Tag Archives: Alan Haig-Brown

Handsome Crabber Taking Shape at Gasp’ Yard

With the regulated catch quotas of contemporary fisheries, design versatility for a fishing vessel can be important. A new 19.81 by 7.31-metre combination crab trap and groundfish trawler designed by Navanex for building by Chantier Naval Forillon, both based in Gaspé, Quebec, is a clear example of this. The owners, Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, anticipate accepting delivery in April of 2022. The steel-hulled vessel will have a raised fo’c’sle design with an aluminium pilot house. Photos, >click to read< 20:50

A Stunning Transformation: More Than a New Shell

Like many fishermen, Justin Yager has a strong interest in responsible harvesting. Similarly, he saw the common sense of rebuilding the Gulf shrimper BJ Thomas after the boat had a serious fire at Newport, Oregon. Built in 1976 at Marine Builders in Mobile, Alabama the boat found its way to the west coast where Justin’s wife, Sara’s grandfather, owned it for some time before selling it on to the next generation. Justin fished the boat for a few years with the crab and shrimp permits that the couple also purchased from Sara’s grandfather. The fire was the impetus for the rebuild that the owners had planned for the boat. ‘We cut off the bow, part of the stern, and the house. We took it right down to the engine room and the fish holds he explained. photos, >click to read< 12:05

Bristol Bay’s 40-knot netter

They recently sea trialled Bryan Mcmahan’s Esa Ruth, the first of their latest pair of Bristol Bay boats that will be turning some heads on the Bay during this Summer’s sockeye season. The boat’s 40-knot speed will stand out among the crowd of fast boats. But it will be their innovative design that is set to attract attention. Rather than the conventional forward cabin-design, these two craft have the cabin set aft on a raised platform that allows flexibility in handling the salmon gillnet. >click to read< 12:38

Nordic Lady: Keeping a Good Boat Up to Date

When Trygve Westergard bought the 98- by 28-foot Judi B in the spring of 2016 he was entering a new chapter in a varied marine career. Growing up on a remote island off Ketchikan, Alaska as the third generation of Norwegian-Danish family, he had fishing in his blood and his environment. A stint at the California Maritime Academy earned him an unlimited masters license and a BS in marine transportation. After a decade of running everything from ferries to off-shore boats and filling the gaps with fishing, Westergard decided it was time to come home.  Given the price of quota the logical entry to the Alaskan fishery was with a tender to collect fish from other boats. This business would also allow his family on board for part of the year. In the Judi B,,, >click to read<12:45

Work Boat Large for US Navy

From powerful seine skiffs for the Alaskan salmon fishery to sturdy and practical crew boats for the safe transfer of workers on marine construction jobs, Snow Boat Building has been attracting attention on the West Coast. Based in Seattle, the firm is known for its quality aluminum fabrication and general commercial boat repair. Recently the builder has won a contract to construct a 40- by 17-foot U.S. Navy Workboat Large. >click to read<10:24

Miss Berdie Gets a Makeover

When she came into the Fred Wahl shipyard in Reedsport, Oregon, the Miss Berdie was a fine looking boat with a bright red hull. When she left the yard this summer she was still a fine looking red vessel but bigger and better. After taking the 77 by 27.8 by 11.5-foot boat apart, the crew at Fred Wahl’s, working with a design by Hockema & Whalen Associates, put her back together with a 39-foot beam, a 12.7-foot molded depth and an overall registered length of 80.8 feet. In order to keep regulatory requirements regarding the overall length, they reduced the rake,,, Read the rest here 11:02

The Irish Rose of Port Orford

FV Irish Rose, built Columbia River 1946, been in Port Orford foPort Orford, on the southern Oregon coast, is always an interesting visit with their dryland harbour safely above the the southerly winds that can lash the unprotected port. These winds can be so strong that even the boats on land will be lashed down. “Capricorn” Mike Ashdown has fished many years out of the port and his boat, the Irish Rose, even longer. See the rest of the photo’s @ Westcoast Fisherman 17:50

Seeking More Volume

Sponsoning the F.V. Seeker at Giddings Boatworks in Charleston OA fishing vessel owner has two options for increasing the volume of his vessel’s hull and its money-making fishhold — one can add more length or add more beam. The latter is likely to gain the most volume and, when regulations limit length, adding beam may well be the only option. Read more here 19:02