33' flowers - the project is finally done

[maineboatswest]

Its taken 3 years, but really enjoying the boat now. Single QSB 480hp, 22 knot cruise, max 30 knots. put a trolling valve on so I can troll at any speed without an auxillary. best part is, we can run from seattle to canadain waters in about 3 hours, fish for a few hours until we limit out on salmon and be home for dinner no matter the weather (and burn 70 gallons).

 

[Eastporter]

Gorgeous work of art you have there! Congrats!

 

[FVSD]

Pretty boat!

 

[mfrench808]

Nice

You hit the nail on the head with that one - nice lines. One of the nicest flowers build I have seen. Congrats, 3 years in the making...you don't get a product off the shelf like that.

 

[MDI45]

Maineboatswest, Beautiful boat...Is it the only bass boat fishing for salmon?lol

 

[El Mar]

Very nice!!!!!!

 

[CaptDave]

That boat is unbelievable, nice job. OJ Here comes a question for all of the experts out there. On these boats which are finished off. How do they get the criss cross pattern on the decks after laying the board down. It is a nice non skid and looks like a production boat finish. Never knew how this is done and curious. Reason I ask is I have a teak and holly sole in my cabin and would like to maybe replace it with a nice looking finished deck. The teak and holly can not stand up to 6 guys in boots dragging in salt water all day.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[05bill]

boat

really nice boat, to nice to put fish on it .

05bill

 

[maineboatswest]

That boat is unbelievable, nice job. OJ Here comes a question for all of the experts out there. On these boats which are finished off. How do they get the criss cross pattern on the decks after laying the board down. It is a nice non skid and looks like a production boat finish. Never knew how this is done and curious. Reason I ask is I have a teak and holly sole in my cabin and would like to maybe replace it with a nice looking finished deck. The teak and holly can not stand up to 6 guys in boots dragging in salt water all day.

Thanks,

Dave

Hi Dave, I am not an expert, but this is my third boat that I put Awlrip on the deck. the first two were commercial salmon fishing boats that went to Alaska. Normally the best way to apply is to spray, but after I spray the first coat on the deck, I go back with two more coats with the roller. It usually lasts for 5-6 seasons, maybe more.

 

[maineboatswest]

really nice boat, to nice to put fish on it .

05bill

thanks, its one of the nicer fishing boats out here, but there's nothing better than cleaning up a bloody deck after a good fishing trip. the boat stands out amongst all the bayliners and gradys out on the water.

 

[cobia23]

Wow beautiful boat!!. I really like the way you set up the helm.

 

[BillD]

Its taken 3 years, but really enjoying the boat now. Single QSB 480hp, 22 knot cruise, max 30 knots. put a trolling valve on so I can troll at any speed without an auxillary. best part is, we can run from seattle to canadain waters in about 3 hours, fish for a few hours until we limit out on salmon and be home for dinner no matter the weather (and burn 70 gallons).

Beautiful boat !
The 33 Flowers hull is on my "maybe list".
Curious about some more facts.

1. Do you know what the boat weighs "as you use it" ?
2. 22 knots cruise???? what is the QSB 480 spinning @ ?? 2500?/2600? rpms.
3. What does the boat have for a gear?
4. What are you running for a prop?

Really appreciated,

Bill D

 

[maineboatswest]

Hi Bill,
not sure on the boat weight. its foam core hull and top, but i had flowers put in larger fuel tanks than normal (175 gallons each) but i almost never fill them up for just fishing day trips. the best guess i have is about 14000lbs light as measured on an old travelift that hauled me out last fall. the qsb is rated at 3400rpm, but I have it over-propped and only get about 3250 rpm out of it under normal conditions. I swing a 24x25 michigan DQX four blade with a ZF 2:1 reduction. normal cruise is 2550-2600 rpm at 65-70% load at 12 gals/hr. i never run more that 2700 rpm, so i tried to maximize my cruise speed by going with an over pitched wheel. I have a 7% downangle ZF gear, and that moved the engine back about 12-18"" from normal, and its a light weight engine, so the boat sits pretty high in the water as you can tell. hope that helps

 

[BillD]

Hi Bill,
not sure on the boat weight. its foam core hull and top, but i had flowers put in larger fuel tanks than normal (175 gallons each) but i almost never fill them up for just fishing day trips. the best guess i have is about 14000lbs light as measured on an old travelift that hauled me out last fall. the qsb is rated at 3400rpm, but I have it over-propped and only get about 3250 rpm out of it under normal conditions. I swing a 24x25 michigan DQX four blade with a ZF 2:1 reduction. normal cruise is 2550-2600 rpm at 65-70% load at 12 gals/hr. i never run more that 2700 rpm, so i tried to maximize my cruise speed by going with an over pitched wheel. I have a 7% downangle ZF gear, and that moved the engine back about 12-18"" from normal, and its a light weight engine, so the boat sits pretty high in the water as you can tell. hope that helps

Yes, the information helps a great deal.
My boating needs require a solid 22-23 knot cruise sea conditions permitting) "as I use the boat" weight wise.
Your cruise numbers and "Madchark"s 33 Flowers number indicate the hull can do it with enough hp and not over built weight wise.
The new QSB 6.7 480 is my engine of choice. Footprint and weight are nearly identical to your QSB 5.9 480.

Interestingly you moved the engine back 12-18 inches using a 7 degree gear. Gets the weight out of the cabin and out back where it belongs.

I've seen a couple pics of your boat running @ cruise and above speeds. The boat runs near flat. Great for visibility.

Beautiful boat, thanks for the info.

Bill D

 

[Tower Todd]

My jaw just fell on the floor! Your boat is gorgeous! I hope to see you on the water in Puget Sound sometime.

Todd

 

[maineboatswest]

thanks, i hope to get out to westport soon. headed north to barkley sound in early august for first ocean trip. good luck out there...sounds like fishing is off to a good start.

 

[maineboatswest]

i think the trick is keeping it light up front. its a narrow entry - great for running into the waves. i put 9' long lifting rails running from the stem aft about 12" below the waterline to give my bow more lift, about 1" wide. i picked up a little speed from it as well as it lifts the whole bow a little higher, and it makes it alot drier. keeping the weight aft will help. so far, the qsb is a great little engine. at times i wish i had put the qsc 600 in, but frankly the boat runs so nice at 21-22 knots in all seas, that it would be hard to justify the extra weight and fuel. I think the new 6.7 qsb will be great for you, but i havent seen the comparison to the 5.9. as will all these high rpm engines, they make most of their power in the last 400 rpm, but I can't think about running it that hard. I grew up commercial fishing in alaska, and a high rpm engine back then was a 3208T Cat that turned 2600rpm, so its hard to run these engines much above that.
I will try to get a video of it running at cruise. good luck, and let me know if i can help.

 

[Tumblehome]

thanks, its one of the nicer fishing boats out here, but there's nothing better than cleaning up a bloody deck after a good fishing trip. the boat stands out amongst all the bayliners and gradys out on the water.

Way to represent. You must be turning a few heads out there. Especially on the steam out to the grounds. Congrats, great looking boat.

 

[maineboatswest]

thanks, there's only one problem with having a downeaster out here. Its hard to get any work done on the boat when its at the dock...lots of questions. all good stuff, but you know how it is when you are trying to get something done...

 

[Tumblehome]

I have often wondered why someone has not set up shop out west, aquire some proven molds, and start cranking out DE's on the west coast.