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Capt. Mike Holmes

Bruce, Monday I talked to the head of the Coast Guard's drug and alcohol test program about the self-test requirement for boat captains and crew. I gave him your idea for the O'Donnel Alcohol Test Meter. He literally laughed his ass off, then got real quiet and solemnly said, "Sir, I doubt that test...

Capt. Mike Holmes

I have 12 valve, mechanical 6BTA's in the boat. They smoke blue-white when cold, warmed up and running I get a little steam out the exhaust, the only time I've ever had black smoke was when a hose came loose off the turbo. I had a 24 valve Cummins in a pickup, computer controlled. It was loud as the...

Capt. Mike Holmes

I saw it on the insurance string, where I answered Pete Fallon and my post came out before his, as did succeeding posts. Didn't notice it on other threads.

Capt. Mike Holmes

I understand it's not the smartest way to operate. I did have one claim against them a few years ago, and they paid with minimal problems. At the time I originally insured the boat, I didn't have much in it, now I sort of consider myself "self Insured", since I don't need a policy covering replaceme...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Pete, when I bought my boat, the previous owner had it insured through Boatus, wanted me to take over his policy and pay him a pro-rated amount. They would not do this, wanted a survey and to jack the rates up quite a bit over what he was paying. Plus, they do not carry charter insurance. I ended up...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Wow! The colors, man, the colors!

Capt. Mike Holmes

Timmy, these are the trim tab lights, which make a lot of sense and are cheaper than the through hull ones.

I got a 4 foot fluorescent green light instead.

Capt. Mike Holmes

I checked on something Capt. Randle told me about, and it was true. Charterboats are now required to carry alcohol testing kits on board, to test crewmembers in the event of a Serious Marine Incident (SMI). In the case you are involved in a SMI, you must be tested within 2 hours. If keeping the boat...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Hmmmm. That stuff won't hardly keep scrambled eggs from sticking in my frying pan, but I only use one coat.

Capt. Mike Holmes

Hey, August 11 is my birthday! I might even be able to make that one, as a B-day present to me, and give it some press coverage. Then, if 28's are not allowed, I could invite a 28 guy or two to fish with me.

Capt. Mike Holmes

Mikey, I just finally successfully got on to the issue with your boat, and emailed with the editor. Good piece, now I need to look at the spring issue, see what it has.

Capt. Mike Holmes

Timmy, the pix you are probably refering to looks suspiciously like it was taken at the first UVII at Port Eads. Looks like Doug Q's boat next to Jaded Lady. Mikey sent this magazines link around awhile back, I'd wonder if he took the shot, - or if somebody gave them one of mine I didn't get paid fo...

Capt. Mike Holmes

VERY interesting. Sounds like it will be Joe B. from Bertram actually restoring the boat, Marlin is just going to document it. Where Dave (Ferrel, managing editor) got the idea was from the article I did for him several years ago on rstoring 31's, which Capt. Pat has in the articles section of the w...

Capt. Mike Holmes

One gear will run in reverse, to accomplish counter rotating props. Its too late at night for me to remember which, but one way to check is to crank the engines and manually work the lever on the gears, assuming props are on shafts and the boat is in the water. The boat will move forward or back in ...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Looks more like a hog, a big ol' hog.

Speaking of which, Capt. Patrick, I heard on the radio today there is a big biker rally scheduled for late Arpil in Llano, TX. Concerts by Molly Hatchet and others. You & Bruce gonna make it?

Capt. Mike Holmes

I'm not really sure if he gave me figures other than a comparision of his numbers with gas. I think he cruises at least 22 knots now, tops out over 25 - it's a light boat -where he was topping out about 16 with the old gas engines. He says they run almost silent. This is a charter boat, so he is del...

Capt. Mike Holmes

I saw Johnny Ritchie's old 32 Luhrs out for a bottom job this week. He repowered with the Styer 6's. Looks like he kept the same 1 1/4" shafts, maybe even the same props as with the 318's he had before. Tiny little props. He is very happy with the results, much better speed, much better economy, and...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Brewster, I thought you were talking about fuel shut off solenoids - that was my problem once. I did have the other kind of solenoid problem recently on my genset. Turned out to the wire from the ignition to the solenoid had pulled out of the connector at the attachment lug. Drove me nuts til I foun...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Good tip. I have redundant solenoids on my Cummins, also. Think I've had sort of the dame problem with one.

Capt. Mike Holmes

And Da Judge knows from whence he speaks. He IS, after all, the Prince of Potions!

Capt. Mike Holmes

Timmy, I found a good boat for you while you are waiting on the Tubb to rebuild itself. It's an OLD Hatt in open sportfish mode, has engine boxes like a 31 Bert, so you could fanticize about a real boat, and Perkins diesels, so you wouldn't have to clean up so much slung oil. Needs to be cleaned up,...

Capt. Mike Holmes

He's a long way from pulling a boat out of the mold, needs to erect a new building first, get more equipment. I'll keep you posted as soon as he comes up with any numbers. One thing abour Noe, you need to really nail him down n pricing, or it tends to fluctuate - upwards.

Capt. Mike Holmes

Ernest, actually, I feel a bit sensitive in dealing with you for exactly that reason. Not long ago you mentioned once having blonde hair, until you coated your tank with coal tar. Well, you and I both know the hair was white, and it came from when I almost ran over the Port Eads jetty in Lil' Bert t...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Again, didn't mean to stir a pot, just to give a heads up on the new limit. Read where some guys out of Port Mansfield got fined for bringing in two days limits of snapper on an overnight trip in federal waters. They didn't know that wasn't legal. Would have been in state waters. You can only keep t...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Sorry, I guess I used a little journalistic license with the term, "negligent". What the judge (Melinda Harmon, U.S. District Judge) said was that NMFS violated the Magnuson-Stevens Act by its continuing failure to take timely and appropritate steps to rebuild the red snapper stock in the Gulf, or t...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Sorry for all the misspellings in my last post - eyesight not so good anymore, and the letters on the screen are SO small. Scot, the state is not the problem. Snapper in state waters will still be 4 fish per day, probably with a 13" minmum size, because the state does not believe snapper are that tr...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Ernest, I've sat in meeting where Gulf Council "scientists" admitted "forgetting" to include the effects of multiple major hurricanes on fishing effort in a given year, oe to "discovering" a new batch of data not previously reported that supports their position, from dubious sources. I heard them ad...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Amen. I'm as hard headed as anybody, and definitely do not always agree with everything - even with my friend, Vic, but if I can't make a joke (that is obviously a joke) out of a comment, I keep it to myself, or share it privately. If I can do it, anybody can. By the way, there is much more valuable...

Capt. Mike Holmes

They have already hit the commercial guys on snapper. They switched from derby fishing to an IFQ system, supposedly based on historical catches. I have heard stories of guys who caught over 20,000 lbs annually (just a ball park figure) who were given an ANNUAL quota this year of less than the 2,000 ...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Better to have a separate pickup tube for each engine, in my opinion, and there are lots of parts replaced with other than original in these boats over the years. It would be a shame if we stopped listening to each other and sharing ideas, just argued instead.

Capt. Mike Holmes

Scot, The problem is, this is just a start. Grouper season will be closed in the winter, when most grouper fishing occurs, there will soon be lighter limits on vermillion snapper, you only get 2 ling per day, same with AJ's, maybe only two yellowfin per boat, only 1 shark of any species. Look for li...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Or fish out of Port Eads, or Port Mansfield.

Capt. Mike Holmes

I know all us B31 owners are elitist marlin fishermen, but some of the group ocassonally likes to snatch a few red snapper for the table. I just received word that the "Interim Red Snapper" rule from NOAA thorugh the Gulf Council goes into effect May 2, through Sept. 29, 2008. This will cut both the...

Capt. Mike Holmes

I don't remember the diminsions from when I talked to them a long time ago, but they are big - at least in the CAT 3116 class, maybe a little bigger. Talked to a broker who installed a pair in a 31 in Puerto Rico, I think. He said it was very tight, but that the engines were great, good economy, exc...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Yep, they are planning to build them from the Clasic 31 mold, talking about Yanmar power, although the two old 31's they are working on now are scheduled for John Deere engines. He doesn't have the flybridge mold, Rey wouldn't sell it, don't know if they are planning to make them all Bahia Mars or n...

Capt. Mike Holmes

The best shot I've seen - the only one of a finished piece, was the one on Yachtworld.

Worst roll I've ever sen a boat do in miderately heavt seas was a 41 Hatt.

Capt. Mike Holmes

I have never trusted those people, not from the beginning. They are in a situation where they can recommend one product over another, supposedly being non-partisan from not selling ads. I don't believe that they can't be influenced to favor one product over another, behind the scenes. Same situation...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Got to watch that Jeremy, he's an animal in rough water!

Capt. Mike Holmes

Harv, I think you are right about them extending into the cockpit. I think they are more for a "picnic" type boat than a fishing boat, but they are pretty. I couldn't use them on my express, but I am sort of interested in the instrument/control pod. I'll let everybody know when he's ready to start m...

Capt. Mike Holmes

No, but he has a boat just for you! It's a nice express made from a 50' aluminum Vietnam era river patrol boat. Originally powered with turbine engines, they took the hydrafoils off, patched the turbo exhaust holes, redid the deck/cabin conformation, and powered with 8V92's. Needs more power, only c...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Timmy, you are rigth, of course. I caught myself after I posted that, wondered if you would catch it, too. I heard Tom was very happy to do that boat, said it was nice to work on a REAL boat occasionally! It's on Yachtworld. Pretty boat, nice work.

Capt. Mike Holmes

To see the engine boxes and control pod these molds make, look on Yachtworld at the first 31 Bahia mar listed, the yellow hull. This is the Tom Slane version. Sim, I'll check tomorrow. My frames are OK, but I'll probably leave them in place. If I take them off, I'll let you know (if we can't fidn th...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Some might not have read the other post because of low Bahia Mar interest, but the yard near me has the mold for the Classic 31, with the prop pockets. He intends to start building some boats with it.

Capt. Mike Holmes

They took the helm windsheidl off, I'm sure it's around somewhere, but I didn't see it. I'll ask. I remember it also had windows that opened, but one pane might have been cracked. All my cabin and helm windows had been replaced with plexiglass, except the curved portions, and all were glued in place...

Capt. Mike Holmes

I have been given, if I want it, the cabin top off a 1962 express, with all windows attached. I may take it for the side windows, which are original sliding glass in original frames in good shape. The front windows open, and don't look bad. I know the previous owner, can find out about rattles, leak...

Capt. Mike Holmes

My neighbor uses the 900 series Racors on his 3208's ( 375 hp?), we buy elements together. Elelments cost a little more than for the 500's, but I don't have to change them nearly as often.

Capt. Mike Holmes

I've used both, only problem with the plastic is it can get pinched, but so can copper. I've also run the lines from the turbo to the gauges, now from the intake fitting, didn't see much difference.

Capt. Mike Holmes

Scot, the guy who had mine made - in a qualified machine shop - was worried about the lifespan of the cast iron "factory" units. He had a friend at Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth who gave him the aluminum ronze formulation they used, and that's what he made these from. It was sort of experimental, I ...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Bruce's picture shows a beautiful exhaust system, I don't see how it could be done any better. Put the wet exhaust elbow just after the turbo housing, don't run a hot pie over the engine where it can contact the engine box insulation. Remember, you have to take water off the raw water side of the he...

Capt. Mike Holmes

Doc, I had a fuel gauge float rattling around in my tank. It would suck up against the pickup tube during hard acceleration, than fall off whne I backed down. Drove me nuts. ALWAYS check the screens on the ends of the pickup tubes when having fuel starvation problems.

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