WEST HEAD-BUILT
Jace ’ s Jem is equipped with custom-built , high-capacity livewells on the upper deck that keep the lobsters fresh until they arrive back to shore . Now , as soon as lobsters are removed from the traps , they are promptly deposited into the livewells , clearing space and creating a more organized onboard environment .
THE FINISHED RIG HAS FOUR BUNKS ON BOARD COMPLETE WITH A FRIDGE , STOVE , AND MICROWAVE FOR THE CREW ’ S COMFORT . IN FACT , IT ’ S FULLY LIVABLE , EVEN THOUGH JIM DOESN ’ T CURRENTLY TAKE IT OUT FOR MORE THAN ONE DAY AT A TIME .
All of the mattresses in the bunker are custom cuts that fit exactly as the boat and bunks were built , accommodating curvature and tight spaces . Jim notes that they are very comfortable and he and the crew love them .
The Nickels and Dimes crew consists of two full-time employees during the season , with part-time hires throughout the year as needed . With the crew as his greatest asset , Jim was looking to build a boat that would keep everyone on the crew safe , warm , and dry while out on the water .
In addition to the bunker upgrade , the new boat has a “ slaughter house ” that shelters the crew from the wind and the waves while they are up on deck . This allows the crew to perform in their roles much more comfortably and enables them to get more work done without needing to retreat to the lower deck for a break .
On the old boat , windows would leak and make it damp and uncomfortable downstairs . The tightly sealed windows in Jace ’ s Jem don ’ t allow any moisture to come through . This preserves humidity and retains the heat . Jim enjoys now being able to crank up the floor heating system on cold days so his crew can quickly get dry and warm when the cold weather is harsh .
Lighting was another important aspect in this build . On Jim ’ s previous boat , the lighting was poor and made it difficult to see the lobsters and perform various other tasks at nighttime . The lighting on Jace ’ s Jem is much better and allows the crew to get much more work done after dark .
Getting on the Water
Jim knew his deadline for having Jace ’ s Jem on the water was tight , so he was thoroughly impressed when West Head exceeded his expectations and had the craft on the water four days before the start of the season .
On the first day on the water just before the season , however , there was some confusion that resulted in Jace ’ s Jem hitting the wharf and breaking a ribbon . When Jim called Dana up and told him about the accident , Dana got the boat in right away for a repair
“ on the house .” Even though the damage was not a building flaw , West Head took it upon themselves to make sure the boat was ready for the season . Jim couldn ’ t have been happier with this service .
The rest of the season went very well . Jim notes that Jace ’ s Jem is well-balanced , and while other fishermen experienced issues with their new custom builds , he didn ’ t have a single problem . The worst he encountered were a few minor adjustments that he could easily make himself .
Jim says he would absolutely recommend West Head for their professional service , the crew ’ s thorough knowledge of boat building , going above and beyond to make sure he was satisfied , and producing a top-quality boat he is proud to call his own .
Happy fishing , Jim !
11