run a DE alone?

[offshore31]

i'm wondering how many guys with DE's fish them alone? They look easier to run than flybrige boats, and being on the same level should be safer. do many of you fish them alone? what about anchoring?

trying to sell my sportfish and get a DE, as my crew has left (college) so i'm alone more often than not. don't like cc's, want some protection. like the keel, as i fish in NH and Me, so sometimes fishing for stripers we get a little shallow. love the DE looks, and my knees can't handle go-fast (never liked them anyway).

so how many of you fish them alone? and how do you handle anchoring, etc?
thanks
J

 

[MDI45]

alone

if your comfortable with your boat its not a problem...i run a 45 footer by myself..and anchor from the cockpit

 

[steveinak]

I've been gillnetting and shrimp potting alone for 20 years, until this year i fished out of my bowpicker but this spring i bought a 29 H&H shipped it up here to alaska and really enjoyed fishing it all alone this summer. People always ask me why i fish alone, i really like it that way and hell i can't even stand myself sometimes let alone having another person on the boat.
As for anchoring, i do every night and i fish 4-7 day trips, i have a tag line that goes from my bow bit back to my davit, i have my anchor next to the hauler so i never go up on the bow, i just throw the anchor over, back out enough scope and tie the tag line to my anchor line with a rolling hitch then let out enough anchor line for the tag line to come tight. I use the pot hauler to pull my anchor so all i do is run up on the anchor line untie the rolling hitch put the line in the lobstah block and haul the anchor up.
One other thing! I've got knives all over the boat, next to the hauler, under the washrails, back under the stern, on the back of the winter back and one around my neck and one on a belt on my waist!!! Just use you head and think about every move you make on the boat.
I enjoy being out there alone and sometimes i won't see another boat for days.

my old rig

the new rig

tag line for anchor line

the blue line tied to the davit is the tag line,i tie it there so its always ready for use

 

[Crabman]

Many times, I fish and crab my 36' BHM alone. I'm totally comfortable with it. As for anchoring, whether alone or with someone, like MDI45, I anchor from the cockpit and never go up to the bow unless it's absolutely necessary.

 

[Raider Ronnie]

I installed a Simrad auto pilot in my BHM this year.
Most of my charters I have a mate but have done plenty of cod charters solo this season.
For the 20 mile run back to boston harbor set the pilot and a comfortable speed, have someone sit at the helm as a look out and I'm out back cutting fish, looking up from time to time making sure nothing up ahead of us.

 

[BillD]

Hoping!

I'm still working out the "politics" with my wife on obtaining a small 22 foot DE single engine keel boat as a 2nd boat to our family's 31 Blackfin.

The 22 would be mainly a solo boat (me) used for lobster pot hauling, mackeral (lobster bait fishing)etc. and would be setup the same as Alaska Steve's 22 H&H, with a hauler/davit next to the wheel.

If all goes as I "hope" I will need an "inservice video" on anchoring with the hauler. The 22 I'm looking at does not have a bow rail, fine with me, no need to be up there hauling an anchor.

Bill D

 

[fishinwishin]

I've been gillnetting and shrimp potting alone for 20 years, until this year i fished out of my bowpicker but this spring i bought a 29 H&H shipped it up here to alaska and really enjoyed fishing it all alone this summer. People always ask me why i fish alone, i really like it that way and hell i can't even stand myself sometimes let alone having another person on the boat.
As for anchoring, i do every night and i fish 4-7 day trips, i have a tag line that goes from my bow bit back to my davit, i have my anchor next to the hauler so i never go up on the bow, i just throw the anchor over, back out enough scope and tie the tag line to my anchor line with a rolling hitch then let out enough anchor line for the tag line to come tight. I use the pot hauler to pull my anchor so all i do is run up on the anchor line untie the rolling hitch put the line in the lobstah block and haul the anchor up.
One other thing! I've got knives all over the boat, next to the hauler, under the washrails, back under the stern, on the back of the winter back and one around my neck and one on a belt on my waist!!! Just use you head and think about every move you make on the boat.
I enjoy being out there alone and sometimes i won't see another boat for days.

my old rig
View attachment 1394
the new rig
View attachment 1395
tag line for anchor line
View attachment 1396
the blue line tied to the davit is the tag line,i tie it there so its always ready for use
View attachment 1397

I see you did pick up Charlies boat. How did you get it there? Did you end up getting your own trailer?

 

[offshore31]

Good info, thanks. I thought running a 28' alone would be the max, but it's encouraging to see you guys running 29, 26 and 45'rs.

Gotta sell my 32 bfin fbc and find a nice downeaster. Wish my boat would sell quick, as i've got some good 'wife points' right now.

Joe

 

[tunaorlater]

Run my 36 NB all the time alone. Docking is easier with a keeled boat as is anchoring. My hauler is great but I also have a windless for shallow water anchoring (under 50ft). When I have people with me I tell them to sit down and I'll take care of it. As was said earlier its all about what u r comfortable with.

 

[BillD]

I run my 31 Blackfin Combi solo and anchor. As many do the Lewmar handlings all the anchoring work.

The little 22 I'm interested in will be anchored with the hauler/davit.

I'll keep the boat it simple and I'll be anchoring in no more than 50-60 ft.

 

[steveinak]

I see you did pick up Charlies boat. How did you get it there? Did you end up getting your own trailer?

Yup i did, and i'm really glad it did its been working out great. I had a trailer built for it by Loadmaster Trailers in Ohio, they were delivering 3 other trailers to MA at the same time so they just dropped it off at the pier and John Oliver put the SS on his trailer and took it over to Rose's so they could load it on my trailer with the travel lift, that worked out great so i could adjust the bunks on the trailer for the trip to Seattle, i hired a guy to tow it to Seattle then the boat and trailer were put on a barge for the trip to Alaska. Whole trip took about 2 weeks. Did i meet you at the pier by any chance?? Met so many great guys at the pier thought you might be one of them.

 

[fishinwishin]

Great pics! I never did meet you. I posted that this was the boat to buy if there was a serious buyer looking for a 29 h&h etc.

Nice boat.

 

[DBM]

As mentioned above, I consistently run my 31' downeast alone and even when i do have folks with me I have them take a seat when docking or anchoring. The only exception being my kids, who I'm trying to teach to work lines and run the boat properly. The only problem i've had is trolling alone. I"ve got now rear helm station, and this spring I landed a 41" striper alone. Trying to fight the fish, adjust coarse and watch for barges and push boats in 20 Knots of wind was a challenge, (and probably pretty entertaining to watch). This summer I added an autopilot, which should help.

Good luck.

DBM

 

[tashmoo2]

only problem I have is backing into slip on a windy day. Boat only turns to to port in revese regardless of where rudder is positioned. bow thruster would help. My rudder is probably too small too

 

[Downeaster]

only problem I have is backing into slip on a windy day. Boat only turns to to port in revese regardless of where rudder is positioned. bow thruster would help. My rudder is probably too small too

This is the single, most differing, handling characteristic of single screw hulls, IMO. Your boat has a right hand wheel. I find that in backing, rudder position doesn't make much difference (extreme angles perhaps excepted) and I generally leave mine parallel to the C/L. Where an angled rudder does help is when you're "nibbling" your way into a slip - that is, using forward and reverse. Regards a bow thruster, I think that they're generally useless backing a single screw into a slip because your stern is the problem (while the bow is a secondary issue).

Sometimes the wisest action is to acknowledge that you're in over your head and go with "Plan B" (smacking the hard in a breeze is a lot more embarrassing than exercising a Plan B [lot more expensive too]).

 

[fishinwishin]

Speeking of Jonesport.. downeaster, what is the classic jonesport colors?

 

[Downeaster]

Speeking of Jonesport.. downeaster, what is the classic jonesport colors?

No colors specific to Jonesport though a narrow DayGlo red boot top is pure J'port. Not color but another design typical for the area is a flat windshield panel - all forward facing windows are on the same flat plane. I've never cared for this and I think that some of the designers are finally moving on in this area (Calvin's line - now with SW - are his first designs to get away from the flat panel).

 

[DBM]

I have a bow thruster on my 31' that I am usually too embarrassed to use. (A little ego problem!) The trick to backing it in is setting the rudder to your forward thrust position. In other words, if you consistently back to starbord, set the wheel so when you tap it into forward the thurst forces the stern to port, and then don't touch the wheel. Only use the gear shift and throttle if necessary.

The only time i use the thruster is when there is a strong blow coming straight down the aisle. You can't use a springline around a piling becasue the boats on both sides of me stick out well beyond the pilings, and my margin of error is really short because i am only one slip in from the bulkhead. If i screwup, my bow is laying against a timber bulkhead, or a sailboat pullpit with two anchors hanging of of it.

Good luck and practice lots, with no one around.

DBM

 

[tashmoo2]

I keep my wheel in one position and angle the boat when I back in so it swings arount the piling. I also use the wind alot. If i miss my one shot to get in I'm screwed

 

[Downeaster]

i'm wondering how many guys with DE's fish them alone? They look easier to run than flybrige boats, and being on the same level should be safer. do many of you fish them alone? what about anchoring?

trying to sell my sportfish and get a DE, as my crew has left (college) so i'm alone more often than not. don't like cc's, want some protection. like the keel, as i fish in NH and Me, so sometimes fishing for stripers we get a little shallow. love the DE looks, and my knees can't handle go-fast (never liked them anyway).

I think the question shouldn't be one of who fishes alone but rather what are your plans for getting back in the boat once you've fallen overboard? Mustang inflatable suspenders are about the greatest invention since the EPIRB but they'll just provide the family with a body in cold water areas (or have I missed something?).