BDers,
I just recently learned, by reading old posts here, that the Qualifier105 ws no longer a LR boat. From what I could glean from Google, she was sold in around 2012? to some company in Alaska.
My FIRST trip on something other than a 3/4 day boat, or the Redondo barge, was on the predecessor of the Q105 called the Q95 in 1964. I had saved enough money from my paper route and mowing lawns to go out on a overnight Albie trip. Knowing absolutely nothing, I still managed to hook and catch 3 albies. The swells that day were 8 to 12 feet. There were times when you could see the albie you were fighting in the swell over your head.....honest. I never got seasick, and I thought all tuna trips were like that. I was in absolute heaven. I was a poor kid with a single Mom, and we made very good use of that tuna.
Fast forward 36 years. Wifeo gave me a slightly belated (and long dreamed of) 50th birthday LR trip, as long as she could come and fish too (
). Of course we went on the now larger Q105. And instead of bunks, they had "staterooms"...whooohooo. We took several trips on the Q105 over the next few years, and always had nice trips. One of my memories was going up to the bridge, and talking with John Klein. I couldn't stay long, because I couldn't BREATHE! Holy Smokes (slight pun, sorry) the guy was a living smokestack. He knew his fishing, but my Gawd, did he chainsmoke.
Anyhow, my research on google and here never said WHY the Q105 was sold. DId Klein retire, and sold her to get retirement money? Did she finally get too old and needed so much repair it wasn't economic to keep her? I KNOW that someone here on BD knows the story, and if you had the time, I'd love to hear it.
There is a saying: "You always remember your first." I think it's not only true for #$#&*%, but also for your first long range experience. The Q wasn't the fanciest LR boat out there, but she could fish. To me, she rode really well.
Thanks for the info.
I just recently learned, by reading old posts here, that the Qualifier105 ws no longer a LR boat. From what I could glean from Google, she was sold in around 2012? to some company in Alaska.
My FIRST trip on something other than a 3/4 day boat, or the Redondo barge, was on the predecessor of the Q105 called the Q95 in 1964. I had saved enough money from my paper route and mowing lawns to go out on a overnight Albie trip. Knowing absolutely nothing, I still managed to hook and catch 3 albies. The swells that day were 8 to 12 feet. There were times when you could see the albie you were fighting in the swell over your head.....honest. I never got seasick, and I thought all tuna trips were like that. I was in absolute heaven. I was a poor kid with a single Mom, and we made very good use of that tuna.
Fast forward 36 years. Wifeo gave me a slightly belated (and long dreamed of) 50th birthday LR trip, as long as she could come and fish too (
Anyhow, my research on google and here never said WHY the Q105 was sold. DId Klein retire, and sold her to get retirement money? Did she finally get too old and needed so much repair it wasn't economic to keep her? I KNOW that someone here on BD knows the story, and if you had the time, I'd love to hear it.
There is a saying: "You always remember your first." I think it's not only true for #$#&*%, but also for your first long range experience. The Q wasn't the fanciest LR boat out there, but she could fish. To me, she rode really well.
Thanks for the info.