Show Us Your Boat | “Lucky Strike” — Black Watch 34

Show Us Your Boat: “Lucky Strike“

Presented by Dave Granville

Ross McCubbin is a familiar name to Coastwatch followers—a seasoned angler and charter operator with decades of experience. His boat, Lucky Strike, is a 34-foot Blackwatch that’s been the backbone of his offshore fishing adventures for years.

The Boat

“Lucky Strike is a 34 Blackwatch powered by two 350 Yanmar motors,” Ross explains. “It’s in survey for up to six people. It’s an open bulkhead configuration, very comfortable for six—you’re not crowded, you can get around, sit on the cushions outside or be inside.”

The Blackwatch 34 is widely regarded as a capable offshore hull, and Ross confirms its reputation:

“It’s a nice seaboat—good and comfortable, good for blue marlin and black marlin, and bottom fishing, whatever you want.”

Heritage and Design

The Blackwatch 34 lineage traces back to Raymond C. Hunt’s deep‑V hulls, first popularised in the 1960s for offshore racing and then game fishing, including through designing for the “Bertram” company. Hunt’s hulls became legendary for their “Deep V” design, that could tame the wildest most unpredictable seas, at never-before-seen speeds.

In the late 1980s, production of the Black Watch hull design was licensed in Australia, with 26 foot and 30 foot express and flybridge models evolving into the Blackwatch 34 and subsequently, a 36 and 40 foot model.

The 34 became very well regarded as a boat of an optimal game fishing size, renowned for its offshore capability, dry and soft ride, manoeuvrability — but also a premium fit-out with considerable comfort.

Ross’s Fishing Setup

The cockpit features a game chair that adapts to the season:
“We usually take the footrest off when we’re light-tackling bottom fishing, and then the footrest goes on for the heavy tackle season.”

Inside, there’s comfortable seating, a toilet on the starboard side, and a galley on the port side, plus a generous bunk up front. Ross keeps the boat stocked with quality gear for any type of fishing, from light tackle to heavy game rigs.

Electronics

Ross runs a simple, practical electronics suite from the flybridge helm:
“Nothing fancy, but I like it. We’ve got a good station up here, good visibility for me, a nice Furuno sounder to spot marlin or bottom fish, and a Raymarine GPS.”

Charter History

“Lucky Strike Charters has been running for approximately 25 years,” Ross says. “In the last ten years I’ve added a smaller estuary boat, but predominantly we’re out fishing on this vessel—the 34 Blackwatch. We do full-day trips, leaving from Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast.”

Specifications & Performance

Typical performance for this model:

• Cruise speed: around 22–24 knots
• Top speed: approximately 28–30 knots

Final Word

Ross sums it up simply:

“Lucky Strike is built for fishing—bluewater game runs, bottom fishing, family trips—it handles everything. It’s seaworthy, reliable, and ready whenever I am.”

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