New to Trawlers - Just Retired - Page 2

sunchaser · 10-31-2013, 06:44 PM

An issue to check very carefully on Mainships in the size range you are considering is insufficient height on the exhaust elbow to allow cooling water to properly flow downhill. The result is salt water into number 6 cylinder.

rpeterson · 10-31-2013, 07:24 PM

John and Lois, there you go, when you have settled on a Trawler there are Trawlers that are considered "blue water" boats and some are considered "coastal cruisers". Mainship is considered a coastal cruiser not a "blue water" boat. That does not say it still may do what you want it to do. So even when you settle on a Trawler you then still have choices. Everyone has their favorite of course, what might be good for them may not be good for you. So now you have more to think about, coastal cruiser like Mainship or a Blue water boat like Nordhaven or Kadey Krogen and others. Do your research... Fun huh? Oh and one thing you will find now days....the term "Trawler" is loosely used by boat manufactures....a true trawler used to be a true full displacement hull nowadays not so much. The speed of a true full displacement hull Trawler is an equation: 1.34 x the square root of LWL or the water line length. No matter how much power you have the hull will only go through the water as fast as the equation states. Also when people selling their boats say it "economical" what does that mean? Compared to what? What do you think economical is? My Kadey Krogen at 8kts in calm water burns 1 1/2 gal an hour. I was looking at semi displacement boats that the salesman said "you could throttle back" and get 10 to 12 gal an hour. Well do the math. What would it take to do a 750 mile jaunt? Fine if you are going from point A to point B for the afternoon but doing any traveling that was out of the question for me. good luck

FF · 11-04-2013, 08:02 AM

The only down I have heard on the MS 40 is some lack a midship cleat .

For the locks in the loop this is to me the most important and useful item required.

Install a 16 or 18 inch cleat midship on both sides. Use a great backing plate and ride the pole up or down 10 seconds after coming alongside.

You will be ready to go before they can close the lock doors 1/10 of the way.

**Baker** · 11-04-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FF

The only down I have heard on the MS 40 is some lack a midship cleat .

For the locks in the loop this is to me the most important and useful item required.

Install a 16 or 18 inch cleat midship on both sides. Use a great backing plate and ride the pole up or down 10 seconds after coming alongside.

You will be ready to go before they can close the lock doors 1/10 of the way.

I still think your info is dated, Fred. Because you have been saying this for years, the first thing I do when I board a MS is to look for a midship cleat. They have all had them. It might have been something on the older boats(ie 1980s MS Pilothouse 40) but I have yet to find one without a midship cleat.

**Baker** · 11-04-2013, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irdiverdan

Baker,

I haven't been on this forum long but somehow I knew you would say that...LOL...

Hey, we always have a tendency to over analyze on here. I think a MS40 is damn near perfect for the loop. It has enough space. It is small enough to be easily handled by a couple. It is one level(sedan) so line handling and just getting around deck is easy. You can opt for single or twins...whatever you like in that department. 2 steering stations so you can drive inside or out. No exterior wood and they clean up like a teflon pan. They usually have an excellent rub rail. And Yanmar power(sometimes Cummins Q power) is hard to beat. At a price that cannot be beaten.

There is little I can find wrong with this boat for the loop!!!

FF · 11-04-2013, 12:31 PM

Was about 10 years ago and the folks we met on the right loop Richeau and Rideau were an elderly couple and were returning their almost new boat to sell.

And no midship cleat was the cause for their dismay.

Perhaps MS listened to its customers , on rare occasions it has happened before!

markpierce · 11-04-2013, 12:39 PM

Mid-ship cleats are so handy I had the Coot's builder install a second set.

**Baker** · 11-04-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markpierce

Mid-ship cleats are so handy I had the Coot's builder install a second set.

Coincidently, my Carver has a second set of "midship" cleats as well. Stock...from the factory. About halfway between the "real midship" cleats and the bow cleats. Agreed....VERY handy!!! Maybe it is because it rolls so much...or maybe to support it if it sinks in the slip....

I envy it from my lofty perch in the "oxygen tent"!!!!

Just having a little fun!!!

Swabby · 11-14-2013, 10:00 AM

John and Lois,

The Mainship 40 would be the boat I buy if I had another 50K to spend. Im limited to 150k or less and my wife and I have been looking for almost a year now taking in the advice here on TF. We have been to all the shows, Trawler Fest you name it! We have looked at the old stuff, DeFever, Monk, Ocean Alexander, GB and the newer stuff, Mainship and Albin. We keep coming back to the Mainships just as a personal choice, all those other Trawlers are awesome and there are advantages and dis-advantages to both. We are preparing to make offers on the Mainship 390s soon, which is the same hull as the 40 Fyi! There is obviously a lot of experience on this forum, and you just cant replace that. I would like the "Baker" team to comment on "Sunchaser" post about the exhaust elbow issue as I have not heard of that. I have heard of the CAT3126 soft block issue from more than one source now..........Good luck...................... and keep us posted...........................................B rad & Michelle

**Baker** · 11-17-2013, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swabby

John and Lois, The Mainship 40 would be the boat I buy if I had another 50K to spend. Im limited to 150k or less and my wife and I have been looking for almost a year now taking in the advice here on TF. We have been to all the shows, Trawler Fest you name it! We have looked at the old stuff, DeFever, Monk, Ocean Alexander, GB and the newer stuff, Mainship and Albin. We keep coming back to the Mainships just as a personal choice, all those other Trawlers are awesome and there are advantages and dis-advantages to both. We are preparing to make offers on the Mainship 390s soon, which is the same hull as the 40 Fyi! There is obviously a lot of experience on this forum, and you just cant replace that. I would like the "Baker" team to comment on "Sunchaser" post about the exhaust elbow issue as I have not heard of that. I have heard of the CAT3126 soft block issue from more than one source now..........Good luck...................... and keep us posted...........................................B rad & Michelle

I am just seeing this. But one of the issues on some engines, mostly Cummins, was that they do not have enough elevation in the engine room to allow a properly engineered exhaust elbow. His can allow saltwater to back flow into the engine. I have not heard this occurring on the Yanmars or Cats. Just the Cummins. Luckily there are not many Cummins powered Mainships.

Swabby · 11-17-2013, 11:13 AM

Big thanks to the "Baker" team! My diesel engine search was steering me towards the Yanmar engines and John and Lois if im correct the Mainship 40 only comes with that set up....................keep us posted.....................Brad & Michelle

Earl34Mainship · 11-19-2013, 07:58 PM

I sure like my 34 Mainship trawler (with upper helm)... has 370 Yanmar and factory mid-ship cleats... handy... extra line to forward tide slides... We just returned from a trip (New Smyrna to Deerfield Beach - 420 mi round trip) and it was a breeze. My opinion, be sure you get a boat with an upper helm...total visibility... watched Saturn V rocket launch from Cape Kennedy Monday... good luck... please keep us posted...

Swabby · 11-20-2013, 05:04 PM

Earl,

Have been on only one so far that didn't have the lower helm, owner tried to convince me I would never need a lower station because if the weather was that bad I wouldn't be going out. I said what if im a dumb### and got caught out it would be handy. Thanks for your input, probably going to be making offers soon. Seems like the only complaint is the joinery, appliances and heads are on the cheaper side, not bad but not top of the line. Still looking at the older stuff just in case I find a turnkey trawler at a great price....................Best regards Brad&Michelle

Earl34Mainship · 11-20-2013, 05:31 PM

Agree completely Brad... and I've never used my lower helm, but I see lots of trawlers going by here in nasty weather being piloted from inside... no "raincoated" tough guys on the upper helm... agree also, the joinery isn't Trumpy or Hatteras quality, but I can live with what I have in my MS... My appliances, and head are adequate meaning they serve the purpose - middle of the road so to speak... Not to drop anything in the punch bowl, but older boats can be repair and maintenance intensive. Wood takes a lot of care and controls/wiring can also need a lot of attention. Older boats have style that some of the newer ones don't have, and a well maintained one sure gets a lot of attention next to an all fiberglass boat. All of us want to see the pictures starting with the hull at haul out... we can always learn from others as they go through the buying process... also, if you're near Daytona, there's 2 34's here that you could checkout... good luck.. it sounds like you're doing all the right things...

Swabby · 11-20-2013, 06:15 PM

Earl,

Kinda ruled out the 34S for a few reasons, smaller stove and fridge for starters and don't like the galley down. The older trawlers definitely turn the heads, but like you I want plain, simple and practical. Planning on being in Florida middle of Jan, will post pics when it gets serious. And not to offend you if I wasn't living aboard full time the 34 would work nicely

Brad & Michelle

Earl34Mainship · 11-20-2013, 06:28 PM

Roger Brad... for Vicky and me making short trips (Coastal Fla so far) the smaller stove/ref works for us - augmented by a cooler. We don't plan to live aboard, but a trip to NC and the Small Loop (cross canal to west coast, Key West and back to NSB) would be the extent of our cruising - and so far we've stayed in marinas... the 34 doesn't have an abundance of storage even for 2 people, but the galley down keeps one of us out of the way for a while. I think we all gravitate to what we need, and if we were going to live aboard, I'd want more space. Let me know when you'll be in FLA - NSB is central... glad to show you Gone Coastal...

Tony B · 11-20-2013, 08:42 PM

Congrats on retirement and joining this forum. Lots of good advice here.
The downside to retirement is that you never get a day off.

Tony B

Earl34Mainship · 11-21-2013, 11:31 AM

Brad... in case you haven't seen it, there's a new thread started called, "Working on a Pre-purchase Checklist." There may be information of value to you on this thread...