Each year, the Seattle Boat Show features boating and fishing seminars to help you explore new horizons and expand your knowledge of boating, taught by maritime experts who are excited to share their nautical know-how.
Seminars (sponsored by Union Marine) typically run in one hour segments and are free for show attendees in-person at Lumen Field Event Center. Boat Show University webinars (sponsored by Boat Insurance Agency) are longer and offer more in-depth instruction* on topics and require a Seminar Package ticket (starting at $99), which also includes access to watch both seminars and BSU classes online. *The maximum capacity for in-person viewing of BSU classes at the show is 90, first come first served, and you must have a Seminar Package ticket.
Already registered your Seminar Package ticket to watch seminars? Head HERE to start watching.
You can find the 2023 Boating, Fishing and Boat Show University Schedule below.
The 5 Best Places to Fish for Trout in Central Washington Stage #1 Concourse North
Dave Graybill
Dave Graybill, known as the Fishing Magician, broadcast and posts reports on fishing in Central Washington State for over 20 years, and he has picked the Top 5 places to catch big trout in the region. He will describe in detail where to fish and what tackle and techniques to use to land big numbers of quality rainbow, triploid rainbow and Lahontan cutthroat. His presentation will include maps, photos and he will share his experience fishing these waters for decades.
Dave Graybill
Dave Graybill has fished North Central Washington waters for over 50 years. He provides current information on angling for all species through his web site at fishingmagician.com, which he founded in 2001. His reports have been broadcast on six radio station in eastern Washington and on KVI-AM 570 in Seattle for over 20 years. His reports also appear in newspapers distributed throughout eastern Washington. He finished a six-year term as a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission this past December.
1:00 pm
Boat Selection for Modern Cruising
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
John Neal
John Neal will feature 22 key points and latest trends to consider when purchasing a boat for extended voyaging, based on his 400,000 sea miles and 50 years of experience. With his extensive, objective and worldwide knowledge of boats and builders he’ll quickly allow you to narrow your search. There’s a free 37-page e-book available. This is a 2 hour class (1pm – 3pm)
John Neal
Since sailing away from Seattle in 1974, John Neal's 391,000 offshore miles include six Cape Horn roundings and expeditions to Antarctica, Africa, Australia and Spitsbergen. Since 1976 his focus has been helping over 10,000 want to be cruisers find and outfit their boats to fulfill their own cruising adventures.
1:00 pm
Ceramic Coatings: Game Changer for Your Boat Stage #1 Concourse North
Jeff Paxon
In the past 5 years or so “Ceramic” has become a huge buzz word in the automotive and marine industry. In this seminar we will dive into what you need to know about ceramic as a boat owner. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there and we will cover a lot: Which products are the best? How much prep work is needed? How long will it last? What is the Cost? What will be the results?
Jeff Paxon
Jeff Paxson is owner of Marine Detail Specialists and has been professionally detailing and maintaining boats in the PNW for over 20 years, since the wide eyed age of 16. He has tried so many techniques and detailing products to get the best results for his clients that he has lost track. He loves boating with his family, sharing his knowledge and new and exciting stuff.
2:00 pm
Marine Weather in Electronic Charting System Stage #1 Concourse North
Dave Wilkinson
Electronic Charting Systems allow the navigator to display weather, sea state, tide and current data along with boat position on a navigational chart to enhance safe and efficient operations. This overview of Electronic Charting Systems will demonstrate the use of weather and ocean data for route planning and navigation underway.
Dave Wilkinson
Dave Wilkinson holds a BS in Math Education and a MS in Atmospheric Science. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Sailing Association where he is a certified marine weather instructor. Dave is an instructor for the Starpath School of Navigation, Seattle Sailing Club and the Washington Sea Grant program. His sailing experiences in the tropics, southern hemisphere, and the Pacific Northwest provide realistic context for explaining key weather concepts.
3:00 pm
Dirty Downrigger Tricks Stage #1 Concourse North
Tom Nelson
Salmon fishing with downriggers is one of the MOST utilized but LEAST understood technique. With decades of experience backing him up, “Nelly” will show you how to get the most out of these amazing “Fancy sinkers”! From beginners to the most experienced anglers, you’ll learn some tricks and techniques that will put more fish in your boat without losing downrigger balls, wire and your mind!
Tom Nelson
Tom "Nelly" Nelson has spent over a half-century on the waters, uplands and mountain ranges of his beloved home, the vast Pacific Northwest. For the past decade and a half, Nelly has been the voice of Seattle Saturday morning outdoor radio where his lifetime of hunting & fishing experience and his communication skills have been put to the test. In 2019, Salmon & Steelhead Journal named Nelly to it's list of "The 25 Most Influential Anglers In The West." From his childhood on the rivers and bays of Puget Sound to the salmon, herring and charter fishing fleets of Alaska, Tom has taken full advantage of all that the challenging outdoor classroom has to offer. Tom's education as a fisherman continued at the University of Washington's School of Fisheries, earning a Degree in Fisheries Biology. Nelly was subsequently employed by the school's Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I.) as a Research Assistant for several Alaskan salmon research projects allowing Tom to explore the Nushagak, Chignik, and Lake Illiamna regions. "Nelly's" fishing career has included guiding and writing for Salmon Trout Steelheader, Salmon and Steelhead Journal, Fishing & Hunting News, Washington Game & Fish, The REEL News as well as several websites.
4:00 pm
Inspecting your Boat Like a Pro
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Mike Reese
Whether looking for your next boat or trying to keep your current boat in tip-top condition, inspecting a vessel with a critical eye is an important skill for every mariner. In “Inspecting your boat like a pro,” we’ll discuss the tools and techniques needed to better understand a boat’s condition, and how to carry out a thorough examination of the vessel’s structure and critical systems. This course can save you thousands in repair bills or time, money, and hassle if searching for your next boat. This is a 2 hour class (4pm – 6pm)
Mike Reese
Mike is a life-long boater and 30-year veteran of the marine industry. His passion for sailing and powerboating has inspired him to learn as much about boats and marine systems as possible. Mike is a professionally trained Marine Surveyor and Marine Canvas Fabricator. He has seven ABYC Certifications, including Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Systems, Diesel Engines, AC/Refrigeration, and more. In previous roles, Mike has managed sailboat rigging shops and installed & serviced marine systems. He has also worked for many of the industry’s premier manufacturers and suppliers of heating systems, marine hardware, running gear components, and propellers. When not helping his clients, Mike and his wife Linda can be found cruising in Northwest waters on their 40-foot trawler or racing around the buoys on their 30-foot sailboat.
4:00 pm
How to Maximize Marine Electronics to Locate Fish Stage #1 Concourse North
John Keizer
Capt John Keizer is Capt of the NW Lowrance fishing team and an expert on marine electronics. This seminar will cover how to install, setup your sonar to get the best quality images of fish displayed in various fishing environments and depth ranges. Seminar will cover proper transducer placement, unit tuning and proper setup to maximize locating fish and the newest trends in electronics.
John Keizer
Capt. John Keizer, creator of Saltpatrol.com and a well-known outdoor writer for local fishing magazines, newspapers, but is best known as the Captain of the Team Lowrance boat 'Salt Patrol' and is a professional angler. John is regular seen on Angler West TV fishing for NW species or fishing at destinations around the world. He has passion for introducing new anglers to the sport. Capt. John also hosts the Salt Patrol Billfish Tournament in Baja Mexico each October with 80-100 NW anglers and family's members attending.
5:00 pm
How to Find Tuna Stage #1 Concourse North
Tommy Donlin
Finding Tuna is the difference between catching and not. If you can find the tuna, chances are you can catch them. This seminar dives into the migratory characteristics of tuna and offers and in depth look at Sea Surface Temperatures and Chlorophyll charts, as the primary means to locate tuna.
Tommy Donlin
Capt. Tommy Donlin has more than 30 years of experience fishing the waters from Alaska to Costa Rica and beyond. He chases everything that swims off the Washington coast, including tuna, salmon, rockfish, lingcod, halibut, crab and shrimp. Tommy spends countless hours on the water perfecting his strategies and skill sets. Catch him on Fish Hunt Northwest, airing weekly on Root Sports as well as YouTube and Facebook, where he shares his journey and successes.
6:00 pm
How to Work Re’BOAT’ly: Advanced Internet for Entrepreneurs, Remote Workers & Digital Nomads Stage #1 Concourse North
Richard Anderson
Business owner? entrepreneur? remote worker? or digital nomad? Looking for more than just weather and email? Have specific needs for your onboard connectivity in order to maintain or operate a business in your floating office? This seminar is for you! Special sections on advanced cellular and satellite internet for boats where un-disrupted video/voice conferencing is critical.
Richard Anderson
Richard Anderson, a lifelong technologist and licensed USCG captain, and his wife Devon Thurtle Anderson, an accomplished attorney, quit their career jobs in 2017 and took their two young daughters on an 18 month cruising adventure from the northern fjords of SE Alaska to the lush jungles of Costa Rica with many stops in between. During that time they both acquired and operated Sea-Tech Systems, and also restarted Devon's accounting company and law firm, all while still travelling by boat. Richard combines his considerable technology experience with real world cruising, general travelling, and business operating experiences to help other cruisers learn about the realities of staying connected from a boat. Since 2018, Richard has helped many cruisers set up their boats with communications systems including simple HF radio as well as broadband satellite at sea, and everything in between.
7:00 pm
Boat Sharing Clubs 101: A Modern Take on Boating Stage #1 Concourse North
Erik Ryhne
Advancements in technology and the sharing economy have changed the way many people choose to access the water. New boat sharing models help people enjoy the boating lifestyle without the commitment and expense of ownership. In this presentation we will explore the concept of boat sharing clubs, how they work, and if a boat club is right for you.
Erik Ryhne
Erik Ryhne is a captain who runs the on water training and boat handling and safety programs at Carefree Boat Club of Washington state. He is active in the US Coast Guard.
February 4, 2023
10:30 am
Marine Electrical Systems
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Nigel Calder
Electrical systems are now the number one cause of problems on boats that have anything more than a rudimentary electrical system. Most problems can be traced to inadequate design and/or poor installation. Tech guru Nigel Calder, author of the best-selling ‘Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual’ (now in its fourth edition) will begin with a description of key design criteria that must be met if a DC system is to meet the needs of the boatowner. In the process, we will reference some of the newer technologies that are likely to transform the performance of electrical systems in coming years. Then we will delve into basic installation requirements that comply with boatbuilding and safety standards, but which unfortunately are often not met. This includes the important, and often neglected, provision of adequate over-current protection. We will round out the day by looking at simple multimeter troubleshooting techniques that can be safely conducted by any boat owner. This seminar is designed for the inexperienced and requires no prior knowledge although it will be challenging for some. It will help you understand your own electrical systems and to nip many common problems in the bud. This is an all day class. (10:30am – 3:30pm with a 30 minute break for lunch)
Nigel Calder
Nigel Calder got into motorcycles and sailing dinghies as a teenager and has never been far from mechanical things and boats ever since. Before becoming a full-time sailing writer he worked on an automotive assembly line, in a foundry and machine shop, and on offshore oil production platforms. He and his wife, Terrie, built a couple of 70-foot canal boats (on which they lived in Oxford), and a 39-foot Ingrid cutter. They then sailed a Pacific Seacraft 40 for 5 years, following which they had a Malo 45 built in Sweden. This was replaced by the same boat but with experimental electrical and propulsion systems. It was used for extensive testing of hybrid propulsion systems which, in recent years morphed into a multi-year development of advanced generator technology now sold under the Integrel brand name. Nigel has been an active participant in the American Boat and Yacht Council’s (ABYC) electrical Project Technical Committee (PTC), which writes the standards for recreational boat electrical systems, for 30 years. Nigel and Terrie have sailed in the North Sea, the Atlantic as far north as the Faroe Islands and as far south as Portugal, the U.S. east coast, the Bahamas and extensively in the Caribbean, with Pippin (now aged 34) and Paul (33) augmenting the crew along the way. Nigel is best known for his Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual, now in its 4th edition, and his Marine Diesel Engines, in its 3rd edition. In addition to hundreds of magazine articles, he has also authored a ‘Cruising Guide to the Northwest Caribbean’, ‘Cuba: A Cruising Guide’, ‘Nigel Calder’s Cruising Handbook’ and ‘How to Read a Nautical Chart’. He recently released a memoir of his family’s first long cruise titled ‘Shakedown Cruise’.
11:00 am
Bluewater Cruising NOW: Trends, Revolutionary Gear, and Timeless Tips Stage #1 Concourse North
Panel
Learn, laugh, be inspired! Intrepid sailors will draw from many miles of experience to answer your questions… from boat and passage planning, sailing trends in today’s world, hot new gear, and timeless tips for life at sea. Benefit from a discussion on safe passages down the west coast to Mexico and beyond, and enjoy entertaining snippets of what cruising lifestyle is all about.
Panel
12:00 pm
Circumnavigation: Dirona Around the World Stage #1 Concourse North
James & Jennifer Hamilton
Traveling around the world in a small boat is a major undertaking. In this seminar, James and Jennifer Hamilton will describe some of the techniques used on Nordhavn 52 Dirona for making the trip more safe and comfortable for longer passages and at the dock, ranging from watch-keeping and fuel management to living on a 60Hz boat in 50Hz countries. They also will share highlights of their trip, such as passing through Russia to tour Finland’s Great Saimaa Lake system and cruising Stewart Island off southern New Zealand.
James & Jennifer Hamilton
James and Jennifer Hamilton traveled around the world in their Nordhavn 52 trawler Dirona, across the Pacific, Indian and Southern Atlantic Oceans and twice across the Northern Atlantic, with themselves and their cat Spitfire as only crew. They particularly enjoy higher-latitude cruising and spent much time in southern New Zealand, Tasmania, Alaska, and Scandinavia. They also specialize in longer passages, including non-stop runs of 3,023 nm over 19 days from Australia to Mauritius and 3,689 nm over 25 days from St. Helena to Barbados. Before departing Seattle on their trip around the world, the Hamilton's boated year-round in the Pacific Northwest, and have logged over 110,000 miles. They are the authors of Waggoner Cruising Guide's Cruising the Secret Coast and dozens of articles in magazines such as PassageMaker and Pacific Yachting, and document their travels in detail at mvdirona.com and youtube.com/user/mvdirona
1:00 pm
Windvane Self Steering & Emergency Steering Stage #1 Concourse North
Sarah & Will Curry
How about a crew member who spends endless hours steering, doesn’t eat or sleep, and never complains? A windvane self steering system will steer your monohull or catamaran for short distances or across oceans with absolutely no power consumption. Will and Sarah Curry provide an overview of the different types and demonstrate what a windvane can do for you with videos and cruising stories.
Sarah & Will Curry
Will & Sarah Curry hatched a plan to sail to the South Pacific on their very first date. They purchased a Beneteau First 405 in Mexico and after Will showed newbie Sarah the ropes, they sailed into the sunset - west, across the incredible South Pacific. That boat sold quickly in Australia, and they moved onto a Jeanneau SO 43 to explore the Pacific Northwest, California, and beloved Mexico over the course of seven years. Will & Sarah and their adaptable crew (3 year old twin boys) have recently said goodbye to hot sauce, and hello to tzatziki! Kaia II is their current boat, a Leopard 46 catamaran in Greece.
2:00 pm
Beyond You Tube: Lessons Learned from 400,000 Miles Stage #1 Concourse North
John Neal
If you’ve gotten the adventure bug from watching YouTube adventures, this seminar shows you how to get from dreaming to actually experiencing your own blue water cruising adventure. Learn how to find, purchase and outfit the best boat within your budget, how to qualify for insurance and how to sail it safely anywhere in the world. John Neal sailed away from Seattle on a Vega 27 in 1974 and has since helped more than 10,000 boaters realize their dreams. A detailed two-page checklist is included and a 270-page textbook is available.
John Neal
Since sailing away from Seattle in 1974, John Neal's 391,000 offshore miles include six Cape Horn roundings and expeditions to Antarctica, Africa, Australia and Spitsbergen. Since 1976 his focus has been helping over 10,000 want to be cruisers find and outfit their boats to fulfill their own cruising adventures.
3:00 pm
Electric & Hybrid Propulsion Systems: Range, Efficiency and Peace of Mind Stage #1 Concourse North
Alex Wilkin
Seattle Boat Works has been doing custom conversions from diesel to electric propulsion for over a decade. Alex Wilken will share his experience with boaters by going over the concepts of electric vs combustion systems, benefits of electric propulsion, types of and improvements in battery chemistry technology, and understanding hybrid systems. All via real world installation examples.
Alex Wilkin
Alex Wilken has lived on bluewater sailboats since before he was born, even his own 50 foot ketch has been his only home since he was 4 years old. Working on boats has always been a part of his life- from growing up helping the parents truck provisions down docks in the Mediterranean to opening his own full service boat building business after college, Seattle Boat Works. These days, he is helping folks deep-six their sputtering diesels for quiet, clean electric propulsions systems. Seattle Boat Works started twelve years ago developing custom electric hybrid systems, generating interest at boat shows, and converting a handful of boats every year. Now with the new technology, batteries, and solar on the market the demand has exploded into the main bread and butter of the business, and Alex is happy to use his experience to help boat owners understand and discover the possibilities.
4:00 pm
Mastering Navionics App to Sharpen Your Navigation Skills
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Linda Lewis
Using the “Navionics” app makes it fun to learn how to navigate and gives you a way to practice your navigation skills and do route planning at home. You can carry your work onto the boat and your app acts as a second screen and a backup to your on-board marine electronics. If you have a late-model chartplotter (that is WiFi capable), you can even export your tablet’s planned routes directly to your chartplotter by WiFi. All the work you did at home is now on your chartplotter (certain brands only, such as Raymarine).Bring your tablet to the seminar so you can do hands-on work, learning how to:– understand the meaning of the colors and symbols– plan a trip by entering, editing, and naming routes– find tide and current data – including how to use the data– adjust the app’s settings for safe boating– orient the screen – and why, plus much more. You can download a two-week free trial of the app: “Navionics – Boating Marine & Lakes” just before the seminar. The app works best on tablets, but can also be used on smartphones. Use this direct link to access the free trial: https://www.navionics.com/usa/apps/navionics-boating. You will use the app during the seminar to learn how to navigate, then decide if you want to pay for and keep it. This is a 2 hour class (4pm- 6pm)
Linda Lewis
Capt. Linda Lewis holds a USCG 100-Ton Masters License and has 45 years of hands-on experience (sail and power) cruising the Inside Passage (including nine trips to SE Alaska). A retired Emeritus Associate Professor from the U of WA, she brings her professional educator background to presentations on all things boating at many venues, including the Seattle Boat Show and Trawlerfest. She has taught hundreds of couples on-the-water through her business ? Private Boating Instruction LLC. She provides customized on-the-water instruction, on-your-powerboat (www.privateboatinginstruction.com)..
4:00 pm
Catching Large Halibut and Lingcod Stage #1 Concourse North
Tommy Donlin
Most halibut and lingcod fisherman can catch a halibut or lingcod but the tactics change when you’re focused on larger models. This seminar provides the tactics and approaches required to dial in the big fish game.
Tommy Donlin
Capt. Tommy Donlin has more than 30 years of experience fishing the waters from Alaska to Costa Rica and beyond. He chases everything that swims off the Washington coast, including tuna, salmon, rockfish, lingcod, halibut, crab and shrimp. Tommy spends countless hours on the water perfecting his strategies and skill sets. Catch him on Fish Hunt Northwest, airing weekly on Root Sports as well as YouTube and Facebook, where he shares his journey and successes.
5:00 pm
Offshore Readiness Stage #1 Concourse North
Lisa Vizzini
If you are shopping for an offshore sailboat or already own one this seminar will give you what you need to consider before heading offshore. Lisa will discuss standing & running rigging, sail inventory, reefing, downwind pole and important mast characteristics. Come with your questions and leave with ideas.
Lisa Vizzini
Lisa Vizzini has been sailing since childhood in various types of boats from one design dinghies to heavy displacement cruisers. Her current passion is empowering sail boat owners with the knowledge and skills to sail NOT motor their sail boats. Lisa and her fine staff, operate PTR Rigging & Spars where they strive to provide sailors with the knowledge, skills and equipment to sail where they want to go.
6:00 pm
Considerations for a Complete Electrical Refit of Your Boat Stage #1 Concourse North
Nancy Erley
Nancy Erley, ocean sailor and Jo Abeli, marine electrician discuss the planning process and new technology available for upgrading your boat’s electrical system. Collaborating on the electrical modernization of Nancy’s 1982 Orca 38 “Tethys”, they share the choices made and why. You will see how to weigh the many considerations to achieve a balanced and elegant refit of your boat. Bring questions.
Nancy Erley
Nancy Erley, Captain of Two World Circumnavigations Nancy Erley led two 5-year voyages from Seattle around the world aboard her Orca 38 sailboat Tethys. “As the skipper of an all-woman crew, Nancy fashioned a circumnavigation that should go down in the record books as one of the soundest, most seamanlike journeys in the modern cruising era.” George Day, publisher Blue Water Sailing magazine. Nancy holds a USCG 100-ton Master of Oceans license and is the recipient of the Leadership in Women’s Sailing award from BoatUS and the National Women’s Sailing Association. She is an Instructor Evaluator-Ocean Master for the International Sail and Power Association and specializes in private instruction.
7:00 pm
Advanced Anchoring Stage #1 Concourse North
Nancy Erley
After a short refresher on anchoring basics the presentation will focus on strategies for tricky situations, crowded anchorages and severe weather including using multiple anchors and ways to get a fouled anchor unstuck. Nancy anchored over a thousand times on her two circumnavigations and speaks from a wealth of personal mishap and recovery.
Nancy Erley
Nancy Erley, Captain of Two World Circumnavigations Nancy Erley led two 5-year voyages from Seattle around the world aboard her Orca 38 sailboat Tethys. “As the skipper of an all-woman crew, Nancy fashioned a circumnavigation that should go down in the record books as one of the soundest, most seamanlike journeys in the modern cruising era.” George Day, publisher Blue Water Sailing magazine. Nancy holds a USCG 100-ton Master of Oceans license and is the recipient of the Leadership in Women’s Sailing award from BoatUS and the National Women’s Sailing Association. She is an Instructor Evaluator-Ocean Master for the International Sail and Power Association and specializes in private instruction.
February 5, 2023
10:30 am
Marine Diesel Engines
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Nigel Calder
The diesel engine is a critically important piece of safety equipment aboard any cruising boat. Tech guru Nigel Calder, author of the best-selling ‘Marine Diesel Engines’ (now in its 3rd edition, and used as a text book in numerous diesel classes) brings his broad experience to a seminar for boatowners, both power and sail, that want to get the most out of their time on the water. We will dive into a detailed look at fuel, oil, cooling, airflow, and powertrain systems, describing all normal maintenance procedures and including often overlooked critical installation issues. We will explore basic troubleshooting techniques for common diesel engine problems, defining what the untrained boatowner can reasonably be expected to do and what should not be attempted. You will come away from this seminar with an enhanced understanding of your engine and the confidence to carry out routine maintenance, which alone will save you the price of admission. No previous experience is required. All day seminar. (10:30am – 3:30pm includes a 30 minute break)
Nigel Calder
Nigel Calder got into motorcycles and sailing dinghies as a teenager and has never been far from mechanical things and boats ever since. Before becoming a full-time sailing writer he worked on an automotive assembly line, in a foundry and machine shop, and on offshore oil production platforms. He and his wife, Terrie, built a couple of 70-foot canal boats (on which they lived in Oxford), and a 39-foot Ingrid cutter. They then sailed a Pacific Seacraft 40 for 5 years, following which they had a Malo 45 built in Sweden. This was replaced by the same boat but with experimental electrical and propulsion systems. It was used for extensive testing of hybrid propulsion systems which, in recent years morphed into a multi-year development of advanced generator technology now sold under the Integrel brand name. Nigel has been an active participant in the American Boat and Yacht Council’s (ABYC) electrical Project Technical Committee (PTC), which writes the standards for recreational boat electrical systems, for 30 years. Nigel and Terrie have sailed in the North Sea, the Atlantic as far north as the Faroe Islands and as far south as Portugal, the U.S. east coast, the Bahamas and extensively in the Caribbean, with Pippin (now aged 34) and Paul (33) augmenting the crew along the way. Nigel is best known for his Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual, now in its 4th edition, and his Marine Diesel Engines, in its 3rd edition. In addition to hundreds of magazine articles, he has also authored a ‘Cruising Guide to the Northwest Caribbean’, ‘Cuba: A Cruising Guide’, ‘Nigel Calder’s Cruising Handbook’ and ‘How to Read a Nautical Chart’. He recently released a memoir of his family’s first long cruise titled ‘Shakedown Cruise’.
11:00 am
Essential Boating Gear You Didn’t Know You Needed Stage #1 Concourse North
Trevor MacLachlan
So many options! Join us for a discussion on unique gear that are must-haves to ensure safety at sea and at anchor.
Trevor MacLachlan
Trevor MacLachlan founded Seattle Seafaring in 2012. He holds a USCG 100 Ton Master’s license and has over 35 years sailing and power yacht experience in the Pacific Northwest and worldwide. Having literally spent his entire life sailing, Trevor is competent on virtually any sailing or power vessel from tiny sailing dinghies to over 85′ luxury yachts. He has circumnavigated Vancouver Island twice and runs deliveries up and down the coast. A cruising highlight so far has been the two years cruising from Seattle down through the Panama Canal into the Caribbean with his young family aboard the Taswell 43 “Lea Scotia”, the original yacht in his fleet. Trevor provides professional training, consulting and yacht deliveries worldwide on both sail and power, large and small.
12:00 pm
Pros & Cons of Boating Apps: Using Tablets & Smart Phones Underway Stage #1 Concourse North
Richard Rodriguez
These days almost everyone has a tablet or phone. NOAA stopped updating local charts in October, 2022. These tools may offer a better solution than your stand alone chart plotter. Find out the pros and cons of popular apps. You may be surprised.
Richard Rodriguez
Partner / Instructor, Zenith Maritime (Director of Opps - Master 100 tons,) have personally trained over 1,300 Coast Guard Licensed Captains. Responsible for training and orientation of instructors across the United States. US Coast Guard approved you deliver Train the Trainer courses, Certified by Washington State Bar Assoc. to teach Continuing Education courses related to maritime law. Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley (trained 13 watchstanders on this 282 Medium endurance Cutter). Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa (trained three Captains for this 110' Island Class Cutter). Schooner Zodiac, have conducted crew training and qualifications on this 160' vessel. Qualified 28 San Juan County (Fire, & Public Works) Employees in navigation, basic rules and safety for the county's fleet. Tulalip PD, Marine Unit. Department of Homeland Security. Washington Department Fish and Wildlife Over 100 days per year on the water experience for the last 20 years.
1:00 pm
South to Mexico & West to Australia Stage #1 Concourse North
Sarah & Will Curry
Sarah and Will share their experiences down the foggy WA/OR/CA Coast, exploring Mexico, and setting sail across the Pacific to Australia. From botched projects to epic landfalls, they share funny and revealing stories about the cruising life, tons of tips, and media that will make you want to set those sails and go!
Sarah & Will Curry
Will & Sarah Curry hatched a plan to sail to the South Pacific on their very first date. They purchased a Beneteau First 405 in Mexico and after Will showed newbie Sarah the ropes, they sailed into the sunset - west, across the incredible South Pacific. That boat sold quickly in Australia, and they moved onto a Jeanneau SO 43 to explore the Pacific Northwest, California, and beloved Mexico over the course of seven years. Will & Sarah and their adaptable crew (3 year old twin boys) have recently said goodbye to hot sauce, and hello to tzatziki! Kaia II is their current boat, a Leopard 46 catamaran in Greece.
2:00 pm
Electric Boats, Hybrid Options, & Power for Modern Cruising Boats: What’s New in Marine? Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Beemer
Electrification of modern vessel is certainly a buzz word in our industry. Come explore options with Michael Beemer from Skagit Valley College Marine Technology Program who recently attended the North America Hybrid & Electric Marine Expo. If you’re interested in learning more about what’s happening in our industry this talk will help you understand what is happening and some of the options available currently.
Mike Beemer
Michael Beemer is the department chair for Skagit Valley College’s marine maintenance and repair program. Michael has been presenting and teaching professionally for almost 20 years and holds a master’s degree in education. At the college he teaches all the systems courses, including ABYC certifications. He and his wife have cruised extensively from Anacortes to southeast Alaska for many years on their motor-sailor. In the cruising community, Michael is well known as “The Boat Doctor” who can diagnose and fix almost anything on a vessel. Some of the many topics he has done include: diesel engines, electrical systems, solar, new battery technologies, extended inside passage cruising, and more.
3:00 pm
Top Bets for Catching Coastal Salmon Stage #1 Concourse North
Tommy Donlin
This seminar details the top destinations and tactics to put both Chinook and Coho Salmon in your freezer. Learn how to fish specific areas, utilize sonar, and rig top notch tackle. We’ll also cover run timing and how to rig a fool proof bait.
Tommy Donlin
Capt. Tommy Donlin has more than 30 years of experience fishing the waters from Alaska to Costa Rica and beyond. He chases everything that swims off the Washington coast, including tuna, salmon, rockfish, lingcod, halibut, crab and shrimp. Tommy spends countless hours on the water perfecting his strategies and skill sets. Catch him on Fish Hunt Northwest, airing weekly on Root Sports as well as YouTube and Facebook, where he shares his journey and successes.
4:00 pm
Solar Power & Installation
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Mike Reese
We all love our creature comforts, and nothing transforms a boat from a ‘weekend camper’ to an extended ‘comfy cruiser’ quite like having plenty of power. Did you know that a solar array can pay for itself in as little as three years compared to charging with an internal combustion engine? And, your batteries will love you for it! We have lots of new technologies and options for boaters – come spend a few hours with us learning about sun power! A sample of topics covered– Designing a solar array for any boat; Series vs Parallel installations; How to control your solar energy; Comparison of solar panels, costs, and batteries; Installation requirements and options. This is a 2 hour class (4pm- 6pm)
Mike Reese
Mike is a life-long boater and 30-year veteran of the marine industry. His passion for sailing and powerboating has inspired him to learn as much about boats and marine systems as possible. Mike is a professionally trained Marine Surveyor and Marine Canvas Fabricator. He has seven ABYC Certifications, including Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Systems, Diesel Engines, AC/Refrigeration, and more. In previous roles, Mike has managed sailboat rigging shops and installed & serviced marine systems. He has also worked for many of the industry’s premier manufacturers and suppliers of heating systems, marine hardware, running gear components, and propellers. When not helping his clients, Mike and his wife Linda can be found cruising in Northwest waters on their 40-foot trawler or racing around the buoys on their 30-foot sailboat.
4:00 pm
Utilizing Digital Anchors to Maximize your Success for PNW Fisheries Stage #1 Concourse North
Paul Kim
More and more PNW anglers are incorporating Global Positioning Satellite bow mounted anchors to catch more fish. If you haven’t heard of this technology, you’ll want to attend this seminar that will break down the technology, the parts, and utilization of this game changing tool that will help you catch more fish without having to fuss with a traditional windlass, chain, rode and hook.
Paul Kim
Capt. Paul Kim grew up in Colorado as an avid fly angler. His love for the salt began 23 years ago when we moved to Seattle to chase salmon. He owns and operates FishPNW guide service and specializes in Squid, Salmon, Bottomfish, and Shellfish.
5:00 pm
Slow Pitch Jigging Stage #1 Concourse North
Tommy Donlin
A new jigging system and technique that can be used for all fisheries. New jig designs, New rod designs, specially designed reels, and a new way of moving the rid to get bites. Let’s cover this in detail!
Tommy Donlin
Capt. Tommy Donlin has more than 30 years of experience fishing the waters from Alaska to Costa Rica and beyond. He chases everything that swims off the Washington coast, including tuna, salmon, rockfish, lingcod, halibut, crab and shrimp. Tommy spends countless hours on the water perfecting his strategies and skill sets. Catch him on Fish Hunt Northwest, airing weekly on Root Sports as well as YouTube and Facebook, where he shares his journey and successes.
February 6, 2023
11:00 am
Marine Diesel Diagnostics & Repair Stage #1 Concourse North
Meredith Anderson
This seminar will cover common engine issues and what to do about them to keep your engine functioning as intended.
Meredith Anderson
Meredith is a marine engineer who has been teaching Commercial and Recreational diesel here in Puget Sound for over 10 years. She currently resides on her sailboat in Olympia, WA and works all over the west coast repairing marine diesel power plants.
11:30 am
Women’s Seminar: Navionics, Engines, Working Together
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Linda Lewis & Margaret Pommert
This Seminar is geared for women participants. 1) Navionics – Bring your tablet or smartphone with the app: “Navionics-Boating App” downloaded. Go to “navionics.com/usa/apps/navionics-boating” for a free trial. We’ll use the app in the class to help build your navigation skills. 2) Engines – Improve your understanding of your inboard engine, whether diesel or gas. We will focus on safe operation, including engine pre-departure checks and basic troubleshooting. 3) Working Together – How do couples and multi-person crews work together effectively and safely – even in challenging situations? Linda and Margaret will share their best practices and you will be encouraged to share your challenges and successes in various situations. We will all learn from each other. (There will be two 20-minute breaks during the Seminar.) All day course (11:30am – 6pm)
Linda Lewis & Margaret Pommert
Linda Lewis:
Capt. Linda Lewis holds a USCG 100-Ton Masters License and has 45 years of hands-on experience (sail and power) cruising the Inside Passage (including nine trips to SE Alaska). A retired Emeritus Associate Professor from the U of WA, she brings her professional educator background to presentations on all things boating at many venues, including the Seattle Boat Show and Trawlerfest. She has taught hundreds of couples on-the-water through her business ? Private Boating Instruction LLC. She provides customized on-the-water instruction, on-your-powerboat (www.privateboatinginstruction.com)
Margaret Pommert:
Captain Margaret Pommert is a popular Pacific Northwest boating instructor, teaching on both sail and power boats. She serves on the Board of Directors of The Sailing Foundation, which developed the Lifesling, and organizes their annual US Sailing International Offshore Safety at Sea with Hands-on Training in Seattle and Portland areas. Margaret chairs the US Sailing Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal Selection and Awards Committee, a national award which recognizes a significant accomplishment in seamanship which has saved a life, and collects case studies in rescues for analysis by the US Sailing Safety-at-Sea Committee. She's an appointed member of WA State Boating Program Advisory Council, providing recommendations to the program on ways to enhance boating safety statewide for all types of recreational boating. When not working as a skipper/instructor, she's active in the local boating community, racing, cruising, and promoting Safety at Sea and Northwest Women in Boating.
12:00 pm
Know Before You Go: Using Networked Ocean Observing Data Plan to Make a Safe Trip Stage #1 Concourse North
Rachel Wold
Weather and sea surface conditions in the Pacific Northwest are highly variable so mariners need accurate and up to date information when planning their next trip on the water. The Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) provides these near-real time observations, forecasts and other tools needed to safely navigate our waters.
Rachel Wold
Rachel Wold grew up boating and fishing recreationally throughout the Pacific Northwest. As a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, she taught navigation courses and participated in safety cruises in the Puget Sound. She has worked as crew aboard private boats and yacht charters, logging time at the helm and navigating through the Inside Passage. Rachel studied physics at the University of Washington and now works as an oceanographer at the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory. She has led research cruises to monitor water quality and participated in oceanographic buoy deployment, recovery and maintenance. Combining her boating and science backgrounds, she currently is an Outreach Specialist for the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS; www.nanoos.org), demonstrating the NANOOS Visualization System (NVS) Boaters App with recreational boaters throughout the region and collecting feedback to enhance usability.
1:00 pm
Marine Diesel Basics Stage #1 Concourse North
Meredith Anderson
This presentation will cover the basics of how a marine diesel engine functions and how it’s systems work together.
Meredith Anderson
Meredith is a marine engineer who has been teaching Commercial and Recreational diesel here in Puget Sound for over 10 years. She currently resides on her sailboat in Olympia, WA and works all over the west coast repairing marine diesel power plants.
2:00 pm
Top Places to Visit in SE Alaska Off the Beaten Trail Stage #1 Concourse North
Elsie Hulsizer
Elsie Hulsizer, author of “Glaciers, Bears and Totems: Sailing in Search of the Real Southeast Alaska” and veteran of 7 trips to Alaska will share her favorite off-the-beaten-track destinations and show you how to cruise safely among glaciers and ice, where to find whales and bears, and why you should visit Alaskan Native villages.
Elsie Hulsizer
Elsie Hulsizer is the author of "Voyages to Windward: Sailing Adventures on the West Coast of Vancouver Island" and "Glaciers, Bears and Totems: Sailing in Search of the Real Southeast Alaska." She and her husband have cruised extensively in Northwest Waters including 7 trips to SE Alaska, two trips to Haida Gwaii and 20+ trips to the West Coast of Vancouver Island. In 1978, they sailed from Boston to Seattle via the Panama Canal and Hawaii in a 32ft Chesapeake 32 sloop. Elsie has a master's degree in oceanography and a certificate in fine art photography and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Wooden Boats.
3:00 pm
The Making of a Sailor Stage #1 Concourse North
Panel
This talk will be geared towards women who may be new to sailing. Featuring a panel of women sailors with various levels of experience revealing how they evolved into confident sailors they’ve become. We’ll share our experiences, what helped and what didn’t in our learning process, and allow some time for Q & A.
Panel
4:00 pm
The Making of a Sailor cont. Stage #1 Concourse North
Panel
This talk will be geared towards women who may be new to sailing. Featuring a panel of women sailors with various levels of experience revealing how they evolved into confident sailors they’ve become. We’ll share our experiences, what helped and what didn’t in our learning process, and allow some time for Q & A.
Panel
5:00 pm
Successful Puget Sound Shrimping Stage #1 Concourse North
Tom Nelson
We call them “shrimp” but it’s really a disservice to these wonderful, flavorful creatures! The Puget Sound spot prawns are large and in charge of some of the most memorable springtime meals you’ll ever experience! Join Nelly as he runs down gear, baits, times, tides, currents and places to get your limit of PRAWNS the first time… and every time!
Tom Nelson
Tom "Nelly" Nelson has spent over a half-century on the waters, uplands and mountain ranges of his beloved home, the vast Pacific Northwest. For the past decade and a half, Nelly has been the voice of Seattle Saturday morning outdoor radio where his lifetime of hunting & fishing experience and his communication skills have been put to the test. In 2019, Salmon & Steelhead Journal named Nelly to it's list of "The 25 Most Influential Anglers In The West." From his childhood on the rivers and bays of Puget Sound to the salmon, herring and charter fishing fleets of Alaska, Tom has taken full advantage of all that the challenging outdoor classroom has to offer. Tom's education as a fisherman continued at the University of Washington's School of Fisheries, earning a Degree in Fisheries Biology. Nelly was subsequently employed by the school's Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I.) as a Research Assistant for several Alaskan salmon research projects allowing Tom to explore the Nushagak, Chignik, and Lake Illiamna regions. "Nelly's" fishing career has included guiding and writing for Salmon Trout Steelheader, Salmon and Steelhead Journal, Fishing & Hunting News, Washington Game & Fish, The REEL News as well as several websites.
February 7, 2023
11:00 am
Docking Powerboats in NW Waters Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Huston
A discussion of docking techniques for powerboats, slanted to fit our local docks and conditions. We will discuss preparation, line handling and maneuvering. Both single and double screws boats will be covered.
Mike Huston
Over 50 years of boating experience, both sail and power. Have been instructing both sail and power cruising classes for the 20 years. Currently one of the owners or San Juan Sailing and Yachting in Bellingham.
12:00 pm
Understanding Water Maker Technology: Water Makers 101 Stage #1 Concourse North
Rich Boren
Rich will conduct a review of current water maker technology and options for Cruisers. From high output AC 120v systems to the latest in energy efficient 12v DC Systems. Pros and Cons of the available systems will be review to give cruisers a better understanding of how the technology works and help them select a water technology type that best fits their cruising style and budget.
Rich Boren
Cruiser and owner of Cruise RO Water
Following a career in the water treatment, in 2008 Rich cast off on a 4 year cruise of Mexico and the Sea of Cortez with his wife and two kids (ages 8 and 9). Having a background in reverse osmosis, Rich built their own water maker and from an anchorage in Mexico formed Cruise RO Water. Still living in Mexico where he runs the company's technical support and service, Rich has serviced and maintained all brands of water makers from piston pumps to energy recovery pumps.
1:00 pm
Medicine at Sea: 5 Things to Know Before Leaving Port
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
John Taussig
Spend time learning about the following topics — 1) Patient Assessment, Life Threats, Trauma techniques, Medical Problems, Environmental concerns. Gain an overview of important medical topics vital to a safe passage. 2) Training: Explore what types of basic and specialty training are available to Mariners. 3) Medical Resources for Mariners: Medical aptitude has an expiration date. Explore popular resources to reference while underway 4) What is in the Medical Kit: Examine the most popular types of commercially available medical kits, a DIY kit, and equipment nuances that are important to know before you buy. 5) Prescription Medications: How to assess and procure a problem-based prescription medical kit before you voyage. This is a 2 hour class (1pm – 3pm)
John Taussig
Founder of the nonprofits Backcountry and Maritime Medical Guides, John has spent 20+ years working on various ground and air rescue units as a flight medic, ski patroller, ambulance, and ranger paramedic. As an adventure cruiser and Merchant Mariner, he’s travelled to Alaska multiple times, and to points south via the Panama Canal on his Alajuela 38. In 2017, John crafted a makeshift trimaran from a Klepper sailing kayak and rowed to Alaska, raising $30,000 for Multiple Myeloma research grants. The experience inspired him to relocate to Bellingham, WA where he now lives with his wife and young son.
1:00 pm
Stay Connected While Cruising: Explore 5G, Marine Antennas & Starlink to Name a Few Stage #1 Concourse North
Doug Miller
This talk will cover the various methods in use by cruisers to stay connected to the Internet while coastal cruising in our local waters and beyond. Topics will include covering the latest in 5G cellular technologies, marine antennas for extended range as well as the current state of satellite communications with solutions such as Starlink.
Doug Miller
Doug Miller founded Onboard Wireless, a company focused on Internet connectivity solutions for boaters, in 2021. Previously, Doug was the owner of Milltech Marine, an AIS solution specialist he founded in in 2006. Doug sold Milltech Marine in early 2022. Doug began sailing at an early age and has always had a passion for combining the thrill of sailing with a love for high tech toys. Doug and his wife Karin use “Naiad”, their Hunter Passage 420 sailboat, as a testbed for many of the products that are offered by Onboard Wireless.
2:00 pm
Dungeness Crabbing Curriculum Stage #1 Concourse North
Tom Nelson
The quintessential Pacific Northwest dinner MUST have Dungeness crab! Therefore it only stands to reason that if you want to serve crab dinner that you’re going to have to catch them first! With a lifetime of crabbing experience, “Nelly” will run you through the times, tides, baits, depths, lines, pots and gear that will have you getting “crabby” in no time!
Tom Nelson
Tom "Nelly" Nelson has spent over a half-century on the waters, uplands and mountain ranges of his beloved home, the vast Pacific Northwest. For the past decade and a half, Nelly has been the voice of Seattle Saturday morning outdoor radio where his lifetime of hunting & fishing experience and his communication skills have been put to the test. In 2019, Salmon & Steelhead Journal named Nelly to it's list of "The 25 Most Influential Anglers In The West." From his childhood on the rivers and bays of Puget Sound to the salmon, herring and charter fishing fleets of Alaska, Tom has taken full advantage of all that the challenging outdoor classroom has to offer. Tom's education as a fisherman continued at the University of Washington's School of Fisheries, earning a Degree in Fisheries Biology. Nelly was subsequently employed by the school's Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I.) as a Research Assistant for several Alaskan salmon research projects allowing Tom to explore the Nushagak, Chignik, and Lake Illiamna regions. "Nelly's" fishing career has included guiding and writing for Salmon Trout Steelheader, Salmon and Steelhead Journal, Fishing & Hunting News, Washington Game & Fish, The REEL News as well as several websites.
3:00 pm
Dodgers, Bimini’s & Enclosures for Sail Boats Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Reese
Join us to discuss the design, material, and installation considerations for sailboat dodgers and enclosures. Well designed and constructed dodgers and enclosures add safety, comfort, and livability to your voyages. This seminar will equip you with the knowledge needed to have the best possible solution for your sailing adventures.
Mike Reese
Mike is a life-long boater and 30-year veteran of the marine industry. His passion for sailing and powerboating has inspired him to learn as much about boats and marine systems as possible. Mike is a professionally trained Marine Surveyor and Marine Canvas Fabricator. He has seven ABYC Certifications, including Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Systems, Diesel Engines, AC/Refrigeration, and more. In previous roles, Mike has managed sailboat rigging shops and installed & serviced marine systems. He has also worked for many of the industry’s premier manufacturers and suppliers of heating systems, marine hardware, running gear components, and propellers. When not helping his clients, Mike and his wife Linda can be found cruising in Northwest waters on their 40-foot trawler or racing around the buoys on their 30-foot sailboat.
4:00 pm
On-Board Emergency Preparation
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Margaret Pommert
This course will focus on safety preparations for boating in the Pacific Northwest, especially crew safety and short-handed crews. We will ‘walk’ through emergency equipment and procedures preparation on a typical recreational boat, as well as a checklist of actions the whole crew can do now to prepare for a safe and fun boating season. Participants will receive example templates for some safety procedures and list of specific resources for racers and sail/power cruisers. Participants will be able to submit questions in advance of the Q & A session. This is a 2 hour class. (4pm – 6pm)
Margaret Pommert
Captain Margaret Pommert is a popular Pacific Northwest boating instructor, teaching on both sail and power boats. She serves on the Board of Directors of The Sailing Foundation, which developed the Lifesling, and organizes their annual US Sailing International Offshore Safety at Sea with Hands-on Training in Seattle and Portland areas. Margaret chairs the US Sailing Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal Selection and Awards Committee, a national award which recognizes a significant accomplishment in seamanship which has saved a life, and collects case studies in rescues for analysis by the US Sailing Safety-at-Sea Committee. She's an appointed member of WA State Boating Program Advisory Council, providing recommendations to the program on ways to enhance boating safety statewide for all types of recreational boating. When not working as a skipper/instructor, she's active in the local boating community, racing, cruising, and promoting Safety at Sea and Northwest Women in Boating.
4:00 pm
Foam Decking: Patterning & Installing Stage #1 Concourse North
Dan Kaseler
Looking to upgrade your deck for grip, or cosmetics? Learn how to make a perfect pattern for any of the leading manufacturers. We will also review best practices for installation of various peel and stick products.
Dan Kaseler
Founder and CEO of Raptor Deck.
5:00 pm
Docking Sailboats in NW Waters Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Huston
A discussion of docking techniques for sailboats, slanted to fit our local docks and conditions. Starts with getting the boat and crew ready to dock and ends with a series of tips. In the middle we review common errors, boat maneuvering and line handling.
Mike Huston
Over 50 years of boating experience, both sail and power. Have been instructing both sail and power cruising classes for the 20 years. Currently one of the owners or San Juan Sailing and Yachting in Bellingham.
February 8, 2023
11:00 am
Marine Canvas for the Do-It-Yourselfer Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Reese
Are you interested in creating, repairing, and maintaining your boat’s marine canvas? In DIY marine canvas, we look at the projects suitable for the do-it-yourselfer and the tools and materials needed to create attractive and functional canvas products for any vessel.
Mike Reese
Mike is a life-long boater and 30-year veteran of the marine industry. His passion for sailing and powerboating has inspired him to learn as much about boats and marine systems as possible. Mike is a professionally trained Marine Surveyor and Marine Canvas Fabricator. He has seven ABYC Certifications, including Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Systems, Diesel Engines, AC/Refrigeration, and more. In previous roles, Mike has managed sailboat rigging shops and installed & serviced marine systems. He has also worked for many of the industry’s premier manufacturers and suppliers of heating systems, marine hardware, running gear components, and propellers. When not helping his clients, Mike and his wife Linda can be found cruising in Northwest waters on their 40-foot trawler or racing around the buoys on their 30-foot sailboat.
12:00 pm
Do you Really Know the Rules of the Road? Stage #1 Concourse North
John Sheppard
Learn the COLREGS from a working mariner. We’ll cover Rules of the Road basics, but also dive into more detail on the more nuanced rules. Topics covered will include conduct of vessels in proximity to one another, making passing arrangements, proper sound signals, lights, Rule 10 and how it effects recreational boaters, and more.
John Sheppard
At the age of sixteen, John and a friend impulsively pooled their money and bought a beat up Hobie Beach Cat. It ignited a life-long journey for all things sailing and maritime. That beat up cat was only the first of many boats, from racing dinghies to blue water cruisers. John is grateful to have boating in his life, it led him to his closest friends and greatest adventures. John is a merchant mariner, has sailed hundreds of races, crossed oceans, cruised many of the world's most beautiful locations, and taught sailing for a decade. Sharing his passion and knowledge is one of his greatest joys in life. John holds a USCG Masters License with an ITC 500GT endorsement. He and his wife live aboard their 51' sailing yacht and spend much of their time cruising the incredible waters of the Pacific Northwest.
1:00 pm
Weather Strategies—Making the Go- No-Go Decision
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Mark Bunzel
Changing weather is one of the things most boaters and their crews fear most. Usually it is not deadly, but it can be downright scary when a pleasant day of boating turns ugly. Knowing the basics can help you interpret the weather and make a good go or no-go decision. This course will take you through the basics of how to understand the information available and how to combine it with tide and current information to determine the sea conditions. The class will use actual examples and gather weather data from the internet, cell phone and VHF radio. Software apps will be used and their shortcomings will be reviewed. They say timing is everything, and a few hours difference with the change of current can make all difference in the world. We will use a checklist approach where you can create your own system to create an understanding of the weather that fits your vessel and crew. This is a 2 hour class. (1pm – 3pm)
Mark Bunzel
Mark Bunzel is the Editor and Publisher of the Waggoner Cruising Guide, long considered the "bible" for Northwest and Inside Passage cruising. Each season he cruises the Inside Passage from Olympia to Ketchikan to update and book and provide stories.
1:00 pm
20 Favorite Boating Safety Innovations Stage #1 Concourse North
Margaret Pommert
Boating is a relatively safe sport, and most hazards can be controlled with proper equipment and training. Margaret will discuss innovations in a variety of areas, including rescuing crew overboard, navigation, first aid afloat, fire safety, weather awareness, and emergency communications. The focus is not “bleeding edge” technology, but innovative tools proven effective by Pacific NW boaters.
Margaret Pommert
Captain Margaret Pommert is a popular Pacific Northwest boating instructor, teaching on both sail and power boats. She serves on the Board of Directors of The Sailing Foundation, which developed the Lifesling, and organizes their annual US Sailing International Offshore Safety at Sea with Hands-on Training in Seattle and Portland areas. Margaret chairs the US Sailing Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal Selection and Awards Committee, a national award which recognizes a significant accomplishment in seamanship which has saved a life, and collects case studies in rescues for analysis by the US Sailing Safety-at-Sea Committee. She's an appointed member of WA State Boating Program Advisory Council, providing recommendations to the program on ways to enhance boating safety statewide for all types of recreational boating. When not working as a skipper/instructor, she's active in the local boating community, racing, cruising, and promoting Safety at Sea and Northwest Women in Boating.
2:00 pm
From Four Walls to a Hull: Transitioning to Living/Working Aboard Stage #1 Concourse North
John Sheppard
Our family of four and two dogs moved aboard 5 years ago. Come learn about our hard won successes and failures during our transition from our nuclear family home to a boat. We’ll cover what it’s like to live in this fun quirky way, tips, tricks, costs, and more. Your friends will think you’re nuts, but once you do it you will never look back.
John Sheppard
At the age of sixteen, John and a friend impulsively pooled their money and bought a beat up Hobie Beach Cat. It ignited a life-long journey for all things sailing and maritime. That beat up cat was only the first of many boats, from racing dinghies to blue water cruisers. John is grateful to have boating in his life, it led him to his closest friends and greatest adventures. John is a merchant mariner, has sailed hundreds of races, crossed oceans, cruised many of the world's most beautiful locations, and taught sailing for a decade. Sharing his passion and knowledge is one of his greatest joys in life. John holds a USCG Masters License with an ITC 500GT endorsement. He and his wife live aboard their 51' sailing yacht and spend much of their time cruising the incredible waters of the Pacific Northwest.
3:00 pm
Super Power Dogs, On-Water Canine Rescue Demo at Bell Harbor – Wednesday, 3pm (Bell Harbor Marina) Bell Harbor Marina
Maria E. Gray
Water rescue dogs will visit the 2023 Seattle Boat Show to demonstrate on-water safety lessons! Newfoundland, Oakley and Angel, from the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, a nonprofit organization that breeds and trains dogs to perform water rescues, will be at Bell Harbor Marina to share with showgoers their impressive cold water rescue skills and help remind boaters the importance of on on-water safety and preparedness. Newfoundland Dogs, as well as Labrador Retrievers and certain other breeds, were specifically bred to rescue people in the water; when this natural instinct is enhanced via clear training and bonding techniques with a human handler, the dog/human team becomes beyond compare as a rescue entity for people in danger. (Bell Harbor Marina)
Maria E. Gray
Founder, President, and Head Instructor (AACWR) American Academy of Canine Water Rescue
3:00 pm
Important Information at Your Fingertips: There’s an App for That! Stage #1 Concourse North
Trevor MacLachlan
With all the new technology available to to purchase for your boat, you probably already have one of the most powerful and easy to use tools in your pocket! From detailed navigation information, route planning, weather conditions and forecasting, commercial traffic identification to open pump-out stations, locating nearby fuel dock locations with the latest pricing, fishery closures and more, we’ll review some of the easiest and most powerful apps available for boaters today.
Trevor MacLachlan
Trevor MacLachlan founded Seattle Seafaring in 2012. He holds a USCG 100 Ton Master’s license and has over 35 years sailing and power yacht experience in the Pacific Northwest and worldwide. Having literally spent his entire life sailing, Trevor is competent on virtually any sailing or power vessel from tiny sailing dinghies to over 85′ luxury yachts. He has circumnavigated Vancouver Island twice and runs deliveries up and down the coast. A cruising highlight so far has been the two years cruising from Seattle down through the Panama Canal into the Caribbean with his young family aboard the Taswell 43 “Lea Scotia”, the original yacht in his fleet. Trevor provides professional training, consulting and yacht deliveries worldwide on both sail and power, large and small.
4:00 pm
Being Connected at Sea
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Doug Miller
Doug Miller (President, Onboard Wireless) will provide a comprehensive overview of ways to stay connected while on your boat. Whether you just want a better signal for your cell phone in the San Juans, or you want a boat Wi-Fi network with internet access in the remote reaches of Alaska, or you want to use Starlink on your boat, this seminar will help you choose the right equipment and data plans. This is a 2 hour class. (4pm – 6pm)
Doug Miller
Doug Miller founded Onboard Wireless, a company focused on Internet connectivity solutions for boaters, in 2021. Previously, Doug was the owner of Milltech Marine, an AIS solution specialist he founded in in 2006. Doug sold Milltech Marine in early 2022. Doug began sailing at an early age and has always had a passion for combining the thrill of sailing with a love for high tech toys. Doug and his wife Karin use “Naiad”, their Hunter Passage 420 sailboat, as a testbed for many of the products that are offered by Onboard Wireless.
4:00 pm
Saltwater Structure Strategies Stage #1 Concourse North
Tom Nelson
Today’s anglers have the unique and unprecedented advantage of 24-hour access to tremendously accurate underwater cartography. Hyper-accurate electronic charts have never been better and on-board MFD’s (Multi-Function-Displays) are likewise improving, providing personal depth recording and becoming more affordable. Somehow lost in this technological “arms race” of marine electronics is a basic systematic approach to utilize these tools to find fish faster. Using the charts that we can now access on our phones, tablets and our boats we can now use the knowledge of underwater geology to unlock the fishes biology!
Tom Nelson
Tom "Nelly" Nelson has spent over a half-century on the waters, uplands and mountain ranges of his beloved home, the vast Pacific Northwest. For the past decade and a half, Nelly has been the voice of Seattle Saturday morning outdoor radio where his lifetime of hunting & fishing experience and his communication skills have been put to the test. In 2019, Salmon & Steelhead Journal named Nelly to it's list of "The 25 Most Influential Anglers In The West." From his childhood on the rivers and bays of Puget Sound to the salmon, herring and charter fishing fleets of Alaska, Tom has taken full advantage of all that the challenging outdoor classroom has to offer. Tom's education as a fisherman continued at the University of Washington's School of Fisheries, earning a Degree in Fisheries Biology. Nelly was subsequently employed by the school's Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I.) as a Research Assistant for several Alaskan salmon research projects allowing Tom to explore the Nushagak, Chignik, and Lake Illiamna regions. "Nelly's" fishing career has included guiding and writing for Salmon Trout Steelheader, Salmon and Steelhead Journal, Fishing & Hunting News, Washington Game & Fish, The REEL News as well as several websites.
5:00 pm
Green Technology is a Game Changer: Sailing Offshore With & the Coho Ho Ho Stage #1 Concourse
Doug Lombard
Beyond the Coho Ho Ho. Benefits of cruising rallies and green technology. Sailing a Hans Christian Christina 43 for 21 days Honolulu to Seattle with the benefit of Solar panels, lithium ion batteries, water maker, and Windvane steering, weather routing and satellite communication. Doug and Devon will share their experience and share how we can better support marine biology of the ocean.
Doug Lombard
oug has been on and around boats since he was five years old. From Lake Washington to cruising the San Juan Islands as a youth Doug gravitated towards the racing circuit. He has had the honor of racing on some top notch Seattle area boats winning Seattle yacht club boat of the year and 48 N. number one ranking on multiple boats. Doug has been the manager of a boat yard, Sailed deliveries on both coast, teaches ASA and RPBA From Seattle to the Caribbean and currently captains an 80 foot Ketch to Alaska and back. Doug is the founder of the CohoHoHo sailing rally and proud father of two amazing daughters. Youngest Devon is a licensed captain, marine biologist And Doug's co-speaker
February 9, 2023
11:00 am
Triple Threat Salmon Angling Stage #1 Concourse North
Tom Nelson
There are three basic salmon fishing techniques that all anglers can identify themselves as: Moochers, jiggers or trollers. While there’s nothing wrong with being a specialist, the complete angler must also be aware that there are times and tides each day when one technique will out-produce all others. In this seminar, “Nelly” will teach you the basics of each method and describe the conditions that ultimately indicate the use of a particular technique!
Tom Nelson
Tom "Nelly" Nelson has spent over a half-century on the waters, uplands and mountain ranges of his beloved home, the vast Pacific Northwest. For the past decade and a half, Nelly has been the voice of Seattle Saturday morning outdoor radio where his lifetime of hunting & fishing experience and his communication skills have been put to the test. In 2019, Salmon & Steelhead Journal named Nelly to it's list of "The 25 Most Influential Anglers In The West." From his childhood on the rivers and bays of Puget Sound to the salmon, herring and charter fishing fleets of Alaska, Tom has taken full advantage of all that the challenging outdoor classroom has to offer. Tom's education as a fisherman continued at the University of Washington's School of Fisheries, earning a Degree in Fisheries Biology. Nelly was subsequently employed by the school's Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I.) as a Research Assistant for several Alaskan salmon research projects allowing Tom to explore the Nushagak, Chignik, and Lake Illiamna regions. "Nelly's" fishing career has included guiding and writing for Salmon Trout Steelheader, Salmon and Steelhead Journal, Fishing & Hunting News, Washington Game & Fish, The REEL News as well as several websites.
12:00 pm
Boat Dog Training Advice, Ask the Experts – Thursday Dogs on Deck @ (Booth: West 80) ALL DAY Booth: West 80
Oakley & Angel (Dogs)
It’s never to late to start, or continue, training your dog. A well trained companion makes boating with your dog safer and more enjoyable! Trainers from the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue are available to help answer your dog training questions, and share the incredible training and lifesaving skills of their working dogs. (Booth: West 80)
Oakley & Angel (Dogs)
Angel has worked on base with the USCG sector Boston and with the Italian Coast Guard on multiple occasions and has trained with the SICS in Italy extensively for the past 7 years. He has deployed from multiple sizes of watercraft from a zodiac RHIB, row boats, SUP and 45’ Coast Guard Response boats. He has trained in and has performed a helocast from the ASTAR (AS350) and TWINSTAR (AS355) helicopters. Angel works well in all environments, from rural to urban.
Oakley is a qualified Italian School of Water Rescue dog and trained at the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue in land, water, and air deployment rescues. 4 Helicopter Helocast jumps (AS355 helo) He also has hisTherapy Dog Certification and aTask Trained Mobility Assistance Service Animal. Oakley has worked on base with the USCG sector Boston and with the Italian Coast Guard.
She has deployed from multiple sizes of water craft from a zodiac RHIB, row boats, jet ski’s and 45’ Coast Guard Response boats. She has trained in and helocast from the ASTAR (AS350) and TWINSTAR (AS355)helicopters.
12:00 pm
Anchoring for NW Waters Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Huston
A full discussion of anchoring in our local waters. Just enough theory to help things make sense with practical tips mixed in. Discussion includes needed equipment and how to use it. Then moves on to enhancements to basic anchoring, such as stern ties and rafting. A set of reprints from 48 North articles on anchoring will be available.
Mike Huston
Over 50 years of boating experience, both sail and power. Have been instructing both sail and power cruising classes for the 20 years. Currently one of the owners or San Juan Sailing and Yachting in Bellingham.
1:00 pm
Docking and Anchoring – Making it Easy!
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Carolyn "Ace" Spragg
Docking and Anchoring do not have to be fearful events when boating. There is a step by step practical approach that can work for you and your crew. Ace Spragg, of the Northwest Maritime Center, will take you through the steps of how you can successfully dock in different wind conditions. Next, she will step through her tried and true method to anchoring. With her approach and technique, you and your crew can sleep with confidence with your anchor securely hooked on the bottom.
Carolyn "Ace" Spragg
Carolyn Ace Spragg grew up on the Chesapeake Bay, messing about in boats. Ace has her USCG 50 ton Master's License, International Sail and Power Association Yachtmaster Offshore teaching certification, US Sailing teaching certification, and is a US Maritime Academy Captain's License Instructor. She's skippered her boat to Hawaii and back with all-women crews. She's the Sailing Director of the Northwest Maritime Center and also speaks at various seminars on Docking, Anchoring, Navigation, Tides and Currents and Trip Planning.
1:00 pm
Using Marine Electronics to Target Trophy fish in the Pacific Northwest Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Surdyk
Mike will give an in depth look into the latest in greatest from Raymarine electronics, how to choose a system, understanding sonar, radar and navigation. What to look for when fishing for salmon, bottom-fish and tuna as well tip and tricks learned over the years.
Mike Surdyk
Mike born and raised in Snohomish, WA and has been fishing the PNW for over 20 years. He's been the west coast sales manager for Raymarine for 10 years has seen the marine electronics world evolve to what it is today. Mike enjoys sharing his experiences and knowledge with new boaters as well veteran fisherman. Fishing is a way of life for him and has been a part of hi family since he was a kid. Let’s talk fishing and electronics!
2:00 pm
All You Need To know About “Drop-In” Lithium Batteries Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Beemer
Upgrading to lithium batteries makes sense for many cruisers and the benefits are great. Over the past 10 years we have learned a lot about using these batteries in the marine environment. The latest buzz word is “Drop-In” lithium batteries. Drop-In really means the batteries have a built-in Battery Management System BMS and are often marketed as a simple replacement for your current lead-based batteries.
Mike Beemer
Michael Beemer is the department chair for Skagit Valley College’s marine maintenance and repair program. Michael has been presenting and teaching professionally for almost 20 years and holds a master’s degree in education. At the college he teaches all the systems courses, including ABYC certifications. He and his wife have cruised extensively from Anacortes to southeast Alaska for many years on their motor-sailor. In the cruising community, Michael is well known as “The Boat Doctor” who can diagnose and fix almost anything on a vessel. Some of the many topics he has done include: diesel engines, electrical systems, solar, new battery technologies, extended inside passage cruising, and more.
3:00 pm
Barkley Sound & Beyond: Conquering the West Coast of Vancouver Island Stage #1 Concourse North
Elsie Hulsizer
Elsie Hulsizer, author of “Voyages to Windward: Sailing Adventures on Vancouver Island West Coast” and veteran of over 20 trips to the west coast of Vancouver Island will show you how to meet the challenges of wind, waves, fog and rocks to safely cruise to Barkley Sound and beyond and to enjoy the region’s intriguing history, people, and scenery.
Elsie Hulsizer
Elsie Hulsizer is the author of "Voyages to Windward: Sailing Adventures on the West Coast of Vancouver Island" and "Glaciers, Bears and Totems: Sailing in Search of the Real Southeast Alaska." She and her husband have cruised extensively in Northwest Waters including 7 trips to SE Alaska, two trips to Haida Gwaii and 20+ trips to the West Coast of Vancouver Island. In 1978, they sailed from Boston to Seattle via the Panama Canal and Hawaii in a 32ft Chesapeake 32 sloop. Elsie has a master's degree in oceanography and a certificate in fine art photography and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Wooden Boats.
4:00 pm
North British Columbia
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Lorena & Leonard Landon
Northern British Columbia is undoubtedly a strong competitor to the attractions of Southeast Alaska. Johnstone Strait, The Broughtons, and the North BC Coast have as much to offer as Alaska when it comes to remote anchorages, scenery, and wildlife. If you have an entire summer to dedicate to this treasure trove, or can add a couple more months to your trip north, this area is a destination in and of itself.
Join us to discover how to navigate the rapids and get the most out of Johnstone Strait before visiting the family-run resort destinations of The Broughtons. Did you know there is more than one way to round Cape Caution to access the remote world of Northern BC? You will discover hot springs, native villages, beaches, waterfalls, and a ghost town, along with an untold number of remote anchorages. Come and be inspired by the beautiful Fiordlands of British Columbia, and the remote waterways behind Nakwakto Rapids. Careful route planning through this area, be it the more frequently traveled Inside Passage, or the less traveled Outside Passage, you will experience the adventures of remote Northern BC. This is a 2-hour class (4pm to 6pm).
Lorena & Leonard Landon
Lorena and Leonard Landon have been boating Pacific Northwest waters for 35+ years and have logged over 35,000 miles on West Coast waters from Manzanillo, Mexico to Yakutat, Alaska with their 46-foot DeFever. As Managing Editors of the Waggoner Cruising Guide, they regularly cruise the waters of Southeast Alaska, West Coast Vancouver Island, Northern B.C., and Haida Gwaii in addition to their home waters of Washington State. They publish articles, provide presentations, work on marina consulting projects, and are co-hosts for Waggoner webcasts. Leonard’s nautical skills are complemented by his aircraft pilot experience. Lorena previously authored Cleats & Eats, a series of restaurant guidebooks for boaters. Lorena also served on the Boating Programs Advisory Committee for the State of Washington’s RCO for eight years.
4:00 pm
Internet Everywhere: Satellite Internet in the Pacific Northwest and Beyond Stage #1 Concourse North
Richard Anderson
Looking to bridge the gap between marina Wi-Fi and cell towers to stay connected at all times? This seminar will cover the satellite options available today and, in the future, including Starlink, as well as how the region, geography, and vessel itself affect the performance of each option. Special emphasis on options for the Salish Sea and SE Alaska as well as options for global explorers.
Richard Anderson
Richard Anderson, a lifelong technologist and licensed USCG captain, and his wife Devon Thurtle Anderson, an accomplished attorney, quit their career jobs in 2017 and took their two young daughters on an 18 month cruising adventure from the northern fjords of SE Alaska to the lush jungles of Costa Rica with many stops in between. During that time they both acquired and operated Sea-Tech Systems, and also restarted Devon's accounting company and law firm, all while still travelling by boat. Richard combines his considerable technology experience with real world cruising, general travelling, and business operating experiences to help other cruisers learn about the realities of staying connected from a boat. Since 2018, Richard has helped many cruisers set up their boats with communications systems including simple HF radio as well as broadband satellite at sea, and everything in between.
5:00 pm
How to Inspect Your Next Boat Stage #1 Concourse North
Mike Reese
Are you buying a used boat? This seminar can help narrow your list and give you valuable information to negotiate the best price for your next boat. Learn how to inspect boats objectively using your senses, a few tools, and a systematic approach. Your inspection can also help get the most out of a professional survey by giving you a list of issues to discuss with the experts.
Mike Reese
Mike is a life-long boater and 30-year veteran of the marine industry. His passion for sailing and powerboating has inspired him to learn as much about boats and marine systems as possible. Mike is a professionally trained Marine Surveyor and Marine Canvas Fabricator. He has seven ABYC Certifications, including Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Systems, Diesel Engines, AC/Refrigeration, and more. In previous roles, Mike has managed sailboat rigging shops and installed & serviced marine systems. He has also worked for many of the industry’s premier manufacturers and suppliers of heating systems, marine hardware, running gear components, and propellers. When not helping his clients, Mike and his wife Linda can be found cruising in Northwest waters on their 40-foot trawler or racing around the buoys on their 30-foot sailboat.
February 10, 2023
12:00 pm
Straits Halibut How and Where Stage #1 Concourse North
Joe Pyburn
If there’s a species that is at the top, continuing to challenge and elude anglers regionally, the pacific halibut in the Straits of Juan de Fuca leads the pack. Limited days, spring tides, epically vast structure, swift currents and yes, the weather all conspire to limit the amount of this amazing, tasty and healthful white meat that reaches our tables. Join Joey Pyburn of Ray’s Baits and The Outdoor Line Radio show as he unlocks this fishery from a tackle, tactical and topographic perspective. Joey Pyburn will cover anchoring, drifting, reading water, current flow concepts and the all-important durable bait presentations that will produce a halibut-attracting scent trail but not be stripped by the first strike. This will be a special season for halibut as our days on the water and catch quota will be increasing to the largest levels in a decade!
Joe Pyburn
Joe Pyburn brings a lifetime of hunting and fishing experience to the Outdoor Line radio show. He grew up in the "Ray's Bait" family, one of the largest fishing bait processors in the Pacific Northwest. Joe's got decades of experience plying the Puget Sound for salmon and the banks of Washington's famed rivers for steelhead. That knowledge led him to a job guiding anglers at a destination lodge in Alaska just out of high school and eventually to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula where he guided for trophy rainbow trout for a season. His hunting knowledge runs just as deep and there are few hunters in the northwest with as much backcountry hunting experience as Joe. He's taken countless mule deer and elk in the backcountry of Washington, Idaho, and Montana and in the fall that's where you're likely to find him, in the backcountry. When he's not on the Outdoor Line radio show you'll find him at the helm of Ray's Bait processing and distributing bait of all kinds to tackle shops and anglers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
1:00 pm
Cruising SE Alaska, Part 1
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Lorena & Leonard Landon
The ultimate Northwest boating destination; Southeast Alaska. The dream is here. You’ve arrived in Ketchikan. Now, where to go, what to expect, and how to prepare. Beyond cruising the most popular “trapline” destinations, Leonard and Lorena Landon, Managing Editors of the Waggoner Cruising Guide, will share how to explore the lesser traveled destinations. Topics include: trip planning; routing alternatives; what to expect in the way of weather, wind, & seas; anchorages & moorages; wildlife expectations; hot springs; ruins & relics; boardwalk villages; water & provisions; fuel & repairs; print & online references; VHF radio issues; communications/internet access via Cell/WiFi & other methods; information on permits and cruising in Glacier Bay National Park, LeConte Glacier, and other favorite locations like: Anan Bay Bear Observatory, Elfin Cove, and Hoonah; as well as off the beaten track locations like Yakutat and Point Baker. You’ll likely want more than one cruising season in Southeast Alaska for the many adventure opportunities in this glorious cruising ground. This seminar will help you make your choices and start your dream planning. In this two-part presentation, the Landon’s will cover preparation and destinations from Ketchikan through Juneau in the first half and destinations from Lynn Canal to Hydaburg and some of the lesser visited places in the second half. This is a 2 hour class. (1pm – 3pm)
Lorena & Leonard Landon
Lorena and Leonard Landon have been boating Pacific Northwest waters for 35+ years and have logged over 35,000 miles on West Coast waters from Manzanillo, Mexico to Yakutat, Alaska with their 46-foot DeFever. As Managing Editors of the Waggoner Cruising Guide, they regularly cruise the waters of Southeast Alaska, West Coast Vancouver Island, Northern B.C., and Haida Gwaii in addition to their home waters of Washington State. They publish articles, provide presentations, work on marina consulting projects, and are co-hosts for Waggoner webcasts. Leonard’s nautical skills are complemented by his aircraft pilot experience. Lorena previously authored Cleats & Eats, a series of restaurant guidebooks for boaters. Lorena also served on the Boating Programs Advisory Committee for the State of Washington’s RCO for eight years.
1:00 pm
Salmon Fishing the Coast & Puget Sound Stage #1 Concourse North
John Keizer
The ocean off the Washington coast was the hot bed of king salmon fishing last year and looks to be a repeat again this summer season. Capt John will cover how to locate salmon in the ocean and productive ocean fishing methods. The seminar will also cover top salmon locations in Puget Sound and the different techniques for each of the areas.
John Keizer
Capt. John Keizer, creator of Saltpatrol.com and a well-known outdoor writer for local fishing magazines, newspapers, but is best known as the Captain of the Team Lowrance boat 'Salt Patrol' and is a professional angler. John is regular seen on Angler West TV fishing for NW species or fishing at destinations around the world. He has passion for introducing new anglers to the sport. Capt. John also hosts the Salt Patrol Billfish Tournament in Baja Mexico each October with 80-100 NW anglers and family's members attending.
2:00 pm
Cruising the Inside Passage through BC to Alaska Stage #1 Concourse
Wendy Hinman
Highlights cruising to Glacier Bay and back. These areas feature glaciers, waterfalls, and hot springs; as well as wildlife including whales, bears, otters and more; and a native culture like no other. Get a taste for the possibilities and how to make the most of the time you have to enjoy them. This talk includes favorite spots, tips for trip planning, resources available, and potential pitfalls.
Wendy Hinman
Wendy Hinman has published articles in a variety of publications and is the award-winning author of two hit books: Tightwads on the Loose and Sea Trials. She is a regular speaker at yacht clubs and boat shows around the country and her presentations are filled with examples and infused with humor. She grew up sailing and has cruised and raced in venues around the globe in all sorts of boats as skipper and crew, sometimes winning. She spent seven years at sea, sailing 34,000 miles aboard a small, simple boat and learned the most essential ingredient aboard is a good sense of humor. She and her husband are currently building a boat for more cruising adventures. www.wendyhinman.com
3:00 pm
Deep Water Chinook Trolling Stage #1 Concourse North
John Keizer
The Washington coast off the ports of Neah Bay, Westport and Ilwaco has seen some of the best runs of large jumbo size king salmon in years. Capt. John will cover how to fish these kings in 300-400ft of water with downriggers and special techniques you need to target these big kings.
John Keizer
Capt. John Keizer, creator of Saltpatrol.com and a well-known outdoor writer for local fishing magazines, newspapers, but is best known as the Captain of the Team Lowrance boat 'Salt Patrol' and is a professional angler. John is regular seen on Angler West TV fishing for NW species or fishing at destinations around the world. He has passion for introducing new anglers to the sport. Capt. John also hosts the Salt Patrol Billfish Tournament in Baja Mexico each October with 80-100 NW anglers and family's members attending.
4:00 pm
Becoming Captain: What it takes to EARN Your Captain’s License Stage #1 Concourse North
Skip Anderson
A thorough exploration of all the elements involved for those interested in receiving an USCG Captain’s License, including USCG-approved professional grade training, sufficient sea service afloat, your physical fitness, your societal suitability, and first aid / CPR requirements. In addition, the wide range of job possibilities will be discussed, revealing future paths / potential for licensees.
Skip Anderson
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Skip earned his B.S. degree in Operations Analysis. He was also a letter-winner on the USNA Varsity Sailing Team and went on to compete in several national and North American championships, and one Olympic trials. He earned his Master of Science degree in Command Control and Communications from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Captain Anderson's naval career spanned twenty-four years, including service aboard three destroyers, one frigate, three aircraft carriers, and a battleship. His service at sea spanned the globe, to all continents, through over thirty countries and countless harbors.
4:00 pm
Cruising SE Alaska, Part 2
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Lorena & Leonard Landon
The ultimate Northwest boating destination; Southeast Alaska. The dream is here. You’ve arrived in Ketchikan. Now, where to go, what to expect, and how to prepare. Beyond cruising the most popular “trapline” destinations, Leonard and Lorena Landon, Managing Editors of the Waggoner Cruising Guide, will share how to explore the lesser traveled destinations. Topics include: trip planning; routing alternatives; what to expect in the way of weather, wind, & seas; anchorages & moorages; wildlife expectations; hot springs; ruins & relics; boardwalk villages; water & provisions; fuel & repairs; print & online references; VHF radio issues; communications/internet access via Cell/WiFi & other methods; information on permits and cruising in Glacier Bay National Park, LeConte Glacier, and other favorite locations like: Anan Bay Bear Observatory, Elfin Cove, and Hoonah; as well as off the beaten track locations like Yakutat and Point Baker. You’ll likely want more than one cruising season in Southeast Alaska for the many adventure opportunities in this glorious cruising ground. This seminar will help you make your choices and start your dream planning. In this two-part presentation, the Landons will cover preparation and destinations from Ketchikan through Juneau in the first half and destinations from Lynn Canal to Hydaburg and some of the lesser visited places in the second half. This is a 2 hour class. (4pm – 6pm)
Lorena & Leonard Landon
Lorena and Leonard Landon have been boating Pacific Northwest waters for 35+ years and have logged over 35,000 miles on West Coast waters from Manzanillo, Mexico to Yakutat, Alaska with their 46-foot DeFever. As Managing Editors of the Waggoner Cruising Guide, they regularly cruise the waters of Southeast Alaska, West Coast Vancouver Island, Northern B.C., and Haida Gwaii in addition to their home waters of Washington State. They publish articles, provide presentations, work on marina consulting projects, and are co-hosts for Waggoner webcasts. Leonard’s nautical skills are complemented by his aircraft pilot experience. Lorena previously authored Cleats & Eats, a series of restaurant guidebooks for boaters. Lorena also served on the Boating Programs Advisory Committee for the State of Washington’s RCO for eight years.
5:00 pm
Unlocking the New Changing Requirements for Cruising in Mexico Stage #1 Concourse
Chuck Skewes
With ever changing requirements and inconsistency in ports of call. It is essential to have the correct information and requirements to make your arrival as seamless as possible.
Chuck Skewes
Chuck Skewes is a veteran of offshore racing and cruising. He has sailed across the Pacific 13 times and countless times to Mexico both racing and cruising. He has participated in 6 Baja Ha-Ha's and is a regular contributor to sailing magazines. Chuck owns two Ullman Sails Lofts and sails more miles per year than he drives his car.
6:00 pm
Squidding in Seattle by Boat: Your Guide to Being Successful on the Water Stage #1 Concourse North
Paul Kim
Learn about the history, tackle, tactics and how to rig your vessel for safety on the water. Learn how to identify squid using your electronics and how to rig up and present your gear for optimal success. Capt. Paul Kim is an avid fisherman and loves to squid fishing with his family and friends. You’ll learn some tips, tricks, and secrets by attending this seminar.
Paul Kim
Capt. Paul Kim grew up in Colorado as an avid fly angler. His love for the salt began 23 years ago when we moved to Seattle to chase salmon. He owns and operates FishPNW guide service and specializes in Squid, Salmon, Bottomfish, and Shellfish.
6:30 pm
Glacier Bay National Park: What’s Staying & What’s Changing?
Stage #2 Concourse South – Free Boat Show University Class
Philip Hooge
Philip Hooge, Superintendent of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, and Sara Doyle, Outdoor Recreational Planner, share an overview of the private boating experience in Glacier Bay and walk boaters through the permitting process needed to enter the Park. The presentation will include a discussion regarding the new Marine Management Plan outlining proposed changes to access the Park and visitation regulations, and the anticipated roll out for these future changes. Bring your questions and join the Glacier Bay experts. Whether you’re planning to visit Glacier Bay National Park this cruising season or in 2024, you won’t want to miss this informative session. Visiting Glacier Bay National Park by private boat is a dream for many boaters and a special experience. Setting expectations and understanding the permitting process makes the experience that much more enjoyable. This is a 1 hour free Boat Show University Class (6:30pm – 7:30pm)
Philip Hooge
Superintendent of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
7:00 pm
Breaking Down Saltwater Fishing Opportunities Stage #1 Concourse North
Tommy Donlin
New to the Seattle Boat Show! Tommy will take a a look at all opportunities in the state, month by month, and detailing those fisheries-when they peak, where to go, what to use.
Tommy Donlin
Capt. Tommy Donlin has more than 30 years of experience fishing the waters from Alaska to Costa Rica and beyond. He chases everything that swims off the Washington coast, including tuna, salmon, rockfish, lingcod, halibut, crab and shrimp. Tommy spends countless hours on the water perfecting his strategies and skill sets. Catch him on Fish Hunt Northwest, airing weekly on Root Sports as well as YouTube and Facebook, where he shares his journey and successes.
February 11, 2023
10:30 am
Managing Power on Board: Balancing Energy Needs
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Mike Beemer
There are many new choices for generating and managing power on your boat – solar cells, fuel cells, high-output alternators and of course – a genset. Did you know a genset on your boat is the most expensive power you can buy? Our needs for power on our boats have became higher. Computers, tablets and iPhone chargers, microwave ovens, music systems and even the Instant Pot may be expected to run off a modern boat’s electrical system and many vessels don’t have a “balanced electrical system” that performs properly, has reliability, and is designed to last. This course is designed to help you understand how to design, check, maintain, and upgrade your electrical system to match the power requirements on your boat. First, we will take a look at the typical power demands a modern electrical system supports. Do you know how much your microwave draws from your inverter and storage system? We will total up the electrical draw different systems require. Next, we will cover the size of your power storage system, and how to monitor and keep it charged. We then will wrap up the seminar by providing other ways to produce energy and their cost: high-output alternators & battery chargers, solar options & controllers, new fuel cells, and even wind energy. After taking this course, you will become the ‘master’ of the energy equation onboard your cruising vessel.(10:30am – 12:30pm)
Mike Beemer
Michael Beemer is the department chair for Skagit Valley College’s marine maintenance and repair program. Michael has been presenting and teaching professionally for almost 20 years and holds a master’s degree in education. At the college he teaches all the systems courses, including ABYC certifications. He and his wife have cruised extensively from Anacortes to southeast Alaska for many years on their motor-sailor. In the cruising community, Michael is well known as “The Boat Doctor” who can diagnose and fix almost anything on a vessel. Some of the many topics he has done include: diesel engines, electrical systems, solar, new battery technologies, extended inside passage cruising, and more.
11:00 am
Lingcod 101 Stage #1 Concourse North
Joe Pyburn
Toothy, tackle-busting and tasty, lingcod can be found in virtually all areas of Puget Sound. When the season opens on May first will you be ready? Joey Pyburn of Ray’s Baits and the Outdoor Line Radio Show is here to point you in the right direction! Joey will walk you through live bait, hardware and rigged bait presentations from the point of the hook right to the rod butt! From finding lings in structure, efficiently fishing for and cleanly filleting your catch, this seminar has something for everyone from the new lingcod novice to the expert angler. Joey Pyburn will cover the techniques that each type of structure requires from the sandy, mixed rock of Possession Bar to the reefs of the San Juan Islands, the Tacoma Narrows to Neah Bay, Pyburn has fished it all successfully. Pyburn’s experience and insight will bolster your confidence and your new found positive fishing attitude will ensure that your next outing will produce some spring lings in your fishbox!
Joe Pyburn
Joe Pyburn brings a lifetime of hunting and fishing experience to the Outdoor Line radio show. He grew up in the "Ray's Bait" family, one of the largest fishing bait processors in the Pacific Northwest. Joe's got decades of experience plying the Puget Sound for salmon and the banks of Washington's famed rivers for steelhead. That knowledge led him to a job guiding anglers at a destination lodge in Alaska just out of high school and eventually to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula where he guided for trophy rainbow trout for a season. His hunting knowledge runs just as deep and there are few hunters in the northwest with as much backcountry hunting experience as Joe. He's taken countless mule deer and elk in the backcountry of Washington, Idaho, and Montana and in the fall that's where you're likely to find him, in the backcountry. When he's not on the Outdoor Line radio show you'll find him at the helm of Ray's Bait processing and distributing bait of all kinds to tackle shops and anglers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
12:00 pm
Spring Straits Chinook Stage #1 Concourse North
Tom Nelson
The month of March not only brings the end of winter but also our first real opportunity at mature chinook also known as “springers”. Sekiu and the East Straits of Juan de Fuca; also known as Marine Areas 5 & 6 open on March first and the chinook fishing can be fast from the start! While the area is simple geographically, the tides and currents complicate where the bait and ultimately the chinook will be found. As an added bonus just west of Sekiu, Area 4 Neah Bay is open for black rockfish and ling cod so we’ve thrown a few jigging and bottomfish tricks in as well!
Tom Nelson
Tom "Nelly" Nelson has spent over a half-century on the waters, uplands and mountain ranges of his beloved home, the vast Pacific Northwest. For the past decade and a half, Nelly has been the voice of Seattle Saturday morning outdoor radio where his lifetime of hunting & fishing experience and his communication skills have been put to the test. In 2019, Salmon & Steelhead Journal named Nelly to it's list of "The 25 Most Influential Anglers In The West." From his childhood on the rivers and bays of Puget Sound to the salmon, herring and charter fishing fleets of Alaska, Tom has taken full advantage of all that the challenging outdoor classroom has to offer. Tom's education as a fisherman continued at the University of Washington's School of Fisheries, earning a Degree in Fisheries Biology. Nelly was subsequently employed by the school's Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I.) as a Research Assistant for several Alaskan salmon research projects allowing Tom to explore the Nushagak, Chignik, and Lake Illiamna regions. "Nelly's" fishing career has included guiding and writing for Salmon Trout Steelheader, Salmon and Steelhead Journal, Fishing & Hunting News, Washington Game & Fish, The REEL News as well as several websites.
1:00 pm
Manage Your Boat Like a Pro: The Checklist Approach
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Mark Bunzel
Pilots have checklists to fly airplanes, why not have a checklist for running your boat too. In this course we will share the checklist approach and sample checklists. Running our modern boats can be daunting but with a checklist you won’t miss anything, and if something does go wrong, there is a checklist for that. Checklists are handy for going out for a day cruise or to make sure you don’t miss anything on your annual maintenance schedule. What, you don’t have an annual maintenance schedule checklist? We have one for you to start and modify to use for your vessel. Join us for this informative seminar on the checklists you can use to Manager Your Boat Like a Pro. This is a 2 hour class. (1pm – 3pm)
Mark Bunzel
Mark Bunzel is the Editor and Publisher of the Waggoner Cruising Guide, long considered the "bible" for Northwest and Inside Passage cruising. Each season he cruises the Inside Passage from Olympia to Ketchikan to update and book and provide stories.
1:00 pm
Everything you Need to Know About Starlink for Boats! Stage #1 Concourse North
Richard Anderson
Interested in how Starlink works on boats? This seminar covers everything you ever wanted to know about Starlink and it’s use on boats — how it works, where it works, what is costs, differences between plans and hardware models, how to power it, how to mount it, limitations, risks, and how to enhance the reliability of the service with additional hardware. Always updated with latest info.
Richard Anderson
Richard Anderson, a lifelong technologist and licensed USCG captain, and his wife Devon Thurtle Anderson, an accomplished attorney, quit their career jobs in 2017 and took their two young daughters on an 18 month cruising adventure from the northern fjords of SE Alaska to the lush jungles of Costa Rica with many stops in between. During that time they both acquired and operated Sea-Tech Systems, and also restarted Devon's accounting company and law firm, all while still travelling by boat. Richard combines his considerable technology experience with real world cruising, general travelling, and business operating experiences to help other cruisers learn about the realities of staying connected from a boat. Since 2018, Richard has helped many cruisers set up their boats with communications systems including simple HF radio as well as broadband satellite at sea, and everything in between.
2:00 pm
Introduction to Radar Stage #1 Concourse North
Tuuli Messer-Bookman
In this seminar you will learn the basics of RADAR propagation, how it works, and practical applications for both navigation and collision avoidance. We will discuss accuracy, selecting appropriate ranges, modes and filters, and how to interpret what you see on the screen and use that information in concert with your chart plotter. If there’s time, we may get into AIS.
Tuuli Messer-Bookman
Capt. Tuuli Messer-Bookman is a Professor Emerita from California Maritime Academy. Her books include The Master's Handbook on Ship's Business, 3rd ed., Close Quarters: A Woman's Guide to Living and Working in Masculine Environments, and Maritime Casualties: Causes and Consequences. She was a contributing author to the 2019 edition of Bowditch. She has authored numerous articles and has been an invited speaker at venues including yacht clubs, boat shows, civic clubs, national parks and offered a Maritime Lecture Series at Tacoma Community College. She is a 1986 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and holds an unlimited tonnage oceans masters license. She has over 300,000 miles at sea as a ship's officer and is also an avid recreational boater. She continues to teach as a contract instructor at Compass Courses in Edmonds, WA and MITAGS in Seattle. She can be reached at captmesser@gmail.com
3:00 pm
Running Your Boat with Confidence: Relax and Have Fun! Stage #1 Concourse North
Trevor MacLachlan
People usually buy a boat to relax and have fun. Yet it’s human nature to feel anxiety creep in when you faced with uncertainty. Like anything else in life, “it’s easy if you know it”. We help filter out all the clutter and break down into easy steps what you really need to know to become comfortable and empowered to safely operate your new boat!
Trevor MacLachlan
Trevor MacLachlan founded Seattle Seafaring in 2012. He holds a USCG 100 Ton Master’s license and has over 35 years sailing and power yacht experience in the Pacific Northwest and worldwide. Having literally spent his entire life sailing, Trevor is competent on virtually any sailing or power vessel from tiny sailing dinghies to over 85′ luxury yachts. He has circumnavigated Vancouver Island twice and runs deliveries up and down the coast. A cruising highlight so far has been the two years cruising from Seattle down through the Panama Canal into the Caribbean with his young family aboard the Taswell 43 “Lea Scotia”, the original yacht in his fleet. Trevor provides professional training, consulting and yacht deliveries worldwide on both sail and power, large and small.
4:00 pm
The Latest in Computer Navigation: An Important Update
Stage #2 Concourse South – Boat Show University
Daniel Joram
New advances in computer navigation are adding and integrating data from multiple sources for a more complete navigation picture. Now weather and tide and current information can be integrated into trip planning allowing for the best routing around weather or for sailing and racing, the most favorable winds. While underway AIS information is available for collision avoidance and in some areas weather updates. There are now many different options available for computer navigation using onboard PCs, iPads and Tablets. Not all of the options are costly. Some are amazing low cost though some new options for cartography may have limitations with chart updates that all mariners should be aware of. This is a 2 hour class. (4pm – 6pm)
Daniel Joram
Daniel Joram is currently the West Coast & Gulf Coast Sales Manager at the Nobeltec Inc. starting with the company in 2017. Since 1999, he has worked in the marine industry on board vessels as mate & master and later as a project manager and electronics equipment installer with a focus on integrated navigational systems. Daniel received his first United States Merchant Mariner Credential as Master in 2001. NMEA and ABYC recertified in 2017. Along with his partner he has lived aboard their 58' Ketch Ariel of Victoria and sailed throughout the Salish Sea.
4:00 pm
Integration of Electric Propulsion Systems: Batteries, Controller’s, Motors & Gear Reducing Propellers Stage #1 Concourse North
Joe Grez
Joe Grez
Joe's earliest memories are from boating trips. So much so that his career of three decades innovating in healthcare, solar and outdoors products gave way to starting a business manufacturing electric boat motors. In addition to sponsoring pacific northwest marine organizations like R2AK and the Wooden Boat Center, Joe's company sponsors solar boat racing teams one of which was invited to compete in the first offshore solar boat race in Monaco. He has also pioneered and modeled long distance solar cruising, has contributed to solar boat designs, and been a panelist at IBEX on electric boating. His background in Physics gives him a unique perspective of what is possible using solar and he is eager to share this with boaters, designers and builders alike.
5:00 pm
Halibut Fishing Marine Areas 6 & 7 Stage #1 Concourse North
Jamie Peth
Who would LOVE to max out their catch card with halibut this year? There is nothing better than a freezer full of hali! This will be a crash course on everything you need to know to successfully slay halibut in 2023.
Jamie Peth
Jamie Peth is the founder and owner of Anglers Unlimited. She describes herself as fish-obsessed, enjoying everything from slaying kings in the San Juan Islands, clam digging on the coast, to fly fishing in Iliamna Alaska. As an active member of Puget Sound Anglers, Jamie?s passion for fishing has grown beyond creating memories with the family. She loves connecting with other avid fishermen and sharing tips, tactics, and resources that help more people enjoy the adventure of fishing our local waters. She brings practical, actionable knowledge and resources that you can apply immediately whether you are just getting started as a fisherman or looking to level up your skillset so you can out-fish your buddy next time you go out on the water.
6:00 pm
Downrigger Fishing for Salmon in the San Juan Islands Stage #1 Concourse North
Jamie Peth & Scott Propst
How to maximize your effort on water. The when, where, and how to target salmon in the Puget Sound.
Jamie Peth & Scott Propst
Jamie Peth is the founder and owner of Anglers Unlimited. She describes herself as fish-obsessed, enjoying everything from slaying kings in the San Juan Islands, clam digging on the coast, to fly fishing in Iliamna Alaska. As an active member of Puget Sound Anglers, Jamie's passion for fishing has grown beyond creating memories with the family. She loves connecting with other avid fishermen and sharing tips, tactics, and resources that help more people enjoy the adventure of fishing our local waters. She brings practical, actionable knowledge and resources that you can apply immediately whether you are just getting started as a fisherman or looking to level up your skillset so you can out-fish your buddy next time you go out on the water. Scott is a Navy veteran. He’s fished Puget Sound for 23 years and is a Charter Captain for Goat Unlimited Charters in the San Juan Islands.