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It was a surprising week for the family. We went to the Seattle boat show with only the intent to get ideas and see new shiny things.

One of the first boats we boarded was the 35' Walk around Cat. Knew that something equipped like that was way out of our price range.

Josh Armstrong sat down with me and we went through their smaller boats and we took some drawings and spec sheets home. I met with Josh a few times over the last week to ask questions and to nail down the details. Yesterday we put down a deposit and agreed for a February 2014 delivery. Our boat will be the boat on display at the 2014 Seattle boat show.


Here are the details

30' x 11'
Full width cabin with full cuddy cabin
Twins Hondas. Josh said I would be fine with 225s, I am thinking I might want to bump it up to the 250s
Twin station with electronic controls. Hopefully Honda controls will be out.
Dual board doors
Rear transom door
Boarding ladder
Stand up head
Electric hot water off of shore power
Wash down
Combo dinghy crane/pot puller (electric)
Windlass
Wallas cooktop
Mini fridge
Wallas DT30 cabin heat with defroster ducts
LEDs
3 wipers
Convertible dinette
Garmin electronics
200 gallons of gas
35 fresh water
35 black
Shower
Insulated cabin
Radar mast fold down
Bottom paint
Lots more details and photos to come.

Wow, can't await for the build pics. I went to look too, apperently I am doing something wrong since I didn't get a new Armstrong.

Very nice! I know that akcat's held 360 gallons. Range is very nice to have. You do not have to fill them up, but the extra capacity is something to think about.

spoiled one wrote:Very nice! I know that akcat's held 360 gallons. Range is very nice to have. You do not have to fill them up, but the extra capacity is something to think about.

Josh Armstrong thought that was the biggest that would fit? They are going to do CAD drawings for the metalwork as well as electrical for approval.. We will see if more will fit.

The pricing was about 10% more than Duckworth, comparing a 28' Dcukworth to a 30' Armstrong monohull. The Cat was about 15% more than a 28' Duckworth.

Interesting. I am pretty certain that his 30 footer held 360. Time will tell. This should be a fun build to watch. This should be an awesome family cruiser!

Hey Chtucker:

Congrats on your purchase. I look forward to your build photos and checking out your boat at next year's boat show. I hope you got a discount or some other consideration in exchange for allowing Armstrong to use your boat for next year's show! where will you keep your boat?

Cheers,
Mike

A small discount and a bunch of fab work details....

Going to keep the boat in fresh water here on Lake Washington.

Well congrats. I've seen a number of Armstrong 30 walk-arounds and they are all awesome!

The long search is over! Good one

Awesome!!! Make sure you post lots of pics when the build starts.

Awesome!!! Congratulations!! Can't wait to see the build pictures.

Scott

Pete is correct, I had 180 gal per side. My boat had twin 300 zukes and had plenty of power, but I would think 225's would be working hard pushing a 14,000 lbs boat.

akcat wrote:Pete is correct, I had 180 gal per side. My boat had twin 300 zukes and had plenty of power, but I would think 225's would be working hard pushing a 14,000 lbs boat.

Josh said 10klbs... I guess 250s are going to be an upgrade asked for..l

What kind do speed/ fuel usage are you getting?

Any other thoughts?

Nice Score! You won this year's Biggest Best Most at the Seattle Boat Show. 250's or step up to the Yamaha 300s. Kicker? Setup same as on the one at the show? With the switch to work the kicker or the mains?

If only I had some more money. But We are both getting new boats. Just getting them in different widths and Creature comforts. Me Wife doesn't go fishing or boating with me so this will save me some money!

Congrats. the only B!tch is you gotta wait a year.

Congrats on the boat. I called them several months ago to price out a boat for me. Never heard back. I guess that extra 8' and six figure price difference was the difference lol!

Niiice!! Can't wait to see pics.

Chtucker wrote:

akcat wrote:Pete is correct, I had 180 gal per side. My boat had twin 300 zukes and had plenty of power, but I would think 225's would be working hard pushing a 14,000 lbs boat.

Josh said 10klbs... I guess 250s are going to be an upgrade asked for..l

What kind do speed/ fuel usage are you getting?

Any other thoughts?

My boat when shipped, trailer empty on fuel, and nothing else inside weighed 13,800. My performance #'s were 32knts cruise = 18-24 gal/hr ( depending on load). Are you getting a "t" transom? I had port and starboard doors in the cockpit which were really nice too. You will really like the boat and Josh and his family are really great to work with. I had a problem with the boat and he flew up to Anchorage and fixed it personally ( we also may have went out and had a couple to many drinks and went snowmaching, not at the same time:)
)

We are getting the T transom. No kicker (yet)

I got a good feeling talking to Josh and his wife. They have a son about the same age as our twins.

I have a lot of time to think about things, but I have to contain my what ifs to contain costs.....

Figure out where to spend and where to save...

First "change order"

Twin 250s instead of the 225s..

Still want to stick with Honda... Otherwise it would have been 300 Yamahas. I like the Honda warranty/service better around here.

Drawing.. (boy that was a PIA converting a portion of PDF into a JPEG and then shrinking it!)

Nice Howard! thanks for sharing your drawing. I'd be interested in the floor plan too. When do you expect construction to start? I'm sure you will be happy with the hondas. I've heard good things so far about the new 250. I like my evinrude etec (minimal maintenance), but to each his own. Thanks again for sharing!

Mike

Sweet looking Howard! Rails kinda low for the front. Kids and all. mine will be 30" with a kick rail at the bottom. Tuna fishing on the bow and for the Grand kids when they are running with me.

The build isn't supposed to start till August.

I am torn between 250 Hondas and 300 Yamahas.. I don't want to have any regrets.

It is also good and bad to be so drawn out. More time to obsess about every detail.

Luckily I am not going too nuts on the interior!

Biggest dilemma is probably going to be electronics... What I want vs what is practical and make sen$$e.

I am foregoing a bunch to make this happen, both on the boat and at home. A kicker, inverter, and a hard bottom dinghy will have to wait. A trailer and truck to tow it would add another 1/3 to the total cost! We bought a more modest house and I will continue to take the bus to work. Heck by using the bus I save enough to pay for covered moorage close to the house.

Once the admiral saw the width of the cabin it was a done deal at the show.

goatram wrote:Sweet looking Howard! Rails kinda low for the front. Kids and all. mine will be 30" with a kick rail at the bottom. Tuna fishing on the bow and for the Grand kids when they are running with me.

They are going up to 30"

AKcat has the experience 300's are the way to go. Furuno Navnet 3d Black Box (since I am spending your money ) I am probably shorter than Goatrams grand kids ............Tall rails are good.

Looking forward to seeing the Armstrong baby book on her build.