Watch: Adak Video Tour
Captain/Engineer - Temporary / Seasonal - Min exp 6 years - Canada
I purchased ADAK in March 2026 in New Zealand. I left New Zealand in May and reached Dutch Harbor in July. After two months cruising in Alaska, I brought the boat south to British Columbia.
These five months have been intense. I now have more than 8,000 miles with the boat, but surprisingly little time to step back, understand her in depth, and think systematically about the refit required before next year’s expedition.
I am looking for an experienced captain/engineer who can help me do that.
The immediate objective is not to sail to a particular destination. I want to spend time sailing the boat in British Columbia in a range of conditions, testing systems, identifying weaknesses, and developing a coherent plan for the winter refit.
ADAK is a 53-foot aluminum expedition sailboat with relatively complex mechanical and electrical systems. She has just completed a long Pacific passage and an Alaska season, so there is now a substantial amount of real-world experience to work from. Some systems need repair or modernization; others simply need to be better understood and optimized.
The work would include sailing and handling the boat with me, reviewing the propulsion and electrical systems, evaluating the rig and deck layout, assessing existing problems, and helping define and prioritize the winter work. One important project will be redesigning the stern arrangement to improve dinghy handling, solar capacity, and equipment installation.
I am particularly interested in someone who combines strong sailing experience with practical mechanical and electrical skills. Experience with aluminum expedition boats and vessels designed for high-latitude sailing would be particularly valuable. I need someone who can investigate problems methodically, understand how different systems interact, identify when specialist expertise is needed, and help me make good decisions about the boat as a whole.
There is also a training component. I want to become much more self-sufficient in operating the boat with a short crew, possibly even single handed. The right person should therefore be comfortable working alongside an owner who wants to understand the reasoning behind what we are doing rather than simply handing over responsibility.
I am hoping to do this over a few weeks in late September and early October. It could be one continuous block of time or a sequence of working sessions. If we work well together, there may be opportunities for additional work during the winter refit.
The boat will most likely be based in Sidney or Campbell River. I would strongly prefer to find someone based in coastal British Columbia who knows the local marine industry well — the yards, fabricators, riggers, electricians, mechanics, suppliers, and other specialists we may need to involve in the refit.
Close