66ft. Little Hoquiam Shipyard
So what does an experienced blue water angling enthusiast with decades of experience under his belt both in the recreational and commercial fishing sector do once he is ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor?

Tricia G - Winter 2007/08

66ft. Little Hoquiam Shipyard

Exploration at its finest!

So what does an experienced blue water angling enthusiast with decades of experience under his belt both in the recreational and commercial fishing sector do once he is ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor?

He spends 16 months designing and custom building a one-of-kind yacht-fisher with few limitations - a serious hot yacht intricately designed from the keel up for maximum comfort during extended trips to distant waters in search of trophy big game.

Since her inaugural expedition only 18 months ago, Tricia G has paralleled the Pacific coast from Alaska to southern Mexico and beyond, with much bigger plans on the not-so-distant horizon. Her owner/operator knew precisely what he wanted when dreaming up this ocean explorer and exactly who to turn to as he was thoroughly impressed with previous vessels splashed by Little Hoquiam Shipyard since his early days in the commercial industry.

While custom convertibles such as flashy Garlington’s and Merritt’s in this same class provide sleek lines, glistening teak soles and eye-watering speeds breaking the 40-knot barrier, they’re primarily suited for relatively short-term stints. Not Tricia G. This extreme machine was designed for 100-percent sustainability for weeks on end. Two enormous fuel tanks feed her thirsty 800 horsepower Caterpillar diesels for thousands of miles of range at a comfortable eight knot cruise. Make no mistake though; pin the throttles and Tricia G’s 66 feet of pure perfection roar across uncharted seas at nearly three times that speed. In the event Mother Nature fights back, stabilizers unseen to the eye deploy below her 18 ½ foot beam to ensure a smooth ride. With an onboard 900 gallon-per-day freshwater maker and two ton freezer/fishhold, few reasons warrant returning to port.

Look closely at her custom-crafted exterior and you’ll quickly realize that even with all of the plush comforts seen on more luxurious yachts, Tricia G was built to fish and fish hard, which is just one of the many reasons we chose to showcase this outstanding modern marvel of pure fish-catching perfection. Complementing her massive cockpit are adjoined 250 gallon baitwells capable of sustaining more than 20 scoops of bait. Redundant pumps with audible alarms ensure no harm ever comes to her frisky offerings. A complete rigging station is well within reach of those immersed in the heat of battle with tackle and equipment storage for a full arsenal of gear. Rod holders you ask, how about enough mounted around the deck and overhang shadowing the rear battle station for every stick you and every one of your angling friends own. With unobstructed 360-degree fishability around her entire deck, cow-size yellowfin tuna, speedy wahoo and powerful yellowtail are man-handled effectively and efficiently.

Step up to the exposed bridge deck, and a ladder leads you to a towering crow’s nest equipped with full controls - allowing the skipper to zero-in on surface activity from great distances. The bridge deck is also where you’ll find both a Boston Whaler tender ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice, and a stainless-steel grill ready to make short work of the freshest bounty.

Seven steps down inside the wheelhouse - the primary of four complete control stations - dual Furuno Navnet systems with six screens throughout are complemented by 25kw 75-mile radar systems, full-color sonars, dual autopilots, multiple satellite communication systems, VHFs and single-side band radios - all of which rigged redundantly to ensure complete navigation, communication and fish-finding capabilities regardless of unforeseeable malfunctions.

Inside her climate-controlled spacious interior, family and friends find themselves surrounded by rich wood and soft fabrics above durable Berber carpeting. Between hot tuna bites, passengers stay well entertained by a multi-media entertainment system with retractable flat screen television, satellite antenna included, of course, so big games are never missed.

Hungry? It’s easy to believe the “G” stands for “gourmet” as Tricia G’s galley with stainless steel appliances, including dishwasher, trash compactor, two freezers, and convection oven/microwave, all combine to serve up meals fit for a king and his queen. Along with the convenient breakfast bar and full lounge salon dining area, three baths, master stateroom and additional guestrooms provide privacy and comfortable accommodations rivaling any beachside resort.

Designed to be maintained and operated with no outside assistance, Tricia G’s engine room is a smartly laid-out power-station bordered by twin 20 kilowatt gensets producing enough electricity to light a stadium. It appears every system is within easy reach, is easy to maintain and has a redundant back up.

Her owner wasn’t ashamed to admit that Tricia G is overbuilt and over-equipped! It would cost millions of dollars to replace this vessel. He knows he went overboard building this 100-percent custom yacht-fish, but he’s happy about it. When asked if he’d redo anything if he had the chance to do it all over again, he replied, “I wouldn’t change a single thing, including the builder. From conception to creation, Howard and the crew over at Little Hoquiam Shipyard have treated my boat as if it was their own. They still do.”