Essex – Trawler Fest Presents, International Cruising Boat Expo Essex, CT – June 2 – 7, Brewer Essex Island Marina, – Power Boating Paradise!

TROUBLESHOOTING BOATS & ENGINES with Steve Zimmerman & Bell Power

Tuesday & Wednesday, June 2-3, 8:30am-5:30pm

Led by PassageMaker Troubleshooter columnist Steve Zimmerman, this intensive, two day seminar will provide attendees with valuable information about all aspects of boat maintenance in cruising conditions. Zimmerman is uniquely qualified as an instructor by virtue of nearly four decades of boat repairs, culminating today in his ownership of four boatyards in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. He is also an experienced cruiser. Attendees will learn about fiberglass construction methods, maintenance, and repairs. General maintenance topics will include hauling, bottom paints, exterior wood care, and use of sealants. One full session will be devoted to marine electrical systems and basic troubleshooting techniques. The final module will focus on diesel engine principles, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Bell Power, a John Deere distributer headquartered in Essex, is a full partner in this seminar, lending its facilities, engines and trainers to the program.

THE GREAT LOOP & ICW with Chris & Alyse Caldwell and Mark & Diana Doyle

Wednesday, June 3, 8:30am-5:00pm

Our veteran TrawlerFest presenters Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell begin the day with briefing on the iconic Great Loop. This 7,000 mile journey is a circumnavigation of the Eastern U.S., mostly in protected waters. Learn what is a “loopable” boat, how to provision and best keep in contact with friends and family back home. Attendees will have a chance to win a one-year membership to the America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association (AGLCA). After lunch, Intracoastal Waterway cruising guide authors Mark and Diana Doyle take you beyond the ICW basics. First, they’ll share varsity level tips on locks & bridges, aids to navigation, ranges, anchoring, and piloting, Then they’ll highlight some of their 50 Perfect Places to Plunk It: those ideal anchorages, free docks & walls and buck a foot or less marinas that even the most frugal veteran cruiser would give an A+. Don’t forget your pencils and charts!

HANDS ON BOAT HANDLING with Bob Sweet & Captains

Saturday & Sunday mornings, June 6-7, 8:30am-12:30pm

This course will develop skills in close quarters maneuvering and docking, not to mention the confidence gained from having been taught by some of the very best instructors in the business. Bob Sweet is the author of several marine titles including Powerboat Handling Illustrated and The Instant Handbook of Boat Handling, Navigation and Seamanship. Saturday is all class time, then on Sunday, the class breaks down into groups and goes out on the water to put what it has learned into practice.

SOUP TO NUTS NAVIGATION with Ben Ellison & Peter Trogdon

Saturday & Sunday mornings, June 6-7, 8:30am-12:30pm

PassageMaker Electronics Editor Ben Ellison and Peter Trogdon of Weems & Plath will provide the attendees with the foundations of effective vessel navigation, beginning how charts are made and what they do and do not tell us. Using complimentary instruments and charts provided by Weems & Plath, the class continues with a hands on workshop on pencil on paper dead reckoning, which, even in the age of electronics, is the basis for situational awareness at sea as well as best use of navigation electronics. Small teams of students will work with training charts and instruments to plot a course. (This kind of charting is also a requirement for a U.S. captain’s license.) In the afternoon we’ll go digital with a class on multi function displays and how to use them, and, equally important, how not to use them. Trogdon and Ellison will make time for audience Q&A at the end of the day.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AT SEA: WHAT YOU CAN ANTICIPATE & THOUGHTS ON HOW TO PROCEED with Denny Emory

Wednesday, June 3, 8:30am-12:30pm

The title says it all. Denny Emory of OceanMedix.com is a circumnavigator, a licensed yacht captain, a wilderness EMT, having voyaged 100,000 nautical miles under sail and power. He will tell you that when crises occur, they rarely come as a single calamity but rather as a platoon. An emergency situation at sea is most often read about in the press or watched on TV in the comfort of one’s home. Emory will address what determines a true emergency situation, how to react onboard, and, what to anticipate. Planning and preparation come into play in the event of an emergency situation and how to summon help. He will present an overview of the safety gear now available on the market and how to decide what you need, including whether you should carry a liferaft. He will show you a typical “ditch bag.” Using personal experiences and reports of actual events, Emory brings this important topic to life in a way that may save yours.

CUBA CRUISING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW with Captains Cheryl & Don Barr

Thursday, June 4, 8:30am-12:30pm

With the sudden change in relations between the U.S. and Cuba, there is a tremendous amount of misinformation being aired in online boating forums. Some of what you will read is pure nonsense. This seminar will provide attendees with expertise acquired from years of research and reporting. To begin with, Cuba has more than 2,000 nm of coastline, nearly 4000 cays, more than 200 sheltered bays, and is easy to get to from Florida. In fact, it is an ideal jumping off point to Mexico and Central America, Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean islands. Legal travel by U.S. boaters is now all but inevitable. But there is much to learn before you go. With the knowledge gained from 18 winters cruising Cuba, Canadian Captains Cheryl & Don Barr, father and daughter, will discuss preparation of your vessels and yourselves for a Cuba cruise, officialdom and the checking-in process (facts and myths), marine infrastructure (or lack thereof), routes for long- and short term cruises, and must-see sights and how best to access them. Wait until you see the photos that illustrate this talk! Former PassageMaker Editor Peter Swanson, who has traveled to Cuba several times, will apply his old newspaper reporting skills to update the group on the state of U.S. government regs.

CRUISING THE DOWNEAST CIRCLE ROUTE with Captains Cheryl & Don Barr

Friday, June 5, 8:30am-12:30pm

Looking for an exciting summer cruising loop that begins where you live? Captain and author Cheryl Barr of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, has written the definitive guide to a loop cruise she calls the Downeast Circle Route. This beautiful cruise through idyllic waterways includes some of North America’s most historical and spectacular destinations. Her cruising slideshow will take you from New York City up the Hudson River and Erie Barge Canal to the St. Lawrence River. Cruise with Barr along these beautiful inland waterways to Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, through the spectacular Canadian Maritimes and into the Gulf of Maine. Barr’s book covers it all and her lecture will excite you with all the cruising potential that the Canadian Maritimes have to offer.

UNDERSTANDING MARINE INSURANCE, NAVIGATION TERRITORIES, COVERAGES AND CLAIMS with Dawn Speros of Gowrie Group

Thursday, June 4, 8:30am-10:30am

Dawn Speros, marine insurance veteran and licensed USCG captain’s, will educate boat owners and future owners about marine insurance, navigation territories, coverages, and claims. Topics will include liability coverages, international medical coverage, north/south restrictions, named windstorm deductibles and the differences between the agreed value and actual cash value policies. She will also discuss the current guidelines for Us and Lloyds underwriters. Ample time will be devoted to answering audience questions. Dawn Speros is a lifelong boater and has been the senior yacht specialist for over 25 years for the Gowrie Group in Newport, Rhode Island. Gowrie is the largest independently held marine insurance agency in the country.

STAYING ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE TAXMAN with Attorney Todd Lochner

Thursday, June 4, 10:45am-12:45pm

Annapolis Maritime Attorney Todd Lochner helps you stay one step ahead of the taxman as move up and down the coast. One day too many in a particular state can end up costing you, and Lochner will have some real horror stories, ripped straight from his case files. Plenty of time for audience Q&A.

NIGHT RUNNING: DONT BE AFRAID OF THE DARK with Jeff Merrill

Friday, June 5, 8:30am-10:30am

With more than 14,000 miles at sea on trawlers, Jeff Merrill has run nonstop for days on end, transitioning from dusk to night to dawn. His seminar will shed some light on what you can do to become more comfortable when it is your time to stand watch or do an engine room check at sea in the night. We will review engine room checks, standing watch, watch schedules and basic navigation and electronics monitoring and how these chores are carried out during the night. This seminar will include time to swap some sea stories and some helpful handouts will be provided.

GALLEY SLAVE with Captains Chris & Alyse Caldwell

Friday, June 5, 8:30am-10:30am

Planning a boat trip? Maybe cruising for a few months?  Captain Alyse Caldwell will share ideas, shortcuts and hints that will make your time in the galley another fun adventure. All of our galley recipes are easy to make and can work perfectly in the small confines of a one burner stove or toaster oven and one small square foot of counter space….as well as in the spacious galley of a large trawler. When cooking aboard in your own galley get creative and keep your sense of humor. With the right attitude everything tastes better on a boat. Sometimes you want to make a great impression. You know, WOW ‘em!! It’s really not so hard to do. Like everything else in life, start with the right tool for the right job and remember: You are living the dream.

WONDERFUL WORLD OF ONBOARD WIRELESS with Ben Ellison

Friday, June 5, 10:45am-12:45pm

How do you set up high performance, reasonable cost WiFi and cellular connections on your boat?  When do satellite communications make sense and what are the sensible options? PassageMaker Electronics Editor Ben Ellison has tested much of this equipment on his floating laboratory, the Duffy 37 Gizmo, and he’ll clarify the complexities. Then we’ll look at some of the wireless apps and gadgets that are making cruising safer and more fun. Besides standalone charting apps, and why you might want to use them in addition to your primary navigation system, we’ll review a wide variety of mobile programs that can communicate with your boat’s electronics for improved instrumentation, off- vessel monitoring and more. Marine weather, AIS, and cruising info apps will also be covered.  There will be particular emphasis on new services that make it easy to upload detailed navigation, systems and engine data to the Internet, whether it’s to improve charts, maintain an online log, or trend analyze your power plant. By the way, Gizmo will be at the show and available for inspection.

View from Essex Island Marina

PETS ABOARD with Captains Chris & Alyse Caldwell

Friday, June 5, 10:45am-12:45pm

Going cruising? Every pet owner knows they will not be happy without taking the furry family members along. Captains Chris & Alyse will present some of the finer points of traveling with your pets during this informative and entertaining seminar.

CRUISER PERSPECTIVES: AUDIENCE Q&A

Friday, June 5, 3:30pm-5:30pm

Cruising Boat Expo’s only afternoon seminar during the boat show will be a town-hall event. In it, our panel of veteran cruisers will field audience questions on a wide-range of topics, sea stories resulting. Circumnavigator Bruce Kessler can discuss what it’s like to spend months and months treading bluewater. Captains Don and Cheryl Barr can discuss East Coast cruising and the future of Cuba cruising. Jeff Merrill has many, many miles of delivery experience. Peter Trogdon has shipped his boat to cruise the Pacific Northwest. Denny Emory is an expert at emergencies at sea. And Steve Zimmerman can discuss repairs and boatyards from the point of view of both a cruiser and boatyard owner.

OH, NO. WE’RE AGROUND! with Captain Carol Cuddyer

Saturday, June 6, 8:30am-10:30am

An old boating adage says that if you haven’t been aground, you haven’t ever left the dock!  While this may be a bit harsh, the fact is that if you haven’t been aground, the “yet” may still be waiting to happen!  Capt. Carol Cuddyer, co-founder of SEA SENSE…The Sailing & Powerboating School, freely admits that she has been there. This seminar will cover various types of groundings, prevention-prevention-prevention!, and techniques for getting afloat again.  You’ll learn how to recognize when immediate action is called for versus when you have time to wait, and when to call for help, as well as how and where to look for any possible damage to your boat.

CRUISING COUPLES COMMUNICATION with Peter & Cathie Trogdon

Saturday, June 6, 8:30am-10:30am

After 20,000 miles of cruising together on BEE WEEMS, a Zimmerman 36, the Trogdons have reached a modus vivendi that no longer involves hollering and the waving of arms in otherwise tranquil anchorages. The Trogdons share their secrets to drama-free cruising (or you could just figure it out for yourselves, or get divorced or resort to homicide).

PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP: FOR ITS OWN SAKE AND RESALE! with Jeff Merrill

Saturday, June 6, 10:45am-12:45am

Jeff Merrill has been selling cruising sailboats and trawlers for more than 20 years and has discovered some of the secrets diligent trawler owners use to reflect great care and attention. Whether your boat is new to you or you have enjoyed her for years there are common secrets and tips to successful trawler maintenance and organization that will be shared by viewing photos and through descriptions of real-life examples.  Learn what you can do to keep your trawler ship shape and show pride of ownership. This seminar will include a tip sharing session and helpful handouts.

BALANCING MAINTENANCE COSTS with Craig Parkhurst

Saturday, June 6, 10:45am-12:45pm

Maintenance expert Craig Parkhurst will analyze typical maintenance tasks and highlight those items that an average boater can handle and what should be left to the professionals.  For those DIY tasks, he will review some of the common tools and resources required to complete them safely and correctly.  In addition, he will review the common approaches to maintenance and how to become more predictive in your approaches in an effort to reduce failure rates, increase longevity, and extend maintenance intervals.

UNDER-MAINTAINED EQUIPMENT FAILURES with Craig Parkhurst

Sunday, June 7, 8:30am-10:30am

Craig Parkhurst of Wheelhouse Technologies briefs attendees on the failure points of several common overlooked systems and equipment.  In addition, he will walk through the maintenance procedures, tools, and techniques required to complete this maintenance and discuss basic troubleshooting techniques associated with these failures.  Seminar is reliant on customer participation and maintenance questions and insight are always welcome.

USING RADAR AND AIS EFFECTIVELY with Bob Sweet

Sunday, June 7, 8:30am-10:30am

Nothing underscores the value of anti-collision features like spending a few hours navigating a boat through New England fog. Maritime training expert and author Bob Sweet explains the ways you can optimize AIS and Radar anti-collision features for navigating at night or during reduced visibility. He will also discuss the ways in which AIS augments your electronic navigation systems. Sweet is author of The Weekend Navigator and other nautical help books.

MAN OVERBOARD! with Captain Carol Cuddyer

Sunday, June 7, 10:45am-12:45pm

Capt. Carol Cuddyer shares her many years and thousands of nautical miles on board lots of different boats. Her more that 26 years of experience in teaching for SEA SENSE…The Sailing & Powerboating School on both power and sail boats, she has seen how different the man overboard maneuvers are on trawlers. Learn how to prevent this emergency, how to equip your boat for the “worst case scenario nightmare”, how to use what you already have on board and all the various ways to quickly and safely recover a person (or dog! or hat!) in the water.

 BOAT BUYER’S SURVIVAL GUIDE with Mark Ellis, Steve Zimmerman, Joe Kolodej, Mark Corke, Todd Lochner, David Pugsley, and Dawn Speros

Thursday/Friday, June4-5, 8:30am-12:30pm

Never before at a New England venue has there been a seminar for consumers that addresses so many facets of boat-buying, beginning literally from the bottom up. The day begins with a discussion of why hull form matters with naval architect Mark Ellis, designer of the Legacy line of DownEast cruisers, the Bruckman 50 motorsailer and some of prettiest power and sail craft of the past 40 years. PassageMaker Troubleshooter columnist and boatyard guru Steve Zimmerman talks about composite construction. Then veteran fabricator Joe Kolodej gives a quick overview on the topic of metal boatbuilding. The first morning ends with Mark Corke of surveymyboat.com on how to choose the right surveyor. Friday begins with maritime attorney Todd Lochner who will advise buyers how to avoid being ambushed by tax authorities as they cruise the East Coast. David Pugsley, vice-president of Brewer Yacht Sales, will discuss how to pick the right yacht broker and the essential elements of a sales contract. Then trawler insurance specialist Dawn Speros of the Gowrie Group will take us on a behind-the-scenes look at underwriting and how to choose a cruising policy. The seminar ends with a panel discussion, beginning with the KIS principle—keep it simple—and how the failure to do so can throw a boat deal off the rails. The seminar ends with an audience Q&A. Taken together, the advice from these experts could save you thousands of dollars, maybe tens of thousands.