Thanks to everyone who replied to my thread, all of your reply's were very helpful and insightful.
First question I noticed was if I every owned or operated a yacht of this size and the answer is no. I have owned a 24' inboard ski boat, but obviously that's a different world, besides the basic understanding how a inboard boats maneuver, especially backing up...not very well. I will be taking a course on general yachtsmanship operation and so forth, any recommendations on a specific course would be great.
"It sounds like you are well on your way getting the training you will need. Now it is a matter of getting some actual experience. The good news that many of the modern design trawler are pretty easy to operate with a little practice."
As far as maintenance and up keep goes, I'm a very mechanically inclined person so I'd probably be doing a majority of maintenance myself. I had my LS2 engine torn down to the short block so I doubt I'd be too intimidated by a diesel engine. If there's a manual for it then no problem. Taking a class probably wouldn't hurt, but if it's over my head I know when to call in the professionals. Changing out filters and fluids isn't rocket science, but if there's a trick to it then I'll learn how. I'm sure the fuel systems are pressurized since diesels operate off combustion pressure versus a electrical spark. There will be a learn curve for sure.
"Having mechanical skills and a willingness to do the work will really help in managing your costs. I didn't know which end of a hammer to use when we purchased our first large boat. To learn, I would hire marine professionals to do work on the boat and pay a little extra to explain what they were doing. I ran into a mechanic that would come to do routine maintenance and then watch me as I did the work. Best money I ever spent, followed by getting the list of tools he recommended. All that said, I still find that the cost of ownership is more than expected and I have been a this for a while."
In regards to cleaning, it looks like I'll need to become certified on scuba diving so I can clean the bottom of my boat. Actually I had planned on getting certified regardless because if I'm living on a yacht and exploring the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and other destinations I'll definitely be doing some diving.
"I don't know about the marinas in Florida but many marinas in the PNW no longer allow divers cleaning the bottom of the boat. I am a certified diver and have cleaned th bottom our boat. It is a lot of work. I prefer to have it done by a diving service. Even with a diver, I still haul the boat once per year to do zincs and check the bottom."
I'm blown away that a 50' yacht cost so much more to insure than my house does. I understand that it's a boat on the water and has engines and so forth but that seems high. I guess it all depends on the value of the vessel and replacement cost. I guess the insurance company's view boat/yacht ownership for people with deep pockets. I wonder, is it the liability aspect that drives the price up or some other factors...probably all above.
"Yep, one of many little surprises you will get!"
Now the dreaded single versus twin engines comparison. Double the engines double the maintenance cost? I always assumed that trawlers were relatively slow to start with? The 46' GB Europa I looked at in Punta Gorda stated that it had a maximum speed of 19 kn with a cruising speed of 9 kn with twin Cats. I would assume anything above cruising speed is going to burn a lot of diesel. I understand the maneuverability of twins when it comes to docking and overall speed, but doesn't that second engine up the operating and maintenance cost? I've only been on this forum for two days and seems like this is a really big debated topic.
"This is a huge debate. We have a single engine trawler. I have crossed oceans in a single engine trawler. However, you will hear from others that feel very differently."
Would someone please explain to me the difference between a fast trawler versus a displacement trawler. I think I may already know answer but then again I'm probably wrong. Which is capable of crossing a ocean versus hugging the costal shore line? Can single screw yacht not cross the Atlantic, or any other large body of water with a back up get home safe engine, generally speaking? What would be a max cruising speed be on a single screw engine, of course I understand that there's many variables, but would it be in the range of maximum 12 to 15 kn with a cruising speed of 8 to 9?
"Trawlers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They break out generally into two groups. One group favor the full keel, heavy displacement approach, e.g. Nordhavn and Krogen. More recently a new design that combines a full keel that tapers to a flatter aft have become popular. These boats often have larger engines and are generally focused at folks that want to do extended cruising, eg., American Tugs, Nordic Tugs. We are currently waiting the delivery of our second American Tug. Our new boat will have the fast trawler but will have a continuous duty engine that is a little lower horse power than would be normal. It will have a top speed of 12 knots and have a cruising speed of around 9 to 10 knots. Salish Lady is meant to do extended coastal cruising but we do not expect to cross oceans."
In regards to the style of trawler I'm interested in, that obviously boils down to personal preference. I think I'm realizing that something under 50' will be less costly to own and operate, so with that being the case, my search will probably be for something in the mid forties more than likely. RT Firefly above mentioned "that everything on a boat is a compromise". Probably isn't a truer statement when it comes to a boating lifestyle, but if I'm going to sell my house and commit to living a boat I'm surely going to shop around and hopefully get what I want. I guess it all comes down to dollars and what's available. I still have to sell my home and I just came up with this lifestyle change idea so I'm just starting this quest...dream.
"RT Firefly is absolutely right every boat is a comprise. The trick is to really spend some time understanding what you want to accomplish with the boat. Any boat that fulfills most of those needs is the right boat."
Finally, a couple of people above recommended that I should rent a couple of trawlers and take a week out in the Gulf and judge for myself. That is a excellent idea!
"Getting actual hands on experience is very valuable, not to mention fun!"
The main reason I joined this forum was to educate myself and learn everything I could possibly learn before making that jump from a home/land owner to a yacht owner.
"The only caution I would offer is that we tend to be an opinioned lot. It get get a little difficult distinguishing opinion from fact and which opinion is more important to you. When we were starting out, it took us a while to figure how to filter all the good information and opinions. We found that we had to keep going back to our list of important needs."
Thanks again for all of your responses, they were all very helpful and actually opened my eyes more to what is reality when it comes to living on a yacht. I look forward to reading and learning from your experiences.