Big boat talk.
Real, unscripted boat conversations with people who own them, work around them, and spend a lot of time thinking about them.
The Mercury Guy: Inside 20 Years of Outboard Expertise with Carrington Cyr
In this episode of Floatplan, Matt & Tim join Carrington Cyr, founder of Carrington Marine and a master Mercury technician with nearly 20 years of exclusive Mercury experience, aboard a Blackfin boat on the water in Seattle. Carrington shares his journey from GM-certified automotive tech to marine specialist, and how he eventually launched his own Mercury Marine dealership from scratch just 11 months ago.
Boat Detailing: What Owners Should Really Be Doing
In this episode, we sit down with Jose Gallegos of Gallegos Yacht and Boat Service to talk about what proper boat care really involves, from routine washing and detailing to major repairs and refinishing projects. We discuss how often boats should be cleaned and waxed, what happens when maintenance is delayed, and why preventative care is almost always less expensive than restoration.
Get to Know S3 Maritime: Full-Service Boat Care and a Hands-On Demo Boat for Upgrade Planning
In this episode of the Floatplan, Tim and Matt get together with Paul Zimmer and Kalin Tobin from S3 Maritime at Salmon Bay Marine Center in Seattle. The conversation begins with a discussion about who S3 is, what they do, and the range of services they provide — from refits and repairs to fabrication, electrical, and full-service boatyard work — before stepping aboard their extensively upgraded 2003 36’ Riviera Sportfish to see those capabilities in action.
Same Hull, Different Boat: Tollycraft 57’ Walkaround vs. Tollycraft 57’ Widebody
On this episode of Floatplan, we do something a little different — a side-by-side tour of two iconic Pacific Northwest yachts built on the exact same hull, but configured two very different ways.
We step aboard a pair of 57' Tollycrafts — one walkaround, one widebody — to explore how layout decisions shape livability, usability, and the way people actually boat in the Pacific Northwest. From covered side decks and easier line handling to expansive salon space and entertaining comfort, we break down the real-world trade-offs of each approach. There's no perfect boat — but there is a best fit for how you and your crew use it.
The Pleasure of Print: A New Boating Magazine for the Pacific Northwest
This week, Floatplan sits down aboard a refit 1995 Tollycraft 57 with Craig Perry and Todd Feinroth, part of the team behind Nautical Northwest magazine, to talk about the return of a high-quality print boating publication to the Pacific Northwest. They share how the magazine came to life, the vision behind the launch, and why the response from boaters, brokers, marinas, and marine businesses has been so strong.
Dock Chat with Shane McCall: Diving, Zincs, and Underwater Maintenance
We’re joined by Shane McCall of Emerald City Diving, one of Seattle’s go-to dive teams for underwater boat work. Shane breaks down the real-world maintenance schedule for saltwater moorage, what “zincs” actually means (and why anode material matters), how to spot early warning signs like corrosion and “haloing,” and why using your boat more often can actually reduce certain problems.
It’ll Never Happen to Me: Marine Insurance 101 with Peter Ricks
Peter Ricks, Northwest Regional Manager at Novamar Insurance Group, joins us for a practical Marine Insurance 101 built around real-world claims that went sideways fast. We cover the “read your policy” essentials, the differences between agreed value vs. actual cash value, what named perils and named operator clauses can mean, and how permissive use works when a friend borrows your tender.
Stonepeak Takes the Helm at Elliott Bay Marina
Big news for Pacific Northwest boaters — Elliott Bay Marina has a new owner. This week, Matt and Tim sit down with Jordan Glidden, former General Manager of Elliott Bay Marina and current general manager at Marina Management LLC, to break down what Stonepeak's acquisition of Southern Marinas could mean for one of Seattle's most beloved boating destinations.
Designing a Modern Lithium System: Victron, Remote Monitoring & What It Really Takes (w/ Max French)
We sat down with Max French, General Manager of Pacific Coast Yachting Services in Seattle, to walk through what actually goes into a modern lithium installation built around the Victron ecosystem. From why AGM banks rarely live their advertised lifespan, to what a proper battery management system (BMS) really does, to how remote monitoring through VRM has changed the way boats are supported — this is a behind-the-curtain look at real-world system design.
The Boat Show Effect: Bigger Boats, Bigger Considerations
The Seattle Boat Show is where many boating journeys level up, and in this episode we talk move-up boats, insurance realities, and what it really takes to make a bigger boat fit into your float plan.