New January TrawlerFest Location
Registration is underway as TrawlerFest returns to Stuart, Florida, for the first time since 2009. The show is partnering with Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort & Marina, and the dates are February 28 to March 4.
The choice of a Marriott resort will mark a huge improvement over other Florida TrawlerFest sites in the recent past, most recently Riviera Beach Municipal Marina, which was under construction during TrawlerFest this year and last. Attendee feedback, while positive about seminars and the boat show in general, lamented conditions at the venue.
Hutchinson Island Marriott is the cure. Business travelers and resort-goers alike hold the Marriott chain in high regard because of its emphasis on quality and consistency throughout its properties. The Stuart resort offers large climate- and lightingcontrolled halls for seminars and modern, well maintained docks for the in-water show. The hotel’s Baha Grill restaurant is highly regarded and there is a tiki bar poolside.
Besides our signature seminars such as “Everything You Need To Know About Diesel Engines,” “Hands- On Boat Handling,” “Cruising Cuba” and “Boatbuyer’s Survival Guide,” we are offering new instructors and fresh topics, such as “Self-Sufficiency Through Solar Power” and “Troubleshooting Your Electronics.”
Seminars are presented Tuesday through Saturday, Feruary 28 through March 4. The boat show and vendor tents are open Thursday through Saturday.
“Our suggestion to our friends from cold-weather states is to include TrawlerFest-Stuart as part of a larger Florida vacation,” says PassageMaker Associate Publisher Geoff Leech. “Besides the resort’s great amenties, the Stuart area is packed with fun things to see and do.” –Peter Swanson
QUESTIONS? Contact Megan at trawlerfest@passagemaker.com or (410) 990-9086 x22
HUDSON 48 POWERCAT
The Hudson 48 powercat is built by Hudson Yacht & Marine who also build high-performance carbon sailing catamarans. Designed by Bill Dixon of Dixon Yacht Design, the Hudson 48PC shows sleek, functional design while maximizing interior space. The 48PC features a spacious master suite that spans the entire beam of the boat forward of the deck saloon. The deck level of the cabin opens to both hulls in an inviting and open manner. On the deck level it features a queen berth that you can access from either side, rather than having to scale over your bunkmate. Multiple overhead hatches and portlights make the stateroom bright and airy. On the starboard side, steps lead down into the hull for access to a full en suite with a separate shower. Stepping down into the port hull provides access to a large closet along with an office/vanity.
The saloon comes with a few interior layout options, including the choice for an interior bikini helm. The 48PC on display in Fort Lauderdale had forgone the interior helm and opted instead for a bar area forward, with the only helm up on the flybridge deck. The saloon also features a sizeable seating area around a table, a separate reading sofa, and an elegant and functional U-shape galley. As on many cats, the outdoor spaces are immense, and the 48PC is no exception. The afterdeck hosts a large table with seating for ten, and it feels like an extension of the saloon, with a large triple-panel sliding door