1987 Custom Monroe 52

This 1987 Custom Monroe 52 is a purpose-built commercial fishing boat constructed in the Florida Keys with the keel laid by Eric Gladding. At 52 feet with a 22-foot beam, the fiberglass hull is built on a full steel keel and features a solid aluminum rub rail. The boat was designed for serious lobster, crab, and hook-and-line operations and carries four fish holds—two set into the deck and two on deck—along with substantial 12,000-pound fish boxes.

Power comes from an 8V92 Detroit diesel with 4,500 hours, paired to an Allison 3:1 MH25 transmission. A Northern Lights M20crw3.2 generator (20kw) provides auxiliary power, and a rebuilt 8V71 Detroit diesel with Allison transmission serves as a spare. The boat holds 1,600 gallons of fuel and 500 gallons of fresh water. Navigation and fishing operations are supported by three Garmin 8616 units, a Garmin 8610 at the rear helm, two VHF radios with AIS, a 3kW transducer, Simrad autopilot, and Starlink marine offshore WiFi, all controlled through a custom electronic panel.

Operational equipment includes hydraulic bandit reels, a hydraulic-slave steering system (newly installed), a windlass anchor hauler with hoist, and dual anchoring setups—a 75-pound anchor with 60 feet of chain and 1,200 feet of rope, plus two spare Fortress anchors. The boat accommodates a crew of seven with full galley facilities, food and bait freezers, and a refrigerator. Recent upgrades include new shower and toilet with macerator pump, an Instahot tankless water heater, three Dometic air-conditioning units (two new rooftop models), a new main bulkhead and forward cabin, and a Newmar battery charger. All plumbing is PEX. The hull was bottom-painted in September 2025.