SEMINARS: Tues, Sept. 27–Sat, Oct. 1, 2022

IN-WATER BOAT SHOW: Thursday, September 29 – Saturday, October 1
Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, Saturday closes at 4 p.m.

HARBOR EAST MARINA
40 International Drive, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 625-1700

TICKETS – CLICK HERE

SEMINARS Tuesday, September 27 – Saturday, October 1

Courtyard Marriott 1st Floor Rooms A & B 1000 Aliceanna Street 

IN-WATER BOAT SHOW
General Admission: $15 in advance
Available for Thursday – Saturday, valid one day only
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday & Friday
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m Saturday

Tentative Exhibitor List 

VIP Packages Available
5-Day VIP: $549
The 5-Day VIP PACKAGE includes:
• General Admission to all Three (3) days of Trawlerfest’s In-Water Boat Show
• Unlimited access to seminars (Tuesday-Saturday)
• Entry for one to Thursday’s Cocktail Cruise
Entry for one (1) to Friday’s Docktail Party
• Value: $1105
• Diesel Engine course, Electrical Troubleshooting, Use Marine Apps for Route Planning with Furono,

How to Maintain your Cruising Powerboat

and Boat Handling On the Water are NOT available as part of the VIP package.

3-Day VIP: $449
The 3-Day VIP PACKAGE includes:
• General Admission to Three (3) days of Trawlerfest’s In-Water Boat Show
• Unlimited access to seminars during 3 days
• Entry for one (1) to Thursday’s Docktail Party
• Value: $615
• Diesel Engine course, Electrical Troubleshooting , Use Marine Apps for Route Planning with Furono, How to Maintain your Cruising Powerboat and Boat Handling On the Water are NOT available as part of the VIP package.

View Seminar topics and options below.

SEMINAR QUESTIONS: Contact Donna at [email protected] or (954) 761-8777

Interested in being an Exhibitor or Sponsor?
Contact Ryan Davidson (954) 328-7573 or [email protected]

Two Seminar Host Hotels with Discounted Rooms

1. Homewood Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor
625 S. President Street | Baltimore, MD 21202
410-234-0065

$159 per night

Click here to book
Group Name:Trawler Fest Baltimore Group Code:TFB
Check-in:
09/27/2022 Check-out: 10/03/2022

2. COURTYARD BALTIMORE DOWNTOWN/INNER HARBOR
1000 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Start Date: Sunday, September 24, 2022
End Date: Monday, October 2, 2022
Last Day to Book: Monday, August 28, 2022

Click here to book

PARKING INFO: Parking is available at the corner of President Street and Aliceanna Street next to the Four Seasons Hotel.

Tentative List of exhibitors will be available later in the summer  


DAY 1 Tuesday Sept 27th

20 Interesting and Useful Marine Weather with Chris Parker

Tuesday, Sept 27, 9 am – 11 am $65.00

Veteran marine forecaster Chris Parker learned these 20 tips through decades of observation, much of it while cruising. These tips include:

basic stuff (like understanding wind flags on a weather chart, and characteristics of waves / seas you may not have considered) as well as more advanced topics such as how to observe the texture of clouds to gauge whether a thunderstorm is developing, and which side of a thunderstorm will generate the strongest wind.

Chris also shares forecasting “secrets” he developed over 20 years of forecasting weather daily for clients, including:

understanding how wind parallels coastlines, strong wind blowing over water generates mild squalls, squalls are most common in the GulfStream at night, understanding why wind generally weakens as its direction “backs,” and what it means when it strengthens instead. (Hint: Bad things can happen.), and knowing on which side of a TROF you should expect weather to be worse than predicted.

Basic Coast Navigation with Bob Sweet 

Tuesday, Sept 27, 9 am – 11 am $65.00

GPS has greatly simplified navigating on the water, but you are still the navigator. It is up to you to identify, pre-qualify, and follow safe paths to get to your destination. There no roads, just lots of water with some potential hazards lurking along the way.

Skipper, mate and crew should all know where they are at all times, and be able to assume the navigation task to get them to their destination. This skill adds comfort and security to all aboard. And, just suppose that equipment goes awry, you need to know how to get there by more traditional means.

This seminar provides what you need to know in an engaging and understandable way from the author of the book used by many organizations to instruct basic coastal navigation. You will come away with a solid understanding of how to select paths and navigate using your chartplotter, and to deal with various hazards and dynamic conditions which may arise. You will learn about winds, tides, and currents and how they impact your boating. This seminar is ideal for couples who cruise together and want to get up to speed on modern navigation.

Cruising Florida with Bob Arrington

Tuesday, Sept 27, 11 am – 1 pm $65

Florida is a cruising destination for boaters from around the world, and why not, the peninsula-state has almost 9,000 miles of shoreline and is surrounded on three sides by The Atlantic Ocean, The Gulf of Mexico and the Straights of Florida. While Florida is a single state, it has distinctly different boating environments. Join our resident cruising authority, Bob Arrington as he reveals the best Florida has to offer. In this program he will cover:

• Atlantic ICW versus Gulf ICW

• Coastal cruising and offshore waters

• Managing the Gulf stream

• Best inlets

• Transiting the Okeechobee Waterway

• Manatee zones, seasons, and speed restrictions

• The Keys – top to bottom, inside and out

What To Look for Before You Call a Surveyor with Karen Alt

Tuesday, Sept 27, 11 am – 1 pm $65

So, you want to buy a boat? Former criminal investigator, cruiser and ace-surveyor Karen Wiley Alt explains what you should look for before making an offer and hiring a marine surveyor. A dream of the perfect cruising boat can be crushed when its surveyed, but some of those deal-killers could have been detected early were it not for the fact that buying a boat is rarely a rational decision; we are often led by our hearts. Alt explains the ways in which buyers can slow down and take a look at the boat with the rose-colored glasses off. She will cover how to inspect hoses, valves, wiring mistakes, and signs of structural damage. There will be many photos of examples of what to look for. Attendees will be given a check list to follow for their inspection.

LUNCH BREAK 1 pm – 2 pm

Boat Handling Illustrated with Bob Arrington

Tuesday, Sept 27, 2 pm – 5 pm $85

(Prerequisite for Boat Handling on the Water)

The Boat Handling classroom session, combined with “Boat Handling

on the Water” will help you develop skills in close quarters maneuvering

and docking. You will learn how to prepare the boat for docking in a

variety of situations, along with how to predict and adapt to wind and

current. Taught by one of the best instructors in the business, Bob

Arrington holds a USCG 100 Ton Masters License with over 40 years of

practical experience at the helm. He enjoys sharing his passion for the

water with new boaters, having taught boat handling skills in multiple

venues for the past 25 years. Arrington also writes boat handling

and cruising columns for Passagemaker and Power & Motoryacht

magazines. The Wednesday morning session is all class time followed

by six on-the-water sessions on Wednesday – Friday.

SEPARATE REGISTRATION FOR ON-WATER SESSIONS REQUIRED

Anchoring Avoid the “Art of Dragging” with Jill & Rudy Sechez

Tuesday, Sept 27 2 pm – 5 pm $85

Long-time cruisers and the authors of “ANCHORINGA Ground Tackler’s Apprentice”, Rudy and Jill Sechez offer a PowerPoint presentation detailing the four critical elements that are “must haves” when anchoring. Don’t be surprised if you come away with a better understanding of anchoring, plus many good ideas for changes or upgrades for your ground tackle… bring your questions.

Long: Don’t go if you can’t stay put… long-time cruisers and authors of “ANCHORINGA Ground Tackler’s Apprentice”, Rudy and Jill Sechez, will provide a thought- provoking PowerPoint presentation focusing on the four most critical aspects to prevent dragging. Topics include:

  • How to size your anchors, rodes, shackles, and swivels
  • Anchoring in sand, mud, weeds or rock
  • Determining the bottom’s make-up
  • How much scope is too little, and is there such a thing as too much?
  • Six factors to include when calculating scope
  • The danger of using 5:1 and 7:1 scope
  • Marking your rode
  • Determining the load on ground tackle at various wind speeds
  • Using more than one anchor
  • How to throw a line and hand signals
  • Time permitting: how to choose an anchorage, how to deploy and weigh anchor, and more … bring your questions!

Day 2 Wednesday Sept 28

Boat Handling on the Water with Bob Arrington 

  • Session 1 -Wednesday, Sept. 28-8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
  • Session 2- Wednesday, Sept. 28- 3 p.m.-5 p.m.        

$185 Not included in the VIP packages
Prerequisite: Boat Handling Illustrated.

Limit per session: 4-6

**Do not sign up for this class until you have registered for the Boat Handling Illustrated class.**

Location: Harbor East Marina

Ladies Coffee Talk with Susan Costa, Cindy Lewis, Jill Sechez, Ellen Oliver, and Karen Alt

Wednesday, Sept 28, 9 am – 11 am $40.00

This seminar is for women who think they may want to go cruising or who have only recently entered into the cruising lifestyle and have a wide range of questions best answered by other women, and, alas, without any men in the room.

Waves/Sea Drivers and Behavior with Chris Parker

Wednesday, Sept 28 9am – 11 am

Everything you really need to know about seas, and how to interpret sea state forecasts. Topics include: Define wave height and interval (period), Explore the concept of “apparent wave interval”, Why waves develop, How waves dissipate energy, How waves impact your vessel, How fast waves propagate, Multiple wave trains and their interaction (phasing of wave trains)How waves are influenced by currents, landmasses, shoaling and fetch.

Chris will share his unique rule of thumb so you can create your own accurate forecast for wind-chop (wind driven waves). We’ll show you a handy, free online tool which will help you understand how waves respond to changes in wind speed, weather depth, and fetch. And He will finish by looking at a few examples of wave forecasts, and offer tips on how to interpret them so you make better decisions with respect to seas.

Electronics for Navigation with Bob Sweet

Wednesday, Sept 28, 9 am – 11 am $65

Companies are vying for your business with all sorts of new electronics. What do I need, how do I use it, whose is best? These are questions I get all the time in many seminars. We now are using our chartplotters as the central display as part of a networked system of sensors and communication devices. It can seem complicated, and the marketing data only adds to the confusion.

So, let’s uncomplicate it and talk about what you really need, what it can do for you and how. The electronics can be quite an investment, so you’d like to get what you need and be able to use it for quite a while. A key step is selecting the brand of the chartplotter, radar, and sounder as they all must match with compatible models. Other devices such as AIS, radio, autopilot do not need to match.

We’ll also talk about how to use this equipment simply and effectively with minimal tweaking to get you the information you need to ease your navigation task while maintaining a lookout around you.

The seminar is presented by the author of the book on electronic navigation.

What’s up with Charts? with Bob Sweet

Wednesday, Sept 28, 11 am – 1 pm $65

The chart is your source for information about what lies ahead and how to safely get to your destination. Printed charts and those on the screen of your chartplotter are different. Each provides essential information, but in different ways. They complement each other. However, charts are changing, and not necessarily in good ways. NOAA is making significant changes and much of the information presently available to you could be going away, along with paper charts as you know them. Chart numbers are going away as well. How will you select and get charts you need?

On screen, charts are stitched together, called quilting, to create what appears to be an endless chart. But, the information shown on the screen is dependent upon the programmers who created the chartplotter software. You need to understand how to double check to make sure you are seeing everything you need to see, and how to get more information. At present, paper charts are a means to do that.

NOAA has created an online resource called NOAA Custom Chart. It’s in its early stages and not yet ready for prime time. With it you can select and create a file of a chart for printing. But will it replace the present paper chart – not yet!

However, paper charts are an essential ingredient, complimenting your chartplotter in getting you there. Come learn how charts keep you safe and how best to use them. You also will learn about ways you will be able to get printed charts in the future to suit your needs.

 How to Cruise Simply & Frugally with Rudy and Jill Sechez

Wednesday, Sept 28, 11 am -1 pm $85.00

Long-term cruisers Rudy and Jill Sechez will discuss their approaches for uncomplicated cruising. They will share how they came to build their cruising boats and the many methods and systems they have adapted to make daily life onboard comfortable, safe, and simple.

Rudy and Jill Sechez will share, via a PowerPoint presentation, how they have cruised and lived aboard, economically for 23 years. Some of their concepts and ideas, while not for everyone, can be incorporated into the most sophisticated of boats. Some of the things you’ll hear about:

· An overview of building their own boats, first a 36’ cutter sailboat, and their current 34’ foot sail-assisted trawler, along with an explanation of their design choice and wood for construction material, as well as specific features of the boat.

· Jill and Rudy will highlight some of simple systems that have been incorporated into their vessels that make daily life onboard easier.

· They will share their uncomplicated approach to cruising, in matters such as navigation, anchoring, water management, boat and engine maintenance, and supply gathering.

Participants will be encouraged to take an open-minded and individual approach to how they outfit their boat, and to understand that there is no “one-way fits all” approach cruising.


How to Maintain a Cruising Powerboat with Steve Zimmerman 2 Day Course

Day 1 Wednesday, Sept 28 1 pm – 4 pm
Day 2 Thursday, Sept 29 1 pm – 4 pm
$260 for two day course

Day 1: Whether you want to take care of your own maintenance or plan to have a yard take care of it, this two day intensive will prepare you well. Here is a sample of the questions to be addressed:

· What causes blisters and what should I do if my boat has them?

· How can I tell if my boat has stray current corrosion?

· Can I get a shock from swimming around my boat?

· What kind of shaft seal works best?

· How can I tell if my boat has the right propeller?

· What is an isolation transformer and do I need one?

Steve Zimmerman has been building and repairing boats for more than 40 years. Steve is the president of Zimmerman Marine and oversees the operations of their six boatyards. Participants will spend two days with Steve, learning how to avoid costly errors and how to maximize the reliability of their boats.

Day 2: This two session (Friday and Saturday) class will provide practical in-depth information about maintaining your boat. Whether you plan to perform your own maintenance or pay someone, this class will help you avoid costly mistakes. Topics include:

· How to inspect and service seacocks and thru-hulls

· How to inspect and maintain your running gear, including props, shafts, and shaft seals

· Corrosion prevention

· Understanding modern fiberglass boat construction and repairs, including blister repairs, gelcoat maintenance, and core materials

· Shore power principles and safety

· Gelcoat Maintenance and core materials

· Bottom paints

· Sealants and adhesives – proper selection and application

· Engine checks

“Cruising the Bahamas With the Lucky Me” with Greg & Susan Costa

Wednesday, Sept 28, 2 pm – 4 pm $65

Want to take your boat to the Bahamas? Stop dreaming about it and make it happen! Greg and Susan Costa guarantee to give you the confidence to plan your own special Bahamas trip.

Free Bahamas Book & Map: This exciting two-hour presentation also includes a FREE copy of Greg & Susan’s updated 70-page book “Cruising the Bahamas With the Lucky Me” (Version 6 * 7/2022) along with a FREE copy of the Bahamas Cruising Map & Marina Directory from the Association of Bahamas Marinas.

Bahamas Program Overview: This presentation will assist the first time Bahamas boater with helpful information on Florida departure ports, pre-planning, weather, provisioning, Customs & Immigration, ports of call, expenses, side trips and island highlights.

30 Islands & Cays: The Costas will include detailed information of their extended stays cruising the Bahamas. The seminar will cover 30+ different islands and cays. Attendees will be introduced to a mix of the more popular tourist stops, well known ports, and some out islands that would not be on the typical boaters’ port of call. The goal is that after this presentation, you will walk away with the confidence to plan your own Bahamas trip. 

Speaker Biography: Greg and Susan Costa have traveled over 15,000 miles on the Lucky Me in the past 4 years. This includes the Bahamas, Canada and twice around the Great Loop. When not planning their next long-distance adventure, they can be found enjoying the beautiful waters of Florida’s Gulf Coast on their 35’ Tiara Sovran powerboat.

They wrote “Cruising the Bahamas With the Lucky Me” to give boaters a simple book to assist with planning a trip to the Bahamas. Their book has been well received with over 23,000 copies (e-book & print) distributed in the past 4 years. The Costas are well known in the boating community and are often featured speakers on the Bahamas before the Great Loop Association (GreatLoop.org) and other boating groups.

Trawler Buying Tips with Moderator Jeff Merrill, CPYB

Wednesday Sept 28 2 pm – 5 pm $85

Even when it goes well, buying a boat can be a stressful process. The idea behind this three-hour seminar is to arm buyers with the information they need to minimize frustration and unnecessary expense. Five “team teach” instructors look at the challenges of boat buying from unique perspectives. This seminar has saved untold thousands of dollars for participants who avoided making costly mistakes over the past five years.

The theme of the buying tip is “physics & psychology,” leading off with the first decision a perspective buyer must make with Jeff Merrill, CPYB renown Trawler Specialist. Then we explore what kind of cruiser you plan to be and therefore what kind of hull design.

 Karen Alt, Surveyor with Anchor Marine discusses how to choose the right surveyor. Cindy Lewis from Sterling Associates and John Posey from Total Dollar will provide professional advice on finances and marine insurance and the elements of a good cruising policy. Beneteau will discuss fiberglass hull construction. Mike Titgemeyer from CPYB will discuss the importance of choosing a broker to assist with the buying process

Jeff Merrill will moderate and lead the discussion

Boat Handling on the Water with Bob Arrington

Wednesday, Sept 28 – Session 2
3 pm – 5 pm $185 Not included in the VIP packages


Day 3 Thursday, Sept 29

Boat Handling on the Water with Bob Arrington

  • Session 3- Thursday, Sept 29 8:00 am – 10:00 am 
  • Session 4- Thursday, Sept 29 3:00 pm – 5 :00 pm
  • $185- Not included in the VIP packages

Prerequisite: Boat Handling Illustrated.
Limit per session: 4-6
**Do not sign up for this class until you have registered for the Boat Handling Illustrated class.**
Location: Harbor East Marina

Nautical Know How – Rules & Ropes with Bob Sweet

Thursday, Sept 29, 9 am – 11 am $65

Boating can often seem like operating in the wild west. Boats can come at you from everywhere operated by who knows what. To stay safe, you not only need to know the rules, but what to do if the other guy does not. The whole idea is to not collide. The rules are your means of communicating with other boaters. Come learn, or refresh your understanding, in an engaging and memorable way. You’ll also get a handy guide you can place on the boat as a reminder. And that’s not all…

Perhaps the greatest accessory on your boat is rope, or “lines” as we call them on the boat. They help you secure the boat, so it’s there when you return. Lines also help you handle the boat while docking, departing, and anchoring. Knowing what rope, or line, you need, and when is key. Also, line is of little use if it is not attached to something. Learn some essential knots, bends and hitches you’ll use frequently. Proper marlinspike is the mark of an accomplished boater. You’ll get to practice with some hands-on tying and go away looking good.

Maritime Medical Emergency Management with Dr. Robert Leviton

Thursday, Sept 29 , 11 am – 2 pm $85

During this presentation participants will gain in depth understanding of the following:

  • Allergic Reactions
  • Burns
  • Choking
  • Concussion
  • Contusions, Lacerations, and Wound Care
  • Dehydration
  • Drowning and Near Drowning
  • Fractured Bones
  • Heat Cramps, Heat Exhaustion, and Heat Stroke
  • Hypothermia
  • Marine Bites and Stings
  • Nosebleeds
  • Seasickness
  • Strain and Sprains

Dr. Leviton’s professional Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness work include 12 years as the Medical Director for the Nassau County Fire, Police, and EMS Academy; he served as Physician Advisor to the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration during Desert Shield / Desert Storm developing mass care triage programs; was appointed as a Board Advisor to the National Emergency Training Center; then joined the Joint Commission accrediting hospitals, leading their teams developing standards for hospital emergency management and preparedness. Most recently, Dr. Leviton served as the Medical Director for the COVID Pandemic Medical Screening Annex, where his teams managed 100-200+ patients daily during the beginning through the height of the Pandemic.

Sailing his O’Day 32, “Tiramisu” in the waters of the Long Island Sound, Robert has served the US Sailing Association, Disabled Sailing Committee, as their lead National Classification Trainer and has sailed with disabled sailors in San Diego, Galveston, Port Charlotte, Newport, Nova Scotia, Kinsale, and his home New York waters as the Chief Medical Officer for the Robie Pierce One Design Regatta for over 15 years. 

Living Aboard with Bill Nieman

Thursday, Sept 29 11 am – 1 pm $65

Are you thinking about living aboard your trawler? Let’s talk the realities—financial, day-to-day living, boat size and layout, stresses and pleasures. Bill Nieman has been boating his whole life, but started living aboard just six years ago. Living in the Pacific Northwest can be a bit challenging through the winter, but Bill loves it. His wife Joan used to only like it, but today she will tell you she “more than likes it”. Bill will dive into how this came to be.

“Cruising the Inside Passage and SouthEast Alaska” with Karl Kruger

Thursday, Sept 29, 9 am – 11 am $65

SYNOPSIS: Explore the best routes, hidden gems and secret hideaways of British Colombia’s Inside Passage and South East Alaska with Karl Kruger. Karl is an experienced PNW cruiser and captain and has cruised these waters for over 20 years. You will get the insider’s knowledge and, if you’re lucky, a few secret places to catch that prize winning fish.

BIO: Karl is a Charter Captain, Boat Broker and Flotilla Leader at Seattle Yachts. He holds a United States Coast Guard 100 Ton Master’s License with Sail and Tow endorsements. For the last 20 years, he has cruised extensively in the San Juan Islands, Canadian Gulf Islands, the Canadian Coast, and Alaska.

Karl holds a B.S. in Environmental Science/ Toxicology and an A.A.S. in Ecology and Environmental Technology. He also holds current certifications for CPR and Outdoor Emergency Care.

In the 2017 Race to Alaska, Karl became the first person to paddle the 750 mile race course on a Stand Up Paddleboard, completing the race in under two weeks. In 2022 he will paddle non-assisted 2,000 miles of the Northwest Passage.

THE VIRTUES OF SIMPLICITY IN A CRUISING BOAT With Capt. John Clayman.  

Thursday, Sept 29 1-1:45 pm

Everyone touts the virtues of simplicity, but nowadays this idea is rarely achieved. A veteran cruiser under both sail and power with countless sea miles, John Clayman brings decades of experience in the design, construction, and marketing of cruising boats to Seaton Yachts. As president at Seaton, Clayman wrestles with the conundrum of complexity versus simplicity on a regular basis. This talk follows the debate down through the decades from Beebe’s design of the original PassageMaker to the trawlers of today. If you are considering buying a new boat or refitting your old one, this is the seminar to develop a healthy mindset and maybe even save a few bucks.

How to Maintain a Cruising Powerboat with Steve Zimmerman 2 Day Course

Thursday, Sept 29 1 pm – 4 pm Not included in the VIP packages

Day 2 Thursday: This two-session class will provide practical in-depth information about maintaining your boat. Whether you plan to perform your own maintenance or pay someone, this class will help you avoid costly mistakes. Topics include:

  • How to inspect and service seacocks and thru-hulls
  • How to inspect and maintain your running gear, including props, shafts, and shaft seals
  • Corrosion prevention
  • Understanding modern fiberglass boat construction and repairs, including blister repairs, gelcoat maintenance, and core materials
  • Shore power principles and safety
  • Gelcoat Maintenance and core materials
  • Bottom paints
  • Sealants and adhesives – proper selection and application
  • Engine checks

Use Marine Apps for Route Planning and Remote Anchor Watch with Modern Internet Connection with Eric Kunz from Furono

Thursday, Sept 29, 1 pm – 3 pm $75
Not included in the VIP package

Use your iPad, iPhone or Android device to learn route planning and provide “Peace of Mind” Anchor Watch functionality to while you r are cruising anywhere in the world. Understand the integrated relationship between modern MFDs and your own personal connected devices. Experience how easy it is to safely create journeys and plans that are automatically safely saved in your own personal “Internet Cloud” web site. Then see how this safely saved information automatically transfers between your vessel’s MFDs and your own devices. Use live modern MFDs to save pictures, route plans, and places of interest then transfer them between your own devices in the class. Use your own device with exactly the same charts to understand how easy it is to have the same information you create at your home automatically appear on your vessel’s navigation display when you embark on new journey whether it is a plan for a day trip or a month or a year! Watch the information save automatically to your MFD or from your MFD to your device using these amazing free apps. Modern connected MFDs leverage simple Internet Cloud integration so you never have to fear about losing critical navigation information again. (Limited Attendance with six displays and 2 people per display)

Tips and Tricks for Navigating the ICW with Rudy and Jill Sechez

Thursday, Sept 29, 2 pm – 4 pm $65

Have a yearning to cruise the ICW? This presentation by veteran cruisers Rudy and Jill Sechez will discuss situations that you will likely encounter and provide guidelines for managing them. Questions welcomed.

Some of the topics covered will be:

• Distinguishing ICW Aids to Navigation (ATONs) from regular ATONs, and which side to keep the ‘red’ marks

• Day shapes and lighted ATONs

• Range marks

• Keys and tricks when using charts on the ICW

• Negotiating channels and tips for avoiding shoals

• Visual clues to water depths and determining distances by sight

• “Tides” and “Tidal Currents”

• The various ways to appropriately signal bridges and locks for openings

• Discussion of Chart 1 and the Coast Pilot

• Understanding railroad bridges

• ‘Truisms’

• How to throw a line

• Hand signals & unambiguous communication among crew

• Choosing the correct shackle for your anchor chain

• Suggested Reference books and manuals

Offshore Preparations with Jeff Merrill

Thursday, Sept 29, 2 pm – 4 pm $65

Unless you are going to stay tied up at your home marina, you will eventually want to cruise aboard your trawler offshore. There are a lot of details to consider in your preparation and this course will help you learn what to expect, and/or remind you what it is like. Jeff Merrill is in his twentieth year as a TrawlerFest presenter and as a veteran trawler yacht broker, he has enjoyed spending time with many of his customers after the purchase and, as a result, has amassed an informative and entertaining collection of photos, ideas, lessons and stories to share involving going offshore. Merrill will touch on safety, planning, weather, navigation, pilothouse operations, engine room checks and more.

Boat Handling on the Water with Bob Arrington

Thursday, Sept 29 – Session 4
3 pm 5 pm $185 Not included in the VIP packages 


Day 4 Friday, Sept 30

Boat Handling on the Water with Bob Arrington

  • Session 5- Friday, Sept 30- 8:00 am – 10:00 am
  • Session 6- Friday, Sept 30- 3:00 pm – 5 :00 pm
  • $185- Not included in the VIP packages

Prerequisite: Boat Handling Illustrated.

Limit per session: 4-6

**Do not sign up for this class until you have registered for the Boat Handling Illustrated class.**

Location: Harbor East Marina

Diesel engine maintenance, troubleshooting and optimization with Nigel Calder

Friday, Sept 30, 9 am – 4 pm $145
*Not included in the VIP package

The diesel engine is a critically important piece of safety equipment aboard any cruising boat. Tech guru Nigel Calder, author of the best-selling ‘Marine Diesel Engines’ (now in its 3rd edition, and used as a text book in numerous diesel classes) brings his broad experience to a seminar for boatowners, both power and sail, that want to get the most out of their time on the water. We will dive into a detailed look at fuel, oil, cooling, airflow, and powertrain systems, describing all normal maintenance procedures and including often overlooked critical installation issues. We will explore basic troubleshooting techniques for common diesel engine problems, defining what the untrained boatowner can reasonably be expected to do and what should not be attempted. You will come away from this seminar with an enhanced understanding of your engine and the confidence to carry out routine maintenance, which alone will save you the price of admission. No previous experience is required. Class size is limited.

DIY Diesel Engine Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Optimization PDF

How to Buy a Used Boat….As Told by the Boatyard with Steve Zimmerman

Friday , Sept 30 9 am- 11 am $65

This talk provides a unique perspective on the boat buying process. Boatyards usually become involved AFTER the checks have been cashed and the boat changes hands. Too often the buyer finds out what he should have known before the purchase. This seminar will give you the tools you need to understand how the game is played, what questions to ask, and how identify the right kind of boat for your plans. This is a practical workshop, delving into the bilges of the boat buying process. Topics include: How to identify the best design type for your plans using a Boat Selection Matrix. Understanding the brokerage process and how it has changed. The role of a marine surveyor and how to find a good one. Interpreting survey findings and post-survey negotiations

Maritime Medical Emergency Management Suture and Splinting Skills and Techniques with Dr Robert Leviton

Friday, Sept 30, 9 am – 12 pm $125

HANDS ON – CLASS LIMITED TO 14 NOT INCLUDED IN VIP PACKAGE

Laceration Repair Skills and Techniques

• Sterile Technique

• Draping and Prepping

• Anesthesia Considerations

• Suture and Needle Selection

• Instrument Use

• Steri-Strips

• Skin Glue

• Wound Closure Techniques

• Simple Interrupted

• Simple Running

• Running Locking

• Horizontal Mattress

• Vertical Mattress

• Corner Stitch

• Figure of 8 Stitch

• Staplers and Removal

• Two Handed Hand Tying with Left

• Two Handed Hand Tying with Right

Splinting Skills and Techniques

• Ace Elastic Bandage Wrap

• Short Arm/Volar Splint

• Thumb Spica Splint

• Ulnar Gutter Splint

• Short Leg/Posterior Splint

Dr. Robert Leviton has over 30 years of experience in Emergency Medicine as a practicing physician, as well as Chairman of urban academic and community hospital emergency departments. Dr. Leviton is board certified in Emergency Medicine (American Board of Emergency Medicine) and Clinical Informatics (American Board of Preventive Medicine). He is currently the Physician Advisor at New York Health and Hospitals, Metropolitan Hospital where he also is clinically active teaching emergency medicine resident physicians and managing patient’s care.

Dr. Leviton’s professional Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness work include 12 years as the Medical Director for the Nassau County Fire, Police, and EMS Academy; he served as Physician Advisor to the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration during Desert Shield / Desert Storm developing mass care triage programs; was appointed as a Board Advisor to the National Emergency Training Center; then joined the Joint Commission accrediting hospitals, leading their teams developing standards for hospital emergency management and preparedness. Most recently, Dr. Leviton served as the Medical Director for the COVID Pandemic Medical Screening Annex, where his teams managed 100-200+ patients daily during the beginning through the height of the Pandemic. 

Sailing his O’Day 32, “Tiramisu” in the waters of the Long Island Sound, Robert has served the US Sailing Association, Disabled Sailing Committee, as their lead National Classification Trainer and has sailed with disabled sailors in San Diego, Galveston, Port Charlotte, Newport, Nova Scotia, Kinsale, and his home New York waters as the Chief Medical Officer for the Robie Pierce One Design Regatta for over 15 years. 

The Great Loop with Great Loopers Robert and Kay Creech

Friday, Sept 30, 9 am – 12 pm $85

Boaters who circumnavigate the East Coast of U.S., using the Hudson River, Erie Canal, Great Lakes, Mississippi River and Intracoastal Waterway are called “Loopers” for having completed “The Great Loop.” Great Loopers, Kay and Rober Creech , will give a detailed briefing with plenty of time to answer questions. They will also address which boats are most suitable and how to budget.

LOOKING FOR A STABILIZATION SOLUTION? DMS HAS THE ANSWER

Friday September 30th 12:45pm-1:30 pm 

With Patrick Noor from Dynamic Marine Systems (DMS Holland) who specializes in stabilization and roll reduction systems for Motor Yachts. The presentation will give background into the company, its products and explain how it aims to provide the best stabilisation solution for all motor and trawler yacht designs.

How to Finance your Dream Boat with Cindy Lewis, Sterling Associates

Friday, Sept 30, 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm Complimentary admission with Boat Show ticket

What you need to know about financing your boat and the requirements lenders will have for financing. What you want to have to protect yourself? All the information you need to sort thru the different finance programs that fit your needs.

Bluewater Boats that are Great for Loopers, Too with John Clayman

Friday, Sept 30, 11 am – 1 pm $65

Would-be cruisers often ask, “What do I need to look for in a boat for The Great Loop,” as if maybe they didn’t intent to cruise anywhere else. And maybe some do not. The Loop is a magnificent adventure, usually with land to starboard and port, but there are plenty of boats that do a great job on inland waters that can also go offshore and even cross an ocean. The Great Loop is a magnificent adventure in and of itself, but there are affordable boats that can do both the Erie Canal and the Atlantic Ocean in comfort and safety. John Clayman, president of Seaton Yachts with tens of thousands of ocean miles under his belt, will review the particular requirements for Great Looping and for more strenuous cruising. He will provide examples of dual-purpose vessels for every budget. Donning his yacht broker cap, Clayman will also discuss how to find and purchase the best boat for your needs. There will be ample time to respond to questions about design, construction, surveys and the purchase process.

Use Marine Apps for Route Planning and Remote Anchor Watch with Modern Internet Connection with Eric Kunz from Furono 

Friday Sept 30 1 pm – 3 pm $75
*Not Included with VIP package

Use your iPad, iPhone or Android device to learn route planning and provide “Peace of Mind” Anchor Watch functionality to while you r are cruising anywhere in the world. Understand the integrated relationship between modern MFDs and your own personal connected devices. Experience how easy it is to safely create journeys and plans that are automatically safely saved in your own personal “Internet Cloud” web site. Then see how this safely saved information automatically transfers between your vessel’s MFDs and your own devices. Use live modern MFDs to save pictures, route plans, and places of interest then transfer them between your own devices in the class. Use your own device with exactly the same charts to understand how easy it is to have the same information you create at your home automatically appear on your vessel’s navigation display when you embark on new journey whether it is a plan for a day trip or a month or a year! Watch the information save automatically to your MFD or from your MFD to your device using these amazing free apps. Modern connected MFDs leverage simple Internet Cloud integration so you never have to fear about losing critical navigation information again. (Limited Attendance with six displays and 2 people per display)

Ask the Experts A Town Hall Meeting with Moderator Jeff Merrill

Friday, Sept 30 2 pm – 4 pm $65

In this “town hall” event, our panel of veteran cruisers will field audience questions on a wide-range of topics, sea stories always resulting. Jeff Merrill, the moderator, is a yacht broker, author and trawler specialist with thousands of cruising miles with clients. Steve Zimmerman can discuss repairs and boatyards from the point of view of both a cruiser and boatyard owner. 

The seminar adjourns to the cocktail party immediately following.

Boat Handling on the Water with Bob Arrington

Thursday, Sept 29 – Session 6
3 pm – 5 pm $185 Not included in the VIP packages

Cocktail Party- Tickets available for purchase


Day 5 Saturday Oct 1

Troublefree electrical systems and troubleshooting with Nigel Calder

Saturday Oct 1st 9 am – 3 pm $130
*Not included in the VIP package

Electrical systems are now the number one cause of problems on boats that have anything more than a rudimentary electrical system. Most problems can be traced to inadequate design and/or poor installation. Tech guru Nigel Calder, author of the best-selling ‘Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual’ (now in its fourth edition) will begin with a description of key design criteria that must be met if a DC system is to meet the needs of the boatowner. In the process, we will reference some of the newer technologies that are likely to transform the performance of electrical systems in coming years. Then we will delve into basic installation requirements that comply with boatbuilding and safety standards, but which unfortunately are often not met. This includes the important, and often neglected, provision of adequate over-current protection. We will round out the day by looking at simple multimeter troubleshooting techniques that can be safely conducted by any boat owner. This seminar is designed for the inexperienced and requires no prior knowledge although it will be challenging for some. It will help you understand your own electrical systems and to nip many common problems in the bud. Class size is limited.

Troublefree electrical systems and troubleshooting PDF 

Dialing In with Jeff Merrill

Saturday, Oct 1st, 11 am – 1 pm $65

Over thirty years working with cruising clients and through his experiences on hundreds of trawlers, yacht broker Jeff Merrill has amassed a collection of good ideas that will help take some of the guesswork out of tracking various systems and equipment onboard your trawler. These are effective techniques that trawler owners are using to better monitor their vessels and they apply to most power cruising boats. It helps your awareness if you are observant and use quick reference reminders. Simple tips, like marking lines on your engine mounts, lines for tracking needles on analog gauges, color coding your anchor chain and many other common-sense tips make this an engaging and informative session.

Safety for Cruising Couples With Capt. Bob Arrington

Saturday, Oct 1st 9 am – 12 pm $85

This popular program originally developed by the Cruising Club of America , helps couples work better together during challenging situations. You will learn confidence building skills, specifically geared towards how to prepare for onboard emergencies. The course will cover the most important skills you would need if you had to over command of the boat. This kind of training is like insurance for emergencies – you hope you won’t need it, but you will be glad you have it. The course covers a range of essential boating safety practices, with particular emphasis on completing a safe voyage as a couple.

Safety for Cruising Couples Topics Include:

• Importance of Teamwork and Confidence Building

• Dealing with Emergencies

• Person Overboard and Recovery Skills

• Basic boat skills necessary to know in an emergency

• Know Before You Go: GPS, VHF, Using Charts and Chart-plotters

• Navigation and Safety Equipment

• Getting Help DSC Distress Communications

• Preparing yourself and your boat

• Additional Resources and Checklists https://sas.cruisingclub.org/scc

The Other Loop: The Down East Circle with Steve Zimmerman

Saturday, Oct 1st, 9 am – 10:45 am $65

The Downeast Loop provides a unique combination of seaways and scenery. This journey takes you up the Hudson River, through the Erie Canal, into Lake Ontario, out the St. Lawrence River, and into the Atlantic Ocean, providing an enticing variety of conditions. Scenery includes the enchanting Thousand Islands region, a scenic fjord, the remote Magdalene Islands, the spectacular Bras d’Or Lake and Cape Breton, and the historic Atlantic side of Nova Scotia. This talk will provide practical information for those planning the trip, as well as beautiful photographs to whet your cruising appetite.

Cruising the Chesapeake with  Ann Eichenmuller

Saturday, 12 pm – 2 pm

The Chesapeake Bay is our nation’s largest estuary, stretching 200 miles from Havre de Grace, Maryland to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Together with its tidal tributaries, the Bay boasts 11,684 miles of shoreline—more than the entire U.S. Pacific Coast. No wonder it is considered one of the finest cruising grounds in the world. But navigating a surface area of nearly 4,480 square miles is not without its challenges. Where should you go in all that water? Veteran boater and marine journalist Ann Eichenmuller will help you make the most of your Bay experience with a look at the unique history, ecosystem, communities, and cruising conditions of the Chesapeake. Get the rundown on weather and tides, little-known anchorages, and easily accessible provisioning stops. Eichenmuller’s seminar will cover flexible routes to accommodate all interests, with local insights into popular destinations, seasonal festivals, and some special small towns worth a detour upriver. Whether you are a first-timer or a veteran Bay cruiser, you will discover something new about this unique body of water.