Come join us at Trawlerfest in sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at the Bahia Mar Hotel & Marina from March 4-8th, 2025.
This is the premiere event for boat owners and prospective buyers to hone their boating skills or to find their next boat. Powerboaters and sailors alike will have unparalleled access to a wealth of industry experts, from manufacturers to other experienced cruisers.
Fort Lauderdale is a city known for its beaches and boating canals. The Strip is a promenade running along oceanside highway A1A. It’s lined with upscale outdoor restaurants, bars, boutiques and luxury hotels.
IN-WATER BOAT SHOW: THURSDAY, MARCH 6 thru SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025
LOCATION: Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach Double Tree by Hilton Hotel
Discounted Hotel Rate for Trawlerfest Link– Click Here
Show Hours: Show open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday & Friday and Saturday open until 4 p.m.
Ticket Pricing: General Admission to the In-Water Boat Show $15.00
SEMINARS: Tuesday March 4th-Saturday March 8th, 2025
Parking: Bahia Mar Yachting Center. Lots of parking available onsite.
QUESTIONS? Contact Donna at [email protected]
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]
PLEASE NOTE: No refunds will be issued after February 1st for VIP, seminar or general admission tickets.
SEMINAR TICKETS INCLUDE GENERAL ADMISSION FOR THAT DAY OF THE BOAT SHOW! If you are attending a seminar on Tuesday or Wednesday, please hold onto your name badge and reference the seminar you attended for General Admission to the show.
Exhibitor Vessels on Display
***This will be updated weekly with new vessels***
Thank you to our Sponsors
VIP Packages & Evening Activities
5-Day VIP Package (Tuesday – Saturday) $675.00
– Unlimited access to seminars (Tuesday-Saturday) (The following seminars are NOT included in VIP package: Boat Handling on the Water Sessions 1 – 5, Hands On Maritime Medical Emergency Management.
– General Admission to all Three (3) days of Trawlerfest’s In-Water Boat Show (Thursday, Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
– Entry for one (1) to social evening activity – Friday, Trawlers at Twilight Cocktail Party.
Value: $1,100
You save $515 with the 5-Day VIP Pass!
VIP Seminar Selection forms will be emailed after ticket purchase. We appreciate your patience as it is not an automated email.
3-Day VIP Package ( Thursday – Saturday) $525.00
– Unlimited access to seminars (Thursday-Saturday) (The following seminars are NOT included in VIP package: Boat Handling on the Water Sessions 1 – 5, Hands On Maritime Medical Emergency Management.
– General Admission to all Three (3) days of Trawlerfest’s In-Water Boat Show (Thursday, Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
– Entry for one (1) to social evening activity – Friday, Trawlers at Twilight Cocktail Party.
Value: $680.00
You save $221 with the 3 Day VIP Pass!
VIP Seminar Selection forms will be emailed after ticket purchase. We appreciate your patience as it is not an automated email.
Friday Trawlers at Twilight Cocktail Party $55.00
Friday, March 7, 5:30-7:30 PM
Tuesday March 4th Seminars
Docking & Close Quarters Boat Handling with Bob Arrington
Tuesday, March 4, 9 am – 12 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 five 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
Day 1 of 2: How to Maintain a Cruising Powerboat with Steve Zimmerman – 2 sessions
Tuesday & Wednesday, March 4 & 5, 9 am – 12 pm both days
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
Galley Tips – Provisions for Your Pleasure Cruise with Chris and Alyse Caldwell *New Seminar
Tuesday, March 4, 1 pm – 3 pm
Captain Alyse Caldwell will share ideas, shortcuts and hints that will make your time in the galley another fun adventure. We will help you adjust to a slightly different way of preparing meals including where you can store your provisions in the small confines of a typical galley. With the right attitude and a little creativity, meals taste better on a boat. Like everything else in life, start with the right tool for the right job! We’ll talk trash too…how to store it and still keep your boat smelling fresh.
Waves / Seas with Chris Parker
Tuesday, March 4, 1 pm – 3 pm
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.
All Paws on Deck with Bob and Dori Arrington
Tuesday, March 4, 3pm-4:30pm
The only thing better than long distance cruising, is long cruising with your four-legged friends. Our pets are part of our family, and we wouldn’t consider being aboard without them.
Join experienced cruisers, Bob & Dori Arrington along with their Portuguese Water Dog Cali, as they review how to safely cruise with your dog or cat. We’ll review pet first aid, safe boarding practices and accessories to have that will make life aboard with your pets easier and more enjoyable.
Cruising the ICW with Chris and Alyse Caldwell
Tuesday, March 4, 3 pm -5 pm
Heading south for the winter? This seminar will get you where you want to go. Ask Captain Chris to help you plot your course along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from the Chesapeake Bay through mile marker zero in Norfolk, Va., all the way to the warm waters of Florida. Learn a few tips to keep you in the deeper channel and off the sandbars from experienced cruisers who traveled the route in many different size trawlers- with as deep as a 7-foot draft. There are details to explore such as tide, currents and drawbridges that are specific to cruising the Atlantic coast. Here’s a peek at where you may travel when it’s your turn to live the dream.
Wednesday, March 5th Seminars
Weather Forecasts – Weather Apps with Chris Parker
Wednesday, March 5, 9 am – 12 pm
Explore various apps and online sources for weather, and tips for using them effectively. Learn how to use (or how improve your use of) the best marine weather apps and other online resources, including:
Apps: Windy, Predict Wind, Pocket GRIB, Ventusky, Weather 4D, and any app you wish to discuss. Websites: SpotWx.com, TropicalTidbits.com, Weatherbell.com, and any website you wish to discuss.
Learn the importance of using area (rather than point / spot) forecasts, selecting and comparing different models, and considering different weather forecast parameters (wind speed and direction, wind gusts, potential for convective winds, precipitation, fog, and the height, direction, and interval of various wave trains (wind-driven seas as well as swells).
Understand why you probably want to use the best weather app, separate from your navigation program.
This course assumes you have a basic understanding of marine weather – if not, then you will still find the course useful, but you will get more out of this course if you already have a basic understanding of marine weather.
Day 2 of 2: How to Maintain a Cruising Powerboat with Steve Zimmerman
Wednesday, March 5, 9 am – 12 pm Day 2 cont..
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
What to Expect from a Marine Survey & Sea Trial with Capt Chris and Alyse Caldwell
Wednesday, March 5, 12 pm – 2 pm
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:
1. types of surveys
2. how to find the right surveyor
3. what you will experience during the survey
4. some of 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.
Electronic Navigation with Bob Sweet
Wednesday, March 5, 12pm-2pm
In order to use electronics, you need to know how to navigate. Also, you have to get your electronics to quickly tell you what you need to know. And then, which devices to use to accomplish that.
We will cover your overall strategy using the various tools available, before, during and after the voyage. We’ll cover pre-planning, on-board navigation, and updating your voyage.
There are several phases of navigation. Before we start, we plan. That is often best done on a computer or tablet. We can then transfer to information to the chartplotter. We’ll talk about how.
Underway, our chartplotter is our window to following the planned route and what is around us. We need to stay on course. Winds and currents can alter our path, so we need to deal with that.
Lastly, we need to have situational awareness of our surroundings as a check to make sure we are where we think we are. Landmarks and navigation aids help us there. There are some simple techniques to make sure your navigation and chartplotter are functioning properly.
Tools such as routes and auto-routing are available, but as with any computer-based system, they are prone to perils if used without supervision. Your chartplotter can be used to drive your autopilot along a route with changes of course, but you need to make sure that it is doing what you expect.
No prudent navigator relies upon a single resource for his position, so radar helps. We will discuss how to use radar to support your navigation tasks as well as safety. Sonar is also provides supplemental information. And AIS is becoming an essential tool as it is being applied to provide navigational and safety information.
And, we will discuss avoidance navigation. It is not just a matter of where we are going, but what we want to stay away from that matters.
Lastly, we will cover tides and currents, their impact on your navigation, and how to deal with these effects.
Stabilizer Systems, which technology is better and why with Raffa Invrea from CMC Marine
Wednesday, March 5, 1 pm – 2 pm
Free Sponsor Seminar with Valid Show Ticket
Comparison of electric fins’ and gyros’ performance on board leisure boats over 40’, both underway and at anchor, when used independently and even combined. Based on a real study recently performed by an independent marine surveyor/engineering company, as commissioned by a boat builder who needed to choose what to adopt and how to best invest their equipment budget.
The Great Loop and Beyond, Boats that are Good for Loopers and Bluewater Cruising Too with John Clayman
Wednesday, March 5, 2 pm – 3 pm
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 intend 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.
Unique Features of Trawlers with Wayne Goldman from Selene Yachts America
Wednesday, March 5, 2 pm – 3 pm
Free Sponsor Seminar with Valid Show Ticket
.In this detailed presentation, we dive into the unique characteristics that make trawlers the go-to vessels for long-range cruising and liveaboard lifestyles. Trawlers are renowned for their fuel-efficient displacement hulls, which allow for steady, economical cruising over extended distances. Their spacious living areas and full beam designs provide ample room and comfort, making them ideal for spending long periods at sea. The talk highlights trawlers’ extended fuel and water capacity, which supports longer voyages without frequent refueling stops. In addition, their large storage areas make them perfect for carrying provisions and gear, adding to their practicality for extended cruising. We also delve into the reliability of single engine setups commonly found in trawlers, explaining how they offer fuel efficiency, ease of maintenance, and are often paired with backup power solutions like wing engines or hydraulic drives with a larger generators. The sturdy construction of trawlers make them well-suited for handling rough sea conditions, ensuring safety and stability on the water. Finally, the presentation covers pilothouse and flybridge designs, which offer enhanced visibility and functionality, making trawlers adaptable for both bluewater cruising and coastal exploration. Attendees will leave with a comprehensive understanding of why trawlers are ideal for long-term, liveaboard adventures and what features set them apart in the world of cruising vessels.
Dialing In Your Trawler with Jeff Merrill
Wednesday, March 5, 3 pm – 5 pm
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.
Charts & Chart Plotters with Bob Sweet
Wednesday, March 5th, 3pm-5pm
In order to navigate, you need charts. They are your primary reference for what’s there and how to safely get to where you are going. Your chartplotter is probably your primary navigation tool, but you need to know how to use it – and to do so with in mind your other tasks as a skipper. This seminar will help make you a better chartplotter navigator.
For decades, we have had both paper and electronic charts available. They form a complementary set of tools to provide us with the information we need. NOAA has fundamentally changed charting, and it’s not necessarily good news for boaters. In a need for efficiency, NOAA has eliminated the traditional paper chart and its electronic equivalent, RNC (Raster Navigation Chart).
The ENC (Electronic Navigation Chart) has become your primary resource. ENCs lack much of the information that you have likely used as a frame of reference while out on the water. And, ENCs are also changing. You will need some added skills to effectively understand and use them.
We explain how charts are changing and how best to get what you need to safely travel on the water. Ultimately, these changes impact both electronic and printed chart media. Commercial suppliers are looking at ways to fill the void with supplemental information and effective ways to portray the information you need. This is evolving, and we’ll discuss what is happening and how best to get what you need for your cruising.
You have a chartplotter on board, but do you truly know how to use it? This moving map display has revolutionized marine navigation. Chartplotters provide our primary means of navigation, but using these devices can be a bit of a challenge. Many functions are buried in the menu system, and the screens provide a limited view to just a few miles around us.
Our mission is to provide what the manuals do not – how to use the chartplotter to navigate. We will explore planning on or off the chartplotter, activating the path or route, and navigating to stay on course. Meanwhile, you can use the chartplotter to tap into all sorts of information while it is keeping track of your navigation. We will explore scrolling and using the cursor.
Chartplotters today are essentially special-purpose computers driven by software someone at the manufacturer’s facility programmed. What they show you depends upon that software and the digital charts stored in the chartplotter. How they perform their tasks is usually not in the manual. In fact, manuals are not very useful.
Underway, we need to pay close attention to the activities around us, so navigation needs to be clear and information easily accessible. That means, we need to quickly be able to adjust screen presentations to show our present status, and progress. Often, view of our destination is off the screen. All of this needs to done with a minimal amount of attention as you have other duties as well.
On The Water Boat Handling Sessions 1- 5 with Captain Bob Arrington
Six people per session. Docking and Close Quarters Boat Handling with Bob Arrington is a required prerequisite for Boat Handling, “On The Water”. Not Included in Vip Pass*
**Confirmation letters with details will be sent to all registered attendees the week before the show.
Session 1- Wednesday, March 5, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Session 2: Thursday, March 6, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Session 3-Thursday, March 6, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Session 4-Friday, March 7, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Session 5- Saturday, March 8, 8:00 AM-10:00 AM
March 6, Thursday Seminars
The Great Loop with Kim Russo THURSDAY
Thursday, March 6, 9 am – 12 pm
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.
Trawler Buying Tips moderator Jeff Merrill
Thursday, March 6, 9 am – 12 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. Sterling Associates will discuss marine loan financing. John Posey from Total Dollar Insurance will help you understand the current boat insurance market. Kerry Nikula is a SAMS credentialed marine surveyor based in Florida who travels when needed and has years of experience inspecting multiple brands of trawlers. Kerry will touch on common questions asked when engaging as surveyor and describe part of the process of conducting a survey and completing a survey report. Maritime attorney, Matt Miller has been counseling buyers (and sellers) of trawler for many years. Matt will discuss some of the important legal aspects of a purchase including, title, taxes, duty/tariff and other related legal points.
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.
Navigating your Trawler Purchase with Wayne Goldman
Thursday, March 6, 12 pm – 1:00 pm
Free Sponsor Seminar Valid with Show Ticket
Join us as we illuminate the path to understanding the intricacies of the new trawler yacht purchase process. This talk offers invaluable insights into many facets of purchasing a new trawler, from identifying your specific needs and setting a suitable budget to navigating negotiations with dealers and salespeople. Learn how to effectively inspect and evaluate trawlers, understand the nuances of contracts and payment terms and plan for the responsibilities of trawler ownership. Covering the process, from selecting the right size and options to taking delivery and conducting sea trials, this talk equips you with the knowledge needed to confidently make informed decisions aligned with your boating goals.
Maritime Medical Emergency Management Lecture with Dr Robert Leviton
Thursday, March 6, 9 am – 12 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
Nautical Know How: Rules and Ropes
Thursday, March 6, 12 pm – 2 pm
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.
All About Anchoring with Chris & Alyse Caldwell
Thursday, March 6, 1pm-3pm
Ever had your anchor drag or listened to anchor horror stories from your boating buddies? Captain Chris will have a hands-on demonstration to put your mind at ease. Learn about which anchors are right for the sea floor conditions and why. Different types of anchors, how much scope and when you may select chain vs. rope are some topics we’ll explore. Just what IS a snubber and where can you find one? Join Captains Chris and Alyse for this interactive presentation and we promise you won’t have to clean mud off the deck.
The Virtues of Trawler Simplicity with Capt. John Clayman
Thursday, March 6, 3:00 pm – 5:00 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.
Boating with Electronics with Bob Sweet
Thursday, March 6, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Electronics have vastly improved boating. This seminar provides an overview of the electronic devices available to you to help you select, install, and use them. Unfortunately, available manufacturers’ data and manuals are often lacking and confusing. We’ll help unravel the mysteries and make it easier for you to use these tools to your advantage.
Some devices such as chartplotters, radar and sounders need to be compatible models from the same manufacturer in order to work together. Other electronics can be from any manufacturer. This seminar in not brand-specific. We’ll give you some guidelines for making selections that will work for you. We’ll talk about what’s new and what you should consider if you choose to add gear on your boat.
We’ll also provide important tips and tricks for using these devices. Manufacturers compete with each other to offer more “features.” However, while they might make nice screen candy, they may or may not be useful. You have a lot to do as skipper, monitoring your electronics should help you, not demand your attention.
Today’s electronics make extensive use of virtual buttons, and functions are buried in a menu system which may not be intuitive. Most boaters really need a limited set of functions, and want to learn how to quickly access them when needed. We’ll talk about setting up the main display for charting and radar.
This will a good chance to share experiences and ask questions to help focus you use of your electronics, and make you a more informed buyer when selecting and having electronics installed on your boat, and when setting them up for use.
March 7, Friday Seminars
FLOOPin’ Florida Loop Cruising with Chris and Alyse Caldwell
Friday, March 7, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Want to try a new adventure? We are FLOOPin’…Boating along the Florida Loop. Join us for a virtual cruise on a full circle around Southern Florida. Make a loop, north from Miami then west through the Okeechobee Waterway, south on Florida’s west coast into the Gulf of Mexico, around the Florida Keys and back to your starting point. Enjoy our Sunshine State and Ask Captain Chris how you can FLOOP too!
How To Buy a Used Boat… As Told by the Boatyard with Steve Zimmerman
Friday, March 7, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
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.
Stabilization for Trawler Yachts & More with Patrick Noor from DMS
Friday, March 7, 11:00 am – 12:00pm
Free Sponsor Seminar Valid with Show Ticket
Dynamic Marine Systems (DMS Holland) are specialists in stabilization and roll reduction systems for Motor Yachts. This presentation will give background into its products and explain how DMS aims to provide the best stabilization solution for all motor and trawler yacht designs.
HANDS ON Maritime Medical Emergency Management with Dr Robert Leviton
Friday, March 7, 11 am – 3 pm **Not Included in the VIP Package
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
Basic Diesel Engine Maintenance with Chris and Alyse Caldwell
Friday, March 7, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Understand how your marine diesel engine works and learn how to DIY as a boat owner. Temperature creep, overheating and sluggish to reach cruise RPMs can be easily addressed by you without hiring a service tech. Other skills such as fuel filtration and polishing; oil changes and fluid sample collection are essential and easy to learn. We will also address the reduction gear/transmission and tips for keeping your generator happy. Seminar includes changing fuel filter, field service of a raw water pump, heat exchanger and exhaust system cooling. Ask Captain Chris to show you how.
The Great Loop with Kim Russo FRIDAY
Friday, March 7, 3:00 pm-5:00 pm
Due to high demand, we have made this seminar available on 2 separate days. Limited capacity
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.
Ask the Experts: A Town Hall Meeting
Friday, March 7, 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, CPYB, 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. Joining our distinguished panel are sponsor representatives: Wayne Goldman from Selene Yachts America, Justin Joyner from Nimbus Boats, Patrick Noor from Dynamic Marine Systems, John Posey from Total Dollar Insurance and Phil Hawkins from Sterling Associates.
March 8, Saturday Seminars
The Other Loop: The Down East Circle with Steve Zimmerman New Item
Saturday, March 8, 9 am – 11 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.
Financing and Insuring our Dream Boat with Total Dollar and Sterling Associates
Saturday, March 8, 11 am – 12 pm
Free Sponsor Seminar with Valid Show Ticket
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 programs that fit your needs.
Safety for Cruising Couples with Bob Arrington
Saturday, March 8, 12 pm – 3 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:
• 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
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
