21 minute read
Broker's Best
BY RANDY WOODS / PHOTOS COURTESY OF HAMPTON YACHT GROUP
1990 Norlund 63’
Stocked with state-of-the-art equipment, luxe upgrades, and premium improvements, this Norlund classic available from Hampton Yacht Group is the very definition of turn-key.
Built by locally owned Nordlund Yachts in 1990 and currently moored in Gig Harbor, Djeneba has enjoyed a long history of plying Pacific Northwest waters. With three luxurious staterooms, three heads, and two enclosed showers, this well-cared-for 63’ can provide a wide range of entertainment opportunities for a new owner. A major Delta Marine refit, taking place from 2014 to 2015, has given the 33-year-old vessel many more decades of cruising fun to come. The carpeted main deck salon offers comfortable relaxation on an L-shaped settee, two swivel recliners with matching ottomans, and an attractive marine tile mosaic that accents the adjacent galley counter. Major interior upgrades completed during Djeneba’s refit include new carpeting, new galley cabinets, a new bar, a center-leaf dining table, and an updated salon entertainment center, with a Samsung 46” pop-up TV, an Oppo BluRay player, a KVH TracVision/Direct TV satellite system, and a Wave Rouge Pro Wi-Fi booster. Through the aft salon door, the outdoor cockpit also includes a grill and a deck freezer chest. Just forward of the salon, galley appliances include an electric Gaggenau four-burner cooktop, a Fagor oven, and a Maytag microwave, a Danby-Silhouette wine chiller, and a U-line ice maker. Recent galley additions include a new Cospolich commercial-grade refrigerator and a Kenmore dishwasher. Specs & Info
LOA 63’0” Beam 18’0” Draft 4’6”
Tankage (Fuel/Fresh/Black) 1,500 gal. / 300 gal. / 100 gal.
Engines Twin Detroit Diesel 8V92 Turbos
Contact Hampton Yacht Group Seattle, WA Robert Fiala 206.623.5200 robert@hamptonyachtgroup.com hamptonyachtgroup.com
The counters are topped with Corian and the stainless steel sink includes a KitchenAid disposal. A discreet day head is also located to port opposite of the galley. Forward of the galley is a new pilothouse deck and rebuilt control console, featuring a full suite of Furuno, BigBay, Nobeltec, and Icom navigation electronics. The helm also includes Hynautic hydraulic steering, a Simrad autopilot, and a cushioned bench seat and table just behind the two helm chairs. Another helm station, with a Bimini top, is located above on the open-air flybridge deck, accessed by interior stairs or by a ladder on the port side of the cockpit. The aft flybridge deck has able space for an Avon six-person life raft, an AB Alumina 13’ center-console RIB tender with a 50-hp outboard, and a 1,000-pound-capacity yacht crane. Among the many the exterior improvements are a completely new paint job, a refinished fiberglass swim step, new non-skid surfacing on the top and front decks, new walk-around teak decking from bow to stern, an arch reinforcement, new plexiglass forward hatch and cockpit doors, and all-new deck hardware. Other recent additions include new captain’s chairs on the flybridge and new Westmar bow thrusters and stabilizers.
Djeneba is powered by twin Detroit Diesel 8V92 Turbo direct-drive engines that produce at total of 1,100 hp. With a 9- to 12-knot cruising speed at 1,200-1,500 rpm, the vessel has a range that runs roughly “from Seattle to Ketchikan,” the owners said.
CHART YOUR COURSE
Follow the treasure map, the flags mark the spots: Our navigational guide to the new discoveries that await at this month’s Seattle Boat Show.
BY KATE CALAMUSA
It’s here: The 2023 edition of the Seattle Boat Show is set to cast off this month as it cruises along for nine days from February 3-11 at Lumen Field Event Center and Bell Harbor Marina. As the largest boat show on the West Coast, this Northwest centerpiece is a can’t-miss event, but the expedition across its many premium offerings—especially for savvy boaters in search of shiny new treasures—can seem daunting at first. Never fear: Our harbor-by-hall-by-hall guide will steer you through a highlight reel of the new exhibitors to join the show and the gold standards. It presents a handy navigational key so you can single out these vendors, products, and boat lines to mark them on your map. To this, we add our insider tips for navigating the show so you can enjoy smooth sailing.
[ MAP KEY ]
New Exhibitor New Product New Vessel Line
HARBOR BOUND
NORTH STARS
Begin your voyage like many others—at the marina. Located just a skip and a shuttle away from the rest of the action at Lumen Field Event Center, Bell Harbor Marina hosts a veritable fleet of vessels to inspire the rest of your expedition.
Kadey-Krogen Yachts Heading:Bell Harbor C5 Details:Early last fall, the heralded Kadey-Krogen Yachts opened the doors to a new Seattle location, making their world-class line of power cruising trawlers even more accessible to Northwesterners. And now, the venerable line will make a triumphant on-water addition to the show with the sleek, smartly compact 44AE on display. More Info: kadeykrogen.com INSIDER TIP #1: PARK IT OVER THERE Parking is notoriously expensive at the event center garage, but show attendees get $5 discounted parking at Bell Street Pier Garage located just across the street from the marina. So put the car in park there and hop the free shuttle over to the event center. (To receive your discount, simply show your coupon on the way out of the garage. The coupon comes attached with e-tickets or can be picked up at the box office and shuttle pick-up/drop-off locations.)
INSIDER TIP #2: CHOW(DER) DOWN After you’ve toured the boats afloat in the marina— where you will also find such favorites as Chuck Hovey Yachts, Emerald Pacific Yachts, Hampton Yacht Group, Jeff Brown Yachts, Seattle Yachts, and Silver Seas Yachts—be sure to fuel up before attempting to conquer your next stop. Pop on by Anthony’s for a free bowlful of their signature chowder, which will be available to you on weekdays from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Get your adrenaline pumping by starting off in the North Hall at Lumen Field, which this year plays host to two of the most exhilarating boat lines to make their big show debut.
EXTREME BOATS Heading:North 186 Details: Parma Marine is bringing the Extreme boat line along for their inaugural ride. The New Zealand based Extreme brand is well regarded for their line of tough, sturdy aluminum fishing boats that should perform equally well in Northwest waters. The family-run company utilizes extra-thick metal for durability in the open ocean, as well as welds many of the top components in place— rod holders, bungs, cleats, hand rails—to help their vessels stand the test of time. More Info: parmamarine.com
X SHORE Heading: North 123 Details: Frequent readers will note NWY has had eyes peeled on X Shore’s dealings for several years and now the Swedish electric boat maker is set to make a grand Northwest entrance. The brand’s first two models— the high performance 26-foot Eelex 8000 and the next-gen X Shore 1 that retails for $140,000, almost half the cost of its predecessor—have been heralded as the “Teslas of the seas,” thanks to a sleek Scandinavian aesthetic married with the latest in e-battery tech. More Info: xshore.com/us/
INSIDER TIP #3: BE A WEEKDAY WARRIOR Weekends are an easy time for many to come to the show, but naturally those days are also the busiest. Instead, plan to come mid-week and you’ll find dealers, brokers, and factory reps have more time to give you their undivided attention.
INSIDER TIP #4: GO WILD IN THE WEST With towering ceilings and a massive 165,000 square-foot reach, the nearby Main West Hall is home to many long-standing exhibitors. This year, they are all returning favorites and include the likes of Jeanneau America, Life Proof Boats, Ranger Tugs, and Sundance Yachts (who will be showcasing a buzzy new FourWinns model, Beneteau’s prestigious and sporty new e-boat). Here, you’ll spy the largest-scale vessels found in the on-land portion: the power catamarans, the towering sailboats, and the sprawling motor yachts. So go ahead and dream big.
EASTERN EXPOSURE
Tucked just behind the West Hall, the expansive East wing is jammed packed full of fresh exhibitors for 2023. You’ll find hot new tech, innovative boating solutions, and expert services as you switch back your way through.
3D SHAPE CAPTURE Heading:East 1900 Details: This Kent-based firm utilizes photogrammetry and laser scanning to create 3D measurements of vessels to helpfully aid in such applications as test fitting equipment, design work, validating construction, racing ratings, and more. More Info: 3dshapecapture.com
AQUATRACTION PUGET SOUND Heading: East 1132 Details: If you are looking to upgrade your flooring system, stop by AquaTraction to chat about their durable, safe, comfortable, and, perhaps most compelling, stain-resistant decking options. More Info: aquatraction.com
DANIK HOOK Heading: East 629 Details: Gear heads will recognize the Danik Hook name, synonymous with their handy universal hooks that eliminate the need for knots in favor of simple push levers that clamp your docking lines. They are also planning to bring their latest and greatest innovation: An adjustable boat fender hanger design that keeps your fenders in place, and then easily allows you to clip them free. More Info: danikhook.com DISCOVERY YACHTS Heading: East 1022 Details: Owned by lifelong boaters (Michael and Elizabeth Locatell have cruised and sailed everywhere from Oregon, Washington, and Alaska to Sweden, France, and The Netherlands), Discovery Yachts imports quality yachts from across the pond, including Linssen models from Holland and the French Wauquiez Sailing Yacht line. More Info: discoveryachts.com
DOCKWA Heading: East 805 Details: Call it “OpenTable for boaters.” This emerging software brand allows boaters to see, reserve, and pay for available transient slips at marinas in real time, as well as make advanced reservations at participating marinas with just a few taps via their app. More Info: marinas.dockwa.com
DUCKWORKS BOAT BUILDER SUPPLY Heading: East 1206 Details:A sister company of Gig Harbor Works, Duckworks is making its Seattle Boat Show debut. In addition to boat building plans and supplies, they will also have their signature small-craft kits on offer, including one for the 10’ Scout model, a fun rowing sailboat that is well suited to first-time builders, hobbyists, or even yachters looking to craft a truly personal tender. More Info: duckworks.com
JR MARINE Heading: East 1027 Details: This respected British Columbia boat builder heads to the lower 48 with a lineup of custom aluminum marine products. Think: metal outboard pods, kicker brackets, fish lockers, storage solutions, custom T-tops, and more. More Info: jrmarine.ca
PARADISE DOCK & LIFT Heading: East 1215 Details:With sleek, modular designs and innovative features like solar-charged independent solar charged powerpacks, stainless steel hydraulic cylinders with bronze scrapers to prevent marine growth, and rubber capped aluminum bunks to support your boat, the dock lifts from Paradise are not to be missed. More Info: paradisedocklift.com
SEABORN PILE DRIVING Heading: East 1004 Details: With experience in marine construction that dates back to 1947, this well-respected company crafts stunning and solid dock systems. They can also assist with barging materials to hard-to-reach waterfront sites, construct bulkheads, and even permit and design residential beachfronts. More Info: seabornpiledriving.com SEATTLE SEAFARING Heading: East 1100 Details: This locally based training institute offers instruction on boat maneuverability and handling so that you can captain your new sailboat, yacht, or powerboat with ease. More Info:seattleseafaring.com
SOCO SWINGS Heading: East 1118 Details: Get set for some summer lounging: This cool brand offers hanging chairs, gravity rockers, and hammocks to stylishly accessorize anywhere from your dock to your aft deck. Boaters would do well to check out the synthetic wicker rattan options, which are super weather resistant thanks to cushions made up of two layers of Denier UV treated nylon. More Info: socoswings.com
INSIDER TIP #5: BRING THE FAM (AND FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS) Make it a family outing! Kids 17 and under are always free and welcomed, and even dogs will be allowed on February 9th at Lumen Field Event Center and every day at Bell Harbor Marina. The kiddies are especially sure to enjoy the spectacle of the ever-growing Rube Goldberg machine taking shape here in the East Hall. (See page 21 in Making Waves for more info!)
GOING UP
Don’t forget to climb the stairs. A great gateway to the seminar stages, the upper concourse level also provides shoppers with some awesome new goods and gear.
MACKAY MARINE COMMUNICATIONS Heading: Concourse 2217 Details: If you’ve got questions about how to stay in touch while at sea, be sure to chat with the fine folks at Mackay who can equip you with comprehensive and cutting-edge marine comms systems. More Info: mackaycomm.com
PACIFIC COAST YACHTING SERVICES Heading:Concourse 2232 Details: Need some bottom work? Looking to make some upgrades? Situated on Northlake Way in Seattle, Pacific Coast Yachting provides comprehensive services from haul outs to marine engine repair. More Info: pacificcoastyachtingservices.com
RAYMARINE Heading: Concourse 2319 Details: Longtime show exhibitor Raymarine brings two interesting and innovative products to this year’s event. First, be sure to check out the YachtSense Link Marine 4G Router, a 4G wireless router that brings seamless onboard internet connectivity to boats operating in a coastal environment. Also not to be missed is the new Cyclone Radar line; these solid-state open array radars give mariners the confidence to tackle the harshest conditions, gain the upper hand in the hunt for fish, and navigate busy waterways with confidence. More Info: raymarine.com S3 MARITIME Heading: Concourse 2418 Details: If you are in the mood to talk some tech, stop by S3 Maritime to check out an impressive roster of freshly debuted products: Garmin’s Surround View system; Starlink for In-Motion Use; and Victron’s Cerbo GX Communications system that allows monitoring and control of the electrical/battery systems on or off the vessel. More Info: s3maritime.com
STERLING ASSOCIATES Heading: Concourse 2224 Details: Find a great deal at the show? Then get the financing to make purchasing your dream boat possible with a stop by Sterling Associates, one of the region’s most trusted names in financing. More Info: boatbanker.com
INSIDER TIP #6: PENCIL IN THOSE SEMINARS Give your feet a well-deserved break by soaking up your favorite topic after your trek. Tackle the seminars like a pro and study a copy of the fishing and boating seminar schedule in advance as you may find there are seminars on multiple days that you want to attend. Can’t make all the seminars on your wishlist? The sessions are all being recorded and will be available on demand post show for three months with the Seminar Ticket Package that also includes nine days admission to the show.
>> For full details on this year’s exhibitors, and for more information on this year’s Seattle Boat Show, go to: seattleboatshow.com, and don’t forget to come say “hi” to us in the Northwest Yachting booth located in the East Hall at 614.
Adventurers Fredrik Norrsell and Nancy Pfeiffer reflect on a 15-month, 1,500-nautical-mile voyage across the untamed reaches of southeast Alaska aboard their Salish Voyager, Wild Places.
WILDEST DREAMS
WILD PLACES SITS SHROUDED IN RAIN AND FOG AT THE END OF ANOTHER ADVENTUROUS DAY IN ALASKA.
WILDEST DREAMS
By Kate Calamusa Feature Photography by Fredrik Norrsell
WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO LIVE A YEAR IN THE WILD?
This was the intriguing idea that Fredrik Norrsell and Nancy Pfeiffer sought to answer when they set off in June 2021 on what would become a 15-month-long expedition through the spectacular southeastern Alaskan wilds. “We really hoped to immerse ourselves in nature, all the while consuming little other than what the immediate area had to offer, and to live lightly on the planet,” says Pfeiffer of the journey. Adds Norrsell: “And, in order to deeply experience these places, we wanted to go slowly, take our time, and travel in a way we could really connect with the surroundings.” Longtime campers and experienced kayakers, the couple were not novices when it came to adventure travel nor outdoors exposure. The pair, who reside in Palmer in south-central Alaska, kayaked 680 miles of Alaskan coastline in the summer of 2016. Both have also acted as wilderness guides and worked extensively in avalanche safety. Still, they knew a journey of this magnitude would require a vessel with a little more heft, and a lot more storage space, than their usual pair of kayaks could provide. Enter Wild Places, a 17-foot sailboat designed and built by Gig Harbor Boat Works specifically for long-range sailing expeditions. The couple was first introduced to the Washington-based boat builder back in 2019 on the recommendation of a friend, who had also done some small boat sailing. The pair tested one of the company’s other skiffs while visiting family in the lower 48. After their test run, they got to chatting with the Gig Harbor Boat Works team about their hoped-for expedition and Production Manager Falk Bock mentioned that there was a new boat under development to fit their needs. The Salish Voyager, then in prototype stage, was crafted with sailing and rowing in mind, with the lug rig’s mast location moved forward to open up the interior to create a long footwell for either single or tandem sliding seats. The new boat also featured enclosed storage wells for increased utility and a self-bailing floor. The hull was based on the company’s fast, forgiving, and capable Jersey skiff design, making it a nimble little craft. “The idea of being able to row or sail with this boat was very appealing to us,” says Pfeiffer. “The Voyager was small enough and light enough to get into smaller bays or inlets, but also would give us more storage than our kayaks ever could. Plus having the opportunity to sail at times could give our bodies a break since we use our whole body when rowing.” The rest, as they say, is history; the pair purchased the first available Voyager to emerge
from the boatyard. By November 2020, Gig Harbor Boat Works had her packed and on her way to the pair’s departure point of Haines, Alaska. A series of pandemic-induced travel delays prevented Norrsell and Pfeiffer from even reaching their boat in Haines until June of 2021, when they arrived with their car packed with provisions and proceeded to figure out how to then pack it all in Wild Places,. It proved to be one of the more daunting moments of the entire trip, they reflected afterwards. Pfeiffer says, “It caught us a little off-guard, not seeing the boat ahead of time and having to make outfitting adjustments on the fly. In Alaska, marine supplies are hard to find, especially at a moment’s notice.” Norrsell added with a rueful laugh: “In hindsight, I would have packed more rope for anchoring.” But, outside of perhaps those extra coils of rope, the two state that there’s not much else they would do differently about the journey. Though they had destinations they hoped to visit— and did end up taking in such highlights as the pristine waters of Glacier Bay, the limestone cliffs of Chichagof Island, and the granite fjords of Baranof Island—the couple didn’t have much of a pre-planned schedule, instead letting nature dictate their timing. “We’ve worked in the outdoors so long that we’ve gotten pretty comfortable with making decisions in the moment,” says Pfeiffer. “And for this journey, it was part of what kept us safe. We didn’t have to be at a certain destination at a certain time. We could stop and ride out the weather in a protected bay. Or, we realized pretty quickly it wasn’t worth our time trying to beat against headwinds. We’d just turn around and instead enjoy a nice tailwind.” The duo switched back and forth between human and wind power as they traveled along the shoreline. As they got their sea legs under them and learned to rig the sails quickly while underway, they sometimes switched between rowing and sailing several times a day. Outside of learning the ins and outs of sailing, another daunting feat they tackled was learning to deal with plus 20-foot tidal changes and figuring where to leave the boat at night, when they came ashore to make camp, to ensure it wasn’t left dry on a beach when they were ready to set off again come morning. Supplementing the grocery supplies they would pick up in the little hamlets they found along the way, the pair ate well around the campfire. They fished and dropped pots off the back of Wild Places, to catch fresh salmon, crab, and shrimp, a further connection to the aweinspiring nature that enveloped them. Norrsell, who is also a photographer (find more of his snaps at norrsell.com), snapped stunning photos not only of the topography but of the
AT LEFT: NANCY PFEIFFER ENJOYS GLACIER BAY, ONE OF HER FAVORITE DESTINATIONS OF THE TRIP. ABOVE: A BRIEF BREAK IN ROWING TO TAKE IN THE STUNNING SURROUNDINGS.
BELOW: THE PAIR OFTEN FORAGED SUMMER BERRIES TO COMPLEMENT THEIR CAMP FARE. AT RIGHT: ONE OF THEIR CAMPSITES ON THE RUGGED COASTLINE OF BARANOF ISLAND.
wildlife they came in contact with—everything from sea otters and humpback whales to bears and birds. “I think that was the most impactful thing for me on this trip, with this vessel: The amazing ability to slide alongside the shoreline, sometimes just from an oars-length away, and take in the amazing amount of wildlife and tide life present,” he says. “It’s the biggest difference between traveling this way versus on a bigger boat; taking photos I was eye level with the animals. And it’s so quiet that you could actually hear the wildlife before you ever saw them. We’d often spot seals popping their heads up in our wake after we would glide by.” They did run into human life as well, with other boaters often marveling at their nimble craft and their intrepid natures. The twosome did always get a chuckle over the two most commonly asked questions from the people they met: “Where’s your boat?” This one would be posed after folks heard they had come from Haines and would assume they were in their dinghy. The pair would then always insist, “This is our boat.” And the other, “Where’s your motor?” In answer to that, Fredrik would always just point to Nancy. At the conclusion of their first stunning summer, the couple wintered on Baranof Island. They acted as caretakers of the lodge there, all the while taking Wild Places, out to explore the bay most days. “Staying in one place for a while was equally powerful in its own way,” states Pfeiffer. “We got to chronicle the changing of the seasons, notice the frequency of the whales
FREDRIK NORRSELL
coming by, and even started recognizing the individual bears as they would come down to fish in the waters.” Once they spotted the migrating humpbacks and hummingbirds in the spring of 2022, the pair set off again, traveling several hundred miles further south before swinging back north to Haines, taking in another glorious Alaskan summer before docking the boat in late August. A published author of the book Riding Into the Heart of Patagonia, Pfeiffer chronicled their entire journey, which logged in at over 1,500 nautical miles, via a blog on the Gig Harbor Boat Works website and wrote at its culmination: “A small greeting party met us on the beach outside Haines. Sitting in the sun, looking at what I still considered the most beautiful scenery of the trip, it was hard to believe that this journey, which had become a way of life, was actually over.” It was undoubtedly an unforgettable expedition and one that the pair says reminded them of the importance of living simply and living communally with nature. “We learned once again to go with the flow, and take it slow,” says Pfeiffer. Adds Norrsell: “And to live simply and to appreciate deeply. Doing so gives you so much freedom and time. You really can do what your heart desires.”
PFEIFFER AND NORRSELL HAD FREQUENT FRIENDS IN THE NATIVE WILDLIFE, FROM HUMPBACK WHALES AND SEALS TO SEA OTTERS.
>> Read more about the couple’s journey aboard Wild Places via the Gig Harbor Boat Works’ blog at: ghboats. com/category/our-boats/salish-voyager/. Also be on the lookout for the couple’s forthcoming book, Going Wild, which will feature stories, photos, and recipes from a summer of kayaking and living off the land and sea.
