New to Trawlers - Just Retired

loisgraydon · 10-28-2013, 05:20 PM

Hello,
We are interested in purchasing a Trawler, and are currently looking at a single engine Mainship 40, and really know nothing about them.
Any advise would be helpful. We have always had a dream to do the American Loop. ICW, and cruise from Florida to the Bahamas. We would like to spend most of the summers, after all our major adventures in New England.
The boat is a 2008, and brand new.
The only negative we have heard is that it rolls.
We are loving retirement but would love it even more if we could realize our dream.
We are also counting our pennies and looking for the most bang and the buck. We know there are more expensive boats, but also have to manage our expectations.
Huge Thanks,
John and Lois

healhustler · 10-28-2013, 06:22 PM

Hey Lois and John:

Mainship is a great boat. The 40 is an excellent compromise over all the things we boaters must compromise, and you'll learn here that every boat is a compromise. My advice is to get aboard everything you can. Visit marinas and engage boaters in conversation about their boats. Study Yachtworld and decide about some of the features you would prefer on your boat.....pilothouse, fly-bridge, single engine vs. twins, aft. cabin, one head or two, separate shower(s), ease of access, monohull or catamaran, and on and on. Most of all, have fun doing it because the search is sometimes more fun than the owning.

markpierce · 10-28-2013, 06:33 PM

Trawler + retirement = good times.

All boats roll and pitch with the waves. Some more than others, I suppose.

Off Duty · 10-28-2013, 07:51 PM

Congrats on your retirement.

Sounds like good times ahead

Marlinmike · 10-29-2013, 09:13 AM

I have an acquaintance who owns a 40’ Mainship with a single 370 Yanmar, they love it, doing exactly what you are talking bout less the great loop part. Given the HP he can semi plane with it, thus reducing roll when it tough conditions and can slow down to 7 knots and conserve when nice out. I would recomment just getting out on a test drive. All the best in your retirement, health and happiness!

dimer2 · 10-29-2013, 09:21 AM

Welcome, both to TF and the world of retirement. I am also retired and find the hours are great but the pay sucks. The MS has great room onboard for a 40. We made an offer on a 2005 and missed it. You can't really go wrong on the newer ones as far as bang for the buck.

**Baker** · 10-29-2013, 11:28 AM

I think it is an excellent boat for the intended mission and a great boat for a couple with occasional guests.

Ron T · 10-29-2013, 04:34 PM

Take your time, ask a lot of questions. Walk the docks and stop and talk with folks. You will get lots of opinions. Then make up your own mind. Single screw with bow and possible stern thruster makes life easy. AC and heat systems are important. Storage is always Not enough. Clean fuel, clean air, clean oil and your diesel will run longer then you. I wish you long life and a great cruise.

ranger58sb · 10-29-2013, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loisgraydon

The only negative we have heard is that it rolls.

Boats roll. When of the same configuration. most roll sorta similarly. Sea states affect that... as does the way your drive it. You often have some control over when you travel, and you have some control over how you handle seaway.

-Chris

healhustler · 10-29-2013, 06:52 PM

Oh yeah, congrats on your retirement. We also retired a little over three months ago. I can tell you, I haven't noticed it yet. Between moving, organizing, and boat projects, not much time.

robbie · 10-30-2013, 07:18 AM

Welcome Lois and John,
I too retired in July, the time is racing by, I found my "perfect" boat after 6 months of search and research, so take your time and start wading through the mountain of priceless information that's available here on TF, you will probably modify your ideas of what type of boat you should buy, I know I did!!.

brian eiland · 10-30-2013, 09:42 AM

I'd be interested in hearing what you end up with?

Bay Pelican · 10-30-2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loisgraydon

Hello,
We have always had a dream to do the American Loop. ICW, and cruise from Florida to the Bahamas. We would like to spend most of the summers, after all our major adventures in New England.

John and Lois

Welcome aboard. Also welcome to a new life. Rather than addressing the boat you mentioned I would like to comment on things to look for in a boat in terms of where you are intending to travel.

Your New England plans call out for radar on the boat. Spent many a wonderful day looking at the radar screen in fog. Doesn't have to be a great radar unit, but it would be useful up there.

Also with New England in mind try and determine with each boat the visibility from the helm (inside or out) as to something like a lobster or crab pot almost directly in front of your bow. If you cruise Maine you will weave between the lobster pots and you need to be able to see them.

Heat in New England is in my opinion more important than air conditioning. Thus the boat's air conditioning units should provide for heat as well. At anchor you will need either a generator or a diesel furnace. Cool nights are frequent in New England at the beginning and end of the seasons.

Dinghy storage. Some boats allow for dinghy storage on a top deck or aft deck. Davits are OK. In the open ocean RI and north or the Bahamas it is more difficult to tow a dinghy. In many cases a towed dinghy is not covered by insurance.

If you are doing the Great Loop and you have a single engine you might find it easier to dock if you have a bow thruster. Not anywhere as important with a twin engine boat.

Doing the Great Loop involves a large number of locks. A walk around deck may be easier than a deck without side access on one or both sides.

Good luck and enjoy the life.

Marty

brian eiland · 10-30-2013, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loisgraydon

Hello,
We are interested in purchasing a Trawler, and are currently looking at a single engine Mainship 40, and really know nothing about them.
Any advise would be helpful. We have always had a dream to do the American Loop. ICW, and cruise from Florida to the Bahamas. We would like to spend most of the summers, after all our major adventures in New England.
John and Lois

You might find this book interesting

Seven Miles an Hour: Retiring on a Trawler, With Cats: Don Wallace: 9780972750165: Amazon.com: Books

markpierce · 10-30-2013, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bay Pelican

If you are doing the Great Loop and you have a single engine you might find it easier to dock if you have a bow thruster. Not anywhere as important with a twin engine boat.

While never having maneuvered a twin-engined boat, from observations I say they are easier to maneuver than a single with a bow thruster, backing up. Have a single and thruster, and love the thruster. (My pals' boats on both sides of the Coot on post three are twins without thrusters.)

markpierce · 10-31-2013, 01:02 AM

Sleep two, feed six, entertain 10:

GFC · 10-31-2013, 11:10 AM

My first advice would be to buy your second boat first and save yourselves a lot of money and hassle. By that I mean take your time, do your homework, walk on a lot of boats and decide what is important to the two of you to have.

My second piece of advice would be that the wrong boat, at the best price in the world, is still the wrong boat. Don't jump on a deal just because the price is low. If it's not the "right" boat for you, you'll be selling it in a couple of years and that takes a lot of time, effort and energy.

rpeterson · 10-31-2013, 01:48 PM

All good advice. We too just purchased our Trawler this year after over a year researching, going to boat shows, climbing on boats and first deciding what was important to us. When we started out we didn't even know what was important. We then ended up with what we thought was right, but then we amended what we were looking for. Coming from a twin planning hull environment it was a big jump from that to a trawler so we were looking at semi-displacement hulls. Then we started looking at the economics in retirement. We concentrated on fuel consumption of the boat we were looking at. We didn't want to be limited to where we could travel because we couldn't afford fuel one month. So we ended up in the single engine, trawler configuration. Now we started over,, looking for what we thought we needed but at least we knew what configuration we were looking. I think everyone will admit if you are looking for economy a single engine trawler in the 35 to 45 foot length is the most economical to operate. big enough to live on and economical enough to travel on a fixed income. We started dreaming big, making offers on boats that were priced out of our range hoping we could get one to come down to our offer. FINALLY! it happened, we made an offer on a 48' Kadey Krogen NS we couldn't afford, but the boat had been on the market for over a year and they accepted our offer...HAPPY DAYS! We love her and she is the boat of our dreams. Good hunting! Enjoy the hunt, it is worth it. Dream a little and make offers on boats you can't afford. You will come up with the boat of your dreams. We did.

Earl34Mainship · 10-31-2013, 03:35 PM

John and Lois.... I'm biased toward Mainship... I have a 2005 34 Mainship trawler that met most of my criteria. Purchased Aug 12. I looked for over a year - boat shows, web sites, trial rides, owners, etc and the MS always came out on top. Mine has the single 370 Yanmar, bow thruster, 8kw Kohler gen, radar, C80 Raymarine plotter/GPS, dual helm, and of course flybridge with isinglass 360 views. Other standard MS equip too much to list. For 2 people (w/occasional guests) ICW cruising and possible Bahamas is very doable. I live near Daytona Beach. Single engine is economical - 370HP if needed, would like to have stern thruster. That's my only con - rest are pros. Maybe someone else will chime in with cons... BTW - exceptional Yanmar service out of Cocoa, FL.

Welcome to retirement... like the rest of us, you'll ask why you didn't do this sooner.

Irdiverdan · 10-31-2013, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baker

I think it is an excellent boat for the intended mission and a great boat for a couple with occasional guests.

Baker,

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