Yamaha replica 25 foot boat
- Thread starter wezza
- Start date
I think some of you might find this interesting.
I was living and working in the Middle East (Oman) for 7 years and the fishing was exceptionally good. So was in the market for a boat to explore the Oman waters. I noticed that the locals were using a completely different boat to what the expats generally opted for and of course there was a big difference in price. The local boats are copies of a Yamaha beach launcher. I decided to go local being the cheaper option and as they use these boats on a daily basis so they have to be good.
The boats are similar to the boats used by the Somali pirates and are generally 21 to 30ft long but very narrow. No deck is fitted and the sides are double skin foam filled but very thin. It’s almost a commercial type of layout. A 25 foot boat is generally used with a single 60 to 85 Yamaha motor by the locals. They handle extremely well in rough conditions and can float in ultra shallow water about 2 to 3 inches deep. These boats live on the beach and are literally pushed into the water by a 4x4 mainly land cruiser picks up with a strong bull bar that pushes the boat in from the transom.
I purchase a 2[suP]nd[/suP] hand hull which cost me very little and decided to make some modification to the boat design. I wanted a deck, foam filled for buoyancy, trailer, t-top, 2 engines, console with controls as all the local boats were all tiller operated. So basically add a bit of bling!
I decided to use 2 X 40 Yamaha’s to power my new 25FT hull of which I payed less than half of what the motors were going for in SA. They were Electric and pull start outboards but no T/T. Surprisingly I could just plain on a single 40 Yamaha motor. Top speed with both motors was about 36 knots, according to my E-trex hand held garmin.
The disadvantage of these boats is they have very very shallow gunnels.
I am very surprised these types of boats have not been tried in SA. See pic below.
I was living and working in the Middle East (Oman) for 7 years and the fishing was exceptionally good. So was in the market for a boat to explore the Oman waters. I noticed that the locals were using a completely different boat to what the expats generally opted for and of course there was a big difference in price. The local boats are copies of a Yamaha beach launcher. I decided to go local being the cheaper option and as they use these boats on a daily basis so they have to be good.
The boats are similar to the boats used by the Somali pirates and are generally 21 to 30ft long but very narrow. No deck is fitted and the sides are double skin foam filled but very thin. It’s almost a commercial type of layout. A 25 foot boat is generally used with a single 60 to 85 Yamaha motor by the locals. They handle extremely well in rough conditions and can float in ultra shallow water about 2 to 3 inches deep. These boats live on the beach and are literally pushed into the water by a 4x4 mainly land cruiser picks up with a strong bull bar that pushes the boat in from the transom.
I purchase a 2[suP]nd[/suP] hand hull which cost me very little and decided to make some modification to the boat design. I wanted a deck, foam filled for buoyancy, trailer, t-top, 2 engines, console with controls as all the local boats were all tiller operated. So basically add a bit of bling!
I decided to use 2 X 40 Yamaha’s to power my new 25FT hull of which I payed less than half of what the motors were going for in SA. They were Electric and pull start outboards but no T/T. Surprisingly I could just plain on a single 40 Yamaha motor. Top speed with both motors was about 36 knots, according to my E-trex hand held garmin.
The disadvantage of these boats is they have very very shallow gunnels.
I am very surprised these types of boats have not been tried in SA. See pic below.
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benniejordaan
Sealiner
Very interesting. They use these boats also called banana boats extensively in Mozambique as well. Also branded as Yamaha boats.
Oh i almost forgot...here are some of the fish! And check out this website :http://www.MGFA-Oman.com
Limpopoking
Sealiner
It certainly has the look of a very seaworthy hull. Low gunnels (or more specifically, low freeboard) does have the advantage of making it easy to boat your catch. The other advantage being that if a wave breaks into boat (heaven forbid) at least the hull sheds water quickly. My little C-Ski couldn't hold more than about 100l of water on deck at a time.
Looks like a fun project. Hope you manage some great fishing.
Looks like a fun project. Hope you manage some great fishing.
benniejordaan
Sealiner
Merged threads!
Reel-Nauti
New member
Very nice boat,I have a SA Built one looks like the okes modified the hull slightly.as I have a much deeper draft about 300mm on the hull and a raked back entry,also powered by twin 40's,top end 26kn with 3 up and full geelbek gear.just loves a head sea and surfs a following asif on autopilot. Was told its called a Sailfish 18 built in the mid 80's
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Reel-Nauti
New member
Yes she is,but its a very heavy boat,redid the deck in feb this year and saw that she was build with 1 layer of 450 chop and don't know how many layers of woven roven,I suppose glass was cheap in the 80's
Reel-Nauti
New member
Had a look,some nice. Shapes to them,I've seen them run from maputu to inhaca.my bow and entry look very similar
benniejordaan
Sealiner
Did you notice the Moz Cat 28? But cats actually!
Reel-Nauti
New member
I've seen them on the web,wood be nice to see a shootout between an old butt a kamassi and a mozcat
Limpopoking
Sealiner
Limpopoking wrote:
I totally agree! I sent him an e-mail just to find out some details and they replied in minutes. See pic with twin 40's. This boat can go on single 40 if need be. The sport one has raised gunnels. Looks very nice. I wonder how it will do in Cape waters? I'm actually a Durban boy but live in Cape town now.
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Reel-Nauti
New member
I can vouch very stable boats looking at your pics limpopoking,I reckon I can run a boat like that here in the eastern cape where the weather can change in 20min
Reel-Nauti wrote:
I also think so. I was very happy with my home made one in the east but different sea conditions. I found them to be stable and handle a chop very very well. I have e-mailed them for prices as they also export by road. My old clark craft has had its day! and i have 2X40Yams 2010's T/T which i can use! So lets see.