CFN Shakedown Cruise: Holland 41

by Brian Robbins

Welcome to another CFN Shakedown Cruise.

Periodically, we will focus on a new launch and dig a little deeper into what went into the project – whether it be a new model or a hull well known to the New England commercial market. What we hope to do is provide insight and information our readers can apply to their own setups … and, as always, offer up a little entertainment along the way.

—Editor

PORT CLYDE, ME – In a way, it’s sort of like one of those love stories where the guy’s heart is stolen by a fetching beauty – but years go by before circumstances allow things to come to fruition.

“It was like having a crush, you know what I mean?”
—Gerry Cushman
(Brian Robbins photo)

Sort of.

For one thing, you can’t say that Port Clyde, ME lobsterman Gerry Cushman rushed into getting a new boat: he’s been working out of the same 36’ Crowley for 28 years.

“The Crowley was a great boat,” says Gerry. “I still own it, in fact. I paid $45,000 for it 28 years ago … it doesn’t owe me a thing.

“I’d thought about a new boat for a few years – I had money set aside in a capital fund – but I wasn’t in a hurry to do it.”

Hurry or not, Gerry Cushman had his heart set on what he was going to have for a new boat when the time came.

“Gary Davis – one of the local fishermen here in town – had a Holland 38 built years ago and … man … I loved the looks of that boat the first time I saw it. It was like having a crush, you know what I mean? I knew if I had another boat built, it was going to be a Holland.”

Gerry’s crush wasn’t all about good looks – it actually went deeper than that.

“I was out halibut fishing with my brother Michael on his Holland 38,” says Gerry. “It was blowing southwest a good 25 and we were working right along, hauling trawls. And I said to myself, ‘Look at this thing … it’s a good breeze, but this is comfortable as hell!’ That’s really what made my mind up for me.”

There’s a twist to this love story, however: it was a 38’x12’10” hull that stole his heart originally … but there was actually a 41-footer in his future…

To read the rest of this story, you’ll need the October issue of Commercial Fisheries News – please choose from the following options: