Trawler Talk

Passagemaker's Trawlerfest is more than a boat show: it is where the builders, educators and community come together in an intimate, rendezvous atmosphere. We spoke to several exhibitors and educators at our Stuart Trawlerfest to get a sense of this incredible, not-to-be-missed gathering.

The Paulsons have spent the last few years blissfully exploring the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America onboard their 1968 Grand Banks 42 Classic, Splinters. It's a long way from the Colorado barn where the couple's herculean efforts gave the 42 a second chance at a seagoing life.

This couple had the boat of their dreams, a Marlow 62, built for them to take on the Great Loop—which they completed in 2023. And they're just getting started.

An intrepid couple who had undertaken a half-dozen refits bring Robert Beebe’s Passagemaker back from the brink.

Longtime captain Nakomis Nelson shares the planning and preparation behind his bucket list, 4,200-nautical-mile trip from Holland to Maine via Iceland and Greenland on an Elling E6.

For over four decades, Steve Zimmerman has run his eponymously named repair and service centers along the U.S. East Coast. Zimmerman tells us about his beginnings in the marine trade, what to expect from a boatyard that's worth its salt and what you need to know when buying a used boat.

This seasoned waterman took delivery of his SeaPiper 35 and has started a journey that, when completed, will see his compact trawler circumnavigate North America.

A few years ago, April and Rio DeGennaro had never heard of the Great Loop. But once they did, they never looked back. They attended several AGLCA events and spent significant time finding the right boat for the singular American adventure, which they plan on tackling in 2024.

We agree on what defines a recreational trawler, but what about a passagemaker? Are they one in the same? Host Jeff Moser and longtime marine journalist Kenny Wooton discuss.

We chat with the director of America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association about this uniquely American adventure.

Cruising at displacement speeds? Why not troll for fish as well! Our guest, Anglers Journal editor-in-chief Charlie Levine, fills us in on the gear and techniques you need to supplement your sundries with fresh fish.

After extensive cruises on U.S. waterways, Robert and Graciela Gannon shipped their Ranger Tugs R-31 to Holland for a multi-year journey throughout Europe. This episode is sponsored by Imtra: https://www.imtra.com/products/anchoring

These Loop veterans cruised north on their powercat to explore Canada’s lakes and historic canals.

Josh and Sophia Johnson found a Diesel Duck 462 in Hawaii and spent over a year traveling from their home in Arizona to get her ready for a 2,500 nautical mile journey to Alaska. But the story doesn't end there.

These fundamental, yet off the beaten path, navigation tips may help get you home when things go bad, or your electronics go out.

Take these steps to ensure a trouble-free launch at the start of your boating season, or after having some work done on your vessel. This episode is sponsored by the Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show featuring Trawlerfest.

Editor-in-chief Jeff Moser is joined by Power & Motoryacht’s Chris Dixon to discuss their journey to South Africa to visit Robertson and Caine, builder of Leopard Catamarans.

Calling himself a designing boatbuilder, Sam Devlin has run Devlin Designing Boat Builders since 1978. An active proponent of wood/epoxy boats throughout his career, Sam is the author of the 1997 best seller Devlin’s Boat Building on the stitch-and-glue method.

Tony Fleming got into boatbuilding by chance and spent a quarter-century with American Marine, which would become Grand Banks Yachts. At age 50, Fleming founded his eponymously named yacht company, which would go on to be among the most successful lines of passagemaking yachts ever built. Fleming reflects on his early days, extensive cruising in his retirement and more.

Jennifer Johnson and Elliot Schoenfeld returned to the States after their around-the-world trip was cut short by Covid. But they wanted to keep moving. The couple—both 30 and with virtually no boating experience—tell us how they fell in love with life on the water while abroad, finding the right boat that would also be their home and how they decided to take on the Great Loop on a budget and while managing professional careers.