Looking for Trawler recommendations

[george123]

I am look to purchase a Trawler within the next two months. I am looking for twin engines, 36-40 ft (not a fast trawler) and in the 1995-2005 range. I have looked at Monk 36 which is a very nice boat put does not have the twin motors. I like the redundancy and I due understand that there would be more engine maintenance. Grand Bank would most likely be higher in price and I think you are paying for the name. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I am moving from sailing for the past 25 years ( 34 ft and 38 ft boats) to something with less work. I love to work on boats both electrical and mechanical.

Thanks

 

[O C Diver]

I am look to purchase a Trawler within the next two months. I am looking for twin engines, 36-40 ft (not a fast trawler) and in the 1995-2005 range. I have looked at Monk 36 which is a very nice boat put does not have the twin motors. I like the redundancy and I due understand that there would be more engine maintenance. Grand Bank would most likely be higher in price and I think you are paying for the name. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I am moving from sailing for the past 25 years ( 34 ft and 38 ft boats) to something with less work. I love to work on boats both electrical and mechanical.

Thanks

I don't have a specific recommendation for you, but when looking at twins in that boat size range, it can make servicing the outboard side of the engines really tough. Also, any "V" style engine (as opposed to in-line 4 or 6 cylinder would be that much tougher do to engine width. Many people forget to look at the outboard side until they have to work there.

Ted

 

[Dennis C]

I went for 41' sail to Mainship 34 Pilot. Smaller but love it. Did not want to climb the ladder or stairs so went with a Pilot.

 

[slowgoesit]

I wouldn't limit myself to 32'. Not much difference in handling/finding a slip if boat is less than 40', so if you widen your search to up to say, 38', you will open up a LOT more boats.
You also don't explain what type of cruising you are considering, and that will also narrow the search window. For instance, if you are looking at doing a lot of passages where stabilizers would be beneficial, that is going to narrow your shopping cart considerably.
Better yet, your profile states location: New Hampshire, but if you are amenable to buying/taking delivery elsewhere, that will also open up your options. If you narrow down as much as possible your desires, members of the forum may know of boats that may fit your requirements that aren't even listed yet!
Best of luck in your search, and please keep us informed of progress.

 

[Comodave]

Agree on an inline 6 with twins. We had a 41DC President with twin SP225 Lehmans. It wasn’t too bad to service but it was more difficult than a single would be. As to a specific boat I can’t say because there are too many factors to consider. I would recommend making several lists, must haves, like to haves and must not have. Then shop for the best condition boat that meets the lists the best. Don’t get wrapped up with a specific brand but rather the best condition. You can take a gold plater brand and run it down just as you can a lesser brand. Good luck.

 

[socalrider]

Good luck! Budget & location would be good to know as well, as well as intended use (number of passengers, cruising grounds). We moved from sail to power 5 years ago; we're about to set out (tomorrow) on our annual cruise here in SoCal on our CHB 41.

 

[Ithaka7]

I know it is a trawler forum but do consider a fast (planing) boat instead. You may think that if you averaged 6 knots on the sailboat, a trawler at 7 knots would be just the same. It is not. On a sailboat you are always engaged, have something to do, it is heeled, etc. On a trawler, you press go on the autopilot and then have nothing to do for hours. If the weather is calm (most of the time), you get bored. If the weather is big, you have one very unpleasant journey. On a powerboat, if the weather is calm you can go either slow or fast, as you please. If the weather is medium you get on the plant to minimize the unpleasantness and avoid the weather. The fuel consumption is (largely) comparable. There are so many powerboats to choose from. The trawler market is niche.

 

[george123]

I would be alone most of the time. I would have guests sometimes. I would be looking for boats on the east coast. Cruising east coast, the Keys, west coast of Florida, trip to Bahamas. Stabilizer would be nice to help with the ride. Head rum is very important i am 6'4". I will be living onboard year round. Spending time in NC visiting my son. I would like a deep hull to improve stability. Speed is not important.
Hope this will help

 

[ranger58sb]

I would like a deep hull to improve stability.

Deep draft has pros/cons on the U.S. east coast/Florida/etc. and Bahamas. Lots of shallow water areas, including in NC, so you might want to balance your aim for stability versus your thoughts on where you might want to cruise.

-Chris

 

[sneal4600]

This is a topic I invested five years in researching sea keeping hill designs and brand comparison by reading books by Dave Pascoe and Robert Beebe to help sort these things out. Dollar for dollar, I settled on a DeFever 44 OC. A little bigger than you suggest but the engine room is five star for its class which means there is a high likelihood that the POs took care of the engines. The hull design provides a safe and stable passage for you and your guests. Fuel efficient. Yeah, it only goes 7.5 knts at hull speed but I am in no hurry. Cruising the Great Lakes is something I want to do slowly to take it all in. Art DeFever was a master architect and his designs are built with efficiency in mind and put together like battleships. Well, that is what he did during WWII and it shows.

 

[slowgoesit]

George, if you are going to living aboard, I would highly encourage you to took at the higher length range you stated, maybe even stretching it out to 44' or so. Still very manageable single handed, and don't limit you too much on moorings. That generally happens at over 45'. Moorings like Marathon Florida have hundreds of moorings 45' and under, but only 10 for boats larger than 45'. We were told, come in October, or wait until after end of March to obtain one of the 10 mooring balls that would fit our boat.

Edit, Sneal above is dead on re/ DeFever's. That's what we were looking for when we found our Beebe.

 

[rslifkin]

In that size range, space to work on twins depends not just on the engines, but placement of other equipment. I've seen some boats with very tight engine rooms. On the other hand, our 38 footer has twin V8s in it and plenty of room to crawl around the outboard side of the engines (about 2.5 feet between engines and about 2.5 feet outboard of each one). The fuel tanks aren't outboard of the engines like some boats, so there's lots of empty space there.

 

[lwarden]

Defever 44/49 is a great suggestion. Timeless lines and an engine room to die for.

 

[Nick F]

. . . The fuel tanks aren't outboard of the engines like some boats, so there's lots of empty space there.

This is a big plus. I was searching just like you and finally looked at a Grand Banks 42. It has fuel tanks aft of the engines. Fantastic access to the outboard sides of the engines. Furthermore, GB is not just a name - the quality of build and systems installation is just that much better (I am biassed!).

 

[slowgoesit]

This is a big plus. I was searching just like you and finally looked at a Grand Banks 42. It has fuel tanks aft of the engines. Fantastic access to the outboard sides of the engines. Furthermore, GB is not just a name - the quality of build and systems installation is just that much better (I am biassed!).

Whoa! Serious fuel leak under that engine there!

 

[Nick F]

Whoa! Serious fuel leak under that engine there!

Fixed now!

 

[Mac2]

Nils Lucander made some interesting twin engine boats with protective skegs for the running gear. Aluminum as well. 36 foot shown.

 

[Pprior]

Wow thats a beauty. Would have loved to have found a boat like that during my searches.

 

[mkel7]

Cape Dory 28Flybridge?

 

[jclays]

I am look to purchase a Trawler within the next two months. I am looking for twin engines, 36-40 ft (not a fast trawler) and in the 1995-2005 range. I have looked at Monk 36 which is a very nice boat put does not have the twin motors. I like the redundancy and I due understand that there would be more engine maintenance. Grand Bank would most likely be higher in price and I think you are paying for the name. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I am moving from sailing for the past 25 years ( 34 ft and 38 ft boats) to something with less work. I love to work on boats both electrical and mechanical.

Thanks

I have a 1997 Mainship 350/390 PT with twin Volvos. I am of average build 5'10 200 lbs and can work both sides of the engines. Granted the outboard sides need some thinking but it is very doable. I do all my service work.
The day you are offshore and have an engine failure you'll be glad you have twins. I lost and engine 14miles offshore in the dark during a nighttime crossing. Was glad I had twins The additional expense is not that much more $$

 

[jclays]

I am look to purchase a Trawler within the next two months. I am looking for twin engines, 36-40 ft (not a fast trawler) and in the 1995-2005 range. I have looked at Monk 36 which is a very nice boat put does not have the twin motors. I like the redundancy and I due understand that there would be more engine maintenance. Grand Bank would most likely be higher in price and I think you are paying for the name. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I am moving from sailing for the past 25 years ( 34 ft and 38 ft boats) to something with less work. I love to work on boats both electrical and mechanical.

Thanks

Also look into the 34', 35' 38' and 42' Californians. They are older boats circa 1972 thru 1986 but they are damn solid boats. The 38 LRC are my favorite

 

[klee wyck]

Nils Lucander made some interesting twin engine boats with protective skegs for the running gear. Aluminum as well. 36 foot shown.

I looked at that boat when it was for sale in Anacortes about a decade ago. Then I ran into it in the Sea of Cortez a couple of years ago. She lies Puerto Escondido currently and for sale under 100k I think.
Interesting is an appropriate word…..

 

[Willow]

I am look to purchase a Trawler within the next two months. I am looking for twin engines, 36-40 ft (not a fast trawler) and in the 1995-2005 range. I have looked at Monk 36 which is a very nice boat put does not have the twin motors. I like the redundancy and I due understand that there would be more engine maintenance. Grand Bank would most likely be higher in price and I think you are paying for the name. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I am moving from sailing for the past 25 years ( 34 ft and 38 ft boats) to something with less work. I love to work on boats both electrical and mechanical.

Thanks

Did you purchase a boat? We love our 34 Mainship with twin motors. We have friends who also have the 2006 34 Mainship and he can handle it alone due to side door near salon helm. The flybridge adds extra space. We settled on a 34 (38 overall) as we were advised that the larger the boat the higher the cost to maintain, dock, insure, etc. Let me know if you are still looking.

 

[Willow]

Did you find a boat? Our Claret hauled 34T 2006 Mainship just went up for sale last week. Biggest surprise of the journey was fuel consumption of the two twin Yanmar motors! We cruised from Beaufort, SC throughout the Chesapeake for 8 weeks of travel going 8-9 knots. Well under what we budgeted. Our boat is posted on this site and is located on the intracoastal- turn-key ready.