When is a Rodman not a Rodman?

Kawasaki said:
Why's that then Paul?:confused:
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cos they are not big enough maybe? we have an F36 and F37 max coding 6 pass 2 crew, we have a 450 statesman (43ft) they let us code it to 8 pass 2 crew, only my P56 has been given 12 pass plus 2 crew. They may be more lenient now I dont know.
 
A friend (really) is selling a 2006 Rodman 1250 with only 26 hours on the clock at an extremely good price (sadly the owner died soon after purchase). PM me for details.
 
Morning chaps

I left work early yesterday and have come back to find 3 pages of great ideas.

Firstly, to those that know me, I am schemeing. Actually it's Stuart not me doing the schemeing.

I love Rodmans, even more after my adventure on the 1250 in the Summer.
I know Ben fairly well at RBS and also know he's probably reading this, but also know he'll chuckle when I say that if he was to fall over tomorrow morning with a heart attack then I'd be knocking on Rodmans door by the afternoon.

The scheme is no secret and unlike some of my own plans it isn't a pipe dream as the successful businesses are already in place to support them.

1) We need a product we can be proud to represent at Parkstone Bay Yachts.
A product aimed at "high end" sport fishing with a range ideally from 6m to 14mish.
This would in no way compete with our Sea Ray dealership and be marketted towards the cruising family who likes to fish. The bigger of the boats need to be first class with an A1 finish, A1 sea keeping and handling and look every bit as good inside as the fishing features on the outside
2)We need a product around 40' for our sea school, Harbour Sea School. This will be an easy boat to drive, twin diesels, powerful yet economical and have the ability for some overnighters or catnaps between watches. It will be used for upper end training, Yachtmaster etc.
3) We need a product around 40' to join the existing fleet at Dorset Cruises. It needs to be smart enough for corporate charter, exclusive fireworks cruises AND also for luxury angling charter. The norm for angling is 8 to 10 anglers cram onto a 35' basically fitted boat to get covered in blood and guts for the day ad come home stinking of fish. This will take exclusive small groups out, give them breakfast, a decent lunch aim to catch them the fish of a lifetime and then bring it back and cook it for a delicious meal and a bottle of decent Sauv Blanc at our rather good restaurant here at the marina. The daily rate will be rather more than a typical angling charter, but so will the experience.
Oh, and for the fishing lads on here, we may consider doing Channel Islands and proper long range trips out into the Western Approaches... these will be for "proper" fish!

It must be explained that the angling side will only be a small part of the plan, but as a smelly old fisherman it's the bit that excites me most.

I would love to work with Ben and Rodman here, but in fairness it wouldn't tick box 1).
So, we need our own Rodman that is not a Rodman!

Some of the brands discussed:

1) Interceptor and Wildcat.
A cat is a no no. I love them, but they won't attract the corporate charter brigade and they aren't really suitable for a sea school.
Interceptors are not actually very good sea boats (in my opinion only and yes, I have seen the videos) and there are much better built boats out there.
The yard is very small and they handle all sales directly.
The same goes re handling sales direct for any of the small independents.
2) Most of the American boats are all excellent at what they do, but have such limited appeal in the UK from a sales perspective. The flybridge examples are just too way out for us to get our heads around when we are comparing from Eaus to Fairline etc. The build quality is usually far superior, but the look we simply don't get.
Their open boats all look exactly the same when it comes to fishing and, again, that look really isn't one a UK buyer tends to take to.
They are usually far too expensive too!
3) Jeanneau and Beneteau.
I have a passion for both these brands having been involved with Jeanneau for many years and also owning a little Merry Fisher 695 of my own. I know both brnads weaknesses and strong points. Neither brand offers a range that is qute right, not to mention a dealer network which is rather flooded to say the least.
4) Faeton
Sorry Duncan, just not for me and not big enough at the high end.
Already a distributor here in the UK. In my opinion, not particularly good boats either. Adequate, but not the right ones for me.
5) Starfisher
Too small, available as a dealership, but nothing like a strong enough range.
6) Poweryachblogs suggestions are all fascinating and brands I know extremely little about.
Research required here. Thank you.

Another suggestion is to talk to an existing builder and tell them what we want.
They may step up and produce a range of boats that are suitable, but that takes substantial balls from them as the investment in moulds and tooling is pretty vast.
Take Sunseekers dreadful "Sportfisher". They had the idea, but didn't actually take any advice from any actual sport fishermen as to what was required. The boat was bloody awful. With the right advice, a builder like Sunseeker to build exactly the right, small, dedicated range, but the chances of persuading them to build the smaller end are second to none.
In the same vein, we would actually consider doing a less crook like version ( scratch that, we would do a totally professional version) of the business that was / is Tarquin Trader and find a foreign yard who will produce what we want for us.

So, theres the scheme and the ideas rattling around in the few small lumps of grey matter I have left.

Keep ideas coming please, all fabulously useful!

Tom
 
PaulGooch said:
Biggest Merry Fisher is the new MF 10, comes in at 10.22m. She's four berth and would fish four, with relative comfort.

You'd be lucky to code the Antares 42 for 10 (never mind 12), for day trips. But, she'll only sleep six and is totally unsuited to fishing.
Click to expand...

Ah! Paul, Renegade_ Master, I,m with you now.
'Coding' for fishing/accommodation etc as opposed to just 'rib rides' in certain Categorised waters.
Doh!:rolleyes:
 
Over and over again I come back to Rodman.

Such a shame that they don't have any smart seating that folds in and out from those lovely chunky gunnels to make the big cockpit a little more sociable.
Other than that they do tick the boxes beautifully.
 
Have seen the Albin out close as there is a 35 with hard top in the yard and over built quality is amazing. The hull is a planning with very deep fore, but flat aft sections and a skeg keel which goes for 3/5 of the hull.

As for my tips you have a look at the Uniesse here www.uniesse.com very high finish and expensive, but the cockpit is free and if desired can be used for fishing. Check the 42 Open for new or else you will have to look at a used 40 or 44 Flybridge.

ARS Marine had a nice RS38 with flybridge, or RS43 designed by Fulvio de Simoni. They where quality brand good seakeeping, and fitting out. Cheaper to a Uniesse for sure. www.arsmonaco.it Have not heard of them much in recent times but.

Cayman yachts has the 42 Flybridge a bit too luxury and high fishing but the cockpit is free and you get full walk around. I consider there interiors all with solid woods a work of art. Inside they are actually richer to a Uniesse. There open hard top version would be more suited for the job. There 43 HT is awesome IMO and feels bigger to a 43. www.caymanyachts.com

Tuccoli have also a nice 40 open with Walk around. There website is closed at the moment so I cannot tell you more.

OPB from Rome are the most close to pure sportfisher and you can have a look here www.obp.it

All of the above as the Rodman or the similies we mentioned are not pure sportfish as infact are a Cabo, Albermarle, Carolina Classic, Bertram etc but they have the concept of free aft deck coming from there.
Thinking about it a Bertram 410 now also with lower helm can also do for your case.
 
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Did i misread the original post ? I thought one of the requirements was to be able to have a dealership for the chosen boat/s ?

1) We need a product we can be proud to represent at Parkstone Bay Yachts.
A product aimed at "high end" sport fishing with a range ideally from 6m to 14mish.
This would in no way compete with our Sea Ray dealership and be marketted towards the cruising family who likes to fish. The bigger of the boats need to be first class with an A1 finish, A1 sea keeping and handling and look every bit as good inside as the fishing features on the outside
Click to expand...
 
PaulGooch said:
Did i misread the original post ? I thought one of the requirements was to be able to have a dealership for the chosen boat/s ?
Click to expand...

It is a requirement Paul.

Did take a look at the Delta range and WOW!
Very smart!

It does need a rather specific client to charter it, but looks a great boat to drive and a far better interior than the Botnia Targa that it shares a certain resemblance to.

Think the 25 is a bit too quirky and the 29 too, but they'll suit a niche market.

As for the boats that Poweryachtblog mentioned...
I was quite excited by his suggestions, but then checked them out. All a little dated looking or a little too samey.
Thanks for the ideas though, much appreciated.
 
Those Deltas do look fabulous don't they!

Not quite waht I was describing (!), but hell they are good looking boats.

Botnia Targa only twice as good, faster and fabulous inside to boot.

Bloody pricey though!

About half a mill for the 40' before you get stuck in.
 
3571 said:
If you are doing something do it right as they say NB, you definately need one of these babies...

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/a...view-affinity-yachts-90-luxury-sportfish.html
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I do like that rather much! But don't you think it looks rather dates?

I must reiterate that all the suggestions are very helpful, but remember this must be more than just a sport fishing boat, this needs to be a luxury boat that you can fish off, use for charter, teach from and very importantly be part of a range of boats that are available to sell.

Breaking my own topic though and simply because 3571 started it, perhaps the nicest boat I've had the pleasure of spending time on is a vessel called "Dreamin' On". She's a Garlington 78. 82' loa and sooooo much more than a Princess, Fairline, Squeaker etc.

When I was in Cape Verde a couple of years ago I had the pleasure of joining the owner and crew of Dreamin' On who had bought the boat there for a jolly.
She spends her life travelling round the world finding the most exclusive Marlin fishing.
She's currently in Cairns for the October run of Black Marlin.

Totally beautiful in every way and kicks all the European competition way into touch.
The downside is that Garlington are a very small producer of much larger yachts than I need!
 
Actually Garlington have a 42 and a 48 XPS (expresses) this last in project stages, and this 82 is one of there biggest boat ever built. They are more of a semi custom builder because they build in fiberglass with moulds, altough there construction standards is pheewww over the top to say the least. If the competition is to what regards how it is built, yes it kicks many buts in Europe but in other areas I am sure some small sized EU builders coming from Italy or Holland have a word to say here.

Considering you are a Searay dealer I am still confused how you do not consider a Cabo also owned by Brunswick. They are very luxurious inside, and have the best systems (electrics, hydraulics, engine room) I have seen on any boat. There new 44 HT is also a good balance of a cruising and fishing. The problem is just the price for the 44 you can buy may be get two Rodman's.
Indeed all Sportfish boats are in reality convertibles meaning a good 50/50 balance.
Some Aussie buildes as Mustang, Maritimo or Riviera can also do the case. The new Riviera 43 Open Flybridge is a superb balance and the price is not so bad. Another builder to consider would be the US Tiara. But if you want something which is sold in Britain you know you cannot find a sportfish as this market is infact non existant over 30ft. Which is sad because most convertibles in reality suit better to UK weather then would a FairPincSeekerLine.

May be in all this how I am seeing this post you should just buy a Fairline or Princess take it to a fiberglass guy and he will remove the aft settee, free the cockpit, design some fishboxes in the side and in the cockpit floor and place some rod holders, and its done.
 
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PowerYachtBlog said:
Actually Garlington have a 42 and a 48 XPS (expresses) this last in project stages, and this 82 is one of there biggest boat ever built. They are more of a semi custom builder because they build in fiberglass with moulds, altough there construction standards is pheewww over the top to say the least. If the competition is to what regards how it is built, yes it kicks many buts in Europe but in other areas I am sure some small sized EU builders coming from Italy or Holland have a word to say here.

Considering you are a Searay dealer I am still confused how you do not consider a Cabo also owned by Brunswick. They are very luxurious inside, and have the best systems (electrics, hydraulics, engine room) I have seen on any boat. There new 44 HT is also a good balance of a cruising and fishing. The problem is just the price for the 44 you can buy may be get two Rodman's.
Indeed all Sportfish boats are in reality convertibles meaning a good 50/50 balance.
Some Aussie buildes as Mustang, Maritimo or Riviera can also do the case. The new Riviera 43 Open Flybridge is a superb balance and the price is not so bad. Another builder to consider would be the US Tiara. But if you want something which is sold in Britain you know you cannot find a sportfish as this market is infact non existant over 30ft. Which is sad because most convertibles in reality suit better to UK weather then would a FairPincSeekerLine.

May be in all this how I am seeing this post you should just buy a Fairline or Princess take it to a fiberglass guy and he will remove the aft settee, free the cockpit, design some fishboxes in the side and in the cockpit floor and place some rod holders, and its done.
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If Garlington had small flybridge boats then I would certainly have spoken to them, but in fairness they aren't suitable due to the styling... UK buyers simply don't get it.

Same with Cabo which is an out an out fisher (IMHO) and whilst most models are very good, have you been on a 40?! Not so nice.
The Riviera I really like, but again, UK buyers siply don't get them. Mustang are rather samey and a copy of less imaginative boats out there with Maritimo only starting at 48 it's too big and already represented. Tiara are too much all round too.

As for converting the usual Princess, Farline or Squeeker? The hulls are ALL wrong for this sort of job... IMHO!
 
Princess and Fairline not so much IMO, the Olsenski hull is a bit a follow up IMO to a David Napier design ie. 80s Bertrams as is the legendary 54.
For Princess and Fairline find one with small b/platform from the nineties removes that fiberglass settee, and put some boxes. Which is fairly easy considering they have a lazarette aft.
Maritimo has just recently launched a 440 Offshore Converible.
 
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