Boats and owners, large and small
Here’s an ever expanding inventory of sites created by individual boat owners about their boats and their boating.
The list is organized alphabetically by boat name. There are a few sailboat sites included simply because they are so informative or entertaining.
The list was compiled and the sites reviewed by Alan Wagner of Tampa, Florida, who has the heady title of Trawlers & Trawlering Associate Linkmaster.
Alan currently owns a 1978 Gulfstar 44 MC but construction is starting in Nova Scotia on his dream ship, a 53-foot Kasten-designed Valdemar that will be named Passage of Time.
“My wife and I hope to retire and cruise to the far reaches of the world,” Alan says. “The boat should be ready in the spring of 2008 . . . and the kids head to college in 2010.
If you have a suggestion for a personal boat site we should review and add, please send the URL to Trawlers & Trawlering.
Personal boat sites
Alyeska: Custom design by Greg Marshall
The continuing adventures of David, Carol, Lenni, from their home base in Ketchikan, Alaska. Enjoy the logs and pictures of their adventures.
Akama: Krogen 48 Whaleback (1993)
Maurice and Louise-Ann Nunas are cruising the Pacific with their Kadey Whaleback, Akama. Follow their travels and explore their website that details their retirement journey.
Bluewater: Nordhavn 47 #32 (2005)
Milt and Judy Baker's each have over 50,000 miles of cruising, both having been licensed U.S. Coast Guard captains for about two decades. After Milt left a career as a U.S. Navy officer, he and Judy founded Bluewater Books & Charts, which became America's largest seller of nautical books and paper and electronic charts during the 15 years they owned and managed it. Now cruising fulltime on their Nordhavn 47, Bluewater, their website aims to provide one couple's perspective on building, outfitting, commissioning and cruising a Nordhavn full-displacement trawler yacht.
Candide: Hans Christian 38 Traditional
Robert Doty has sailed extensively and his website has a wealth of tips on living aboard and remaining sane! As he puts it: “If you happen to live in the Jacksonville, Florida area and would like to stop by to see first-hand what it's like to live on a sailboat, please ask for an invitation to visit!”
CC Rider: Chung Hwa 45 (1981)
For the past 18 years Charles and Pat Culotta have cruised the scenic rivers, canals, and waterways of the U.S. heartland and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway on CC Rider with Bayou Teche, Louisiana, as home base. They are now well along the way on a Great Loop adventure.
Celebrate: Selene 53 Pilothouse (2003)
Andrea and Chuck Wistar have boated for most of their lives and have owned and cruised trawlers for the last 24 years. Their new 53-foot Selene Pilothouse Trawler, Celebrate, is their third trawler. After a four year search, they began a three-year "sabbatical," exploring waters from Canada's Maritimes to the Far Bahamas. Two and a half years and 14,000 miles later, they concluded the sabbatical and established <http://www.seleneannapolis.com> an east-coast Selene dealership.
Choices: Silverton 41 Motoryacht
Kathy and Richard Armstrong present logs and photos of cruising North America in their 41 foot aft-cabin Silverton Motoryacht.
Dahlfin II: Columbia 10.7
Where in the world is Dahlfin? Great Loop, Bahamas, Great lakes, Trinidad, Bahamas, Lesser Antilles, Venezuela? Check the latest update to find out.
Done Dreamin’: Nordhavn 40 #33 (2004)
Larry Rick retired from a career as an commercial airline pilot and began his journey through the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Mexico, and then across the Pacific to Australia and New Zealand on his Nordhavn 40, Done Deamin’. His extensive voyaging with friends and family is detailed in great detail at his continually updated website.
Dreamer: American Marine Alaskan 45 (1974)
Bob and Kathy always dreamed and planned for extended cruising in southern waters of the west coast and Mexico and referred to it as their "Grand Adventure." In 1999, they sold Oak Harbor Boat Works started turning their dream into reality. Dreamer, acquired in 1984, is one of only eight of 45-foot Alaskans built.
Esper: Oyster 435 (1989)
London-based internet consultant Jamie Furlong and his girl friend, Liz Cleere, gave it all up to follow their dream. They have chronicled their sailing adventures throughout the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic on their 43-foot Oyster, Esper. What a trip that has not yet ended!
Gilana: Trintella 53 (1978)
When Liz was 10 years old, her parents took off from Cape Town South Africa in May 1999 to explore the world in their steel sailboat. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, they have been to the far reaches of the globe. Relive their exploits.
Grace: Mainship 400
Bob and Christine Davis began their Great Loop trip in 2004 on their Mainship, Grace. Their site is dedicated to good times together and with family and friends and to the glory of God.
Halcyon: C-Dory 22 (2000)
Join El and Bill Fiero as they take their 22-foot C-Dory, Halcyon, across and around the U.S. exploring every state with interesting water resources and as far a Thailand. Enjoy their journey and extensive photographs along the way.
Heart of Gold: Jefferson 48 Cockpit Motor Yacht (1986)
Greg and Jane Bowers intend to spend some of their retirement years cruising, meeting new people and having new experiences, but while the kids are still in college, they will enjoy taking her south for the winter and back to Lake Michigan for the summer.
Heart’s Desire: Atlantic 44 Aftdeck (1981)
Brenda and Paul Schlechter bought their 44-foot Atlantic motor yacht, Heart’s Desire, in May 2001 to fullfill their liveaboard traveling dream. After two years of refurbishing, they set out in May 2003. Follow them as they live out their dream.
Houseboats in Holland
About 2,500 families live in the waters of Amsterdam on unique houseboats, about 750 of which are moored within the 17th century canal system of downtown Amsterdam. Explore a different and eclectic liveaboard community. If you travel to Amsterdam, you can experience the on-water culture first hand.
Ijsselstroom: Cargo ship converted to houseboat (1912)
The Ijsselstroom is a cargo ship built in 1912 in The Hague, the Netherlands. This ship was made for weekly cargo delivery services along the canals and waterways and has been converted to a houseboat.
Interlude: Hatteras 70 (1989)
Jan and Bill Haueisen completed a 7,500-mile Great Loop adventure during 1999. Their site was one of the first and still one of the best personal boat sites on the Web.
Journey: PT 35 Trawler
Bob and Connie live on Florida’s Gulf Coast from where they ventured to the Bahamas in September 2000.
Kosmos: Nordhavn 43 #18 (2006)
Christi and Eric Grab, who were married in 2003, have a plan, the Kosmos Plan. Kosmos is Greek for world. It is the name of their new Nordhavn 43 and describes the scope of their travel ambitions. Starting in 2007, Christi and Eric plan to travel the world for two years. See how they are progressing.
Luna: Canal boat (1995)
Self described “Voyage of the Geriatrics” charts the journey of a small boat from Holland to the south of France, including port-of-call profiles.
Makai: Mainship 43 Pilot (2007)
John and Gloria Peoples decided to slow down and take it easy after seven years of chasing gamefish on their Luhrs 340 Sport fisher. They found the best of both worlds in a 43 Mainship Pilot and plan to enjoy her to the fullest.
Magnolia: Gulfstar 44 (1973)
Bill Deitrich retired in 2001 and started exploring the Carribean in Magnolia, his 44-foot Gulfstar sailboat. His extensive website details all aspects of cruising and living aboard.
Maranatha: Formosa 41 Island Trader
In 2002 Des, Hiro and Mica, their cat, began their sailing adventure when they decided to live the dream . . . stop working, and go sail for a few years. They started restoring Maranatha and their site monitors the refit/restoration of the boat as well as presenting stories and photos of their travels.
Nereid: Willard 47 Dover pilothouse cruiser (1966)
Steve Dubnoff and Marian Lowe bought their 47-foot Willard in 2003, promptly changed its name to Nereid, and began cruising in the Pacific Northwest. Nereid has a fiberglass hull and a wooden superstructure and is one of only four of this model built. In Greek mythology, the Nereids were the 50 beautiful daughters of Nereus, a sea god known as the Old Man of the Sea, and Doris, an ocean nymph. Their name means “wet ones” The golden-haired nymphs dwelt in the Mediterranean Sea, where they each had a golden throne in their father's underwater palace. They often frolicked on the surface of the water, where they rode on dolphins and were friendly toward sailers, dancing and playing for them, and helping them if they were in distress.
Phoenix: Tug (1918)
The Phoenix was built in Rotterdam with a boiler and a three cylinder steam engine and has served there a big part of her life. Headed for the scrap yard, she was saved from demolition.
Raven: Folkes 39 steel cutter (1983)
David and Christine have been together since 1969 and now cruise southeast Alaka in their Folkes steel cutter, Raven, currently in Juneau. Join them as they learn to sail and explore the waters of the northern Inside Passage.
Sadie B: Albin 27 (1987)
Dennis and Esther Bruckel are long-time cruisers who have traveled the Great Loop and explored many other inland and coastal waterways of the United States. They have left more than 40,000 miles in the wake of Sadie B, their 27-foot Albin Family Cruiser. Their motto: The smaller the boat, the bigger the adventure.
Sereia: Mariner 36 Ketch (1979)
Peter and Antonia Murphy are on their way around the world, having started in October 2005. Youthful exuberance oozes from their website. Take a look. You won’t believe the paint job or the video of the project! Peter is Captain and Antonia is the First Mate and Galley Goddess of Sereia, affectionately known as Rei-Rei. As Antonia has spent much of her life cooking professionally, it is apparent that the meals on Rei-Rei are a delight. You can enjoy the recipes from the site.
Skinwalker: Marine Trader 49 Pilothouse (1979)
Wayne and Lynn Flatt began their cruising from west Florida in 2004, starting the Great Loop “backwards” and exploring the scenic rivers of Alabama and Tennessee before turning around and heading the other way. Follow their trip with the Wayne’s wonderfully descriptive prose as they cruise the Eastern U.S. and Canada.
Sterling III: Morgan 36 Heritage (1977)
Capt Sterling cruises Florida and the Bahamas from Key Largo, Florida.
Tortuga: American Marine Alaskan 49 Hull #6 (1971)
Jim Williams is a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander (Mustang) restoring Tortuga, a 1971 Alaskan trawler.
Tug 44: American Tug 34 (2003)
The information-packed site offers a pictorial cruise log on the Erie Canal, Champlain Canal and the Hudson River as well as construction photos of Tug 44, an American Tug 34.
Whoosh: Pearson 424 Ketch #69
Jack and Patricia Tyler returned from a 2000-2002 cruise through the Caribbean and then decided to voyage to Europe. Their cruising is a delightful read of fun and adventure.
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