Deadliest Catch: Fishing Vessels Brave The Storm

The boats on the Discovery Channel's reality TV show Deadliest Catch are crab fishing vessels that sail the treacherous waters of the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab fishing seasons. The show, which premiered in 2005, follows crab fishermen in their hunt for crab and showcases the dangers and challenges they face in one of the world's most hazardous professions.

The boats on the show are real and are often depicted bouncing over huge waves as the crew scramble to pull up crab traps and set new ones. These vessels vary in size, with some weighing upwards of 370 tons. They include the F/V Northwestern, F/V Wizard, F/V Time Bandit, F/V Cornelia Marie, F/V Summer Bay, and F/V Seabrooke, to name a few. These boats and their captains have become well-known figures, with each new season bringing new challenges and moments of success.

The length of time these boats stay at sea depends on various factors, including the quota of crabs they are allowed to catch and the luck of finding crabs in the right areas. A crab fishing season can last from a few weeks to multiple months, and boats typically return to port every month to unload their catch and resupply.

F/V Northwestern: a 125-foot vessel, built in 1977, owned by the Hansen family for four generations

The F/V Northwestern is a 125-foot vessel, built in 1977, owned by the Hansen family for four generations. It is primarily used for catching crabs in the King and Tanner crab fisheries of Alaska's Bering Sea. The boat was built by Sverre Hansen, the father of Sig Hansen, the current owner and captain of the vessel. The Hansens are a distinguished fishing family who perfected their craft in Norway.

The F/V Northwestern is the only boat to have made it through all 17 seasons of the show. It is considered the quintessential "Deadliest Catch" fishing boat, with its beautiful white ship and blue and red decals making it instantly recognisable. The boat has been modified twice since it was built, increasing its size to carry more pots. It can carry 197 tons of crab and has a fuel capacity of 60,000.

The Northwestern is known for its grit and determination, having survived each trip with as much grit and determination as its crew. It is also known for its safety record, with no deaths on the boat since Sig Hansen took over as captain. The boat is proudly featured on Discovery's Deadliest Catch, with Sig Hansen serving as a technical advisor to the series' producers.

F/V Wizard: a single-deck crabber built in 1945, with a raised foredeck and steel hull

The F/V Wizard is a single-deck crabber built in 1945, with a raised foredeck and steel hull. It is one of the biggest boats in the Deadliest Catch series, measuring 156 ft (48 m) in length and capable of carrying nearly 500 tons of crab. The boat was built by the Ira S. Bushey shipyard for use by the U.S. Navy, making it a powerful vessel capable of withstanding harsh North Atlantic storms.

The F/V Wizard has been featured on Deadliest Catch since season 3 and is owned and captained by Keith Colburn, who purchased the boat in 2005. Colburn has been part of the Wizard's crew since 1988 and has been in the fishing industry for over 35 years. He started as a greenhorn at 22 and worked his way up to captain in 1992. Colburn is known for his temper, which has been showcased on the show, including an incident where he attacked a cameraman.

The F/V Wizard has faced several emergencies throughout its time on Deadliest Catch, including a fire in season 20, which threatened the life of deckhand Tyler Gateman. In addition, Colburn has faced personal medical issues, including osteomyelitis and an umbilical hernia, both of which cut his fishing seasons short.

F/V Time Bandit: a vessel designed with luxurious comforts, including a sauna and queen-size beds

The F/V Time Bandit is a vessel designed with luxurious comforts, including a sauna and queen-size beds. The boat was custom-built by the Hillstrand brothers, Johnathan and Andy, whose father designed it. The F/V Time Bandit measures 113 feet in length and has a hold capacity of 120,000 pounds for king crab, 175,000 for snow crab, and 370,000 for salmon. It is powered by two 425-horsepower Cummins engines, enabling it to cruise at 9 knots. The vessel's home port is Homer, Alaska, reflecting the Hillstrands' roots in the state.

The F/V Time Bandit has been a prominent fixture on the show "Deadliest Catch," with Johnathan serving as captain during the King Crab season. The boat's skull and bones logo has become iconic, and the vessel has been featured on the show from seasons 2 through 13 and again in seasons 17 to 19. However, in 2023, the Time Bandit was no longer part of the series due to maintenance challenges and engine issues.

The Hillstrands' family affair on the F/V Time Bandit extended beyond Johnathan and Andy, as their younger brother, Neal, and Johnathan's son, Scott, served as deckhands. The boat's unusual amenities and the family's dedication to the crabbing industry showcased the unique blend of comforts and hardships faced by those engaged in this dangerous yet rewarding line of work.

The F/V Time Bandit's last appearance on "Deadliest Catch" was in 2020, when Captain Johnathan Hillstrand's journey was unexpectedly aided by a pod of dolphins. These dolphins led the vessel to a deep canyon teeming with larger-than-usual crabs, securing a prosperous catch for the crew. It was a joyful moment that highlighted the unpredictable nature of life at sea, where challenges and triumphs go hand in hand.

F/V Seabrooke: a speedy boat with a bright red hull, now captained by one of the few female captains in the fleet

The F/V Seabrooke is a speedy boat with a bright red hull, captained by Sophia "Bob" Nielsen, one of the few female captains in the fleet. Bob, a third-generation fisherwoman, joined the cast of Deadliest Catch in season 19 at the age of 23. She had to take over her family's business after her parents passed away. Bob's rookie season was strong, but she ended up $200,000 in debt after blowing up a generator and colliding with another boat.

In season 20, Bob is given a new lease of life as she takes the helm of the F/V Seabrooke, thanks to Captain Greg Wallace, a close family friend. Bob is aware of the nepotism that helped her get this opportunity, but she is determined to learn and improve her skipper skills. However, this has caused some tension with the crew, especially Captain Greg's daughter, Megan Wallace, who believes that Bob is not ready for the job. Despite the challenges, Bob's presence on the show highlights the importance of female representation in a male-dominated industry.

F/V Summer Bay: a beautiful vessel with a powder blue hull, which has witnessed some harrowing moments

F/V Summer Bay is a beautiful vessel with a powder blue hull, which has witnessed some harrowing moments. The ship is based out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and is 32 metres (105 feet) in length, with a carrying capacity of 196 tons of crab. While its colouring, name, and size may suggest a dainty ship, Captain "Wild" Bill Wichrowski is anything but.

Bill burst onto the series, earning his nickname by performing surprising and dangerous manoeuvres with Summer Bay, and developing some rivalries with other crews. In Season 17, Captain Wild Bill and his crew faced a dire situation when they discovered a huge hole in the void of the ship, which began to quickly fill with water. The void is negative space in the ship, but it plays a critical role in keeping the vessel afloat. If it becomes too weighed down with water, the ship will sink.

Thankfully, the Summer Bay and her crew made it back to the dock safely, and the incident has been called a miracle. This close call, however, was not the only one for the F/V Summer Bay. In the same season, a crane cable snapped and narrowly missed a crew member's head. Had he been any closer, the crew member could have suffered a severe injury or even decapitation.

Captain Wild Bill's daring tactics and the ship's harrowing moments have made the F/V Summer Bay a memorable part of the Deadliest Catch series.

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