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It's great in the Keys!
Sea Boots Charters, Capt. Jim Sharpe
P.O. Box 421203
Summerland Key, FL 33042-1203
Office: 305-745-1530
Fax: 305-745-1532
Email: seaboots5@aol.com
Over
some fifty years of fishing Captain Jim has built and fished more than
forty boats. In 1990 Capt Jim met with Claude Torres in Key West. Claude
was building a 43-foot fiberglass hull with wheelhouse and flying bridge.
Rumor has it that the hull was designed after the Norseman Hull built
in Miami for many years. The Norsemen was made of wood a hard chime-planning
hull planked with mahogany. It was known for speed and sea worthiness
for many years. Claude Torres fiberglass boats were built for the commercial
fisherman in Key West and the Lower Keys. They stood the test of time
and the ruff sea's encountered in the winter cold fronts west of Key
West and Dry Tortugas. In time the Torres Boats became popular as sport
fishing boats with more than 200 boats fishing from New York to Texas.
The Sea Boots is Born
In 1988 Capt. Jim had Claude build one of the Torres 43 Foot hulls with
wheelhouse and flying bridge. This was a shell only, no floor, bulkheads
etc. Capt Jim and his son Jim began the task of finishing the boat.
Capt. Jim's vision was to have no wood in the boat; this would eliminate
weight and keep the boat as light as possible. This was accomplished
by laminating sheets of ½ inch closed cell foam with fiberglass
for all bulkheads, walls and floors. Even the keel was foam and fiberglass.
Capt. Jim knew from past experience that his new boat must be lightweight
for speed and economy but more importantly it must draft no more than
39 inches of water. This is a tall order considering that the Sea Boots
is carrying 700 gallons of fuel, 200 gallons of water, two crew and
six anglers. Not to mention a 900-horse power cat diesel, northern
light generator, air conditioners and equipment. And lets not forget
a twenty-six foot high tuna tower with controls. Well after two years
of careful planning and a lot of work Capt. Jim's vision came to reality.
A big thank you to my son for all his hard work helping to make the
Sea boots a reality.
The Finished Product
The Sea Boots is truly a remarkable vessel. She cruises at 21 knots burning
20 gallons of fuel per hour and only drawing 30 inches of water while
planning. The shallow draft was accomplished with a tunnel built into
the hull; it also reduced the shaft angle to 6 degrees. Most boats
have a shaft angle of 10 to 12 degrees. The lower shaft angle results
in more foreword thrust. Front windows were eliminated to remove the
risk of sudden bad weather and ruff seas entering the wheel house area
and flooding causing the center of gravity to suddenly raise. A self
bailing cock pit with 14 inch scuppers were designed to shed water
quickly in the even of a wave breaking into the cock pit. Seven water
tight bulkheads with automatic pumps guard against hull breach. Low
profile tuna tower with extra strong bracing gaurdes against sudden
micro burst of wind around bad weather. These design features come
from Capt. Jim's more than fifty years of experience in the Florida
Straights were 80 to 100 mile-an-hour wind bursts around thunder storms
are common at certain times of the year. An 8.5 KW Northern Lights
generator powers all the comforts of home including air conditioning,
microwave, refrigerator, etc. The spacious flying bridge will seat
comfortably all six anglers under a large shade top this is important
to catch those cool summer breezes and to watch the action in the baits.
The tuna tower extending some twenty-six feet above the water (employees
only) enables the captain to spot game fish swimming near the surface
for sight casting with live bait. Big dolphin, sailfish and cobia are
the target at certain times of the year. In summary the Sea Boots offers
anglers the maximum in creature comforts with lots of cool and comfortable
seating, the best offshore light tackle from spin to trolling rods
and reels. The captain and mate are friendly, knowledgeable and professional
with 130 years of experience between the two.
Come and experience the difference.