Sunday in the rain........

[Johnnybear]

My son Jake and I headed out crabbin and prawnin today. Well we remembered the camera this time:-). The seas were real nice and calm. Put on the rain gear, boat was all rigged up from last weekend, and headed out around noon. Only one or two other sporties out there today (probably due to the weather). You'll have to mind the rain drops on the lense (my bad:lol:).

Here's a shot of the first mate getting the traps started.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Crabbing%20and%20Prawning/PrawningandCrabbingFeb09001.jpg

Here's his stack completed. We run the legal 4 traps per licensed person for a total of 8. We run them 2 per line 50' apart.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Crabbing%20and%20Prawning/PrawningandCrabbingFeb09002.jpg

Here's a shot of a real nice "woodie" pleasure boat. I'm still trying to guess the length on that one. It was huge! I wonder what it was used for before the conversion.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Crabbing%20and%20Prawning/PrawningandCrabbingFeb09005.jpg

Jake with some prawns. Puts a smile on your face everytime.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Crabbing%20and%20Prawning/PrawningandCrabbingFeb09006.jpg

The captains turn.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Crabbing%20and%20Prawning/PrawningandCrabbingFeb09007.jpg

Photo of my new prawn puller (I still haven't got around to building one). He hauls about the first half and then makes me do the rest:icon_frow:D.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Crabbing%20and%20Prawning/PrawningandCrabbingFeb09012.jpg

Cooler full of Dungees and a bucket full of prawns. We replace the sea water on the crabs about every 15-20 minutes cause they piss themselves and contaminate the water. Flushing them helps keep them real fresh. I would love to rig up a continuous pump and flush system but that's for another day.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Crabbing%20and%20Prawning/PrawningandCrabbingFeb09011.jpg

We harvested 7 legal dungees and here is Jakes tally (marked on paper towel:lol:) for the prawns. He counts every single one and throws back the females etc. etc. It's not always about the limit its just priceless time enjoying what you love to do with the ones you love.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/Coal_miner/Crabbing%20and%20Prawning/PrawningandCrabbingFeb09014.jpg

[kyleklassen]

love the puller... last time i was out the guys beside us had an electric puller and i had nothing not even a block on a davit like yours. i beat them pulling every time ..2 traps per line also. if its not hydraulic its not worth it . nothing wrong with a little exercise. great story and pics.

[kyleklassen]

that was a few years ago too maybe those pullers are faster now? no real advantage that i saw other than lazy/weak. good for old guys.

[Johnnybear]

that was a few years ago too maybe those pullers are faster now? no real advantage that i saw other than lazy/weak. good for old guys.

I built a few a couple of years ago using the cheap costco winches. They were slow and you can pull em in faster by man power. Some of the more expensive units really pull em up fast (170 ft. per minute) but they are expensive (around $1200). I have been putting off building a new one cause I really need the workout :D.

[300ultra]

cheap puller= pulley wheel with small sprocket bolted or welded on ,starter motor from wrecker ,plate of steel to bolt starter motor and pulley to , on and off switch. its red neck but it works, starter wears out ,back to the wrecker there cheap starters

[tomahawk]

Nice ! I'll have to get out and giver a try soon!

[Sitkaspruce]

Hey Johnnybear

Nice trip!!! We were supposed to head out yesterday, but it blew a storm up here, so no fresh prawns or crab for us.

Also, you might want to check the math on your Paper Towel. I get 425 prawns, but it looks like 525:eek::wink:, and you might want to check your daily limit per person.....

Just a heads up

Cheers

SS

[Johnnybear]

Hey Johnnybear

Nice trip!!! We were supposed to head out yesterday, but it blew a storm up here, so no fresh prawns or crab for us.

Also, you might want to check the math on your Paper Towel. I get 425 prawns, but it looks like 525:eek::wink:, and you might want to check your daily limit per person.....

Just a heads up

Cheers

SS

The one in front of the 75 at the top was Jakes carry over from the 12 in the second column;). Sharpies and paper towel don't make for the best writing plaform:smile:. The total was 320 (picture is a little blurry). To bad you couldn't make it out. It was flat calm most of the day down here.

[Statler]

Nice catch. For pulling your traps couldn't you rig it the same way as you would for your anchor? Just run your rope through a pulley or shackle on a float. Attach a clip that can run through the pulley but will not allow it to go back through it unless depressed. Then all you have to do is tie the free end off onto a cleat. Engage the motor and drive away. The traps or anchor is pulled straight up supported by the float. All you have to do then is just pull in the rope and coil it down in a bucket and the traps or anchor are hanging just a couple of feet below the float. A lot easier on the body then hand over hand on a rope with a weight attached that could be down several hundred feet. Might help especially if hauling traps several times a day. Cost next to nothing too.

[Johnnybear]

Nice catch. For pulling your traps couldn't you rig it the same way as you would for your anchor? Just run your rope through a pulley or shackle on a float. Attach a clip that can run through the pulley but will not allow it to go back through it unless depressed. Then all you have to do is tie the free end off onto a cleat. Engage the motor and drive away. The traps or anchor is pulled straight up supported by the float. All you have to do then is just pull in the rope and coil it down in a bucket and the traps or anchor are hanging just a couple of feet below the float. A lot easier on the body then hand over hand on a rope with a weight attached that could be down several hundred feet. Might help especially if hauling traps several times a day. Cost next to nothing too.

I have read about and seen this system done before but have never tried it myself. I think the best method is an electric, gas motor, or hydraulic system for ease of use etc. It's the cost factor. I will break down one day and build a new electric puller but for now it's a good work out. I'm quite out of shape these days and anything extra in life that's like exercise is good for me:smile:.

[f350ps]

The M.V. Songhee was a supply ship for the navy. K

[scallywag]

what about just tieing rope off and pinning the engine the kicking it down and doublin back and pulling in a slack line

[Johnnybear]

The M.V. Songhee was a supply ship for the navy. K

Thanks. Yeah I looked into her and she's 95' long, built in 1941, and currently working as a kayak tour Mother ship.

[guest]

The secret to using an Anchor lift is the size of the scotchman it's attached too. The bigger the better, don't pull to fast or to slow, about 7 to 8 knots is good, keep an eye on the scotchman it will pop out of the water so to speak when the trap it up and under the lift mechanism. I pull 2 at once, hand bomb the second one in, been doing it a while, too cheap to buy a puller, don't do it enough.
If you get a puller 550 to 600 bucks the best one is made By Ace Line Hauler, buddies have them, they are great and good with any problems should you have any.
CT

[Johnnybear]

I like to pull in from the side with the rope coiling up in the garbage can that can be seen in the photos. I don't need to be messing around with rope and anchor systems etc. Clean and easy with repeatability and no mess with ropes. Fast resets with nice clean coiled rope and no worries. I tag my 4 ropes (420' ea.) with different colours of electricians tape at each end so I know the ends when looking into the can.

I have seen the Ace working and I'm not that impressed by it for the dollar amount spent. I would much rather have one of these even though they cost more. I like having the traps come up at waist height and not have to bend over the rail for them.

http://ezpull.net/store/comersus_listCategories.asp

Alot of folks use these in the States just south of us and Alaska. I like the design and it comes with a hands free option. The speed of pull beats the Ace hands down. The motor is the key. IF I was going to buy a puller instead of making one this is the route I would look into.

[Salty]

I have seen the Ace working and I'm not that impressed by it for the dollar amount spent. I would much rather have one of these even though they cost more. I like having the traps come up at waist height and not have to bend over the rail for them.

http://ezpull.net/store/comersus_listCategories.asp

Alot of folks use these in the States just south of us and Alaska. I like the design and it comes with a hands free option. The speed of pull beats the Ace hands down. The motor is the key. IF I was going to buy a puller instead of making one this is the route I would look into.

A buddy and I recently went halfers on this gas powered puller and if you're interested in one I highly recomend giving this one from MacKay in Washington state a look. We got it through go2 marine in Seatle. Here's yours truly up Knight Inlet last Monday beside our new pride and joy.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/Salty303/minstral4.jpg

I've used a few different types of electric pullers and while OK for casual use they are mere toys compared to this sucker. As you can see they seem to fish OK too :biggrin:

[Johnnybear]

A buddy and I recently went halfers on this gas powered puller and if you're interested in one I highly recomend giving this one from MacKay in Washington state a look. We got it through go2 marine in Seatle. Here's yours truly up Knight Inlet last Monday beside our new pride and joy.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c242/Salty303/minstral4.jpg

I've used a few different types of electric pullers and while OK for casual use they are mere toys compared to this sucker. As you can see they seem to fish OK too :biggrin:

Arrhh!! Now there's a fine puller :cool:. Nice. I like your thinking. Great picture too by the way:D.

[Salty]

Thanks Johnny. .. BTW that puller worked out to about 12 hundred bucks all in. So the half share is about what a big electric puller is worth, but gives us three times the machine IMO. Going halfers is a good way to go if know someone you trust that's also in the market for a puller. :idea: Or if a guy goes it alone 12 hun is just lunch money when we're talking boating anyway. .. :lol: