Interview with Alex. Greenline 33

“My brain relaxes much faster when I'm on the water”, Alex, Greenline 33

Meet Alex, the passionate owner of Greenline 33 in Seattle. In this exclusive interview, discover the inspiration behind Alex’s maritime passion and how he crafts unforgettable family moments aboard his Greenline Yacht.

When did you buy this boat? Was it your first vessel?

We acquired the boat in November 2017 and have been proud owners for six years. It all began with my wife’s desire to own a boat, coinciding with my friend Fedor becoming a representative of Greenline on the West Coast. The combination of a boat-selling friend and a boat-wanting wife was irresistible. Fedor became our go-to expert and source of knowledge, and among the options available at the time, the Greenline 33 seemed perfect for us. We’re a family of three with one child, and usually, we travel with the three of us plus our two small dogs. Living by the lake, our occasional week-long cruises to the San Juan Islands make the Greenline 33 our ideal vessel — the minivan on the water, as we affectionately call it.

This is our first large boat. While we have some sailing experience, we’ve never owned anything with a cabin until now. It’s the first boat where you can actually sleep, and we’ve come to realize how much it changes the way we use the boat. Now, when everything is packed, cruising is much less stressful. There’s no need to pack and unpack; it’s like having our own miniature apartment on the water. We know where everything is stored, and there’s no need to shuffle through bags. It has truly been a life-changing experience in how we approach and enjoy our time on the water.

This is your first large boat. Was it scary to running it when you just got it?

Absolutely! Stepping behind the wheel of a larger vessel on water is always intimidating. It’s like being behind the wheel of a large truck on ice. It doesn’t stop, it doesn’t start, it skids, it slides. It’s a nerve ride.

Fedor assisted with docking in Seattle, showing us the ins and outs of navigating the marina slip. The first two weeks were tense. Me and my wife, we had our regular daily practices for a few weeks. We made a dummy floaty named Steve, which we would just throw in the middle of the lake, and we would take circles and practice like the man overboard routines. Now, several years later, it feels like second nature.

But I should add that you have almost 360 around visibility. The starboard side is very close to you, so you can be very precise in your docking. This is a great benefit of GL layout.

Have you ever had the critical mechanical issues with this boat?

Mechanically, the boat has performed flawlessly. We’ve only experienced a water pump failure and an issue with the fridge, which, given the circumstances of breaking during the COVID pandemic, proved challenging to replace. The lack of availability for a 220 Volt replacement in North America led us to retrofit a 12 Volt fridge. Overall, the Volvo engine runs smoothly, thrusters are helpful, and controls are efficient.

Regarding suggestions and wishes, improved engine sound insulation and a larger black water tank would top the list. The current black water tank size becomes limiting for cruising in the no-discharge zone on the Seattle side of the Puget Sound.

Do you have any plans to switch the boat for bigger size?

I’m pretty sure every boater thinks at the time you get a delivery of your boat, you start thinking what’s going to be the next one

GL 33 is great for 3 as I said. It even can fit 6, but if you are really close friends if you know what I mean Everybody needs personal space, right. So, of course I’d get a bigger boat just to feel comfortable for one week on the water with 6-7 people.

So far, we love our 33 and don’t plan to change it in the nearest future.

How has your life changed since the day you bought the boat?

Absolutely. To the positive. The quality of our downtime significantly improved. We keep the boat on the lake which is very close to our house, it’s a 3-minute drive, 10-minute walk.

For whatever reason, which I realized only after getting the boat, my brain relaxes much faster when I’m on the water. Weekend trips feel as rejuvenating as week-long vacations.

We try to go as often as possible, even a few hours trips after work for a quick swim and dinner. This is just great.

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