Brix Marine, Port Angeles, Wash., delivered the 48'x18'x4'10" aluminum overnight charter fishing boat Double Down to Soldotna, Alaska-based Big Dan’s Fishing Charters earlier this year. The boat, which was designed by the shipyard, has a draft of 2'4".
“Since the Conception fire, we worked really closer with the Coast Guard to make sure everything was up to new standards,” said Capt. Charlie Crane, Brix’s sales and marketing director. The Conception was a 75', wood-and-fiberglass passenger vessel that docked in Santa Barbara Harbor. During a Labor Day weekend dive trip in 2019, the boat carried 33 passengers and six crewmembers. During the early morning hours of Sept. 2, 2019, a fire broke out while the boat was anchored in Platt’s Harbor near Santa Cruz Island. The fire, which engulfed the boat and led to its sinking, resulted in the deaths of 34 people who had been sleeping below deck. Five crewmembers were able to escape and survived. The boat’s captain was charged with 34 counts of seaman’s manslaughter.
The boat features a walk around cabin, three sliding doors, insulated fish holds, diamond plate decks, downrigger pads, fish cleaning stations, 52 welded aluminum rod holders, clamp on rod holders, pot puller, dinghy davit, eight private berths with personal storage, two queen berths in the pilothouse, hydronic heating system, galley with full-sized fridge, microwave, oven, head with shower, seating for 12 in the main cabin, aft deck bench seating, bow lounge seating, and Kryptek vinal wrap.
The electronics suite includes twin Garmin 16" MFDs, PS60 panoptix thru-hull transducer, airmar 509LHW thru-hull transducer, GSD26 sounder module, GT 30THP clear-vu/side-vu transducer, NEMA 2000 networking, 215 AIS, six-foot open array radar, GXM 53 satellite weather receiver, Fusion series stereo and four-channel amplifier.
Ship’s service power to run all these electronics comes from a 6-kW Northern Lights genset.
Main propulsion is the responsibility of four Yamaha outboard engines, producing 425 hp at 6,000 rpm each. Yamaha’s Hel Master system dictates controls with joystick steering and setpoint functionality. Double Down has a cruising speed of 35 knots.
Tankage includes 800 gals. of gasoline, 50 gals. diesel, and 55 gals fresh water.
The vessel has 216 sq. ft. rear cargo deck, accommodations for three crew and 18 passengers, and is U.S. Coast Guard certified Subchapter T.
Double Down was delivered in April 2022.
