17/05/2026
Why Buy a Mono Hull ?
If you want a smooth, soft, dry and comfortable ride then there is only one option - a well designed deep V mono hull (single hull design)
My love of a mono started back in the 1970's, our very first family boat in 1973 was called Quando, after the now legendary song Quando Quando Quando tell me when... Everyone asked WHEN are we starting to build her and then once we started WHEN will she be finished! My dad built her on our back porch in Stellenbosch near Cape Town where we lived until my military service 1986, needless to mention my brother and myself regularly covered in glue "assisting" dad with the build of course! A 22ft Deep V mono hull built from marine ply those days with 1lt plastic bottles for buoyancy.
We only fished Quando off Struisbaai (named after Ostrich farming in the area) located at the Southern tip of Africa, often encountering 20ft swells with strong winds, with a regular wave breaking on the five-mile bank, only 10 fathoms deep, while catching Yellow Tail/King Fish. Those days there was no reason to fish anywhere else, often catching a ton (20 x 50kg bins) or more Yellow Tail/Geelstert at sunrise with hand lines - RODS WERE FOR SISSIES & VAALIES (those dam and river fishermen from Johannesburg) those days.
Then then after dark back out to the five-mile bank to catch yes, a ton or more of Cape Salmon/Geelbek. After the morning catch, boat cleaning and re-fueling we would have some chow and head straight to the harbour again to paddle ski in the decent waves that were abundant before the harbour wall was built. After a good few hours often 4-5 then home to chow again, all my poor mum did was lay on the grub, shop and clean.
Only in her later years she shared that it was definitely not her favourite place (no surprises there thinking back now). Then maybe an hours or two sleep then off the roller skate at the rink (demolished many years ago) then home again for another meal.
Then legendary Struisbaai hotel certainly had its fare share of the infamous Duncan bros (my older brother being a "bit" naughtier than me of course - an old single story thatch building with rondavels as rooms - what a place to JOLL sometimes this was cut short as my dad would summons us to launch again for the Geelbek till at least 2-3am, back in offload, fuel and bait up and head out for the Tail again at 4am. THE YELLOW TAIL line cut deep on the fingers. This cycle repeated itself often for 10-14 days until the weather turned foul and the entire Struis would sleep, braai and yes dop until the South Easter abated.
My older brother an I learnt to water ski behind Quando in the bay in front of the caravan park. Those were the Days! How awesome was Struis and how very fortunate we were growing up there most weekends and every holiday! The family holidays and weekends were practically free, fish was sold to I & J's uncle Louis Knoble (Brian & Steve's dad) without a doubt the smelliest place ever, sadly now the restuarant at the slip.
The days of Gravel roads, gas lighting, trekking harders/mullet with our dinghy and trek/pull net on the Plaat (11km of white beach) or past the lighthouse, way past what's now called Suiderstrand. Trekking harders, braaing on the beach, diving for perlemoen/abalone, oysters, even a few crayfish when around. The nearest SAPS was 25km away in Bredasdorp, "no" drivers licenses were needed - jip ons het VREESLIK baie kak aangejaag!
What a privilege Struis, Skilpies Baai (shell bay) and A'Gulhas then only had a permanent population of 800-1000 if my mems serves me correctly........................................................................................................................................
Quando offered a very soft and dry ride, deep V mono's remain the most sought after designs globally that's why I designed and started building our own Deep V mono the ATOMIC 22 Offshore and Sport edition 6 years ago, as soft and dry ride, a 100% composite build (no wood) nothing else in SA comes even close
ATOMIC 22 - One Boat For Everything!........................................................................................................................................
In addition to our ATOMIC 22 series the Legendary Ocean Runner 25.5ft (7.80m) and 29ft (8.84m) moulds and IP are now owned by Atomic Power Boats (Pty) Ltd. We supply boat on trailer or boat on trailer fully installed, installing all brands of outboards and electronics. There is no standard price for an Ocean Runner, each clients boat is highly customized to suite his/her specific preference for outboards, electronics and optional items.
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We Build:
Sport fisher 25 & 29 CC (centre console) hard top, full USA deck design and layout (hull side entry door is optional)
Sport fisher 25 & 29 WA (walk around cabin) (hull side entry door is optional)
Sport fisher 29 LC (lux cabin) cabin bunks, toilet, galley (hull side entry door is optional)
Commercial 29 Comm (commercial) rear wheelhouse/centre console: with laaities (fisherman/fish partitions) on deck, can be ordered with or without partitions (hull side entry door is optional)
ATOMIC 22 Sport & Offshore – centre console, hard or soft top (folding)
