Proud new owner of 33' Express hull#2
01-15-2024, 09:43 AM
#21
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
You have redefined the meaning of a sport fishing boat!!!
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lachyG (01-17-2024)
01-15-2024, 02:02 PM
#22
Registered
As you’re writing that, everyone else on here rolled their eyes as they’ve heard all my stories 20 times!
In all seriousness, you are off to a great start.
If you don’t already have a Bimini top, you’ll want one.
We lived in Florida for 9 yrs and st the time we had a twin OB 24’ Sonic.
W/the top up, we did multiple summer weekends on the boat.
Also shelters the cabin entrance from dew/rain
Yeah they’re ugly but totally changes functionality of the boat.
And that’s w/no AC on the boat.
We also have a 2 man Walmart inflatable to get to the beach.
Another trick to staying on the boat, especially w/no AC, is to make sure and find an anchorage/dock where you tie up bow into wind.
And shade whenever possible.
we also carry two Dahon fold up bikes for exploring at port.
Cool lil boogers and on our 3rd set.
All the storage under the sun lounge was filled w/a big block Chevy
when I bought.
It holds the bikes, 2 chairs, table, grill, 2 anchors, dinghy and the collapsible bucket.
Lots of other tricks if you’re still interested after this bock!
In all seriousness, you are off to a great start.
If you don’t already have a Bimini top, you’ll want one.
We lived in Florida for 9 yrs and st the time we had a twin OB 24’ Sonic.
W/the top up, we did multiple summer weekends on the boat.
Also shelters the cabin entrance from dew/rain
Yeah they’re ugly but totally changes functionality of the boat.
And that’s w/no AC on the boat.
We also have a 2 man Walmart inflatable to get to the beach.
Another trick to staying on the boat, especially w/no AC, is to make sure and find an anchorage/dock where you tie up bow into wind.
And shade whenever possible.
we also carry two Dahon fold up bikes for exploring at port.
Cool lil boogers and on our 3rd set.
All the storage under the sun lounge was filled w/a big block Chevy
when I bought.
It holds the bikes, 2 chairs, table, grill, 2 anchors, dinghy and the collapsible bucket.
Lots of other tricks if you’re still interested after this bock!
01-15-2024, 05:01 PM
#23
Registered
Thread Starter
Bencini231 
Great setup Twin OB! You've so much cabin space and well configured. That's a nice big cockpit box. Mine, having being built from as an OB boat, didn't have any significant cockpit storage. So I added the box in but not full width so there was room to fish two blokes out each side and easy transom access. It doubles as a fish filleting workbench with all the blood & guts simply washing/slipping off the back. Or a meal time food prep table. High seating in calm weather. And a surface to rack the sliding surfboard racks (which run on harken sail track). I store my surf kites, SUPs, and kayak in there. The bulwark doors fold down and create sun lounges. Inside these bulwarks is lockable storage for rods & spearguns.
I like the folding bike! And hear ya on the inflatables. For tenders we use an inflatable kayak and two standup paddleboards.
Marina's are few and far between along this coastline and so we're mostly at anchor, bow to wind. This plus multiple cabin fans gets us by ok without aircon. I ripped out the original aircon as I wasn't bothered to convert it from 110v-240v, or to carry a generator either. The old aircon space became storage for an additional 25gal freshwater bladder which I use on extended trips. In hindsight however, with the 400 amp hrs of lithium I now have onboard I probably could have run an aircon unit!
For long trips where we're at anchor for days straight without running the engines I roll out a 300w solar blanket on the bow which keeps up with the fridge/freezer.
Before our big 7week liveaboard trip, I had some canvas work done. An extension piece for the existing bimini for extra shade at anchor, plus a dodger for extended nights at anchor when you want some shelter from wind and rain. All can be zipped on or stowed in under 5min. It's not sexy, but does the job
A few more pics below;
Great setup Twin OB! You've so much cabin space and well configured. That's a nice big cockpit box. Mine, having being built from as an OB boat, didn't have any significant cockpit storage. So I added the box in but not full width so there was room to fish two blokes out each side and easy transom access. It doubles as a fish filleting workbench with all the blood & guts simply washing/slipping off the back. Or a meal time food prep table. High seating in calm weather. And a surface to rack the sliding surfboard racks (which run on harken sail track). I store my surf kites, SUPs, and kayak in there. The bulwark doors fold down and create sun lounges. Inside these bulwarks is lockable storage for rods & spearguns.
I like the folding bike! And hear ya on the inflatables. For tenders we use an inflatable kayak and two standup paddleboards.
Marina's are few and far between along this coastline and so we're mostly at anchor, bow to wind. This plus multiple cabin fans gets us by ok without aircon. I ripped out the original aircon as I wasn't bothered to convert it from 110v-240v, or to carry a generator either. The old aircon space became storage for an additional 25gal freshwater bladder which I use on extended trips. In hindsight however, with the 400 amp hrs of lithium I now have onboard I probably could have run an aircon unit!
For long trips where we're at anchor for days straight without running the engines I roll out a 300w solar blanket on the bow which keeps up with the fridge/freezer.
Before our big 7week liveaboard trip, I had some canvas work done. An extension piece for the existing bimini for extra shade at anchor, plus a dodger for extended nights at anchor when you want some shelter from wind and rain. All can be zipped on or stowed in under 5min. It's not sexy, but does the job
A few more pics below;
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beckmwi (01-17-2024), Griff (01-16-2024), rak rua (01-15-2024), Stormrider (01-16-2024), Twin O/B Sonic (01-15-2024)
01-15-2024, 05:47 PM
#25
Registered
Very well thought out/engineered!
Your boat is huge compared to mine.
All the way Around.
Beam, length and depth!
Cooking is the challenge on mine.
i just bought a fold up propane stove that stores bellow the counter in the galley.
It either goes to the beach w/us or a picnic table at a marina.
We normally boat on Lake Erie and it’s weather is very volatile so staying the night on the hook in this boat, doesn’t happen often.
We had cabin cruiser before this which we did do.
That lakes waves are very close together making it nasty chop!
We have a favorite island w/a Long Beach peninsula we used to say at all the time.
Due to its location, one side is always calm.
Went to bed one night w/it being dead calm.
Woke up at 2 AM w/the boat rolling 3’ - 4’ waves.
Didnt have a windlass on that boat so all done by hand.
Absolutely no artificial light on that end of the island and the clouds rolled in too!
Near zero vis!
Had the Mrs run the boat from the bridge while I shouted orders from the front deck.
That beach/sandbar is only 40’ or 50’ wide it’s last 100 yds and only rose 1’ or 2’ above the water line!
Made it to the side no problem but definitely a white knuckle deal!
A cruiser went down off a shoal a few miles from there and had 5 on board!
All survived.
My boats are always projects.
To help w/cost but also for me improve to our standard.
Amazing what you ended up with!
Heres a weekend on the same lake, different island.
We are lucky that most areas have class A marinas anyhow 😉
Questionable forecast for weekend and we gambled!
We had too much fun there Sat so chose to gamble on whether for trip home Sunday.
The blue dot in the radar is us and it was moving left to right.
Kicked our asses last 3 times we were there!
Your boat is huge compared to mine.
All the way Around.
Beam, length and depth!
Cooking is the challenge on mine.
i just bought a fold up propane stove that stores bellow the counter in the galley.
It either goes to the beach w/us or a picnic table at a marina.
We normally boat on Lake Erie and it’s weather is very volatile so staying the night on the hook in this boat, doesn’t happen often.
We had cabin cruiser before this which we did do.
That lakes waves are very close together making it nasty chop!
We have a favorite island w/a Long Beach peninsula we used to say at all the time.
Due to its location, one side is always calm.
Went to bed one night w/it being dead calm.
Woke up at 2 AM w/the boat rolling 3’ - 4’ waves.
Didnt have a windlass on that boat so all done by hand.
Absolutely no artificial light on that end of the island and the clouds rolled in too!
Near zero vis!
Had the Mrs run the boat from the bridge while I shouted orders from the front deck.
That beach/sandbar is only 40’ or 50’ wide it’s last 100 yds and only rose 1’ or 2’ above the water line!
Made it to the side no problem but definitely a white knuckle deal!
A cruiser went down off a shoal a few miles from there and had 5 on board!
All survived.
My boats are always projects.
To help w/cost but also for me improve to our standard.
Amazing what you ended up with!
Heres a weekend on the same lake, different island.
We are lucky that most areas have class A marinas anyhow 😉
Questionable forecast for weekend and we gambled!
We had too much fun there Sat so chose to gamble on whether for trip home Sunday.
The blue dot in the radar is us and it was moving left to right.
Kicked our asses last 3 times we were there!
Last edited by Twin O/B Sonic; 01-15-2024 at 06:04 PM.
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lachyG (01-17-2024)
Charter Member
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lachyG (01-17-2024)
