Second Station for 2520

[MaxOut]

Must Must Have!

And I have the wireless Auto Pilot to boot! They make a great combo.

The auto pilot is no way a substitute for the rear station. Throttle?, Shift?Start?, Stop? None of this is accomplished with Auto Pilot. When trolling throttle is adjusted frequently according to current and wind conditions. My rear station has never been in the way in fact it offers cockpit storage and a place to mount electronics. I can’t think of any reason why I wouldn't want it? Other than the cost. Were do you mount your electronics? Under the gunnels? Where do you mount your speakers and spot light control?

If you are considering it GET IT. You will love it.


On nice days you will drive from there while the wind blows through your hair (if applicable :lol: )

While fishing you will be in the action not running over your crew to get to the helm to make adjustments to the speed and heading.

While docking alone you will accomplish it with ease.

Just my opinion but would not own another boat without it.

 

[HM5]

Yes, what Maxout said

My second station is on the stbd bulkhead, and I feel very comfortable running the boat from there. A friend of mine on a recent boat ride commented that it gives the best of both worlds between element protection and a center console.

I was pulling out of a tight slip at the Newport Harbor Hotel this past summer during the folk festival weekend, surrounded by trawlers and European clorox bottles. Running the operation from the outside station went flawless and many comments from the dock commenting on "that's how it is done". Of course I'm sure that some barley pops and nips of the grape may have had some effect on their judgement :lol:

Anyway I wish there was an outside station on our 2520DVSC tow boat. It would be very helpful during "hip" tows.

 

[MayoChad]

After docking in the gale on Sunday, y'all are preaching to the choir. It would have been SO much easier and safer if I was outside the wheelhouse and could have communicated and worked better with my help on the dock. And, of course, I'm sold on the fishing advantages. One more to add, though. It seems like it could be lonely from the main helm on a nice summer day when the crew is out in fresh air and never comes inside to visit . . . little bitty tear drop.

Anyhow, as an update, I thought it would be useful to share the quote I got from my local Parker dealer for adding a freestanding second station with all new parts. (It's gone up, Capt. Kevin) $4,000 out the door. That breaks down to $2,500 for parts and $1,500 for labor. He said the parts would be a little less if I went with the bulkhead mount.

Since I've never been accused of being shy . . . if anyone has a second station and wants to get rid of it, let me know. Might could work something out!

 

[pelagic2530]

can't wait to see what happens when someone drags a lit up bull dolphin over the side, w/1 fail swoop of the dolphins tail, he throws motor in reverse...throttle full wide open.......hold on boyz.....yeah ha

hint: the dolphin might be the only one left in boat! :lol:

OR: some yahoo stumbles and uses throttle and wheel to break his fall :lol:

I have never seen controls mounted on gunnels on a sportfisherman.

i agree with you.

 

[Megabyte]

Trust me... nobody would be happier than all of us here, if dolphin and tuna decided to take up residence in the Chesapeake.
Trouble is, I think the chances of it happening are somewhere between never and none.

 

[pelagic2530]

Trust me... nobody would be happier than all of us here, if dolphin and tuna decided to take up residence in the Chesapeake.
Trouble is, I think the chances of it happening are somewhere between never and none.

true indeed. but in the lands of Opti and Pelagic, such occurences would not oven be odd. which may account for some of the differences in our opinions.

another reason that im not quite so hot on the idea of a second station is agian that a) i dont fish alone, and i usually have a pretty experienced crew who knows what to do at docktime. b) hard to have twins and a second station, the controls get tricky unless youre on electronic. c) i have the open back option, so i dont feel cut off from the action when in the house.

 

[MaxOut]

can't wait to see what happens when someone drags a lit up bull dolphin over the side, w/1 fail swoop of the dolphins tail, he throws motor in reverse...throttle full wide open.......hold on boyz.....yeah ha

hint: the dolphin might be the only one left in boat! :lol:

OR: some yahoo stumbles and uses throttle and wheel to break his fall :lol:

I have never seen controls mounted on gunnels on a sportfisherman.

Like Megabite said we don't see allot of Dolphin or Wahoo in the Chesapeake Bay?? :shock: :wink:

Many local bay boat builders put the controls in the gunnels for convenience while, trolling, crabbing and checking pots. It’s cheaper easier and doesn't take up any deck space. Besides if you want to land a Wahoo or Dolphin you have the controls right in the fishing zone were you can maneuver the boat to land the fish on the stern or opposite side of the boat (as I have done 100's of times). A good fisherman will make sure a fish is tired before landing it if it is sizable enough to do damage to the boat or crew. I was fishing Mako off my Parker and had a friend of mine hook up on a 180lb on a short line drifting and tried to force it in and land it. Not a good idea to land a 180lb Mako that has not even run yet. As soon as it got 5' from the stern I told him to hold on and put the boat in gear (from the rear station) and took off as the shark lunged out of the water towards the stern of the boat. If I had not realized this potential we would have had a 180lb shark landing in the back of the cockpit with plenty of energy. Instead we dragged him until he was tired and pulled him up without a fight. I can see your point but still opt to have it than not because I can make split minute decisions from the fishing zone. I must admit I have bumped the throttle a few times while landing fish or just moving around the cockpit but has never caused any problems just re-adjust and go on. You would really have to hit it right to go to full throttle. I am not a big fan of mounting on the gunnels but preferred the free standing mounted to the starboard side. I like my gunnels clean and snag free. Nothing to snag lines on or trip over while boarding and cleaning. In heavy seas water coming over the bow makes it's way down the wash boards and would really put the controls through the ringer in the gunnels.

 

[Megabyte]

y'all do have stripers, bunker, don't you?

Rockfish yes. Bunker yes as well, but I don't know of anyone who uses a cast net to catch them nor do I know of anyone who uses bunker as live bait. Chunked or as chum, yes... but not live.

For live bait we use Spot, and those are caught one-at-a-time on hook and line. The spot are used live lining for Rock..

Rockfish really don't put up a big fight once on the deck. Of all the fish we catch, Rock are probably the mellowest. Blues, Spaniards, and Chain Pickerel (the toothy trifecta) are probably the scrappiest.

Not better, not worse... just a different fishery.

 

[B-Faithful]

my father has cockpit steering on his boat.. (no throttles due to having twins and needing two sets of controls). He has no problem pulling tuna, mahi, etc over the side. There is pleanty of room behind the wheel. He uses his wheel all the time offshore for trolling. He has an enclosed cabin with a door.

A lot of big sportfish boats have controls in the cockpit...