Best Blue Water Trawler

Ok, the debate continues......

My friend and I are wrestling over the age old question "what is the best blue water trawler". My forum question is, who has seen the best side by side comparison for blue water trawlers?

This should be enough for me to enjoy my Blue Lable!

Probably need to stipulate a price cap otherwise this will be one off those threads that never end

The biggest one is the best one.

Just dropping to say hi, and that I'll be back once this thread hits 100 pages

Greetings,
Mr. z. "what is the best blue water trawler"....Oh dear, and what kind of anchor does it have?

Actually, if you specify size this is rather easy. Among the production boats used by cruisers to cross oceans, the Nordhavn line has made the majority of compromises in favor of seaworthiness. Once you exceed 55 feet there are many boats which are either one-offs or small production boat models. Then it is more than difficult. Think about whether in heavy weather you would want my Krogen or a Cape Horn.

nordhavn....

for a production boat....

hollywood

What is your definition of best? The most comfortable-the safest-the fastest-the most fuel efficient with longest range- the biggest best anchor-the best engineered or built-the shipyest looking-the one with the best engineering numbers for the job-the one with the best advertising and resale value??????? You do know there is no one correct answer except in the eyes of the beholder. And then there are sail boats on many levels the better choice for blue water.

Nordhav'n's arent Trawlers. The OP called out for a trawler.

That should narrow it down a bit. But who's to say what is a trawler and a passagemaker? I did it re the Nordhavn but that's obvious .. or is it? Perhaps Nordhav'n's have evolved into being trawlers now and don't qualify as passagemakers anymore.

Ed good point re sailboats but they aren't trawlers either.

zoomie did the debate start and continue at the same point?

The debate is ongoing and decided that the aggregate average would lay within the first 30 answers

Feadship.

It's such an impossible question so I feel I picked a safe answer.

Or maybe it's Lurssen.

Really, best is based on the factors most important to the one answering. You really must narrow a question like this down.

Ours!

By "Blue Water" do you mean the ability to circumnavigate on her own bottom,

or simply a vessel that might get caught out and survive to make a port?

Crossing oceans or surviving rough water are two different concepts.

Be prepared to pay Big Bucks , and probably find a non US boat for voyaging.

This is about as good as it gets....

Watson Photo Gallery

Lots more money than any plastic production boat.

TAD has it right again. There are very few yards able to build a genuime ocean voyager.

To find one start with the builders , as many will also be brokers for their boats , even decades old ones,

This is my first choice ,

ABEKING & RASMUSSEN: A&R

abeking.com/


Translate this pageAbeking and Rasmussen


ABEKING & RASMUSSEN. Map. ABEKING & RASMUSSEN. Start. Video Statements. Misson Statements. A&R Heute. Yachten. Marineschiffe/ Küstenwache.

Tad Roberts said:

This is about as good as it gets....

Watson Photo Gallery

Lots more money than any plastic production boat.

Click to expand...

Wow!! That is a fantastic web site. Their naval architects and engineers spent hundreds, maybe thousands of hours detailing the why of marine construction, not just the glitzy benefits.

If I had unlimited cash and I wanted to cross oceans, a Watson is the boat for me. I used to think that Dashew built a great trawler. These guys leave him in the dust.

David

Looks like whoever suggested a dollar limit had a good idea.

Yeah, buying a new blue water (or any color water for that matter) boat is like Onasis used to say about Jacki...."I gave her an unlimited budget and she managed to exceed it."

Tad Roberts said:

This is about as good as it gets....

Watson Photo Gallery

Lots more money than any plastic production boat.

Click to expand...

Today I learned that the Watson 48 is my new dream boat. I'd never even heard of them before.

I don't understand the use of diamond plate flooring in the engine room. It's hard on the knees/feet, and collects dirt. It tears up oil pads if you try to wipe an oil spill off it. There must be a better material.

Diamond plate is the easiest to keep clean of the skid resistant surfaces available. Knee pads are mandatory equipment in most engine rooms.

FF said:

TAD has it right again. There are very few yards able to build a genuime ocean voyager.

To find one start with the builders , as many will also be brokers for their boats , even decades old ones,

This is my first choice ,

ABEKING & RASMUSSEN: A&R

abeking.com/


Translate this pageAbeking and Rasmussen


ABEKING & RASMUSSEN. Map. ABEKING & RASMUSSEN. Start. Video Statements. Misson Statements. A&R Heute. Yachten. Marineschiffe/ Küstenwache.

Click to expand...

If you drop the trawler or power boat aspect for big open water ocean use and go to sail you don't need most of that expensive plumbing and electric bundle. Many tens of thousands of much simpler sailing craft have and are presently ocean hopping with less for less. The reason why I keep coming back to this is that the relatively new push to send small power boats across oceans with owners that demand full cottage accommodation stretches what a 50-60 ft motor boat can easily do while sail is naturally suited to that purpose (sans the luxury cottage). It is about the prime rule of matching a boat to its intended use. The probable percentage of boats believed to be ocean hoppers that actually do so with any frequency is probably quite small so maybe just a boat and a contract with a boat shipper makes more sense if you want to cruise Europe or Asia etc.

I support the idea of sail for bluewater passages. My Allied 36 is not designed as a bluewater boat, but it can take more than I can. I have had it out in some rough weather(40-50 knots and 12-15 foot seas) and felt safe if not comfortable. Similarly I have sailed comfortably on a Hinckley 49 in 30-35 knots and 8-12 foot seas. Not conditions I would even consider taking my cruiser out in. A well found sailboat can handle bluewater conditions and has unlimited range. Most 50 foot sailboats are hardly spartan when it comes to accommodations.



This boat is currently sitting on the dock about 100' from my boat. It is certainly capable of ocean crossings and the accommodations are several cuts above almost all blue water capable powerboats.

2003 70' Hinckley Sou'wester 70 For Sale - BLUE MUSE - HMY Yachts

If you want to talk power blue water boats this boat is on the next dock at the marina. Spirit of Zopilote. Very capable blue water trawler. Built by Northern Marine. Not as spiffy as the sailboat Blue Muse though.

It would seem obvious that bigger is better but is it?

One would need to immobilize the body sooner but what actually are the limitations of size?

In Alaska I thought of a seatbelt like thing to keep me from loosing my grip and go flying accross the wheelhouse slamming into the other side .. The galley to port in this case.

Romsdal

For you Watson fans here's the location of a Watson 62... "Big Bud":

BIG BUD - Pleasure Craft: current position and details | MMSI 319123000, Callsign ZCNK7 | Registered in Cayman Is - AIS Marine Traffic

ulysses said:

Romsdal

Click to expand...

+1

In the early 70's I was given a tour of a Romsdal trawler named 'Torsk' in Long Beach. I instantly fell in love and remain so to this day. That love affair has lasted longer than any of my marriages . . . . . .

There is a guy who went completely around North and South America without touching land in a 27' Vega. Not a trawler, but I think that qualifies as a blue water boat.

Yeah, that Watson 48 would be all the sea-cottage I'd ever need. Meat and taters.

ssobol,
That would be an Albin sailboat .. "Vega 27"?