In the Wake is our archive of articles that have been posted as features on the JMYS home page. Once in print everything is immediately out of date, but much of what we have written about still has some relevance. We have been asked to keep these stories available by many followers who wish to take a short dock walk down memory lane and hope that people new to this website will also enjoy reading about people and events that have influenced our growth. For most of us it is fun to reminisce, and these articles serve as a chronological record of what we have been doing since JMYS was founded.
We are also working to organize previous boating related articles penned by Jeff in other publications, as well as articles that were started and shelved, but still want to be told. These will be completed out of order but will be filed by the date they occurred. Additionally, we do have a separate section for the Ocean Navigator Dialing-In-Your-Trawler stories. So, if you come back in the future to browse, you may find something new from the past!
At some point we intend to include the full collection of articles Jeff wrote for the PAE website while working for Nordhavn.
As demonstrated by our logo, our direction is to keep the bow pointing forward…but it is also fun to pause, reflect and look behind to see where we have been.
Articles
TrawlerFest Online Summit – November 12 – 14, 2020
The show must go on! Boat shows in 2020 are just not going to happen. After a successful March event in Stuart, FL, PassageMaker postponed the Seattle TrawlerFest and Baltimore TrawlerFest earlier this year, even suggested new dates, but alas, it just isn’t meant to be.
Embracing The Change
Jeff was interviewed a few months back by Kim Kavin who writes for PassageMaker magazine. Kim is a skilled writer and she called to talk with Jeff about how the Covid-19 situation was affecting yacht sales.
Welcome Katy Boyle!
Katy Boyle is the new Marketing Coordinator at JMYS. She grew up in New Hampshire and spent her summer weekends on her father’s fishing boat.
Bill Parlatore responds #CruisingConversations
Our JMYS YouTube Channel continues to attract more subscribers, and grow in popularity, thank you! Each video has an accompanying description that is often overlooked.
Brokerage Backstory- Episode 5- Seahorse 52 Keokuk
Please enjoy our latest interview with the owners of Keokuk. They discuss their journey as trawler owners and also comment on some of the reasons they chose a Seahorse 52.
Brokerage Backstory- Episode 4- Nordhavn 40 Sea Trek
Please read our latest owner interview about Nordhavn 40, Sea Trek. This brief Q and A with the current owners explains some of their choices, shares some of their experiences and is a wonderful insight.
Sea Magazine – Broker Showcase – JMYS ad – August, 2020
Click on the SEA Magazine cover below to see the latest JMYS ad in SEA Magazine.
Brokerage Backstory- Episode 3- Kadey-Krogen 44 Sweet Ride
This is our Kadey-Krogen 44 Brokerage Backstory- an interview with owners to learn more about their boat and their boating journey. Please read below to find out more about Sweet Ride.
JMYS Welcomes Gentry Bell!
Gentry Bell is the newest addition to our team here at JMYS.com as our Marketing intern. She is full of energy, dedicated and a great team player.
Trawler Sales Surge
Boats, planes, and RV’s are selling at an unprecedented pace. Why? Families are yearning for safe activities to get away from the monotony of being grounded.
Brokerage Backstory- Episode 2- Selene 43 Misty Pearl
Our second brokerage backstory is here! Listing broker, Larry Friedman, asked the owners of Misty Pearl several questions so that interested buyers can learn more about her features, qualities, and more.
Brokerage Backstory – Episode 1 – Selene 56 Spyhop II
We are pleased to present this interview with the owners of Spyhop II conducted by listing broker, Christopher Bruce. JMYS is providing this information so that interested buyers can better understand ...
Telecommuting From Paradise
While most of our cruising friends are already retired, my wife Deanna and I are still working to make ends meet. Luckily for both of us, our type of work doesn’t require commuting to an office, but rather...
Sail Magazine – Inside the Trawler Market with Jeff Merrill
The owner of Jeff Merrill Yacht Sales discusses brokerage during a pandemic—and offers tips for current buyers and sellers to succeed.
Covid-19 and the myth that trawler buyers are on hold
Times could not be any stranger - in the boat business and everywhere else. Our trawler brokerage business is getting slowly back up to speed.
Fresh Water Engine Flush
Recently I had a conversation with another boat owner, discussing the benefits of fresh water flushing your main engines and generators after getting back to the dock.
YBAA 100-year anniversary in 2020
YBAA is celebrating 100 years of active support to the boating community and has come up with a commemorative logo.
PassageMaker Virtual Boat Show interview: Andrew Parkinson and Jeff Merrill
In April 2020, with most of the world still sheltered in place and eager to see our way of life open back up, AIM (the parent company of PassageMaker magazine) created a Virtual Boat show for their audience.
Inside the Trawler Market with Jeff Merrill
The owner of Jeff Merrill Yacht Sales discusses brokerage during a pandemic—and offers tips for current buyers and sellers to succeed.
Standing By
Last Friday JMYS sent out an email blast to our clients titled “Standing By”. Standing By is something we are all doing now, not by choice initially, but that’s our current predicament. The response to that one newsletter has been phenomenal, thank you!
YATCO Making Waves newsletter featuring Jeff Merrill
YATCO – “The Official MLS of Yachting” is a true MLS (multiple-listing service) and JMYS is proud to offer our trawlers and tugs for sale on this platform.
Jeff Merrill shares Yacht Broker skills through Webinars
Webinars have been around since the beginning of the internet. They are a convenient means for a presenter to provide information on a topic to a large group of people who can listen in and learn from home on their own computer.
Distant Socializing (How three couples are coping with being “stuck” in paradise)
At the end of the CUBAR (see related story CUBAR 2019) most of the boats went their own way. Some returned north to California while others, including my wife Deanna and I aboard our Selene 55, Bella Luna, remained in Mexico to savor the cruising.
WheelHouse Technologies is now one of our strategic partners
JMYS is proud to announce that WheelHouse Technologies is now one of our strategic partners. From their early days as Sea Kits to the development and implementation of their vessel maintenance program as WheelHouse we have always been impressed with the products and technology they offer to boat owner.
JMYS Sponsors Krogen Tuesday Breakfast
One of the best parts of the trawler lifestyle is the community of fellow cruisers which welcomes you with open arms and warm smiles. For Krogen owners in and around the Stuart area, Tuesday mornings means breakfast at Mulligans.
CUBAR – The Trip of Our Lifetime
We had first learned about CUBAR back in 2017, and from the very start it sounded like this was something that we wanted to do, even though we didn’t own a boat yet!
2020 Stuart, FL TrawlerFest Recap
This past week we participated in the TrawlerFest on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, FL. Stuart was the first event of the 2020 TrawlerFest series, and we enjoyed starting the year in pleasant weather with a large group of trawler enthusiasts.
“A (Pretty) Good Time to Buy” PassageMaker Magazine – March 2020 issue
The Trawler Market continues to gain momentum and PassageMaker magazine recently interviewed three expert yacht brokers to get their take on the current status.
Come aboard Kadey-Krogen 48, Klassy Kady and Selene 56, Spyhop II at TrawlerFest!
The first TrawlerFest event of 2020 is fast approaching! PassageMaker magazine has once again scheduled a series of events this year which begins with the Stuart TrawlerFest during the first week of March.
Lake Union Boats Afloat / Seattle Boat Show 2020 – Recap
The January Lake Union Boats Afloat Show was a wonderful event. We had a great time seeing a lot of old friends and meeting new people.
Noonsite’s Portrait of A Cruiser:
A great part about being a Yacht Broker is that we regularly mix company and experiences with icons of our industry.
See JMYS on Lake Union
We are kicking off 2020 with the Seattle Boat Show. This show is an indoor and outdoor event held at CenturyLink Field Event Center and Lake Union Boats Afloat show on South Lake Union.
Want to see two Krogen’s this Friday and Saturday in Florida?
JMYS has two Kadey-Krogen’s in Stuart, FL that will be open for inspection this Friday and Saturday. No appointment is necessary, please come to the Sunset Bay Marina to visit.
This Selene held the key to the Locks
Growing up in California and doing a lot of boating on the US west coast, the monthly publication of Sea magazine has always been something to look forward to.
Bill Parlatore joins Jeff Merrill to talk trawlers – #CruisingConversation on YouTube
This is our fourth #CruisingConversation and final video release for the year. In this episode, Jeff and Bill Parlatore met aboard the Nordhavn 50 Ophelia in Baltimore.
JMYS welcomes Larry Friedman to the team
Another veteran boater has joined the JMYS team; we’re pleased to introduce Larry Friedman.
Baltimore TrawlerFest 2019 Recap
The last TrawlerFest of the year has now wrapped and we are ready for a new round in 2020. Flying in for the event we try to allow a day or two before or after to ...
Baltimore TrawlerFest 2019
See you at the Baltimore, MD TrawlerFest! September is here, and although summer is coming to an end, we have one more great PassageMaker event to look forward to that will make us long for summer: Baltimore TrawlerFest!
Fate & Faith
JMYS is excited to share an article from the October 2019 issue of PassageMaker magazine. Read about Rob and Deanna Piwowarczyk’s purchase of their ...
Sea Magazine – Broker Showcase – JMYS ad – August 1, 2019
Click on the SEA Magazine cover below to see the latest JMYS ad in SEA Magazine.
Offshore cruising online course launches today!
Jeff Merrill has collaborated with the team at Boaters University to offer this comprehensive offshore video series.
Anacortes Boat Show
The Nordic Tug 42, Nordic Quest, was our entry in the June 2019 Anacortes Boat Show. This was the first event that the new JMYS team of Kelly Libby, Greg Mustari and Jeff Merrill worked together.
Kelly Libby and Greg Mustari join JMYS
JMYS is delighted to welcome Greg Mustari and Kelly Libby to the team! Greg and Kelly live in the Anacortes, Washington area and have been in the boating industry for over 20 years.
Seattle, Washington – TrawlerFest Recap – April 2019
With its beautiful elements of snowy mountains and blue waterways, Washington is a perfect place for cruising. This year’s Northwest TrawlerFest has just completed.
Attn. TrawlerFest Couples: Preparing Craft & Crew – PassageMaker
"Cruising is typically a couples activity. You both need to buy in. The idea can start as one person's ultimate goal, but it is more successful and more satisying if you plan and prepare together,"
Kadey Krogen 55 Olympia dominates JMYS YouTube Channel
If you have been following us the past couple years (since our launch in 2014) you have probably viewed a few of our YouTube videos.
Seattle TrawlerFest April 2019
Spring is here and to us that means…drum roll…TrawlerFest in Seattle is around the corner!
Cruising conversations
Cruising Conversations is a new series of video episodes designed to introduce you to many of the interesting “characters” and “influencers” who we are fortunate enough to ...
Stuart, Florida – TrawlerFest Recap – March 2019
March is chilly in many parts of the world, but we were fortunate enough to recently spend a week in sunny Stuart, FL.
NaviGating to the Stuart, Florida TrawlerFest
As social media manager, I love promoting JMYS through our website, Instagram, Facebook, etc.; but my one of my favorite parts of the job happens outside of the digital screen.
Just Added at Seattle: A Cruising Couple Tells Their Story
Every TrawlerFest includes at least one aspirational talk. Next month in Seattle, one couple shares the story of making the transition from dirt dwellers to ...
See JMYS in Stuart, Florida
The first TrawlerFest of the year arrives in Stuart, FL next month, it’s almost as good as summer arriving early. Time for you to make travel plans and confirm your reservations.
Lake Union Boats Afloat Show 2019
Sunshine in Seattle, you never take it for granted, and surely enjoy it when it happens.
TrawlerFest – Stuart Florida 2019
The PassageMaker magazine Stuart, Florida TrawlerFest has announced their schedule of lectures and classes (March 5 - March 9). Get certified in March at the Stuart, FL TrawlerFest!
Christopher Bruce has a record December selling Kadey-Krogens
JMYS broker, Christopher Bruce, had a very busy December with the Kadey-Krogen brand. After listing the Krogen 39 Debadoo in November and attending some showings he quickly put her under contract with an outside broker.
The New JMYS.com
Happy New Year and thanks for joining us! At JMYS, we are starting the New Year happy to share our newly refreshed website.
Thanks a MILLION!
Thanks a MILLION! We know you enjoy watching videos on YouTube just as much as we love putting them together.
Elle Conwell Joins JMYS
We are extremely pleased to announce that Elle Conwell has joined the JMYS team to manage social media and marketing.
TrawlerFest – Baltimore, MD – Recap
TrawlerFest moved back to the Baltimore Inner Harbor (Harbor East Marina) after several years away and the location, timing and participation was a big hit all-across the board.
People’s Choice Award Winner
The magnificent Nordhavn 47, NaviGator, was named the winner of the prestigious People’s Choice Award at the Baltimore TrawlerFest.
Baltimore TrawlerFest 2018
Are you ready for the last TrawlerFest of the year? The event has been relocated to the Baltimore inner harbor venue which is a great location for activities and local attractions.
Goodbye, Massachusetts. Hello, Paradise
Every TrawlerFest features a seminar that is aspirational. The presenters are a couple that caught the cruising bug, bought a boat and sailed away. At this year’s TrawlerFest Baltimore event...
Vamos Trawler Adventure
JMYS just added the Nordhavn 55 – Vamos Trawler Adventure. Please click the photo to enter the Vamos blog.
Sea Magazine – Broker Showcase – JMYS ad – August 1, 2018
Click on the SEA Magazine cover below to see the latest JMYS ad in SEA Magazine.
Rob Piwowarczyk joins JMYS in California
We are very pleased to announce that Rob Piwowarczyk has passed the California Yacht Salesperson exam and is joining the CYBA (California Yacht Brokers Association).
TrawlerFest – Bremerton, WA – Recap – PassageMaker Magazine – May 2018
he Pacific Northwest is one of the best places in the world to operate a trawler. The cruising grounds are so vast and so beautiful that you could ...
JMYS Chooses Sirius XM
JMYS has partnered with Sirius XM to offer our clients a discounted service arrangement for the best in satellite coverage.
Spring up to Bremerton for Trawlerfest
Spring is definitely in the air and great cruising months of June, July and August are right around the corner.
Caution for Broker Clients and Vessels that Visit Mexico
Click HERE for link to actual article.
TrawlerFest Talent Scout
Spotlight on Instructor Jeff Merrill.
Mexico – MTIP – A Tip Every Boater and Broker Should Know About
Click here for the article posted on IYBA (International Yacht Broker Association) website.
TrawlerFest – Stuart, FL – Recap – March 2018
We love TrawlerFest! The 2018 season kicked off in Stuart, FL and there were vendor tents with products, a wide variety of seminars and over thirty trawlers of all sizes on display.
Lake Union Boats Afloat Show – January 2018
I love Seattle, I don’t mind the wet and the cold, it’s part of what makes this a great place to visit and I’m lucky enough to be in the Pacific northwest several times each year.
ON writers meet up in Mexico
The following blog post was written by Tim Queeney, the editor of Ocean Navigator magazine on their Ocean Voyage Blog, http://www.oceannavigator.com/Ocean-Voyaging-Blog/
Ocean Navigator – Chuck Husick Award 2017 – Winner
Earlier this month, Ocean Navigator magazine announced the winner of the Chuck Husick Marine Technology Award.
JMYS Welcomes John Hoffman
JMYS is very proud to announce that John Hoffman has come on board full time as a yacht broker to assist our trawler buyers and sellers.
Yacht Broker Association Leaders (YBAL)
YBAA sends regular communications to their member brokers. Jeff was published in December for his piece on the YBAL.
Trawler Adventures Launched
New look for JMYS Trawler Adventures! One of the greatest benefits of the world wide web is the convenience of ...
Nordhavn 55 Terrapin Video Wildly Popular
If you have ever wondered about the reach of a YouTube video, please read on. The Nordhavn 55 Terrapin ...
TrawlerFest – Bay Bridge, MD – Recap – PassageMaker Magazine – September 28 – 30, 2017
If you measure the popularity of a boat display at Trawler Fest by the pairs of topsiders on the ...
Please join us at TrawlerFest September 28 – 30 in Maryland
The JMYS team will be on hand and proudly presenting the magnificent Nordhavn 55, Terrapin, at the last TrawlerFest for ...
Christopher Bruce joins JMYS
Christopher Bruce is licensed and bonded in Florida and has joined JMYS as yacht sales consultant. He left the Biotechnology ...
Sea Magazine – Broker Showcase – JMYS ad – August 1, 2017
Click on the SEA Magazine cover below to see the latest JMYS ad in SEA Magazine.
TrawlerFest – Bremerton, WA – Recap – PassageMaker magazine – May 16 – 20, 2017
May is a great time to visit the Pacific Northwest, the rainy season is mostly over and the evergreen state ...
A Steel Nordhavn?
A Steel Nordhavn? by Andy Nemier As a Nordhavn owner (N62 INFINITY) and a Yacht Sales professional, I am and ...
1,000 Nights
Back in December of 2013 Jeff flew back to Massachusetts. with David and Susan to help them buy the Nordhavn ...
TrawlerFest – Stuart, FL 2017 – Recap
If the first TrawlerFest of 2017 is any indication, we are all in for a spectacular ride (planning at high ...
Jeff Merrill appointed FPB west coast ambassador
Jeff Merrill is proud to announce his appointment as FPB ambassador for the US west coast. The FPB designs by ...
PassageMaker Magazine Issue Number One
I’ve known Bill and Laurene Parlatore since my sailboat building dayswe met shortly after PassageMaker magazine was first published. At ...
Don’t be afraid to go Outside! – Yachts Miami Beach 2017
Thank you very much for attending the CruiserPort section of the Yachts Miami Beach boat show and for sitting in on ...
Trawler Fest – Stuart Florida 2017
PassageMaker magazine TrawlerFest in Stuart, FL Feb 28 – March 4, 2017 TrawlerFest is moving their Florida venue to Hutchinson ...
Yachts Miami Beach Seminar – February 17, 2017
Yachts Miami Beach Seminar – February 17, 2017 If you are planning to visit the brokerage show, please mark your ...
Donald Allen joins JMYS
We are very pleased to announce the addition of Donald Allen to the JMYS team. Donald is assisting JMYS with video production ...
Learning the steps to dance with Samba
(Chartering a Nordhavn 52 in Alaska) Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Whether you are learning how to fly ...
FYBA – Florida Yacht Brokers Association – changes name to IYBA
The FYBA is now the IYBA – International Yacht Brokers Association. JMYS has been a member of FYBA for several ...
2016 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show recap
The 2016 FLIBS event was another extravaganza with hundreds of yachts on display. The show was held November 3 ...
Ocean Navigator magazine Chuck Husick Award
Ocean Navigator magazine presents the Chuck Husick award each year to highlight the advancements of marine technology. The Chuck Husick ...
Bay Bridge Trawler Fest 2016 recap
TrawlerFest moved back to the Baltimore Inner Harbor (Harbor East Marina) after several years away and the location, timing and participation was a big hit all-across the board.
Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer video sails past 100,000 views
Back in the summer of 2011 I was working at PAE and we had this wonderful product at our docks, ...
Bay Bridge Trawler Fest (near Annapolis, MD) September 29 – October 1
The last TrawlerFest of the year begins at the end of this month. Bay Bridge (in Stevensville, MD) is a ...
Trawler and Motor Vessel Technical Training Workshop – October
Hosted by Steve D’Antonio – October 15 and 16, 2016 Steve D’Antonio has announced registration is open for his next ...
81 degrees in August sets cool record
Migration is listed for sale: http://nordhavn68forsale.com/ Summer heat waves soar into the hundreds and a lot of hot air has ...
Sea Magazine – Broker Showcase 2016
PERSONAL ATTENTION – Jeff Merrill, CPYB is a skilled trawler boat handler and accomplished racing sailor. Jeff has been involved in ...
Anacortes, WA TrawlerFest recap
Anacortes, WA is a great town to host PassageMaker magazine’s Trawler Fest. It is a perfect place for cruisers to ...
Anacortes, WA TrawlerFest May 19th – 21st 2016
PassageMaker magazine has a full schedule of seminars and a marina filled with trawlers to entice visitors to make the ...
2016 Steve D’Antonio Spring Deltaville, VA Trawler Work shop recap
The spring Trawler Workshop hosted by Steve D’Antonio at the Deltaville Boat yard on April 16th and 17th was a ...
Purchasing a Used Boat in California
One of the many important projects Jeff has been working on as president of the California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA) ...
Trawler and Motor Vessel Technical Training Workshop – April
Hosted by Steve D’Antonio – April, 2016 Steve D’Antonio is one of the most talented marine professionals we know. For ...
Yachts Miami Beach 2016 Recap
The spectacular Retired Sailor III was the JMYS featured boat this year at the Yachts Miami Beach boat show. This ...
Andy Nemier joins JMYS
We are very pleased to announce the addition of Andy Nemier to the JMYS team. Andy is now formally licensed ...
Visit Ramp 14, Slip 616 on Collins Avenue
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Retired Sailor III on display – Yachts Miami Beach (Collins Ave.)
The stunning aluminum twin engine trawler, Retired Sailor III, will be available for inspection during the Yachts Miami Beach show. ...
Nordhavn 43 Island Magic surges past 100,000 views
Nordhavn 43 Island Magic surges past 100,000 views A few years ago the idea of promoting brokerage boats for sale ...
Happy Halloween
October 31st is one of the all-time holidays for kids – who can forget running from house to house to ...
The New Urban Boater – MRA conference Santa Barbara, CA
Marina Recreation Association’s 44th Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show – October 26 – 28, 2015 – The Fess Parker ...
Building a Trawler – Ordering a new Nordhavn
The Nordhavn 52 Dirona is one of the best boat building projects I have even been involved with. James and ...
Sea Magazine – Broker Showcase 2015
PERSONAL ATTENTION – Jeff Merrill, CPYB is a skilled trawler boat handler and accomplished racing sailor. Jeff has been involved in ...
Jeff Merrill interview on the Pendana Blog
One of my favorite blogs is a website that includes regular updates about the family voyage of the Ellingford’s who ...
Ray Danet joins JMYS
Press Release Ray Danet joins JMYS as Yacht Sales Consultant Jeff Merrill Yacht Sales, Inc. (JMYS) is excited to announce ...
PMM Go with a Pro
PassageMaker magazine is the leading publication covering the recreational trawler market worldwide. In addition to boat and product reviews there ...
Jeff Merrill named new president of California Yacht Brokers Association
The California Yacht Brokers held their annual members’ dinner at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach Saturday, January 17th. The ...
Nordhavn 55 on display at Trawler Fest
The Nordhavn 55 South By West will be our featured display boat at the upcoming Riviera Beach, FL TrawlerFest. South ...
PMM 20th Anniversary Ad
Jeff Merrill is the president of Jeff Merrill Yacht Sales, Inc. Jeff is a 30-year marine-industry veteran who offers worldwide ...
Nordhavn 47 – Training a Dragonfly
By Jeff Merrill, CPYB I’ll be the first to admit that I have one of the best jobs around. It ...
TrawlerFest Anacortes
Traveling between ports requires understanding and knowledge of some fundamental skills to ensure a safe trip. This two day course ...
Nordhavn 47 – Riding a Sequel
By Jeff Merrill, CPYB In January 2014, Jim and Joyce Brown closed the deal to finalize their purchase of the ...
Jeff Merrill Yacht Sales opens in Seal Beach
SEAL BEACH -- Jeff Merrill has announced the opening of his yacht brokerage firm, Jeff Merrill Yacht Sales, Inc., providing ...
JMYS Open for Business
Opening of Boat Brokerage Firm Jeff Merrill, CPYB has just announced the opening of his own boat brokerage firm, Jeff Merrill Yacht ...