New Member from PNW

[mwhuber]

Hello everyone, Michael from Anacortes WA here. Like a lot of you I'm coming from the world of sailing and dipping my toe in power boating. I've owned a Pacific Seacraft 31 for 10 years but age and some health issues are forcing a change if I want to stay on the water. So here I am! I'm looking to find a 30'- 35' trawler, not too fancy and not over powered. I'll be happy cruising all day at 7-8 knots, no need to be in a hurry. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

 

[tiltrider1]

Welcome, lots of trawlers made just down the road in Burlington. Nordic & American

 

[Moonfish]

As one who transitioned from sail to power 13 years ago, I say "Welcome to the light side"!

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard.

 

[PNWPederson]

Welcome aboard! I'm just a little north of you, in Bellingham.

 

[JackConnick]

Welcome to the learning curve!

 

[Mac2]

Welcome. What is your bugget?

 

[mwhuber]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome to Trawlerforum! I'm gonna learn a lot here. As to the question about budget, I'm not really sure what that might end up being. When I find the right boat however I'll make it happen one way or another.

 

[Mac2]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome to Trawlerforum! I'm gonna learn a lot here. As to the question about budget, I'm not really sure what that might end up being. When I find the right boat however I'll make it happen one way or another.

The reason I ask is that a lot of us hear about our neighbors wanting to sell their boat before it ever hits the market. If you give us an idea of what you’re looking for, and budget, we can help out. There is a “wanted” chat for just that.

 

[SaltyDogg]

Welcome, I'm on Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, made the switch from sail to power also for an easier boating season some 5 years ago.

 

[firehoser75]

Unfortunately budget does matter, for example, as Tiltrider1 stated, Nordic and American Tugs are built very close to where you are located, but, they hold their value well meaning they are expensive (new and used) relative to some other makes. They are excellent boats by the way, and some models that might fit your desires/needs are the NT 32,34,37, or the American Tug 34 or 36. They are semi displacement hulls that are very sea worthy, and are capable of "planing" (doing approx. 16 knots at WOT), but most owners travel at 7 knots (at or near hull speed) burning approx. 2 gallons per hour.
Welcome aboard and good luck on your search.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

BTW, all of the Puget Sound (not the gulf islands) is a no dump zone. Be prepared....

 

[InTheRed]

Ranger Tugs are also built in Western Washington. There's the 29 and 31 and have a great following community. Tugnuts.com (though some may say they aren't a trawler)

 

[armando]

Welcome aboard! - We had passed after 26 years sailing with sail to our Trawler 29 years ago and it was the best decision !!!

 

[smith6]

Hello everyone, Michael from Anacortes WA here. Like a lot of you I'm coming from the world of sailing and dipping my toe in power boating. I've owned a Pacific Seacraft 31 for 10 years but age and some health issues are forcing a change if I want to stay on the water. So here I am! I'm looking to find a 30'- 35' trawler, not too fancy and not over powered. I'll be happy cruising all day at 7-8 knots, no need to be in a hurry. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Welcome aboard. I live in Anacortes too and have owned trawlers and many other boats in my life. Let me know if i can assist or help you with anything.

 

[MichaelD]

One more welcome from your neighbor to the west, in Friday Harbor.

 

[fault_tolerance]

The reason I ask is that a lot of us hear about our neighbors wanting to sell their boat before it ever hits the market. If you give us an idea of what you’re looking for, and budget, we can help out. There is a “wanted” chat for just that.

Hey @Mac2 - Where might I find this wanted board? As mentioned in my intro post the other day, we're trying to be on the 'proactive' side of finding a boat, and not just relying on YW and the broker. TIA!

 

[MichaelD]

It’s under the list of Forums (or Fora for the classicists among you) : Wanted - Boats.

 

[fault_tolerance]

It’s under the list of Forums (or Fora for the classicists among you) : Wanted - Boats.

Thank you!

 

[Kirk M]

Welcome. Obviously there are lots of choices out there. Personally I’m partial to the Lord Nelson Victory Tugs. However, Trawler Fest is coming to Anacortes in the middle of May and will give you the opportunity to see many boats in person. I think it would be worth your time to attend and see what appeals to you. Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show featuring Trawlerfest 2025 - Trawler Lifestyle | PassageMaker | The Power Cruising Authority

 

[Captain DJ]

Welcome aboard. We bought a 1974 Cheoy Lee Pilothouse Trawler in Westport, WA and have been very happy with it. Many here are into boats that costs several hundred thousands of dollars or even more.
We wanted the best bang for the buck without breaking the bank. These Cheoy Lee boats are extremely solid, reliable, full displacement hulls that economically cruise in the 7 to 8.5 knot range and with twin Ford Lehman engines are easy to maintain and gives us everything we need. The full Pilothouse with watch berth, autopilot and radar and Garmin MFD chartplotter makes navigation easy. We often fill up our three fiberglass integrated tanks and cruise 4 to 6 months before ever worrying about refueling.
The LiFePo2 batteries and solar panels make marina stops only a requirement every 10 to 14 nights which works well with refilling our 400 gallon water tank and emptying the massive blackwater tank. As long as it is sunny we last about as long as the fresh fruit and vegetables last.
Insurance and maintenance on a lower priced boat is another consideration since most folks use a rule of thumb that you should budget about 10% of the boat value per year for maintenance. So a $300-450k boat can be $30-45k/ yearly to maintain, add moorage, Insurance and you can easily be looking at $50-70 grand a year plus the lost growth of investments of that $300-450k boat. That makes a well sorted $50-75k boat much, much more appealing for use just half the year. That is our case.
Now if you want to know more about enjoying cruising without a wake and without breaking the savings bank, give me PM and I will be glad to share with you our experience. On the other hand, if you have socked away millions upon millions and the money is still pouring in, listen to the folks that support the idea of all these newer boats that just mimic what ours was designed to do half a century earlier by the oldest and most diverse family of boat builders on planet Earth.
Happy hunting.

Captain DJ

 

[salish]

Hello everyone, Michael from Anacortes WA here. Like a lot of you I'm coming from the world of sailing and dipping my toe in power boating. I've owned a Pacific Seacraft 31 for 10 years but age and some health issues are forcing a change if I want to stay on the water. So here I am! I'm looking to find a 30'- 35' trawler, not too fancy and not over powered. I'll be happy cruising all day at 7-8 knots, no need to be in a hurry. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

I also live in Anacortes, and have a 34' American tug for sale. Happy to give you a look at the boat, docked in Skyline.

 

[Mark Laurnen]

Welcome Michael! my only bit of advice is to get on several moorage waitlists ASAP. Unfortunately, getting the boat will ultimately be the easy part. Port of Skagit over at La Connor is not too far, has lower rates, and seems to turn over a little faster. Sky Line would be ideal, but I believe their capacity is limited. Cap Sante is right there near you, so you might check there as well. Good luck! See you on the water!

 

[Mac2]

Welcome aboard. We bought a 1974 Cheoy Lee Pilothouse Trawler in Westport, WA and have been very happy with it. Many here are into boats that costs several hundred thousands of dollars or even more.
We wanted the best bang for the buck without breaking the bank. These Cheoy Lee boats are extremely solid, reliable, full displacement hulls that economically cruise in the 7 to 8.5 knot range and with twin Ford Lehman engines are easy to maintain and gives us everything we need. The full Pilothouse with watch berth, autopilot and radar and Garmin MFD chartplotter makes navigation easy. We often fill up our three fiberglass integrated tanks and cruise 4 to 6 months before ever worrying about refueling.
The LiFePo2 batteries and solar panels make marina stops only a requirement every 10 to 14 nights which works well with refilling our 400 gallon water tank and emptying the massive blackwater tank. As long as it is sunny we last about as long as the fresh fruit and vegetables last.
Insurance and maintenance on a lower priced boat is another consideration since most folks use a rule of thumb that you should budget about 10% of the boat value per year for maintenance. So a $300-450k boat can be $30-45k/ yearly to maintain, add moorage, Insurance and you can easily be looking at $50-70 grand a year plus the lost growth of investments of that $300-450k boat. That makes a well sorted $50-75k boat much, much more appealing for use just half the year. That is our case.
Now if you want to know more about enjoying cruising without a wake and without breaking the savings bank, give me PM and I will be glad to share with you our experience. On the other hand, if you have socked away millions upon millions and the money is still pouring in, listen to the folks that support the idea of all these newer boats that just mimic what ours was designed to do half a century earlier by the oldest and most diverse family of boat builders on planet Earth.
Happy hunting.

Captain DJ

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View attachment 163931

Where to start? If you’ve been on this forum for more than 30 seconds, you would know that the members love boats. Period. We are not “into” boats based on price-get over yourself.
You mention maintenance cost, which could be correct, but no where near what you quote if you do the work yourself. Lastly, you mentioned depreciation. Both boats I have owned went up in price-my Krogen Manatee, that I owned for 15 years, sold for 20k more than when I purchased it.
The OP would be wise to choose a boat with a good reputation.

 

[fault_tolerance]

Welcome aboard. We bought a 1974 Cheoy Lee Pilothouse Trawler in Westport, WA and have been very happy with it. Many here are into boats that costs several hundred thousands of dollars or even more.
We wanted the best bang for the buck without breaking the bank. These Cheoy Lee boats are extremely solid, reliable, full displacement hulls that economically cruise in the 7 to 8.5 knot range and with twin Ford Lehman engines are easy to maintain and gives us everything we need. The full Pilothouse with watch berth, autopilot and radar and Garmin MFD chartplotter makes navigation easy. We often fill up our three fiberglass integrated tanks and cruise 4 to 6 months before ever worrying about refueling.
The LiFePo2 batteries and solar panels make marina stops only a requirement every 10 to 14 nights which works well with refilling our 400 gallon water tank and emptying the massive blackwater tank. As long as it is sunny we last about as long as the fresh fruit and vegetables last.
Insurance and maintenance on a lower priced boat is another consideration since most folks use a rule of thumb that you should budget about 10% of the boat value per year for maintenance. So a $300-450k boat can be $30-45k/ yearly to maintain, add moorage, Insurance and you can easily be looking at $50-70 grand a year plus the lost growth of investments of that $300-450k boat. That makes a well sorted $50-75k boat much, much more appealing for use just half the year. That is our case.
Now if you want to know more about enjoying cruising without a wake and without breaking the savings bank, give me PM and I will be glad to share with you our experience. On the other hand, if you have socked away millions upon millions and the money is still pouring in, listen to the folks that support the idea of all these newer boats that just mimic what ours was designed to do half a century earlier by the oldest and most diverse family of boat builders on planet Earth.
Happy hunting.

Cap

There's some good reminders here. I think there's an "x meets y" point where if you purchase a boat that is a little more expensive / newer, that you have less maintenance costs per year. For budgeting, I think 5% - 10% per year of cost of boat is a nice idea (kind of like a rental house budget).

A person can also save money by hauling the boat out for storage if they don't plan to use it for an extended period of time.

 

[Diep]

Welcome Aboard!

I'm pretty new here but have also lurked on and off for a long time. This site is wonderful because there is a huge range of participants but pretty much universally helpful and cheerful. You can get great advice about installing an electronics package worth more than most boats. You can also get great advice and encouragement about patching up and keeping alive an old classic. I've rarely picked up a tone of judgement or resentment around who is cruising in what.

Other than personal information shared privately, most things are discussed openly for the benefit of all. This makes the site valuable and educational to active members and curious lurkers all.

Glad you have hopped in and looking forward to hearing about what you get up to as you venture into the world of power boats!