by Captain Mike Schiller
After completing a stationary small space project last December, “My small space made from recycled materials,” I had been looking at small 20 foot or less RV’S and teardrop trailers. I didn’t want to spend more than five thousand dollars.
I am always looking at boats, but did not want to take on a large expense. Being a professional Captain, I know what a commitment it can be to dock, haul, store, and maintain a vessel – especially one that can be lived aboard along with all the systems that go with it!
I have a 21 foot diesel launch that I have trailered to Florida twice from Massachusetts. I had a lot of great times, even doing an 8 day cruise to Key West, but had been looking around for a small boat with an enclosed pilothouse that would be trailerable.
At my marina, I saw a Nimble Nomad and have seen one before in Fort Lauderdale. I was intrigued at the efficient design and small size of this outboard powered, trailerable, 3,500 pound pocket trawler. I started researching them and found them selling in the 20 to 30 thousand dollar range and was thinking about selling the Launch and looking for one.
In a late night Internet surfing session I found one online in Maryland that needed work for $5,000. I called early the next morning talked to the original owner who had the boat built in 1996 and explained that due to health reasons the boat had not been used for the last six years and the interior was water damaged.
I sent a deposit sight unseen that day and three weeks later borrowed a trailer drove down to southern Maryland and brought the boat back to Boston for an intense 3 week restoration. I am fortunate to have the time, skills, and support of friends to get the boat up and running quickly.
The original Honda 40 hp fourstroke looked good in the pictures, but not having run in 6 years was an unknown after some wrench turning it now runs great and is very economical.
The restoration costs have been minimal, mostly my labor and around fifteen hundred in supplies even with the scratch and dent, small portable AC unit, and portable Ice maker.
“NOMAD” is now in the water at a slip in East Boston and I have been enjoying cruising around Boston harbor doing some November boating nice and toasty while enclosed with a propane heater even doing some snowboating the other day.
I plan to trailer the boat to southern Florida this winter and cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the Keys.