TheDeadliest Catchboats are as big a symbol of the Discovery Channel reality series as the oversized Alaskan king crab and snow crab they hunt for in the blistering Bering Sea. While there are some parts ofDeadliest Catchthat arefaked in the way Discovery reality series often are, those are real boats out on the freezing and tumultuous North Atlantic Ocean, weighing upwards of 370 tons. The sight of one of these behemoth and industrial, but somehow nostalgic, ships blasting through ocean spray as gulls soar overhead is a defining shot of the series.
Names likeNorthwestern,Seabrooke, andWizardare as tied to the show as Sig Hansen, Phil Harris, and Keith Colburn. With F/V as a prefix (“Fishing Vessel”),the boats onDeadliest Catchset out from Alaskan harbors in the October king crab and January opilio crab(snow crab) seasons. Narrated by Mike Rowe,Deadliest Catchhas been on the air since 2005, outlasting many similar Discovery Channel shows that have been forgotten over the years. The crabbing vessels are one of the most impressive aspects of the show: a filming set, home, and source of danger.
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Ole Helgevod
Pilot
TheF/V Arctic Dawnmay not be the most well known ship onDeadliest Catch,but it still deserves a special mention due to the fact that it was one of the few vessels featured in the three-part pilot miniseriesAmerica’s Deadliest Season.Without Thom Beers' decision to follow theArctic Dawnwith a film crew during the 2003-2004 crab season,Deadliest Catchmay never have existed as a show.
F/V Arctic Dawnnever returned toDeadliest Catch,but it remains an important part of the show’s history. Unfortunately, it’s also a ship that’s been plagued with misfortune since the show itself aired. After being retired from fishing crab in 2005, and taking a complete break in 2009,F/V Arctic Dawncaught fire while moored in the Lake Washington Ship Canal in 2010(viagcaptain).This wasn’t the end of the ships' troubles, however, as former captain Clarence “Ole” Helgevod, who was featured in theDeadliest Catchpilot, was charged with a DUI and manslaughter in Alaska in 2017(viaLos Angeles Daily News)
AlongsideF/V Arctic Dawn, the 3 episodeDeadliest Catchpilot,America’s Deadliest Season,also followed theF/V Northwestern, Erla-N, Saga,andF/V Sea Star.
“Wild” Bill Wichrowski
6-8
F/V Kodiakis one of the shortest-lived boats onDeadliest Catchamong those that appeared in more than one season, having only been featured during the shows' midpoint from season 6 to season 8. Built in 1978 and named after its town of origin, Alaska’s Kodiak,F/V Kodiakis 111ft in length, and remains one of the weakerDeadliest Catchships.While it was piloted by Wild Bill Wichrowski, one of the most entertaining captains inDeadliestCatch,the skipper moved on to theF/VCape Cautionin season 9, and theKodiakwas never seen in the show again.
Still, while it’s not one of the most memorableDeadliest Catchvessels by the 2020s, it was eagerly anticipated when it arrived in 2010’s season 6. Much like theF/V Arctic Dawn,theF/V Kodiakis worth remembering when it comes to the wider history of the show and the wealth of vessels featured in all 19 seasons so far, as it was a talking point for fans when it debuted.
1
Steve “Harley” Davidson
18
There have been many ships in the history ofDeadliest Catchthat left after either a single or handful of seasons, only to later return with a new captain at a later point in the show’s run. However, few had such a lengthy leave of absence asF/V Billikin.Built in 1973 in Seattle, theBillikinis a 132ft scooner that was first introduced toDeadliest Catchviewers all the way back in 2005’s season 1. It was then captained by Jeff Weeks, though both he andF/V Billikindidn’t return forDeadliest Catchseason 2.
However,17 years later,F/V Billikinreturned inDeadliest Catchseason 18. By this point, of course, the Discovery series was a markedly different show, with plenty of years to polish its formula and find what truly worked (which also a key reason for the show has managed to remain on air for almost 20 years). WhenF/V Billikinwas seen again, it was Steve “Harley” Davidson at the helm. Sadly for this blast fromDeadliest Catch’s past, Davidson wouldn’t carry theBillikinwith him into season 19, and instead was co-captain of theF/V Barbara Jalongside Jack Bunnell.
Scott Campbell Jr.
16 & 17
While it didn’t take quite as long a break asF/V Billikin,the grandly namedF/V Lady Alaskais anotherDeadliest Catchship that most fans thought retired on the show after the first season, and were surprised to see it return over a decade later. DuringDeadliest Catchseason 1,F/V Lady Alaskahad captain Peter Liske at the helm, though like Jeff Weeks of theF/V Billikin,Liske didn’t return to the show after its debut outing in 2005.
Fast-forward to 2020, andDeadliest Catchonce again followed theF/V Lady Alaskaas the ship and its crew braved the waves of the Bering Sea in search of elusive yet lucrative hauls of crab.DuringF/V Lady Alaska’ssecond stint onDeadliest Catch,it was helmed by none other than show veteran Scott Campbell Jr., a regular from seasons 7-10.
9-12
F/V Cape Cautionmay be more remembered for its captain, “Wild” Bill Wichrowski, but it deserves consideration among all theDeadliest Catchships due to its prominence between seasons 9 and 12 (2013 to 2016). Bill Wichrowski has always been a fan-favorite when it comes toDeadliest Catchcaptains, and because of this,theCape Cautionwas considered by many to be one of the “main” vessels on the show before it was retired prior to season 13.
This was when Bill Wichrowski moved over to theF/V Summer Bay,and soCape Cautionhasn’t been seen since. He remains withSummer Bayas ofDeadliest Catchseason 19, and his second vessel has become tied much closer to the captain than his original. Also worthy of note is that, at just over 98 ft long,F/V Cape Cautionwas on the shorter side when it came to the ships onDeadliest Catch.
15-18
F/V Southern Windfirst appeared onDeadliest Catchalongside its captain Steve “Harley” Davidson in season 15, though they may have been filmed earlier.Something fans may not know aboutDeadliest Catchis that boats and crews are often filmed without making it onto the show some seasons. It’s a wonderSouthern Windnever made it on the series in the past, considering Harley’s hot temper and his willingness to spot-check other boats' pots.
The ship’s home port is Seattle, Washington, and was previously namedSeahawkerandSablefish(viaDeadliestFleet). It’s 43.90 meters in length (about 144 feet, or almost half a gridiron football field) and weighs 493 tons. Built in 1980,Southern Windis a powerful-looking vessel capable of competing with the top ships in the show for crabas well as for drama.
Rick Shelford
19-Present
Rick Shelford andF/V Aleutian Ladymay be relative newcomers to the series, but they’re an exciting new addition with an eye-catching royal blue hull. The boat was built in 1980 by the Nichols brothers out of a Washington shipyard (viaNicholsBoats), and is 125 feet in length (viaShelfordFisheries).It’s capable of carrying 189 tons and can host a crew of 5-8 men. Rick Shelford, the captain of the vessel, has previously appeared on the show working on other ships.
F/V Aleutian Ladybelongs to Shelford Fisheries, a family-owned company headed by Rick’s father, Rick.
It’s been an adventure watching Shelford grow from a greenhorn into the captain of his own ship, gaining confidence along the way. Sometimes it feels like he’s gained a bit too much confidence, however, and he’s often more than willing to steerAleutian Ladyinto situations that more veteran crab boat captains would want to avoid.
7-10, 16
10
Sophia “Bob” Nielsen
20
Many fans will recognizeF/V Seabrookeas the home ofthe late Mahlon Reyes onDeadliest Catch, who passed away on July 29, 2025 in his home at the age of 38. TheSeabrookehas only appeared on and off onDeadliest Catch, butit’s unmistakable with its bright red hull and fast speed, like a corvette out on the ocean. Captained by Scott Campbell, Jr. for most of its run,Seabrookewas an exciting vessel on the show, but unfortunately, Campbell had to take a break after a back injury forced him to have surgery (viaTri-City Herald).
Seabrookereturns in season 20, now helmed by Sophia “Bob” Nielsen, one of the few female captains in the fleet. First appearing on the show in season 19 as a deckhand, Bob made her way to the cockpit ofSeabrookein season 20. Originally working on Saga, Bob hoped to take over her family’s boat, Victory, but she has a powerful ship inSeabrooke(viaWBD).
Sean Dwyer
12-15, 18
Sean Dwyer, captain ofF/V Brenna A, is one of the youngest captains in the fleet, but he isn’t a greenhorn by any means. Fans have watched Dwyer work onBrenna A’s sister,Jennifer A, in previous seasons before taking up the mantle ofBrenna A, making the ship an important part of Dwyer’s journey. An unremarkable vessel in some respects,Brenna Ais a solid and reliable boat that seems to generally have success on the open seas.
Brenna Ais 35 meters in length (114 feet), making it one of the smaller boats inDeadliest Catch(viaDeadliestFleet). The ship is owned by Jenny Gore Dwyer, Sean’s mother, and it was Sean’s father’s dying wish that Sean captain one of their family boats (viaDiscovery). It’s a family affair forBrenna A, and its plucky resolve in the sea with its small frame gives the ship a sort of underdog feel when up against its larger counterparts.
Linda Greenlaw
19
F/V Summer Baycould almost be a luxury vessel looking at it just by the hull. With its powder blue paint and the warm-sounding name ofSummer Bay,it’s one of the most beautiful vessels inDeadliest Catch. The ship is out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and is 32 meters in length (105 feet), capable of carrying 196 tons of crab (viaDeadliestFleet). While its coloring, name, and size may suggestSummer Bayis a dainty ship, Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski is anything but.
Bill burst onto the series, earning his nickname by performing surprising and dangerous maneuvers withSummer Bay, and developing some rivalries between other crews. However, recent seasons have seen Bill mellow, and in season 19, Bill brought on fishing celebrity Linda Greenlaw to captain. Greenlaw was played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio inWolfgang Petersen’s thrilling movieThe Perfect Storm, based on the true story of a Boston swordfish boat.
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