Bob Johnstone

MJM 53z/53zi

May 13, 2020

The latest dual-capability cruiser from MJM balances the scales between small-boat exploration and yachtlike comfort.

Downeast Dazzler

July 11, 2012

On a fine fall day last year, I found myself aboard the MJM 40z with Bob Johnstone, founder of the company that gives name to

A side three-quarter view of a large, rugged expedition trawler named "PAUL JOHANSEN" cruising through calm open water. The vessel features a dark blue hull creating a white wake at the bow, paired with a cream-colored superstructure and a high pilothouse. A tall central mast holds multiple radar domes and communication antennas, while the upper deck carries a white tender and a bright yellow kayak. An American flag flies from the stern under a grey, overcast sky.

Straight Life

Once a rescue craft, this Norway-built steel trawler is the ticket to ride for a venturesome crew.

When Minutes Matter

Island time is great, except in an emergency. This medevac service is for boaters who need help fast.

A high-angle, eye-level shot looking toward the bow cabin of a large white trawler yacht docked in a marina. A worker in dark blue clothes stands atop the cabin roof structure, using a long-handled brush to scrub the fiberglass surface next to a yellow water hose. The boat features a forward-slanted windshield with multiple wipers, a dark wood-planked foredeck, and stainless steel railings. Other luxury yachts are closely docked on either side under a bright, partly cloudy blue sky.

Stain Masters

Black streaks, yellow mustaches and rust all require different solutions to keep a boat looking clean.

Project Langosta

A Down East icon provides inspiration for this gentlemanly cruiser.

$A wide, eye-level shot capturing a majestic and treacherous Arctic landscape filled with massive white and blue icebergs floating in a calm, dark blue ocean. In the immediate left foreground, a towering wall of sheer ice rises sharply, showing deep fissures and dynamic textures. Behind it, a sweeping, mountainous glacier structure dominates the background under a pale, overcast sky, while a smaller, vibrant turquoise iceberg block sits low in the water on the right, displaying bright, light-refracting edges.$

Another Kind of Epic

We follow the path of explorers who ran the Northwest Passage over a century ago, but our journey is a lot more fun

A close-up shot of a white boat's windshield area featuring a white rectangular "FOR SALE" sign with bold navy blue lettering taped inside the glass. A black canvas cover with metal snaps is secured tightly across the top edge of the windshield frame. Through the clear glass, a portion of the vessel's white vinyl interior seating and a white steering wheel are visible in the cockpit.

A Dash of Salt: Carpe Diem

We can spend years planning for a bucket-list trip and then life gets in the way. Go now.

A high-angle, overhead rendering of a luxurious, modern white ILIAD 60 power catamaran cruising at dusk. The multi-deck vessel features large solar panels integrated into its upper hardtop roof and aft awning cover. The aft cockpit and open flybridge area are elegantly furnished with outdoor lounge chairs and sofas. Bright blue underwater LED lights glow vividly beneath the swimming platform at the stern, casting a vibrant reflection onto the calm dark water.

In Build: Iliad 60

Splashing later this year.

Keeping Up With The Nietzels

Karly and Evan Nietzel—aka YouTube’s @Navigating Nietzels—tailored their careers for remote work after buying a trawler, moving onboard and completing the Great Loop. Along with their pup, Ripley, they’re just getting started.

A wide, sunny shot of a large, classic expedition-style motor yacht named "Walrus" anchored in calm, shimmering water. The vessel features a cream-colored hull with circular portholes and a multi-level superstructure. It is heavily dressed in festive maritime signaling flags strung from the bow to the tall white main mast. At the stern, both an American flag and a Texas state flag fly prominently from a secondary flagpole. The background features a green, tree-lined shoreline with a glimpse of a waterfront house under a clear, vibrant blue sky.

The Walrus is Ready

This aluminum vessel’s throwback design belies its modern systems, all installed for a Great Loop cruise.

Northman 1300 Trawler

The three-stateroom, semidisplacement model has a range of power options and a low air draft.

Bob Johnstone

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