National Fisherman

Paul Molyneaux

Editor

Paul Molyneaux is the Boats & Gear editor for National Fisherman.

Author Archive

Tor Bendiksen, owner of Reidar’s Manufacturing, Captain Mark Phillips, and Dr. Pingguo He of UMass Dartmouth hold four sections of helix twine joined to make a mesh. Bendiksen continues to design the right self-spreading net for East Coast fishermen. Phot

New helix twine net enhances efficiency and reduces bycatch

Ecomotus, a UK company, has developed a hydrogen electrolyzer that enables diesel engines to burn fuel thoroughly and cleanly. They have equipped almost 40 boats—more than 20 fishing boats.

Ecomotus' EcoPro: Reducing fuel costs for UK fishermen

Ken and Linda Bates circle a school of anchovies with their lampara net in Humboldt Bay, near Eureka, California, and prepare to haul the set back aboard the 32-foot F/V Ironic. Photo by Cloudburst Fishing

Crafting the perfect lampara net for California’s evolving bait fishery

Built in 1992 for gillnetting herring, the F/V Ironic was rigged for fishing a lampara net for anchovies. The 32-foot fiberglass over plywood Ironic can also be rigged for salmon trolling. Photo by Ken Bates

Boat of the Month: F/V Ironic

The GenTech hydraulic generator developed by Erling Skaar, Dr. Odd Arild Olsen, and the GenTech team has been available since 2013. It provides fishing vessel owners with a cost-effective means of increasing the efficiency of a vessel’s main engine and re

Two companies, two approaches: Innovating power capture and wear reduction for gensets

Fred Wahl Marine Construction specializes in building and repairing commercial fishing vessels for the West Coast and Alaska. Their shipyard is located on the Oregon Coast. Photo on Fred Wahl Facebook page

From humble beginnings to iconic vessels: Celebrating 50 years of Fred Wahl Marine Construction

A design for a methanol-fueled tug offers an idea of the challenges designers will face trying to get alternative fuel propulsion and generator systems into fishing vessels. Photo Elliott Bay

U.S. and Europe tackle emissions and costs for fishing vessels

Suzuki makes a good engine, no doubt, and with a commitment to efficiency and the ocean's health. Still, one of the things that makes these engines popular with commercial fishermen on Kodiak Island is the service they get from Water’s Edge Marine.

Kodiak fishermen choose Suzuki outboards for reliable service

Having worked on most of the major makes of marine engines from 1-hp Yanmar to a slow speed 100K-hp MAN, Karl Pettersen chose a 730-hp MAN I6 for his Bristol Bay boat, the Skitt Fiske. Photo by Karl Pettersen

Fishermen's favorite diesel engines and the crucial role of service

The next step for new builds is Tier IV. MAN Engines is leading the way with a relatively compact after-treatment system. It still takes up considerable space and will be a tight fit on smaller vessels that need power. Photo by MAN

Maine fishermen eye Tier IV engines: MAN leads the charge