Anyone ever own a Trawler?

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Mike

Definitely Consider a Trawler

I have owned two single engine trawlers (with no thrusters) and was able to manage just fine. I had a 40 Marine Trader, classic trunk cabin; and a 35 Chien Hwa Sundeck. I would recommend either of these fine vessels, although the Marine Trader required much more exterior maintenance. I just bought an Irwin 33 sailboat, and can tell you that there is no comparison when it comes to roominess between the trawlers and the sailing vessel. I do not have a lot of time to travel and stay aboard, so the sail boat is OK, but I will definitely be getting back into a trawler when my schedule and finances allow, and I hope it's soon. I do enjoy an afternoon of sailing, but do not enjoy spending a lot of time aboard the sailboat. As to your question of single or twin engines, I prefer a single for several reasons. One is less maintenance. Two is more room in the bilge for ease of maint. & storage area. Third, less weight and heat aboard. If you are patient, handling the boat around the docks is just a matter of taking your time, even without a thruster. If you have a good boatmate that can handle lines, you can get into anywhere you'll need to be. That's my 2 cents worth. Good luck
 
M

Mike

Definitely Consider a Trawler

I have owned two single engine trawlers (with no thrusters) and was able to manage just fine. I had a 40 Marine Trader, classic trunk cabin; and a 35 Chien Hwa Sundeck. I would recommend either of these fine vessels, although the Marine Trader required much more exterior maintenance. I just bought an Irwin 33 sailboat, and can tell you that there is no comparison when it comes to roominess between the trawlers and the sailing vessel. I do not have a lot of time to travel and stay aboard, so the sail boat is OK, but I will definitely be getting back into a trawler when my schedule and finances allow, and I hope it's soon. I do enjoy an afternoon of sailing, but do not enjoy spending a lot of time aboard the sailboat. As to your question of single or twin engines, I prefer a single for several reasons. One is less maintenance. Two is more room in the bilge for ease of maint. & storage area. Third, less weight and heat aboard. If you are patient, handling the boat around the docks is just a matter of taking your time, even without a thruster. If you have a good boatmate that can handle lines, you can get into anywhere you'll need to be. That's my 2 cents worth. Good luck
 
D

Daryl

Trawlers!

After many years of sailing I purchased a 1980 Albin trawler. Single screw, no bow thruster, cheap and easy to run. I considered adding a thruster but decided that the boat went fine for 23 years without it before I got it. Lots of room, two heads and I learned new nautical terms: "FILLER UP". Glad it uses only 2 gal/hr at 7 knots
 
D

Daryl

Trawlers!

After many years of sailing I purchased a 1980 Albin trawler. Single screw, no bow thruster, cheap and easy to run. I considered adding a thruster but decided that the boat went fine for 23 years without it before I got it. Lots of room, two heads and I learned new nautical terms: "FILLER UP". Glad it uses only 2 gal/hr at 7 knots
 
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Mikado55k

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Aug 18, 2007
28
CNSO Mikado Titusville, FL
Trawlers are great all around cruisers

because of the large cabin space and good fuel ecomomy. I have to disagree with single over twin. Most trawlers have a full keel, so tides can really move them around, and along with the high windage that the large cabin/flybridge creates it can really get hairy in a crowded marina with a single engine. I owned a 44' Marine Trader with twin 120hp Perkins, and at cruise (2400 rpm, 9 knots)it only burned 4.5 gal/hr. Also, the second engine came in handy more than once when we had a mechanical issue (air leak in fuel) that plagued us for over a year before solving the problem.
 
M

Mikado55k

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Aug 18, 2007
28
CNSO Mikado Titusville, FL
Trawlers are great all around cruisers

because of the large cabin space and good fuel ecomomy. I have to disagree with single over twin. Most trawlers have a full keel, so tides can really move them around, and along with the high windage that the large cabin/flybridge creates it can really get hairy in a crowded marina with a single engine. I owned a 44' Marine Trader with twin 120hp Perkins, and at cruise (2400 rpm, 9 knots)it only burned 4.5 gal/hr. Also, the second engine came in handy more than once when we had a mechanical issue (air leak in fuel) that plagued us for over a year before solving the problem.
 
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Bob

What makes the Trawler so expensive?

What makes a Trawler more expensive over a Motoryacht? A friend lives aboard his Searay 41 Aft Cabin Yacht, which has a fantastic layout with Searay quality and is 50K less then comparable Trawler models. The Searay has twin diesel engines, generator, washer-dryer, dual steering and so on. The price of these used Trawler's when compared to a Yacht the same length and year is amazing. Can a difference in hull design and weight be that much more to manufacture? Pound for pound which gives you the better return on the dollar, the motoryacht or the trawler? Bob
 
B

Bob

What makes the Trawler so expensive?

What makes a Trawler more expensive over a Motoryacht? A friend lives aboard his Searay 41 Aft Cabin Yacht, which has a fantastic layout with Searay quality and is 50K less then comparable Trawler models. The Searay has twin diesel engines, generator, washer-dryer, dual steering and so on. The price of these used Trawler's when compared to a Yacht the same length and year is amazing. Can a difference in hull design and weight be that much more to manufacture? Pound for pound which gives you the better return on the dollar, the motoryacht or the trawler? Bob
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Compare the asking price of a new vessel of any

discription to the asking price of a three year old vessel of the same discription. A better question is which type of vessel retains value best because you won't likely get a return on your investment and may recover only a portion of your investment.
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Compare the asking price of a new vessel of any

discription to the asking price of a three year old vessel of the same discription. A better question is which type of vessel retains value best because you won't likely get a return on your investment and may recover only a portion of your investment.
 
Paul4414

Paul4414

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Aug 6, 2006
49
Hunter Legend 37 Severna Park, MD
Bow Thruster

Bob, My only comment on the need for a bow thruster and twin engines is do you now have them on your sail boat. If not, how have you managed all these years without them? I am sure that like the rest of us you have learned how to handle your boat in all situations. Just like you learned with the sailboat, you will have to learn how a trawler will act in different wind and tide conditions. Remember, every boat requires a learning curve - some just take a little longer than others. I am looking at a Monk 36 for when I make the switch. It has always been my ideal choice and is a single engine, 220 HP, without a bow thruster. Handles like a dream with a little practice. Good luck. Paul s/v Lady Sara Hunter Legend 37
 
Paul4414

Paul4414

.
Aug 6, 2006
49
Hunter Legend 37 Severna Park, MD
Bow Thruster

Bob, My only comment on the need for a bow thruster and twin engines is do you now have them on your sail boat. If not, how have you managed all these years without them? I am sure that like the rest of us you have learned how to handle your boat in all situations. Just like you learned with the sailboat, you will have to learn how a trawler will act in different wind and tide conditions. Remember, every boat requires a learning curve - some just take a little longer than others. I am looking at a Monk 36 for when I make the switch. It has always been my ideal choice and is a single engine, 220 HP, without a bow thruster. Handles like a dream with a little practice. Good luck. Paul s/v Lady Sara Hunter Legend 37
 
letterman

letterman

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Jan 27, 2007
383
Irwin 37' center cockpit cleveland ohio
2 cents

I talked to the captains of every boat, sail and power, coming down the ICW while I was on my trip. 100% either had, or mentioned bow thrusters within two breaths. A friend with a 52' sailboat says he does not know why it took him so long to add one to his boat. I have a 37'er and think I am at the cusp of needing one. Anything larger, definitely. Single screw over dual. Less problems. My neighbor on a 32' powerboat has dual and a once or twice a year has to dock it with one motor Med style. There is always a huge crowd to help him in (of course all us blowboaters razz him unmercifully...we sit on my boat and toss popcorn at him.) His motors are both gas....I prefer one diesel. my vote:single diesel with bow thrusters. Remember the time when you didn't have AC in your car? I remember a few that didn't have heaters either. They were an option! Ergo, bow thrusters are something of a necessity.
 
letterman

letterman

.
Jan 27, 2007
383
Irwin 37' center cockpit cleveland ohio
2 cents

I talked to the captains of every boat, sail and power, coming down the ICW while I was on my trip. 100% either had, or mentioned bow thrusters within two breaths. A friend with a 52' sailboat says he does not know why it took him so long to add one to his boat. I have a 37'er and think I am at the cusp of needing one. Anything larger, definitely. Single screw over dual. Less problems. My neighbor on a 32' powerboat has dual and a once or twice a year has to dock it with one motor Med style. There is always a huge crowd to help him in (of course all us blowboaters razz him unmercifully...we sit on my boat and toss popcorn at him.) His motors are both gas....I prefer one diesel. my vote:single diesel with bow thrusters. Remember the time when you didn't have AC in your car? I remember a few that didn't have heaters either. They were an option! Ergo, bow thrusters are something of a necessity.
 
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Bob4203

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Jul 1, 2004
398
Catalina 30 Atlanta GA
Cannot Compare Powerboat to Sailboat in handling

Big thumbs up on bow thrusters so far and I concur on this one. In fact it would be nice if one of sailing manufacturers came up with a small inexpensive thruster for smaller sailboats (30 feet for example), then guys like me with a two-blade prop will not have to "walk" my Catalina 30 backwards down the dock a ways to get out into open water! Backing to port all the time does have its frustrations. But, thats another thread and disscussion that has been pushed around on the board for awhile now. At a minimum it sure would make you look like a pro getting around the marina! And think of the collision avoidance. I am convinced that a single diesel and bow thruster is the way to go on a trawler based on many of the responses. I always had that gut feeling about the combo for our needs. Whats crazy is though is that not many trawlers come with a single diesel/bow thruster combo that are out there besides Mainship. For the purposes of living aboard, taking short term runs and staying for the most part on the ICW, the single engine makes sense. Appreciate the responses as I am sure many may have the same plans. Bob
 
B

Bob4203

.
Jul 1, 2004
398
Catalina 30 Atlanta GA
Cannot Compare Powerboat to Sailboat in handling

Big thumbs up on bow thrusters so far and I concur on this one. In fact it would be nice if one of sailing manufacturers came up with a small inexpensive thruster for smaller sailboats (30 feet for example), then guys like me with a two-blade prop will not have to "walk" my Catalina 30 backwards down the dock a ways to get out into open water! Backing to port all the time does have its frustrations. But, thats another thread and disscussion that has been pushed around on the board for awhile now. At a minimum it sure would make you look like a pro getting around the marina! And think of the collision avoidance. I am convinced that a single diesel and bow thruster is the way to go on a trawler based on many of the responses. I always had that gut feeling about the combo for our needs. Whats crazy is though is that not many trawlers come with a single diesel/bow thruster combo that are out there besides Mainship. For the purposes of living aboard, taking short term runs and staying for the most part on the ICW, the single engine makes sense. Appreciate the responses as I am sure many may have the same plans. Bob
 
letterman

letterman

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Jan 27, 2007
383
Irwin 37' center cockpit cleveland ohio
a thought

The last post gave me an idea. Why can't you use a through hull on either side of the bow, and either side of the stern, and have them connected to pumps. The bow would have one pump, the stern one too. The pump would be able to reverse itself. Water would come in one thru hull and out the other. Heck, you could spin on a dime in calm conditions with this. Wind blowing your bow to port? Hit the bow to go to starboard, and the aft to port. Straighten that thing right out.
 
letterman

letterman

.
Jan 27, 2007
383
Irwin 37' center cockpit cleveland ohio
a thought

The last post gave me an idea. Why can't you use a through hull on either side of the bow, and either side of the stern, and have them connected to pumps. The bow would have one pump, the stern one too. The pump would be able to reverse itself. Water would come in one thru hull and out the other. Heck, you could spin on a dime in calm conditions with this. Wind blowing your bow to port? Hit the bow to go to starboard, and the aft to port. Straighten that thing right out.
 
LANCE ON CLOUD NINE

LANCE ON CLOUD NINE

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Mar 28, 2007
637
Oday 23 Anna Maria Isl.
Letterman is clever

tom you should patent that. Then team with a maker of BIG bilgepumps. You could make an aftermarket kit. Both pumps could have a Y that goes to bilge to act as powerfull backup bilge pumps.
 
LANCE ON CLOUD NINE

LANCE ON CLOUD NINE

.
Mar 28, 2007
637
Oday 23 Anna Maria Isl.
Letterman is clever

tom you should patent that. Then team with a maker of BIG bilgepumps. You could make an aftermarket kit. Both pumps could have a Y that goes to bilge to act as powerfull backup bilge pumps.
 
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