Monday, February 4, 2013

What interested me at the boart show

Best show value:  Join the Rhode Island Salt Water Angler Association (RISAA) for $55/yr. and get free admission to monthly educational seminars and a monthly fishing magazine filled with fishing tactics, tips and news.  RISAA members at the boat show include Bill Sokolowski (left), Joe Burr and George Allen. Visit www.risaa.org. 

What’s old is new:  Capt. Rick Cataldi (left) of Seaward Boatworks with staff members Dante Crowther and Pete Ashton specialize in aluminum fabrication, T-Tops, railings, hardtops and canvas work.  They also rebuild, meticulously restore and sell classic boats giving them a rebirth for many more years of service.

Boat show honors DEM director

Here are some highlights and a few of the vendors that got my attention at the Providence Boat Show this weekend.

At the start of the show Janet Coit, director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), was awarded the John H. Chafee Boater of the Year Award by the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA).  The award recognizes and honors an individual that has contributed to the success of the recreational boating industry or who has championed the cause to bringing recreational boating to the public.

What’s old is new at Seaward Boatworks
Seaward Boatworks of Warwick, RI has been in business since 1996.  They specialize in aluminum fabrication, T-Tops, railings, hardtops and canvas.  Capt. Rick Cataldi and his crew love to meticulously restore, rebuild and sell classic boats giving them a rebirth for many more years of service.  Capt. Cataldi said, “What makes us different is the customer experience we offer. We aim to surpass customer expectations with the design and quality of our work.” Capt. Cataldi and his team have a variety of classic rebuilt power boats for sale including Sea Craft, Dusky, Bertram and Bonito boats.  Visit www.seawardboatworks.com

Top docks
East Greenwich Marina is located on East Greenwich Cove from the former Twenty Water Street location and south to Harbourside Lobstermania.  The docks are well built, meticulously maintained (I pass them ten or twelve times a week during the summer) and their summer season runs from April 15 to November 15.  Rates are $105 to $120 per foot.  Lee Raymond of East Greenwich Marina said, “All docks have power, water, Wi-Fi, and cable and this year we are adding showers and rest rooms.” Visit www.eastgreenwichmarina.com.

Ocean House Marina and Scout boats
Ocean House Marina from Charlestown, RI had a new 32” Scout center console on display with more bells and whistles than I have seen in a while.  This tough luxury sport fishing machine had an electric grille, refrigerator, two 15” electronics screens as well as all the fishing amenities you would want…. it even had a mister built into the T-top to spray you gently and keep you cool on those hot summer days.  Nathan Anderson, regional sales manager for Scout said, “What we try to do is surprise customers with features they haven’t seen on boats this size.”  The twin 300 horse power engines on the 320 LXF will allow you to go as fast as 58 mph.  Ocean House Marina has a full line of Scout dual consoles, center consoles and cabin models and also represent Regulator, Maritime Skiff, Sunfish, Yamaha Outboards, Hurricane Deck Boats, Godfrey Pontoon Boats (San Pan, Aqua Patio & Sweetwater), Laser Boats, Polar Kraft Aluminum Fishing Boats and Walker Bay.  Visit www.oceanhousemarina.com.

Glacier Bay still a head turner
I feel like I have owned a Glacier Bay.  I have inspected them at countless boat shows, read about them, dreamed about owning one and talked to friends about them for at least six years.  Glacier Bay boats are catamarans and offer a smooth ride, a stable ocean platform and plenty of room.  Last year Glacier Bay remodeled their 27 foot cabin model placing the cabin entrance to the port side and moving the head to the rear of the cabin.  This change enhanced the look of the cabin giving it more of a finished look.  They also shifted entertainment center components by placing a sink and refrigerator to the starboard side.  Glacier Bay is sold by Striper Maine in Barrington, RI and make duel and center console models too.  Striper Marina also carries Pursuit, Key West, Cobia, Sailfish and Southwind.  Visit www.stripermarina.com.

Hassle free boating with Ocean State Boat Club
Ocean State Boat Club (new last year) allows you to experience boating without the hassles of owning a boat.  It is a convenient and affordable alternative to boat ownership.  According to their website and show staff, you pay an annual fee of $2,850 and then get to take out one of seven power boats ranging in size from 22’ to 26’  as many times as you want.  All you pay for is the fuel.  Ocean State Boat Club pays for dockage, insurance, repairs and does all the cleaning and maintenance.  The offers professional training to ensure safe and enjoyable outings on the water.  They are located a Brewers Yacht Club on Warwick Cove in Warwick, RI.  Visit www.oceanstateboatclub.com.

RISAA seminar Monday, January 28
The January Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) seminar will be held Monday, January 28, 7:00 p.m. at the West Valley Inn, 4 Blossom Street, West Warwick, RI.  Topics to include First Aid for Fishermen by Gary Johnson a 26 year veteran with the Coventry Fire Department and 29 years as an EMT/Cardiac.  Dennis Zambrotta will be the second speaker addressing Surfcasting Block Island.  Dennis has been surfcasting for stripers for past forty years and is author of a new book called “Surfcasting Around The Block”.  Dinner served by West Valley Inn between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Public is invited to attend with a $10 donation to the scholarship fund, RISAA members no charge. Cost of dinner is separate.

Where’s the bite
Cod fishing has been good when boats have been able to get our.  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “Customers buying clams have been catching cod close to shore off Jamestown.”  The Francis Fleet party boats reported a good cod bite last week with some anglers limited out with their larges fish weighing seventeen pounds. Visit www.francesfleet.com . The Seven B’s has experienced a good cod fishing bite too with their largest fish in the mid teens and several anglers catching five to six fish.  Visit www.sevenbs.com .  Anglers should call before making the trip to boats as inclement weather often leaves boats dockside this time of year.  RISAA member Larry Norin reports on a cod trip he took aboard the Island Current III out of Snug Harbor, RI.  Larry said, “(we) did 1/2 drifting, 1/2 double anchored over a wreck throughout the day. Both produced well… Only shorts (caught) with the jig and the lighter rod… did the trick with the bait… We were fishing in water from 80-120 feet south and east of Block Island towards Cox’s Ledge. I caught … only a handful of short cod mostly on the jig and ten keeper cod, six of which were all in the 30" and 10 pound range. Nice quality fish on the boat with about 18 other fisherman. The two largest cod were 32 and 37 pounds”.  Visit www.islandcurrent.com


No comments:

Post a Comment