Planobilly
Veteran Member
Hi,
I am seriously considering buying a older 34 Mainship. 1980 to 1983. I have a 50K budget. There seem to be many for sale from a low of 20k TO 50k.
I have never set foot on a trawler. I have a lot of experience owning boats both sail and power both large and small.
I want this boat as a second boat as I have a 28 foot Contender center console at the moment.
I want to use the boat in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. I am retired and I have a lot of time to enjoy boating and fishing.
I have no reason to be in a hurry to get anywhere and have no intent to operate in bad weather where I can avoid it. I run the Contender to the Bahamas from time to time an off shore from the Keys. I some times get stuck in 5 to 6 foot seas with 25 knot winds which is pretty uncomfortable in a open boat.
I run the boat alone most of the time, not because I enjoy that but it is hard to find people to go fishing with or at least people who know how to fish and don't get sea sick...lol
I need a boat with a lot of range as I want to go to the Cay Sal bank to fish and swim. That entails 50 miles across the gulf stream to Bimini to clear customs in the Bahamas and 140 miles to Cay Sal and 60 to 80 miles back to the nearest fuel in Florida...around 300 miles
I ASSUME a 34 Mainship will be as sea worthy as the outboard I have now.
Any feedback concerning the 34 would be a big help.
You can assume I will put the boat in good condition with good quality nav gear including radar and an autopilot and electric windless. I already own good safety gear like epirb and sat phone, and small life raft and such.
Thanks,
Billy
I am seriously considering buying a older 34 Mainship. 1980 to 1983. I have a 50K budget. There seem to be many for sale from a low of 20k TO 50k.
I have never set foot on a trawler. I have a lot of experience owning boats both sail and power both large and small.
I want this boat as a second boat as I have a 28 foot Contender center console at the moment.
I want to use the boat in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. I am retired and I have a lot of time to enjoy boating and fishing.
I have no reason to be in a hurry to get anywhere and have no intent to operate in bad weather where I can avoid it. I run the Contender to the Bahamas from time to time an off shore from the Keys. I some times get stuck in 5 to 6 foot seas with 25 knot winds which is pretty uncomfortable in a open boat.
I run the boat alone most of the time, not because I enjoy that but it is hard to find people to go fishing with or at least people who know how to fish and don't get sea sick...lol
I need a boat with a lot of range as I want to go to the Cay Sal bank to fish and swim. That entails 50 miles across the gulf stream to Bimini to clear customs in the Bahamas and 140 miles to Cay Sal and 60 to 80 miles back to the nearest fuel in Florida...around 300 miles
I ASSUME a 34 Mainship will be as sea worthy as the outboard I have now.
Any feedback concerning the 34 would be a big help.
You can assume I will put the boat in good condition with good quality nav gear including radar and an autopilot and electric windless. I already own good safety gear like epirb and sat phone, and small life raft and such.
Thanks,
Billy