Rare New-Build for Pacific Coast

With fleet rationalization, reduced Alaskan crab quotas and dismal salmon markets, there has been a dearth of new construction in the fishing fleets along the Pacific coast of America in recent years. When there has been a new boat built, it was as likely as not that Fred Wahl would be doing the work.

Fred Wahl Marine Constructors of Reedsport Oregon have steady work with repairs and haul outs of the crab and trawl fleet but interest around the yard of late is centered on a nifty 50-footer that Wahl is building for his own account.

The new boat is designed in-house for the Oregon Dungeness crab fishery. The raised-foc’s’ule, forward-house layout provides for a single four-bunk cabin and a galley on the main deck level and the wheelhouse, with a day bed, just a few steps up. Room for light ballast and some of the electronics is provided in the cuddy space under the wheelhouse floor, reducing the need for a large console in the wheelhouse itself.

The low level wheelhouse also gives good visibility and voice communication with the working deck. The whole accommodation area makes highly efficient use of the space provided by the boat’s 20-foot beam. All the hatch covers are flush to the poop or raised wood deck. This allows a clear afterdeck that will carry about 300 of the approximately 130-pound 38 and 42-inch round pots used in the Oregon Dungeness fishery. Wahl has made extensive use of stainless steel in high maintenance areas throughout the boat including rub strakes, railings, stern-tube, fills and vents, sea chest and most internal piping. Main engine propulsion is a 400 HP Cummins diesel turning into a ZF WF350 marine gear with a 5:1 ratio. Two 65 Kw gen sets will provide electrical power. Fred Wahl’s son Mike Wahl is in charge of the production and expects to have the vessel ready for this year’s crab season which begins the first of December. While Fred has a limited entry permit for the boat with a 420-pot history, he would consider selling the boat alone for something in the $650,000 range. He has had some fishermen who have sold larger vessels and are looking for a manageable Oregon coast package looking at the vessel already.