Bay Weld Boats, Homer, Alaska, has launched what it considers one of its most ambitious builds to date: a custom high-end aluminum seiner, Freeberd, now fully outfitted and in the water. A Bay Weld press release noted the vessel represents a major leap forward in design, capability, and craftsmanship for the shipyard, and stands as a milestone for Alaska’s fishing fleet.
The 58’x24’x10.5’ seiner draws only two feet. When fully loaded, she’s expected to draw four feet. The bottom plate is comprised of ⅜” 5086 aluminum which runs four inches out from keel, followed by 5/16” aluminum. The side plating, also 5086 aluminum, is ¼” thick.
The boat weighs 40 tons when light, and 118 tons full. The rear cargo deck measures 22’-wide, and 35.5' from the house. Ship’s service power comes from a MER 65 kW generator, set to power the 140,000-pound capacity fish hold refrigeration system, plus an additional MER 12kW house generator.
The seiner is powered by two 750-hp John Deere 6135SFM85 engines running to twin Hi Jet 600s with 24” pumps and left-hand rotation, coupled with ZF 400 Series gears at a 2.214:1 ratio. Totaling 1,500-hp, the vessel is expected to cruise at 10 knots.
The Freeberd also has Glendinning controls, and a hydraulic bow thruster.
Crew and passenger capacities include a captain’s stateroom and forward v-berth with four bunks. Fuel capacity is 1600 gals., while 500 gals. of freshwater is stored in twin 250 gals. tanks.
The vessel is outfitted with Garmin electronics, including a Panoptix thru-hull liveview tranducer.
Bay Weld noted the boat blends modern fishing efficiency with precision engineering and fabrication, state-of-the-art systems, and the rugged durability Bay Weld is known for.
Bay Weld Boats, nearing almost 300 vessels delivered, brought their engineering in-house last year. The seiner's design, layout, and systems were done by Bay Weld Boats, however, for this particular build, Elliott Bay Design Group provided engineering oversight. The vessel was also designed in close collaboration with the owners, Routli Meadow LLC., operated by the Durtschis, a Girdwood-based commercial fishing family.
“The vessel is headed into its first season, ready to fish, and built to last,” the Bay Weld statement said.
