Choosing a Trawler Yacht

In looking for the right powerboat, remember that they come in many different styles . But they are for the most part the same, all having staterooms, saloons, heads, etc. When choosing one that meets your needs, its important to know what you plan to do with it. Will your boat remain primarily at the dock or will you be cruising her? Is a fast moving boat the right one for you or do you like to take it slow and easy? Do you like to use 4-8 gallons of dieselan hour or can you handle 40 gallons per hour? How about construction? A wood yacht has its charm but the upkeep will be much greater. All of these must be deliberated.

If you like taking it slow in a yacht, a trawler is your best choice. Taking it slow and easy stopping to smell the salty air and watch the osprey soar overhead. So why pick a trawler? The popular trawler is comfortable, roomy, stable and seaworthy coupled with dependability and economical to operate.

A trawler is not to be confused with fishing vessels although the idea originated with the seagoing fishing vessels. Trawlers in general are yachts with long, deep keels to prevent running gear damage in the event of grounding, yachts with top cruising speeds of 7-10 knots, and boats with large panoramic windows for good views. Trawlers have large fuel and water capacities to enable extended cruising and have crew creature comforts that will match any vessel afloat. The primary draw of a trawler is the conventional salty lines that turns heads at every dock.

The advantages of owning a trawler may not be so obvious. In addition to the refined lines, here are some of the most important traits.

Very inexpensive to operate. A trawler uses only from 2-8 gallons/hr. at cruising speeds of about 9 knots.
Large fuel and water capacity.
Large onboard storage capacities.
Large rudders make docking simple.
Many were adorned with exotic teak, even below decks in engine rooms. Teak is resistant to rot.
Slow RPM diesel engines produce anywhere from 10-20,000 hours of use before any serious work is needed.
Trawlers by and large have a high resale value due to the supply. Unlike cruisers and motor yachts, the trawler market exceeds the supply.

When choosing a trawler, you must select between a full displacement and semi-displacement hull design.

Displacement hulls are typically found on sea-going vessels with such names as Nordhavn and Krogen. These hulls can carry more payloads due to their design. These hulls do not plane and all power is intended to push the hull through the water The hulls are by and large rounded which brought on a soft ride.

Semi-displacement hulls combine round bottoms forward and flat bottoms aft. As the yacht propels forward it partially raises from the water. These hulls give a bit more speed but may forfeit a soft ride. These hulls are not suitable for blue water crossings.

There are 5 trawler styles. Each style sports unique floor plans and layouts. Trawler styles are as follows.

Classic or Trunk
Sundeck
Sedan
Pilothouse
Passagemaker

Classic styles are considered to be the classic, double cabin trawler. They are provided wide side decks and access doors to the salon from either side. Gunnels are low making boarding easy. The fly bridge is normally 3 steps up from the trunk deck and has ample sitting area for guests. The traditional mast with boom holds a sail to prevent rolling in heavy seas. The boom can also be used to splash the dingy. The interior provides an aft stateroom and private head. Two steps up is a large salon for entertaining. Forward is the galley, which may be up or down. A dinette is usually provided adjacent to the galley. Forward of the galley is the guest quarters.The Trunk cabin trawler is a salty style but does not offer outside shelter in the event of bad weather.

The Sundeck model made its appearance in the 1980s. Sundecks are similar to the Classic except the aft cabin has a covered deck above it providing additional living space. Covered access to the bridge in bad weather is also provided. Sundecks have wider bodies with decks higher than trunk styles. This allows for a very large master stateroom. A swim platform allows access to the sundeck and dingy access. Some are fitted with wet bar on the sundeck to entertain. The bridge on the sundeck is usually quite large allowing .If you like the outdoors, the Sundeck is the style boat for you!

The Sedan model is a trawler preferred by many due to few steps to negotiate. Almost everything is on one level except the fly bridge. The Sedan has all of its cabins forward and are somewhat smaller than the Classic or Sundeck. There is a salon aft, with the galley forward generally with a dinette up. Two staterooms are forward, generally with a single shared head. A small cockpit aft of the salon offers a covered area for entertaining.

Many boaters, especially in northern climates, prefer the Pilothouse model. The Pilothouse model features a single helm. It allows excellent visibility but may get hot in southern climates. A galley, salon and cockpit are found on a single level similar to the Sedan style. The master stateroom with private head is located amidships below the pilothouse. The guest stateroom and head is located forward with the master stateroom. A fly bridge overhang protects the aft deck and side decks. A large deck extends beyond the fly bridge allowing room for dingy storage etc. A distinct advantage of this boat is operating in foul or cold weather. A disadvantage is having to use the generator and air conditioning during hot months in southern climates.

Passage makers are the last type of trawler, which are designed, and intended for making the Trans-oceanic passage. Passage makers are usually full displacement and over 45 feet in length.

In the next posting we’ll discuss the different sizes, accommodations and engine selections.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.

Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.

Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale. National and international sales. We ship Used Yachts and Used Boats worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431.