Clip 68,
"galley down" means you have to go up/down a few stairs between galley and saloon/eating area. Also, the cook is more isolated from family/guests while cooking. I never liked that concept, but that's just my personal opinion.
I am a former sailboater (36' Islander Freeport) who has now gone to the trawler side (32' Grand Banks). I did it because of age and some health issues which make pulling strings, cranking winches and getting splashed with cold salt water MUCH less appealing than it used to be. As my wife put it, "Stinkpots don't seem to smell as bad as they used to."
I wonder if powerboats really have more engine issues than sailboats..Of course, the engine gets used a lot more but, if anything, that's a good thing compared with many sailboats that have engine issues from LACK of use! As always, proper maintenance is the
answer.
I like a trawler because, though slow (it powers only a little faster than my last sailboat but tacking is rarely involved), it is very fuel efficient compared to those go-fast powerboats. It looks salty and "shippy" and I like the traditional look. Big windows all around eliminate the "cave" feeling of many sailboats. Best of all, I can drive it from inside or from the flying bridge when the wave and wind conditions are good. at 32' long with a near-12' beam, it is wider than most sailboats of the same length, giving it much more interior space for living and storage.
Best of luck!
Oldersalt,
"Everything on your boat is broken; you just don't know it yet."