Carol M

Carol M is a 62-foot wooden fishing vessel built in 1926 in Ballard, a product of old-growth fir, long continuous planks, and craftsmanship that has kept her seaworthy for nearly a century. With a fish hold that packed almost 40 tonnes when full, she became legendary for her speed, her catch history, and her reliability in the Alaska fisheries. In 2006, a devastating fire nearly ended her story, leaving the vessel declared a total loss, and was sold. After some repairs to the foredeck and interior by the interim owner, she came back on the market.. In 2008 another skipper came along: someone as durable, intuitive, and sea-tested as the vessel herself.

That skipper was Alaska-raised fisherman Mike Clausen, who first noticed Carol M while longlining on another vessel. Her reputation preceded her; she consistently ranked among the top IFQ catches in the fleet, surpassed only by Polaris and closely followed by Evening Star, both members of the PTSC family. When Carol M came up for sale in 2008, still carrying the scars of the fire, Mike saw not the damage, but the potential. Albacore fishing demands a fast, steady, offshore-capable boat with a large, well-insulated hold, and Carol M was perfectly suited for the task. In 2009, Mike brought her to the Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op, beginning a long partnership dedicated to restoring not only her strength, but her future.

PTSC’s work on Carol M has spanned every part of the vessel: a full electrical rewire, all new hydraulic lines, a purpleheart-framed foredeck to replace the fire-damaged structure, extensive recaulk and refastening up to the waterline, and major systems upgrades including a new generator, rebuilt anchor winch, re-insulated and re-glassed fish hold, and installation of both blast and brine freezers for high-grade tuna handling. Each season’s success depends on the reliability of these systems, and the vessel’s long return record is a point of pride for the shop. Despite modern upgrades, preserving the feel of a 1926 Ballard-built workboat remains central to both Mike and PTSC. Stepping aboard still feels like stepping into a well-kept time capsule. 



As Carol M approaches her 100th birthday, she continues to embody the enduring partnership between working vessels, skilled shipwrights, and the people who rely on both to make their living at sea.