How We Found Our Dream Sport Fishing Boat! The Story of Speechless

Finding any boat can be difficult-- but finding your dream Sport Fishing Boat in a brutally competitive market requires a little luck and fate, which is exactly what happened with the purchase of Speechless.
In this video, follow "The Professor" (Capt. Ron Edwards) and "The Student" (Marcus Sheridan) as they take a journey from Reedville Virginia down to Beaufort NC to pick up their new boat, and then the return trip by ocean over 250 miles in one day all the way back to the Chesapeake Bay-- and the storm they hit along they way.
Special shoutout to Blackwell Boatworks as the builder of this boat...

[@riverakers]

I remember bringing my Dad’s first sport fisherman home from NJ where he bought it back to Newport News Va.Small by sport fisherman standards it was a 36 ft Hatteras. This was in the 70’s. We had smooth sailing all to way back until we hit the Chesapeake Bay also.5 to 7 ft seas. NW.25knts. gusts to 35 or 40. So I know how it feels. Great to watch young men like yourself experiencing these type of trips.The new boat will bring many unforgettable memories.You already have one under your belt.

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Appreciate your kind words very much! We're sure excited for the journey!

[@Darth1182]

Bofort in NC Bewfert in SC

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Yep, I'm a slow learner JA, that's a good way to remember it though!

[@Darth1182]

@@saltwaterfishinguniversity all good. I’m from NC but now live in SC. It took me awhile haha. Enjoy the channel! You’re living my dream

[@reggiewhite8381]

Some of the best fishing boats come out of Wanchese, NC, a lot of history in boat building there. Good find, the Blackwell has some great lines on her. Congratulations sir

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Appreciate that Reggie!

[@alexandersushko6211]

Great video! Thanks for sharing….Been living in the S.F. Bay Area for the past 30 years; wanting to retire on the coast of N.C. soon; originally from the Chesapeake Bay Area. Looking forward to coming back to the Atlantic and hopefully see you out in the water. Your channel is informative and will chart with you and the professor!

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

That's awesome you're coming back east Alexander! Please come by the boat sometime at Pirate's Cove when you do, would love to meet!

[@kennydean2595]

Cool. I live across the river from morehead. Enjoy it

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Thanks 🙏

[@tombrown7577]

think i would have checked the forecast first but I understand! You made a good choice!

[@codybenton1869]

That’s my dream to own a boat like this! Badass ride!!

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Appreciate that Cody. Folks at Blackwell build one heck of a boat, that's for sure. Doesn't ride like a 40' at all. Feels more like a 48' to be honest. Come by our slip in Pirates Cove if you're ever around, we'd love to meet you.

[@oseadfishing3646]

Congrats on the new boat! I grew up fishing the Chesapeake around the mouth of the Potomac. Spent many hours trolling around that Target Ship.

[@oseadfishing3646]

Now I’m a Florida Transplant and enjoy the offshore fishing here in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Love it!! Bet you're loving the Gulf!!

[@oseadfishing3646]

@@saltwaterfishinguniversity yes indeed! I grew up in Spotsylvania but spent eight years in the navy. Got station here in 2003 and never looked back. I mainly bottom fish and deep drop but on occasion troll for Wahoo and black fin.

[@richardbeese7635]

Hey guys I have a small Grady I fish up here in Jersey out of the little egg inlet, I mentioned this before your Blackwell looks pregnant. I Love it I'll take the express over a convertible any day catch um up

[@bqoutdoors]

Great video fellas! Be launching out of smith point next weekend.

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Nice!! Targeting Stripers?

[@melissaroth6194]

Congratulations!!!!

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Thanks Melissa!

[@carlosllama9979]

Awesome boat man great purchase.. she really got tested and came through like a champ…💪💪💪 Here’s my question what’s the sticker on something like that??

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Appreciate that Carlos. 40' Express boats like this obviously range quite a bit, but the used market, depending on make and year, is often in the 250k to 1.5 million. This one in in the middle range of that, as it's a Blackwell.

[@Gardis72]

I always enjoy your videos my friend. I'm wondering what the fuel cost was to bring that vessel up to VA. You couldn't have made that voyage on one tank. Very exciting for you, fair winds and a following sea. Gardis in CT

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Dittos Gardis72. We actually did make it on one tank. The boat gets about .9 miles per gallon, thats with the generator on, so she is great on fuel...just not a speedster w a 22kt cruise.

[@stephenscott963]

New to channel, congrats on boat, she’s a real beauty! Two questions if you don’t mind, did you say gen seacock clogged and you put vessel in reverse and that fixed issue, or did I hear it wrong? If true, is that a normal first step for fixing that particular issue, never heard of that, but I’m fairly new to boating! Also what year, and would u possibly post approx price, I’m going to start looking for one, really love everything about it, any plans to show all around the vessel interior, engine room etc? Great videos, thank you!

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Thrilled you're here Stephen! Yes, that is a common problem and quick potential fix. The boat is a 2001, about 500k cost before improvements. We have a video coming out this week talking about what we like and dislike about it, so stay tuned!

[@seadawgs1962]

I’m just starting to look for dream sport fishing boat, approx 35’. You were close to home town of Hampton VA where my dad, brother, and myself built and owned Southall Landings Marina. I am now in Naples Florida on the Gulf of Mexico

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Nice!! Any sense of what you're looking for Jeff?

[@seadawgs1962]

@@saltwaterfishinguniversity I love a CABO sport fisher, maybe a Viking or Luhrs. 34' minimum. But I would like a convertible over an express.

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

@@seadawgs1962 Nice!! Good luck man!

[@seadawgs1962]

@@saltwaterfishinguniversity my wife still has family in VA… we may need to take a trip up and stop by for an experience on your charter! Get my feet wet again.

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

@@seadawgs1962 Absolutely!

[@mitchellwalker5752]

I fought my first wahoo on that boat, that was my buddies boat “retriever”.

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Yes, that's exactly right Mitchell-- Burke's boat!

[@robertdrake836]

Absolute beautiful boat. What was it about the Jarrett Bay you didn't like?

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

It actually had a structural crack in one of the main streamers.

[@nelsonmiller832]

Yeah I was the lucky person who found that crack during the survey. It is a amazing boat good luck with the Blackwell!!

[@SD-kp1yk]

Blackwell is a solid beauty for its age. Cats? JB was likely a lot newer shame it had damage.

[@SD-kp1yk]

next time if your ever down that way it's worth a trip to the jb factory. kids in a candy store nicest family in the boat buis. Good Luck with BW

[@captpepin]

MHC and the Outer Banks have Prettiest hardcore fishing boats that are meant to fish and not sit in a marina.

[@jimmyera3779]

What marina in north Carolina? It's a beautiful boat

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Appreciate that Jimmy, we're at Pirates Cove. :)

[@jimmyera3779]

Nice marina for sure and the restaurant is first class my boss keeps his 50 foot post in wanchese

[@Brakelate879]

Shes a pretty girl! Congratulations

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Thanks Brian!!

[@malmotumotu5218]

What’s the story behind the shape of the boat as I haven’t seen anything like that

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

That's what makes a true custom Carolina style so different!

[@malmotumotu5218]

@@saltwaterfishinguniversity True! But I would love to know objectives the designer had in mind in designing the hull shape if you don’t mind

[@nolanday354]

“Bo-fert” is how it’s said

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Thanks Nolan! We'll get it right eventually! 😄

[@botoepfer8588]

Bofert !

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Yes, we have since learned Bo, won't make that mistake again 😄

[@LSDforEveryone]

Try this: "BOW-FERT". If y'all aren't any more familiar with the morehead area than that i'm afraid I'm going to find it hard to take your saltwater advice seriously.

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Well LSDforEveryone, with a name like that on KZbin, I'm not sure I can take your comment seriously 😄...really though friend, if you're looking for a channel where the main characters are flawless and know everything, this definitely isn't the right channel for you. 🙂

[@LSDforEveryone]

@@saltwaterfishinguniversity I was just kidding with you. The Crystal Coast is a place very close to my (and many another fisherman's) heart. There are definitely some locals that will be quick to correct your pronunciation of "BOW-FERT". That's a gorgeous express. I hope you fellas enjoy many tight lines on her in good health. Oh..... and what's wrong with the Latter Day Saints?

[@saltwaterfishinguniversity]

Appreciate the kind words and keep loving the Crystal Coast, we hope to fish down there at some point!