Tower for 22' Angler - Does anyone have pics?

glennmarina

I am thinks of getting a small observation tower made. Maybe a fold down type.
Do you know of anyone that has one on their boat?
In San Diego, being up high and able to spot kelp patties is good thing for catching fish.

glenn

rogerbum · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:50 am Post subject:

There's only one that I know of and it wasn't really a tower but rather a roof rack with a fishing chair up top. Here's a link to the photo album that shows how captd constructed roof rack with a chair up top for fishing/spotting fish. Here's the final result.

http://www.c-brats.com/albums/album433/CIMG0221.jpg

If you do put a real tower up high, you have to realize that these are relatively light boats without a lot of hull in the water or weight down low. A tower (with a human on that big lever arm) would make the boat much easier to capsize. I suppose if it's only used in calm waters and folded back down that this might not be a problem. Still I think that other boats are perhaps better designed for this kind of application.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:52 am Post subject:

glenn-

Is this what you had in mind? (Click on photo for full photo story.) Also see: top rack & rod holders

Joe.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:41 am Post subject:

Glenn,

You can always take the Alaskan approach, and just keep it simple...

Notice the low-tech intercomm (large diameter hose).

trpsurf · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:18 am Post subject:

I have been fishing offshore a number of times this season and spent a great deal of time sitting on the roof looking for kelp paddys. I was also thinking about a tower and took the boat into a local shop that does custom work (same shop that the previous owner had the radar arch built).

He advised against a "hoop" since it raises the center of gravity of the boat. He then went on to tell me a couple horror stories about boats that tipped over in relatively calm conditions. He had a Cabo CuddyCon 216 and a simple hoop on the top nearly spelled disaster every time the boat was drifting sideways in the trough.

I left the shop thinking... maybe I should just keep sitting on the roof.

If you have not had a chance to get offshore, you should do it soon. This is probably the best SoCal offshore season in a decade. We have caught dorado, yellowtail, and even baited a couple Marlin. While we have not got any Marlin on the line, I would love to see a pic of a 100+ lb marlin along side my C-Dory.

Tim
C-Pelican

glennmarina · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the pics. Lov'n.

I would hate to capsize. (Didn't think of that).

Mybe I will just mount seat pedals base. Do some testing.

It can be a long swim to shore, if my boat tips and sinks.

Lol.... Glenn

thataway · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:03 pm Post subject:

I also am an advocate of avoiding weight aloft in a small boat like a C Dory. I would not do it, except in exceptionally calm water. The problem is that all of a sudden a wake can appear. (I don't know of any of your have experienced the periodic surges and large waves which occur on the North side of Catalina Island--but I suspect that they are from wakes--and with weight aloft, would be high enough to be a real risk.

I also have seen a 22 foot boat capsize with just a small tower when it got caught beam to some very small waves. The boat was static, and might not have capsized if it was moving.

I am sure that some folks will pipe up and say that they have stood on the roof, put on flying bridges etc--but again--safety is important!

ghone · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:31 pm Post subject:

weight aloft, and windage aloft also are frequently left out of owners calculations. I am sure most of us have seen small boats with fly bridges all enclosed in biminis and covers way up there. The way they blow around on the hook, let alone at sea would make me take them down. On the plus side, many of those vessels hardly go out. To see how quickly a sea can show up and clobber you see Harvey's (sleepy c) a wake up thread. And Harvey was paying attention! What if he had been all absorbed on his tower (which he doesn't have) fishing? I only have a light dinghy on my roof and that is it. We have a snappy dory roll motion. I like it, the boat wants to stay upright.

hardee · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:26 am Post subject:

George, Thanks for the reference. I had really thought about what that wake would have done for someone up on a fly bridge, (and there are some boats our size that do have them). I was just glad I was sitting with a good grip in the wheel, throttles and seat.

The thread referenced here:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=18694&highlight=

I have seen the moose hunting tower before and enjoy the comedic affect, but you have to consider that they are not likely to be in any kind of wave situation there.

The shallow draft and flat bottom of the C-Dory, along with it's generally lighter weight than the average sport fisher would give me cause for concern before I would put anything like a tower on top of my 22. In fact, that is the reason that when I was looking for my boat, a High arch was about the only thing that would take it off my list. Just my personal preference. (Maybe because I spent so much time sailing on cats and never got really comfortable with that "rail in the water" deck angle.) Not that a high arch would do that, but that weight added to the dink up there, and then the stuff that goes with it just adds weight aloft. Adding my rack where I did keeps the weight a bit lower, although it is more aft, it serves 2 purposes there.

I think your stainless guy gave you good advice. the previous posters here are seasoned and knowledgeable regarding C-Dory's, watercraft, and safety. I would take their recommendations to heart.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon