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California Spearfishing Talk here about spearfishing on California's Pacific Coast, and post those reports and photos! |
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07-21-2011, 03:12 PM | #46 |
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Location: Santa Barbara
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Your boat is pretty incredible Lance. I looked around forever trying to find the perfect 21ft-24ft Radon but only found ones that either needed to be repowered, required a total overhaul, or both. Ended up buying into the first Australian built Radon (I think).
Actually its only a 2001 26x9 Radon hull w/ a Yanmar Diesel. The rest was built by a shipyard outside of Perth, Western Australia. We get approx 2.5-3mpg depending on load, but cruise along at 16.5-17.5kts which defintely is a trade off as the fuel bill goes down, but the beer tab goes up. Its definitely not built like a Don Radon boat as our pilothouse is a lighter weight construction, flush deck,etc...The hull is what really counts and it still delivers. Don is now selling Radon hulls again and if you are adventurous or plain crazy - you could build your own doghouse on the legendary hull, but would probably be best to let the master take care of it.. Here a few pix of my Radon stepchild...
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07-21-2011, 04:00 PM | #47 |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Just saw this Radon on CL...never seen one a hull with a pilot house situated towards the stern.
http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/boa/2492397873.html |
07-21-2011, 05:13 PM | #48 |
I bungee my freezer shut
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Location: Santa Barbara
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Bow pickers. A nice design set up for coastal gill netters and some urchin guys still swear by them. My uncle had a 32' Radon bow picker up in Morro Bay that he used for live-catch rockfishing. Strange boat, very solid but it only cruised at 8kts due to being severely under powered. Handled some very gnarly conditions up there.
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07-21-2011, 07:34 PM | #49 |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Barley - i have seen pics of your boat before and always wondered why the cabin was a little different than other Radons i have seen...very nice boat you have there it's pretty cool it came all the way from Oz
here's a great example of the dependability of a Radon...towing Vessel Assist...which is towing another boat: Last edited by sbsurfer; 07-22-2011 at 03:33 AM. |
07-21-2011, 09:29 PM | #50 |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Love the photos. Other Radon owners, do share!
Here are a couple more I found of my 26' The photo above was shot while hiking a canyon on the front side of Santa Cruz. I always liked this one. Typical afternoon wind obvious in the background, with the boat looking so serene anchored in the cove.
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Lance Merker Camarillo, CA |
07-21-2011, 09:49 PM | #51 |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Cool, thanks for posting all of this. That last photo spells out why it's worth it to own your own boat.
For that boat on CL is that a pretty typical price for an old Radon? I know it depends on condition, but is that price typcial for one in decent condition or a money pit? |
07-22-2011, 12:01 AM | #52 |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
That's your Dad, right Lance?
Hey, what ever happened to Kevin Costner's Radon? And did he have a larger on built?
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07-22-2011, 01:23 AM | #53 |
I drive boats
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
The 26' got sold. He had a new one built, it's lengthened out to 37'. Sweet friggen boat. The IPS drives are so cool. We did some work on it and I got the chance to go out when the volvo tech was setting it all up. The boat did 50 kts like it was nothing.
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07-22-2011, 01:25 AM | #54 | |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Quote:
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Hendrix Manufacturing-Machining/Welding-(805) 967-3050 |
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07-22-2011, 01:33 AM | #55 | |
Wong army Soja
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Quote:
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http://www.pacificseasafaris.com Big Island Overnight Spearfishing Charters Wong Spearguns/Local made in Hawaii http://www.dwong@wongguns.com Del Pacificos dive group Est. 1969 http://www.delpac@delpacificos.com Keep Country Country |
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07-22-2011, 03:36 AM | #56 |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
one of my favorite Radon photo's...a sweet little 16
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07-22-2011, 03:53 AM | #57 | |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Quote:
Check boat #3 His old 26' was pretty sweet too. |
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07-22-2011, 08:15 AM | #58 |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Joe, yes that's my dad (Ron Merker) with 7 WSB taken in the same morning -- back when that was legal.
Kevin's old boat sold over a year ago. Before he was a Radon owner, I took him out a couple times on my 26'. He loved it so much he had Don build him one exactly like mine. Here's a photo of our boats together at Santa Rosa island (his has the green stripe): A few years later, he had Don build him a 36'. Very tricked out with computer controlled IPS drives -- the boat can move in any direction for amazing docking control with a joystick. It's got a hot tub, and more cool features than you can imagine -- but no underwater cameras! Here's a photo of it:
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Lance Merker Camarillo, CA |
07-22-2011, 11:16 AM | #59 | |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
Quote:
I ran into Kevin at Los Arroyos in Montecito one night and since I was wearing a Radon tshirt he struck up a conversation. He said his 26 was his favorite out of all the boats he's ever owned. The new one he has is one of the best ones I've ever seen. Waaaaay better than his trimaran from Waterworld |
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07-22-2011, 11:17 AM | #60 |
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Re: California Dive Boats -- the legend of Radon (pictures)
The only thing this thread is missing is a topless chick on a Radon!
That 36' is insane! The heads at the helm give a great perspective of how big that boat is. |
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