trawler or sailboat

Trawler vs. Sail

March 30, 2019 93 Comments

Trawler versus sail—a comparison that is often dismissed as an old-person versus young-person, apples-to-oranges argument. It’s assumed that a sailor will sail until his hands are too crippled to manage a line any longer, then buy a trawler that will sit dockside, until one day a dockmaster is notified of a disturbing smell coming from “that boat the old guy lives in.”

But maybe there is more to it. Maybe sailors can get tired of sailing, sometimes, and we can wonder just how much we would really miss it if there were no sails to raise. When I was ready for my next family boat, I had no problem whatsoever coming to the conclusion that I wouldn’t miss sails. I really should say we had no problem, as the choice was very much a mutual one with my wife, Ali—and our kids didn’t care as long as they were back on the water.

For a quick background check on my credentials, let me just point out that Ali and I sailed around the world on our 35′ catamaran, and also spent a few years bopping around the West Coast of the U.S. and Mexico on a 43′ monohull—thus giving myself some rolly-polly boat cred, as well. I discussed the catamaran versus monohull debate here and here . I think we all know how that debate turns out, don’t we? If we’re being honest.

After about 8 years, 65 countries, and 45,000 miles in boats with floppy white things, and small engines, my family moved on to an entirely different kind of cruising—trawler.

We bought a 1986 42′ Grand Banks in Florida two years ago, spent a cruising season putting a couple thousand miles on her through the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and back to Florida. This season we visited Key West and then headed west across the Gulf to Mexico, with plans to continue south through Central America.

During this time we’ve established some pretty strong opinions about the trawler versus sail debate, so I’m going to lay it out here now.

Purchase Cost

Our 35′ catamaran was just a year old when we bought it for $157,000. It didn’t need any work in order to take off and cruise. We added a watermaker, replaced the batteries, and set off to sail around the world.

The monohull was a 1982 43′ Spindrift that had sat in a marina in the Sacramento Delta for a dozen years. The engine was half underwater, and the decks were degrading—but the interior was still in beautiful, like new condition, and the layout of the pilothouse was exactly what we wanted for our family of three. We bought it for $48,000, sight unseen off of Craigslist, and moved aboard with our six-month-old baby girl.

Our 42′ Grand Banks cost $120,000. We’re now a family of four, and this boat fits. The teak decks are getting a little long in the tooth, but aside from that it is in amazing shape. The engine room immediately sold me on this boat. Immaculate, huge, and obviously well cared for. The interior woodwork was exceptional, and every single thing on the boat worked. Even the exterior fiberglass looks like it was laid yesterday. For a thirty-three year old boat, it looks fabulous.

When people unfamiliar with trawlers step inside our boat for the first time, their jaws drop. It may only be 42 feet, but the space it affords is enormous—it has comfortable living space, from one end to the other.

The aft stateroom on the Grand Banks is our two kids’ room, with a twin bed on one side, a full-size bed on the other, a dresser, enough floor space for two kids and all their toys, and a very large closet. Ceiling height in this room, as well as everywhere else in the boat, is well clear of my 6′ 2” and never requires stooping. Not many sailboats can say that.

The galley and saloon are extremely roomy and well laid-out, with two large refrigerator/freezers, two couches, a big table, acres of windows, and light. Yes, light! Something our monohull was always lacking, despite the fact that it was a pilothouse with lots of windows.

Our monohull and catamaran combined wouldn’t hold a candle to the trawler’s space. Finally, in case you are a hoarder, there is more storage under the seats on the top deck, as well as under the steering station. When we moved aboard we found a total of twenty-seven life jackets onboard. I’m certain this was because they simply forgot where they were all stored, and just kept buying more.

Advantage, absolutely, positively, trawler.

Our catamaran had two little Volvo 20hp engines, and was exceedingly, painfully, slow under power. Granted, it sipped diesel, but I would have traded fuel economy for power a hundred times, at least, during our time on that boat. Top motoring speed, 4.0 knots. In addition, the engines are located underneath the beds­, meaning hot beds at night, and a workspace that includes needing to pull mattresses completely out of the room.

It was a welcome change when we moved to the monohull and graduated to a Ford Lehman 80. Yet even that good-sized engine could only shove our beast of a full-keeler to 5.6 knots at normal RPMs. On the plus side, the engine space was much larger and easier to work in, though still a long way from enjoyable. I did however appreciate being able to fit a five gallon bucket under the oil pan for changes.

Now, in the Grand Banks, we’re powered by twin Ford Lehman 135s, and it is a thing of beauty. Calculating our ETA to the next island using an input of 8.5 knots is a wonderful feeling. And, oh boy, can I bend your ear raving about the massive engine room.

But wait, I hear the sailors saying, “We sailboat cruisers don’t care about how fast we can go, or what our motoring speed is, we just capture the wind and go where it takes us.” To which my only reply is, “You must be new here.”

Are there exceptions to the rule—the rule that states that 90% of sailors will sail just 10% of the time? Sure. Every sailor thinks they are the exception, but experience, and truthfulness, will soon tell them otherwise. We’re all motorboaters in the end.

Catamarans, obviously, are well known for their stability. In a mono versus cat debate it would take an incredible imagination to argue in favor of the monohull. Anyone who says they prefer the rolling of a monohull to the slightly jerky, but flat, motion of a catamaran is either certifiably insane, or… no, they are definitely insane.

People can claim to enjoy heeling over, but anyone who has done multi-day passages knows full well how exhausting it eventually is to live on a hill. It’s just impossible to argue a case for the monohull. And any captain who prefers that the crew he’s got with him not spend their days barfing over the side of the boat, will attest to the beauty of the catamaran design.

So how does a semi-displacement trawler handle the ocean?

Ahhh, that’s where we got lucky. Honestly, I didn’t know a thing about stabilizers before we bought our boat. When I saw on the sale listing that it had stabilizers, I gave that news about the same affirming nod I gave to the listing pointing out the autopilot.

But there they were—Naiad stabilizing fins on each side of the boat. We bought our boat in St. Augustine, Florida, and it wasn’t until we set off down the ICW that I hit the buttons to activate them for the first time. A while later, a typical ICW speedboat went past, throwing up a wake that would strike fear into even the most hardened monohull sailor. I steered a straight line, not even turning to point into the waves, and the experience was transcendant—a trawler that handles waves like a catamaran.

A monohull sailboat? Forget it—there’s nothing stable about a monohull in any condition.

A trawler with stabilizers? Such an incredibly close second-place finish. Underway, our trawler is a virtual equal to our catamaran. In fact, I’d give it a slight nod because of the weight and its ability to smash through waves on the nose without losing momentum the way the cat would. At anchor, the trawler suffers almost the same maladies that a monohull does—a wraparound swell will always drive you nuts. The trawler doesn’t seem to build the momentum of the pendulum that a mono sailboat does, but it will get rolling all the same. This past season I laid out a back anchor in at least half a dozen anchorages around the Bahamas to get our bow pointed into the swell. In each of those instances, the catamaran likely wouldn’t have been bothered much.

Operating Cost

Sailboat owners immediately point out fuel costs as an argument against a trawler, so let’s tackle that issue right off the bat.

Our cruising on the trawler so far has been typical of a lot of users. We motored down from north Florida, over to the Bahamas, down to the Turks and Caicos, back to central Florida, down to the Keys, and across to Mexico. From here we’ll head to Guatemala to wait out another hurricane season. All told, about 3,500 miles. Our total fuel cost (we won’t need more before hurricane season) is $7,702 for those two years. At an average price of $4.64/gallon ($3.25 in the U.S, and up to $5.25 in the islands). Break it down and that’s $320 per month.

Let’s do some back of the napkin math and assume a sailboat motored half the time (that’s being extremely generous to sailboat cruisers in the islands, for whom the average is likely closer to 90%). 1,750 miles, at five miles to the gallon, is 200 gallons, or $1624—$68 per month. Everybody is different, and for some the $252/mo difference might be a deal breaker. I can’t really say. For us, fuel is about 8% of our total annual expenditures, and is considered just another cost of living.

However, let’s not forget that running costs really include more than just diesel. There are oil changes to deal with, and basic engine maintenance. These all vary wildly, but it’s safe to say that a trawler with twin Ford Lehman 135hp engines is going to cost more to maintain than a monohull with a single 80hp, or a cat with twin 20hp.

On the other hand, a trawler doesn’t have running rigging to deal with. What’s a new mainsail cost? How about that 150′ spinnaker halyard? Or standing rigging to keep that 50′ mast from tumbling down in the first big blow? A trawler will never incur any of these substantial costs. And you might think, how is a spinnaker halyard a substantial cost? Put it this way—at $2.50/ft for that line, that’s $375, broken down over a year, that’s a $31/mo expense that the trawler didn’t incur. Will that line need to be replaced next year? No, but some other one will, or a block that it runs through, or some other fancy stainless steel clip. Point is, it all adds up. One year will be more, one year will be less, but that doesn’t mean these costs don’t exist for sailors.

In the end, I’ll concede an edge to the sailboat owner in running costs, but it is a lot slimmer margin than most people would like to think. Slim enough that for many people it will be inconsequential.

The only thing our Grand Banks isn’t capable of doing is cross major oceans. We’re not going to go across the Atlantic or Pacific in this boat. But, of course, we knew that when we bought it. Anyone planning a circumnavigation isn’t going to be debating trawler versus sail—that is, unless they are in the million dollar boat market.

Our Grand Banks carries 600 gallons of diesel, which I figure gives us a safe range of somewhere around 800 miles, with a few hundred miles of margin built in to give us considerable leeway in case something went wrong along the way.

Where can an 800 mile range take us? Well, anywhere in the Great Loop North America, down through the Caribbean island chain, around the entirety of the Caribbean Sea, through the Panama Canal, and right on up Central America, Mexico, and the west coast of the U.S. and Canada to Alaska. That’s a whole lot of cruising grounds to cover, and is more than enough adventure for all but the hardiest cruisers. Unless you are circumnavigating, there are very few places that you can’t reach in a trawler.

Technically, a sailboat wins here, but realistically, for almost every boat owner, cruising range is a tie. Those with plans to cross major oceans already know they need sails.

Miscellaneous

Marinas. Obviously, most marinas aren’t set up for the beam of a catamaran, will have fewer spaces available, and more and more often these days will charge 1.5-2x as much per foot as a monohull.

Added Weight. A cat is built to be light, meaning smaller water and fuel tanks. Our catamaran held just 70 gallons of water and 60 gallons of diesel. Our other boats held closer to 5 times as much of each. As cruisers we always add 300 feet of chain to our anchoring tackle as well, which is quite a bit of extra weight for a catamaran, but won’t even budge the waterline on a heavy monohull or trawler.

Bridges. Not a very common issue for most people, but anyone who would like to spend some time on the ICW is going to quickly despise the waterway if they have a mast. I found cruising the Florida ICW to be a very enjoyable experience in the trawler.

View. It may be a little thing, but I really love the feel of sitting up on the flybridge while underway. The view of the water is spectacular compared to the cockpit of a monohull, or the forward view from a catamaran’s little captain’s chair tucked behind the cabintop.

Everyone needs the right boat for the right job. Being a circumnavigator I often tend to think of things in terms of long-distance ocean voyaging, but then I step back and realize that only the tiniest fraction of liveaboard cruisers are going to—or even want to—sail around the world, or across major oceans. For those that do, if they’ve got the money, the obvious choice is a catamaran.

For the more common coastal cruiser, island hopper, Great Looper, there are other choices. With a budget under $80,000 the best bang for the buck is likely going to be a monohull. At that price you can get a well-equipped strong boat. It won’t win any awards for storage or comfort, but it’ll get you out on the water cruising, and ultimately that’s what is most important.

Over $80,000 I think a trawler wins the award for most versatile. We wouldn’t trade our trawler for any monohull sailboat. Both the indoor and outdoor space win hands down over a monohull. The huge engine room blows away any mono I’ve ever seen. And even the stability (admittedly due to the stabilizers) is incredible. We love every single aspect of our trawler more than our monohull.

So, to wrap up, if you just want to go cruising, and don’t have any plans to venture more than a couple hundred miles from land, buy a trawler and you won’t be disappointed. If you’ve got a few hundred grand burning a hole in your pocket and want to have the opportunity for passages of more than a couple of days, grab yourself a catamaran, and if you just really want to get out on the water, but the pocketbook isn’t as thick as you’d like, get a monohull and go enjoy life at sea.

93 Comments on “Trawler vs. Sail”

Great article Patrick. Mono haul sailor to gold looper in a 38 ft trawler. 360 view while sitting in the cabin. Follower from day 1, thanks.

I have a gold burgee too! 2018. Quite an adventure.

Hi Pat: I’ve been lurking around you blog for quite a while now going back to the days on your catamaran etc but have never left a comment. Today that changed as not only do I enjoy reading about your travels and lifestyle but this post really peaked an interest into the trawler option as away to get on the water. I am a Canadian “prairie” landlubber (64) but something about this lifestyle is tugging at me. There would be lots to learn and I wonder if that’s possible. I am active and healthy so maybe? I was wondering however how hard it would be to find summer storage somewhere where weather etc would not harm the vessel and aprox costs might be, assuming the boat was used only in winter travels in the south and assuming that is even a wise/secure option. Take care.

Turner Marine in Mobile AL has low monthly rates. There’s lots of racked boat storage around to keep your smaller boats out of the weather but these are not hurricane proof either.

I’m the same age as you and ‘looped’ last year (2017/2018)

How nice to read a reasoned argument. Kind of rare these days.

Thanks for taking the time.

Too Spooky! I was wondering what the pros, cons, cost comparisons would be just yesterday after my wife and I decided to look in a Trawler over a Catamaran. Funny enough we also favored the 42 Grand Banks! You’re in my head!

I love it when that happens. Best to check out a couple of both and then you’ll be able to figure out what you like. Good luck! And keep us posted.

This was fantastic — thanks. I’m a wannabe sailor — not experienced — so forgive me if this is a stupid question: Could you sail to Newfoundland and then hop to the British Isles on a trawler? Or would the northern seas be too rough?

No idea. Start googling. Sounds gorgeous!

Nice read. I am a Walter Mitty kinda guy. Other than being a motorcyclist, l do my other adventures through reading and studying. The sailing life style appealed to me but not so much to my wife. Cats seemed to address most of her concerns but their cost is beyond our resources. Trawlers seemed to be the only other viable option. The big unknown was the operational costs, which you covered quite nicely. What I would offer into your assessment is the the start up cost for a cat vs a trawler. That being, one can buy a lot of fuel with the money not expended on a cat. Now this Walter Mitty is off to find a gyroscope to stabilize his trawler while at anchor.

I’m confused… 4 kts.., I always figured the charter cat was able to get you upwards of 8. our catamaran, a 105mc gemini gets 6-7, granted its a foot shorter and the beam is narrower, but for motoring I’m really surprised at the numbers.. we have got only one engine and its a 27 hp. People have done the same trip you have in their gemini ( not saying everyone should), but this would be in the 80-200 k range for a smaller catamaran.

Next to our boat is a twin of your trawler. As in identical… All shrinkwrapped up… Waiting for the weather to break here.

As alway, we really enjoy you blog and photos. Some day, please write up what you do for the pictures. Cameras,..

Have fun, It’s almost sailing season here.,,

This should help with the stability of your trawler: https://seakeeper.com

What a great article, Pat. Have so enjoyed seeing your writing style change and skills increase over the years! Photography skills are superior, also. What a great life you guys have! Keep it up. Health and happiness to all. ?

I applaud this episode. It is 100% informative!

Great stuff, Pat.

We’re trawler people right out of the chute, based on limited experience before choosing that route. Your experience-based review of the pros and cons adds to my confidence that we made the right decision for our lifestyle.

See you on the water.

Onward! – Guy

Fellow trawler guy and Wanderer Financial fan 🙂

2922 fall/winter

What blue water sailing trawlers are available for sail

Grand Banks, Nordhavn, Kadey Krogen, and many others. Really just comes down to your budget.

I actually went to the US powerboat show in Annapolis this year. There are surprisingly few blue water powerboats that are CE A rated vessels. Most do not have the range to cross oceans. One broker at the show told me “If you want to take your yacht to Europe or even Bermuda, most likely they will be shipped.

Now at the sailboat show the next weekend, boats as small as 35′ are CE A rated vessels.

More about the CE certifications and categories can be found here: https://www.beneteau.com/us/page-actualite/what-ce-certification-means-boat-buyers

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for this very well thought out comparison. We’re going to make the transition to a trawler after our land stint refilling the cruising kitty and I really value your opinions on the subject. Now to find the right boat…

Deb SV Kintala

Thank you so much very good and honest opinions !!!!! Good read !!!!! Thank you !!!!!

Very well done article appreciate your experiences and words for us looking and pondering what the heck to do ??‍♀️

right you are! give me a trawler everytime! so much so, I am building one….wooohooo! 32 x 10 x 3 aft cabin, canopied over the front, perkins 4-236. Oyster lugger looking lil thing! for me the “process” is as enjoyable as the “cruising”. however, I am a commercial boat captain…so, i get my fix every other 21 days, ha!

Again, goodonyas! Having said this before, cruising kids have the best perspective of the world, surroundings and self!

I agree that your current boat is best suited for your needs. However, you can still cross oceans with yacht moving companies. Ship your boat from Florida to Europe for an entirely different adventure including the Med and all the canals traversing the continent…

For sure you can! There are even a few Grand Banks for sale over there right now.

Would not having the stabilizers change your opinion? What’s stabilizer maintenance cost look like? We have a hard -chine American Tug without stabilizers and so far haven’t felt their lack.

Spend a few more bucks and buy a nordhaven and go anywhere

A few more bucks?! The similar size 43 Nordhavn lowest used boat for sale is $499k, a 40′ $359k. For us that would have meant many more years not going anywhere, just working. The comparison between our older trawler and a Nordhavn are not even in the same ballpark. Imho.

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

Excellent article, Pat. I don’t think there are too many others who even possess your history of cat, mono and trawler ownership, along with actual experience on the water in so many different circumstances. All that, and your fine writing style make for a compelliing and well-reasoned comparison of the various hull-forms’ virtues and drawbacks.

Of course, you COULD cross oceans with the GB by employing one of the float-on, float-off yacht transport companies. 🙂

I did see one minor error: Either the spinnaker halyard you were referring to in your cost comparison was only 100′ and not 150′, or the actual cost was $375, not $250 (at $2.50/ft.). Other than that, I’d say this article is ready for Cruising World!

If a person can afford a 50 foot, +/-, catamaran, would that be the safest way for island cruising? Thanks

We don’t compare safety. Everyone is different on what they feel is safe.

Congrat’s. A fair and even-handed review. The only thing I might add is that a bad day on a mono-hull sailboat beats a good day at the office– hands down. Get out there on the water . . . whatever it takes. 🙂

Fantastic article. You are waaaaay more accomplished than I am in terms of distance traveled and experience, but we owned a 37ft monohull for 7 year’s and just switched to a GB 42 Europa and couldn’t be happier. Endless space, stability, convenience, speed, comfort and more. We’re not stabilized through and while it’s a pricey thing to add, I think we may take the leap soon.

Thanks for writing this!

You showed the kid’s bedroom. What does yours look like?m

Hi Maureen, we have the forward cabin. Here are some photos.

https://www.bumfuzzle.com/so-much-water/

Great article with lots of good pros and cons. What do think about a PowerCat? There seem to be a few out there these days in the 40′ range. Still have the beam problem at marinas, but lots of the benefits of the trawler. Been a sailor and was thinking of a sail cat, but recently starting considering going power with no mast, since that would make the ICW easier! Starting to realize I just really like spending time on the water – power or sail.

Thanks for taking the time to post this. We are a few years from ‘retirement’ and are pretty close to pulling the trigger on boat to explore with. I have done, exhaustive research between mono and multi hull sailboats and trawlers. I always come back to the trawler. My current internal debate is between single and multi engine. While every fiber of my body screams multi engine- there are lots and lots of single engine trawlers. We are looking at the Nordhavn, Selene, Fleming, Inace type stuff. So there are options for both single and multi engine in the range of boats we are looking at. Did the single / multi engine engine part play a part in your deciding on your boat? I see the downside, less range, more upkeep. I know some of the boats have get home motors. I really like 2 motors to maneuver, but hydraulic bow and stern thrusters can solve this. I also appreciate the opinion of someone that is not trying to sell me something. Thanks again for taking the time to post!

Great article and refreshingly honest. At heart I believe I’m a sailor, but in truth, I have found the wind to be in one of 3 permanent states: Too little, too much or blowing right on the nose! So I’ve sold the 45′ Island Packet and am moving to power.

BUT – what are your thoughts on a power cat? Lightweight, fast when you need it, stable, lots of space. More economical than a trawler. Would love to hear your thoughts. If you can shoot me an e-mail, great!

I think power cats are the future of cruising. I haven’t owned one yet, so I have no basis for my opinions, but you can be sure that when I do get one I’ll write all about it for the next article. Honestly, I’m not sure what one could argue to be a downside of a powercat. Range, maybe? Looks?

Thanks, PT. Maybe we’ll give it a try! Everything has a trade off, right?

Best, Terry.

Great read. My son loves your blog. We live on a 42ft Kadey Krogen with stabs. Our range is more like 2200 but slower than you. Love our flopper stopper for anchorages that roll. Lots here in Eadtern Caribbean where those monohulls rock. Keep up the great stuff. You inspire the next generation of boaters

Great article based on so much experience you have! We learn from you and others and last year bought a 50’ powercat that is ocean capable (2400nm range), has a beam less than a third of length so shouldn’t be paying extra for marinas, is aluminium so strong, and was less than $110,000 in good (not perfect, but good) condition. We think we have a perfect vessel for us, and your writings just reinforce it – thank you for sharing. Maybe in the future we can similarly share the experiences once we have had them.

Oh, and I have already bought your travel book so when we finally get time aboard in about three weeks I’ll have something to read 🙂

Also, what’s your feeling about electric boats? We’re planning down the track on a parallel hybrid since our diesels are in great condition, supplemented by solar and with a DC genset for longer travel – like your co-authors’ recent video on Top Secret although not to that expense!

Blasphemer! 😉

Hi Ali and Pat, We met you way back in 2007 in Ft. Lauderdale when we were cruising in our Catalina ’36 and you were just returning from your round the world tour in your catamaran. We are in the process of trading our sailboat in on a Grand Banks 36′. We are in the “old sailors” group, but we’re looking forward to many more years on the water in a trawler versus the sailboat. We loved our Cool Breeze, but one thing you forgot to mention in your comparison is that sailing does require a good bit of physical activity and ability to navigate the small spaces, thus the reason that many long time sailors cross over to a trawler.

Interesting! We’re only 7 months into cruising and teaching ourselves to sail and I can already see why we meet so many old salty sailors turning toward the power boats. We never spent enough time with sailor to be disillusioned about how much time we spend with sails up vs not… so don’t feel like we have to put on any type of show there. For us, it seems there are only two major winning points to the (sailing) catamaran over the trawler or power cat: – the amount of deck/outdoor space (mostly because we never seem to go ashore or leave the boat) – that sound… y’know, that moment where you turn the engines off and everything goes flat and silent. Thats still the best part of any passage/crossing. As soon as that starts growing old – I think we’ll be right behind you on the powerboat train. 😉

Thanks for the write up. Hope our wakes cross again soon!

Very nice article – thanks. But this article is really a comparison of the boats you’ve had. My Kadey-Krogen can cross oceans on a lot less fuel than your GB. And it has fin stabilizers so I agree completely with the added comfort you mention. But to your point, the Krogen, like a Nordhavn, is a more expensive proposition (but maybe only double-ish or more). And those stabilizers are not cheap to keep. I paid $13k doing a catastrophic fix to mine about a year after we bought our 30 year old boat. I am rambling here because it looks like people are needing context… Yes, power cats are also an excellent choice. Check out the Aspen Powercat if you want one that isn’t too wide for a marina. But now I’m selling, so I will stop.

Thanks again for a very honest article! @boatguybill

Thanks, Bill, yes it is a comparison of the boats I’ve had. I find it not very useful to compare things I know nothing about.

Great article. But you run a 42 ft yacht on $10/ day fuel? Doesn’t seem possible. I spend more on a ski boat and my car.

We do drop the anchor now and then. We’re liveaboard cruisers not delivery captains.

$10/day is 3.3 gallons/day is 9.9 mi/day – to me. So when out cruising, yeah that seems about right. Some days are 30-40 miles. Other days are zero, of course. But I appreciate your skepticism. 🙂

We actually have a 46’ GB 1997 without stabilizers (quoted them but $60k-$70k project) and we are considering to sell and buy a newer sail cat, totally agree on those two reasons plus less dependency on a generator (easier to have more solar capacity), our distances are relatively short, we usually boat between Puerto Rico, Vieques, USVI & BVI’s, appreciate the shared experiences posted here, happy boating!

Yes, we’re still amazed that a previous owner installed the Naiad stabilizer system on this boat and then did virtually zero miles and sold the boat two years later, basically eating the entire cost of the upgrade in the process. Ouch.

Your assertion that sailors motor 90% of the time is new to me. I’ve windsurfed, sailed beach cats, and sailed a 32 ft Hunter around the Bahamas for a couple weeks. So I’m not some great yachtsman. I don’t have the patience to sail at 5knts. I was figuring I wanted a multi hull capable of 15 to 20 knots to sail the Bahamas and then the islands. Maybe a trimaran that can fold up to get in a marina. 32 to 40 ft. Just for me and a girlfriend. Does not need to be fancy. I figured sail would be cheaper than power. Thoughts from anybody are appreciated.

Sailing is only cheaper than power propulsion in that the wind is free, while fuel isn’t. But everything involved with engineering a way of capturing that free resource – mast or masts, sails, line and all the associated ways of handling it, maintenance, etc. – are far from free. And yes, sailing vessels typically are propelled forward a majority of the time, reportedly, by use of the “iron genny” more often than sails.

That’s often because the wind doesn’t cooperate with someone’s plans – have you ever noticed that it always seems to blow from the direction you’re headed? 🙂 And the wind is often blowing too little or too much – that sweet spot in the groove is highly elusive and inconsistent. Sure, when everything’s just right sailing is magical. Too bad that happens so infrequently.

I wouldn’t try to dissuade you from pursuing your travel dreams as you’ve envisioned, Sean, and sailing around the Bahamas and the Caribbean islands can be idyllic. Still, you’d be well-served, I believe, if you gather as much info as you can in advance of committing too much time, money and effort to a single way of making those dreams a reality. The learning curve can be both steep and expensive.

His assertion, however unfriendly (or un-ego-centric)… is fairly accurate.

We also had no idea before moving onto a boat that we would spend so much time motoring (in our sailing cat) after leaving the Bahamas and continuing southward… and I low that we actually sailed many a crossing that others motored to avoid high winds and seas…

It may not be friendly or positive, but the simple fact is… that most people talk about the fastest speed of their boat rather than the true average speed, and most don’t choose to leave a safe anchorage on days that could provide high speeds because high winds also typically mean a less smooth crossing.

So once you’re underway and living aboard the only speed that truly matters is the low or average speed under low to normal winds… not what the boat can/could potentially do or might possibly do under the highest possible conditions (that you’re unlikely to leave under with your home, family, kids in tow)…

so if you don’t have “the patience to sail at 5knots” you probably also don’t have the patience to actually live aboard and sail everywhere you’re about to go… which means you’re actually advocating for the trawler or power cat.. and good on you if that’s your preference… but somehow I don’t think that was the intent of your response…

Thanks. I definitely wont be sailing in a gale.

Well this launched three months ago and is still enticing comments. Thanks again for doing this, it has been enjoyable.

Yes it is getting new reads as our friends, Jason and Nikki, shared it on their recent post. https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/cat-mono-price-performance

Sounds like it was a last ditch attempt to get a companion to go with him but she would not even try!

Hi Pat and Ali,

I’d missed his post and saw the reference to it on the Gonewiththewynns YouTube blog. It s a great piece of writing and has helped to confirm my assumptions, so many thanks! It’s always enjoyable to see your posts. All the best.

I’d missed his post and was directed to it from watching Gonewiththewynns YouTube . Thanks, it’s a great piece of writing and it’s good to get such a comparison, it cements my thoughts on what I need to consider. I continue to enjoy your blogs , all the best!

Anybody ever thought about touring the islands using a ground effect seaplane?

As an old former sailor, I’m curious on how the boat was named “Bumfuzzel?

Bumfuzzle definition: To be confused, perplexed, or flustered or to cause confusion. At the age of 28, we were confused on what to do with our life. Things were going good, we had some money in the bank – buy a house in the ‘burbs? start a family like all our friends? or….travel! So we came up with a plan to buy a boat and make some memories – at first it was to be for a year…that all changed. Plus it is one word, easy to remember, and no-one else would ever name their boat that! 🙂

Very informative. We are getting ready for a full time adventure. I’ve always wanted to live on the water, trawler seems ideal for us. We’ve done the airstream and don’t want to trailer anything anymore. My husband thinks a small RV would be more economical than the trawler, any thoughts on that? Two totally different experiences, I’m fine with either, but just looking at cost, what’s your take. Thanks, have loved following you since the very beginning.

I expect a land based RV would be a lot cheaper to run that a trawler in the water. I only know boats but they require constant maintainance and suffer from corrosion issues in a saltwater environment. On cost alone RV has to be cheaper hands down . But is it the same experience?! Watch ‘gone with the wynns’ who transitioned from 6 yrs in RV to sailboat life and are already in the pacific after about 3? Yrs. they are exceptional people but despite all the extra work they much prefer cruising on a yacht!

Hmmm, nice analysis from someone who had owned all 3 boats discussed…

This has opened my eyes. How do these boats stack up in regards to crews? Which boat is easier to manage single handed, with 2, with 4 or more.

As I get older, the inability to do major ocean passages is less of an issue. I’m more of an island hopper/costal creeper now.

This couple hundred grand burning a hole in my pocket hurts!!! Ouch, it hurts!!! Help! 😉

Interesting read, since I own a catamaran. Have sailed it many thousands of miles and even cross the Atlantic singlehanded, but don’t care to describe myself as a ‘sailor’ i’ve frequently bemoaned the poor motoring speeds, wind in the wrong direction, lack of wind, choppy seas etc..

I would love a trawler, but unless it could at least cross the Atlantic, then for me it’s out of the question. You state only a small fraction of people cross oceans. That is still probably thousands of sailboats a year.

Any electric trawler with big generator and lots of solar, might work, but going back to pure fossil boat in these times could be considered a backwards step for many.

The cost of the fuel is also not so inconsequential. In Europe, and here in some of the islands of the Caribbean, diesel can be €1.45 per litre. Regardless of the cost of rigging (which I did replace at €3,500, and a sail at €1,500) not many people could happily shell out hundreds or thousands up front each time they stop.

Been down almost the same route. Small runabout, Small sail boat, Bigger sail boat, Even bigger sail boat, Floating Hotel Sailboat (Aft Cabin Center Cockpit) —then we slipped –Grand Banks 42. We had traveled up & Down the US East Coast and the Keys and West Coast of FL with the last sail boat after retiring. Found sailing to be too much work and not much sailing anyhow in Florida–also too hot to be outdoors. Bought the GB brought it back to NewEngland-traveled the “East-Coast Little Loop–visited Erie Canal, Great Lakes and Rideau Canal Canada. Had a great time for 8 years. But alas the work on an older GB 42 with twin John Deere engines, extensive systems of electronics, plumbing, HVAC and miles of Teak beautiful but labor and cost intensive; forced a realization of $$$, age and work and the boat had to go. We now have a Class B, MB Sprinter RV and traveling the inside of the country. Anchoring ? Storms? Dinner? there’s always a Holiday Inn!!! That said were looking for a Pocket Cruiser like a Rosborough for inland cruising and towable behind the RV. After all were only in our late 70’s

“Nordhavn” produces trawlers that are proven to be excellent ocean crossing vessels with a range of 3000nm and more.

I thought I was pretty clear that this article is regarding boats in a certain price range. I doubt anyone shopping the Nordhavn market are reading an article debating trawler vs sail.

Valid retort.

So I am researching boats to purchase as our last child leaves the home soon. While you might have put a price in the first post, I actually went back to read that part, it is the concepts that are really most relevant. Crossing the ocean was in my first list of things I ‘needed’ from my trawler, but I soon learned even in the ‘Nordhavn’ people use bladders. I like so many parts of sailing, but also like the freedom in the trawler of not waiting on winds, or being able to go any direction. I research to see if there is a boat that will meet my trawler needs, and do the great loop which has been a bucket list item for a decade now. Do we get a boat with fin or gyro stabilization. What is the process of hinging a radar arch, or dry stack. To this article, blog, post… From the people that have done sail and trawler- why? The differences? Do I rethink and do a motor sailor? Do I spend $200,000 or $900,000- or where in the middle. In my life, what does my wife need to boat to do… maybe I need fin and gyro stabilization 🙂 Pat- thank you for putting the time into your post. I will attest people looking at Nordhavns are reading your post, and learning from it. Will we trawler, sail or motor-sail… I do not know yet. My list of ‘needs’ changes as I learn more. Anyway- thanks for letting me into your story, your thoughts, your experiences…

Thanks, Jim. Good luck in the search.

Jim, the boat for crossing oceans is quite a different boat than the one for doing the great loop. I can highly recommend the Great Loop but you certainly don’t need a 200K boat for that. Try an old 34′ mainship for that and go to the Bahamas in the same boat. Then, if you’re still willing to cross oceans, go upscale.

For the loop you won’t need fins or gyro if you don’t mind waiting at anchor or in the marina for a weather window.

My wife made a blog: https://thewanderingstar.blog/

Dirk, In my research that is about what I have learned. Part of what drives this is my wife would like certain, comforts… So I suspect we will be in something pretty new, pretty updated etc. Things like- walk around big beds, no bow beds for the master, enough room for our family to jump in and out, and we have 4 kids, one with a husband. She also wants friends along for extended periods of time. Big brings her more comfort. I suspect we will be in the 50+ range. Selene 54, or 53 with twin screws, or the Nordhavn 52, 55 or 57, or maybe a Marlow. I look forward to reading your wife’s blog!

I hear ya. That’s how we ended up with a 40′ Mainship with a walk around queen bed.

FWIW, imho, anything over about 45′ is just too big for the loop.

Feel free to email me.

I know this is an old post, but it was just what I needed to read. I’ve been a lifelong sailor, raced sailboats, did some light cruising, but never had the time, between career and kids, to take a “long trip” a round the world adventure that I wanted to to. I dreamed, sure enough, but never had the time or even the support (first wife hated sailing).

I remarried late, to a go-fast powerboat girl (38 Scarab, 48′ custom) who also had no time for cruising or “just messing about in boats”, but who really loved the water, as did her kids.

I kept my small “divorce” sailboat, but it’s set up for racing and while we enjoy it, it’s too small for more than daysailing. We also planned on moving up when it was time, but wasn’t sure as to what might work best for us. We are both getting to that empty nest age, when we start thinking about the next stage. We couldn’t even make up our minds about what the next boat would be. Express Cruiser (ugh, IMO), catamaran, or sailboat, or heaven-forbid, trawler?

We spoke with a good broker (friend) who asked us some important questions, some of them you went over in your piece. How much cruising will we do? How far? How much time? In the end, we realized that, even retired, between our businesses and kids, , at first, to coastwise trips of a few hundred miles, a few weeks to a few months, at most. My wife grew up going to the Bahamas. She still has friends there. How could we do such a trip from Texas in a “powerboat” even if we hopped down the coast? I assumed no powerboat of any sort was an option for island hopping.

Trawlers were low on the list. I thought of “trawlers” as “I’m too old to sail” boats and my wife thought of them as “too slow, to uncool to go, boats”. You gave us a different perspective. So did our broker, who now has us looking at modern trawlers. Thanks for the info and the backup to our decision.

If your plans only include the Caribbean then I assure you that you will be happy with the choice of a trawler. Congrats on coming to the right decision before it’s too late. 🙂

Came across your article. Well written. We have just completed what will be our last Gulf of Mexico crossing aboard our Catalina 42. It will be our last crossing because after 7 years of wonderful adventures, we’re moving to a trawler. A GB46 has caught our eye…..but, it’s not stabilized, as are most trawlers in our budget. The after market project appears unlikely. Overall, we would be at anchor more than at sea. Based upon your experience, if your GB42 did not have stabilizers, how much of your assessment would have changed? Thanks

We’re anchored in the USVI right next to friends on a GB42 w/o stabilizers and our experiences are entirely different. Frankly, if we didn’t have stabilizers on the GB I don’t think we’d be anywhere near as happy. I’d keep searching, stabilizers do not seem to retain much, if any, value in resale. Find a boat that has them already.

I’ve been selling Kadey Krogen for seven years now and can say with pretty good certainty that stabilizers add about $20k to the resale value of a Krogen. They cost about $55k to install at last inquiry. I have them on my Krogen and bought it specifically for this (and other) features. I had it on my requirements list a lot because I plan to go from Seattle to the Sea of Cortez upon retirement. And I don’t see making that trip without them.

So cool to learn about you and share your adventures. We have a GB42 woodie built in 1968 (hull 55). We cruise the Atlantic maritimes so it’s unlikely our wakes will cross any time soon, but who knows!

Loved seeing the beautiful interior shots and comparing with ours. We haven’t seen many others.

Only thing I’d add is that a sailboat with good sailing performance especially in light air can make a huge difference in passage making. Not only do we sail more than most in our vintage Tartan 40, but we can also motorsail at 6-7 knots at a fuel sipping 1200RPM in zephyrs. But, maybe most significantly is it’s worth getting the powerplant right in a sailboat. We easily cruise at 7+ knots at a reasonable 1gph which closes the gap on the trawler. No way we come close in comfort, space, storage, of course. I’m jealous. Helpful to know about the stabilizers in case I every jump

I love the life you guys have made! I am looking at a 1973 49′ Grand Banks Alaskan, to live aboard in a marina while we still work in California, 2 boys, 6 and 2 years old. The boat hasn’t been pulled out of the water since 2007, which seems crazy long to me. But down below I pasted the specifics that were done. I’m not sure if you guys are in the habit of giving advice, but if so, does this seem too long to have not pulled the boat out? or do you think it could still be a solid boat?

Thanks so much, I really enjoy seeing what you guys do!!

In 2000 the boatyard wooded the hull (stripped off all the paint) and checked the fasteners (solid bronze 2” or maybe 2 1/2”). They were impressed with them. They brought it back up with a really good primer and Sterling Linear Polyurethane (LP) as the white topcoat and blue bootstripe along the waterline and on the stack.

-In 2007 the boatyard did the topsides with Sterling LP as well. Areas that are plywood have not held up as well as the hull, which is full thickness 1” Honduran mahogany. During that round, I went after all areas with dry rot and used Smith’s penetrating epoxy, which in essence displaces all damp wood with epoxy, killing the dry rot. I tell people this boat is 90% wood and 10% epoxy in a jovial fashion, although not that much, maybe 2%, it has made a significant difference in how things have lasted. After all of the penetration and fillers where needed were in place and the surface ready for primer and paint, I would again treat with the penetrating epoxy as a first line of defense barrier. During this time I also put a router round on all of the hard edges of the lumber supporting the walk around and added AB epoxy on the inside angles to make it way easier to clean. It has held up really well. Prior I had noticed on all of the hard edges the paint would crack before I rounded them, and mold would sit in the tight right angled corners, so the AB used as a fairing compound really helps with that as well.

Hi Meagan, Unfortunately I know less than nothing about wooden boats. Personally, they aren’t a headache I’d be interested in taking on, especially a boat of that size. But that’s an individual choice. I don’t know just how hands on you all are or if you have experience with this sort of thing. However, best of luck to you with whatever boat you choose. It’s a great life indeed.

Trawlers are less likely to be hit by lightning strikes than sailboats. An analysis of 10 years of lightning claims reveals which boats are most at risk. The probability of a lightning strike by type of boat are as followed.

(chances per 1000) 1. Multihull sailboats 6.9 2. Monohull sailboats 3.8 3. Trawler/Motoryacht 1.5

Loved your book and loved this article. Very informative. Thank you!

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

The Best Boat for the Great Loop in 2023: Your 6 Boat Options

Embarking on this nautical quest called the Great Loop demands more than wanderlust alone. Selecting the optimal vessel to navigate the Loop’s diverse waterways makes all the difference on this marathon route. Whether you covet the comforts of a spacious trawler, prefer the performance of an agile cruiser or need maximum versatility to “trailer hop” inland rivers, the choice of boat profoundly impacts the journey. In today’s post, I give my recommendations the perfect Great Loop boat.

Table of Contents

6 best boat types for the great loop, what is the great loop, what is involved with the great loop boating adventure, classic trawlers, fast trawlers and downeasts, tug style trawlers, cruisers and motor yachts, power catamarans, the boat you’ve got, great loop size limits, comfortable cabin aboard and long-term living space, engine choices: gas vs. diesel, single vs. twin, 1. draft and height limitations, 2. fuel range and efficiency, 3. living quarters, 4. navigability and handling, 5. type of boat, 6. accessibility and safety features, 8. personal preferences and experience level, 9. research and planning, boat requirements for the great loop, which is your best boat for the great loop, best boat for the great loop faqs.

• Unconventional Boats

The Great Loop stands as one of the premier long-term boating adventures in North America, and arguably, across the globe. Spanning over 6,000 miles, this journey offers boaters an experience akin to a cross-country RV road trip, but on water. It presents a unique opportunity to view the countryside through a different lens, as you navigate through a mix of seaways, canals, and rivers at a relaxed pace.

Let’s explore the ideal boats to embark on this remarkable journey.

Let’s get this out of the way – what’s the Great Loop in the first place?

The Great Loop is an adventure for recreational boaters that takes you on a giant circuit of the eastern half of the United States and Canada . It’s the joining of many smaller waterways, open water stretches, rivers, and canals to make an entire journey that’s about 6,000 nautical miles long. 

Where you begin and end your Great Loop journey usually depends on where you buy or keep your vessel.

Here’s an overview using Norfolk, Virginia, as the starting point.

• Norfolk northbound through Chesapeake Bay, through the C&D Canal, and seaward on Delaware Bay to Cape May, New Jersey.
• Northbound along the Atlantic coast of New Jersey to New York harbor.
• North on the Hudson River to upstate New York. From here, you have several choices depending on how one wants to transit the Great Lakes and how much of the Canadian Heritage Canals one would like to cruise.
• Westbound through the Erie Canal.
• West through the Great Lakes to Chicago.
• South from Chicago through the inland rivers to the Gulf Coast.
• Eastbound along the Gulf Coast to Florida, then southbound on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
• Either through the Okeechobee Waterway in south Florida or around the tip of the state, through the Florida Keys.
• North from south Florida on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) back to Norfolk.

There are many choices to make the Great Loop your own adventure.

Loopers usually put between 5,000 and 7,000 miles under their keels while making the trip. However, it’s not a race, and there are plenty of opportunities to make side trips and adventures off the main route.

For example, the Downeast Loop is an extension that adds Maine, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edwards Island. The St. Lawrence Seaway will then take you west to the Great Lakes by way of Montreal. Another good example is extending your trip on the south end by adding an adventure in the Islands of The Bahamas.

For the most part, the Great Loop is a motorboat adventure . There are many open water spaces where you might sail, but it’s often constrained to a narrow navigable channel, making sailing much less appealing. In other words, even sailboats wind up motoring for most of the trip. 

Furthermore, the trip transits canals and waterways with many bridge spans, both fixed and opening. The fewer bridges you have to have open for you, the easier your trip. Many fixed bridges mean you’ll have to take the mast off for long sections of the trip.

The trip spans many rural areas, interspersed with small towns and a handful of big cities. Many nights you’ll be anchored or docked in the middle of nowhere. Other times, you’ll have a new city to explore and check out. 

Your boat should suit both styles. You will want the best family boat that is comfortable to live on, with sleeping, bathroom, and cooking facilities that you and your crew find comfortable. Yes, you can do the Loop in an open go-fast boat–but you will miss what many consider the best parts of the Loop. 

Six Best Great Loop Boat Options By Type of Boat

There are too many makes and models of boats in the world for anyone to make a specific recommendation here. Instead, here is a list of six types of boats you’ll find doing the Loop and what makes them well suited for this particular adventure. 

Remember, this is anything but an all-inclusive list. There are hundreds of boat makes out there, hundreds more that aren’t built anymore but can be bought used, and even more when you include custom and one-off designs. These lists are provided simply as a starting point for your research!

The classic trawler is basically the power version of a sailboat–slow-moving, heavy, and economical to operate. They have been around forever; tons were built in the 1970s and 1980s, many in Taiwan. That means that the design is time-tested–they are good-looking and seaworthy. Plus, you can readily find them on the used market for reasonable prices. Most have a maximum speed of about 10 knots.

The popular cruising blog Scho and Jo have set out and completed the Loop on their Albin trawler. Check out their Great Loop expenses for information on the adventure and how it’s done. For more about their boat, check out their boat tour.

Examples of Classic Trawlers:

• Monk 36 (no longer built)
• Grand Banks
• Camino Troll (no longer built)
• Nordhavn 40

The fast trawler is a classic one with a modern hull. Thanks to their improved hull design, they’re capable of faster speeds but use a lot of gas going fast. The best thing about them is probably the simple fact that they can do both comfortably–go slowly and economically or cruise faster (about 15 knots) while still giving a nice ride.

Examples of Fast Trawlers and Downeast Boats:

• Beneteau Swift Trawlers

What was once a unique niche in the boating world has caught on, and quite a few companies are now making tugboat-looking trawlers. They’re sportier than the traditional trawler and have an aesthetic that looks right at home on the rivers of the Great Loop.

Examples of Tugs Include:

• Kadey Krogen
• Lord Nelson Victory Tug (no longer made)

A cruiser is built on a planing hull to go faster. That means more miles per day, fewer nights at anchor, and more fuel consumption while doing it. 

There are many sizes and styles that are appropriate for the Loop, so the key is to find the layout that is most comfortable for you. The two most popular styles include express cruisers and aft-cabin cruisers. 

Examples of cruisers and motor yachts include:

• Sea Ray (many of the best models for the Loop are no longer made)
• Cruiser Yachts
• Bayliner Motoryachts (no longer built)
• Hatteras Cruisers (no longer built)

Power catamarans are popular for the same reason that sail cats are. Thanks to their increased interior volume, two hulls make for a more comfortable living space. Your beam should be less than 23 feet, as the Trent Severn Waterway in Canada limits this. Still, that leaves several interesting power cats that would make fantastic Loop boats. 

Examples of power cats that would be good when boating the Great Loop:

• PDQ 34 Power Catamaran (no longer built)
• Endeavour 440 TrawlerCat

Finally, it has to be mentioned that the best boat is always the boat you’ve got. Lin and Larry Pardey once famously said, “Go small, and go now.” If the Loop is on your bucket list, it’s better to find a boat you can get your hands on that will suit you well enough to travel and enjoy the ride. Don’t spend years saving up for a “maybe adventure.”

Examples of unconventional Looper boats:

• Jet skis that camp along the way
• Open runabouts, sport boats, and fishing boats
• Sailboats–just take the mast off and motor like a trawler!
• Trailerable boats that do it in sections–a trailerable boat lets you do a section and then tow the boat to the next section to cruise at your leisure

What Features Make Good Looper Boats?

So, how do you ever choose the right boat for the Loop? Here are some thoughts on what features make the best Looper boats. 

The limits for your perfect Looper boat will be based on its physical dimensions. According to the Loop Cruiser’s Association, the average looper boat is 39.5 feet long, with more than half between 35 and 45 feet. But this doesn’t tell the whole story, as you must consider each vessel’s dimension.

Air Draft (Bridge Clearance or Height Above Water)

The most limiting fixture on the Loop is a fixed railroad bridge in Chicago that will block any vessel taller than 19 feet, 6 inches. 

But, if you want to do the entire Erie Canal, two bridges offer only 15 feet, 6 inches. Another bridge in downtown Chicago is 17 feet. So, the Loop has lower limits, but most can be gone around by bigger boats. 

Four feet or less of draft is ideal and will mean the fewest problems–although caution is still warranted in many areas. Draft is how deep the hull sits in the water and dictates the minimum water depth for a boat . Any deeper than that, and you will need to be extra cautious. Boats with six-foot drafts have reportedly done it, but few recommend it.

The width of your boat is usually limited to about 16 feet due only to marina slips. 

Catamarans with 23 feet or less can make the trip but require T-heads at most marinas. As a result, finding slips on this trip will be difficult, and finding a place to haul out for boat maintenance is even harder. In addition, there are sections where you’ll need to take a slip occasionally, so anchoring isn’t always an option. 

There’s no limit to length. Some yachts up to 70 feet have made the journey, but it’s a tight fit and most boats that long won’t make it under the bridges. Most Looper boats are under 50 feet, after all, for many reasons.

Think of the Great Loop as an RV adventure where you’re taking your home with you. To that end, realize you’ll be spending a lot of time living aboard your boat. Therefore, the boat should be comfortable, with indoor and outdoor living space and all the amenities you’d want or need. 

Here’s a list of things most people want their boat equipped with when they set off on the Great Loop. Many of these are similar to the considerations people make when living on a sailboat , but some are quite different.

• A comfortable bed, usually an “island queen” (not a v-berth)
• A large galley (kitchen) with plenty of cooking space and the appliances they’re used to (fridge, microwave, coffee maker, stove, oven, etc.)
• A comfortable living room (salon) that has a good view, lots of light, and plenty of ventilation
• An outdoor patio (cockpit) area for open-air dining, socializing, and relaxing
• A descent-sized bathroom area with a separate shower
• Air conditioning and heating (which may require a generator if you plan to anchor overnight extensively)
• Inside and outside helm positions (upper deck on a trawler)

Tankage refers to your boat’s storage space for liquids–water, fuel, and sewage. The larger the tanks are, the longer you can stay away from marinas for refills or pump-outs. 

The Loop has several long stretches through the inland river system that go hundreds of miles between facilities and services. Therefore, your boat should have a fuel range of at least 450 nautical miles and hold enough water for at least a week. 

Some river stretches have fewer gasoline sellers, meaning gas-powered boats need a greater range than diesel boats. They’ll need about 450 miles of range, whereas diesel boats can get by with less.

Beyond that, gas and diesel engines will both work fine on the Loop. Generally, the most popular trawlers and boats of this size come with diesels, which are praised for their longevity and reliable, simple operation. In addition, diesel is safer on a boat because it is less explosive, which could lower your insurance premiums.

Likewise, having a single or twin screw boat is a matter of preference. Single-engine boats can make the journey without problems, but two engines give you redundancy should something go wrong with one and better maneuverability in tight spaces. But, of course, operating and maintenance costs are higher with two engines.

How to Find the Best Boat for You for Sailing the Great Loop

The ideal boat will vary based on personal preferences, budget, and specific requirements for the journey. Here are key considerations to help you find the best boat for your Great Loop adventure:

• Draft: The Great Loop has areas with shallow waters, especially in places like the western rivers and parts of the Intracoastal Waterway. A boat with a shallow draft (ideally less than 5 feet) will have more flexibility and fewer navigation concerns.
• Air Draft: Bridges with fixed heights are a consideration along the Great Loop. To avoid detours, your boat’s air draft (the height from the waterline to the highest fixed point on the boat) should be less than 19 feet, though lower is often better to accommodate all routes.
• Opt for a fuel-efficient boat that has a range of at least 300 miles to comfortably reach fueling stations along the Loop without anxiety, considering both the boat’s fuel capacity and its consumption rate.
• Comfort is key for the long journey. Look for boats that offer adequate living space, a functional galley, comfortable sleeping quarters, and sufficient storage. The size and amenities should match your tolerance for space constraints and your lifestyle needs.
• Choose a boat that handles well in various water conditions. Both inland rivers and lakes, as well as coastal sections of the Loop, can present challenges like currents, tides, and weather changes.
• Trawlers, Sailboats (with a retractable mast for bridges), and Motor Yachts are popular choices because they balance living space, fuel efficiency, and navigability.
• Sailboats can offer the advantage of wind power but consider the need to lower the mast for certain sections of the Loop.
• Catamarans are another option, offering stability, shallow draft, and spacious living areas, but be mindful of their beam (width) and how it may limit access to certain marinas or slips.
• Look for boats with easy access to the bow and stern, strong handholds, and a cockpit or helm that offers good visibility and protection from the elements.
• Safety features should include reliable navigation and communication systems, life-saving equipment, and possibly a dinghy for exploring shallow or narrow areas.
• Consider both the purchase price and the ongoing costs, including maintenance, fuel, marina fees, and potential upgrades. Buying a used boat can be a cost-effective option, but ensure a thorough inspection to assess its condition and suitability for the Loop.
• Your comfort with the boat’s operation, maintenance requirements, and overall feel is crucial. Choose a boat that fits your level of boating experience or one that you’re willing and able to learn to handle confidently.
• Join forums and groups, such as America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA), to gain insights from experienced Loopers.
• Consider renting or chartering different types of boats for short trips to gain firsthand experience before making a decision.
• Size/Draft: Boats should generally be less than 60 feet with a draft of 6 feet or under to navigate the various locks, rivers, and waterways along the route.
• Propulsion: Twin engines or a single engine with a bow or stern thruster provides the best maneuverability and redundancy for covering long distances.
• Fuel Capacity: A range of 350-400 miles between refueling is recommended to have a buffer given the distances between marinas in some regions.
• Accommodations: Comfortable sleeping quarters, a functional galley, and enclosed head are needed for multi-day and multi-week trips.
• Hull Type: Displacement hull trawlers, cruisers, and motor yachts are well-suited for the journey. Planing hulls can complete it but will take a fuel efficiency hit at slower canal speeds.
• Navigation: GPS chartplotters, radar, depth finders, and other instruments and marine electronics for navigating varying conditions.
• Operation: Vessel and systems should be completely reliable and redundant where possible given the several thousand mile journey.
• Insurance/Documentation: Vessel documentation and insurance is required for coastal, Great Lakes portions.

Hopefully, this article has provided some ideas and examples of what your best Great Loop boat might be. Beyond a few hard limitations, it’s a matter of taste and style. There’s no right or wrong answer–you’ll often see many unexpected vessels doing the Loop. 

If you’re considering the Loop, check out the America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association for more details.

What size boat is best for the Great Loop?

There’s no set size limit for length, but all boats looking to complete the Loop must pass under a low fixed bridge in the Chicago area. If your boat is more than 19 feet, 6 inches above the water, thou shall not pass.

What is the largest boat to complete the Great Loop?

Some people have reported that boats as long as 70 feet have completed the Loop. But taking a vessel of this size is not recommended, as you must navigate numerous tight locks and low bridges along the route. Most Loopers choose boats less than 50 feet long.

What is the smallest recommended boat for the Great Loop?

The smallest boat is the one that you’re comfortable on. Jet skis have completed the Loop, but they’re limited to staying in hotels or camping. It’s best to have a boat that will be comfortable to live on for the better part of a year. Most people want a boat at least 35 feet long to do that.

What is the average time to complete the Great Loop?

Most cruisers take about a year to do the Loop. Several factors affect this plan, and it’s always an individual choice. Generally, you’ll be northbound in the spring to be westbound through the Great Lakes in the summer. Then you “fall down” the rivers in the autumn so that you can over-winter in Florida. But many people take breaks, leave their boats in storage, and complete the Loop in sections. Furthermore, many folks want to take their time and enjoy the scenery. It’s not a race, after all.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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The Liveaboard Trawler: Is It the Best Boat for Your Nautical Life?

Have you ever considered living aboard a boat? Those marine biologists, undercover detectives and private investigators of movies and '80s TV make it look so cool.

Whether you’re in San Diego, Seattle, Vancouver, Miami or some other place, deciding to live aboard your boat can be confusing, stressful and exciting all at the same time. We’ve all imagined what it would be like to live aboard those luxury sailboats, houseboats and mega yachts (come on, you can admit it).

But what is it really like?

Should you dive into the liveaboard life?

And is a trawler—a popular liveaboard boat choice— the right boat for you ?

Maybe you’re planning an extended trip like the Great Loop, a partial ICW excursion or a cruise through the Caribbean. Or maybe you’re considering a permanent move.

Either way, check out some of the pros and cons to consider when deciding to make the jump into a liveaboard trawler.

What Is a Liveaboard Trawler?

First of all, what exactly is a trawler? A trawler is a rugged motor boat that's built for long-distance traveling and deep sea conditions. They usually have wide beams and displacement hulls with single or twin engines. They’re often used as fishing boats.

Advantages of a Liveaboard Trawler

For the purpose of this discussion, and your time, I’ll be comparing the liveaboard trawler to a liveaboard sailboat. I can get kind of wordy, and I’m sure you don’t want to read a novel right now. Save that for the back deck of the boat on a cool breezy evening.

Wider hulls allow for roomier interiors.

The wider hulls of a trawler make for roomy interiors, bigger kitchens, more spacious sleeping quarters and just more room all around for the boat's gear , anchors , fenders , your gear and gadgets and yourself (and maybe a pet or two).

If you’re going to be living aboard this boat with other people, you probably don’t want to be bumping into each other all the time. On the other hand, maybe you do. To each his own.

More headroom and space add comfort.

The comfort factor goes along with the space factor. Trawlers have more headroom below deck and lots of space on deck for entertaining. They usually have two bathrooms, which can be a major blessing when traveling with kids or teenagers. Especially teenagers.

Trawlers have easy accessibility

Getting in and out of the boat is much easier on a trawler.

Trawlers are more stable than some boats.

The hard chines of trawlers make them more stable to sleep on than the rounded chines of a sailboat. While a little bit of rocking isn’t so bad, you might not get any sleep if the conditions are rough.

You also won’t have to deal with your plates and drinks sliding off of the table. Stable tables are the best kind when it comes to that plate of seafood or frosty beverage. Cup holders  and rod holder cutting boards come in handy on these occasions. 

Less draft is better for shallow waters.

Trawlers have less draft than other boats, especially sailboats, which gives more variety for anchorages and navigating shallow water. The waterways in the Florida Keys can turn shallow before you even realize it.

Enjoy worry-free bridge clearance.

Depending on the height of the sails and the bridge, sailboats  either have to wait for drawbridges to open or they have to find another way around. There are many bridges along the ICW that trawlers can sail under with no problem.

Better for time management purposes.

As mentioned above, waiting for a drawbridge can significantly cut down on your time frame. If you need to be somewhere at a certain time, trawlers are more reliable for planning purposes than sailboats.

Also, sailboats have that tricky little thing about needing wind. You can't really make a reservation for wind. But if you can, I would love to know your secrets and contact information.

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Disadvantages of a Liveaboard Trawler

As with anything, when there are advantages, there will also be disadvantages. Things like speed, noise and maintenance may not be a big deal to some, but they may be to others. It's always good to consider both sides of the subject. 

Trawlers are slow.

Most trawlers go about six to seven knots as opposed to a sailboat that has the wind on its side.

Engines are noisy.

When underway, the boat engines are always running (otherwise you’re on a sailboat or you need maintenance).

Trawlers consume lots of fuel.

Trawlers obviously burn more fuel than sailboats. Even if the sailboat has an engine , wind power is free for the taking when you so choose.

Trawlers need more maintenance.

There are more things that can go wrong or break on a trawler, such as electronics, propellers and engines. The physical size of a trawler necessitates more boat soap ,  cleaning products and routine maintenance than a sailboat.

Trawlers are harder to handle in bad weather.

Surprisingly, trawlers are harder to handle in rough conditions . Where sailboats can swiftly cut through the water, trawlers can get bogged down.

Sailboats have the advantage of having both sails and an engine, whereas the trawler has just the one mode of motion (the engine).

Types of Liveaboard Trawlers

• Albin 48 North Sea Cutter
• Beneteau Swift Trawler
• Mainship 430 Trawler
• Nordhavn 46’
• Ocean Alexander

Ways to Test the Liveaboard Trawler Waters

• Wrangle an invitation from a trawler-owning friend. You bring the beer, and I bet they’ll agree in a heartbeat.
• If you already own a trawler or other boat equipped for overnight stays, spend a weekend on it .
• Book a Boatsetter boat rental . You usually can’t take the boat out, but it’s a way to gauge your interest. I recently did this exact thing and spent a couple of nights aboard a 35-foot Chris Craft Catalina. While I enjoyed the stay, I came to the conclusion that this particular boat’s layout wouldn't work for more than one or two people for an extended time.

Peek Into the Liveaboard Trawler Life

Want to see how real live boaters are experiencing the liveaboard life? Blogs , vlogs and websites are great outlets to get tips on living aboard a trawler.

Check out some of these social channels to see and read about how others are faring. It’s also a nice way to get tips and recommendations on marine products. And you thought the internet was only good for cat videos and cute baby pictures.

Blue Turtle Trawler   is the adventure blog of Kim, Randy and Corey aboard their 40-foot trawler. They call southwest Florida their home. You can read all about their voyages to the Dry Tortugas, Sanibel Island, the Florida Keys and many others as well as posts on moving to new marinas, replacing marine air conditioners and teak doors , painting hulls and performing annual maintenance.

Drift Away  covers Pam and Dave’s journey aboard their 46-foot Cheoy Lee (named Drift Away). They started cruising in 2011. They aren't currently cruising, and have actually sold Drift Away, but the stories are still there and Dave posts occasionally about writing books and boating blogs. Past posts have included bilge issues , problems with buzzards and boating on the St. John’s River, the ICW and Kerr Lake.

PassageMaker   offers a cruising lifestyle section written by boaters for boaters. Real boaters share their experiences of the cruising and liveaboard life with posts on maintenance, diving advice, boat reviews, events and destinations.  

Tula’s Endless Summer on YouTube   is the chronicle of two boaters who decided they didn’t want to wait until they were 60 to retire. With a motto of “Work Hard, Play Hard," they travel and live aboard their trawler while working and managing their careers.

Boat Fam on YouTube  is about a family of four that lived aboard a 43-foot trawler—though they've recently sold the boat and stopped making new videos. Both parents worked from home, which was their boat in this case. Videos and blog posts include boat product recommendations, engine and generator issues, homeschooling aboard a boat and neat nature experiences.

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A Complete Guide to Liveaboard Trawlers: All You Need to Know

Are you thinking about spending a few days at sea on a boating adventure? Living out on the ocean on a dive trip or an extended deep-sea fishing journey is an experience you’ll never forget.

Some boats allow you to live permanently out on the water. Liveaboard trawlers are an example of a vessel equipped to spend days or weeks at sea without the need to return to land.

Trawlers also make popular liveaboard boats for marinas, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle, and the expense, of living in the city. Liveaboard trawlers suit everything from student accommodation in a marina to a research vessel for marine scientists.

The liveaboard trawler gives you all the conveniences of living in an apartment. Sure, you might not have the floor space you get with an apartment, but not everyone needs that in their life. Liveaboard trawlers provide you with a snug, comfortable living space.

This post unpacks everything you need to know about liveaboard trawlers.

What Are Liveaboard Trawlers?

Trawlers typically feature displacement hulls and wide beams, with single or twin outboard or inboard motors powering the boat . Trawlers are one of the more popular fishing boats , and they work well as liveaboard dive boats.

A liveaboard trawler is ideal for traveling long distances up and down the east or west coast or around the Great Loop. They make sturdy vessels for deep-sea conditions and can handle rough weather.

What Is the Layout of a Liveaboard Trawler?

The trawler layout comes in many designs and setups, and they are highly customizable if you’re buying a new model from a dealership. If you’re buying pre-owned, it pays to shop around, and you might find an owner with plenty of additional customizations to their boat.

The good news for buyers is that pre-owned boats don’t fetch any extra market value for the accessories and extras included in the vessel. So, there’s a chance you could find a fully-kitted boat at a great price on the secondary market.

Regardless of the layout, most trawlers come with the following design features.

Berths and Cabins

The large displacement hull of the trawler means that there is plenty of room for a large berth. The size of the berth depends largely on the length of the boat. Depending on the boat manufacturing brand and the layout, a 40-foot trawler may accommodate up to eight to six people.

The berth usually features four small living quarters with bunk beds or full-size queen beds. The range of finishes and fittings varies depending on the price of the boat and the manufacturing brand .

Most trawlers under 40-feet come with a center cockpit and aft cabin layout. You’ll find a standard-sized bedroom and queen size bed in the aft, separated from the other living quarters.

These berths are far more spacious and accommodative than v-berths, and the cabin with Pullman berth, typically in the bow of the boat, provides a standard size bed with enough room to sit up in bed.

Dining and Entertainment Salon

The salon is the lounge and dining area of the boat, and it’s where people hang out during the day. Salons vary widely in design, depending on the manufacturer.

Some features, such as a drop-leaf folding table in the salon center, might make no sense to the design, making it hard to walk around the table. Some plans also offer you better natural lighting than others.

Look at the positioning of the port hatches and lights to get an idea of the light you’ll get inside the salon. You don’t want to feel like you’re living in a cold basement. Most trawler designs offer better lighting in the salon compared to other styles of boats.

Many have panoramic windows and other features to bring in more natural light. However, the more glass on the boat, the higher the price tag.

If you’re out at sea for a few days, you’re going to need somewhere to cook your meals. The galley is a small kitchen in the boa, usually in an L-shape design. The design allows the chef to wedge themselves into the L to give them stability when cooking in rough weather conditions.

Look for features like double-sinks, plenty of counter space, burners, refrigerators, and electrical outlets. Don’t forget about the dedicated storage space for your dinnerware and cookware. If the stove features a propane burner, check to see that you have enough space to fit a 50lbs tank, at minimum.

Captains Cockpit

The captain’s cockpit sits high up on the trawler, overlooking the ocean, giving the driver a 360-degree view of the water. Most cockpits come sealed from the elements, with sides and walls. Some boats may have an open-back design to the cockpit, while others come with folding doors.

A few models come with an open cockpit design featuring waterproof consoles and a windshield. The issue with this design is that it’s not very weather-friendly. You’ll need to invest in a Bimini top for shade and rain protection when driving the boat.

If you’re regularly operating the vessel in cold and rainy conditions, we recommend going with a canvas bridge and full enclosure if you have the budget.

Storage Systems

Boats’ storage space comes at a premium, and the more you have, the better. The galley should feature cupboards for your plates and dry goods, the bedrooms should have closets and drawers for your clothes, and the captain’s area and salon should have enough storage to accommodate your fishing and dive gear.

Older boat models tend to have more storage space than newer designs. The cost of having a streamlined design with spacious living areas means that you have less storage space on modern models.

If you need extra storage space for your boat, consider purchasing dock boxes and using one of the cabins as a storage area.

The head, or the bathroom, differs between boats. The higher the price tag, the better the bathroom. Regardless of the price of the vessel, the head should include a shower, basin, and toilet.

Many boats don’t come with showers, but we recommend going for one with a shower if you can find it; it helps with rinsing the salt from your skin after a dive or swim.

The shower should connect to the water heater, and the boat should come with enough capacity for storing fresh water for a long trip at sea. The larger boats come with two heads on board.

Benefits of Liveaboard Trawlers

The liveaboard trawler offers you a unique on-the-water living experience compared to sailboats and other common watercraft choices for long trips at sea.

Here are the top advantages of buying a liveaboard trawler.

Wide Hulls and Roomy Interiors

As mentioned, the wide displacement hull of the boat means the trawler comes with plenty of generous space below the deck . You get bigger sleeping accommodations and better finishes and fittings than small boats.

Plenty of Headroom

The trawler comes with plenty of headroom, and you’ll find it easy to stand up straight in the bedrooms, kitchen, and salon. They are the ideal entertainment vessel, and they also have plenty of deck space for having a party in great weather.

Superior Stability

The hard chines of the trawler bring exceptional stability to the boat. As a result, there is less rocking effect than in other boat designs using rounded chines.

Shallow Draft

The trawler has a shallow draft, thanks to its displacement hull design. As a result, it’s the ideal choice for navigating through shallow waters where yachts and sailboats can’t go. It’s a great choice for waterways around the Florida Keys, where the water can get shallow fast.

Good Bridge Clearance

Most trawlers are bridge-friendly, and they can sail under without raising the bridge.

Drawbacks of Liveaboard Trawlers

Liveaboard trawlers have a few drawbacks compared to other liveaboard options on the market.

Slow Cruising Speeds

Trawlers are not performance vessels. Most of them reach speeds of between six to seven knots, and they don’t benefit from the wind.

Noisy Engines

The trawler’s engines are noisy, and they can detract from the experience on the vessel.

Trawlers are Thirsty

Trawlers have one of the highest fuel consumption rates of any boat design.

High Maintenance Requirements

The larger the trawler, the larger the maintenance bill.

Hard to Handle in Rough Weather Conditions

The displacement hull in the trawler makes it more suitable for calm weather conditions, and they tend to “slap” on the water in rough weather conditions. Sailboats and other designs will slice through the water.

What Is the Suggested Length for My Liveaboard Trawler?

If you’re looking at sizing your trawler, follow these guidelines.

• 25-35 feet for singles.
• 35-45 feet for couples.
• 40+ feet for four or more people.

Take the Liveaboard Trawler for a Sea Test

We recommend downloading the Boatsetter app. This app is like the Airbnb of the boating industry, and you can rent a trawler directly from its owner. It’s a great way to see if you like the trawler layout and design before finalizing a purchase.

If you get out on the water and find that you don’t like the boat’s handling or the noisy engines , a test drive could end up saving you from making a big mistake. The reality is liveaboard trawlers are expensive boats, and you don’t want to spend all that money to end up with a vessel you don’t like.

Affordable Trawlers Under 40-Feet

Nordhavn 40.

This trawler is an excellent example of a 40 footer that’s a great choice for cruising. The Nordhavn is an established sea-faring brand with a reputation for high-quality builds and designs. It successfully completed a global circumnavigation and the Atlantic crossing.

The N40 is the shortest vessel in the Nordhavn range of ocean-crossing trawlers, and it comes with a real pedigree backing it. You get a full displacement hull design with a 900-gallon fuel capacity providing a range of up to 2,400 nautical miles per tank .

The boat features a buoyant bow design with a dry ride, and the forefoot in the bow design helps the boat cut through the water like a sailboat to avoid slap in choppy conditions. We like the Seakeeper gyro-stabilization system that minimizes rocking and rolling.

With the N40, you get an amazing vessel and one of the highest-quality trawler designs available.

Affordable Trawlers Over 40-Feet

Beneteau swift trawler 44.

The Beneteau “fast” trawler range, including the “Swift Trawler 44,” debuted back in 2011, and it’s one of the top-selling trawlers of the last decade.

You get twin Volvo Penta 300-HP diesel engines, providing a top speed of up to 23+ knots, which is far above the seven to eight knots you’re going to get with most other trawler models. The boat has one of the best cruising speeds in the market, and it comes with an elegant look.

You’ll find plenty of room topside on the deck, and a spacious cockpit in the aft, loaded with teak trim. There’s a large foredeck on the boat ideal for dancing, fishing, or any other activity where you need plenty of room.

The cabin top and sun pad area feature a large flybridge deck and plenty of seating with storage available for an inflatable dinghy. Drop anchor and paddle to the shore of an island for some exploring. The boat’s interior features a two-stateroom design plan, with a master bedroom in the bow and guest accommodation in the aft.

It’s an amazing boat, but it comes with a heavy price tag. The base model starts at $500,000, and you could end up adding another $200,000 in accessories.

Wrapping Up – Get the Best Liveaboard Experience with a Trawler

Whether you’re going out on the ocean for a liveaboard dive trip, or you need the boat for a few days to go on a deep-sea fishing trip, the trawler is a great choice. This boat is a cruiser’s dream with plenty of space, luxury accommodations, and living quarters.

John is an experienced journalist and veteran boater. He heads up the content team at BoatingBeast and aims to share his many years experience of the marine world with our readers.

A Complete Guide to Micro Skiffs: All You Need to Know!

A complete guide to narrow boats: all you need to know, a guide to aluminum fishing boats.

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Top 15 Trawlers for 2023

• By Patrick Sciacca
• October 13, 2023

For every shoe, there’s a foot, and for every boating enthusiast, there’s a yacht. For those individuals who like to cruise their yachts across blue water, spend months on board or voyage to remote beaches and quiet coves, a trawler yacht is the go-to vessel choice. But even within this yacht genre, there are many options. For example, there are some mighty midsize trawlers that are easily capable of transatlantic crossings for an adventurous couple, and then there are megayacht-size craft with next-level amenities that require extra crew. Some trawler-yacht builders offer significant customization and others work from a fixed options list. There are single-engine trawlers and twin-engine trawlers. One thing that is common is that these trawler yachts are designed from the ground up for yachtsmen with wanderlust in their hearts.

Top Trawlers 

The following 15 trawlers are all vessels we’ve written about. They are listed in no particular order.

• Nordhavn 96 : Built for an owner who desired to self-sufficiently while cruising the world, literally.
• Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 : This trawler can travel nonstop for 1,000 nautical miles.
• Kadey-Krogen 52 : This twin-engine-capable, all-oceans trawler is a solid fit for voyaging cruising couples.
• Bering Yachts B76 : The B76 is the builder’s first fully custom trawler in this size range.
• Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge : This vessel is equally comfortable at a 7-knot stroll or an 18-knot jog.
• Beneteau 48 Swift Trawler : Based on the builder’s Swift Trawler 47, this yacht has a resin-infused fiberglass hull.
• Kadey-Krogen 50 Open : The 50 Open can cruise at 6 knots nonstop for 5,000 nautical miles.
• Outer Reef 620 Trident : It has a three-stateroom layout and optional 600 hp Cummins diesels.
• Grand Banks 60 Skylounge : This yacht is efficient across a variety of cruising speeds.
• Krogen Express 52 : Headroom to spare, two staterooms, a chef-ready galley and long range define this trawler yacht.
• Grand Banks 85 Skylounge : Grand Banks’ V-warp hull form makes for a level running attitude, seakindliness and long range.
• Vicem Yachts 82 Classic : Construction is in cold-molded, strip-planked mahogany with epoxy.
• Outer Reef 610 Motoryacht : Power on this Outer Reef is a pair of 500 hp John Deere 6090 diesels.
• Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot : Did someone say this is a 20-knot Nordhavn?
• Marlow 58E : A high level of customization and admirable performance are at the heart of the Marlow 58E.

Nordhavn 96

The Nordhavn 96 is the yacht builder’s second-largest yacht its 17-model fleet, which ranges from 41 to 120 feet length overall. (There is a new 112 on the drawing table.) The builder says the N96 is based on its earlier 86-footer with a 10-foot cockpit extension, which increases both main-deck, skylounge and below-deck volume. The N96 we reviewed was built by an owner who previously had an 86-foot Nordhavn, but with his plans for extended cruises to remote destinations, the 96 was the right size for his voyaging plans. In fact, since the owner took delivery of the boat, it has been on a continuous circumnavigation.

Quick Specifications

Beneteau Grand Trawler 62

Beneteau’s Grand Trawler 62 has 1,000-plus-mile range and 20-knot speed with twin 730 hp i6 MAN diesels . The Grand Trawler 62 is the builder’s flagship in its Trawler series, which also includes the Swift Trawler 35 , Swift Trawler 41 Sedan ,  Swift Trawler 41 Fly and Swift Trawler 48 . Small touches set the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 apart. They include sea rails on all lockers to keep stowed food and gear in place, leather-wrapped interior handrails for security in a seaway, and leather drawer pulls like those found on larger yachts. Long-range cruising accommodations include a full-beam master stateroom aft, a forepeak VIP and twin-berth guest stateroom. A Quick X3 gyrostabilizer helps mitigate any potential rocking and rolling on rough days.

Kadey-Krogen 52

The Kadey-Krogen 52 is the trawler-yacht builder’s smallest offering in its raised-pilothouse series, complete with a Portuguese Bridge. Owners can choose from either a two- or three-stateroom layout, and between a single-diesel engine or twin-diesel engines, for owners seeking redundancy. The standard engine is a 231 hp John Deere diesel. With the single-engine setup, draft is 5’5” and with twins it’s a shallower 4’6”. At 6 knots, range is an ocean-crossing 4,850 nautical miles. At 7 knots, it’s 3,300 nm. At 9 knots, it 1,700 nm. The builder states, “The entire Krogen 52 is built from only three molded pieces for maximized structural integrity. There are no additional secondary bonds or caulk joints that can inevitably cause issues. All deck and superstructures are cored and vacuum-bagged to maximize strength while minimizing weight.” Additionally, six longitudinal stringers enhance overall strength.

Bering Yachts B76

Lemanja  is the first custom boat that Bering has built in this size range. The yacht is notable for its steel hull and aluminum superstructure, and for its 4,000-nautical-mile-plus range with its twin 404 hp Cummins QSL9 diesel engines. As rugged as the Bering 76 is built on the outside, it also offers homelike comforts in its skylounge inside, offering panoramic views out large windows surrounding the space. Sole-to-ceiling glass offers similar views in the open-plan salon. Accommodations are fox six guests in three staterooms with a master stateroom and two guest staterooms, plus crew accommodations. In addition to its traditional diesel engines, the B76 has a solar-rechargeable battery bank for hybrid propulsion.

Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge

The Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge is a long-distance cruiser with creature comforts. Our expert found the R-43 Command Bridge to be a solid candidate to cruise The Great Loop . We agree. Twin Volvo Penta IPS450 pod drives give the boat efficient low and high cruise speeds at 7 and 18 knots, respectively. For those that have work during their cruise, the R-43 Command bridge’s master stateroom is set up with an office with a desk. Long trips require extra stowage and a way to clean salty clothes, so on the R-43 Command Bridge there is a washer, dryer, auxiliary refrigerator/freezer and stowage under the dinette, which rises on electric rams. Voyagers who buy a R-43 Commander Bridge can opt for a Factory Delivery Experience, which is three days of instruction on Puget Sound, and includes in boat systems, handling and maintenance.

Beneteau Swift Trawler 48

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 has a 1,300-nautical-mile range at 8 knots, but can also speed away at 26 knots if the weather goes south in a hurry. Based on the builder’s 47-footer , the three-stateroom, two-head Swift Trawler 48 has a resin-infused fiberglass hull. Power is a pair of 425 hp Cummins diesels. The main-deck layout includes a galley aft setup, which is accessible to the cockpit. There, the seating and dining area can be fully enclosed, with tracks in place for side curtains. The helmsman is kept comfortable on long passages with a bolstered, pedestal bucket-style seat with a flip-up footrest. The Swift Trawler 48 we reviewed had upgraded 12-inch Raymarine HybridTouch displays (9-inch screens are standard).

Kadey-Krogen 50 Open

Designed for serious extended cruising,  Kadey-Krogen Yachts 50 Open provides owners with amenities that will enhance those longer passages. The galley is fitted with a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, a four-burner Wolf range, a microwave and an optional dishwasher. Unlike in many trawlers and their traditional pilothouse design, the galley is located on the same level as the helm and salon. Belowdecks is the master stateroom amidships with two hanging lockers, 12 cabinets, additional drawers for stowage and an en suite head, shower and two sinks. Forward of the master is an office. The 50 Open’s hull has soft chines and a curved after end, much like the characteristics of a sailboat built for cruising. The result is an efficient hull form that provides a gentle landing into troughs when the sea gets a temper. This trawler can cruise at 6 knots for 5,000 nautical miles; 7 knots for 3,000 nautical miles; 8 knots for 2,100 nautical miles; and 9 knots for 1,200 nautical miles.

Outer Reef 620 Trident

Outer Reef Yachts 620 Trident delivers a three-stateroom layout and optional 600 hp Cummins diesels that allow this vessel to approach a top hop of 21 knots. Cruising speed is a little over 16 knots, burning about 34 gallons of fuel per hour at 2,750 rpm. The amidships master stateroom has 6-foot-8-inch headroom, a walk-in closet and a shower enclosed in smoked glass. In the forepeak VIP stateroom, there are seven drawers, a hanging locker, a 31-inch Samsung TV and 7-foot headroom. The portside guest stateroom can convert to an office, too. The aft galley has a U-shape countertop, a three-burner electric cooktop, a Bosch microwave and a Vitrifrigo refrigerator and freezer. Cherry, walnut and oak are the available wood options.

Grand Banks 60 Skylounge

It’s obvious after a quick peek inside the Grand Banks 60 Skylounge that the  Grand Banks Yachts  trademark external DNA is retained. The deck, cabin house and skylounge are all composed of infused carbon fiber, reducing weight aloft and creating a lower center of gravity. With twin 900 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels , the 60 Skylounge can accelerate to 31 knots and cruise at about 25 knots. The 60 Skylounge can also travel up to 2,000 nautical miles at 10 knots on a 1,530-gallon fuel tank. Twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS1200s are also available.

Krogen Express 52

The Krogen Express 52 runs on twin 440 hp Yanmar diesels and can cruise at 8 knots for 1,680 nautical miles or at 16 knots for 500 nautical miles. Top hop:  22 knots. In the interior,  Krogen Express  has outfitted the 52 with a master stateroom and a guest stateroom. The former has a queen island berth, more than 7-foot headroom, hanging lockers and smaller cubbies to port and to starboard, and an en suite head with a molded fiberglass shower stall with a seat, a VacuFlush toilet and a granite countertop. A power lift elevates the berth and grants access to more stowage underneath. The Krogen Express 52’s salon has a 26-inch HD LED TV and a home-theater system, leather Stressless chairs to port and a built-in, L-shape settee to starboard. The galley boasts granite countertops, a three-burner Force 10 propane range with an oven, a refrigerator, a GE microwave oven, a deep Elkay sink and a pullout sprayer faucet. There is a Buff Ultraleather Stidd helm seat for extra comfort during long runs.

Grand Banks 85 Skylounge

The Grand Banks 85 Skylounge comes in at more than 87 feet length overall and displaces 108,000 pounds, with a 22-plus-foot beam and an air draft of just under 26 feet. Owners can choose either a three- or four-stateroom layout. The standard motors are twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS diesels, twin 1,300 hp MAN straight-shaft diesels are optional. With the larger engines, owners can also choose an optional stern thruster, in addition to the standard bow thruster. With the IPS diesels, top speed is 26.5 knots and fuel burn is 100 gallons per hour, resulting in a range of 699 nautical miles. At a 21-knot cruise speed, fuel consumption drops to 57 gph, and range climbs to 972 nm. At a 9-knot jog, fuel burn falls to 9 gph, and the Grand Banks 85 Skylounge can cruise nonstop for about 2,500 nautical miles.

Vicem 82 Classic Flybridge

The Vicem 82 Classic is a flybridge model built in cold-molded mahogany, which creates a stout hull form with reduced weight. The yacht is notable for its timeless Downeast lines and strong joiner work. For cruising enthusiasts, the Classic 82 Flybridge is powered with twin 900 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels . The yacht has a top-end speed of 17.8 knots, and the cruising speed is 15 knots. At 9 knots, and considering a 10-percent fuel reserve, range is reportedly 1,100 nautical miles.  Accommodations three en-suite-equipped staterooms. The master stateroom is full-beam and amidships with a king-size berth is on centerline. The starboard-side guest stateroom and a forepeak VIP each have queen-size berths.

Outer Reef 610 Motoryacht

Built for an enthusiastic cruising couple after a three-year boat search, the Outer Reef Yachts 610 Motoryacht (part of the builder’s Classic series ), was customized with a fore-and-aft berth in the owners’ stateroom (as in, not athwartships), and berths rather than bunks in the smaller of two guest staterooms. This Outer Reef 610 was designed to be used as a liveaboard vessel, so the salon is not set up for dining (there are tables in the pilothouse, on the aft deck and on the bridge). A pair of swivel chairs in the salon face the built-in couch and the pop-up TV to port. The 610 is built with hand-laid fiberglass, PVC coring above the waterline, resin infusion and a vinylester barrier coat against osmosis. Power is twin 500 hp John Deere 6090 diesels turning ZF transmissions . The 610 tops out at about 13.5 knots with full tanks and 21 people aboard. The engines burn 20 gph at 1,800 rpm for 11 knots at 45 percent engine load. Those numbers should allow it to cross oceans without shortening engine life.

Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot

Nordhavn has long been known for its stout circumnavigation -capable craft, and the Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot carries on the the tradition of a beefy build with addition of…speed. Twenty-knots-plus, actually. Twin 715 hp Cummins diesel inboards and a new semidisplacement hull form  are said to be key to the performance equation. The Nordhavn 59CP has a 777-nautical-mile range at a 9.3-knot cruise, and a 255-nm range at its 20.3-knot top-end. Construction is a solid fiberglass hull bottom supported by full-length longitudinal stringers and a series of transversal supports for added backbone. High freeboard should keep the decks dry in a seaway, while rails keep the crew secure during transits. Nordhavn says the 59CP has a “CE category A unlimited offshore rating, ensuring the vessel has the seakeeping and strength capabilities to take on most serious coastal cruises up to 1,000 miles.”

Marlow Yachts 58E

Following on the successful Marlow 57 , the Marlow 58E was started from scratch on a blank sheet of paper. The essence of the 58E is that it has better performance and more internal and external volume than her predecessor. The centerline length grew 10 inches over the 57, but the waterline length increased 16 inches and the beam widened 4 inches. If you were to examine the two boats out of the water, you would see more bell-shaped forward sections making for a soft impact with the vee’d portion. Power options start with twin 575 hp Caterpillar C9 diesels, but the 58E we got aboard had beefier twin 1,015 hp Caterpillar C18 diesels. Top speed: 27.9 knots. At 8 knots, the Marlow 58E can cruise nonstop for 1,400 nautical miles.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a trawler yacht?

A true trawler typically has a full-displacement hull form and robust construction to handle open-water operation, and it’s designed to operate self-sufficiently for long periods of time. They are slow-cruising vessels, but over the years, hybrid yachts called fast trawlers have emerged to offer displacement-speed operation as well as the ability to run at planing speeds when desired.

What is a full-displacement hull form?

A displacement-hull form is known is for its rounded nature and deep draft. Full-displacement vessels do not plane on the water, but rather push through the water. This hull design makes displacement-hull vessels incredibly seakindly, but it also makes them relatively slow (think 5, 6, 7, 8 knots) when compared to semidisplacement- and planning-hull designs.

Is a long-range cruiser the same as a trawler?

While all trawlers are certainly long-range cruisers, not all long-range cruisers are trawlers. True trawlers will have full-displacement hull designs and not all long-range cruisers have them.

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A Journey from Sailboat to Trawler

You know you want it...

Mocka Jumbies and Rum...

For the past three years my partner Barry Miller and I have taken the Intracoastal Waterway from Annapolis, Md., to the Bahamas on our 43-foot Irwin ketch. During those six-month cruises, I sometimes felt like I was living in a basement . We also wanted more comfort along the way. So after 60 collective years of sailing, we decided to join many other snowbirds and leave the perch on our sailboat for a trawler.

We had been eyeing trawlers for some time , since they checked off many of the wish list items: a boat with a view and light, space, and the feeling of living on top, not under the water. After some research, we took a deep breath and started searching. We focused on a size range of 35 to 40 feet to handle the challenges of a blue water crossing.

Like any boat, trawlers offer many options, all involving some kind of compromise. For example, if we chose an aft cabin, we wouldn’t get a cockpit or, at least, not much of one. One engine is less expensive, but two offer a backup. How strongly did we feel about a center queen bed versus a v-berth?  And on and on. In the end, a decision is based on the most important amenity for the buyer. Go to trawler fests, and ask questions. The more research and education a shopper has about trawlers, the better.

We looked at many boats, each time thinking we had the right one. The Eagle 40, Monk 36, Grand Banks, Mainship, Marine Trader and Sabreline; each had features we really liked. We even looked at a power catamaran, but it was too expensive.

In the end, we picked the Albin 36 for its combination of a large cockpit for entertaining, with a direct walk-out from the cabin and a single engine with bow thruster. Overall, the Albin has a very open and bright interior, a top priority for us.

We are beginning to realize the differences between a sailboat and a trawler. First, trawlers are easier to live aboard because there is no rigging for sails and a mast, to stumble over. On the other hand, it’s essentially two stories high, making it difficult to single hand, since running up and down steps to handle lines when docking can result in losing your balance and other potential troubles.

After years of driving a sailboat, driving a trawler is not intuitive . The Irwin has a cable throttle which accelerates in direct proportion to how much it is moved back and forth. The Albin has an electronic throttle, which is more sensitive but hesitates when put into gear, making a novice think that it needs to be moved up a notch. That can be a very bad idea during docking, since a 450-horsepower engine can take off like a spaceship. Crashing into a dock, which we did in the first month after buying the Albin, can be a very expensive fiberglass job, not to mention a bruising to the ego.

Sailboats have rudders for steerage. Trawlers, on the other hand, depend more on speed to control their direction . Without forward motion, the wheel doesn’t turn the boat and it begins drifting sideways. It can be pretty frustrating to pick up a mooring, anchor or even dock, until you learn to “back and fill,” (a little power forward followed by a little power backward). Bow thrusters are great for tweaking the boat in a direction but not for major maneuvering. Thrusters are also prone to burn out from overuse so it’s good to use them sparingly.

I would strongly recommend hiring a trawler trainer to go out with at first . We waited too long to do this but when we did, it was worth the money.

A trawler requires major preventative maintenance on its diesel engine . While they are work horses, diesels are very unforgiving if neglected, and 80 percent of owners do just that, according to marine surveyors. On this subject, we were naïve and if we had it to do over we would get a separate engine survey. The cooling system for a diesel has a dizzying number of components, which can develop serious problems if not monitored and serviced regularly. Take a diesel maintenance class before buying, to understand what is about to be taken on.

We bought the Albin last summer, but never made it to the Bahamas this year, which turned out to be a good thing. The work to bring the boat up to speed took almost four months at a yard in Florida. Having to deal with that in a foreign country would have been a nightmare.

So, now, after eight months of owning a trawler, would we do it again? Absolutely. Its comfort is close to that of living in a mobile condo. And after all the surprises are over, there is no boating as undemanding as motoring in a trawler. It is far less stressful than a sailboat and after a day on the water we are not exhausted, but almost ready to begin again.

At the end of a day, there is nothing like a glass of wine on our “back porch” or enjoying a 360 degree view up high on the bridge while listening to some Bahamian music and thinking about next year.

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The Ultimate Trawler Boat Buying Guide

I have been writing about trawlers and powerboat cruising for many years. It is both an obsession and a fascination for me, as I witness hundreds of people, mostly couples, embrace the trawler lifestyle as a healthy alternative to routine living on land. While the last several years certainly got a lot of people and families to escape from a confined existence, choosing a freer life on the water away from so many imposed restrictions, the trawler lifestyle was already alive and well in North America.

(Below: "Growler", a Custom Zimmerman 36 Trawler once owned by Bill Parlatore, founder of Passagemaker Magazine.)

What is the appeal of this lifestyle? For me, living aboard and operating trawler yachts represents a quality of life that embraces the values of self-sufficiency and independence, and adventure without sacrificing comfort. One is free to move as the mood dictates, finding a balance of nature while engaging as much—or as little—in society, careers, and other activities that compensate with convenience, glittery things, nice cars and houses, and other material things. Many come to realize at some point they are but distractions from a more grounded existence.

Operating a trawler does not demand the skills and experience required from a similar size sailboat . And it is relatively easy to learn the nuances of engine and vessel maintenance, navigation, and proper seamanship. Depending on what kind of powerboat one chooses, they can be economical to own and operate, and offer a pleasant home experience that often rivals luxury living ashore. And a point often missed when discussing this lifestyle, the skills needed to competently run a trawler offer stimulating physical and mental challenges that are immensely valuable at the stage of life when most of us pursue this life direction.

It is rewarding to gain confidence and a sense of accomplishment with every new port, every new challenge. Dealing with the vagaries of life on the water makes one stronger, more resilient, and better able to deal with just about anything life throws at us. A t-shirt captured that sentiment: “Calm seas never made a skilled sailor.”

And a final note before I begin. While we’ll look at the cost of admission into this life, most of us are at a point in life where we have more financial worth than time, so the cost of getting into this lifestyle is more than made up by a quality of life that most agree is hard to beat.

This guide to buying a trawler yacht  serves several functions, and I hope to satisfy them in the following pages. We will discuss the choices one has in the trawler market, and hopefully explain the value of each type as it relates to selecting the right boat. At the same time, I hope to underscore this discussion with a greater appreciation for what I believe is often missed. Choosing the right boat is only the beginning. There is much more to the selection process than simply choosing a layout that seems comfortable or a boat that comes with all the bells and whistles. Walking through a boat during a boat show is only the first taste of what a boat has to offer. I trust my guide will help people avoid falling in love with the wrong boat. If I am successful, we will keep such misplaced passion to a minimum.

TRAWLER BUYER'S GUIDE - TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is A Trawler?
• What Are The Different Types Of Trawler Boats?
• What's The Difference Between Trawlers & Cruising Boats?
• What About Catamarans?
• Hybrid & EV Powerboats
• How Many People To Take On Your Trawler?
• Where Should You Take Your Trawler?
• How Long Should You Cruise On Your Trawler?
• What Does A Trawler Boat Cost?
• Completing The Process Of Buying A Trawler

I. What is a Trawler Anyway?

I looked back at some of the references and definitions I offered over the years, as well as those presented by our editors. I keep coming back to the one that still resonates best with me, even as I look over the current field of trawlers and cruising yachts out there. Some are very similar to what was sold years ago, but not all, and each supports a lifestyle that is capable, comfortable, and relatively easy.

I am confident that, as we get ready to start 2024, the word “trawler” is best considered a metaphor for the cruising lifestyle it so well represents. Yacht brokers may disagree with me, but I stand firm. Back in the 1960s, power cruising pioneer Robert Beebe suggested that boats aren’t good for “voyaging” under power if they do not strongly resemble “true” trawlers. He referred, of course, to those husky fishing vessels that remain at sea for long periods, surviving anything the weather and sea throws at them, and safely bringing the catch and crew home when the job is done.

Today that analogy is not even remotely fitting for many powerboats that can capably make passages at sea, complete extended coastal and inland cruises, and serve as comfortable and safe homes for their owners. There has been a continuous evolution of the cruising powerboat genre for years now, and they now come in an assortment of styles, hull shapes, and sizes. And there is no better time than now to look at the field of available trawler choices.

In addition to traditional yacht designs that continue to be refined, we now also have new choices that really push the envelope beyond traditional shapes and concepts. And the introduction of powerful and reliable outboard propulsion has brought along a new category of cruising boats that simply did not exist before.

It is all very exciting. I once observed that comparing the cruising characteristics of a full displacement steel trawler to a displacement power catamaran or a larger Downeast cruiser is pure folly. Each can make a superb cruising boat for owners. Which is the better athlete: a football player, a hockey goalie, or a ballet dancer?

Once you understand the many kinds of boats on the market today, and the choices you have, given your budget and other considerations, it is important to match whatever boat you choose to your style of cruising. This is at the heart of this buyer’s guide. Yes, it is vital to know what is out there to choose from, but it is even more critical to understand your needs and what kind of boat will best fit those needs. While this may be a challenge for some, hasty mistakes can lead to broken plans, create unnecessary anxiety, and put an unfortunate end to one’s dream cruising plans. All of which is totally avoidable.

Let’s begin with a practical look at the main types of hull shapes to understand the positive and negative aspects of each as they relate to cruising. Then we’ll look into how they may fit your needs.

(Below: Trawler owners meet up during the Pacific Northwest Nordic Tug Owners Rendezvous. Also called PANNTOA .) 

II. Choices Come in All Shapes

Full Displacement

What was once the only real choice for those intending to cruise under power is the full displacement hull shape. It is the earliest form of powerboat and most commercial and fishing vessels are of this type. It is the most seaworthy and efficient hull shape. Many popular cruising boats are full displacement, such as:

• Northern Marine
• Hatteras LRC
• And dozens of custom steel and fiberglass trawlers.

These vessels travel efficiently through the water, with no unnecessary energy spent trying to lift the hull up onto the wave in front. They are well matched to lower horsepower engines, as they offer minimal resistance going through the water.

These boats are very forgiving at sea, which makes them very seaworthy. Rather than resist wave action, they give way, and roll to let the wave energy pass by rather than resist it, which keeps them safe at sea.

The full hull shape has the most volume for a given length, which translates into superior inside dimensions for accommodations, large tankage, and exceptional storage. They make fantastic liveaboard boats and for long distance cruising these small ships can carry all your stuff. Onboard weight is not an issue compared to any other type of hull shape.

(Below: A Northern Marine 57 is a good example of a full-displacement trawler yacht.)

Again, the low energy requirements to travel through the water, rather than try to get on top of it, means they are best powered by relatively small diesel engines to run at the displacement speeds within the maximum hull speed of 1.34 times the square root of the waterline length. This is Froude’s Law and is the limit of their speed potential. Combine this lower horsepower engine with huge fuel tankage and owners have the range to travel long distance. In some of these full displacement trawlers, one can make across-and-back ocean crossings, or enjoy a full year of cruising, without stopping to buy fuel.

For efficient and economical cruising, a full displacement trawler is the way to go, for many reasons. Rather than bother with the generally tedious sailboat mentality of electrical and battery load management, owners of full displacement trawlers just don’t worry about it. The boat is fitted with one, two, or even three generators that supply all the electrical power needed to run even a full suite of domestic galley appliances, HVAC, and pilothouse electronics.

Not only do these gensets make for relatively unlimited self-sufficiency whenever the trawlers remain at anchor, but the better builders take advantage of the hull volume to thoughtfully plan accommodations during construction. Generators are then strategically located to minimize noise and vibration throughout the boat. Just like being on a small ship, one is vaguely aware that a generator is running somewhere. The boat is designed and built around that concept, so there is always plenty of quiet, available electrical power. Whatever sense that one has of distant humming from running machinery, it is nothing more than evidence of shipboard activity. I have always loved the sense of independence and freedom it provides. On the right boat, it is so muted that it does not detract from the feeling of being one with nature, as when alone in a quiet anchorage tucked inside a rugged Alaskan island coastline.

Some high-end expedition trawlers go one step further. Northern Marine, for example, often designs the boat around a pair of identical 20kW generators to share generating duty. There might also be a small third unit for nighttime use when loads are much reduced. And much like the commercial and working vessels that are the heritage behind the company, nothing is hidden or tucked away. Serious business demands serious access.

(Below: The Northern Marine 57 has two 20kW generators for long-distance adventures.)

There is always a downside, of course. Full displacement boats are limited in speed, and cruising at 7-10 knots is about all one can expect no matter how much horsepower one theoretically adds. It is simply a full shape traveling in its sweet spot in the water. But in conditions where lesser yachts need to slow down to handle the rough seas, these boats just continue on at their normal cruising speed, no big deal and perfectly safe.

The other issue is that such seaworthiness comes at the expense of rolling in a seaway. Yes, it is why these boats are so safe. But it can be uncomfortable for crew, and over time can wear down even the hardiest crew.

That is why most full displacement boats have some form of stabilization. They lack sails to remain steady. These trawlers instead rely on some form of stabilizing technology, either active or passive, and they are quite effective reducing rolling at sea. Active fin stabilizers, flopperstoppers, gyrostabilizers, even flume tanks, have been used with varying degrees of success to manage the roll of a full displacement yacht. And active systems keep getting better, with more sensitive electronic controls and sensors to reduce movement. The current generation of gyro systems, such as the SeaKeeper, are proving popular in the trawler community and for good reason.

Full displacement boats are not the best for close quarter maneuvering, especially as many have a single diesel engine. Learning to drive a big displacement trawler is a worthy skill to develop as it builds confidence. One must understand the ship’s main rudder is designed and sized for optimum performance at sea, not close quarter maneuvering. That is why these boats have bow and stern thrusters. Just like every commercial ship out there. The right tools for the job.

Another potential downside of this hull shape has to do with where one cruises. These boats typically have deeper draft and so would not be ideal for shallow water cruising as one is finds in the Florida Keys, the ICW, and the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Having gone many thousands of miles on full displacement trawlers, I have great respect and appreciation of the beauty of this hull shape. Once out of sight of land, speed becomes the speed du jour, no big deal without reference on land. And a stabilized full displacement trawler is a great ride at sea, easy running and comfortable. Even in heavy weather there is generally little cause for concern…if at all.

One more comment on the speed of travel. I always found the underway travel and motion quickly settles crew into a normal routine, with everyone going about their day as if they were in a marina or back on land. Laundry gets done, writing takes place, leisurely cooking in the galley, maybe a brisket in the crockpot. There is always the need for some maintenance, catching up with cruising guides, email with family and friends, and other activities. This is in sharp contrast to traveling at speed, where the motion forces one to hold on, firmly seated at the saloon table, or wedged into a corner cushion. Baking cookies was a favorite memory and one the rest of that crew surely remembers. The boat smelled fantastic, even if I could barely keep up with the disappearing cookies off the cooling rack.

For many reasons, life on a small ship has much to recommend it.

Semi-Displacement

The other hull shape that defines the trawler style cruising boat is the semi-displacement hull. It is perfect for those who don’t need the fuel and storage capabilities of the full displacement trawler, and do not intend to spend a great deal of time making passages, cruising remote areas, or going all season without buying fuel. The semi-displacement trawler is a fabulous compromise. Designers have come up with ways to get more performance, reduce draft, and still serve as a comfortable home while traveling or living aboard.

One way to improve performance is to lose weight in the form of fuel and water tankage, reducing both the size and number of tanks in the boat. They may also cut back on some of the backup redundant equipment and tighten up accommodations. Going on a diet is definitely a path to higher performance. While those granite counters and flooring seem right at home in a full displacement trawler yacht, substituting lighter weight materials will result in a higher speed potential in a semi-displacement yacht. With less weight there is less boat in the water, less draft, wetted surface, and resistance, especially without a deep keel.

Changes to the hull shape come from modifying the typically rounded stern into a flatter hull form aft with hard chines. The flatter hull form will reach higher speeds when adding more horsepower to drive the boat up onto the leading wave. And the flatter stern adds stability, taking out some of the inherent roll associated with a full displacement trawler.

While these boats are quite happy to run along at displacement speeds, the semi-displacement cruiser can also really get up and go, if there is enough horsepower. With bigger engines pushing the boat, it can break free of the water, traveling at 12-15 knots or higher, depending on how much horsepower is in the boat.

This is by far the most popular trawler hull shape primarily for this reason. It can be powered by a variety of engines, still has good load carrying and accommodations, has reduced draft, and provides many—if not all—of the benefits of the full displacement trawler yacht.

Most trawlers in our cruising community are of the semi-displacement type, and brands like:

• Grand Banks
• Nordic Tugs
• Ocean Alexander
• American Tug
• And dozens more prove it is a wonderful all-around platform for cruising

(Interestingly, almost all the trawlers built in Asia during the 1970s and ‘80s were semi-displacement trawlers. But they were powered by low horsepower diesels, often the venerable Lehman Ford 120hp and 135hp engines, so they were priced to sell and provide the economical trawler experience to a wide range of buyers. The fact that these boats could only run at displacement speeds gave many the impression that they were full displacement trawlers, a confusion that continues to exist today.)

(Below: The Nordic Tug 40 is a good example of a semi-displacement trawler.)

The top speed of a semi-displacement trawler is limited by how much horsepower the builder reasons is sellable in the new boats. In my opinion, it was downright shameful when the management of the high-quality Grand Banks brand, the hands down bullseye of the trawler market for many years, decided at one point that all its models had to be capable of cruising speeds above 18 knots. The phenomenally successful and classic beauty of the original GB hull did not lend itself to a pair of high horsepower engines. It was painful to watch the amount of water pushed by a Grand Banks making 22 knots, made worse by the fuel burn to achieve that performance.

To some extent, larger semi-displacement trawlers also take advantage of generators to supply onboard electrical power, as there is not enough room for dozens of dedicated house batteries for the boat’s electrical needs. In most cases a running generator is not as quiet or unobtrusive as one comes to expect on a full displacement trawler, but a modern installation with underwater exhaust does much to reduce the impact of a running generator.

The benefits of the semi-displacement trawler clearly explain why it remains the most popular choice for most people. It has reasonable storage and fuel capacity, comfortable accommodations, and can run at higher speeds. All things considered, for most people it is the best package of features one looks for.

But it is not perfect. One of the disadvantages of the hull form is its less-than-ideal handling in rough seas. Some of these boats have small rudders to allow better control at higher speeds. The boat’s motion tends to lose its normal composure in rough water, when the boat must slow down, and the rudders are less effective.

(On modern boats, this is somewhat negated by stabilizers and gyrostabilizer systems. They do a remarkable job of reducing the rolling motion in these boats, and owners are more than satisfied to have motion under control on their semi-displacement trawlers.)

Owners of semi-displacement boats really appreciate being able to run faster to their next destination. The difference between eight knots and 11 knots is readily apparent when one can see the destination ahead and the crew is anxious to get there.

One of the tradeoffs of the semi-displacement trawler is that when they achieve high speed, they burn obscene amounts of fuel, and quickly. To own a large, semi-displacement trawler capable of 20+ knots is an exercise in balancing economy with distance and time. Those who don’t have the time will spend more at the fuel dock. It is just that simple.

Everything considered, the semi-displacement trawler is justifiably very popular for most cruising, even when that includes long distance travel. Flexibility is its best feature.

Big and small, fast or slow, the full displacement and semi-displacement hull shapes are what we talk about when we talk about trawlers and the trawler lifestyle. Motoryachts most often fit into the semi-displacement category, and one will find them cruising along with the trawler crowd. But the motoryacht is much better staying at a luxury marina will full shorepower and other hookups. One rarely finds motoryachts anchored out for days on end, where trawlers often spend their time. It isn’t what motoryachts are designed to do.

For many years, the cruising scene consisted of sailboats and trawlers, and that was it. Visit any popular cruising destination, from Marsh Harbour to Roche Harbor, and the anchorage and marinas were full of sailboats and trawlers. Both excel at life on the hook, and the constant scurrying of crew, dogs, provisions, and gear by speedy dinghies are as much a part of the cruising life as sundowners on the beach watching for the Green Flash.

III. Not All Cruising Powerboats Today Are Trawlers

There are two other kinds of powerboats that we find cruising in North America today. And they have really grown in popularity in recent years.

One has taken the world by storm, in my opinion. Almost every sailing couple I know who came to the Dark Side has gone in this direction, but they are certainly not the only ones who choose these boats. For many people, the lure of being on the water, even if it is only for weekends, must be satisfied in short order. People with limited time have a need for speed that full-time cruisers do not. These people want efficient, high-speed running, and it is more desirable than load-carrying ability or accommodations. Without a planing hull, they can’t go.

The planing hull quickly moves from hull speed up on top of the water. A burst of horsepower drives the boat up, and it doesn’t take as much power to stay there. It is an efficient speed machine. Some boats in our niche can really blast along in calm water, cruising efficiently at 25 knots…or higher. Some examples are:

• Nimbus Boats

A planing hull has a shallow draft, with a sharp entry and a flat, minimal underbody. This allows a planing boat to reach its destination quickly and then slow down if owners choose to gunkhole in skinny water. But watch that running gear, as there is nothing to protect the props and rudders designed for minimal drag.

This boat is best suited for those in a hurry. But they are still cruising boats, and they open up possibilities for those with only so much available time. The Great Loop becomes possible for those who can’t spare a year or more. Boaters headed to Florida for the winter and don’t have months to do the ICW. Puget Sound owners with weeks instead of months to explore the Inside Passage, or East Coast boaters who want to experience the Abacos but don’t have all winter to do so.

Get there quickly, then slow down and smell the flowers. Sounds like a plan to me.

(Below: Sidonia & Fred kept their 62-foot trawler, but purchased this Nimbus 405 to complete the Great Loop. Read their story .)

One potential disadvantage of the planing boat is that high-speed efficiency is directly tied to weight. Given that many of these boats are built with the latest infused fiberglass construction, often using high-tech cored material, the goal is to save weight where possible. Keeping weight down is important. And limited bilge and accommodations spaces don’t offer much general storage anyway.

But this is not a problem for owners not planning to live aboard. They are not spending weeks on the hook, nor are they expecting guests to accompany them on their Great Loop. They are bringing along just what they need to enjoy the boat as is, and no more. (Our recent series following a couple doing the Loop on their Nimbus 405 Coupe showed this lifestyle perfectly. A great trip on the Great Loop.)

Unfortunately, when the weather turns sour, any boat designed for efficient, high-speed running will be at a decided disadvantage when it is time to slow down, where they experience less control. Some handle this transition better than others, but generally small rudders do not have enough surface area to be effective at slow speed. But these boats are still all-around great cruising boats which explains they popularity and growing numbers out cruising. If the weather is bad, they don’t go anywhere. Their speed potential allows them to pick their travel when the weather window improves.

A relatively recent move is to power these boats with outboard engines. Using one or two large outboards (or up to four engines on some of the more extreme machines) makes a statement about using technology to advance boat design. The area in the hull usually dedicated for machinery and propulsion is now open for tanks, storage, and a more relaxed interior for accommodations.

The move to outboards eliminates the need for rudders and traditional steering systems, which removes complexity from the boats. Modern outboards are quiet and smooth, and this translates into a better running experience under way. Many find it a worthy tradeoff to the longer engine life offered by diesels. The access on outboard engines makes maintenance easier, and systems integration simplifies the boats at the same time.

Some builders tell me how easy life becomes when one can lift the engines out of the water when they are tied up in a marina. No more worries about underwater growth on running gear, eliminating corrosion issues, and fouled surfaces that require frequent cleaning.

During those times where one is living on a planing boat at anchor or without shorepower, the smaller house battery bank means one must run a generator more frequently, often several times a day. That assumes there is a genset on the boat, which is usually required if the boat has air conditioning.

The degree of self-sufficiency on a planing boat is directly tied to the need to keep things light and only having the essential systems, tankage, and accommodations. If your cruising involves staying at nice marinas with great facilities, who needs all that storage and extra staterooms? For Loopers, it offers flexibility and travel at a different level than chugging along, mile after mile, seeing the same landscape all day long.

The motion on a boat doing 20+ knots does not allow much activity on the boat and crew is restricted in what they can do while making miles to the next destination. That is not to say it isn’t thrilling to blast along, threading the needle among the San Juan Islands. Heading down Chesapeake Bay at speed is satisfying in ways that eight knots just doesn’t cut it. The same is true along Hawk Channel, Biscayne Bay, or Lake Ontario.

IV. Catamarans

The second type of cruising powerboat that does not fit the description of a trawler is the power catamaran. A somewhat fringe boat within the cruising powerboat category, power cats are nevertheless a great platform for anyone looking for a cruiser that offers space, outstanding maneuverability from widely spaced engines, and excellent shallow water cruise ability.

Power cat builders have evolved mostly from builders of sailing cats, so it is not surprising that the early boats were nothing more than sailing cats without masts. But more companies came out with boats design as powerboats. (The compromises of creating a power cat from a boat designed for sailing went away for the most part.)

Companies that offer (or did offer) power cats included:

• Fountaine Pajot

Some of these companies are no longer in business but made enough boats that they are usually available on the used market.

There is a lot to be said for a cruising catamaran. Economical cruising at 15-18 knots is the domain of the displacement catamaran, while planing cats, which are not suited for liveaboard cruising, can run quite well at 30+ knots.

The advantages of power cats include relatively shallow draft, great initial stability, and open interiors. The bridgedeck adds great living spaces, where one might find extra accommodations.

Many cats can be safely beached without a problem, which is a unique ability for any cruising boat.

(Below: Example of an Endeavor Power Catamaran.)

The economy of running a power catamaran is quite addicting. I owned a 41-foot power cat that would run along at 18 knots with hardly any wake, while getting exceptional fuel burn at that speed. The wide platform made for great living aboard, and the separation of the twin diesels, particularly when running at speed from the flybridge, seemed magical. It was quiet with lack of vibration, and quite relaxing as we reeled mile after mile on calm seas. It was a great cruising boat with outstanding maneuverability from widely spaced engines. I could literally walk the boat sideways using the two engines, while everyone on the dock assumed I used bow and stern thrusters to make it happen. (The boat had neither.)

The only issue I have with the power cat is the height of the bridgedeck between hulls. If it is too low, it can slap in head seas with an unnerving bang and motion that feels most unsettling, as if the boat is going to break. Multihull pioneer Malcom Tennant took me around several waterfront marinas in New Zealand to show me various interpretations of power catamaran bridgedeck design. When the bridgedeck nacelle stayed 36 inches or more above the water, the power cat would not slap under any conditions. The buoyancy of the hulls took over long before the bridgedeck met waves. And I reminded myself this was in New Zealand, where going to sea invariably involves rough seas and strong winds. (From my limited experience, the definition of pleasure boating in New Zealand has a decidedly different definition from anywhere else!)

While the displacement power catamaran has reasonable load carrying ability, it is generally prudent for a power cat owner to still keep an eye on weight and its distribution around the boat. While the larger power cats (one Tennant 20-meter cat comes to mind) can take 3,600 gallons of fuel for extremely long legs, cats under 48 feet are best kept light when possible.

I am quite smitten with the concept of the power cat for general cruising. I wish more builders would enter this market with well-engineered, lighter weight designs that showcase the benefits of the concept rather than simply building stable platforms that can hold a crowd. But unfortunately, heavy party barges are what one sees at the boat shows.

V. Hybrid and EV Powerboats

I suppose I would be negligent to not mention the push for electric and hybrid boats to mirror the somewhat political trend in the automotive world. To be honest, we own a Prius, but I much prefer driving my older Porsche. I also happen to like the smell of a diesel engine. In automobiles, I’m just not sold on a concept that requires such major (and overwhelmingly expensive) changes to our nation’s infrastructure.

As it relates to recreational boating, electric and hybrid power has come and gone in a variety of prototype cruisers, from Reuben Trane’s early solar catamaran to Greenline’s models of hybrid powerboats. I know the sailing community is generally united in their campaign to ditch the diesel engine, and YouTube influencers are falling all over each other trying to get the first serious system that offers a viable solution.

As well articulated by experienced broker, Seattle Yachts’ Dan Bacot, we won’t see much interest in this form of power cruising until someone builds a boat that can honestly make 100 miles in a day at six knots under electric power. That will make it feasible for the Great Loop and other cruising plans.

Until that milestone is reached (and I’m sure they will) such alternatives are just not worth serious consideration.

The Lifestyle

Now that we have looked at the various hull shapes and categories that define the trawler and other cruising boats, let’s see how to find a match from these different platforms to fit your plans.

It is important to think through this process with as much honesty as possible. It is so easy to slip into the unrealistic world of the ultimate boat. But most eventually agree these are more fantasy than anything remotely close to what any of us will do. Buying a boat that is capable of crossing oceans to reach exotic places like Tahiti is just not appropriate if you really intend to do the Great Loop in the next few years. That is also true if the idea of spending winters (or summers) in the tropics or the rugged Northwest Territories isn’t ever going to happen because you can only take a couple of weeks off at a time.

VI. How Many People Will be Aboard?

Is it just the two of you for most of the time? Will you have guests or family only occasionally, or do you expect to have others with you for most of the cruise? Families with growing children will have different needs than retired empty nesters who rarely have company.

The answer to this question will help determine the size of the boat, its layout and accommodations, and help define the boundaries of your search.

(Below: Obviously this image from the Mid-Atlantic Nordic Tug Owners Get-Together would be a little much!)

A word of advice from the stories of many cruising couples: Don’t buy a boat bigger than you need and make the assumption you will always have company to share your adventure. As I’ve heard many, many times, couples go ahead and buy a boat with multiple staterooms with the above assumption. Once they leave home and begin cruising, however, they make lots of new friends, all on their own boats. After a couple of years, they realize they don’t use those extra staterooms very often. And they can accommodate occasional family members with other arrangements, such as setting up the saloon. They eventually downsize to a smaller boat because they don’t need that extra room and a smaller boat is easier to handle and less expensive to own.

Two people can comfortably cruise on a boat that is 36 feet or so. This is certainly true for people who are down in the islands for the winter on a Monk 36, or cruising north on a Nordic Tug 37. No problem. But they are not living full time on the boat, or cruising with friends enough to require separate cabins. Both will drive up the space needs considerably. And it is not just about space. A water and holding tank large enough for two people will seem much smaller after only so many days. And I’m not talking about rationing water or limiting showers. This is cruising, after all, not minimalist camping.

A boat’s layout is as important as size, at least until one reaches the greater flexibility afforded by larger boats. There is a classic separation of living spaces in some boats, such as the Grand Banks 42 and the Selene 40. They have two nice staterooms, with the master in the stern and guest stateroom in the bow. That works great, offers privacy, and people share common spaces in the saloon and galley. Other boats group all staterooms forward, with the master and one or more guest cabins located near the bow. This is what one finds on the Nordic and American Tugs, Fleming, Krogen, Northwest Yachts, and most others. And all have proven successful, especially when extra people are family.

VII. Where are You Going?

I am not going to spend time with trawlers best suited for crossing oceans, as so few people really intend to do that these days. The world is a different place, the changing climate has more severe weather, and the relative ease of shipping one’s boat worldwide makes this a lot less desirable than it was decades ago. And a boat designed to cross the Atlantic to explore Europe is not the best type of boat for exploring Europe once you arrive, particularly if you want to head into the extensive canal systems.

Not to get off the point, and before anyone questions why I am such a fan of full displacement boats like the Northern Marine when I admit having no plan to cross oceans, let me clarify that the joy of owning such a great yacht is much more than being able to cross an ocean. All the benefits that make these great boats are just as valid for living aboard and coastal cruising, and many other adventures. One does not need to spend two weeks at sea to enjoy them.

The majority of people have plans that include the Great Loop, British Columbia and Alaska, the ICW on the East Coast, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, Mexico, the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay, Canadian Maritimes, and New England. One can spend several lifetimes exploring right here in North America. Doable, affordable, and close enough to family, friends, and support.

The best boats for many coastal and inland adventures are more about ease of operation and maneuverability, and keeping the draft down and the height within whatever restrictions exist for the chosen cruise.

It is quite possible to travel from Alaska to Maine as one big extended coastal cruise, although that would be a long trip. And all of it is within sight of land with very few and short exceptions. If you consider the new SeaPiper 35, add a truck and suitable trailer and you are good to go!

(Below: The Triangle Loop is a great trip for trawler boat owners.)

VIII. For How Long?

Which brings up how long one expects to be on the boat. Obviously, a full-time liveaboard couple will have space requirements unlike those planning a month on the boat. And the need for creature comforts is also a sliding scale, as occasional cruisers can live without comforts that would be unacceptable if the same people were to spend several months on the boat.

For example, if you use a dishwasher at home, you might be fine with hand washing dishes after each meal on the boat…for a time. But after a while that might seem too much like camping and not what you had in mind when you dreamed of cruising. The same goes for a separate shower versus the wet head found on smaller boats. (Definitely consult your spouse on these points!)

Again, I feel that 36 feet is about the minimum for full-time living aboard and cruising. Some have gone smaller, or somewhat bigger on a planing boat, but it is accepted because the duration of the planned cruise is short. The couple who did the Great Loop on their Nimbus 405 Coupe had plenty of space because they had what they needed, and nothing more. It served their needs for this trip. They take their longer cruises aboard their other boat, a 62-foot custom trawler.

Some couples expect to have the same creature comforts on their trawler as they enjoy ashore. But that usually means a generator, air conditioning, and/or a diesel furnace. While they may not know it, they also require large water tanks as they are not thinking about water management, and they want space for all the provisions and personal possessions. If they are liveaboards, where do they plan to store holiday decorations?

For most people, the length of time they expect to be aboard dictates comfort levels and determines which compromises they are willing to make.

These points also point to their style of cruising.

The diversity of cruising is its chief attraction, and each day brings something new, something different. Anchor out or stay in a marina…or even reserve a slip at a luxury marina with lots of facilities? Eat aboard or enjoy local cuisine? Wait for a perfect weather window or go no matter what? Move from one location to the next or stay in one place for a long time and take lots of small side trips?

As should be obvious, your style of cruising will have a huge impact on selecting the right boat. If you tend to be the sort who has a plan and follows the plan no matter what, then you will be far happier with a more seaworthy boat that can take whatever conditions come up each day. That is quite different from the fair-weather cruiser who waits for ideal weather and is content to wait.

If you like the idea of keeping on the move rather than staying in one place, then you will likely be more interested in the underway characteristics of the boat than one that is most livable when tied up at a marina.

Boat speed figures into this question as well. I know successful cruisers who swear the best plan is to get under way as early as possible and run the boat at speed for four or five hours. On a faster boat this gets them miles down the road, but then they stop early in the afternoon. They refuel, wash everything down and then play tourist for the rest of the afternoon. It is far more leisurely than nonstop travel. And they also take days off. Three days running, then two days off, staying put wherever they stopped. It keeps the cruise from becoming a blur.

Those who lust to spend weeks on the hook in paradise are going to be very unhappy if they must run the generator twice a day to keep the refrigerator running, and which requires them to refill their water tanks frequently. As for the holding tank, that is obvious as well.

On the flip side, if you love the energy and varied activities of resort marinas, you will be thrilled with the conveniences of an all-electric boat that relies on shorepower facilities, using the generator only when away from the dock.

IX. What Does A Trawler Boat Cost?

This is where an experienced broker can make all the difference. One can expect to pay anywhere from between several hundred thousand dollars to a couple of million to find a suitable boat. It may not be close to home, and a good broker will use the available resources to identify the right boat and then find one that fits and is in the condition one is willing to pay for.

New boat prices are high, and I don’t see that changing. Working with a broker is vital to success here, even after you have done your homework and know (or think you know) what you want. The broker will help locate boats that may be close enough to what you are looking for, and he or she may even steer you in a slightly different direction if they think it may serve you better for what you describe as your ideal trawler.

I strongly recommend buying a new or newer boat whenever possible. It just makes sense, and I would go down in size rather than get an older boat. A newer boat will be less problematic than an older boat with vintage systems, engines, wiring, plumbing, and construction. Leaks are a pain to deal with, and you are not buying a boat as a project.

Honestly, spending your time looking for discontinued parts and then repairing a boat when you and your spouse are supposed to be out cruising is no fun. It sucks. And it quickly wears down the excitement of the adventure, even if you like to tinker on the boat. And your spouse will get tired of reading books on the settee while you make another repair. This is not what you both planned. I’ve seen it over and over, enough to be 100-percent convinced.

Buy a new or newer boat and just enjoy the adventure.

Keep in mind there are other costs beyond the purchase price, and your broker will be very helpful, flushing them out and identifying some you may have missed. There is annual maintenance, for example, insurance, dockage, and the need for occasional repairs. Parts wear out, which will happen most often on an older boat. The mindset of “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t make it go away. That hidden cutless bearing needs replacing on occasion, as do many other moving parts on a boat.

There is a ballpark figure that floats around the cruising community. Some suggest 10 percent of the cost of the boat is about right for these annual expenses. I have never verified that to be accurate with my own boats, but it is worth considering.

(Below: Currently a pre-owned Nordic Tug like this can range from $250,000 - $600,000 and more.)

X. Putting It All Together

From my experience, validated by many owners over the years, it is easy to spend too much time agonizing about what kind of boat to buy. If it allows you to enjoy your time on the water, it can be made to work. No boat is perfect. They all represent compromises in one way or another.

Besides your efforts to find the right boat for the kind of cruise you intend, there are two other key factors that contribute to a successful ownership experience. The first, and one that I have been making throughout this guide, is to buy a boat that is as new as possible, even if it means you might have to downsize a bit with your available budget. If it will work for you otherwise, but you must lose the hot tub on the flybridge, it is a worthy tradeoff. You will still have a genuine cruising boat.

The horror stories of old Asian trawlers built to low standards are now mostly irrelevant, as these examples of boats to avoid are now so old one should not even consider them. Besides, there is the reality of today’s marine insurance industry, hit by the large number of damage claims from named storms in recent years. One will find it difficult to get insurance for boats even at 20 years old, let alone 50+ years.

There is another factor that should figure into this buying equation, and it will make all the difference between wonderful and satisfying ownership and a money pit that needs continuous repair by outside services wherever one travels.

That is accessibility. If you can’t get to everything easily, things will be neglected, and system parts will wear out and break. Being able to see, touch, inspect, and take apart every major component on the boat is vital, no matter if it is a Nordic Tug, a lavish Hampton motoryacht, or an expedition trawler. It is even more important on a planing boat like the Nimbus or Back Cove, where available space is at a premium and the builder had to be creative during construction to fit it all in.

Owning a boat with a non-working stern thruster that can’t be inspected, serviced, or repaired without removing the genset shoehorned just above it would cause me great distress, to put it mildly.

If you study the differences, pros and cons, and other considerations, you will be much better equipped to step aboard boats at a boat show. All lined up with brokers standing by to answer your questions, it will feel good to examine each boat on your list to see how it feels, and whether it might fit the needs of what you hope to do. This process can take a couple of years, which is fine. In fact, I know folks now searching for their retirement trawler that is still five years away. There is nothing wrong with taking one’s time.

I would caution, however, not to take too long. Because life goes on, and things happen. Reality changes. Aging parents, volatile portfolios, world stability, and inevitable family medical issues are all things that command our attention at some point.

In addition to the above issues, it is good to remember that nothing in life remains static. When you find your plans or goals change, it is okay if that perfect boat is no longer the right choice. Edits may be needed to the original blueprint. It is very important to realize and accept this.

The notion that there is only one boat to satisfy every dream is totally wrong. But there is a boat for everyone looking to go cruising, that fits every plan, purpose, or budget.

My purpose for this guide is to help you find a boat that brings you the most fun and adventure, in comfort and safety and within your budget. Successful cruising can happen on most any boat.

The key to this adventure is to get started and go!

Enjoy these Trawler-related articles :

• What Is The Best Liveaboard Trawler?
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Trawler or sailboat?

• Thread starter jwnall
• Start date Jan 6, 2013
• Jan 6, 2013

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A friend of mine is retiring, and knowing that I had a sailboat and now have a trawler, confided that he is strongly considering selling or renting his house, buying a boat, and doing the cruising life. His question to me was whether I would advise him to get a trawler or a sailboat. I found this a rather hard question to answer. There are awfully good buys out there for both right now, and although he would have to buy a used boat (as I did) he should be able to get one which is seaworthy for no more than $50K. I told him what I consider to be the pros and cons of each. I found that cruising on a sailboat was inexpensive, much better for blue water cruising, and there is always that comfort of knowing that you can get home without an engine if you have to. Or at least close enough to home to call Boat US anyway. A trawler is much more comfortable, has more living space, and I think might appeal to a woman more (my former wife liked sailboats, but I think she may have been the exception). Anyway, it was an interesting conversation, and I hope that I managed to give him some food for thought. Just thought I would share that experience with you all. Any thoughts that any of you would want me to pass on to him? John  

Greetings, The first, most important and ONLY question your friend should ask is: "What do I want to use the boat for?" An honest and informed answer to this question will determine what he should get.  

Senior Member

Greetings: The question really depends on just how experienced a sailor your friend is. In my book a power boat, in the long haul out wieghts a sail. Mostly because as we age we can still enjoy the experience even if it is only sitting at a dock. Sail is great if you are going to long-distance it and are willing to put up with the issues of a cockpit. Never dry, always hot and, yes could go on. Your friend should not look at the peusdo trawler family but view all semi displacement craft. From my point of view the biggest draw back of the current trawler design is that there is no place to sit out and be protected from the flying insects. Yes you can sit up on the bridge, but take a look at the 38 to 42 ft aft-cabin or tri cabin fleet. The prices are right given age and condition and she who shall be obeyed will be satisfied. Bill.  

You could probably find a bluewater blowboat for 50k but I'd bet a bluewater trawler would be substantially more. Coastal boating would be a different story. Sailboat - adventure, budget, work. Trawler - comfort Winter reading here - ragbagger style. One More Time Around: San Salvador to Beaufort  

Jeffnik wrote: " You could probably find a bluewater blowboat for 50k but I'd bet a bluewater trawler would be substantially more. Coastal boating would be a different story. " You may be right. A true blue water trawler might be considerably more, although there may be some golden oldies out there should one look hard enough. John  

jwnall said: By the way, his wife is not sure about all this ... John Click to expand...

Master and Commander

Dwhatty wrote: "Ah, a woman enters the picture. " Yep. "They" say that you can live without them, and perhaps "they" might be right in the abstract. But not me. A woman makes the cruising life bearable. IMHO. There are times when it gets rough, and I do not think that I could have done five years cruising without my better half. John  

RT Firefly said: Greetings, The first, most important and ONLY question your friend should ask is: "What do I want to use the boat for?" An honest and informed answer to this question will determine what he should get. Click to expand...

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jwnall said: Dwhatty wrote: "Ah, a woman enters the picture. " Yep. "They" say that you can live without them, and perhaps "they" might be right in the abstract. But not me. A woman makes the cruising life bearable. IMHO. There are times when it gets rough, and I do not think that I could have done five years cruising without my better half. John Click to expand...

We just went through that experience earlier this year. Previously lived aboard and cruised a sailboat for six years. Sold the boat and bought a house. Back in the boat market we found that you get much more boat in a power boat than a sailboat. We really wanted another sailboat, either a cat or pilot house/motor sailor but did nor find anything in our price range. Found our present boat with two queen size walk around beds and the wife fell in love. I'm still concerend with fuel consumption and how far can we go offshore with 300 gal. I agree with a previous comment, with a sailboat you can always get close to home and call Towboat. We cruised the sailboat as far south as St.Martin and while that could be done with a power boat I think it would be more stressful in having to plan for fuel stops. We also did many offshore legs along the East Coast which I don't as yet know that we could manage with the current boat. As others mentioned, what is he planning to do with the boat. We are currently in a marina off Galveston Bay and as far as going out for a day or a weekend, a sailboat would be more fun because there really is no place to just go to. With a sailboat you can just go out on the Bay and "go sailing". The thought of just going out there and "motoring around" just doesn't appeal to us. Bob  

SeaHorse II said: (top) dwhatty (below) Flywright Click to expand...

Tell him to buy a sailboat and get it out of his system. In a few years he'll buy a powerboat and if he's lucky it will be a trawler.  

Two decades of sailing got that out of my system.  

Greetings, Mr. Al. Noooo........NOT a stick! If he alienates his Admiral he won't ever get to the good stuff (boat-wise that is.). I used the word "informed" in my initial post in the broadest sense. That means a LOT of research, Mr. jwnall's excellent suggestion of a charter, possibly a few power squadron courses and a LOT of dock walking and boat shows. As Mr. Seahorse suggested, brutal honesty is a must as well. Experience? That will come in time. After all, we all started somewhere.  

• Jan 7, 2013

Veteran Member

I went through the same discussion (with myself) about trawler/saiboat. In the end I chose the trawler. My reason was my age, 65, and my friends ages, 55 plus. I want to relax on the water, be reasonably certain we will reach our destination with a minimum of work and have a stable platform for dogs and grandkids. Came real close to a motor-sailor but didn't have the room.  

A powerboat is about the destination. A sailboat is about the voyage. When we were cruising on our sailboat the admiral was always wanting to go faster and get "there". I could just sit back and enjoy the world or water go by, no hurry to get "there". Bob  

After several decades in blowboats I converted to a trawler about 3 years ago. What convinced me was my last shimmy up the mast to retrieve a runaway halyard. At 65, I'm much happier with the iron gennies (FL120's) purring contentedly down below, whisky (or beer) in hand, smiling and waving at my blowboat pals as we glide past them. The one thing I've found both sail and trawler have in common, for me at least, is that it's the journey, not the destination, which yields the greatest joy.  

Sailing - hundreds and hundreds of hours of boredom, punctuated by moments of sheer terror. Trawlering - Lounging endlessly about at a snails pace, punctuated by hundreds and hundreds of diesel gallons.  

Some friends have a 47' Vagabond...arguably one of the most comfortable liveaboard sailboats in existance. Not the greatest sailing vessel, but it has a great diesel, and is huge inside. They have longed for a trawler for years....more so as they grow older.  

Pineapple Girl

jeffnick said: Sailing - hundreds and hundreds of hours of boredom, punctuated by moments of sheer terror. Click to expand...

Some friends have a 47' Vagabond...arguably one of the most comfortable liveaboard sailboats in existance. Not the greatest sailing vessel, Back in the day , I worked for the importer. While they were no 12 meter boats , they were pro designed by a real NA (Bill Garden) and would make great world cruisers. And good looking ! I remember installing a Wood Freeman in one and just hoisting the inner stay sail. 12K of breeze , calm water the boat ran 5 - 5 1/2 K with ease. The point is that with minimum sail area the boat could run over 100nm a day. Hoist the main & the rest and it ran 7- 7 1/2K . Lots more work , but 150 nm a day for a "cruiser" isn't bad. My concept for a sailor is a large boat on the WL that will crank out the miles with almost no effort. And no $200 -$300 a day in diesel bills WITH THE SOUND OF SILENCE !!!.  

Scraping Paint

BobH said: A powerboat is about the destination. A sailboat is about the voyage. Bob Click to expand...

skipperdude

A friend of mine owned a sail boat for 10 years. He almost never raised the sails. Just used the little diesel motor. I think it was more about doing the life style. He liked to talk about owning the boat more than actually using it to sail. He sold it and bought a 36 ft Bayliner that he sold when he bought a cabin up by Talkeetna Alaska. A cabin. Huh The senery never changes. SD  

caltexflanc

Where is your friend going to go cruising? We've cruised almost all of the US salt water coast in bits and pieces, in shore and off. At least 90% of the cruising sail boats we see underway are under power. Of the dozens of sailors we know, only two couples actively sail long distances under sail on a consistent basis. My advice to your friend is to spend a lot of time on different sorts of boats, chartering. Take sailing lessons, it's fun for one thing. All of this should be done with the SO's complete involvement. I was thinking about this just this morning as I walked up the dock; "Windhorse" the famous power boat designed and run by the Dashews was tied up at our marina again. As most trawler aficionados know, they are very experienced trans-ocean sailors and boat designers, and went to power.  

We ran the single cylinder 10hp diesel for 80% of the miles we traveled during 3 years living aboard our sailboat - from New England to the Caribbean...but those 20% under sail are by far the most memorable. Marin - you confuse me. You always want to be somewhere else, yet you claim to enjoy the voyage?  

• Jan 8, 2013

Sails allow distance to be covered almost for free . Putting in the ICW or similar is always done under power. Most bridges wont allow one to sail thru , ditto for most locks.  

Just transitioned from sail to power. What we will miss: · Connection to the water (low freeboard) · Sound of water while underway · That 10-20% when sailing conditions were perfect · Low fuel cost · Stability and ride quality · Not having anything to tweak while underway Likes: · Extended season (AC/Heat & protection) · Less sun exposure · More space · Multiple defined interior and exterior areas for semi-privacy · Less work underway · More comfort at anchor and underway · Seeing the outside while inside (no more portlights) · Less exterior decommissioning when it’s 90 degrees · No more sails to remove end of season · Less canvas to buy and care for · A real engine room with easy access · More storage · Shallow(er) draft · Plenty of reserve HP · Larger water & holding tanks · Not sleeping near a large lightning rod · Oh yeah…I started receiving AARP mailings. Mike  

DinghyDog said: Oh yeah…I started receiving AARP mailings. Mike Click to expand...

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> > Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. 23-08-2016, 07:10   our house and have moved from saskatchewan and are on our way to BC. Our plans were to buy a and learn to sail over the next couple of years and once ready sail south down to then into the for a 3 to 4 year . My dilemma is recently I've been looking at a few trawlers and the space us appealing, my question is could I do this trip.safely in a , I'm thinking not but your input would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking the extra cost of is a downside but that wouldn't be the deal breaker. I would love to have from someone who has done this similar thing. Thanks in advance. Sent from my SM-N920W8 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app 23-08-2016, 08:37   Boat: Looking and saving for my next...mid-atlantic coast . Just need plenty of upscale if you want to cross an ocean. I'm interested too, and looking into brands: Monk, Defeaver 23-08-2016, 10:52   while motoring and surprisingly few sailboat miles are done under sail. When you factor not having to buy replacement at some point, that will likely offset any extra fuel used. Do be careful when you say trawler. If you see a twin with a pair of 300hp engines, that may look like a trawler but it likely won't have the range of a trawler with a 150hp engine. 23-08-2016, 11:01   Boat: Island Packet 38 from the is tough, real tough. You may want to buy the on the East side to begin with. I have not done it nor have I planned it, just going off of what I have read. 23-08-2016, 12:24   Boat: 58' Sedan Bridge 23-08-2016, 12:34   Boat: Looking and saving for my next...mid-atlantic coast , a comfortable living quarter, and possibly a nice bridge outside to view from. You also have a constant speed. Bad side is if your engine seizes 23-08-2016, 13:49   Boat: Cal 20 while motoring. . . at some point, that will likely offset any extra fuel used. 23-08-2016, 14:03   Boat: Milkraft 60 ex trawler passages tend to sail 90% or more of the time. 23-08-2016, 14:08   Boat: Looking and saving for my next...mid-atlantic coast that prove sailors don't sail 100% or anywhere near that. If you are in the winds, maybe you might have good results. But most 50-60% of the time. I certainly have that experience. I don't agree with the 40k figure. 23-08-2016, 14:26   Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54 that prove sailors don't sail 100% or anywhere near that. If you are in the winds, maybe you might have good results. But most motor 50-60% of the time. I certainly have that experience. I don't agree with the 40k figure. 23-08-2016, 14:44   Boat: Cal 20 our house and have moved from saskatchewan and are on our way to BC. Our plans were to buy a liveaboard and learn to sail over the next couple of years and once ready sail south down to then into the Caribbean for a 3 to 4 year . My dilemma is recently I've been looking at a few trawlers and the liveaboard space us appealing, my question is could I do this trip.safely in a trawler, I'm thinking not but your input 23-08-2016, 14:58   is up to $100k, it seems up here in BC there are not alot of choices for 40ft is sailboats that are appealing to my wife, I have to keep her happy in a nice space but I also need a boat for what we are planning. I just arrived in so if anyone has any leads on a good liveaboard please let me know. Sent from my SM-N920W8 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app 23-08-2016, 15:00   Boat: Cal 20 23-08-2016, 15:18   Boat: Wheeler Shipyard 83' ex USCG The have one of the best online sites. Harry Mose sold me my last boat and went beyond the usual salesman. No pressure. Large selection. In a ocean cruising motor boat, pick the right engines. I get about 1.2 mpg @ 10 knots and 1.75 mpg @ 7 knots pushing an 83', 80 ton boat. Check the , blogs and other boat owners. I don't want to shove my engines down your throat. 23-08-2016, 15:24   just as all sailboats are not although that argument is endless. One boat in your range that could be suitable is a Hatteras 42 LRC but might be hard to find in your area. , , Thread Tools Rate This Thread : Posting Rules post new threads post replies post attachments edit your posts is are code is are are are Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post Sailing-Nut Powered Boats 30 16-03-2020 04:03 zumsel Dollars & Cents 46 13-02-2019 02:41 Want To Buy: myclady Classifieds Archive 12 07-12-2014 18:11 ViribusUnitis Powered Boats 3 24-08-2011 19:48 No Threads to Display. - - - - - - - Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time. Choosing the right liveaboard boat We’ve received many inquiries from our blog about choosing the right liveaboard boat. Folks have many questions ranging from style of boat, length of boat and horsepower to interior layout and aesthetics. I decided to post our experience with choosing Blue Turtle and what we initially looked for versus what we might have done differently today. First though, I want to point out that we are liveaboard cruisers, which mean we liveaboard our boat in a marina, but we also cruise places rather frequently (at least once a month). This post is about liveaboard boats that are fit for cruising. If you want to liveaboard but never plan to leave the dock, you can really choose any type of boat that suits your space and aesthetic needs. Houseboats would be the way to go as they offer the most space, but they are more fit for lake cruising than coastal cruising. 25 thoughts on “Choosing the right liveaboard boat” i wont to thank you for all that info it helps to find a right boat for people that do not know boats just starting out …. Thanks Royal. We didn’t know much starting out even though we had the advantage of our parents living aboard. We hope this write up is useful to those starting out. especially when the boat mentioned starts out at 500K! Many thanks for taking the time to write this! Very helpful. My wife and I might be looking for a liveaboard in FL in a few years. Hope this post helps a little bit. Please let us know if you have any questions. We’ll be glad to answer them 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experiences. You answered all my questions and have probably saved me a lot of time and headaches. Truly appreciated! So glad this helps! Let us know if you have any more questions. recently found your blog and FB. thank You for the information you are supplying us newbee’s A little more detail would be very helpful when you post, as we are making the leap into a trawler/cruiser. this coming spring. We’ve been reading, looking at thousands of boats online and in person, took my boating course last summer and even went out on lake erie a few times. Yes we are new to boats no one we know owns one. Maybe I’m post a few questions each day lol you speak about you needed a trawler to cruise the keys main issue is fuel. how much fuel do you use and what is the distance. We are looking in your area as a beginning base and love the keys. Also we have a dog who does he/she handle long trips and how to you allow him to go to the bathroom? aa big litter box? Are you considering solar to run you boats dc I know your fridge is AC . If you break down engine wise do you have a kicker motor onboard ? thanks for today Giligan Sorry for the late reply Giligan but I’ll post our answers in case it helps someone else. “You speak about you needed a trawler to cruise the keys main issue is fuel.” Actually you can cruise the Keys in a sailboat or trawler. We only mention that when cruising to the Dry Tortugas, it’s nice to have a trawler for the extra fuel it requires to visit dive and fishing spots once you get there. Many sailboats and smaller boats cruise there but they would have to carry extra fuel in order to do any additional dive/fishing cruising once you are there since there is no fuel available in the Dry Tortugas. “Also we have a dog who does he/she handle long trips and how to you allow him to go to the bathroom? a big litter box?” We trained our dog as a puppy to go on a potty patch. See our article “Living aboard with a boat dog” ( https://blueturtlecruising.com/living-aboard-with-boat-dog/ ). “Are you considering solar to run you boats dc I know your fridge is AC?” No, we have an invert system which runs our fridge while away from the dock. The generator then charges to the inverter batteries. “If you break down engine wise do you have a kicker motor onboard?” No we do not. Randy has become quite the mechanic at troubleshooting most engine issues if we break down. In rare cases he can’t solve it or we don’t have a part, there’s always Sea Tow. We’ve only been towed 2 times in almost 8 years and the issue was fuel, not the engine. Even if we had 2 engines we still would have had the same issue. Hope this helps! Loved reading about your boat! That’s what we’re planning to do Thanks Loretta! Hope we can provide some useful info to you from time to time. If you have any questions feel free to ask. We’almost ready to make the jump. Sold the Rentals, House is for sale, we both had great boss’s who are friends so they laid us off so we can collect unemployment (great friends) , Put in a bid for a GB 36 keeping our fingers crossed…. See you hopefully at the Fest I agree that you would want to consider what type of boat you have when choosing a motor. It would be good to consider if it is a sail or a motorboat as well. My brother wants to get a boat, so he’ll have to consider the type before he buys it. Put me on your mailing list. I have been told by y sailing friends that trawlers roll like crazy offshore and everybody gets sick. What is it like offshore? Thanks. It’s no different than any boat in big seas. Otherwise our trawler is very stable in normal seas and no one has been sick in the six years cruising (knocks on wood). Our biggest challenge right now is deciding where to liveaboard! Thinking North Carolina or Alabama but really have no clue how to decide. I do know we will choose a houseboat. Any tips on picking a location? I would research marinas in areas of interest and call to get rates, availability, etc. Look for areas that have close proximity to shopping, parks, and other areas of interest. You could also schedule a trip to visit a few favorite spots to check out the marinas and get a feel for the community. Hope this helps. Kim, thank you for being available, and helpful. I’ve been boating all my life, Ohio and Pensacola. 7 knot maximum, always, makes me nervous. Long crossings, storms, emergencies included. Have you wished you could go faster very often? Benetau’s swift trawler can supposedly do both well, but maybe not as economically. Any thoughts? Thank you, Steve A swift trawler would be the best of both worlds but I imagine fuel costs would be higher. If your budget allows for purchasing one and the additional fuel that would be ideal. We’ve only been in a few storms and have been ok. We normally wouldn’t cruise without an ideal weather window and the afternoon showers that pop up in the afternoon around here are usually pretty quick. I think it really boils down to your budget and comfort level in the end. Thanks for the info! I would like to be added to your mailing list please. You mentioned not liking the ising glass in Florida… are you saying you prefer to not have any enclosure on the fly deck? What if it rains (as it does a lot in Florida) when traveling? I thought it was a must-have… but now learning to pay attention where the people are from when taking any advice. 😉 In Florida, you can pretty much predict the afternoon showers. We have a lower helm so if we run into an afternoon thunderstorm while cruising, Randy steers from inside below on the lower helm. The ising glass, to us, ended up being a very costly ($7,000 to replace new) thing that we didn’t really need. It also constantly got battered and ripped with every tropical storm or hurricane so we decided to remove it. We realized cruising to the Keys in especially calm water that it blocks a lot of the breeze you could get without it. Leave a Comment Cancel reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed . connect with us Facebook page Sign up to stay in touch Receive updates from us by email. We respect your privacy and will never sell, rent, lease or give away your information to any third party. Nor will we send you unsolicited email. Yacht World Sailboat Guide Luxury Yachts Sailing Tips Converting Your Sailboat Into a Trawler: A Comprehensive Guide What Happened to Bluewater Yachts? The Inside Story Upgrade your boat’s water pump to the mach 5, upgrade your boat with the big stuff stuffing box, upgrade your boat with teak and holly flooring. Converting your sailboat into a trawler can be an exciting and rewarding project that opens up a whole new world of possibilities on the water. Before embarking on this transformation journey, it is essential to carefully assess your sailboat’s current state and features to determine its suitability for conversion. Factors such as size, hull design, and structural integrity play a crucial role in this evaluation process. Once you have evaluated your sailboat and confirmed its potential for conversion, the next step is to meticulously plan out the conversion process. Creating a detailed conversion plan will help you outline the necessary modifications needed to turn your sailboat into a trawler. Consider aspects such as design elements, equipment upgrades, and budget constraints to ensure a smooth and successful conversion. Structural modifications are a key aspect of converting a sailboat into a trawler. This may involve reinforcing the hull, adding a keel for stability, or modifying the deck layout to accommodate trawler features. These structural changes are essential to ensure the safety and functionality of your transformed vessel. Installing the right trawler equipment is crucial for a successful conversion. From propulsion systems and navigation instruments to safety gear and amenities for extended cruising , each component plays a vital role in the overall functionality and comfort of your trawler. Understanding the essential equipment needed and installing them correctly is paramount. Electrical and plumbing upgrades are another important consideration when converting your sailboat into a trawler. Upgrading the electrical system to support new trawler systems, installing a generator, and redesigning the water supply are all critical steps in ensuring the smooth operation of your vessel. Interior and exterior refitting are the finishing touches that can greatly enhance the comfort and functionality of your trawler. Adjusting the cabin layout, implementing smart storage solutions, and making aesthetic improvements will not only improve the overall experience on board but also add a personal touch to your vessel. Testing and sea trials are essential steps post-conversion to validate the safety, performance, and seaworthiness of your newly transformed trawler. Conducting thorough tests and trials will help identify any issues or areas that require further attention, ensuring that your vessel is ready for extended cruising adventures. Finally, maintaining your trawler is key to keeping it in top condition for years to come. Implementing regular inspections, timely repairs, and adhering to a comprehensive servicing schedule will help prolong the life of your converted trawler and ensure that it continues to provide memorable experiences on the water. Assessing Your Sailboat Assessing your sailboat is a crucial first step in the conversion process. To determine if your sailboat is suitable for transformation into a trawler, you need to evaluate various aspects of its current state and features. Here are some key factors to consider: Size: Assess the size of your sailboat to ensure it can accommodate the additional equipment and modifications required for a trawler. Hull Design: Evaluate the hull design to determine if it can support the structural changes needed for the conversion. Structural Integrity: Check the overall structural integrity of the sailboat to see if it can withstand the modifications and upgrades. By thoroughly assessing these aspects, you can make an informed decision about the feasibility of converting your sailboat into a trawler. Planning the Conversion Planning the conversion of your sailboat into a trawler is a crucial step that requires meticulous attention to detail and careful consideration of various factors. To ensure a successful transformation, it’s essential to create a comprehensive plan that outlines the necessary modifications and upgrades. Here are some key points to consider: Evaluate Your Goals: Determine the primary purpose of converting your sailboat into a trawler. Are you looking to enhance comfort for long-distance cruising or improve fishing capabilities? Assess Budget Constraints: Set a realistic budget for the conversion project, taking into account the cost of materials, labor, and any unexpected expenses that may arise. Consult with Experts: Seek advice from marine engineers, naval architects, or experienced boat builders to help you create a detailed plan that meets your specific needs. Research Design Elements: Explore different trawler designs and layouts to determine the features that best suit your intended use and preferences. By carefully planning the conversion process, you can ensure that your sailboat is transformed into a trawler that meets your requirements and provides a safe and enjoyable cruising experience. Structural Modifications When converting your sailboat into a trawler, structural modifications play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the transformation. Reinforcing the hull, adding a keel, and adjusting the deck layout are key elements to consider. Here are some important aspects to focus on during the structural modifications: Hull Reinforcement: Assess the strength of the hull and reinforce it as needed to support the additional weight and equipment of a trawler. Keel Addition: Consider adding a keel to improve stability and maneuverability, especially in rough waters. Deck Layout Modification: Modify the deck layout to accommodate trawler features such as fishing gear storage, winches, and additional equipment. Superstructure Changes: Evaluate the superstructure for any necessary modifications to enhance the overall functionality and aesthetics of the trawler. By focusing on these structural modifications, you can ensure that your sailboat is successfully converted into a trawler that meets your needs and expectations. Installing Trawler Equipment When it comes to converting your sailboat into a trawler, installing the right equipment is crucial for a successful transformation. From propulsion systems to safety gear, each component plays a vital role in the functionality and efficiency of your newly converted vessel. Here are some key considerations for installing trawler equipment: Propulsion Systems: Choose the appropriate propulsion system for your trawler, whether it’s a single engine, twin engines, or a hybrid setup. Consider factors like fuel efficiency, power output, and maneuverability. Navigation Instruments: Equip your trawler with essential navigation tools such as GPS, radar, depth sounders, and autopilot systems to ensure safe and accurate navigation on the water. Safety Gear: Prioritize safety by installing proper safety equipment including life jackets, fire extinguishers, distress signals, and emergency communication devices to handle any unforeseen situations. Amenities for Cruising: Enhance your trawler experience by adding amenities like a galley, sleeping quarters, bathroom facilities, and entertainment systems for comfortable and enjoyable extended cruising. Electrical and Plumbing Upgrades When it comes to converting your sailboat into a trawler, play a crucial role in ensuring the functionality and efficiency of your new vessel. Let’s delve into the essential modifications needed to support the systems of a trawler: Upgrading the Battery Bank: Installing a larger battery bank or upgrading to advanced batteries is essential to meet the increased power demands of trawler equipment. Installing a Generator: A reliable generator is necessary to provide continuous power supply for onboard systems and amenities during long cruises. Redesigning the Water Supply: Adapting the plumbing system to accommodate the water needs of a trawler, including freshwater storage, filtration, and distribution. By focusing on these , you can ensure that your converted trawler is equipped with the necessary systems to support a comfortable and efficient cruising experience. Interior and Exterior Refitting When converting your sailboat into a trawler, the interior and exterior refitting process plays a crucial role in enhancing both comfort and functionality. To achieve a successful transformation, consider making adjustments to the cabin layout, implementing efficient storage solutions, and focusing on aesthetic improvements. By reimagining the interior space, you can create a more ergonomic and inviting environment for extended cruising. Additionally, exterior refitting involves enhancing the visual appeal of your trawler while ensuring practicality. This may include updating the deck layout, improving access to essential equipment, and optimizing the overall design for efficiency. By paying attention to detail in both the interior and exterior aspects, you can elevate the overall experience of owning and operating a converted trawler. Testing and Sea Trials When it comes to converting your sailboat into a trawler, one crucial phase that cannot be overlooked is the testing and sea trials. These trials are the ultimate litmus test for the success of your conversion project, ensuring that your newly transformed trawler is safe, efficient, and seaworthy. But what exactly does this process entail? First and foremost, before setting sail, it is essential to conduct thorough checks on all the structural modifications and installations made during the conversion. This includes inspecting the reinforced hull, keel additions, and any deck layout modifications to guarantee their integrity and functionality. During sea trials, you will need to assess the performance of the trawler equipment, such as propulsion systems and navigation instruments. Are they operating smoothly and effectively? Are there any adjustments or fine-tuning needed to optimize their functionality? Additionally, testing the electrical and plumbing upgrades is crucial to ensure that the new systems can support the demands of extended cruising. From the upgraded battery bank to the redesigned water supply, each component must be tested for reliability and efficiency. Sea trials also provide an opportunity to evaluate the interior and exterior refitting of your trawler. Is the cabin layout ergonomic and comfortable? Are the storage solutions practical and accessible? These trials allow you to fine-tune the design elements for maximum functionality and aesthetics. Lastly, conducting sea trials is not just about performance but also about safety. Testing the seaworthiness of your trawler in varying conditions will give you confidence in its ability to handle different scenarios at sea. It’s a chance to identify any potential weaknesses and address them before embarking on extended cruises. Maintaining Your Trawler When it comes to maintaining your trawler, consistency is key. Regular upkeep and care are essential to ensure your vessel remains in top condition for all your future seafaring adventures. Let’s dive into some important practices and tips to keep your converted trawler shipshape: Regular Inspections: Schedule routine inspections to check for any signs of wear and tear, leaks, or damage. Addressing issues promptly can prevent them from escalating into major problems. Fluid Checks: Keep a close eye on all fluid levels, including fuel, oil, and coolant. Maintaining proper levels and quality of fluids is crucial for the smooth operation of your trawler. Cleaning and Detailing: Regular cleaning of the interior and exterior surfaces not only keeps your trawler looking its best but also helps prevent corrosion and deterioration. Engine Maintenance: Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for engine maintenance, including oil changes, filter replacements, and belt inspections. A well-maintained engine is essential for reliable performance. Hull Care: Check the hull for any signs of damage, fouling, or blistering. Proper hull maintenance, including cleaning and antifouling treatments, is crucial for optimal performance and fuel efficiency. By incorporating these maintenance practices into your routine, you can ensure that your converted trawler remains in excellent condition and ready to take on the open seas with confidence. Frequently Asked Questions While many sailboats can be converted into trawlers, the feasibility depends on factors like the size of the boat, its hull design, and structural integrity. It’s essential to assess these aspects before proceeding with the conversion. Key equipment for a trawler includes propulsion systems, navigation instruments, safety gear, and amenities for extended cruising. Understanding and installing these components are crucial for a successful conversion. Conducting thorough testing and sea trials is vital to ensure the safety, performance, and seaworthiness of your converted trawler. These tests help identify any issues and ensure the vessel is ready for extended cruising. Recent Posts What Happened to Bluewater Yachts? The Inside Story - May 31, 2024 Upgrade Your Boat’s Water Pump to the Mach 5 - May 30, 2024 Upgrade Your Boat with the Big Stuff Stuffing Box - May 30, 2024 LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hello! I'm Julian Owen, the author of Sailboat and Yacht blog. I'm a passionate sailor, and I'm here on this platform to share that passion. Upgrade Your Boat with Quality Side Panel Fasteners More from author Stay in touch. To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements. Quick Links Popular articles. The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran for Your Sailing Adventures C hoosing between a sailboat and a catamaran for your sailing adventures is a significant decision that depends on various factors, including your sailing preferences, experience level, budget, and intended use. Here's an ultimate guide to help you make an informed decision: 1. Sailing Experience: Sailboats: Typically require more skill and experience to handle, especially in adverse weather conditions. Ideal for sailors who enjoy the traditional feel of sailing and are willing to invest time in learning and mastering the art. Catamarans: Easier to handle, making them suitable for beginners. The dual-hull design provides stability, reducing the learning curve for those new to sailing. 2. Space and Comfort: Sailboats: Generally have a narrower beam and less living space. However, some sailboats may offer comfortable cabins and amenities. Catamarans: Wider beam creates more living space. Catamarans often have multiple cabins, spacious saloons, and expansive deck areas, providing a more comfortable living experience. 3. Stability: Sailboats: Monohulls can heel (lean) while sailing, which some sailors enjoy for the thrill but can be discomforting for others. Catamarans: Greater stability due to the dual hulls, providing a more level sailing experience. Reduced heeling makes catamarans suitable for those prone to seasickness. 4. Performance: Sailboats: Known for their upwind performance and ability to sail close to the wind. Some sailors appreciate the challenge of optimizing sail trim for efficiency. Catamarans: Faster on a reach and downwind due to their wide beam. However, they may not point as high into the wind as monohulls. Sailboats: Typically have a deeper draft, limiting access to shallow anchorages and requiring deeper marina berths. Catamarans: Shallow draft allows access to shallower waters and secluded anchorages, providing more flexibility in cruising destinations. Sailboats: Generally more affordable upfront, with a wide range of options available to fit different budgets. Catamarans: Often more expensive upfront due to their size and design. However, maintenance costs may be comparable or even lower in some cases. 7. Mooring and Docking: Sailboats: Easier to find slips and moorings in marinas designed for monohulls. Catamarans: Require wider slips and may have limited availability in certain marinas, especially in crowded anchorages. 8. Intended Use: Sailboats: Ideal for traditional sailors who enjoy the art of sailing, racing enthusiasts, or those on a tighter budget. Catamarans: Suited for those prioritizing comfort, stability, and spacious living areas, especially for long-term cruising and chartering. 9. Resale Value: Sailboats: Generally have a more established resale market, with a wider range of buyers. Catamarans: Growing in popularity, and well-maintained catamarans often retain their value. 10. Personal Preference: Consider your personal preferences, the type of sailing you plan to do, and the kind of lifestyle you want aboard your vessel. In conclusion, both sailboats and catamarans have their advantages and disadvantages. Your decision should be based on your individual preferences, experience level, budget, and intended use. If possible, charter both types of vessels to experience firsthand how they handle and to help make a more informed decision based on your own preferences and needs. The post The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran for Your Sailing Adventures appeared first on Things That Make People Go Aww . Subscribe Now Digital Editions New Boats at Cannes Boat Show 2024: Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 Cannes Yachting Festival Top stories The new Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 makes impressive use of the space afforded by its Trawler design, making for excellent split-level living While the styling of the new Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 looks likely to flex more toward the smaller Swift Trawler models than the superyacht-inspired Grand Trawler 62 , the ingenuity behind the internal design looks very strong and will be well worth a look at the Cannes Yachting Festival . Rather than simply revel in the volume that a trawler design can bring, Beneteau has decided to divide each level into discernible zones for extra intimacy and homeliness. The saloon, for instance, features three sections – an upper dinette adjacent to the helm; a casual lower lounge with a coffee table; and a transverse galley between the two. Headroom throughout the lower deck looks outstanding The galley is cordoned off from each space by means of a glass screen but you can still communicate easily or escape to the port side deck by means of the galley door. And the delineation of the deck levels also collaborates in that separation, enabling you to step aside from the main party and chill out in peace, exactly as you might at home. Article continues below… Recommended videos for you New Boats at Cannes Boat Show 2024: YOT 41 New Boats at Cannes Boat Show 2024: Fiart P58 Down below, you get a full-beam owner’s cabin with an ensuite bathroom, plus a forward VIP, a port bunk room and a port bathroom with Jack and Jill doors – and while that might sound quite formulaic, the design intelligence down here again looks pretty impressive. The port bunk room, for instance, takes up extra floor space, with an L-shaped bed arrangement, which is far more attractive for guests than vertical bunks, and while that does force the day heads to steal a bit of space from the port side of the VIP cabin, its integration makes the compromise look virtually seamless. The upper and lower lounges are divided by a transverse galley Back outside, the flybridge is just as zonal as the saloon. It comprises an open aft deck for stowage, a central dinette for meals and a forward companion section for lounging alongside the skipper. But it’s the ST54’s aft end that looks really unusual. Back here, the entire deck hinges up, revealing a huge lazarette with a manual davit for your toys. It does limit the usability of the cockpit, because if you want to gain access, you need to clear the aft part of the deck first. It’s good to see then that you can also opt for a more regular layout, with a crew cabin accessed via a simple cockpit hatch. Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 specifications LOA: 56ft 2in (17.13m) BEAM: 16ft 4in (4.98m) ENGINES: 2 x Cummins QSB 6.7 550s SPEED: 19 knots PRICE: from £1,125,000 ex VAT CONTACT: beneteau.com If you enjoyed this…. Motor Boat & Yachting is the world’s leading magazine for Motoryacht enthusiasts. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams, as well as tests and news of all the latest motorboats. Plus you’ll get our quarterly Custom Yachting supplement where we share the last on offer in the superyacht world and at the luxury end of the market. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price. New Boats at Cannes Boat Show 2024: Swan Arrow Latest videos, watch: parker sorrento sea trial: 50-knot cruiser with a killer aft cabin, watch: virtue v10 sea trial: €272k weekender, how to mark your anchor chain: 6 top tips from our expert, watch: galeon 560 fly sea trial – the best galeon flybridge you can buy. 363 IMAGES Differences living aboard a trawler vs. a sailboat TRAWLER VS SAILBOAT Which Is Better For Live-aboard And Cruising? 47' Custom Steel Hull Trawler for Sale 1950's converted trawler. Perfect live-aboard. 1980 Albin 36 Trawler Power New and Used Boats for Sale Convert a 54ft fishing trawler into a blue-water motor-sailer COMMENTS Differences living aboard a trawler vs. a sailboat Storage. Our sailboat has ample storage room like under the settee cushions. The trawler may win the space category, but it's the sailboat for the win in the storage category. Our sailboat doesn't have all that extra open space like a trawler, but it certainly makes the most use of the space it has. In the galley, my cabinet space was tiny ... Trawler vs. Sail Trawler vs. Sail. Trawler versus sail—a comparison that is often dismissed as an old-person versus young-person, apples-to-oranges argument. It's assumed that a sailor will sail until his hands are too crippled to manage a line any longer, then buy a trawler that will sit dockside, until one day a dockmaster is notified of a disturbing smell coming from "that boat the old guy lives in." The Best Boat for the Great Loop in 2023: Your 6 Boat Options 5. Type of Boat. Trawlers, Sailboats (with a retractable mast for bridges), and Motor Yachts are popular choices because they balance living space, fuel efficiency, and navigability. Sailboats can offer the advantage of wind power but consider the need to lower the mast for certain sections of the Loop. Trawler Vs Yacht Small trawler boats can range from $50,000 to $200,000, while larger trawler yachts can cost several million dollars. It's important to consider your budget and specific requirements when determining the price range that suits you best. In conclusion, trawlers and yachts offer distinct advantages depending on your boating preferences. The Liveaboard Trawler: Is It the Best Boat for Your Nautical Life? Trawlers consume lots of fuel. Trawlers obviously burn more fuel than sailboats. Even if the sailboat has an engine, wind power is free for the taking when you so choose. Trawlers need more maintenance. There are more things that can go wrong or break on a trawler, such as electronics, propellers and engines. Trawlers: A Comprehensive Guide What is a Trawler. Trawlers are boats with relatively large cabins designed for extended stays aboard and long voyages. Most offer slow but efficient displacement cruising speeds, and while few older trawlers could plane, many new ones do have a bit more "get home power" and speed which can be used when maximizing efficiency isn't the primary concern. A Complete Guide to Trawler Boats: All You Need to Know! The Beneteau Swift is a top-rated model from one of the world's best trawler, sailboat, and powerboat brands. Beneteau Swift. This trawler model includes a semi-displacement hull for better stability and smoother operation at sea, and you get plenty of spacious accommodations on the lower deck and mezzanine level of the boat. Beneteau takes ... A Complete Guide to Liveaboard Trawlers: All You Need to Know The reality is liveaboard trawlers are expensive boats, and you don't want to spend all that money to end up with a vessel you don't like. Affordable Trawlers Under 40-Feet NordHavn 40. This trawler is an excellent example of a 40 footer that's a great choice for cruising. The Nordhavn is an established sea-faring brand with a reputation ... Trawlers: The Complete Guide to These Seaworthy Vessels A trawler is a type of power boat designed for slow, steady cruising. Trawlers trace their origins to commercial fishing vessels used for trawling - dragging large nets behind the boat. Today's trawler yachts have evolved into comfortable cruisers perfect for extended voyages. Modern trawlers come in a range of sizes from 35 to over 100 feet. Top 15 Trawlers for 2023 Beneteau Grand Trawler 62: This trawler can travel nonstop for 1,000 nautical miles. Kadey-Krogen 52: This twin-engine-capable, all-oceans trawler is a solid fit for voyaging cruising couples. Bering Yachts B76: The B76 is the builder's first fully custom trawler in this size range. TRAWLER VS SAILBOAT Which Is Better For Live-aboard And Cruising http://tulasendlesssummer.com Which is better for cruising and live aboard, a Trawler or a Sailboat. We get this question all the time since we have lived fu... 5 Best Trawlers of 2022 2022 Beneteau Swift Trawler 48. Image via Ancasta International Boat Sales. Beneteau turned the concept of the "slow trawler" on its ear with the introduction of the Swift series, with over 1,300 hulls built to date. The newest of these is the Swift 48, a replacement for the successful Swift 47 with a few new twists. Trawler Lifestyle Editor Jeff Moser heads to One°15 Brooklyn Marina to check out the Elling E6, a 65-foot, Dutch-built, fast trawler that has earned a reputation as an unbreakable, bluewater steed. BMW's Designworks Icon, an all-glass, 43-foot boat with striking looks, is a glimpse into the future of mobility. PassageMaker is a comprehensive trawler cruising ... A Journey from Sailboat to Trawler A trawler requires major preventative maintenance on its diesel engine. While they are work horses, diesels are very unforgiving if neglected, and 80 percent of owners do just that, according to marine surveyors. On this subject, we were naïve and if we had it to do over we would get a separate engine survey. The Ultimate Trawler Boat Buying Guide For many years, the cruising scene consisted of sailboats and trawlers, and that was it. Visit any popular cruising destination, from Marsh Harbour to Roche Harbor, and the anchorage and marinas were full of sailboats and trawlers. Both excel at life on the hook, and the constant scurrying of crew, dogs, provisions, and gear by speedy dinghies ... Trawler or sailboat? A friend of mine is retiring, and knowing that I had a sailboat and now have a trawler, confided that he is strongly considering selling or renting his house, buying a boat, and doing the cruising life. His question to me was whether I would advise him to get a trawler or a sailboat. I found this a rather hard question to answer. Sailboat or trawler? A trawler is certainly doable. If you throttle back to sailboat speeds, you won't see much difference in fuel consumption while motoring. . . You will see a significant difference in fuel consumption, sailboats and powerboats have fundamentally different hull shapes except in a few cases. I have acquaintances that took a Nordhaven RTW, averaged ... Choosing the right liveaboard boat We learned from them that trawler style boats are made for longer passages (larger fuel and water tanks), living aboard and offer good living and storage space. Motor Yachts are similar to trawlers but typically they have 2 engines and a planing hull, so they aren't as fuel efficient or economical. They do typically have more living space ... Trawler boats for sale Of the 1,511 trawler boats for sale on YachtWorld currently, there are 355 new vessels and 1,156 used and custom yachts listed by professional yacht brokers mainly in the following countries: United States, Canada, France, Spain and United Kingdom. Over the past 30 days, there have been 189 trawler boats listed for sale on YachtWorld. Converting Your Sailboat Into a Trawler: A Comprehensive Guide Structural modifications are a key aspect of converting a sailboat into a trawler. This may involve reinforcing the hull, adding a keel for stability, or modifying the deck layout to accommodate trawler features. These structural changes are essential to ensure the safety and functionality of your transformed vessel. Trawler boats for sale Trawler boats are popular for their deeper draft and very wide beam, traits that make these boats a great option for overnight cruising and day cruising. Trawler boats can usually hold an average of 11 people but can carry at most 20. Also, with 675 trawler boats now listed for sale and 106 boats added within the last month, Boat Trader is ... Five Affordable Trawlers Under 40 Feet Here's a trawler under 40 feet (39'9" LOA, 14' 6" beam) that has impressive cruising credentials. The Nordhavn has established itself as one of the most capable ships in its size range with both a circumnavigation and an Atlantic crossing under its waterline. And the owners of this salty trawler are among the most serious cruisers you ... Trawler boats for sale These powerboats use the following propulsion options: inboard engine. There are a wide range of Trawler boats for sale from popular brands like Beneteau, Grand Banks and Ranger Tugs with 397 new and 1,445 used and an average price of $244,191 with boats ranging from as little as $22,748 and $6,330,984. The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Sailboat or Catamaran ... Choosing between a sailboat and a catamaran for your sailing adventures is a significant decision that depends on various factors, including your sailing preferences, experience level, budget, and ... New Boats at Cannes Boat Show 2024: Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 The new Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 makes impressive use of the space afforded by its Trawler design, making for excellent split-level living. While the styling of the new Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 looks likely to flex more toward the smaller Swift Trawler models than the superyacht-inspired Grand Trawler 62, the ingenuity behind the internal design looks very strong and will be well worth a ... 'Treated like slaves' on Scottish fishing boats TN Trawlers continued to recruit, switching its main recruitment operation from East Asia to West Africa. In June 2013, Gideon Mensah from Ghana signed up to work on the TN scalop dredger Noordzee. 16 best boat shoes for men and women Linda Cui Zhang, women's associate fashion director at Nordstrom, adds that "Miu Miu brought the boat shoe back," thanks to the brand's Spring 2024 runway show that displayed boat shoes in ... Coast Guard rescues 6 people who abandoned flaming trawler The Coast Guard's Sector Northern New England command center received a mayday call from an 81-foot fishing trawler named Three Girls shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday, officials said. catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht