Looking for a Trawler(I think)

The term "trawler" has been much abused and corrupted in the past 30 years. Originally a trawler was a commercial vessel which dragged a trawl (whodathunkit?). But as trawls got bigger the older, lower powered boats were no longer competitive and some were converted to yachts, hence "Trawler Yacht". They were fuel-efficient and good sea boats. In the 70s when gas started getting expensive the idea caught on. These days I suspect 99% of trawler yachts are trawler STYLE, and that can be pretty much anything you want it to be.

Back in the 60s or so there was a type of bay shrimp boat on the Gulf coast called a "Lafitte skiff", "net skiff", or what have you. According to the original definition they were "Trawlers" 'cause they pulled a net, but they had planing hulls, big gas V8 engines and could do 20+ knots (we clocked my father's at 35 mph).

IMO a modern "trawler" can be pretty much whatever you want. There are fast ones and slow ones and all kinds of hull and power configurations. You pays your money...
 
I have a 44' Thompson, single screw, aft cabin, galley down, tons of storage, 3' draft, 640 gallon fuel capacity, 300 gallon water capacity.

Need to sell due to "life changes".

(the idea boat, drinks 6, feeds 4, sleeps 2)
 
That might be nice. We turned down the last trawler we looked at 'cause of it's 4+ draft.
 
The problem as I see it is that people seem to think that whatever the marketing department names a trawler will somehow get better fuel economy.

In reality most just have small engines but that is generally not how economy is derived. Light weight, slippery hull design and most importantly, slow speed are the dominant issues for economy.

More available power does not increase fuel consumption but try to tell that to the trawler fans. I’ll bet that the OP is considering a trawler for fuel economy. Does he understand that the same boat with 2X the HP will get similar economy at the same sped??
 
Don't doubt that but if he's not going to use the HP why pay for it??
 
Several reasons:

Prices are so cheap in the used market that the extra HP does not come at a penalty.

Once you get past the idea that only "trawlers" can run slow and use less fuel there are many more models to choose from.

ACMYs, flushdeck MYs and other designs offer more interior space than the typical trunk cabin trawler.

Most everybody has times when the extra speed would be nice to have.
 
"Most everybody has times when the extra speed would be nice to have."

Yes - exactly. We have had two trawlers and there are a number of times when you really do not want to be so limited in speed.
Those include but are not limited to these times we had.....
1. Weather has changed and you have limited time to make a port
2. You hit unexpected/unavoidable rougher water and your power limits your seakeeping options
3. Your travel plans have you against a head tide of 3-4 knots and you only have 7 at full speed
4. Rather not travel and arrive at night but you need another 12 miles in less than 2 hours
Having the option certainly gives you flexibility and comfort when on many trips.

Hope this helps
 
Like most of you, I'm absolutely disgusted with what the term "trawler" has come to mean. Let me explain.

I have a round chine vessel. She has a modest keel and is considered to have rather nice seakeeping abilities.
She does roll a bit with those soft chines, but as is often noted it is a very gentle roll and does not wear on you so much.
She's fairly efficient. She will rune along nicely at just under 9 knots and around 8.5 I can comfortably plan on a fuel usage of 2.5 MPG, sometimes better and of course much better if I slow down to 7 knots. With 600 gallons of diesel I could theoretically go 2000+ miles as she sits without adding any pillow bladders.

So what am I? As an ACMY she does have something of a trawler style, though I always thought Tolly's had a different look to them than the typical trawler even though Tolly/Monk were very close friends and design partners.

Of course on the other hand...
-She's twin screw.
-She can plane. In fact with the limited power of my 210 horse 3208's, I can still do 17knots wide open. That's moving pretty good for 48 feet.

So what am I?

Arguably, I am more 'trawler' below the waterline than 90% of what passes for a "trawler" today. Yet, with a modest keel, she is not only capable of planing, but this model was actually built as a convertible too and sold as a sportfish. Yup, that's a 22Knot sport fish with round chine hull.

So, in my best princess bride Inigo Montoya voice I say "This term, trawler, I do not think it means what you think it does."
 
What is the purpose of the tall cross shaped pole,do all Trawlers have them.?
 
quote:
Originally posted by jmas

What is the purpose of the tall cross shaped pole,do all Trawlers have them.?

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Many/most older traditional style trawlers have real masts with booms used for a stay sail to dampen rolling and to keep them from wind vaning at anchor. That T mast on a Thompson is just a cheap useless imitation. More for looks than anything functional.

That said, even on the older trawlers with functional masts and booms most people never use them for there original purpose.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Several reasons:

Prices are so cheap in the used market that the extra HP does not come at a penalty.

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Not exactly true. The penalty can come in the fact that the higher horse power engines can take up more engine room space making them more difficult to service as well as making access to other systems in the engine room more difficult to get at. Along with added weight and in many cases higher parts costs than say a simple Ford Lehman.
 
The mast and boom are also used to lift a small tender on the back deck

I agree that higher HP motors have a down side like weight and engine room space, slightly higher fuel burn too but hull shape and power settings have a bigger impact on fuel than engine size
 
Recreational trawlers regardless of hull shape usually have some unique features that lend themselves to long distance live-aboard cruising. These include large fuel, water and waste capcity, dual helms, large walk-around decks and side doors. Most always diesel powered, single or twin. Our Mainship trawler does not look or perform like a motor yacht, so the argument that a recreational trawler is nothing more than an underpowered cruiser or motor yacht does not sit true for us.
 
Most engines over the years came in various HP configurations. It is true that there are a few added parts with extra power but the basic size and weight are often similar because they use the same block. Even the 3208 Cat that is big, wide and heavy was offered and installed at 200 to 400 hp. Yes the Grand Banks came with both Lehmans and the big Cats over the years but more often the space was not that different because the choices were all inline sixes. e.g. John Deere and the B series Cummins at 180 to 400 HP. so IMO it is not true that low power engines are always smaller and lighter. Size and weight are determined primarily by engine model not HP.
Without a doubt the single screw models are lighter and offer better efficiency because of less weight and running gear. In newer boats the high HP single engine options offer some real advantages for smaller boats.
 
Owners dont often go far enough to enjoy the benefits of large fuel tanks. Carrying a lot of fuel is an advantage, if for instance someone will transit to Alaska, Mexico or spend a long time in the Bahamas. They are not and advantage for more common cruising where carrying all that extra fuel adds weight and the fuel wont be used fast enough to keep it fresh. As with any boat design considering how you will actually use the boat is important. To do the ICW or great loop big heavy tanks dont offer many benefits IMO.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Owners dont often go far enough to enjoy the benefits of large fuel tanks. Carrying a lot of fuel is an advantage, if for instance someone will transit to Alaska, Mexico or spend a long time in the Bahamas. They are not and advantage for more common cruising where carrying all that extra fuel adds weight and the fuel wont be used fast enough to keep it fresh. As with any boat design considering how you will actually use the boat is important. To do the ICW or great loop big heavy tanks dont offer many benefits IMO.

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It's a huge advantage for us - going on a 600 mile, two week vaction, and only having to take on fuel once is great. With over an 800 mile range, we never worry about making it to the next fuel stop. We can also purchase fuel at the lowest prices since we have the range to pick and choose where we fuel up. Unless you are a dock sitter, having more fuel capacity is always a plus. Just like horsepower, you don't need to use it all the time, but it's there when you do need it.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

The mast and boom are also used to lift a small tender on the back deck

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In most cases they can only be used for that if more standing rigging is added. Once you start swing the boom towards the side of the boat the existing rigging no longer supports the mast properly with the weight of a tender on it. That and the fact that you have to add more tackle both to the mast and the boom to get enough leverage to hoist a tender by hand.

In most cases they really came from the factory rigged just for a stay sail. Or in some cases just for looks and lights.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Yes the Grand Banks came with both Lehmans and the big Cats over the years but more often the space was not that different because the choices were all inline sixes.

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When GB started putting 3208s in to gain just the type of speed you guys are talking about you had terrible access compared to the Lehmans. Even some of the bigger twin inline 6s cut down the access a fair bit.

Heck, the difference in access between a 36' GB with twin or single Lehmans was very, very significant. Believe me I know. I ran a charter fleet of mostly GBs for 15 years and crawled through a lot of their engine spaces.
 
Get a quote to rebuild a high horsepower turbo charged and after cooled diesel and then go get a quote to rebuild a 120 lehman or 135 perkins naturally aspirated and you will see a huge huge difference. As well, see what the average/typical life is for a high HP diesel with turbos and aftercooler and how many hours you can hope to get on an engine like that vs/ a low horsepower, naturally aspirated engine.
There is a reason boat manufacturers with a true displacement hull stick to low hp, naturally aspirated diesels. And yes- I agree 110%- most "trawlers" are only fancy marketing words for hulls that are planing hulls with "traditional" looking cabins built atop them. Owning both though, I expect the life of my perkins 135hp naturally aspirated diesel will be longer than the (still relatively low hp) 220hp turbo diesels in my 45.
Yes, I agree, big hp diesels at hull speed will burn near the same as low hp. Turbos don't like that long term though and they will definitely burn a little more than their low hp/NA cousins but hull speed is hull speed. A full keel with protected prop is not the same as a hard chine hull with very little keel and exposed props. So...a Carver 440 is no more a trawler than my bayliner 4550 is but they both can get darn near trawler economy but both lack the efficiency of a single screw, low hp/NA diesel with full keel and large fuel tanks for their size vessel. My perkins burns around 1.5 to 1.75GPH, my 45 at hull speed burns reportedly around 4-5GPH with both engines running. My 45 has soft chines and prop pockets, my Monk has hard chines and full keel. With her soft chines, low center of gravity, good tankage for her size, keel that is just a hair lower than the lowermost point of the props, and great fuel economy at hull speed, one could argue my 45 is a trawler but she isn't...she's a pilothouse.
But...nothing beats a full displacement hull with low hp diesel, naturally aspirated engine, full keel, protected prop, low center of gravity, and large tankage. There are few full displacement boats out there coastal cruising though due to their deeper draft.

One of the more interesting marketing terms I saw on a boat ad last week was a new phrase for me. They labeled it a "Pocket Mega Yacht." haha. Loved it! :) Let's not pretend a large aft cabin high HP motor yacht or a pilothouse also with some turbo diesels are trawlers. At the same time, how does grand banks get away with calling their 25 knot boats "trawlers." LOL. Gotta love marketing. We are a generation that want their cake and eat it too...trawler with some speed.

BUT- back to the original poster...we went from cruiser to trawler and loved it. There is something undeniably appealing to cruising slow in a boat with beautiful classic lines that turns heads everywhere they go and does not look like every other boat out there. As well, never having to worry about fuel prices is a great feeling. And teak. Who cannot love a boat with beautiful teak inside and out. There is a calling for that type of boat IMO and it can't be replicated by a more modern boat. The nights we spent anchored out on our Monk 36 with some quiet jazz or classical playing on the radio in her rich teak interior as we sat and talked around the salon table around the oil lantern are among the best times I've ever had on the water and memories I would not trade for anything.

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Maybe it is more about a love for classics than anything else?
 
Americans tend to be speed-freaks and if 120 hp is good then 480 hp has GOT to be four times as good; or so many of us think. However my little rebuilt Perkins is pretty close to idiot proof and runs cheap even though my cruise is only 6 kts and WOT not much over seven. I can't blame the hull design; 40 years ago the old barge carried 450 hp and could pull water skiers (though I can only imagine what the fuel bill would be). Do I feel a need for speed, NOPE! I PLAN AHEAD and even at 6 knots we get there on or ahead of schedule. If I wanted a go-fast I'd get one, but I'd rather have the room and the comfort than beat myself silly. She may not be a pretty boat and she has her quirks; but she works for me.

Have to agree that Monk is a beautiful boat, though.
 
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