Thomas Lopez, the owner and operator of Apex Marine and a third-generation boat builder and salmon fisherman, like any experienced boat captain, anticipated a storm on the horizon regarding the tough times in Alaska’s salmon fishery and made a crucial decision to weather it. In January 2023, he began constructing his first twin jet-powered aluminum seiner, named “Waymaker.” The limit seiner launched into the Columbia River in Oregon in April 2024.
Lopez’s motivation was: “I’ve been watching what’s been happening with the Bristol Bay boats. It’s all about getting to where the fish are fast. In Prince William Sound, whether it’s in a different district or the same district, I want to be able to go after the fish. If I have to cross the Valdez Arm in my old boat, it takes 45 minutes. With this new boat, I’m hoping to reach speeds of 25 knots empty and make that trip in 10 to 15 minutes.”
With speed as a top priority, Lopez enlisted Nick Boksa of Boksa Marine Designs to create a vessel capable of “going out fast and coming back loaded.” To achieve this, they chose aluminum for its lightweight properties. After extensive weight studies, hull form, stability analysis, and structural engineering, they designed a fast and maneuverable vessel with a 108,000-pound capacity.
For POWER, Lopez selected the Cursor 9 engines from FPT. “I heard about FPT and they looked interesting,” he said. “I figured they would be out of my price range. But I talked to MSHS and the price worked. We went with the Cursor 9. They’re 620 hp each.” The C-9 620Es on “Waymaker” include a dual-circuit cooling system, with a high-temperature circuit for the engine and a low-temperature circuit for the turbocharger, helping to keep NOX emissions within EPA standards. These engines provide Lopez with the torque, power density, and efficiency he needs.
Discover the full story behind the creation of “Waymaker” and the journey to bring this innovative vessel to life.