New to me Chesapeake

Maybe next year... This is an old Ron Bankes boat that have I have been coveting for years. Going to be a killer fishing platform too.
 
I did also, then I saw the boat, I had bought one this past summer (the boat), no chance to try it out. Glad to see something about them.
 
I have hunted out of a TDB 14, a TDB 17, a South Bay and a Devlin Scaup- this boat blows the all away for handling and sea-keeping. Solid 3 footers on the way in on Saturday afternoon and until I went broadside to the wind, I was totally dry at full throttle- unlike the scaup where I would still be wet. No pounding like the TDB. No risk of bow going under like the TBD or South Bay. Has an old 20 hp long shaft Evinrude on it. It was a little balky. With just me ( I'm 240), 2 dozen cork decoys, gear, etc, my gps had me at 23 mph. Two guys and two dogs, down to 15 mph. Also draws very little ( 2' of water with the motor down works- 16-18" shallow drive). Ideally, I would like a 30 hp electric start, but college tuition is currently interfering.

My girlfriend sewed the blind panels- $175.00 in materials.

I will take out the bow seat and put in a casting deck for the summer and mount my trolling motor on the stern.

Do I sound excited?
 
Chris- I don't know how may they made, but they are nearly impossible to find for sale. This was a friend of a friend deal. I sold my buddy my devlin and used those proceeds to buy this boat.
 
Talked to Bankes, said they produced about 100 of the boats. Said it was designed for use on big, Lake Erie/St Clair type water. Said he loved the boat but people wanted the big high sided designs you see today.
 
Cool, now I really have a relic! I have not hunted out of the newer boats, but as mentioned, I have hunted extensively our of TDB 14 and 17, both in the salt and on Champlain and the Chesapeake is far superior in my opinion. Thanks for the info.

I am going to try and get one more day in at the Cape next Saturday- only a 4 hour drive each way!
 
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John~


I am not familiar with this vessel - but appreciate your enthusiasm


LOA ?


Beam ?


Draft (empty) ?


All the best,


SJS
 
I well remember the ads for them new and secretly lusted after one myself. Have only ever seen one come up for sale within a 100 miles of my location and that was around St. Michaels , Md. couple years ago but they still wanted new price for it. Looks like that hulls begging for a 30 4 stroke to scat at full load capacity.
 
Steve Sanford said:
John~


I am not familiar with this vessel - but appreciate your enthusiasm


LOA ?


Beam ?


Draft (empty) ?



All the best,


SJS
Click to expand...

Steve- here are the specs I found:


Specifications
  • 16 ft length
  • 62" Max beam at waterline
  • 550lbs
  • 12" draft
  • Max hp : 30 hp
  • Short or long shaft transoms available
  • Max Load Capacity: 960lbs
Definitely needs more horses. Two big guys, 2 dozen corks decoys, and various and sundry gear with a 20, against wind and tide slowed me down. I also need electric start. It's wired; although there are gremlins in the electrical system right now. Here's a pic from the stern. No V to speak of in the stern, but that tumblehome prevents the pounding common to flat hull or tri-hull designs.
View attachment chesapeake stern.jpg
 
This would look really good for both striper and duck season moored in front of the house of a friend of ours.

Not a lot of competition over there, either, as boat launch access is sketchy.

You will want the bigger motor, because on good days during striper season we'd want to run downriver a ways.

Got a pole? Can you put a raised poling platform in the stern?
 
Jeff- I have a pole that was on my other boat. There is a bench that runs across the stern that will be the poling platform. I also envision a casting platform in place of the bow seat with a stripping basket mounted to the gunnel on the front of the cockpit. Also, the trolling motor will be in the stern.
 
I ran one of these for about four years in the early 2000?s....my biggest regret was selling that boat. I THOUGHT I needed a DW17 and the chesapeake was history! Boat was perfect....big enough to handle the slop...small enough to push off a bar.

Congratulations....i will buy the next one i see for sale.
 
Chris,

Are you going to use the trolling motor for fishing in the shallows? If so, I would recommend mounting it on the bow deck if possible. They work much better pulling than pushing.

Nice boat.

Matt
 
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