On the Great Harbour blog, they indicated the new Transportable Trawler (TT) will be powered by outboards and cited two 60Hp 4 stroke Suzuki's. They claim it will get at least 3Mpgs at 15 knots.
Three of TT's are in production now and they want to have them ready for the fall boat shows. They are looking for 3 owners to buy and participate in promotional activities. Unfortunately and maybe due to competitive reason, they haven't published the specs.
Great Harbour Trawlers - Great Harbour blog
I read most of the link; reviewed it in total - TY for providing. Impressive design thoughts and user potentials. Looking forward to hear more about the GHT TT's as the concept unfolds and their three test package TT's get used in marine conditions. Imagine there "might" be a sizable market-place for sales if most of what is mentioned becomes reality.
Short of it would be nice to be able to trailer "when desired"... I'm remain quite attached to our classic sea going and gunk hole capable hull design, comfortably livable accommodations, wet storage Tollycraft.
On different levels of my life's doings there were times when I was towing small, medium, and some very large units down the roads. Soooo... 6K lb. anticipated TT boat dry weight with a trailer weight of some 2K lb., and approx. 2K lb. gear-load = 10K lbs. (5 tons - seemingly minimum tow weight). With a length of 33' +/- behind the 20' + tow rig = 50' + going down any road. Doable for sure... but, I don't believe too many general vacationers would want to be responsible for handling that scope of a tow-unit-package. Additionally, the motorized tow rig for that considerable mass and length needs to be one heck of a stout truck or van; surely all wheel drive for handling any launch-ramp needs/conditions. A new towing rig's cost would be in $75 to $100 K + range. Additionally, what else would you do with that big tow rig?? Simply park it... till next boat use is desired.
Main concerns I see for often-times users of a TT is the launch, retrieve, and storage circumstances. For a "trailer" boat that size at ramps (if a ramp conducive to its easy launch/retrieve is can be located) there will be considerable time and effort spent on both the in and out sequences. As well, once out of water what do you do with a 5 ton 30 + foot long mass attached to a great big tow rig?? Matter of fact... what do you do with the entire tow package (20' + truck and 30' + trailer = 50' +) for parking them while out in the water for days or weeks. And, once back on the trailer... Do you... place it in open field dry storage at a marina that has acceptable boat ramp and then take time to cover the boat when leaving, until next-time usage, so field dust does not cover it inside and out, or, do you take it home and park it in your massive driveway so that neighbors don't complain??
I don't mean to shoot holes in a "pocket trawler boat" such as Great Harbor's TT... but reality concerning all usage parameters concerning a
tow behind boat is just that -
REALITY!!
The three boat TT tests that Great Harbor is planning to accomplish seems to concern water use only; that is all well and good. But, if the TT boat and all its needs for towing down the road are simply too big a hurdle for the general boat user... then TT's market may shrink to a minimum size.
Good luck Great Harbor Trawlers - I wish you the best luck. With interest, I will be reading about your TT boats while relaxing on the bridge of our Tollycraft!
Happy "Trailer-Trawler" Boat Design Daze! - Art