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Welcome to another CFN Shakedown Cruise.<\/i><\/p>\n
Periodically, we will focus on a new launch and dig a little deeper into what went into the project \u2013 whether it be a new model or a hull well-known to the New England commercial market.\u00a0 What we hope to do is provide insight and information our readers can apply to their own setups \u2026 and, as always, offer up a little entertainment along the way.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
\u2014Editor<\/i><\/p>\n
LAMOINE, ME \u2013 Homestretch hook-up and sea trials will never be the same again for Stewart Workman and the SW Boatworks crew.<\/p>\n
Obviously, building a boat that will be featured on a nationally-televised reality program has its plusses as far as publicity goes.\u00a0 Let\u2019s face it: having one of your boats on the National Geographic Channel\u2019s Wicked Tuna<\/i> series is the commercial fishing world\u2019s equivalent of how Dodge must\u2019ve felt about the Dukes of Hazzard picking a Charger to paint up as the General Lee.<\/p>\n
But there was also the fact that once Gloucester, MA fisherman Dave Carraro\u2019s new Tuna.com was trailered out of the SW shop in Lamoine, ME and exposed to the public eye in the Union River in Ellsworth, a camera was generally handy\u00a0somewhere.<\/p>\n
There were folks taking \u201cLook at me!\u201d selfies with their iPhones with the black-hulled Tuna.com in the background.<\/p>\n
There were local TV affiliates wanting to do interviews with Carraro about his new Calvin Beal 44.<\/p>\n
Heck: even the Ellsworth Police Department\u2019s Facebook page touted the fact that they were escorting Tuna.com to the water on launch day.<\/p>\n
It definitely added a dimension to things that usually isn\u2019t there for SW Boatworks.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing like hanging upside-down through a deck hatch to tighten a connection \u2013 knowing that a film crew is standing on the dock \u2013 to make you conscious of plumber\u2019s crack.<\/p>\n
Skipper Dave Carraro, on the other hand, is used to it.<\/p>\n
Dave was pleasant and polite to the media folk and fans who wanted a photo or a quote or two.\u00a0 But spend a moment or two with him one-on-one and there was no doubt about it: he was ready to get things wrapped up and head down the coast to Gloucester.<\/p>\n
It was time to go fishing.<\/p>\n
![\"DSCF0145\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/DSCF0145.jpg\")
Dave Carraro at the helm. (Brian Robbins photo)<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"DSCF0116\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/DSCF0116.jpg\")
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The Boat<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
LOA \u2013 <\/i>44\u2019<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Beam \u2013 <\/i>17\u20196\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Transom \u2013 <\/i>16\u20192\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Designer \u2013 <\/i>Calvin Beal Jr.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
For more information contact SW Boatworks at (207) 667-7427 or via e-mail: <info@calvinbealboats.com>.<\/i><\/p>\n
Big and comfy<\/b><\/p>\n
The fact of the matter is, the television exposure and merchandising opportunities are what they are.\u00a0 But Dave Carraro takes his fishing \u2013 both charter and commercial \u2013 very seriously.<\/p>\n
And that, he says, is why he chose a Calvin Beal 44 to replace his previous older, smaller Tuna.com.<\/p>\n
\u201cA big part of my business is charters,\u201d says Carraro.\u00a0 \u201cWe average 100 charters a year between April 1 and the third week of July.\u00a0 From then on, we\u2019re commercial fishing up until Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo big things I was looking for were room and comfort. \u00a0 Word of mouth led me to SW Boatworks and the Calvin Beal models \u2013 the 44 with its 17\u20196\u201d beam offered the sort of room I was looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carraro says he met Calvin Beal (see sidebar) during the building process and was impressed by the Beals Island designer\u2019s passion for his boats.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can tell that Calvin takes a lot of pride in seeing his legacy carried on, even though he\u2019s no longer involved in the building process,\u201d says Carraro.<\/p>\n
Carraro says he was looking for the deck space for his six-person charters and a stable working platform.<\/p>\n
\u201cComfort for my charter customers and comfort for me and my crew when we\u2019re commercial fishing \u2013 that was important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
And the verdict after running Tuna.com from Ellsworth down to Northeast Harbor for final rigging and sea trials?<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 44 is a totally different animal than my old boat,\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cMy other boat was steady when you were moving \u2026 but you\u2019re only moving about five percent of the time<\/i>.\u00a0 The rest of the time you\u2019re sitting at the mercy of whatever comes your way.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis boat is ideal,\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cHead-to, side-to, stern-to \u2026 it\u2019s a rock-solid working platform.\u201d<\/p>\n
Knowing how Carraro feels about his new 44-footer \u2013 and knowing how in-demand the model is right now, it\u2019s amazing to think it almost never came to be.\u00a0 Calvin Beal was just getting the wooden strip-planked plug underway when the economy took a nosedive in 2006.<\/p>\n
\u201cI almost gave up on it,\u201d says Calvin, shaking his head.\u00a0 \u201cBut my wife Jeannine told me to keep going.\u00a0 I finally figured, \u2018I\u2019ve started it; I might as well finish it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
There are a lot of people who are glad he did \u2013 including Stewart Workman and Dave Carraro.<\/p>\n
![\"DSCF0001\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/DSCF0001.jpg\")
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The Designer<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Calvin Beal Jr. says the inspiration for the 44-footer that bears his name was simply to \u201cbuild something that wouldn\u2019t be outdated in a few years.\u201d\u00a0 Mission accomplished: Calvin\u2019s 44\u2019x17\u20196\u201d mold was part of a multi-model package purchased by SW Boatworks in 2008; today it is the shop\u2019s most popular hull.\u00a0 \u201cI feel good about Stewart Workman buying my molds,\u201d says Beal.\u00a0 \u201cHis workmanship is great and he puts out a good product.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
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Performance and economy<\/b><\/p>\n
At one point during our conversation, I ask Dave about overnighters.\u00a0 And that\u2019s when I get a flash of the very<\/i> serious Dave Carraro.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely,\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cOnce our season starts, the boat\u2019s out every day \u2013 often 3 to 5 days at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looks me dead in the eye.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not here to catch fish \u2013 I\u2019m here to catch fish and make money.\u00a0 Going out and returning every day is nothing more than wasting money.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to do this with a business sense,\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cIf I stay out, the only thing I spend out there is my time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alrighty, then: we\u2019ve established that economy is key to Dave\u2019s operation.\u00a0 How did he feel about his new 44-footer\u2019s 1000-horse C18 Caterpillar once they\u2019d had a chance to run her for a few days?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the boat close to working trim for sea trials,\u201d says Dave.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I\u2019m really happy with the performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
AccuTech Marine Propeller spec\u2019d a 32\u201dx34\u201d 4-blade for Tuna.com\u2019s C18 Cat\/2.04:1 ZF gear combo and it dialed in well, says Dave.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt wide-open throttle, we were turning 2350 RPM and pulling 96% load on the Cat.\u201d\u00a0 (The C18 is rated at 2300.)<\/p>\n
And cruise?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe actually have two cruise speeds,\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cFor charters, we\u2019ll cruise\u00a016-17 knots \u2013 but when we\u2019re commercial fishing, I\u2019m really only looking for a 10-knot cruise \u2026 and I\u00a0can do that with this boat and only\u00a0burn 10 gallons an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
And the bottom line?<\/p>\n
\u201cMy old boat would do 10 knots\/10 gallons an hour \u2026 but now I have almost twice<\/i> the working space.\u00a0 This is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dave\u2019s style of fishing doesn\u2019t call for much trolling, but when he does, his ZF CruiseCommand controls (see sidebar) offer the option.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, we can troll at about 3.5 knots,\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to recalibrate it down to 2.5 \u2026 when we do<\/i> troll, that\u2019s the speed we want.\u201d<\/p>\n
R.E. Thomas provided Tuna.com\u2019s 2-1\/2\u201d AQ-22 shaft and running gear while Soundown keeps the big Cat quiet with engine room insulation.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
![\"DSCF0136-2\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/DSCF0136-2.jpg\")
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The Controls<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Dave Carraro has his choice of three helm stations aboard Tuna.com, depending on where the action is \u2013 main bulkhead, aft of the wheelhouse on the starboard side, and at the transom.\u00a0 All three stations feature a ZF CruiseCommand single-lever electronic control head, which give Tuna.com\u2019s C18 Cat and ZF 500 marine gear their marching orders.\u00a0 The CruiseCommand system features plug-in installation and push-button set-up for ease of programming.\u00a0 That transom station will no doubt see its share of green water, but not to worry: each CruiseCommand control head is self-contained and watertight.\u00a0 For more information, contact ZF Marine at 1-877-896-4040 or visit <www.zf.com\/marine>.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lights \u2026 camera \u2026<\/b><\/p>\n One has to wonder: was the Wicked Tuna<\/i> series even a consideration during the building of the boat \u2026 as far as layout, for instance?<\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2013 not at all,\u201d says Dave.\u00a0 \u201cYou have to remember: when we take charters, that\u2019s six extra people.\u00a0 When we\u2019re commercial fishing and they\u2019re filming, it\u2019s only one guy with a camera.\u00a0 They have several fixed cameras \u2013 the helms, the cockpit \u2013 but the one guy besides us is nothing.\u00a0 He\u2019s non-existent.\u201d<\/p>\n How about \u2013 and I gave Dave the option of \u201cno comment\u201d if he preferred \u2013 the idea of staged moments or repeating something for the camera?<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we\u2019re fishing, we\u2019re fishing,\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cNo concessions. \u00a0 Yeah, if we\u2019ve landed one and we\u2019re bringing it aboard, I\u2019ll make sure they can get a good shot of it \u2013 but we\u2019re not going to take a chance on losing a fish.\u201d<\/p>\n He pauses, then adds, \u201cReally?\u00a0 The only time they\u2019ve asked us to do something over was early in the morning, walking down the dock.\u00a0 They\u2019ve had us do it a few times: they\u2019ll shoot your feet one time; then they\u2019ll shoot your face \u2026 but really, that\u2019s about all.\u201d<\/p>\n There were no National Geographic Channel cameras in the wheelhouse during our visit, but there was a lot of Simrad equipment, supplied by BOE Marine.\u00a0 BOE also provided elements of Tuna.com\u2019s lighting arrangement, along with New England Bow Thruster and Hubbell.<\/p>\n A Northern Lights genset will be the source for spark at sea during the hours laying-to.\u00a0 Wiring (an extensive job for this project) was handled by Kramp Electronics.\u00a0 Steering and hydraulics were supplied by Lonnie\u2019s Hydraulics.<\/p>\n Tuna.com\u2019s wheelhouse began as a standard CB 44 molded unit; the windshield was moved ahead 20\u201d and the housetop was lengthened overall.<\/p>\n Accommodations above include a small galley and settee in the wheelhouse, along with cabinetry by Custom Marine Plastics Inc.\u00a0 Dave\u2019s Pompanette captain\u2019s chair is matched by a Pompanette bench on the port side.\u00a0 Down below are an oversized v-berth, a hanging closet and an enclosed head.<\/p>\n Dave Carraro is big on regular maintenance and spare equipment and fluids; his 44-footer allows for a spacious engine room (even with the C18) and plenty of storage area.<\/p>\n Metal fabrication for the project was split between Nautilus Marine and Esposito\u2019s Welding.\u00a0 Esposito also built Tuna.com\u2019s twin aluminum fuel tanks, with a total capacity of 800 gallons.<\/p>\n \u00a0 The Dog<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n On hand for Tuna.com\u2019s sea trials (as he is for a good chunk of the fishing season) was Dave Carraro\u2019s dog Pickles.\u00a0 The 9-year-old Wheaten Terrier is as fierce about fishing as his master \u2013 perhaps even more so.\u00a0 Pickles equates the starting of the main engine with hooking up a tuna \u2013 to the point where he gets agitated if someone even moves in the general direction of the main helm. For more information on Tuna.com Charters (and Pickles), e-mail <tuna.comcharters@yahoo.com> or visit <www.fv-tuna.com>.<\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Homeward bound<\/b><\/p>\n On the evening of June 19 at 8:13 PM the post went up on the FV-Tuna.com Charters Facebook page: \u201cBye-bye, Maine.\u00a0 14 long months and we\u2019re ready for tuna charters!\u00a0 20 knots, calm seas and 139 miles to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Tuna.com was officlally headed home, looking to be headed out on her first charter within a couple of days.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Stewart Workman and his crew were back in the shop with plenty of work ahead of them.<\/p>\n Dave Carraro had a few weeks of charter trips before the commercial tuna season got going \u2026 and the Wicked Tuna<\/i> filming begun.<\/p>\n SW Boatworks had no immediate plans for further television exposure \u2026 but one never knows. From the National Geographic Channel folks: \u201cViewers will have to wait until early 2016 to catch Dave Carraro on the fifth season of\u00a0Wicked Tuna, but there\u2019s plenty of bluefin battles, high-stakes drama, and intense competition on the popular spinoff series\u00a0Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to commercial tuna fishing in the Outer Banks, there\u2019s no such thing as Southern hospitality.\u00a0 Gloucester captains Dave Marciano of the\u00a0Hard Merchandise, TJ Ott of the\u00a0Hot Tuna, and Tyler\u00a0Mclaughlin of the\u00a0Pinwheel\u00a0\u00a0are in for a rough ride asthey race to catch fish before the government catch quota runs out.\u00a0 But Mother Nature has her own agenda – the weather in the Outer Banks is notoriously unpredictable, so the New England captains must be ready for extremely rough seas, high winds and erratic currents.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cThe Gloucester captains will also have to contend with a tough group of\u00a0highly skilled Carolina fishermen: Captain Greg Mayer, last season\u2019s champion and captain of the\u00a0Fishin\u2019 Frenzy; Captain Britton Shackleford of the\u00a0Doghouse, plus two new competitors – local legend Charlie \u201cGrif\u201d Griffin of the\u00a0Reels of Fortune, and Captain Tami Gray of the\u00a0Reel Action, who helms an all-female boat.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Welcome to another CFN Shakedown Cruise. Periodically, we will focus on a new launch and dig a little deeper into what went into the project \u2013 whether it be a new model or a hull well-known to the New England commercial market.\u00a0 What we hope to do is provide insight and information our readers can … <\/p>\n![\"DSCF0058\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/DSCF0058.jpg\")
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\nTuna.com\u2019s bilge pump switches happen to be mounted in the spot where the ignition key was on Carraro\u2019s previous boat; every check of the bilges sent Pickles into a \u201cWhere\u2019s the tuna?\u201d frenzy. \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n![\"DSCF0154\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/DSCF0154.jpg\")
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\nReality boatbuilding, perhaps?
\n![\"DSCF0079\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/DSCF0079.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"WT-Logo-Blue\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/WT-Logo-Blue.jpg\"){kind=logo}
The TV Series\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"