National Fisherman

Boats & Gear

Freshly inserted cotton corking is easily visible between the Terron’s hull planks. It’s the first time the 95-year-old crabber and blackcod boat's planking — originally built wood-to-wood —needed to be corked. David Peterson photo.

Michael_Crowley

After 95 years, a California crabber gets tightened up

Michael Crowley

Dana’s Boatshop is building this “left handed” Wayne Beal 36 lobster boat, so called because the hauling station is on the port side and the companionway on the starboard, which is almost unheard of. Dana's Boatshop photo.

Michael_Crowley

Building a 'southpaw' lobster boat in Maine

Michael Crowley

While Mike Vernese sells the Slayer with power options including a Honda engine and a Porta bracket, Tohatsu engines also seem to be popular. All in all the hull, trailer and engine can cost fishermen around $45,000. Ugly Boats photo.

Slayer Skiffs: Multi-role boats for Gulf fishermen

Paul Molyneaux

A Carsoe autofreezer, a fully automated freezer line that produces precision-weighed fillet or surimi blocks. Carsoe photo.

Follow the leader

Paul Molyneaux

It’s always raining when a seine is coming through the block. Deck hands on the Silver Wave, test the Vallation Dark Rain series, while landing salmon from a set in Puget Sound in autumn 2021. Taylor Jackson photo.

Vallation outerwear offers a new ‘best defense’

Paul Molyneaux

This outboard profile is of a 64' x 20" steel hull oyster boat being built by Delaware Bay Shipbuilding Co. LLC of Leesburg, N. J. Courtesy of Delaware Bay Shipbuilding.

Larry_Chowning

New oyster boat on the way for Delaware Bay

Larry Chowning

The Uyak, a 68-foot crabber, shrimper and salmon tender was designed and built by Fred Wahl Marine Construction and was scheduled to be delivered in January. Fred Wahl Marine Construction photo.

Michael_Crowley

New vessels for crab and salmon from Oregon shipyard

Michael Crowley

Tangier Island waterman Willie Crockett is installing a new fiberglass shaft alley tube on his glass-over-wood 42-foot deadrise Carolyn Annette in in October 2022 at Pruitt's Boat Yard on the island. Nathan Straub photo.

Larry_Chowning

DIY shaft fix gets Virginia oysterman back on the water

Larry Chowning

With a 14-foot beam the Second Wind is slimmer than other Down East boats – and more fuel efficient. Walter Barrows photo.

Michael_Crowley

Stonington’s slimmed-down lobster boats

Michael Crowley

James Langer, US sales manager for Castoldi demonstrates the easy access for cleaning the jet. The Castoldi jet is built for shallow water operation and has an automated system for clearing debris from the intake. Paul Molyneaux photo.

The Jet Set

Paul Molyneaux

Shaun Vary’s family fished the Great Lakes for seven generations, moving from wood and sail to steel and diesel. Vary bought the 59-foot fish tug Harry Purvis in 2009 and converted it into a pleasure boat. Credit: Shaun Vary

The fish tugs survive

Paul Molyneaux