Time Bandit Boat: Who Owns This Famous Vessel?

The Time Bandit is a commercial crab fishing vessel owned by brothers Johnathan, Andy, and Neal Hillstrand. The boat was built in 1991 at the Giddings Boat Works in Coos Bay, Oregon, and is 113 feet long with a beam 28 feet across. It includes unusual amenities such as queen-size beds, a four-person sauna, and a dishwasher. The Time Bandit has appeared on the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch but has been notably absent in recent seasons due to the Hillstrand brothers' departure from the show.

The Time Bandit is owned by the Hillstrand brothers

The Time Bandit is a 113-foot house aft boat, built in 1991 at the Giddings Boat Works in Coos Bay, Oregon. It has unusual comforts for a crab boat, including a four-man sauna, state rooms with queen-size beds and a dishwasher. The vessel is featured on the Discovery Channel series 'Deadliest Catch', where the Hillstrand brothers allowed viewers an insight into their lives as fishermen.

Johnathan Hillstrand, captain of the Time Bandit during King Crab season, takes safety very seriously due to the dangers of fishing the Bering Sea. However, he is also known as the practical joker on board, with pranks such as "flour bombs" and "seal bombs". Johnathan's brother, Andy, is co-captain of the Time Bandit and is also a devoted family man with two grown-up daughters and two grandchildren.

The Time Bandit briefly disappeared from 'Deadliest Catch' in 2021, with the Hillstrand brothers leaving the show after Season 13. The boat was put up for sale in 2019 for nearly $3 million, although it is unclear if it has been sold. The brothers' tenure on the show ended with Johnathan announcing his retirement, although he soon returned to fishing and documenting his trips on social media.

Johnathan Hillstrand is the boat's captain

Johnathan Hillstrand is the captain of the Time Bandit, a commercial crab fishing vessel. He and his brother Andy co-own the boat, which was designed by their father. Johnathan has been a fisherman since he was a teenager and has been the captain of the Time Bandit during King Crab season. He takes the safety of his crew very seriously, given the dangers of fishing in the Bering Sea.

Johnathan has a playful side, too, and is known as the prankster on board. He has pulled various pranks, including "flour bombs", buckets of water, and the unexpected detonation of seal bombs. Johnathan's life at sea began when his father would take him and his brothers out on the boat from as early as three years old. They started fishing at seven years of age. Johnathan became a full-time fisherman after high school and has also fished for lobster off the New England coast.

In addition to his fishing career, Johnathan has co-authored a book with his brothers called "Time Bandit". He splits his time between Seattle, Washington, and Homer, Alaska, where he spends time with family and friends. He has two grown children, Tae and Scott, and two grandchildren. Johnathan also enjoys riding his 2000 Harley Davidson Fatboy, which is customised with a nitrous tank for added acceleration.

Johnathan Hillstrand's role as captain of the Time Bandit has been featured on the Discovery Channel series "Deadliest Catch". The Time Bandit is a fan-favourite boat on the show, known for its skull and crossbones emblem. Johnathan and his brothers left the show after Season 13, but he returned for the final few episodes of Season 16 as a co-captain.

The boat was designed by the brothers' father

The F/V Time Bandit is a commercial crab fishing vessel owned and operated by the Hillstrand brothers, Johnathan and Andy, and occasionally their brother Neal. The Time Bandit was designed by the brothers' father, John Sr., and custom-built by the Hillstrands themselves, including John Sr., David, Michael and Neal. John Sr. also came up with the name, inspired by the movie Time Bandits, and because "the sea steals your time".

The Time Bandit was built in 1991 at the Giddings Boat Works in Coos Bay, Oregon. It is a 298-ton, 113-foot house-aft boat with a 28-foot beam and an 8-foot draft. It is powered by two 425-horsepower Cummins engines, giving it a cruising speed of 9 knots. The boat includes unusual amenities such as queen-size beds, a four-person sauna and a dishwasher, which are not commonly found on crab boats.

The Time Bandit has been featured on the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch, where it is one of the most popular boats. The boat's connection to the show runs deep; in addition to the involvement of the Hillstrand brothers, their father and uncle were among the group that designed and built the Time Bandit. The boat's skull and crossbones emblem gives it a unique character.

The Time Bandit has had a somewhat tumultuous history, with reports of an engine explosion and a brief period when it was listed for auction with an asking price of $2.8 million. However, it appears that the boat remains in the hands of the Hillstrands and continues to make appearances on Deadliest Catch.

The Time Bandit has been on the TV show Deadliest Catch

The F/V Time Bandit has been a regular fixture on the Discovery Channel's hit reality TV show, Deadliest Catch. The show follows the lives of fishermen as they battle turbulent waters and treacherous conditions in the pursuit of the biggest catches of their lives. The Time Bandit is a commercial crab fishing vessel that has been featured on the show due to its unique features and the colourful characters of its crew.

The Time Bandit is owned and operated by the Hillstrand family. Brothers Johnathan, Andy, and Neal Hillstrand are the ship's captains and part-owners. The boat was custom-built by the Hillstrands themselves, including their father, John Sr., who designed it. The vessel includes unusual amenities for a fishing boat, such as queen-size beds, a four-person sauna, and a dishwasher. The boat's distinctive skull and crossbones logo also sets it apart from other vessels on the show.

The Time Bandit has had an on-and-off presence on Deadliest Catch over the years. The Hillstrand brothers left the show after Season 13 but have made occasional returns. Jonathan Hillstrand, for instance, returned for the final few episodes of Season 16 as a co-captain. The Time Bandit also reappeared in 2024, with its return celebrated by fans who had been wondering about its absence.

The Time Bandit's crew has also been a source of interest for viewers. In addition to the Hillstrand brothers, the crew has included seasoned fishermen like Russell Newberry and Eddie Uwekoolani, as well as family members of the Hillstrands, such as Neal's sons, Phillip and Axel, who have taken an interest in the family business.

The boat was put up for sale in 2019

The Time Bandit is a commercial crab fishing vessel owned by brothers Johnathan, Andy, and Neal Hillstrand. It is featured on the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch. The boat was put up for sale in 2019 for $2.88 million, although it's unclear if it ever sold. TMZ reported that one of the captains, Neal Hillstrand, had filed for divorce in 2018 and agreed to pay his estranged wife $10,000 if the boat was sold.

The Time Bandit was built in 1991 and is 113 feet long. It was designed by the Hillstrands' father and has been in the family for years. The boat has some unique features for a crab boat, including a four-man sauna, state rooms with queen-size beds, and a dishwasher. It can hold 175,000 pounds of crab or 365,000 pounds of salmon.

The Hillstrand brothers left Deadliest Catch after Season 13, but Jonathan Hillstrand returned for the last few episodes of Season 16 as a co-captain. The Time Bandit also returned to the show in 2024, although it's unclear if it will remain for future seasons.

The boat's disappearance from the show had fans questioning its whereabouts and speculating about the Hillstrand brothers' future on the series. The Time Bandit's return to the show in 2024 has excited fans, and it appears to be back for the foreseeable future.

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