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Author Archives: seamarsh
Jeff MacFarlane’s Rough Road to 203 Mini Transat
Jeffrey Macfarlane, 31, grew up in Michigan then spent over a decade in offshore racing, with a long stretch in Australia on boats like the well-known maxi Wild Oats. In 2012, he crossed the Atlantic twice, on the Open 60, … Continue reading
Columbia River Lightship and Buoy Back on View
The entrance to the Columbia River was the site of the first lightship on the west coast in 1872, and the final version (WLV-604) was also the last to be retired in 1979, after 28 years of service. The hull … Continue reading
Posted in Nautical History, shipping, Worth Reading
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2019: Kitsap County’s Ferry Is First Hybrid
When it comes to catamaran ferries, Washington’s boat builders lead the nation! Operators in Hawaii, California, and Alaska rely on our experienced commercial yards to provide them with the latest fast ferry designs from the world’s leading naval architects. During … Continue reading
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2020: NW Fast Ferry Launches
Mavrik to Build Second Fast Ferry for WETAThe San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) has exercised its option for a second 300-passenger high-speed ferry from Mavrik Marine of LaConner, Washington at a base price of $14.8 million. … Continue reading
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Astoria Yard Upgrades Former L. A. Pilot Boat for Grays Harbor
The 54.5-foot aluminum pilot boat Vega represented the latest ideas in design and propulsionwhen it arrived at Jacobsen Pilot Service in the port of Long Beach (Los Angeles) in 2003. After 15 years of daily service, it was replaced in 2018 … Continue reading
Posted in Commercial craft, Multihulls, Shipyards
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Robert Allan’s 78′ RApport 2500D pulls 96 tons
(Published by TOWLINES Offshore Newsletter May 11, 2022) Diversified Marine in Portland, Oregon has been building Robert Allan RApport tugs since 2000 for local operator and charterer Brusco Tug & Barge. The latest was named Athena– the tenth in this … Continue reading
Posted in Commercial craft, Shipyards, tug
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Foiling Survey Boats Keep Grain Ships Moving on Columbia River
For the last year, the west coast shipping news has been dominated by the huge fleet of container ships waiting to unload Asian imports in southern California, but the media spotlight may soon turn to a very different cargo—American wheat … Continue reading
Posted in Commercial craft, Shipyards, Worth Reading
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Drake in Oregon? The Mystery Continues……
Hardly a year goes by without a reconstruction of a historic sailing ship visiting the Columbia River. The Lady Washington is a frequent visitor, but I can also recall going on board Captain Cook’s Endeavour, and even meeting Captain Bligh … Continue reading
The 5′ Miniboat Crosses the Pacific Ocean
There’s a heated debate going on among yachtsmen in clubs and committees all over the world about how to recruit young people to the sport. “Get ‘em young” is one idea, and requires investments in dinghies, instructors, waterfront facilities, not … Continue reading
Schooner Creek–Top West Coast Yard for 64′ Charter Catamarans
Schooner Creek Boat Works has been a fixture in the Portland sailing scene since 1977, when founder Steve Rander opened the doors of a wooden boat shop beside the Columbia River’s South Channel, next to the I-5 freeway. In those … Continue reading
Posted in Commercial craft, Multihulls, Shipyards
Tagged MOrelli and MElvin, Steve Rander, Tom Wylie
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