New to trawlers. Don't have a boat yet. Looking forward to spending some time during the upcoming St. Pete Boat Show looking at them. In the past, I always just went by the power boats to get to the sail boats.
Anyway, my question is this... I live in the Tampa Bay area. Ultimately I am looking for something to spend time cruising around Florida. Eventually I am hoping to go across to the Bahamas, and possibly on to the Virgin Islands. I'm aware that this is not as easy as it looks, from just looking at a map. "Thorny Path" and all that. So, do I really need to focus on ocean-worthy trawlers for a journey like this? Or will a solid "coastal cruiser" type be okay (assuming, of course, that I wait for the right winds and weather).
I know numerous sailors who've made the journey in boats that most consider "coastal cruisers." I'm just wondering if it works the same with trawlers, or if the differences (lack of a deep, heavily-ballasted keel) means that a trip like this requires much more from a trawler.
So... Please discuss.
Anyway, my question is this... I live in the Tampa Bay area. Ultimately I am looking for something to spend time cruising around Florida. Eventually I am hoping to go across to the Bahamas, and possibly on to the Virgin Islands. I'm aware that this is not as easy as it looks, from just looking at a map. "Thorny Path" and all that. So, do I really need to focus on ocean-worthy trawlers for a journey like this? Or will a solid "coastal cruiser" type be okay (assuming, of course, that I wait for the right winds and weather).
I know numerous sailors who've made the journey in boats that most consider "coastal cruisers." I'm just wondering if it works the same with trawlers, or if the differences (lack of a deep, heavily-ballasted keel) means that a trip like this requires much more from a trawler.
So... Please discuss.