I'm so glad have some time before my purchase. I'm so overwhelmed on how to even start. I know I want full displacement at least 40 foot 2 stateroom 2 heads for the great loop eventually. So many brands to even start with. What's a good resource to find the economical way to go? I'm not buying for a few years but starting the hunt now.
Trawler hunt
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RT Firefly
Enigma
Greetings,
Welcome aboard.
Welcome aboard.
Comodave
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Welcome aboard.
I guess I'm thinking for fuel economy. Admit I have a lot to learn.
RT Firefly
Enigma
Greetings,
Mr. A. "...you have to rethink everything..." HAH! Just wait until the question of anchors comes up (what kind of windlass was that again?).
Mr. A. "...you have to rethink everything..." HAH! Just wait until the question of anchors comes up (what kind of windlass was that again?).
Ok the roast is over. Here is some reasonable advice. Make a list. A good list of what you want in your boat and what you are going to do with it.
Size, how many POB, engines, layout, budget, comfort level, storage, tank size, amenities, etc. after you make that list bring it here . These guys are the pros. You will get real world advice and save a ton of bucks
Size, how many POB, engines, layout, budget, comfort level, storage, tank size, amenities, etc. after you make that list bring it here . These guys are the pros. You will get real world advice and save a ton of bucks
Comodave
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For doing the loop, I like a semi displacement hull. We run ours about 9 knots and burn about 6 or so gallons an hour. If we were to slow down we would do better but we like 9 knots. But when we need to we can speed up in order to make a lock closing, etc. On the loop the difference in fuel costs will be negligible when you look at the overall costs involved. A lot of people will spend more on dockage than fuel. We can always slow down, but a full displacement hull can’t speed up no matter what.
Comodave
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Yes, you do need to decide what is important to you in the boat. We wanted 2 cabins and heads, flybridge, no ladders for our dog, no fixed furniture in the salon, twin engines and a sundeck. Buying a used boat you won’t have much choice in engines. My only engine must was no Volvos because I have had them before and parts were always an issue. Then you need to set your budget. I would leave about 25% of the budget for repairs and improvements. Then look for the best boat within all the parameters and there you go. Good luck.
IRENE
Guru
Welcome!
Perhaps you may define your "90% of the time" MISSION. An example might be, "do the great loop with my wife, having the ability for sleeping 2 guests infrequently". Another could be efficiency of 3 NMPG or configured for mostly marina stays (vs. anchoring).
Then get on as many boats as you can, and figure out WHAT YOU LIKE. You may like a pilothouse, with a galley/salon up that opens to the aft deck. You may like separate accommodations on each end of the boat, like a traditional Grand Banks.
As you become familiar with WHAT YOU LIKE, and within that group find those boats that will do your MISSION...the field will narrow.
My parting thoughts would be, don't get more capability than you intend to use - it's costly and you have to maintain it; and remember you will sell it someday, so consider your exit strategy before you buy it.
Best Wishes
Perhaps you may define your "90% of the time" MISSION. An example might be, "do the great loop with my wife, having the ability for sleeping 2 guests infrequently". Another could be efficiency of 3 NMPG or configured for mostly marina stays (vs. anchoring).
Then get on as many boats as you can, and figure out WHAT YOU LIKE. You may like a pilothouse, with a galley/salon up that opens to the aft deck. You may like separate accommodations on each end of the boat, like a traditional Grand Banks.
As you become familiar with WHAT YOU LIKE, and within that group find those boats that will do your MISSION...the field will narrow.
My parting thoughts would be, don't get more capability than you intend to use - it's costly and you have to maintain it; and remember you will sell it someday, so consider your exit strategy before you buy it.
Best Wishes
Full displacement, 38' fantail, 55hp diesel, 0.75gph at 7nmp/hr.
$1300. fuel Toronto - Abacos (plus exploring all the rivers and bays).
Rarely spend a night in a marina.
Cheaper for us to go to the Abacos for the winter than spend it in Toronto.
There is value in a true displacement hull.
$1300. fuel Toronto - Abacos (plus exploring all the rivers and bays).
Rarely spend a night in a marina.
Cheaper for us to go to the Abacos for the winter than spend it in Toronto.
There is value in a true displacement hull.
cardude01
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Definitely value in a full displacement hull, but my comment was meant to be constructive so the OP doesn’t limit him/herself to one hull type. That will limit the possible choices.
If the OP wants a FD hull for sea worthiness or fuel consumption I get that, but for the loop one will not be encountering huge seas, and as others have said fuel expense is not even close to the biggest expense for most cruisers.
If the OP wants a FD hull for sea worthiness or fuel consumption I get that, but for the loop one will not be encountering huge seas, and as others have said fuel expense is not even close to the biggest expense for most cruisers.
North Baltic sea
Guru
Hi,
A fine fuel economy
for your Trawler, what are your boat dimensions and LWL?You can be happy because your carbon footprint is low when you Cruise.
NBs
Hi,
A fine fuel economy
You can be happy because your carbon footprint is low when you Cruise.
NBs
LWL - about 34'. Beam 12'
7 kts at 1800 RPM is above hull speed. She does squat a bit but with none of the ugliness of a transomed stern running above hull speed.
JohnP
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I too would love a full displacement trawler--like the KK 39 or 42 or 44. The problem is the budget. A KK 42 1996 same year as my boat is for sale in Brick NJ asking 389K. 300plus thousand buys a lot of fuel!
bogranjac1
Senior Member
Admirable use of heating oil … and beer.
Pgitug
Guru
Fuel economy is a very real concern.
Start looking at specifications on new boats for example. Listing the vessels range you will see:
At 7 knots 1800 mile range
At 12 knots 600 mile range.
Fuel economy is something to consider.
healhustler
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Agree. Both Cardude & I have economical FD hulls, but for the loop, there’s a host of comfortable alternatve hulls with modern architecture that do pretty well at trawler speeds while offering that burst of speed to make a late anchorage or out pace a storm long enough to find protected harbors. I hate the fuel cost of the option, but if you really need it, the fuel cost is likely not to be the priority in the moment. If you need both speed with economy, you may want to add a few powercats to your list.
Thank you for the advice
cardude01
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Chuse,
I may have come across as a jerk earlier in this thread, and for that I sincerely apologize. It’s just that I’ve made some classic mistakes when looking for and buying the first boat so I’m really trying to help.
If you have a significant other, please find out what boat they are comfortable with before going much further. I bought the newest, most efficient boat I could get in an auction without consulting my dear wife, and it’s been a bit of a struggle since then! I love the boat and have made many expensive and ridiculous mods to it, but to this day it doesn’t suit the kind of boat she thought we would have. And just FYI, economy wasn’t on her priority list !
So, take your time. Look at WAY too many boats and have fun doing it.
I may have come across as a jerk earlier in this thread, and for that I sincerely apologize. It’s just that I’ve made some classic mistakes when looking for and buying the first boat so I’m really trying to help.
If you have a significant other, please find out what boat they are comfortable with before going much further. I bought the newest, most efficient boat I could get in an auction without consulting my dear wife, and it’s been a bit of a struggle since then! I love the boat and have made many expensive and ridiculous mods to it, but to this day it doesn’t suit the kind of boat she thought we would have. And just FYI, economy wasn’t on her priority list !
So, take your time. Look at WAY too many boats and have fun doing it.
