Since the beginning, the Center for Whale Research has used iconic Boston Whaler vessels for our on-the-water research. Our current research boat is a 1982 Whaler: Orcinus (see picture below with CWR’s ORCA SURVEY Lead Dave Ellifrit at the helm).

 

However, as times and technology change, we must keep up, adopting more efficient, safer tools as they become available. In the second half of 2022, Ken Balcomb, Dave Ellifrit, and I frequently met to discuss science planning for the Center for Whale Research’s future. In these discussions, Ken routinely identified a more-robust and advanced research boat as the primary piece of equipment CWR would need to take us through the coming decades of killer whale studies. 

 

These discussions evolved into talks about design needs, cost, and boat manufacturers. Ultimately, we settled on a 23’ aluminum-hull T-Top manufactured by LIFE PROOF BOATS in Bremerton, Washington. LIFE PROOF is a widely respected vessel manufacturer, producing boats for various professional applications, including law enforcement and search and rescue operations.

 

While CWR’s field staff tries not to “work whales” in rough weather—it’s just not efficient—the new LIFE  PROOF vessel will mean we can safely transit rough waters to get to where the whales are or get home after a far-off encounter. Our new boat will feature improved GPS and radar, allowing us to navigate low visibility conditions better. 

 

There are several days each year when the Southern Residents and Bigg’s killer whales are in places we don’t have the capability of reaching. One of the principal reasons we need a new research platform is to expand our killer whale fieldwork range. And this vessel fits the bill. Powered by twin 150 horsepower engines, with a greatly expanded fuel tank (i.e., approximately 30% larger than our current Whaler) and some gains in fuel efficiency, our San Juan Island-based field team will be able to conduct fieldwork in areas currently out of reach, including more northernly regions of the Strait of Georgia and Northern Gulf Islands in British Columbia, and Washington State’s Puget Sound. 

 

CWR’s new research vessel will boost orca encounters each year, increasing our data collection capacity and enhancing our monitoring of these populations. 

 

But it’s not just about getting to the whales. Our new vessel is configured much more optimally for our research procedures. One of the key features is the boat’s increased usable deck space: the bow is completely open, and there’s standing space aft of the console. This spaciousness is especially important for drone operations. We can now move all crew not involved in drone take-offs and landings behind the console while the pilot and catcher (wearing a helmet, eye protection, and gloves) stand on the bow to launch and retrieve the drone. On our Whalers, it is a challenge to safeguard CWR personnel during drone flights. 

 

The added deck space will also be helpful during ORCA SURVEY photo-identification encounters. While our CWR field teams will remain small—1 to 4 people—the open deck area means more room to work, getting the right angle on whales while not getting in each other’s shots, which is especially important when we have whales on opposite sides of the boat and need to document animals at various angles. The LIFE PROOF’s center-console design will permit researchers to quickly and efficiently move from bow to stern to get a fresh angle without impeding the driver’s line of sight. 

 

The new vessel will also provide extra safety during photo-ID work. We never plan to work in rough conditions, but waves still hit unexpectedly. The foam collar buoyancy stabilizers will help to absorb some of this, providing a more secure platform for our researchers while standing in place or moving around during photo-ID work. The T-Top will partially protect our crew from the elements, protecting our cameras from the rain and shading the driver on hot, sunny days.