Table of contents for November/December 2024 in PassageMaker

Every boat has her own story. This thought ran through my head recently as I looked over the fairways at my local marina. Several of the usual suspects floated in repose, reflecting the late-afternoon sun. I scanned the Hinckley Picnic Boat and her robin’s egg blue hull. I saw the late-model MJM and the smattering of outboard-powered craft. All are stunners in their own right, and all seem to have owners that dote on them. But they were not what I was seeking. I’d have to come back. What I was searching for were the migrating visitors. When I’m in New York City during the warmer months, I try and cycle by here every week to see which transient vessels are cooling their keels at the East River landing. I…

Tendrils of fog swirled above Lopez Sound like serpent tails, pushed hither and yon by the wind that, at 8 a.m., was already gusting to 20 knots. I sat transfixed by the stark contrast of colors on display in the Rosario Strait—the expanse of evergreens on the surrounding islands ran right to the steep, rocky shores that disappeared into midnight blue waters dotted with whitecaps. It was another splendid morning in Washington’s San Juan Islands, the site of Passagemaker’s Trawlerfest event in the Pacific Northwest. I was on board our test steed, the North Pacific 590 Skylounge, which was making her world debut. The builder’s largest-ever vessel, the 590 is a big jump from its 49-foot flagship, including a number of firsts that coincide with its 20th anniversary. “She is…

Buying a new (or new to you) boat is an exciting experience. The right decision can lead to wonderful times. Regardless of your level of boating and ownership experience, the buying process requires due diligence. Marinas are often full of disappointments that never seem to leave the dock. Buying a neglected boat can be like standing in the shower while ripping up $100 bills. My first shopping rule is to make sure the boat I want to buy will be as good as, or better than, whatever boat it is replacing. Don’t give up any of the features you enjoy, but do consider adding to them. Buying a factory-fresh model from a dealer often involves choices of engines, accommodations layouts, interior furnishings, and standard versus optional equipment. The factory warranty…

Early wooden boats were often held together with lashings of roots, vines, cordage or animal parts. As boats became larger, many were pegged together with wooden rods called trennels (basically tree nails). A hole was drilled in the plank and frame, then the trennel was pounded in, wedged in place, and sawed off flush. As time marched on, metal nails were used, sometimes backed up with roves on the inside as rivets. Manufacturing became more sophisticated, and screws and bolts could be created in mass quantities suitable for even stronger assemblies. Regardless of the method, the strength of a fastener and its installation have always been the difference between a heavy piece of equipment remaining in place or coming adrift—or a crew staying on the boat or going overboard. MEASUREMENT…

ANNIE MEANS TINY BOAT TRIUMPHS WRITER Annie Means is a Pacific Northwest-based writer, photographer, filmmaker and boater. In 2023, she was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to report on women’s leadership in the international blue economy and maritime sector. Annie is passionate “about bridging nature and culture, the sea and society.” She especially enjoys connecting with and learning from the individuals and communities behind these essential stories. JEFF MERRILL TRAWLER TRANSACTIONS COLUMNIST Jeff Merrill has helped with hundreds of trawler transactions across the United States and abroad. For more than 20 years, he has shared trawler skills and tips at Trawlerfest, at JMYS.com and on YouTube @JeffMerrillYachts. Jeff is a certified professional yacht broker and a licensed managing broker in California and Florida. FRANK SCAVONE MAKING HER MINE WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER In…

As part of a well-engineered system, lithium batteries can replace generators and make life on a boat seamless with or without shore power. But, they aren’t perfect. The battery industry continues to research improvements and alternative chemistries. Here’s an overview of those new technologies and how they might affect the boatbuilding industry. The lion’s share of battery development focuses on the electric vehicle market, and on improving range as well as the time it takes to charge the car. The use scenario aboard boats—primarily as deep cycle batteries for house systems and trolling banks—is generally far less demanding. Lithium-based chemistries have dominated new battery technologies for quite a while. Lithium is the lightest metal element and is highly reactive. It is lithium’s reactivity that makes it a critical ingredient…

The rugged, seaworthy designs that George Buehler conceived for home boatbuilders have attracted adventurous souls across the globe. The Diesel Duck, in particular, stands as a testament to Buehler’s deep commitment to functional beauty. It merges the practicality of a long-range ocean cruiser with the lines of traditional Pacific Northwest salmon trollers. With a sail-assisted design, the Ducks are a great fit for power cruisers looking for maximum efficiency. Sue Plotnick and Peter Belden wanted an oceangoing vessel that would also serve as their home. The couple were living on Seabird, a 48-foot Rawson trawler, in the early 2000s in Sausalito, Calif. Belden was a ferry captain on San Francisco Bay, a job that allowed him to build an extensive list of potential next boats in his head. Buehler’s The…

As always, a perfect storm of events started the thinking that led to this column. First, I found myself in a boatyard that seemed like the Florida version of the La Brea Tar Pits. That’s where dinosaurs apparently went to die, and this boatyard is where old boats go to molder away. It was at once incredibly sad and, sadly, quite invigorating. The editor of this fine magazine and I are both fully addicted car junkies, and the phrase that came to mind in this boneyard of lost boats was both automotive and nautical: “That’ll buff right out.” Luckily, my wife was with me, giving a snort of disgust every time I stopped to admire the rotted remains of a boat I had once coveted. The boat itself was sad,…

With the Sea Hawker, our goal was to design a boat for owners looking to spend extended time on the water with a flexible layout to suit a range of needs and conditions. Sea Hawker’s profile has a long waterline and large pilothouse that’s reminiscent of commercial craft on the North Sea, but with a modern twist for recreational use. The main deck is a focal point, with expansive side glass to offer unobstructed views from the salon and galley amidships. There’s more glass on the after bulkhead so the skipper can keep an eye on things in the cockpit. Within the salon, we added a central passage that leads onto the Portuguese bridge and foredeck lounge. It is also a safe place to cross the boat in all weather…

Anyone boating in coastal waters is familiar with ocean tides, the daily cycle of rising and falling water levels. You also likely remember from grade school science class that tides are caused by the moon and the sun’s gravity. In most coastal locations, you will see, twice daily, the tide come in and the tide go out. But what if I told you that the water doesn’t actually come in and the water doesn’t actually go out? Your science teacher was right. There are two bulges of water, one on each side of the Earth caused by the moon and sun, respectively. Contrary to your perception, though, the rising and falling tides are not the result of those bulges rotating around the Earth. Rather, it is the Earth rotating inside…

With key in hand, you unlock the salon door for the first time, signifying your transition from buyer to owner. This is the “key moment” when the happy times begin for any trawler owner. Take a few minutes to soak it in. Go ahead and smile as you look around. Then, it’s time to start making this trawler your own. Boats don’t have welcome walk-throughs the way homes do. Typically, arrangements are made for you to pick up the key at the marina office or collect it from a combination lockbox on deck. There should also be keys to the boat’s outside doors, dock box, electrical panel, engine starter, outboard starter, interior cabin doors and more. Next comes deciding on rules for everyone aboard. Will you wear shoes inside, or…

I'm not quite sure when I surrendered to the sirens. It began early, taught by my father on a series of runabouts, a Chris-Craft Catalina and a Bertram 28. On those boats and my Alden 40 Hardtop Express, I realized that great boat designers strive toward functional mastery while complementing the ever-evolving beauty of the water. On the Alden, I was a liveaboard for extended periods, enjoying the deep gratification of minimalism while exploring the Eastern Seaboard. Time on the wheel offers perspective. I knew that as I got older, I wanted to maintain a sense of purpose. I needed my life to expand through experience and challenge. From the helm of my Alden, I determined the functional requirements I’d need to get across the Bahamas, north to the Thousand…