
Seminar Registration & Tickets

IN-WATER BOAT SHOW:
THURSDAY, MARCH 2 – SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023
Boat Show opens 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
TICKETS: General Admission is $15 in advance. Seminar tickets include General Admission to the boat show on the day of the seminar
TRAWLERFEST SEMINARS:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 – SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023
LOCATION:
HUTCHINSON ISLAND MARRIOTT BEACH RESORT & MARINA
555 NE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34996
EXHIBITOR LIST – Subject to change


QUESTIONS? Contact us at [email protected] or (954) 761-8777

FREE ON-SITE PARKING
EXHIBITOR INFORMATION:
If you wish to become an exhibitor and display your boat for sale at Trawlerfest, please contact Ryan Davidson at (954) 328-7573 or [email protected].
SEMINARS:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 – SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023
All seminars will be held onsite at the Riverside Conference Center. Seminar registration will be on the 2nd floor with the seminar rooms. Free onsite parking available for daytime guests.


General admission is included for the day of the boat show with all seminar purchases. If you are attending a seminar on Tuesday or Wednesday, please reference that seminar and bring your name badge for general admission to the show.
5 & 3-DAY VIP PACKAGE
- 5-Day VIP Package (Tuesday – Saturday)
- Unlimited access to seminars (Tuesday-Saturday). The following seminars are NOT included in VIP package: Diesel Engine, Electronic Troubleshooting, Boat Handling on the Water, Maritime Medical Emergency Management, and Marine Apps with Eric Kunz.
- General Admission to all Three (3) days of Trawlerfest’s In-Water Boat Show
- Entry on Thursday for one Happy Hour Boat Cruise social activity
- Entry on Friday for one to the Trawlers at Twilight happy hour
- 3-Day VIP Package ( Thursday – Saturday)
- Unlimited access to seminars (Thursday-Saturday). The following seminars are NOT included in VIP package: Diesel Engine, Electronic Troubleshooting, How to Maintain a Cruising Powerboat, Boat Handling on the Water, Maritime Medical Emergency Management, and Marine Apps with Eric Kunz.
- General Admission to all Three (3) days of Trawlerfest’s In-Water Boat Show
- Entry on Thursday for one Happy Hour Boat Cruise social activity
- Entry on Friday for one to the Trawlers at Twilight happy hour
Join us for free seminars duing the boat show .

Tuesday, February 28
Heading Offshore with Jeff Merrill, CPYB
Tuesday, February 28, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
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.
Galley Tips – Provisioning for Your Pleasure Cruise with Alyse and Chris Caldwell
Tuesday, February 28, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Planning a weekend trip? Maybe cruising for a few months? Captain Alyse will share ideas, shortcuts and hints that will make your time in the galley another fun adventure. All of our galley recipes are easy to make and can work perfectly in the small confines of a one burner stove or toaster oven and one small square foot of counter space….as well as in the spacious galley of a large cruiser. We will help you consider storage and trash options too. With the right tools and the right attitude everything tastes better on a boat.
20 Interesting and Useful Marine Weather with Chris Parker
Tuesday, February 28, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
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
- Characteristics of waves / seas you may not have considered)
- More advanced topics such as how to observe the texture of clouds to gauge whether a thunderstorm is developing
- 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.)
- Knowing on which side of a TROF you should expect weather to be worse than predicted.
How To Maintain a Cruising Powerboat with Steve Zimmerman – 2 Session course
Tuesday & Wednesday, Feb 28 & March 1, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
These two sessions (Tuesday & Wednesday) 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:
• 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
Principles of Close Quarters Boat Handling with Bob Arrington
Tuesday, February 28, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
This 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). The certificate of completion awarded to attendees may enable some to save money on their boat insurance. An example of Arrington’s training can be found here at: https://www.passagemaker.com/technical/settle-down-skipper


“On The Water” Boat Handling With Captain Bob Arrington
Six people per session. Principles of Close Quarters Boat Handling with Bob Arrington is a required prerequisite for Boat Handling On The Water. Not Included In Vip Pass
Boat Handling on The Water with Captain Bob Arrington Wednesday- Saturday
Session 1. Wednesday, March 1, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Session 2. Wednesday, March 1, 3:30 PM-5:30 PM
Session 3. Thursday, March 2, 8:00 AM-10:00 AM
Session 4. Thursday, March 2, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM
Session 5. Friday, March 3, 8:00 AM-10:00 AM
Session 6. Saturday, March 4, 8:00 AM-10.00 AM
Diesel engine maintenance, troubleshooting and optimization with Nigel Calder
Wednesday March 1, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Not Included In Vip Pass
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.
What to Expect from a Marine Survey & Sea Trial with Capt Chris and Alyse Caldwell
Wednesday, March 1, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
To better prepare you for what happens during a survey, our primary focus in this new Ask Captain Chris seminar is what you as the boat owner will expect from surveys of pleasure boats. We will include:
- Types of surveys
- How to find the right surveyor
- What you will experience during the survey
- Your responsibilities as the buyer.
This seminar is photo-rich with real world examples helping the new boater to identify quality equipment as well as potential problems.
Waves/Sea with Chris Parker
Wednesday, March 1, 9:00 AM-11:00 AM
Everything you really need to know about seas, and how to interpret seastate 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.
How To Maintain A Cruising Powerboat with Steve Zimmerman – 2 Session course Tuesday and Wednesday
Wednesday, March 1, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
This two session (Tuesday & Wednesday) 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
Great Loop with Kim Russo
Wednesday, March 1, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
With Kim Russo & veteran Loopers.
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.” Kim Russo, executive director of the America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association, will give a detailed briefing with plenty of time to answer questions. She will also address which boats are most suitable and how to budget. For more information and a Loop photo gallery, click here. Attendees will receive a complementary one-year membership to the American Great Loop Cruising Association.


Thursday March 2
Electrical Systems and Troubleshooting with Nigel Calder
Thursday, March 2, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Not Included In Vip Pass
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.
Maritime Medical Emergency Management with Dr Robert Leviton
Thursday, March 2, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
So, you’ve learned how to survey your boat, understand the basic stuff of marine weather forecasting, navigate the waterways, and anchoring your vessel, only to descend into the engine room, slip, striking your head, opening a gash in your scalp, bleeding miserably, your memory fading, only to notice your leg is askew in a painful manner what do you do next?
Join Dr. Robert Leviton and learn how to manage these and many other Maritime Medical Emergencies as you will learn about how to contact medical assistance, prepare for helicopter evacuation, organize your First Aid Kit, understand, and treat lacerations, concussion, shock, fractures, allergic reactions and more. With 30 + years practicing Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at NY Medical College, and medical director for US Sailing Disabled Sailing Regattas, Dr. Leviton will share countless stories and much needed practical information to survive the most common emergencies and be on your way to complete your journey.
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
Sanitary Systems – Drinking Water, Sewage System, Air Conditioners and more with Alyse and Chris Caldwell
Thursday, March 2, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
This might not be your dream topic, but your Sanitary Systems are the foundation of every successful boat trip. Potable drinking water, holding tanks, hoses, and capacity of all that you can carry are essential considerations. Learn about toilet systems and what you need to do to keep it flushing. What’s that noise? And what’s that smell? Let’s hope it’s coming from the cookies you’re baking and not your sanitary systems in distress. Learn what you can do to keep your boat smelling fresh and your crew happy. To flush or not to flush. That is the question! Ask Captain Chris.
“Cruising the Bahamas With the Lucky Me” with Greg & Susan Costa
Thursday, March 2, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
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 printed copy of Greg & Susan’s updated 80-page book “Cruising the Bahamas With the Lucky Me” (Version 6 * 8/2022) 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.
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Speaker Biography: Greg and Susan Costa have traveled over 15,000 miles on the Lucky Me in the past 5 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.
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 major boating groups including the Great Loop Association (GreatLoop.org), Trawlerfest and Seven Seas Cruising Association.
FINANCING AND INSURING YOUR DREAM BOAT
Thursday March 2, 12 – 12:45 PM
WITH PHIL HAWKINS: STERLING ASSOCIATES & ARTHUR BUHR: TOTAL DOLLAR INSURANCE
What you need to know about financing and insuring your boat. The requirements lenders will have, for insurance and financing. What you want to have to protect yourself on insurance and financing. Finance and insurance programs that fit your needs.
Personal Health Record Consultation with Dr Robert Leviton Thursday, March 2, Session 1-3
1 Couple per session
Session 1 Thursday, March 2, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Session 2 Thursday, March 2, 2:30 PM – 4 :00 PM
Session 3 Thursday, March 2, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Not Included in the VIP Package
Do you know the last time you had a tetanus shot? How about the names and telephone number of your primary care physician, consulting physicians, hospitals maintaining your personal medical and surgical information? What is your pharmacy name and telephone number, or the dose, route, and frequency of your current medications?
When traveling and suddenly confronted with an acute medical / surgical emergency, having your Personal Health Record immediately available can be lifesaving.
During this consultation, Dr. Robert Leviton will review the key components of a personal health record and together will construct your PHR while also developing content that may be linked to your personal electronic health records. These PHR’s may be provided to you by your private physician, hospital, health insurance plan, pharmacy, or may be purchased independently. All options will be explored and reviewed and finalized so you may begin your voyage knowing your personal health record is complete.
Tips and Tricks for Navigating the ICW
Thursday, March 2, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
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:
1. Distinguishing ICW Aids to Navigation (ATONs) from regular ATONs, and which side to keep the ‘red’ marks
2. Day shapes and lighted ATONs
3. Range marks
4. Keys and tricks when using charts on the ICW
5. Negotiating channels and tips for avoiding shoals
6. Visual clues to water depths and determining distances by sight
7. “Tides” and “Tidal Currents”
8. The various ways to appropriately signal bridges and locks for openings
9. Discussion of Chart 1 and the Coast Pilot
10. Understanding railroad bridges
11. ‘Truisms’
12. How to throw a line
13. Hand signals & unambiguous communication among crew
14. Choosing the correct shackle for your anchor chain
15. Suggested Reference books and manuals
Afternoon Tea with Susan Costa, Kim Russo, Cindy Lewis and Alyse Caldwell
Thursday, March 2, 3:00 PM- 3:45 PM
This seminar is for women who think they may want to go cruising or who have only recently entered the cruising lifestyle and have a wide range of questions best answered by other women, and, alas, without any men in the room.
Trawler Buying Tips
Thursday, March 2, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
There is a lot you can prepare for to make sure you are ready when you find the right trawler to purchase. The goal of this seminar is to provide trawler buyers with important information you need to know up front to maximize your boat purchasing success. This is a “team teach” event with individual presentations leading to a group panel session at the end. The seminar leads off with boatbuilder Steve Zimmerman helping you determine which hull form is best for the type of cruising you intend. Hull form matters and you want to select the right design. Beneteau will discuss some of the advantages of fiberglass hull construction. . Sterling Associates will discuss marine loan financing. Total Dollar Insurance will help you understand the current boat insurance market. Maritime Attorney Matthew D. Miller, will share some legal insights to boat buying and ownership, JP Skov, CPYB from YBAA (Yacht Brokers Association of America), will discuss the importance of choosing a qualified broker to guide you through the buying process. Surveyor will share how to evaluate and prioritize survey findings. Jeff Merrill, CPYB (Trawlerfest veteran presenter for over 20 years) will moderate the discussion and try to keep the panelists and audience on track so that when we wrap up you will have some great background on the trawler buying process.
Use Marine Apps for Route Planning and Remote Anchor Watch with Modern Internet Connection with Eric Kunz from Furuno
Thursday, March 2, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Not Included In Vip Pass
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 2-3 people per display) 2 Hour Presentation


Friday, March 3rd
Maritime Medical Emergency Management – Hands On with Dr Robert Leviton
Friday, March 3, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Not Included In Vip Pass
Suture and Splinting Skills and Techniques, Laceration Repair Skills and Techniques. Price includes personal 5-piece suture kit, suture material, latex skin, and video links
Participants will learn about the structure of skin and bone, wound and bone healing, and steps taken to control bleeding stabilize injuries, before receiving definitive medical treatment.
Your crewmate is bleeding, and compression alone is not stopping the hemorrhage, what do you do? During this session sailors will learn how to clean wounds while draping and prepping the injury, then learn how to hold and use surgical instruments, when to apply steri-strips, skin staples, or skin glue, and wound closure techniques from simple interrupted sutures to the vertical and horizontal mattress techniques.
Following this hands-on session, we’ll continue with the basics of splinting skills and techniques applying elastic bandages, short arm and leg splints, buddy taping fingers and toes, and stabilizing complex long bone fractures.
1. Sterile Technique
2. Draping and Prepping
3. Anesthesia Considerations
4. Suture and Needle Selection
5. Instrument Use
6. Steri-Strips
7. Skin Glue
8. Wound Closure Techniques
9. Simple Interrupted
10. Simple Running
11. Running Locking
12. Horizontal Mattress
13. Vertical Mattress
14. Corner Stitch
15. Figure of 8 Stitch
16. Staplers and Removal
17. Two Handed Hand Tying with Left
18. Two Handed Hand Tying with Right
19. Splinting Skills and Techniques
20. Ace Elastic Bandage Wrap
21. Short Arm/Volar Splint
22. Thumb Spica Splint
23. Ulnar Gutter Splint
24. Short Leg/Posterior Splint
Dinghy Dynamics – Style, Size and Where to Stow It for Easy Access with Alyse and Chris Caldwell
Friday, March 3, 9:00 AM-11:00 AM
Do you have the right dinghy for your boat? You may wonder if you even need a dinghy since you just found the PERFECT boat for your cruising adventures. Maybe you are having a tough time deciding inflatable vs. RIB vs. rowing pram. Captain Chris will open your eyes to options including how you plan to use your dinghy, store it and most important how you can easily launch it. Learn all this and more from Captain Chris Caldwell a seasoned cruiser who started out just like you.
Anchoring – Avoid the “Art of Dragging” with Jill & Rudy Sechez
Friday, March 3, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Don’t go if you can’t stay put… long-time cruisers and authors of “ANCHORING, A 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:
1. How to size your anchors, rodes, shackles, and swivels
2. Anchoring in sand, mud, weeds or rock
3. Determining the bottom’s make-up
4. How much scope is too little, and is there such a thing as too much?
5. Six factors to include when calculating scope
6. The danger of using 5:1 and 7:1 scope
7. Marking your rode
8. Determining the load on ground tackle at various wind speeds
9. Using more than one anchor
10. 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!
How to Buy a Used Boat …. As Told By the Boatyard with Steve Zimmerman
Friday, March 3, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
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.
Personal Health Record Consultation with Dr Robert Leviton
1 Couple per session
Not Included in VIP Pass
Friday March 3, Sessions 4-6
Session 4 Friday, March 3, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Session 5 Friday, March 3, 2:30 PM – 4 :00 PM
Session 6 Friday, March 3, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Do you know the last time you had a tetanus shot? How about the names and telephone number of your primary care physician, consulting physicians, hospitals maintaining your personal medical and surgical information? What is your pharmacy name and telephone number, or the dose, route, and frequency of your current medications?
When traveling and suddenly confronted with an acute medical / surgical emergency, having your Personal Health Record immediately available can be lifesaving.
During this consultation, Dr. Robert Leviton will review the key components of a personal health record and together will construct your PHR while also developing content that may be linked to your personal electronic health records. These PHR’s may be provided to you by your private physician, hospital, health insurance plan, pharmacy, or may be purchased independently. All options will be explored and reviewed and finalized so you may begin your voyage knowing your personal health record is complete.
Stabilization for Trawler Yachts & More with Patrick Noor DMS (Dynamic Marine Systems)
Friday, March 3, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Dynamic Marine Systems (DMS Holland) are specialists in stabilisation and roll reduction systems for Motor Yachts. This Trawlerfest Stuart presentation will give background into the company and its products and explain how DMS aims to provide the best stabilisation solution for all motor and trawler yacht designs.
Cape Cod to Maine with Bob Arrington
Friday, March 3, 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Prepare for your “Down East” adventure with cruising authority Bob Arrington, as you explore together the beautiful New England coast from Cape Cod to Maine. A summer cruising destination for boaters from around the world, the New England coast chock-full of picturesque bays, uninhabited islands and quaint fishing villages. From the urban vibe of Boston, Portsmouth and Portland to the remote islands of Casco and Penobscot Bays, this stretch of the New England Coast has something for everyone. We will also offer an introduction to the Canadian Maritimes of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The North Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Maine are rich in sea-life with seals, dolphins and whales seemingly ready to escort you along the way. In this program, Bob Arrington will share his years of experience to help you safely prepare for:
- Navigating the Cape Cod Canal
- Coastal cruising and offshore waters
- Avoiding lobster pots
- Favorite anchorages and harbors
- Maine’s Islands
- Navigating in Fog
- Launching point for the Canadian Maritimes
Simple and Frugal Cruising Ideas with Rudy & Jill Sechez
Friday, March 3, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
It’ll be an unusual person who will leave this presentation without at least a few ideas that can be incorporated into their cruising lifestyle, no matter how sophisticated the boat.
Following a short demonstration for those who want to learn how to throw a rope, Rudy and Jill Sechez will present an overview of building their boats, a 36’ cutter, and their current boat a 34’ foot sail-assisted trawler¾an explanation of why they chose these designs, why these sizes, and why wood.
Then the core of the presentation¾features and systems, not just on their boat, but on other boats, that can allow cruising life to be less complicated and simpler, if not easier.
Some of the topics will be: how traditional methods can be integrated into cruising, rope, leather and canvas for everyday tasks, non-electronic navigation, anchoring, water management, boat and engine maintenance, supply gathering; plus, more.
Questions are encouraged.
Use Marine Apps for Route Planning and Remote Anchor Watch with Modern Internet Connection with Eric Kunz from Furuno
Friday, March 3, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Not Included In Vip Pass
Use your iPad, iPhone or Android device to learn route planning and provide “Peace of Mind” Anchor Watch functionality to while you rare 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 2-3 people per display) 2 Hour Presentation
The Virtues of Simplicity in a Cruising Boat with John Clayman
Friday, March 3, 3:00 PM-3:45 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.
Ask the Experts: A Town Hall Meeting
Friday, March 3, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM
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. Capt Bob Arrington enjoys sharing his passion for the water with new boaters, having taught boat handling skills in multiple venues for the past 25 years. Maritime Attorney Matthew Miller navigates us through the complex legal world of the yachting industry. Buddy Morgan from CMC Maine discusses stabilization solution for your cruising adventures. The seminar adjourns to the cocktail party immediately following.
Saturday, March 4th
The Other Loop: The Down East Circle with Steve Zimmerman
Saturday, March 4, 9:00 AM-10:45 AM
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.
Dial-In Your Trawler with Jeff Merrill, CPYB
Saturday, March 4, 9:00 AM-11:00 AM
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.
Understanding 3D Forward Looking Sonar for Safe Navigation with Matthew Zimmerman from FarSounder
Saturday, March 4, 11-11:45 AM
Learn about the latest in forward looking sonar technology. Join Matthew Zimmerman, Founder and VP of Engineering at FarSounder, to discover the unique features and capabilities of the Argos systems. These systems deliver a true 3D sonar image in real-time that overlays on nautical charts. They give users a clear understanding of what is ahead of the vessel under the water right now. The systems are easy to install and maintain and have no moving parts. They provide owner-operators peace of mind when navigating in unknown and uncharted waters.
Insider Tips For Bareboat Charters with Chris Caswell
Saturday, March 4, 12 – 2 pm
When you don’t want to take your boat to a faraway place (or simply can’t), a bareboat (drive it yourself) charter offers several great opportunities. First, you can explore Tahiti, Thailand, Scotland, and the Greek Isles as easily as boarding a plane. Since various charter companies offer an eclectic variety of boats, bareboating offers a chance to try out different brands and styles to hone your next purchase. Bareboating is a great opportunity for family and friends to bond but, like everything, there are tips that can make your trip easier, more fun and, yes, even less expensive. How to pick a destination and company, what to take (and not!), provisioning and cooking, plus a host of hard-won tips and recommendations to make your charter truly wonderful. Long-time journalist Chris Caswell is the go-to guy for bareboat chartering, a regular Passagemaker contributor, author of several bareboating books, and publisher/editor of CharterSavvy, the free online magazine about bareboating.
Safety for Cruising Couples With Capt. Bob Arrington
Saturday, March 4, 12:00 PM-2:00 PM
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:
1. Importance of Teamwork and Confidence Building
2. Dealing with Emergencies
3. Person Overboard and Recovery Skills
4. Basic boat skills necessary to know in an emergency
5. Know Before You Go: GPS, VHF, Using Charts and Chart-plotters
6. Navigation and Safety Equipment
7. Getting Help DSC Distress Communications
8. Preparing yourself and your boat
9. Additional Resources and Checklists https://sas.cruisingclub.org/scc
STAY AT TRAWLERFEST HOST HOTEL
Discounted hotel rooms. $289 per night.
https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1660842891670&key=GRP&app=resvlink

