pondfisher Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 Well, I never thought this day would come, but I'm putting the Catch A Fire up for sale. This boat has been my pride and joy for the past 17 years but it's time to shift gears. I bought the boat in 2005 on consignment from a shop in St. Petersburg that was selling it for an elderly man who bought it new at Jack's Marine, Tampa, FL, kept it in his garage but never used it. The seller thinks it had about 50 hours total during those first five years. Lucky me. Since then the boat has been garage kept and meticulously cared for - washed after every use and detailed in the garage after every use. In addition to the great care I gave her, I made upgrades all along the way. This is arguably one of the cleanest, most "tricked out" MA 17s you'll find. If you're not familiar with the Master Angler, it's an extremely versatile hybrid skiff that will both run shallow and eat up chop like no other 17 ft. out there. The boat is known for it's legendary smooth and dry ride and wave crushing capability. It has tons of storage and deck space and has been called "the biggest little flats boat out there". And it catches fish like nobody's business! Skinny water fly fishing or deep water grouper digging - this boat does it all. 2000 MA 17 Yamaha F115 SHO (2018 - 115 hrs. - 3 yr. warranty remaining) Yamaha Talon SS 4 blade, 16 pitch prop Magic Tilt Trailer with constant upgrades (2000) Minn Kota Terrova i-pilot 80 Trolling Motor (2019) Bob's 4" Jackplate SIMRAD GO9 (9" screen - on adjustable ram mount, 3D imaging, Sidescan) Power Pole 6' Custom Poling Platform Custom Casting Platform Custom SeaDek work by Castaway Customs Baystar Hydraulic Steering JL Audio Marine Stereo (four 6.5" coaxial speakers, 400 watt JL Audio amp) Custom wrapped steering wheel Custom upholstery work by Sandy SoRite (4" thick bench cushions and center console cushions) Custom backrest w/rocket launcher rod holders (by Quality T-Tops) Custom see-thru livewell lid On-board 2-bank battery charger 20 gallon livewell Plumbed live-release well Two Odyssey Batteries for cranking and house (Group 24) Two Aquamate Batteries for trolling motor (Group 27) White rub rail rope replaced with black rope Hydraulic closer arms in aft large hatches Lenco Trim Tabs Southco SS locking latches on bow and aft storage hatches Stiffy Push Pole (20') Sea Claw Anclor (8 lb. or 12 lb.) 50’ high-end anchor rope Two inflatable dock bumpers Four PFDS and all Coast Guard equipment High-end bow and stern dock lines Custom built full-length teal boat cover Custom built center console beige cover Cut out anchor locker to fit larger anchor Tools and supplies for motor oil change, lower unit gear case lube change, F/W separator, etc. File of all maintenance and upgrades for the history of the boat Log of all trips $30k 813-765-7381 Tampa, FL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveC Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 What a very sweet sled... the custom touches are awesome and well considered.... I know its gotta be a tough one to sell, i love my 2000 17' MA If I didn't have one this boat would be at the top of my list! Good luck...! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondfisher Posted September 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 27 minutes ago, DaveC said: What a very sweet sled... the custom touches are awesome and well considered.... I know its gotta be a tough one to sell, i love my 2000 17' MA If I didn't have one this boat would be at the top of my list! Good luck...! Thank you Dave. This was indeed a tough decision. I've put my heart and soul, and blood-sweat-tears into this boat... and a LOT of wallet, lol. I just found myself fishing on foot mostly these past few years, and, I'm considering a move to the mountains to fly fish the days away after retirement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 3 hours ago, pondfisher said: I'm considering a move to the mountains to fly fish the days away after retirement. thanks for all your grouper posts....get ready for a big day when you catch a 2 lb brookie it's a different world for sure....solitude, clean water, and a whole lot of frustration Enjoy....GLWS....great boat DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondfisher Posted September 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 24 minutes ago, Wanaflatsfish said: thanks for all your grouper posts....get ready for a big day when you catch a 2 lb brookie it's a different world for sure....solitude, clean water, and a whole lot of frustration Enjoy....GLWS....great boat DC Thanks DC! It'll be a bit before I can make the move to be a trout bum but you nailed it... it's the solitude and cool, clean water that I fell in love with. Getting 7X tippet wrapped around a midge, wrapped around a midge emerger, wrapped around my rod tip, etc. (which happened a number of times on my last trip), that I'll have to work on! In the meantime, I still have a pile of grouper tackle if anybody wants to hit my lucky pilings! 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondfisher Posted September 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2021 SALE PENDING… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted September 8, 2021 Report Share Posted September 8, 2021 That didn't take long! As Bear Claw said, in the movie Jeremiah Johnson... "Saw it, right off." Beautiful boat! The new owner found a gem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondfisher Posted September 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2021 41 minutes ago, geeviam said: That didn't take long! As Bear Claw said, in the movie Jeremiah Johnson... "Saw it, right off." Beautiful boat! The new owner found a gem! Thank you. So bittersweet. She was a part of my life throughout my prime adult years. The new owner is a MBG Forum member… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted September 8, 2021 Report Share Posted September 8, 2021 11 hours ago, pondfisher said: Thank you. So bittersweet. She was a part of my life throughout my prime adult years. The new owner is a MBG Forum member… Man, that's great to hear (on both accounts). Welcome to the cult, forum member! And Pondfisher, even though you're gonna be a trout bum and only have to toss a fly 3.5 feet to catch fish the size of our bait, you are still part of the cult - there is no leaving. I have no doubt that we'll see you on the cover of some high-faluting fly fishing mag in a drift boat with a poling platform on the back . . . Congrats on the pending sale and sorry for your loss! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondfisher Posted September 9, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2021 SOLD! Take good care of her, MBC 2001! Signing off for now, pondfisher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dave Posted September 9, 2021 Report Share Posted September 9, 2021 What a beautiful boat! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulligan Posted September 10, 2021 Report Share Posted September 10, 2021 I don’t know if I should say congratulations or I’m sorry. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondfisher Posted September 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2021 25 minutes ago, mulligan said: I don’t know if I should say congratulations or I’m sorry. I’ll take both. Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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