit the bill your looking for.
They also have higher gunnels. Five divers and all the gear is a load. The 29 or 32 should work. http://www.twinvee.net
RE: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
I use my Prowler 306 for shark cage diving in the summer here and if you E mail me at neilburnie@mac.com I'll try to send you some pics....We load a cage measuring 8' x 5' x3'
into the cockpit and then deploy it over the side on a roller bar when we get where we're
going.The access through the space between the livewells is great and the boat is built with a water deployable ladder. We often carry a bunch of dive gear in the console which has ample storage room, but if you're interested in a pilot house, call Bill Ratlieff at
Renaissance Marine in Opa Locka Fl as I think he's in the process of designing one.
The Twin Vee is a great work boat BUT the Prowler is in a different league! ( I just got an AIR DOCK for mine, took off the bottom paint and repropped her and she's running 48 mph with a pair of 1600 hr Honda 225's.......!!)
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
I have the 26 TV, it has rails around the cockpit, low gunnels have never been an issue....consider the new 29 CC TV, I'll bet it really flys, should have the room and easy access to/from the water that divers need....Mick
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
For dive tanks and gear I would want a more durable boat, and would look to an aluminum trailer cat.
Armstrong and Gravois have some nice models with a large cabins and decks, and of course there are Missions, Maxwells and Moose boats if you have a little more dough.
These aluminum cats will also be cheaper to run and trailer.
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
If you decide to look at mono hulls, I've found the Stamas Tarpon 29 is ideal. Six tanks on each side with BCDs on them and there's still a lot of room to walk around. Having a 10'4" beam really helps. We can do six divers with six scooters and 12 tanks without a problem. Twin boarding ladders as well. pm me if you want photos of the layout. The head is in the console and the whole front opens so you can step into the head with your wetsuit on. No crawling required. The Stamas replaced a Parker 25 center console that seems tiny by comparison. The Stamas is not for sale.
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
How about the "fin cats" I think they will build them out in about any configuration one can come up with. They may even be able to come up with a dedicated dive boat configuration.. http://www.fincatcatamarans.com/
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
Gum, Got a new Aimrite 110 and need to get it wet.
Guys,
I guess that I should also mention that being a "blue collar worker", once I figure out the boat type, I will probably be shopping for a used one to save money on setting it up the way I want it. Although the 29' GB is nice, I can't afford the $$$$$$.$$ price tag on a new one and their aren't any used on the market yet.
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
Hey "reel"...not sure if you have moved on from your GB yet or not.
I'm new to the board - started reading when I was researching cats for myself. I was almost ready to flip the switch on a 1998 GW Tigercat but then couldn't find anything positive about them on the web so I backed off and started looking elsewhere. I love the GB's but couldn't find one that I liked that was set up the way I wanted and that I could AFFORD...
If you are a diver - which I can see from the picture - you might want to consider the Hydrocat as suggested by another member. I haven't personally owned one but I am sea trialing one on Saturday morning. Everyone that I have run into says it is an incredible boat - stable, large enough to handle any type of activity, dependable. The only knock so far has been the size (weight) making them tougher to tow, and that the company went under in 2004. The info that I have found, however, doesn't indicate they went under due to quality - it points more towards putting too much money into the boats and not making enough on the back end.
I fish (mostly offshore and bahamian waters) and dive avidly (going Sunday for some bugs)....so having something that was large enough to hold 4-6 guys and gear was very important.
I will send you an email this weekend and let you know how the sea trial went.
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
Post your question on classicparker.com. One guy there, Cbigma, uses his 2520 for diving all the time, and may be able to give you some great feedback regarding Parkers as Dive boats. He has also done a lot of customization.
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
Check boatraderonline for a 29' X 10' hydrocat (its really 30') with a cabin that was for sale for around $45K.
It has a fighting chair and 2 strokes you would probably want to trade for some 4 strokes, but it looked like it was in good shape for a 1997. Since the guy listed the length wrong, it has been for sale for a while and he might be soft on the price by now.
I am seeing a lot of deals on the 33 Worldcats around-new CC for around $140K asking, if this interests you.
Re: Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat
The only true sportcabin cat I know of is the Noosacat out of Austraulia. The counterweight the front with diesels in the back, but still, putting a lot of weight forward in a cat is a no no.
It is also my undertanding that the hydrocats produced prior to 2000 don't have as good a ride as the onces after that date.
I would also second slickers suggestion of a TV, although I think the 32 is worth the extra money over the 29, but this is just a second hand opinion.
Selling the GB, Looking for a different type of "cat" boat 
for that purpose. I don't know much about the larger twin vee's but there are 2 in commercial use around here. I think the new TV have higher gunnels. 
