74

A Different Sort Of Boat Project:    Building A Boat For The Soul Annapolis-based Chesapeake Light Craft creates kits for do-it-yourselfers to build their own kayaks and rowing shells. The kits are easy to assemble using the stitch-and-glue building technique and include all necessary materials. CLC recently added to its lineup a new model, the Passagemaker Dinghy, which can be rowed, sailed, or motored. It is a lovely little boat project well within the ability of most boat owners. And, as a bonus, you'll enjoy the soul-satisfying experience of building it with your own hands. By Bill Parlatore

78

Watch That First Step: Chartering For The First Time Can Be An Eye-Opening Experience Chartering is often the best way to experience a particular boat and/or cruising ground. It is an ideal way to try a boat out and see if it works for you. However, it can often be much, much more complicated (and labor-intensive) than a typical family vacation. Here is one family's tale of just such an adventure. This author had the dual pressures of keeping his family happy on vacation while maintaining their interest in boating! Follow the challenges and highlights of this family's first trawler chartering experience. By Craig Wainscott

84

If The Adventure Gets A Little Too Real?Can Your Liferaft Do Its Job? Safety comes first when you head offshore or even just go cruising. Whether your destination is across a creek or around the world, it is essential to have on board a range of safety equipment, and for many agendas, this includes a liferaft. Most likely, you already routinely change flashlight batteries, replace flares, and update first aid kits, but it is vital to service your trawler's liferaft according to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. Learn how liferaft servicing is properly done and why a well-maintained raft will save your life should you ever really need it. By Chuck Husick

92

Mikelson 59 Nomad Mikelson Yachts is well known for its sportfishing cruisers. Responding to requests for a long-legged fishing machine that also could serve as a great cruising boat, it has introduced a trawler version of its sportfisher. Capable of extended cruising, able to withstand offshore conditions with ease, and designed with comfort, class, and catching fish in mind, the new 59 Nomad is an impressive passagemaker that may make you reconsider your perception of Mikelson. By Robert M. Lane

104

The Nuts & Bolts Of Screws: Propellers, Part Two Prop probs? You've come to the right place! Picking up where he left off last issue, PMM's Technical Editor tackles propeller ailments and diagnostics. Knowledge is a good thing, and with what you learn in this article, you'll be able to pinpoint performance issues and speak intelligently with the prop shop guys. By Steve C. D'Antonio

114

Lituya Bay: One Of Alaska's Most Notorious Inlets If you're one who dreams of gunkholing Alaska's nooks and crannies, this is a must-read. Bob and Polly Lane went on the adventure of a lifetime to one of the many magical destinations in Alaska. Bob shares with us the bay's history, the challenges of getting there, and why it's such a rewarding destination. Wow! By Robert M. Lane

122

A Family Affair: Custom Steel Boats' Neville 47 This small, family-owned North Carolina boatbuilder has a reputation for building one-off boats for many designers. Now the company has launched its first Neville 47, a complete, high-quality steel trawler yacht that just might take the yard into the world of production boatbuilding. Custom Steel Boats aims high. By Bill Parlatore

128

Trawler Survival Remember the fury of the hurricanes that pummeled the Southeast in 2004? As another hurricane season is upon us, we can never be too prepared, and it helps to hear how others handled the wrath of Mother Nature. Follow the tale of Pete Satterlee, who watched as the dock his DeFever 49 was tied to disintegrated around his boat. Read how he prepared for each of the three hurricanes his vessel endured, hindsight of the events, and advice for future storms. His trawler survived the maelstrom and is a story of success. By Pete Satterlee

136

Buccaneer 65 Who says you can't have it all? The Buccaneer 65 possesses beauty and brawn in equal measure. With a nod to its military and commercial heritage, the builder created this go-anywhere trawler yacht to a high level of quality, and to standards commonly found on commercial ships. Each yacht heads from the yard in Brazil to its new owner on its own bottom-a sea trial that proves the boat's seaworthiness while pampering the delivery crew. This 65-footer's shippy qualities and robust capabilities set her apart from the crowd, especially in the mammoth and well-conceived engine room. By Steve C. D'Antonio

148

Dream Boats If someone were to ask you, "What features would you really like to have on your dream boat, your perfect boat?" would you be able to narrow down the choices? The options of what you would consider most important might seem endless. You might start thinking about flybridge or pilothouse, transom gate or side entrance, walkaround decks or none at all, galley up or down?the list is long. The reality is, however, these are choices that all of us need to make, whether in the buying process or still just dreaming. Perhaps this author's wish list will help you create your own. By Tom Neale