Neat Trawlette

A couple of days ago, the Marina owner brought in his own boat, a 26' Shamrock that was really tricked-out. It has a full keel with skeg protected 25" prop, new 300 HP Volvo diesel....33 knots (not very trawlette-like). Decked-out with all the electronic goodies, even a remote helm control.

Been running one for 10 years now...gasoline 454 as power...which you sit on...can't imagine how noisy it is with a diesel in her.

Many people think of them as little tugboats as the assistance towing industry uses a lot of them.

The pilothouse is nice because these are about the wettest boats on the planet...without a windhield wiper you are running blind much of the time..

That may be so but they look really stinkin' cool! Blackfin'a are another really cool looking center console with an inboard IMO.



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....a couple of "Looper" boats that are probably viewed as "trawlette's by their owners...

CPseudonym said:

That may be so but they look really stinkin' cool! Blackfin'a are another really cool looking center console with an inboard IMO.



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Thanks, Craig. I resemble that remark. Rides like a '58 Buick Roadmaster. 3208 turbo cat powered.



Larry, I tried out the 26 diesel Shamrock. It is very noisy, and will beat you to your knees in the Biscayne Bay chop.

Skidgear, I love the Roseboroughs. With 4 stroke outboard power and covered back decks, they may be the ultimate trailerable trawler. Many have done the loop.

My previous boat was a 25' Albin. Despite its small size I considered her a trawler and she was small so I named her "Trawlerette". The name was'nt very popular as a name to "like" but it did describe the boat as in "little trawler". Got tired of writing t r a w l e r e t t e down so Willy was destined to have a short name. And Willy was not named properly as I see it but the name stuck as we took too long to decide on another name.

...another "trawlette". By the way, this photo was taken when Lake Michigan was at average water level. You fans of low aft cockpit boats would be climbing extension ladders to get onto the docks in recent years....at quite a number of Great Lakes marinas. The docks are built high to avoid the ice, of course.

Your welcome Don. That is some nice looking boat porn there

Either Blackfin or Shamrock is on my short list of future boats. There's just something that makes me smile when I see a center console without an outboard hanging on the back looking like an afterthought. The swim platform on the back of "Mini-Moonstruck" really is the finishing touch on some sweet lines IMO

"Boat Porn", I love it.

Don.....sweet ride there. You have two boats named Moonstruck?

Eric. I'm glad you stuck with Willy as the name. I think it suits the boat's character very well.

healhustler said:

Don.....sweet ride there. You have two boats named Moonstruck?

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Thanks, Larry, Correct. 2 boats named Moonstruck. They have never been near each other. If you look closely at the BlackFin it has Orange Beach, AL for its hailing port. We kept it there for 9 years. Great Gulf fishing. When we got tired of fooling with the Gulf Coast hurricanes, I moved it up to Chattanooga. That is where it is today. Just can't bring myself to part with it. We were having to watch hurricanes on two coasts.

When out Boston Whaler was at Key Largo Andrew came through. The storm entered the Gulf and turned North. I was looking at possibly getting two boats hundreds of miles apart wiped out by one storm. I thought this is getting a bit ridiculous.

We call the Blackfin little MOONSTRUCK.

manyboats said:

My previous boat was a 25' Albin. Despite its small size I considered her a trawler and she was small so I named her "Trawlerette". The name was'nt very popular as a name to "like" but it did describe the boat as in "little trawler". Got tired of writing t r a w l e r e t t e down so Willy was destined to have a short name. And Willy was not named properly as I see it but the name stuck as we took too long to decide on another name.

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I also had a Albin 25, which I bought sight unseen in Boston and had it shipped to Florida when I first moved to St Augustine. These are wonderful boats that will treat you right. Mine had been re-powered with a newer 28hp Volvo that ran like a clock. These are very slow boats (the only thing they can pass is the fuel dock!) so you can't be in a hurry. The only drawback to this boat was that it was to small for me. I'm 6'4 and the fwd cabin was just to tight, especially the head!
Most people wouldn't like the center cockpit, twin cabin arrangement either.
The Previous owner regretted selling it and tried to buy it back from me. I already had a deposit on it from a man in Alabama, where it probably is today.

Sailor of Fortune wrote re the Albin 25;

"These are very slow boats"

Yes but I ran mine (early style hull) 8.5 knots at 2750rpm w the Yanmar 35hp. That's almost 2.5 knots faster than my Willard. Too small to move around w/o bang'in your body on someth'in. I still go to the Albin gatherings in southern BC. Great bunch of people w a great boat.