Ocean Master Blog

Another Good Fishing Trip!

2011-07-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Mark, Here is another good picture of our new Ocean Master after a successful fishing trip. We went out 35 miles yesterday, then traveled East/West about 20 miles. In all, we went about 100 miles of travel in open water.

Thanks for the great boat!

Milton

Louisiana Tour co.

www.louisianaswamp.com

New Ocean Skiff 27 Video

2009-07-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

137 NM Offshore on a 20 Year Old Ocean Master

2009-06-09T08:24:00.001-07:00

[click photo to enlarge - awesome photo!]

Dear Ocean Master-

Just another trip on the 20 year old piece of fiberglass. This rig sits 137.7 Nautical Mile off there end of the Galveston Jetties. Twin 250 Suzuki 4 stroke --- fuel burn 264.2 gallons on a 300 nautical miles trip. Speed of 28/30 knots.

Thanks for the craftsmanship----------Sonny M. - Hull # OMB31006

Wheelchair Accessible Ocean Master

2009-01-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

Hull side door

We are currently in the process of completing an Ocean Master 31 that has numerous custom features. The new owner is wheelchair bound but is not letting that get in the way of his passion for boating. This special Ocean Master has a custom door in the side (see photo above) and unique helm controls that allow the owner to operate the vessel while seated in his wheelchair.

Believe it or not, the new owner intends to operate the boat solo - and we've set it up so he can. Just goes to show you that desire is more important than physical capabilities.

Stay tuned for more pictures as we finish rigging the boat.

UN-MANNED, Adrift For 4 Days in 10-12 ft Seas and Washed Up on the Beach - And No Real Damage!

2009-01-19T12:49:00.001-08:00

Hard to believe but this one is true. One of our owners uses his Ocean Master 31 as a tender to his big yacht - a 100+ foot vessel. This big yacht spends much of the year in charter so the Ocean Master tender gets its fair share of hard use. But this time it was really put to the test.

While being towed behind the big yacht in 10-12 foot seas well offshore, the Ocean Master broke loose (it was later found out the tow eye snapped). Unfortunately, the crew of the big yacht had their hands full just navigating the primary yacht in the storm and the disappearance of the Ocean Master was not noticed until it was too late. They lost track of it in the big seas.

After a few days of searching, the Ocean Master was given up as lost. Here's where the story gets amazing. The captain of the large yacht was then driving along the Florida beach and noticed a crowd forming around a boat on the sand. Yep, it was the Ocean Master and he had stumbled upon it by chance while driving back to his home base.

After being adrift at sea, UN-MANNED, for 4 days in a rough storm and then washing up on the beach, the Ocean Master hulled suffered no real damage! The boat was towed home and touched up and is now back on the water. The only lasting damage was a big dent...in the beach.

Postscript:
As if the above wasn't enough, when speaking to the captain he said years earlier the same boat had broken loose from its mooring and ended up on the beach in CT. That time they rolled it on logs back out to the water and it was good to go. That happened twice, so this boat has had a total of 3 encounters with the shore in it's life...

After 17 Years It Was Time to Add a Second Ocean Master

2009-01-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Katanga I - a 1991 model

Katanga II - a 2006 model, refitted in 2008

One of our owners recently inquired about a new Ocean Master 31 to replace his current boat, a 1991 model that had served him well. But he couldn't stand the thought of getting rid of his original boat (the Katanga I) so he decided instead to add a second Ocean Master, the Katanga II. The Kantanga II is a 2006 model that has just undergone a refit.

Both boats now are now in the faithful service of their owner and he expects many more years more out of both of them.

Info provided by Dean Stuhlmann at Keys Custom Marine

336 Featured in Southern Boating Magazine

2008-06-23T14:09:00.001-07:00

Pair of Pilothouses

2008-06-16T20:02:00.001-07:00

Pair of Ocean Master Ocean Skiff 27's in Europe. Both are powered by single diesels and feature pilothouse with full 360-degree protection. As you can tell from the photos, both are engaged in commercial operations. Click here for more info on the 27 Ocean Skiff Diesel with Pilothouse.
www.oceanmasterboats.com/news/pilothouse.htm

336 Sport Cabin - With Single 600-hp Diesel

2008-06-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

We recently had the 336 Sport Cabin undergoing certification for European use - here are a couple of photos. The new Sport Cabin features full 360 degree enclosed cabin. As an option it can be ordered as a Day Boat (ie, open bulkhead). This first boat had an open transom as it is destined for commercial search and rescue work, though it would also be perfect for use as a dive boat (commercial or just for the diehard recreational diver).

More pictures here:

http://www.oceanmasterboats.com/gal-336-sport-cabin/336-sport-cabin-1.htm

New 336 Express - First Day Fishing

2008-06-16T13:18:00.001-07:00

Must be good karma - the very first day the new 336 Express went fishing she came back with a nice assortment of keepers. This boat is based in Wrightsville Beach, NC and is the demo for our new dealer there, Cape Customs (www.capecustoms.com).

From the archives

2008-06-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Marine photography - it's not all bikini models and sunny days...

fyi, Ocean Master 34 and yeah, it was pretty snotty on this particular day.

Ocean Master 31 Survives the Storm

2008-06-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

somewhere in this mess is an Ocean Master 31

True story.

One of our 31's spent 3 days getting beat up in a nasty storm in Italy - note the waves washing over the seawall. The vessel, named the Cormorano, was literally pushed under water by larger boats nearby that landed on top of it. You can't see the Cormorano in the photo because it was underneath a couple of boats that broke loose. The Cormorano took three days of relentless beating by the storm and other boats being thrown on top of it...repeatedly.

Now we're not gonna tell you it came out of the storm looking pristine. It didn't. But when the owner had it re-floated her goal was just to salvage something from the boat as a keepsake. No one thought there would be anything more than bits and pieces of the boat left - many vessels nearby were complete losses.

But amazingly, when the Cormorano was rescued she was repairable. And below are the pics to prove it. Obviously the Cormorano has a great owner!

The Cormorano Now - Looking Good

Pesca Panama - Ocean Master 27's

2008-06-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Some shots from Pesca Panama (http://www.pescapanama.com/fishing_reports/index.html). They run a fleet of Ocean Master 27's. When you get to the site, check out the link titled Fishing Reports - be prepared to see some awesome fish pics.

27-H Diesel

2008-06-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

We were recently at one our dealers and snapped a few pics of one of our 27-H Diesel boats for sale. This one was matched to a Mercruiser I/O.

Catch Us On TV - Tonight!

2008-02-15T14:46:00.000-08:00

In City Limits Fishing, professional angler Mike Iaconelli is challenged to catch a limit of fish entirely within the boundaries of some of the USA’s greatest cities - and Captain Joe Mattioli (On the Bite Charters) and his Ocean Master 31 are there to provide the fishing platform.

Feb 15th - Schedule and Channel Info

(when you get to Versus site, enter your zipcode in upper left to find your local channel number. The show is titled City Limits and is scheduled for Feb. 15th on Versus)

Cap't Joe Mattioli - On The Bite Charters

336 Express

2008-02-14T09:27:00.000-08:00

The NEW 336 Express just launched - photos taken off Fort Pierce inlet. The boat is headed to our newest dealer, Cape Custom, in North Caroline.

31 Express Side Console

2008-02-14T09:25:00.001-08:00

Recent photos of the 31 Express Side Console taken in Marathon, Florida Keys. More photos and info coming soon.

Highborne Cay, Bahamas

2008-02-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Just delivered to Highborne Cay in the Bahamas. This is the owner's third Ocean Master! More pics to come shortly. FYI, while there, Southern Boating Magazine was shooting its annual swimsuit issue - there are wose things that can happen when delivering a new boat to the Bahamas... This particular Ocean Master was sold and rigged by Keys Custom Marine in South Florida. More pictures here: http://www.oceanmasterdealer.com/thisArticle.cfm?x=10

How About In Red?

2008-01-08T10:18:00.001-08:00

The Murry Bros. fishing boat from the old files. This photo was taken quite a few years ago but it struck us how nice the red hull color was. Not a typical color for sportfishing boats but it works well, especially with the ivory deck.

Just planting a seed for those of you shopping for a new Ocean Master...

Semi-Custom and Rigged to YOUR Specs

2008-01-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

Every Ocean Master is semi-custom and built for a particular owner. This means your Ocean Master will be set-up and rigged to YOUR specs. As an example, note the custom woodwork and controls on this Ocean Master 31 (work done by Keys Custom Marine, our south Florida dealer).

Over the 3 decades we've been in business we've pretty much done everything you can imagine. Call and let us build your ultimate boat.

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Oops! Forgot about the tide...

2008-01-05T14:53:00.001-08:00

Came across this old shot - one of our owners in Louisiana. He misjudged the tide a little and had a spend a few hours waiting for the next one. He joked at the time that he was just testing his 31 out to see how it would do as a flats boat. Not so good, apparently.

No harm, no foul. Tide came back things were fine. No damage to the boat.

Remember. Tide Tables...

12,000 Miles Through the Bahamas

2007-12-17T08:53:00.001-08:00

Dear Ocean Master

This was the fifth year that we’ve been able to take Brass Ring on a six to eight week tour of the Bahamas, from one end to the other. After the trip, the ship’s log revealed that during the past five years we were in Bahamian waters for 206 days during which our traveling and trolling added up to about 12,000 miles.

We spend more time in the southeastern Bahamian Archipelago where Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay are located. It’s “fishy” down there and it’s far from Florida. It’s only a small, serious group of fishing people that travel there…no big crowds. That’s fine by us.

The return trip to The States from the Bahamas this year was a real adventure due to the weather. On departure the weather was terrible!...20 foot seas and 40 knot winds. It took five days for the seas to subside from unsafe to uncomfortable and I finally made the two day, 350 mile, return trip pounding through 8 foot seas

John S.
Brass Ring
Ocean Master 31’

New 33 Sea Trialed - Runs Great!

2007-12-16T16:37:00.001-08:00

More Photos - Click Here

Today we sea-trialed the new 33 Center Console.

Expectations were high for the new model and everyone was pleased. The new owner's captain, Matt Braisted, was there along with Ocean Master president Mark Hauptner and Dean Stuhlmann, our south Florida Ocean Master dealer. Conditions were a little lumpy but that's what we build em for, so no problem there!

The new owner will use her as a tender to his 110 foot yacht. It's his second Ocean Master tender and according to the captain, Ocean Master is the only boat made that can stand up to the hard use of year round chartering. Of course the owner is keeping his other Ocean Master as a personal boat now that the new 33 has been delivered.

The boat has not been completely rigged - the tower is still under construction. So expect more photos when she is fully rigged.

Sea Trial - Ocean Master 31 Center Console

2007-10-17T16:30:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos of a recently launched 31 Center Console. The boat was headed to Texas for some hardcore fishing. She sports a custom hull color, an option now available on our boats (we're waiting for someone to order one in Fighting Lady Yellow like the old sportfish boats from the 60's). Conditions were a little lumpy for the boat's first day.

She was equipped with bracket transom and twin 250-hp outboards. And of course the custom hull color. Click on the link below for more photos.

Click here for more photos

Video - 27 Ocean Master

2007-10-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

Ocean Master 27

Video of the Ocean Master 27 taken during filming of ShipShapeTV.
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A 30 Year Track Record

2007-10-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

1976, give or take...

We were going through some old files at the office and came across this photo of one of the first 31's we built. Best we can recollect, the photo was taken in 1976. If the lines look familiar, it's no surprise. The 31' center console has been in continuous production since 1975.

Here is a little more on the history of Ocean Master

The US Navy Fishes Ocean Masters

2007-10-11T10:14:00.001-07:00

Four Ocean Master 31' boats used by the Navy as charter boats, may very well be world record holders.

Operating in the treacherous waters of the Indian Ocean, much of the time in 8' to 10' close coupled waves, the Ocean Masters used by the US Navy at Diego Garcia have just surpassed 300,000 miles of use. This means that each boat has traveled the equivalent of 12 times around the world.

Master Chief Petty Officer Brian Limer, a serviceman in the Navy stationed at Diego Garcia, chartered one of the 31's up to three times a week for the year he was based at Diego Garcia. Said Brian "Until just recently, the Navy did not adhere to changing stages in weather. The captains were ordered to run the charters in all weather conditions."

The captain of the 31' Ocean Master that Brian fished from has been the captain of same boat for the last 9 years. The Navy has no plans to retire the Ocean Masters.

Below is a video from YouTube of fishing on Diego Garcia. You can see the Ocean Master 31 in the background on some of the shots.

Got Swordfish?

2007-10-10T18:41:00.001-07:00

These photos just arrived from one of our customers here in South Florida. Looks like a successful night of fishing by any measure.

Congrats!

Pesca Panama Fishing Video - Ocean Master 27's

2007-10-10T14:17:00.001-07:00

"Say Joe, ya think this one's over the minimum?"

The world famous Pesca Panama lodge in Costa Rica employs a fleet of Ocean Master 27's with twin outboards. These boats are run day in and day out, year round. This is fishing at it's finest, enough to make us want to hop on plane and fly down asap. Their website has some great fishing photos (go to the section called Fishing Reports) along with a video of the lodge and the Ocean Master boats they use. Check it out.

Video on Pesca Panama Site

27' Rescue Boat Launched

2007-10-10T13:55:00.000-07:00

9.7 mpg during an average day's use!

The latest Ocean Master goes into commercial service. This customer just took delivery of a new Ocean Master 27 Diesel Pilothouse boat for rescue work in Europe. The agency is very pleased with the vessel and reports incredible fuel economy - 9.7 mpg with the 250hp diesel during an average day's use!

116 Miles Offshore, Seas 12 - 15 Feet and Beer Running Low!

2007-10-10T08:02:00.001-07:00

Oooh, NOT a good time to be running low on the brews...

Dear Ocean Master-

We were 116 nautical miles offshore, the weather that morning was clear, water was slick calm. You could have ran buoys with a tournament ski boat it was that calm.

About 4 hours after sunrise a few clouds appeared. About an hour later all hell was breaking loose. A tropical depression had formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Seas went to 12 - 15 feet, winds exceeded 80 knots according to the people who were on the rig we pulled in behind. We kept the nose into the seas for 5 to 6 hours, till it was safe to head back into Galveston. The storm had moved a little giving us a beam sea to ride back in. We went straight in at 24 knots.

Other than getting wet from the driving rain there were no other incidents to report. Well I guess I lied, we WERE running low on Red Dog beer.

I am often asked when am I going to get another boat and I just grin at them and ask WHY?

The saying around the dock is, “I am getting a boat and it rides as good as an Ocean Master.” I just smile and say OK.

The boat is coming up on 20 years age, 10 years of that were very hard fishing years and I can tell you, looking at the boat you would never guess its age. Almost all of our trips were 100 or more nautical miles. We run at night to the fishing grounds and never fear sinking the boat or any other surprises.

Even at age 56 when everyone is getting more "COMFORTABLE" boats the only thing I would trade the 31 for is a 34 Ocean Master, maybe, and I have fished a lot of boats.

Sincerely,
Sonny M.

1989 Ocean Master 31 Walkaround with twin 200hp Yamahas, fishing out of Galveston Texas

test track

2007-10-08T16:28:00.001-07:00

test track

Ocean Master 27 in Rough Seas

2007-10-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

Some video shot of the 27 diesel taken by our dealer in Italy. At the time of the shoot, winds were howling at 40 knots!

New Seating Layout on the 31

2007-10-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

This is a new layout that was developed by one of our dealers in conjunction with the owners. Everyone was quite pleased with the results and we expect this to be an option moving forward. Let us know what you think!

Yeah, We Build 'Em Tough

2007-10-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

21 Years of service!

Dear Ocean Master

Our boat is 1986 Ocean Master 31. As I understand it, she started out her life on the other side of the law being used to transport "goods" between the Bahamas and the Mainland. [ed. note - here in South Florida this is known as the pharmaceutical import/export business and persons involved in said business are known as international investors...]

Seized by customs in the late eighties, they used her as a patrol boat for several years around the Caribbean. They had a fourth fuel tank added to extend the range (the vessel holds just shy of one thousand gallons) and also mounted a first generation Thermal imager (seen under the radar).

After Customs the boat was transferred over to the U.S. Navy and stationed in Cape Canaveral as a missile recovery vessel. The Navy re-powered her with Honda 225s' which is the current government contract engine.

After about five years with the Navy I was able to get her and with a government grant, and a lot of horsetrading, get her re-powered with Yamaha 300 HPDIs. I replaced the electronics with a Garmin suite, and am in the process of putting on a new 5000M thermal imager. She serves in the fleet of a Port security task force in Charleston called SeaHawk under the U.S. Justice department and even though she is the oldest vessel in the fleet she is still considered the "Flagship".

The immense deck area makes her the optimum vessel for Dive operations, Sonar towing Ops and Flying our ROV.

Thanks,

Joe

Cpl. Joe M.
North Charleston Police Department
Marine Patrol Unit.