Everyone’s heard the old saw that a boat is just a hole in the water into which we throw money. We have eight courses at TrawlerFest-Baltimore that will help boatowners and buyers save money—lots of it.
Everything You Need To Know About Marine Electronics is the flagship of our money-saving fleet. This all-day TrawlerFest University course is led by two of the most knowledgeable figures in the marine industry today—The AIM Marine Group’s Senior Electronics Editor Ben Ellison (renown for his weblog Panbo) and industry veteran Paul Comyns of Intellian. Ellison and Comyns will review all aspects of modern navigation and communications technology with insights about the various brands. The seminar includes small-group sessions on Gizmo, Ellison’s uniquely equipped Duffy 37 test boat. You will come out of this class able to make better choices and save hundreds of dollars, if not more.
Dealing With Boatyards Without Getting Mad or Going Broke is brought to you by Steve Zimmerman, who has been a boatyard owner for more than 20 years and now owns four in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. He’ll talk about how to make smart decisions about repairs and how to identify the boatyard to do them, and…well…what the title says.
Ten Things A Buyer Should Know About How Boats Are Built, another from Steve Zimmerman, enables boat owners and buyers to make informed decisions about maintenance, repairs, and boat condition. Participants will learn about the following critical topics: Gelcoat – its purpose, and maintenance and repair considerations· Core materials – why they are used and how to avoid expensive repairs by following simple procedures when installing hardware· Resins and laminates – what you need to know before repairing or allowing someone else to repair your boat’s structure· Aging – data about how well composite structures fair over the years· Blisters – structural implications, value considerations, how to prevent and how to remedy· Best practices – how to interpret builder’s literature about how a boat is built so that you can make informed decisions when searching for a boat.
Rob Dorfmeyer of Curtis Stokes & Associates presents Boat Buying Basics, addressing the manyThere are many questions to ask yourself before purchasing a new or used trawler: How do you fit? How much time will you spend on board? Where will you cruise? How much will it cost? In this seminar, industry veteran Rob Dorfmeyer offers suggestions to help you prepare for ownership, covering resources such as classes, websites and reading materials. Plus, get behind-the-scenes tips on how the business side of things works—signing a contract, deposits, surveys, etc.—so that you can enter the boat-buying process with a strong understanding of what to expect and what to look for.
Think resale and sign up for Pride of Ownership with Jeff Merrill. Merrill has been selling cruising sailboats and trawlers for over 20 years and has discovered some of the secrets diligent trawler owners use to reflect great care and attention. Whether your boat is new to you or you have enjoyed her for years there are common secrets and tips to successful trawler maintenance and organization that will be shared by viewing photos and through descriptions of real life examples. Learn what you can do to keep your trawler shipshape and show pride of ownership. This seminar will include a tip sharing session and helpful handouts
In Avoiding Tax Traps, Annapolis Maritime Attorney Todd Lochner helps you stay one step ahead of the taxman as move up and down the coast. One day too many in a particular state can end up costing you, and Lochner will have some horror stories, ripped straight from his case files. Plenty of time for audience Q&A.
Veteran yacht broker Curtis Stokes will present What Everyone Needs to Know About Surveys & Surveyors, a topic that anyone who ever plans to buy or sell a boat needs to hear. He’ll address how to identify the right surveyor for the results you need, and what can happen when you hire the wrong one.
In his talk Maintenance Is More Than Just Oil Changes,Craig Parkhurst of Wheelhouse Technologies discusses the various maintenance approaches—run-to-failure, preventative and predictive—and describes how to work smarter not harder to maintain your vessel. He will share his thinking on equipment failure modes and spare parts.
TrawlerFest University is held on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 23-24. TrawlerFest Seminars are Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 25-27. The venue is Harborview Marine Center.
