By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie
I’ve participated in many major engine rebuilds over the years. In the process, I’ve developed great relationships with groups of elite mechanics. Working with these guys has taught me how to save thousands of dollars in labor. Recently, I’ve witnessed some super lazy crews just hanging out on the dock doing nothing while the mechanics are in the engine room. They could literally be saving the owner thousands of dollars helping the mechanics.
The AIRSEP closed crankcase systems made a positive impact on engine room maintenance and the environment when it first came on the scene 30 years ago. The AIRSEP helped to keep bilges cleaner and oil fume free, and helped to lower crankcase pressure to reduce engine oil leaks. The AIRSEP CCV system continues to evolve, and is standard factory equipment on select Caterpillar®, Cummins, and John Deere engines to name a few.
By Capt. Scott “Fraz” Murie
Double zero is the term we have used in this business for as long as I can remember. It stands for owner/operator, or boats with no crews. Having a boat without a dedicated crew doesn’t make sense. The owners of these boats may think they are saving money by hiring a wash down and wax crew to keep their boats shiny two days a month. Some owner/operators think that’s all there is to it!
By Winslow Taylor
Maybe you’ve worked on boats—put in your time, mated for some folks all the while learning what to and what not to do. The result of your journey? You’ve finally been offered a job to run a boat. Or maybe you are a seasoned vet running an established program throughout the world.
It seems that my boat checklist never ends. The checklist is a valuable tool for me which I use religiously. I always keep it handy. If you are like me, and don’t write down what you’re thinking, it most likely will be forgotten. During any given week, my mate and I work off of a checklist that is continuously updated. The list consists of everything, such as supplies needed, metal that needs waxed or repairs that need to be made. One would think that you could run out of things for a checklist, but if you keep a top-notch boat and stay up with all the systems that should not happen.
By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie
Modern sportfish yachts have so many high-tech systems on board that it’s truly mindboggling, and keeping them up and running is imperative. We have systems for everything including ice makers, watermakers, refrigeration, satellite communication, night vision, radar and fuel cleansers. There are advanced electronics with crystal clear multi-touch displays and black box communications that transfer signals and data throughout the entire boat, underwater lights of all colors, along with stabilizers and sonars. Today’s boats literally have every gadget imaginable, from hydraulic outriggers to bidets!
By Dave Ferrell
With all of the hurricane destruction of the past years, photos of destroyed, damaged, sunken or otherwise battered boats are floating across the internet. What becomes of these boats? How does salvage work and what about insurance coverage? The following is Dave Ferrell’s breakdown of the process. Whether a boat owner, captain or crew, this information is a must-know for anyone involved in boating.
The intersection of sportfishing and money is an interesting one. It takes lots of money to buy a sportfisher, it costs a lot to keep it running. This boat name (NYSE stands for New York Stock Exchange) illustrates the case in point.
By Dave Ferrell
There’s no getting around it…boats cost a lot of money to operate and maintain. Keeping a large sportfisher, or even a small charter boat, up and running through an entire season is akin to walking a tight rope; where any little slip can cost thousands of dollars in repairs and lost fishing time spent in the yard. Some of these nagging problems can’t be avoided. All boats eventually experience issues of one kind or another and the more sophisticated and advanced the systems onboard, the more likely you are going to run into trouble if you aren’t staying on top of things. But let’s face it, even the best captains can’t keep a boat from breaking down.
By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie
“Paper Captain.” That’s the term I use for some of these so-called captains that are at the helm of multimillion-dollar sportfishing boats these days. Paper Captains don’t have a clue as to how or what it takes to maintain or operate these vessels.
