Hey guys. Jennifer and I are back from TrawlerFest Stuart 2019, and we’re happy to report that it was as much fun as we imagined. TrawlerFest was the Best!
If you like cruising, if you want to start cruising, or you’re just really into the trawler lifestyle, this is the show for you.
In our last post, we detailed what TrawlerFest is all about. After being there and experiencing it first-hand, we wanted to do a follow-up post for all of you.
We had the opportunity to walk around in so many different styles and sizes of boats all in one place. And we got to meet the wonderful folks that live on them.
We’re still talking about how awesome it was to be able to tour all of those beautiful and slow-moving “homes on the water”.
Saturday March 9, 2019
Our original plans included (2) days at TrawlerFest Stuart, but unfortunately our plans for the week changed, and Saturday turned out to be our only free day.
Believe me when I say, we made the most of it !
We arrived at the Hutchinson Island Marriot Resort and Marina, in Stuart, FL just before 10 a.m. on Saturday, the final day of the show.
While we were finding a parking spot, we noticed that the only clouds we had seen all morning were beginning to linger directly over the marina. Everywhere else, blue skies.
As we checked in at the registration tent, the sky darkened. As we made our way to the docks, it began to drizzle.
The drizzle soon turned into a quick rainshower. Jennifer and I got a kick out of watching everyone scramble for a spot aboard someone’s trawler to avoid the rain. It was soooo funny.
Sales and Banners
The rain ended quickly, the sun and blue skies returned, and the docks were soon packed with people. People. Banners. Flags. Stands with information on each vessel and docklines all kept spectators on their toes while moving around the dock.
Most of the boats at the show were for sale. The docks were lined with brokers and representatives for many newer, as well as some older vessels available for purchase.
The brand that seemed to have the biggest showing was Kadey-Krogen. Their offerings included some newer 2017-2018 models and some older “fan favorites“.
Our Favorite
The trawler that Jennifer and I liked the best was there as a for sale by owner showing. “Silent Faith” is a beautifully restored 1986 Kadey-Krogen Manatee.
When we first saw “Silent Faith“, it was early during the morning rain shower. It was crazy how many people were onboard. At one point, I heard the owner say “no more aboard until someone leaves“. Lol.
After lunch, Jennifer and I were able to climb aboard without any other guests. That’s when we got to meet Craig and Pat Boorman. These proud owners told us all about the trips they’ve made and the work they’ve done on their cruising home.
They purchased the boat in 2012, and have never stopped making improvements. From complete salon interior wall conversion, to galley and countertop upgrades, they’ve done so much .
Their Kadey-Krogen Manatee is a great example of a “finished” restoration and a dependable vessel. The asking sale price seemed like a value and I’m sure it will sell to the right buyer. She was beautiful.
Thank you to Craig and Pat for spending all the time they did with us. They helped us to appreciate how much fun it might be to work on a project like that and enjoy the rewards of your work while cruising and living aboard.
Boats Boats Boats!
After our time on the Manatee, Jennifer and I roamed the docks for even more interesting boats to board.
We boarded an all-steel 50′ vessel called a “Diesel Duck”. This huge boat is powered by a single John Deere 150 hp engine. Unbelievable!!
We met the owners who liveaboard, and heard about the different islands that the blue water trawler had been to.
Another really cool vessel that we got to check out was “Agave“. Agave is a beautiful Northern Marine 57′ long- range cruiser. When I say long-range, how about 4000 miles?! She has a fuel capacity of 2,600 gallons.
Every comfort you could ask for was on this thing including (3) staterooms. The staterooms were roomy as you’d expect with a beam of 17.5′. The helm area was well appointed with electronics and the galley was very modern.
In August of last year, we read about Agave as a feature in Passagemaker Magazine. If you read our last post, then you already know that Passagemaker puts on the TrawlerFest events every year.
So . . . I’m pretty sure we boarded every vessel at the show. There may have been a couple of boats that were closed to general viewing. I think if you wanted to view those boats, you needed to be with a sales representative.
Esmeralde
There is no doubt what part of TrawlerFest Stuart 2019 that Jennifer and I enjoyed the most.
We were fortunate enough to spend a good portion of the afternoon aboard the “Esmeralde“, an American Tug 395 owned by Bruce and Dorsey Beard.
Jennifer has been following their travels on social media for quite some time and we tried to catch up with them when they were in Cocoa, FL on their way down the ICW.
We missed our opportunity then, but since they were displaying their American Tug at TrawlerFest, we had another chance to meet them in person.
Their boat was very modern, well laid out, and roomy enough for both couples that cruise aboard. That’s right. Two couples. Bruce and Dorsey and the other couple, Mattie and Pepper.
“Mattie and Pepper” are a pair of Scotties (Scottish Terriers) and they’re awesome. They are very much at home on Esmeralde and they seemed unphased by all of the people that boarded their home during the show.
When they aren’t spending their summers camping in the Airstream motorhome, they are winter cruising the ICW and hanging out down in the Florida Keys. What a life! Lol.
Our Time
Bruce and Dorsey hosted dozens and dozens of folks over the course of (3) days, and they still found a way to make us feel like we were the only ones on their boat.
We learned so much. Not only about the American Tug 395, but also about the fun (and obstacles) that they experienced on their trip down the ICW.
We got to know a little bit about Bruce and Dorsey and that makes reading their social media posts more meaningful and real. Jennifer loves it.
After TrawlerFest, the Esmeralde will linger here in Florida for a few days before beginning the senic trip back up the ICW to her homeport of Jamestown, RI.
Thank you Bruce and Dorsey (and the Scotties) for making us feel at home in your cruising home. We hope they’ll be back in Florida again soon. Maybe by then we’ll have our next boat and we can see them on the water.
No “Turtle” Time
During this year’s TrawlerFest, we hoped to meet Randy and Kim Kalisik from the Blue Turtle. Randy and Kim are full-time liveaboards on their 40′ Defever, “Blue Turtle“, and they call Fort Myers, FL their homeport.
Jennifer and I have followed their blogsite BlueTurtleTrawler for years, and we thought we would finally get to meet them in person.
Passagemaker Magazine asked them to attend the show for the second year in a row to host a seminar on “Cruising the Dry Tortugas“. They give some really good info on making the trip to the middle of nowhere.
Unfortunately for us, they were there for a couple of days early in the week and we didn’t make it until Saturday.
I think that we might get another chance to catch up with them later this year if we keep our plans to do the Okeechobee crossing. The trip will take us from the east coast by St. Lucie, FL to the west coast near Fort Myers, FL by way of Lake Okeechobee.
When we end up in Ft. Myers, maybe we’ll get another chance to visit the Blue Turtle. We’ll definitely do a post on that trip later.
Next TrawlerFest is coming soon
Anyway . . . back to the TrawlerFest.
There are (2) more shows left for this year. One on the west coast in Seattle, WA and one more on the east coast up north in Baltimore, MD.
The west coast show will be TrawlerFest Seattle 2019 held from Tuesday April 23, 2019 – Saturday April 27, 2019. This show will have both seminars and in-water boatshow located at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront in Seattle, WA.
The TrawlerFest Baltimore 2019 show dates have not yet been set.
We hope you found this post interesting. Jennifer and I had such a good time in Stuart and we wanted to share our experience with all of you guys.
If you’re into trawler stuff like we are, take a few minutes and check out BlueTurtleTrawler and maybe follow Esmeralde on social media. We love ’em.
If you went to the show this year, or any year, leave us a comment and tell us what you thought about it. Please make sure to subscribe below so we can let you know about our next post.
See you on the Water !
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