InTheBite

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Featured Stories
    • General News
    • Captain of the Year
    • Tournament Results
    • First Builds
    • Splash Reports
    • Old Salts Rule
    • Tackle Tips
    • Dock Talk
    • Crew Records
    • Conservation
  • Tournaments
    • Calendar
    • Captain of the Year
    • Champion’s Cup
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Subscriptions
    • Back Issues
    • Shirts
    • Hats & Visors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Release Rulers
  • Classifieds
  • Job Board
  • Contact
    • Contact InTheBite
    • InTheBite Media Kit
  • Log in

From Sunken to Sportfisher: The Reel Tight Story

August 31, 2016 By InTheBite Editor

reel tight collage

The Dream Catcher, a 60’ Paul Mann, sank in 2006. The vessel was a near total loss. In most cases, the story would end here.  Insert Captain Steven Pilipauskas and his search for a vessel project. A captain based in Maryland, Pilipauskas happened upon the old Dream Catcher for sale online. He purchased the hull in June 2013. At this point, the story transforms from one of tragedy to one of rebirth. It is the story of the Reel Tight.

Steve, together with his father, Steven Pilipauskas Sr. and friends Justin Havard and David Pearl, set about transforming the old hull into her former glory. “When we bought it, the boat needed everything. It had nothing; no wiring, no motors… nothing,” Pilipauskas describes. The boat had been completely underwater and none of the original equipment was salvageable.

The father and son Pilipauskas and a few friends did all the work themselves. These pictures provide visual evidence of the transformation. Soon the barebones hull was ready for action.

On the hard, coming along.

On the hard, coming along.

The shell of the salon.
The salon: before.
Salon in the beginning of transformation.

The helm station under way…
Glassed and painted.
The mezzanine.

The sanders are worth every penny!
The bridge tented.
Overhead display.

On the hard, coming along.
Sofa, carpet and galley.
The galley, transformed.

The sofa and woodwork.
Ready for some fishing.
The team on the bow, on the water.

The Reel Tight back in action!

After months of labor on the hard, the boat was ready for action. The maiden voyage of the ship’s new life took place on Labor Day of 2015. As Pilipauskas points out, “The inside wasn’t done but we wanted fish.” Their first catch: a blue marlin.

After fishing the last six weeks of the season out of Ocean City, Maryland, the boat returned landward for additional work. “We did quite a bit of interior work—the salon, etc.—last winter. Weaver Boatworks helped with the headliner,” Pilipauskas describes.

Last month the Reel Tight came full circle. With Pilipauskas at the helm, the boat caught seven white marlin and a 64-pound yellowfin tuna in the White Marlin Open.

Today the Reel Tight is a private boat that runs a few charters. Her immediate future lies in Ocean City, Maryland though Pilipauskas hints of the possibility of a voyage south once the boat is complete. “We’ve got another year and a half or so before it’s completely finished.” When asked where he acquired the know-how to undertake such a daunting overhaul, his answer was immediate. “My dad is the brains of the operation when it comes to the construction and boat work aspects. I just handle the fishing…”

The Reel Tight back in action!

The Reel Tight back in action!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

    Filed Under: Featured Stories, News, Splash Reports Tagged With: boat yard refits, Ocean City, Splash report, sportfisher, sunken boat

    Recent News

    Last Day Marlin Wins World Record Payout … Again

    For the second year in a row, the last white marlin weighed netted a world record purse. In 2021, Sushi out of Ocean City, MD, took the top white marlin at the last minute and at the time collected (a then world record payout) of $3,200,000 for … [Read More...]

    The CY55 on the water.

    CY55 Debuts From Composite Yacht

    The new Composite Yacht CY55 reaches a top speed of 54.9 knots, a speed potentially not yet seen by conventionally driven diesel sportfishing boats. Lou Codega and Associates had this goal in mind when they designed this high-performance hull. To … [Read More...]

    A dock at night lit by the light from a ship's tower.

    The 24-Hour First Mate: Boat Monitoring Technology

    By Steve Katz Don’t you wish you had a mate who could work 24 hours a day without tiring, in all conditions, checking on the boat and all its systems, for little pay? Well, with today’s advanced electronic remote boat monitoring and managing sys … [Read More...]

    Scania-Powered Blackwell Boatworks’ New 50 XL

    Blackwell Boatworks' new 50 XL features a pair of Scania DI13 304M 900 HP engines, to be commissioned by Scania Dealer, Down Jersey Marine Services in Greenwich, New Jersey.  UNPARALLELED OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE 98% PARTS AVAILABILITY 98% parts … [Read More...]

    The unfinished hull of the Lunatico.

    Splash Report: Lunatico

    Titan Yachts’ latest endeavor, the 63-foot Lunatico, charged straight out of the marina like a blue marlin chasing a livey from the moment it touched the water. Jokingly referred to as the “Splash and Go,” the Lunatico set out for the Bahamas two days … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Afunday Spencer 74 underwater in Puerto Rico - Page 19 - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum says:
      September 5, 2016 at 9:11 am

      […] this. Anything is possible. http://www.inthebite.com/2016/08/fro…l-tight-story/ googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-14'); […]

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite Magazine Current Issue Cover

    Our latest issue is hitting the docks now! Be sure to subscribe to the hottest bluewater mag on the market. Purchase or Subscribe »

    InTheBite Champion’s Cup

    InTheBite Champions Cup Logo

    New for 2022, the Champion’s Cup is an optional paid entry with a winner-takes-all prize format for teams who want to up the stakes in each division utilizing our longstanding tournament scoring formula.

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings

    COTY / ITB Cup Logo

    News

    • Last Day Marlin Wins World Record Payout … Again

      Last Day Marlin Wins World Record Payout … Again

      For the second year in a row, the last white marlin weighed netted a world record purse. In 2021, Sushi out of Ocean City, MD, took the top white marlin at the last minute and at the time collected (a then world record payout) of $3,200,000 for catching a fish. That record payout lasted just 10 months when angler Matthew... [Read More...]

    • CY55 Debuts From Composite Yacht

      CY55 Debuts From Composite Yacht

      The new Composite Yacht CY55 reaches a top speed of 54.9 knots, a speed potentially not yet seen by conventionally driven diesel sportfishing boats. Lou Codega and Associates had this goal in mind when they designed this high-performance hull. To endure the loads a boat of this size and weight must support at these speeds, the vessel has a carbon... [Read More...]

    • The 24-Hour First Mate: Boat Monitoring Technology

      The 24-Hour First Mate: Boat Monitoring Technology

      By Steve Katz Don’t you wish you had a mate who could work 24 hours a day without tiring, in all conditions, checking on the boat and all its systems, for little pay? Well, with today’s advanced electronic remote boat monitoring and managing systems, you can have all of this and more, and let your mate get back to rigging... [Read More...]

    • Splash Report: Lunatico

      Splash Report: Lunatico

      Titan Yachts’ latest endeavor, the 63-foot Lunatico, charged straight out of the marina like a blue marlin chasing a livey from the moment it touched the water. Jokingly referred to as the “Splash and Go,” the Lunatico set out for the Bahamas two days after it splashed. In a hurry to make it to Marsh Harbour to participate in Skip’s... [Read More...]

    • Tackle Tips: DIY Outrigger Tune Up

      Tackle Tips: DIY Outrigger Tune Up

      By Dale Wills Coastal Riggings President Brendon Ziemba, along with his brother Preston, have been specializing in outrigger installation, repair and maintenance for 25 years. Before watching Brendon get into his work, I had no idea an outrigger could be broken down into so many different parts. Watching them disassemble, service and reassemble a pair of 3-spreader outriggers was an... [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2022 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.