Finding out about Trawlers

My current boat is not a trawler. She is a Luhrs 342 Sportfisherman. I am selling her because I am no longer able to climb the ladder to get to the flybridge and have a hard time docking without help. I am looking to purchase a new boat. 35 to 42 foot in length.

I mainly boat on the Chesapeake Bay, and plan to do the Great Loop. My research on boat led me to trawlers. I like the look of trawlers for several reasons. My problem is that I know very little about them. I have read several of the post on this Forum and have found the information helpful. I will be asking questions in my search to find a trawler that me an my two dogs can live and travel on. Once I find the boat I am sure that I will have more questions. Any info that you wish to provide will be helpful.

Welcome and good luck with the hunt. I'd think that a boat with wide walk-around side decks and a transom gate/swimstep would be helpful with docking and dogs. Sedans typically require fewer step transitions than aft cabins and, being lower to the water, are easier to board.

A boat with a lower helm would alleviate the need to climb a ladder to the helm. I have a FB that I seldom use but it serves well as my storage attic.

One direction (of many) to consider...

You will likely know that Mainship was a sister company within the Luhrs Group.

Many of the more recent Mainship models, starting in approx the late '90s -- 350/390, 430, 400, 40T, 34T etc. -- feature stairs to the flybridge, not a ladder... and you could expect similar quality to your Luhrs assuming you're satisfied with that. (I can tell you, big dogs can easily navigate stairs to the flybridge.)

You could check out those models on Yachtworld.com, and then branch out from there to other brands/models that looks sorta similar.

-Chris

Greetings,
Welcome aboard. Woof woof...Woof.

Thanks for the info about Mainship, I will look at them. I also will look at sedans

New boat as in "new" or just a different boat than you are used to now? Big difference.

I am not familiar with your boat so I don't know if it has a ladder to the FB or stairs. If the problem is a ladder, but stairs are fine, then I would be looking at raised PH designs. If stairs are a bit of an issue then I would look at sedan style boats. If looking at new, I would check out the North Pacific 38 Sedan. It has a flybridge but you don't have to use it.

If stairs are OK and you are looking at new, then the boats I would look at are the Nordic Tug 40, American Tug 395, and the North Pacific 39 Pilothouse. Both the NT and AT are available without a Flybridge. The NP has flybridge but it can be accessed from either side by stairs going up the side.

For docking, I would get both bow and stern thrusters and seriously consider getting one of the wireless remotes available that will control transmission, throttle, and both thrusters.

If you aren't looking at new, then ignore the above.
Also, how often, if ever, will you and your dogs have company?

First realize that trawler is a marketing term and has little to do with design or performance. Boats called trawlers have been single or dual engine, semi displacement or full and come in many different cabin layouts. Many were slow some were capable of going fast or slow.

i suggest you look boats with stairs regardless of what they are called and decide what fits your lifestyle.

You dont say why you had trouble docking but IMO a SF should handle well. If it is because you are singlehanding then inside helm and side doors would help as would a picnic style single level boat.

Sp look ay lots of baots and see what fits.

ZackbDog said:

Thanks for the info about Mainship, I will look at them. I also will look at sedans

Click to expand...

The MS 34 makes a good boat for 1 or a couple as it is a single cabin but very comfortable otherwise. If you are not a bridge fan there are a few like ours which are hardtops w/o a bridge.
Some pics on the website linked in my signature.
I find it a greatboat for single handing and we do a lot of canal locking... but I know there are others.

Welcome aboard and good luck with your search.

Add tugs to your search:
Nordic
American
Sundowner
Lord Nelson

Everyone is being so helpful. The reason I have problems getting up the ladder is bad knees. Since my husband passed away this past August, I have taken the boat out twice and getting back into the slip was frustrating. Back in, climb down walk out to the bow to tie off lines, only to find out that the wind or current had pushed me back out of the slip. Start all over. After 3 tries I finally made it. Nap time after all that work. Boating should be enjoyable. I will not give up. Lower steering station is the way to go, wish I had one.

If I fine the right boat I will be selling my house move on the boat. I do not need that big house any more since I will be retiring in a few years.

ZackbDog said:

Since my husband passed away this past August, I have taken the boat out twice and getting back into the slip was frustrating. Back in, climb down walk out to the bow to tie off lines, only to find out that the wind or current had pushed me back out of the slip. Start all over. After 3 tries I finally made it.

Click to expand...

In the meantime, some suggestions for your single-handed docking. Assumes your home slip, four-way tie-up, stern-to, with piles that will (at least temporarily) hold you off your neighbors, at least semi-decent weather.

1) If you haven't already, pre-set your normal home dock lines to useful lengths, perhaps with the eyes on the boat side so you can quickly lay each over a cleat and move on.

2) Add two more spring lines, if you don't already have them set up this way.

a) One is a spring line leading from a mid-ship piling to an AFT cleat in your cockpit. That's the one that keeps the boat from bonking off the dock.

b) The second is leading from the dock behind you to an aft cleat in the cockpit, or perhaps from a pile at the end of your finger pier to a mid-ship cleat. That's the line that keeps you from drifting out of the slip.

3) Back in, get those two lines on... pick whichever is most useful for wind direction, first... you're docked. Have a beverage, or lunch if you choose to... wash down the boat... whatever... and then get around to laying the rest of your dock lines on at your leisure.

-Chris

ZackbDog said:

Everyone is being so helpful. The reason I have problems getting up the ladder is bad knees. Since my husband passed away this past August, I have taken the boat out twice and getting back into the slip was frustrating. Back in, climb down walk out to the bow to tie off lines, only to find out that the wind or current had pushed me back out of the slip. Start all over. After 3 tries I finally made it. Nap time after all that work. Boating should be enjoyable. I will not give up. Lower steering station is the way to go, wish I had one.

If I fine the right boat I will be selling my house move on the boat. I do not need that big house any more since I will be retiring in a few years.

Click to expand...

Could yatchcontrol be helpful to you or any other wireless remote control bow and stern thruster. these could substantially facilitate doging alone.

reply to North Baltic sea

Yatchcontrol be helpful to you or any other wireless remote control would be very helpful. I did not know that there was a remote for shifting. I need to look into this. I am learning more and more each day.