Big Longboat

[fish-n-dive]

Does anyone know anything about these boats....................I'm thinking it could be a good start for somthing cool. This misus said it was maybe OK.

Any feedback?

[brett_rokesky]

looks like someone has been mucking around with the photo (strectching maybe) though i have seen something similar up north

[Trekka273]

I just wonder how easy they would be to handle, especially when coming in to a wharf or similar in windy conditions.

THey would be a great boat space-wise... lots of room for all of your gear.

[Jeff_In_Crestmead]

It looks like a Panga to me... In the words of my boat designer Bateau.com -

"In Mexico, the word "panga" applies to any small boat but mostly to beach launched skiffs between 18 and 26' long. The pangas have a narrow beam and high bow. They are powered by relatively small outboards

That type of boat is also very common in Africa and in Asia, in particular Indonesia and the Philippines. The most beautiful example of the type is the famous Saintoise, very seaworthy work boats some as long as 35'.

All those boats evolved from the same hull shape: fishing boats designs from the FAO for third world countries.
In the FAO project, the accent was on ease of building and economical operation. Max. HP rating was 10. Because of their hull rocker, the FAO boats were limited to displacement speeds.
Builders modified these plans to allow the boats to plane with larger outboards but kept the original narrow beam, fine entry and high bow. The result are fishing boats of moderate speed designed to hold heavy loads while maintaining fuel efficiency.

Because of their narrow beam, their performance and behavior can not be compared to other vee hulls of the same overall length except for seaworthiness. In the hands of an experienced skipper, they can venture far offshore and take bad weather but they will not offer as much room or speed as a wider boat of the same length."

[Piscatorial_Prowle]

The Southwind longboats are a good boat plenty of room but very wet in a bit of a chop. You need very little horsepower to get them going aswell.

[Blackened]

G'day
Well, funnily enough i've seen somting similar. Looks lik it's from the same manufacturer but a 14' version. It was/is down in the redlands auto and marine, now autopro i believe, off bunker road at victoria point. Give them a call, you never know your luck.
Dave

[kernal]

I saw a few of these boats - (Betta Boat is the brand) in the yard at Belco trailers - I spoke to the guys at belco about them and they are imported from PNG or somewhere near there. Give the guys at Belco a call and they will put you in touch with the guy who imports them. They did say that they where very reasonably priced?

[Blackened]

G'day
Kernal, in regards to the one i have seen, you are spot on. Brought in from PNG and betta boat does ring a bell. Anyone done a google yet?
Dave

[wessel]

Rybka explained the history and design of these boats very well.

The locals in the Arabian Gulf all use them for net fishing and hand lining far off shore.

I have fished for a long time off one of them in the Gulf of Oman. Awesome boats for these waters.

Few things to look out for though:
Some companies raise the deck, which in turn raises the centre of gravity. Very unstable footing in rough seas. Look for one where the deck will be more or less level with the water line - More stable footing, but you will need to install a bilge pump because the deck will not be self draining.

Some companies remove the stringers and stiffeners in the hull - cheaper to build but making the boat less robust.
Check that the fuel tank is not situated right at the back - Bad weight distribution making you ride nose high with obscured visibillity

Be carefull that you dont overpower them - Not that it is a problem, it is your money but the transom is usually not designed for very big engines
A 22 footer fibre glass usually runs with 2 x 45 Hp Yammies at the back, or a single 60Hp.
I have seen them with 2 x 115's and they go like a rocket but end up with a cracked transom at some point.

Don't even think about going out in anything that is more than a 3 foot chop - The boat can handle it but it gets very uncomfortable

They tend to rock more than a standard V hull when on anchor

They are very economical to run

The handling takes getting used to, but once you understand the dynamics of the boat it is a breeze

You will not believe the amount of space available on the inside

They are very easy to customise for your needs

That was my 2 cents worth

Regards

Wessel

[88fishframe]

I am certain from the photographs that it is a flag pole with a motor bolted on the end


In all seriousness, I have seen similar if not the same boats while searching on the web. My major concern would be storage - make sure you really do have the necessary length at home to store it. I know with the last two boats I purchased it was ok - fitted through the front gates and stored at the rear ok. But it was a close thing, another 30cm wider and 60cm longer would have been a disaster

Current boat has about 6cm's either side to fit through my side gates where it is stored.

GO THE BANANA BOAT !!!!!

[88fishframe]

One more thing - by size I mean overall, not just the boat but also the TRAILER. Length of drawbar and widtth to the mudguards is where it can get you.

[fish-n-dive]

Thanks for the feedback so far...... .....heres a couple more shots of the boat........ ......I still think it may be a good cheap fishing rig.... ???...

[fish-n-dive]

And another

[wessel]

Mate, not to sure from looking at the pictures, but who on earth has cut away at the transom???

These boats are great little buys, but be careful in a following sea. With that hole cut in the back I hope that they have installed a secondary whaling on the inside to keep a breaking wave out of the main cockpit.

The deck intself seems to be nice and low - Mind if I ask how much they charge for a package such as this?


Wessel

[simonm]

Where is the bung (not just the one for the engine well)?