Raised on Camano Island in Washington’s northern Puget Sound, Jim Lindell began building boats as a teenager and quickly developed a reputation for rugged, seaworthy designs. After constructing his first boat at 18 and spending time working in Alaskan fisheries, he recognized the need for sturdier commercial fishing vessels that could endure harsh North Pacific conditions. Applying fiberglass techniques learned at the GlassPly Boat Company in Everett, Washington, Lindell built a 42-foot gillnetter that proved lighter and stronger than many existing boats—and faster to get crews to the fishing grounds. That vessel’s performance drew local interest and turned Lindell from a fisherman into a full-time boat builder.
Over the next years Lindell produced about 50 custom gillnetters before shifting focus to recreational and sport-fishing designs. He developed the Skagit Orcas and the 36-foot Lindell Sport Fisher, and in the early 2000s introduced the Oceansport Roamers. Those models laid the groundwork for Lindell Yachts’ move into sport-utility recreational yachts, blending serious offshore capability with comfortable accommodations for family use.
In 2012 Tacoma surgeon Brian Kott bought an Oceansport and collaborated with Lindell to launch a new line: the Lindell Yachts Adventure 42 and 46. Featuring reverse-rake windshields and bold, aggressive profiles, the Adventure models deliver both performance and spacious cockpit layouts. With twin Volvo IPS propulsion the boats can reach about 40 knots, and the 46—an extended version of the 42—offers exceptionally large cockpit space that can be configured for entertaining or serious fishing. “You can set up a table for 12, and with a Seakeeper you can set a wineglass on the table and not worry about it,” says Frank O’Neil, Lindell Yachts’ chief revenue officer.
Lindell and Kott co-designed the 42 and 46, often working from simple sketches and hands-on experience. In 2016 Lindell sold the business to Kott and relocated to the Sea of Cortez, although he still maintains a home on Camano Island and provides guidance for the company. For the brand’s first outboard-powered model, the 38, Lindell Yachts commissioned naval architect Greg Marshall, known for designs ranging from workboats to offshore cruisers.
The Lindell 38 is offered with twin Yamaha 425-hp outboards and a large 700-gallon fuel tank, delivering a top speed near 40 knots. A triple-425 configuration increases top speed potential significantly. At a cruising speed of 26 knots the 38 burns under a gallon per mile, yielding an impressive long-range capability—enough, for example, to travel from La Conner, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska, on a single tank. “The range is really what I think is one of our advantages,” O’Neil notes, highlighting the model’s utility for extended trips and challenging passages.
Below decks the 38 balances practical fishing features with comfortable accommodations. The layout includes two staterooms, each with its own queen bed, a single head with shower, and teak cabinetry throughout the interior. The hulls are vacuum-infused and constructed without wood in the hull, deck, house, or house cap, emphasizing durability and low maintenance. The standard price of a 38 is about $776,000.
As a semi-custom builder, Lindell Yachts accommodates a wide range of owner preferences. One 38, for example, is being fitted with a tuna tower for offshore chasing of yellowfin and bluefin in Baja—an illustration of the company’s willingness to tailor vessels to specific fishing or cruising needs.
The business has been expanding operations: finishing work moved to Burlington, Washington, in 2019 while hull production remains on Camano Island for now, with plans to consolidate production in Burlington over time. Lindell Yachts is exploring larger models—48 and 54 feet are in the plan stream—and is interested in offering higher-horsepower propulsion options such as Mercury’s new 600-hp outboards when they become available. The company also serves East Coast customers, with a Lindell 46 currently under construction for an owner in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
For owners who cruise to warmer destinations, Lindell offers full air-conditioning packages as an option. Systems can include 16,000 Btu on the deckhouse and 12,000 Btu below, allowing comfortable liveaboard or overnight use in hot climates—and with triple engines, owners can get to southern destinations quickly. The Lindell 38 was conceived to bridge the gap between a hardcore fishing platform and a comfortable family cruiser: a true adventure explorer that can operate efficiently in rough weather while providing long range and reliable performance.
Specifications
LOA: 38’′2”″
Beam: 12′’6”
Draft (engines down): 2’0”
Fuel: 700 gals.
Water: 147 gals.
Power: (2) 425-hp Yamahas
Price: $776,416
This article was originally published in the June 2021 issue.