October 10, 2026

5 min read

Trawlerfest Baltimore 2026 Recap

From the Classroom to the Docks

TrawlerFest Baltimore 2026: From the Classroom to the Docks

September 22–26, 2026 | Baltimore, Maryland

And just like that, the 2026 TrawlerFest season is in the books.

After starting the year in Fort Lauderdale and traveling west to Anacortes in the spring, the JMYS team wrapped up the third and final TrawlerFest of 2026 at Harbor East Marina in Baltimore.

Jeff, Mark, Pam, Jon, and Catherine were on hand for several busy days of boats, seminars, conversations, and plenty of time on the docks. We also had the opportunity to bring two JMYS listings to the show: the 2007 Ocean Alexander 50 Classicco Lightning and the 2009 Krogen 55 Expedition Invictus.

Two JMYS Trawlers on the Docks

One of the best things about TrawlerFest is the opportunity to step aboard different boats and experience them in person. This year, JMYS welcomed visitors aboard two very different trawlers.

Krogen 55

Invictus

Maryland

Ocean Alexander 50 Classicco
Lightning

Maryland

Lightning is a 2007 Ocean Alexander 50 Classicco, while Invictus is a 2009 Krogen 55 Expedition. Throughout the show, our team spent time aboard both boats welcoming attendees, answering questions, and giving visitors the opportunity to take a closer look.

For anyone actively searching for a trawler, there is simply no substitute for getting aboard. Photos, videos, specifications, and online research are incredibly useful, but walking through a boat can quickly help you understand what works for you, and sometimes just as importantly, what doesn't.

It’s All About the People

One of our favorite parts of TrawlerFest is meeting people at very different stages of their cruising journeys.

Throughout the week, the team talked with people who are still several years away from buying a boat and are using this time to learn as much as possible, others who are ready to go and actively searching for the right trawler, and experienced boat owners who came to Baltimore for the educational opportunities and camaraderie.

We were also excited to reconnect with Evan and Karly Neitzel of Navigating Nietzels, along with Nathan Cicio from The 71 Percent. We’ve enjoyed following their cruising adventures and always appreciate the opportunity to spend time with people who are not only living the #trawlerlifestyle, but sharing their experiences with others along the way.

Those conversations are a great reminder that there is no single path into the trawler lifestyle. Whether your plans are for next month or several years down the road, TrawlerFest gives you an opportunity to see boats, ask questions, learn from experienced cruisers and marine professionals, and meet other people who share your enthusiasm for spending time on the water.

Back in the Classroom

While the JMYS team welcomed visitors on the docks, Jeff also brought his experience to the classroom with three TrawlerFest sessions.

He kicked things off Wednesday by moderating Trawler Buying Tips, a three-hour session focused on helping prospective buyers better understand the many considerations involved in choosing and purchasing a trawler.

On Friday, Jeff presented Trawler Transactions (Doing the Deal), covering the process of moving from an offer through the steps necessary to complete a yacht purchase.

Later that afternoon, he moderated the Ask the Experts: Town Hall, bringing together industry experience and attendee questions for an open discussion about boats, cruising, ownership, and the trawler lifestyle.

The educational component continues to be one of the things that makes TrawlerFest different from a traditional boat show. You can spend part of your day aboard boats on the docks and another part learning from people with years of experience.

PRESENTATION LINK:

TRAWLER TRANSACTIONS

TRAWLER BUYING TIPS

Walking the Docks with Jeff

Of course, it wouldn't be TrawlerFest without a new Dock Walk & Talk. For several years now, Jeff has tried to film one of these videos at each TrawlerFest, taking viewers along as he walks the docks, visits different boats, and shares his observations about the trawlers on display.

VIEW DOCK WALK AND TALK VIDEO

If you weren't able to join us in Baltimore, the 2026 Baltimore Dock Walk & Talk is the next best thing to walking the show docks yourself.

A Little Rain Couldn't Stop the Show

The weather was beautiful for most of the event, although Baltimore gave us some rain on the final day. By then, however, we'd already enjoyed several days of meeting attendees, showing boats, reconnecting with familiar faces, making new friends, and talking about where people hope their cruising adventures will take them.

And that is ultimately what keeps us coming back to TrawlerFest. The boats may be what initially bring everyone together, but the conversations, education, and people are what make these events memorable.

Three Shows. One Great Year.

Baltimore marked the conclusion of a full 2026 TrawlerFest season for JMYS.

We began in February at the Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale, where Mark and Catherine experienced their first TrawlerFest as members of the JMYS team after attending the previous year as prospective trawler buyers themselves.

(link to that article on JMYS)

This May, in Anacortes, WA Max Merrill attended his first TrawlerFest as a JMYS broker, joining Jeff in the Pacific Northwest for several days of seminars, dock tours, client meetings, and cruising conversations.

(link to that article on JMYS)

And in Baltimore, we finished the year with five members of the JMYS team, another full schedule of educational sessions, and countless conversations with people thinking about their own next adventure.

We are grateful to everyone who stopped by out tent on the docks, stepped aboard Lightning and Invictus, attended one of Jeff's sessions, introduced themselves on the docks, or simply took a few minutes to talk trawlers with us.

See You in Fort Lauderdale

Fortunately, we don't have to wait too long to do it all again.

TrawlerFest returns to Fort Lauderdale in February 2027, and the JMYS team is already looking forward to kicking off another year of boats, education, and cruising conversations.

Whether you're years away from buying, actively searching for your next trawler, or already living the cruising lifestyle, we hope you'll join us.

Until then, keep learning, keep exploring, and keep planning your next adventure on the water.

Next TrawlerFest: Fort Lauderdale | February 23–27, 2027

We hope to see you there!

Here is an easy way to follow up with Mark and Jeff if you met them in Baltimore: