“Testimony to a Boat”

   I heard the two best days of boat ownership are the day you bought it and the day you sold it.  The days between are a graceless slide from an ear to ear grin as you pull your new boat up to the dock to the point the mere sight of it makes you turn away and utter “@#(% boat”.  Either something different is breaking down with each outing, the design doesn’t fit your needs, it is expensive to operate, it is a general pain in the butt or all of the above plus more.  Not to mention trying to explain, again, why you need more money to fix “this and that” to the wife.  The disgusted look my wife gave me on countless occasions is burnt into my memory so deeply it will most likely be the last thing that goes through my mind.  
   Yes, I’ve been involved with several boats I’d love to forget. I still remember getting stoned doing fiberglass repairs…enduring cramps trying to trace down an electrical short in a hole so small my arm got stuck…doing “head” repair with the odor of a couple of ‘live’ ones permeating the tight quarters…doing a head stand in the engine compartment trying to loosen the drain plug to change the oil on a pair of diesel engines and on and on and on.  Oh, and the final kicker being...”I don’t know why you have to get so angry.”  “Do you know what you’re doing?”  Only to reply in Jack Nickleson fashion “Well....babe...I’m trying to do it myself to save money so I won’t get ‘the look’ ”.
   In February of 2003, I was at my wits end with ‘the boat’ I was currently possessed with.  Serendipity came into play when my wife had some business in Apalachicola, Fl.  She conned me into taking the trip with her by offering me all you can eat oysters once she finished her meeting.  Getting away from the boat in Steinhatchee and oysters was a great ploy.  While she attended her meeting, I meandered around the historic town.  I found myself at Wefings Marine where Marc Grove was there alone talking on the phone.  Just killing time building an oyster appetite, I looked at the tackle inside the store and boats parked outside.  Many of the boats were Twin Vee power catamarans 25 foot or less.  They looked weird to me with the tunnel cut down the middle.  I wasn’t impressed with the look or the size.  Here comes Marc.  I thought ‘Oh God, a salesman ready to deliver the pitch’.  He seemed to have a lot to do for a man by himself.  After exchanging pleasantries, I found out he was preparing for a boat show.  He found out I was a charter boat captain looking for a boat to carry eight people plus gear.  The boats on the lot wouldn’t do the job.  He told me he had a 32 footer at Scipio Marina but didn’t have time to show it to me.  He told me how to get there and left.  No pressure sales to say the least.  I went for a look.  
   The mother of all Twin Vee’s sat on the ground atop 4X4 posts, no trailer.   I parked behind it.  The 12 foot beam of the boat set the twin 225 hp Honda’s wide apart on the dive platform.  Wow, the backside impressed me.  I crawled up and in.  A large built in live well split the casual stern seating.  An intelligent design.  Looking forward, the bow seemed a football field away from the stern due to the open layout.  The only thing in the boat was a helm bench with rocket launcher’s behind a center console all of which covered with a sturdy T-top.  Above the T-top were a pair of out riggers.  The console had a side door entry to port.  I poked my head inside to find a porta-potty.  Curiosity got the best of me and I backed in for a test sit.  I push the scale at 270 pounds and if I had room I figure most normal people wouldn’t have any problems.  I fit.  While sitting there I noticed a buttoned in fabric panel used to hide the wiring for the helm gauges, steering mechanisms and such.  I unsnapped it and took a look.  Wow, comfortable full access to everything going into the helm.  From there I looked into every hatch and hidy hole on the boat.  Simple arrangements;  no foo-foo to break.  Even the back hatches on the dive platform had room to access the bilge, live-well and raw water wash down pumps.  I roughly stepped off the boat and determined it had enough gunnel space to fish ten football players with room to allow a mate and I to work around them.  To boot, the gunnels were thigh high meaning safety with no knee bruising at the end of the day.  The boat looked awesome with 360 degree fishability.  It fit my style so well it scared me.
   What are the down sides to the boat?  I could think of three issues.  One, the open format provided no protection for the clientele in inclement weather.  Two, we needed a test drive.  Three, my wife’s opinion.
   Well, I could hardly wait to snatch my wife, Gina, away from our luncheon to see ‘the new boat’.  She was well reserved, yet I saw a glimmer of hope.  “We’ll do a test drive first, OK?”  
   Marc has a casual hospitality and no pressure approach which is great.  “The test drive sells the boat” he said.  The first ride was in 2-3 foot conditions which was effective.  The boat ran over the waves as if they weren’t there.  No bounce.  No re-entry impact.  No performance difference regardless of how we approached the seas.  We even turned one motor off, kicked it up and planned off the boat with 4 aboard and quarter tank of fuel.  A week or so later, we took the second ride.  It was a nasty day, it poured rain and wind from Steinhatchee to the bridge at Apalachicola.  I thought we wouldn’t get to go.  The rain cleared.   We ran out the Apalachicola River, to Government Cut on St. George Island where four foot standing waves met us head on.  Marc was running the boat.  I saw the waves in the cut.  I glanced at my hand-held GPS to see we were running at 30 knots (34 mph).  Gina was sitting on the front seat facing the sea head-on, Richard (~60 yrs old), our church deacon, was holding on to the pipes to starboard and Richard’s wife, Gwen, and I were standing behind the helm bench when we entered the cut.  I thought “Oh, crap”.  I put my arm around Gwen ready to support her.  Too late to grab Gina from the front.  In seconds we were through the cut with eyes wide open.  No discomfort.  No impact.  We didn’t even feel the jolt we all readied for.  It was Disney World ‘life’.  Gina was up front with her hands in the air laughing hysterically. Outside the inlet, the seas were running 4-6 foot with some swells at 8 foot.  I ran the boat at 20 knots with no problem.  I stopped the boat broadside to the sea and walked around; no problem.  That test ride was convincing.  We bought the boat in March 2003.  Now, the rest of the story.
   I’m writing this is October 2004, a year and a half since buying the boat.  I refrained from writing a glorious report on ‘the boat’ this long because I wanted plenty of water to pass underneath the hull before I gave my opinion.  
   The first year, I put 14,000 miles on the boat which was around 1000 hrs on the motors with regular oil changes.  I’ve fished it in two foot of water for red fish/trout and took it seven times to the Middle Grounds, some 80 plus miles offshore. The versatility of the boat is unmatched.  I can’t think of another 32’ boat that can one day take eight people scalloping in knee deep water and the next be 60 miles off shore.  Our typical operation is offshore grouper, amberjack, cobia, king fish and snapper fishing which I employ various technics.  Under fishable conditions (I don’t charter in seas > 5 foot), the only variable I consider is the crew.   The boat is stable on anchor in 5 foot seas.  It drifts perpendicular to sea, allowing six anglers to drag baits off one side without tangling (most boats drift stern to sea).  Furthermore, the boat doesn’t list when all aboard are working one side.  Forget the trim tabs, too.  Trolling 4 to 6 lines is a dream.  Meaning, I run 4 lines back deep” for grouper, yet have two lines running shallow for kingfish and such.  In general, I have the ability to fish for any fish in our area because of the boat underneath my feet.  The Twin Vee permits me the versatility to show folks a great time in the Gulf of Mexico.  
   Let me get back to what sells the boat; the comfort.  I found out I had spent far to much time in mono-hull boats.  The slapping, pounding and rolling I thought was just the normal experiences of boating is not necessary.  Twin Vee has changed my way of thinking to the point I will never buy another mono-hull vessel.  I have never before received so many compliments on a boat.  “I love your boat”  “I can’t believe the ride.”  “I can’t believe the room.”  Furthermore, because of the available space, I tossed three big bean bag chairs toward the bow which has caused a sleeping problem.  “Excuse me, we are here are you ready to fish?”  I can’t count the number of times I’ve been been returning in 3-4 foot seas and found myself to be the only person awake!  Dozing off has become such the regular event that I’m naming the boat “Cat Nap”.
   I have put in two after-market additions on the Twin Vee.  The first are roll-up clear curtains on the port and starboard sides of the T-top to block the occasional sea spray and have some place for folks to go if it rains.  The second, is a pop-up ‘dodger’ on the bow which has been fantastic in blocking occasional spray, wind (on the chilly days) and provides additional shade during the heat of summer.  Both additions were custom made by Sea-Tec Custom marine canvas in Chiefland, FL (352) 490-8732.  Ask for Tory or Amy, they are great people who understand craftsmanship and make things to last.
   So what are some down sides to the Twin Vee?  One, I don’t like having to unsnap the upholstery to get to the storage areas.  But, I know on the newer boats the design has changed to allow easier access.  Two, the scupper holes on the port and starboard sides toward the stern allow just enough water around the back to keep your feet wet if you’re fishing within two feet of the stern.  This isn’t a problem in warm weather but it is when the sea and air temperatures are chilly.  When it is cool, we stuff the holes with sponges to retard water build up.  It’s not a big issue for most, but when people are paying to fish they generally don’t prepare for or appreciate wet feet.
   In closing, I was not asked or paid to write this acknowledgment.  I write because the Twin Vee continues to exceed my expectations and is routinely an asset to my charter business.  Marc Grove and his crew at Wefings Marine (850-653-1795) have been excellent in standing behind the products they sell.  My hats off the Twin Vee, Wefings Marine and Honda.  If you would like to talk to me further, you can contact me toll free at 877-852-3474.


Sincerely,
Capt Brian Smith
Big Bend Charters
PO Box 513
Steinhatchee, Florida 32359
(352) 498-3703
(352) 498-3388 fax
www.bigbendcharters.com