Built in 1991 at the Giddings Boat Yard in Coos Bay , Oregon, the F/V Time Bandit is a 298 ton, 113 foot house-aft boat with a beam 28 feet across. It has an 8 foot draft and is powered by two 425 horsepower Cummins engines with a cruising speed of 9 knots. It has a hold capacity of 120,000 pounds for king crab, 175,000 for snow crab and 370,000 for salmon.
The F/V Time Bandit was designed by Andy and Johnathan’s father, John Sr., and custom-built by the Hillstrands themselves. The boat includes such unusual amenities as queen-size beds, a four-person sauna and a dishwasher.
The F/V Time Bandit’s home port is Homer, Alaska.
Current Crew of Time Bandit
Captain Andy Hillstrand
Andy Hillstrand is a born and bred Alaskan, and a third generation fisherman. The ocean is in his blood. Aboard Time Bandit, Andy is co-captain along with his brother John. During Opilio Crab season, you’ll find Captain Andy in the wheelhouse hunting for the elusive opies and fighting rogue waves and hull-crushing ice. Known as the Axeman, Andy is the consummate professional fisherman and takes every aspect of crew and boat safety seriously. It should come as no surprise that the Captain can rewire electrical systems, stitch up an injured crew member, and bring in boat loads of crab!
Captain Johnathan Hillstrand
Johnathan Hillstrand, 47, was also born and raised in Alaska. As Captain of Time Bandit during King Crab season, he runs a tight ship. With the dangers of fishing the Bering Sea, the safety of his crew is his top priority. There is no room for mistakes when John is in the wheelhouse. Although a serious fisherman, John is also known as the practical joker on board Time Bandit. “Flour bombs”, teetering buckets of water, and the unexpected detonation of a seal bomb or two are just a few of his favorite pranks!
Neal Hillstrand
Neal, 42, is the youngest of the five Hillstrand brothers, and like them, the ocean has been his life. Many a sailor will say the ocean is his mistress – for Neal, Time Bandit is his. Neal truly knows every aspect of keeping the Time Bandit ocean-ready. Whether he is engineer, deckhand, cook, or skipper, Neal commands respect for the vessel. On board, Neal is known as the “king of one-liners” with his quick-witted sense of humor!
Scott Hillstrand
Remaining true to the Hillstrand fishing legacy, Captain Johnathan’s son, Scott Hillstrand, serves aboard the F/V Time Bandit as a deckhand. He commonly runs the boat’s hydraulics, but is trained to do anything on board.
Scott, 27, was born in Homer, Alaska, and has been commercial fishing since he was 15. He has fished on the east coast with his father, and in Alaska aboard the Time Bandit.
Eddie Uwekoolani
Eddie Uwekoolani, 42, a long-time deckhand on Time Bandit, provides over 20 years of experience to the boat. Eddie divides his time between Alaska and his native Hawaii. Eddie is the proud father of four children and three grandchildren.
Mike Fourtner
Returning to the Time Bandit last year during 2008 King Crab season, Mike Fourtner, 29, is a skilled skipper, deckand, and engineer aboard Time Bandit, not only during crab fishing, but during the summer months for salmon. Mike is married, and a resident of Washington.
JJ
John Jorgensen, 52, joined the crew as a deckhand during the 2009 Opie season. John brings with him over 33 years experience as a professional fisherman. Once owning his own boat, the “F/V Zolotoy”, John provides 28 years of seasoned crab fishing experience. John is a resident of Bremerton, WA.
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