Compact Trawler, Big Adventures: A Captain's Journey From San Francisco to Panama (and Beyond) on a SeaPiper
- Mallory Parks
- Sep 7
- 8 min read
For many boaters, the dream of adventure begins with a simple idea: freedom. Freedom to leave the dock on a whim, explore new coastlines, and live life at a slower, more intentional pace. For professional mariner and lifelong boater André Lay, that dream took shape in the form of a compact, trailerable trawler — the 2022 SeaPiper 35.
At first glance, the SeaPiper is a modest boat. With its distinctive mid-cockpit layout and efficient single-engine design, it looks nothing like the floating condos, gas guzzling powerboats, and entertainment palaces often seen at the marina. But as André proves, this little trawler opens the door to a big world of cruising — one that stretches far beyond weekend outings.
Choosing the Right Boat for the Right Lifestyle
André has boating in his blood. His father first bought a powerboat when André was eight years old, beginning the decades long love affair. At a young age, he learned how to handle, navigate, and maintain boats. His love of boats turned from recreational to professional in when he earned a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) in 2017 from the US Coast Guard.
Over the last two decades, André crossed oceans and accumulated significant sea time, working on and transporting vessels of various models and size.
Before purchasing a SeaPiper, André owned a 1965 Pacemaker 44 wooden cruiser with twin gas engines — but he quickly found the limitations of size, fuel burn, and performance outside of protected waters. “I was very comfortable using it within the bay, but doing anything beyond the San Francisco Bay, I was not confident. That and the boat wasn’t efficient; I spent a significant amount of money on gas,” he explained. “So even after fixing it up, I found the love affair was over.”
And so the search began for an efficient, well-rounded, capable trawler that would expand his cruising territory.
Why the SeaPiper Was the Right Fit
For André, the SeaPiper wasn’t just a practical choice — it was a lifestyle match. He knew from experience that bigger isn’t always better. A larger yacht would bring more systems, more maintenance, and potentially the need for crew. That wasn’t what he wanted. “I didn’t want something that occupied all my free time,” he explained. “I wanted something I could handle myself.”
At 35 feet**, the SeaPiper is just right. Large enough to feel safe and stout on extended passages, yet small enough for one person to manage confidently. “Eighty percent of the time, it’s just me on board,” André said. “I didn’t need a boat designed for entertaining crowds. I wanted something that worked for how I really wanted to use it.”
**André purchased the last SeaPiper 35 built before the brand was acquired by Seattle Yachts. After the acquisition, production was moved from China to the United States, and the design was modified to include an extended swim step, resulting in the SeaPiper 37.
The SeaPiper’s efficiency and simplicity also stood out. With a single diesel engine and a low-maintenance design, it’s easy to get underway — even spontaneously. “I love being able to head down to the dock at 6:00 pm, and within ten minutes, be out of the marina,” André shared. “It doesn’t have to be a big production. The SeaPiper makes it easy to just go.”
That ease and versatility of the SeaPiper is what makes this trailerable trawler shine. It’s about freedom! Freedom to take off solo, without coaxing others to join. Freedom to embark on a long passage or a short sunset cruise. Freedom to spend less time managing the boat and more time embracing the adventure.
From San Francisco Bay to Panama
When André took delivery of his brand new SeaPiper in January 2023, he already had an ambitious plan in mind: to circumnavigate North America. By Halloween 2023, he was departing San Francisco Bay, heading south. Two cruising seasons later, his SeaPiper sits on the Pacific side of Panama, just shy of the canal.
For André, the journey isn’t about checking boxes or chasing records. “I’m not out to prove anything,” he admitted. “It’s about the experience, the growth, and the joy of being out here.” At 43 years old, André feels less compelled to be driven by accolades. “Safety, health and personal enjoyment matter more to me now than protecting my ego. I’ve learned a lot about myself. If I decide to abort the mission, I need to be okay with that. I can do my best with what I have. And it's not to prove anything to anybody, especially myself.”
That mindset reflects the SeaPiper lifestyle perfectly. This trawler isn’t about luxury or showing off. It’s about going places — sometimes remote, sometimes challenging — and living life a little outside your comfort zone.
The Life of an Extended Cruiser
A typical day aboard André’s SeaPiper might involve a hop between anchorages, swimming in tropical waters, sharing a sundowner with fellow cruisers, or tackling small maintenance projects. Evenings are often spent in the mid-cockpit, book in hand, watching the sun go down.
That mid-cockpit, one of the SeaPiper’s most distinctive features, has become the heart of André’s life aboard. Positioned low and close to the water, it creates a sense of connection with the sea that you simply don’t get from a flybridge high above the waterline. As he puts it, “It keeps me very connected with the ocean. You’re close to the water, close to the experience.”
That closeness also translates into practicality. Boarding from a dock or stepping into a dinghy is straightforward and safe — something André appreciates now and knows he’ll value even more as the years go on. Beneath the cockpit, a large hatch opens to the machinery space, making engine maintenance easier and less of a chore.
To support his extended cruising lifestyle, André outfitted his SeaPiper with a handful of thoughtful aftermarket additions: solar panels, a water maker, Starlink internet, tinted window shades, and a dinghy. Additionally, he applauds his choice for the full Raymarine suite of electronics, including the autopilot. “I really love the autopilot,” he explained. “I am able to set a course and then have the boat drive itself while I do what needs to get done, whether that’s taking care of myself or taking care of the boat.”
Each upgrade was chosen to make the boat more self-sufficient and comfortable for long stretches away from shore, without cluttering it with unnecessary complexity. True to his less is more philosophy, André has focused only on the systems that add real value to his time on the water — leaving the boat simple, efficient, and always ready to go.
His advice for would-be cruisers is simple: don’t wait for perfection. “If you try to make everything just so, you might never leave,” he said. “So long as the basics are met, start using the boat. That’s how you gain the experience.”
Adventures Big and Small
André has weathered six- and even eight-foot seas aboard his SeaPiper, pushed by wind and spray. He’s also floated peacefully at anchor with friends, diving into crystal-clear water before dinner. The contrast is what makes the lifestyle so powerful: one day a challenge, the next a celebration.
He describes some passages as “rollercoaster rides,” the kind you can’t step off once you’ve committed. When the weather turns, there’s no choice but to see it through, no matter how tired you are or how much you wish you were back in the calm of a safe harbor. “You’re about to get on a rollercoaster and you’re not going to be able to get off,” André explained. “You’ve got to ride it out.”
Those moments test not just the boat but the skipper’s judgment. André emphasizes that the key is making good decisions before leaving the dock — studying forecasts, planning routes, and avoiding situations that could spiral out of control. Even so, there are times when the sea has its way, reminding him just how small a 37-foot trawler is in the vastness of the ocean.
What keeps him confident is knowing the SeaPiper can handle more than it looks like it should. While its narrow beam makes rough seas a challenge, the addition of a SeaKeeper gyro-stabilizer has given André peace of mind in heavier conditions. “The boat’s capable — it might be bouncing up and down all over the place, but it will see me through,” he said.
It’s in that mix of awe and humility that the reward lies. The hard days give weight to the easy ones — the sundowners with friends, the quiet evenings reading in the cockpit, the joy of dropping anchor in a new remote and shallow place. Every smooth, golden sunset is sweeter because of the rough days endured to reach it.
Who the SeaPiper Lifestyle Fits
The SeaPiper isn’t built for everyone — and that’s exactly its charm. The new SeaPiper 37 is best suited for people who value independence, simplicity, and the ability to step away from the crowd. André believes the sweet spot is for solo adventurers or couples who are comfortable spending long stretches together in close quarters, sharing both the workload and the rewards.
“It makes the most sense for a couple who gets along well and knows their way around a boat,” André said. “When that’s the case, the experience is that much more enjoyable because you’re sharing it.”
Unlike many boats in this size range, the SeaPiper’s layout actually creates a sense of separation that offers surprising privacy. The forecabin and the pilothouse function as distinct living spaces, with the mid-cockpit acting as a natural buffer in between. For couples, this design gives the illusion of extra room and the ability to retreat into different areas of the boat when needed — a thoughtful advantage during longer voyages.
This boat appeals to those who prefer quality of experience over quantity of space. People who like the idea of slipping lines without fanfare, finding an anchorage with only a handful of other cruisers, and spending the evening swapping stories over a shared meal or a sundowner.
The lifestyle also attracts pragmatic dreamers — those who understand that boats require work but can also see that work as part of the adventure rather than a burden. Owners who embrace a less is more mindset will find the SeaPiper especially rewarding, since its design encourages efficiency, self-sufficiency, and focus on what truly matters: the journey itself.
For anyone looking to step into long-range coastal cruising without the extravagant cost, complexity, or crew demands of larger trawlers, the SeaPiper 37 offers a compelling path. It’s not about having the biggest boat in the harbor. It’s about having the right boat for the life you want to live.
A Small Boat, A Big Adventure
André’s journey is proof that the size of the boat doesn’t dictate the scale of the adventure. The SeaPiper lifestyle isn’t about extravagance — it’s about freedom, exploration, and living fully in the present moment, one anchorage, one horizon, one sundown at a time.
We hope you’ve enjoyed a glimpse into André’s story. This November, André plans to return to Panama, take Cavendish through the canal, and begin the next leg of his North American circumnavigation. Wherever the journey leads next, one thing is certain — the horizon is wide open for Cavendish and Captain André Lay. Make sure to stay connected with André and Cavendish over on Substack.
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