National Fisherman

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Michael Crowley

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Michael Crowley is the former Boats & Gear editor for National Fisherman.

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In the Bass Harbor Diesel Free-For-All on June 23, LaBella Vitae and My Turn are nearly bow-to-bow in a race that La Bella Vita won. Jon Johansen photo.

Neck and neck at Bass Harbor

Oceanville Boatworks in Stonington, Maine, is completing a 50’ x19’2” H&H Marine lobster boat for a Cape Cod, Mass., fisherman, with a 750-hp continuous-duty Volvo. Jon Johansen photo.

Composite construction gains favor at Maine yard

At Boothbay June 14, in Diesel Class E, 336 to 435 h.p., 24 to 33 feet, Audrey May (Holland 32, 425 Cummins, at right) took 1st place at 39.5 mph. Guilty Pleasure (Mitchell Cove 32, 380-hp Cummins) took third. Jon Johansen photo.

Maine’s 2025 lobster boat race season kicks off

David Peterson installed ribs and five new planks on the Elin Laine at Zerlang & Zerlang.

David Peterson’s craft preserves West Coast fishing

This 42' tuna boat at Samoset Boatworks has tuna storage with a below-deck 3'-square live well that will come up to the underside of the cockpit sole. Next to it will be be an insulated tuna coffin next to that another live well. Samoset Boatworks photo.

A pair of New England tuna boats

Dana’s Boatshop is building the Shelly Marie, a 42’ Wayne Beal lobster boat with pressure treated 2x4 deck framing that will be topped with fiberglassed plywood and 1/2-inch rubber decking.

A step up for Boothbay lobsterman

The raw steel shown on the 60-foot Excalibur is the new bulwarks that were added to improve water deflection. Fred Wahl Marine Construction photo.

A West Coast full house at Fred Wahl Marine

The 34’ tuna boat Lea Katherine is the 78th wooden boat being built at John’s Bay Boat in South Bristol, Maine, since Peter Kass opened the shop in 1983. A majority of the boats were fishing boats. Jon Johansen photo.

Last newbuilds at John’s Bay Boat, but the work carries on

Maritime Fabrication modified the Starship from a strictly Bristol Bay gillnetter for fishing Southeast Alaska salmon and halibut. with a new deck drum and stern roller making hauling and setting longline gear easier. Maritime Fabrication photo.

Conversion broadens horizons for an Alaska gillnetter

The 59’ longliner Evening Star was one of 140 boats that was hauled out and overhauled in 2024 at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op. Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op photo.

That’s a wrap for 2024 at Port Townsend