Commercial Fishing

[Skillet]

Chris, I don't see the photo you mentioned of the tenders. Pretty sure the Sea Lion is the old Alaska Packers tender I worked on out of Cordova when I was 18. Also delivered to them for many years. And the Pavlov is it an old blue scow of the same style as the Sea Lion? If so I delivered to them for many years also when they tendered for Morpac. Morpac, Alaska Packers and New England used to have what they called the Co-Op in Cordova. Alaska packers didn't process any more in Cordova but still had a big tender fleet. Morpac was just getting off the ground and processed frozen fish, but only had a couple tenders. and New England had the canning lines and a few large tenders. If you fished for one of the three co-op canneries you could deliver to any of the tenders of any cannery and you'd still get your check from "your" cannery. I started with APA and later switched to Morpac as they were more willing to lend money to help a young fisherman step up with a new boat.

I think you're right about those boats on all accounts. Pavlov is red and gray now.

[bearpaw]

Some terrible luck, sure hope things get better for you soon! 

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I really feel for you on the engine wiring and relay issue.  That would be very frustrating after investing all that time and money looking to increase reliability.  I'm glad you pushed through and got it right, but I don't blame you one bit for holding off going outside until that engine is 100% bullet proof in your mind. That part of the gulf you fish is no joke this time of year, and getting back under tow in any kind of weather would be a challenge. Isn't there a well known story of a boat that was having electrical problems out there in really bad weather, and a CG chopper crashed trying to save him?  And he made it in after all?

Yup. I knew the guy involved in that story. He gave up fishing after that and moved to California.

[Bareback]

Thanks for sharing the life of a commercial fisherman. Tough job that few can do.

[pianoman9701]

Thanks for sharing the life of a commercial fisherman. Tough job that few can do.

To be fair, Skillet has gills and webbed feet, so it's not as hard on him.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

If you guys have specs on those wiring harnesses and just need some AWG changes, I'm happy to help.

I appreciate the offer, but think we have it under control now. Kodiak Knows there was a glitch in their set up and I'm sure they are working to fix it.

[Skillet]

Thanks for sharing the life of a commercial fisherman. Tough job that few can do.

To be fair, Skillet has gills and webbed feet, so it's not as hard on him.

T'wer it true!  I actually am a pretty poor swimmer, and outside of survival suit trainings, have only been actually submerged in the ocean the one time to dive under my boat since I've been a commercial fisherman. Fresh water, no problem - but had you all seen the things I've seen over the years, I'd believe you'd tend to lean my way.  I'd rather run through an August huckleberry patch in Ferry county covered in honey, slab bacon and carrying a pic-a-nic basket than go for a leisurely swim in those black Alaskan waters.

[Taco280AI]

Not to worry, orcas have never, in recorded history that I'm aware of, attacked a human in the wild. A sea lion might think you're worth a bite 

[ctwiggs1]

Thanks for sharing the life of a commercial fisherman. Tough job that few can do.

To be fair, Skillet has gills and webbed feet, so it's not as hard on him.

T'wer it true!  I actually am a pretty poor swimmer, and outside of survival suit trainings, have only been actually submerged in the ocean the one time to dive under my boat since I've been a commercial fisherman. Fresh water, no problem - but had you all seen the things I've seen over the years, I'd believe you'd tend to lean my way.  I'd rather run through an August huckleberry patch in Ferry county covered in honey, slab bacon and carrying a pic-a-nic basket than go for a leisurely swim in those black Alaskan waters.

I'd be more worried about the weirdo hermits you might attract doing that than the bears 

[rainshadow1]

Thanks for sharing the life of a commercial fisherman. Tough job that few can do.

To be fair, Skillet has gills and webbed feet, so it's not as hard on him.

T'wer it true!  I actually am a pretty poor swimmer, and outside of survival suit trainings, have only been actually submerged in the ocean the one time to dive under my boat since I've been a commercial fisherman. Fresh water, no problem - but had you all seen the things I've seen over the years, I'd believe you'd tend to lean my way.  I'd rather run through an August huckleberry patch in Ferry county covered in honey, slab bacon and carrying a pic-a-nic basket than go for a leisurely swim in those black Alaskan waters.

With so many things on deck and in the engine room that can bite you (Not to mention the cooking coming off a diesel stove!), I think the underlying thought of going into the water was one of the tipping points for me. I grew up in it, but the thought of hitting that water, and the boat either running away from you, or sinking under you... that was just a little more than I wanted to keep living with! That thing you mentioned about seeing nothing but water, that was probably my biggest thing. But being in the water was always in the back of your mind.

[RB]

Wow what a year so far! Thanks for the update

[Skillet]

Wanted to throw a quick update out there -

I'm back in the saddle!   

FINALLY got my parts all correct and in one place (long story there I don't want to rehash), and got the boat up and running.  Just in time for the re-opening of our winter king season here in AK, which lasts through the end of April.

Many thanks to @3boys who came up and braved the shakedown cruise with me.  We went out and bonked 21 kings in a couple of days, and he was nice enough to catch me running the gear once on video.  First time ever someone has video'd me running gear, I am stoked about that!

I'll keep posting more on this as things progress, now that the long days of having a broken boat are over.

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[Encore 280]

I'm envious, really nice weather for this time of year up there. Hope you get into some nice Winter Kings!  Good luck, fair winds and following seas!

[7mmfan]

 

[tmike]

What kind of price are you getting?