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Top 15 Trawlers for 2023

• By Patrick Sciacca
• October 13, 2023

For every shoe, there’s a foot, and for every boating enthusiast, there’s a yacht. For those individuals who like to cruise their yachts across blue water, spend months on board or voyage to remote beaches and quiet coves, a trawler yacht is the go-to vessel choice. But even within this yacht genre, there are many options. For example, there are some mighty midsize trawlers that are easily capable of transatlantic crossings for an adventurous couple, and then there are megayacht-size craft with next-level amenities that require extra crew. Some trawler-yacht builders offer significant customization and others work from a fixed options list. There are single-engine trawlers and twin-engine trawlers. One thing that is common is that these trawler yachts are designed from the ground up for yachtsmen with wanderlust in their hearts.

Top Trawlers 

The following 15 trawlers are all vessels we’ve written about. They are listed in no particular order.

• Nordhavn 96 : Built for an owner who desired to self-sufficiently while cruising the world, literally.
• Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 : This trawler can travel nonstop for 1,000 nautical miles.
• Kadey-Krogen 52 : This twin-engine-capable, all-oceans trawler is a solid fit for voyaging cruising couples.
• Bering Yachts B76 : The B76 is the builder’s first fully custom trawler in this size range.
• Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge : This vessel is equally comfortable at a 7-knot stroll or an 18-knot jog.
• Beneteau 48 Swift Trawler : Based on the builder’s Swift Trawler 47, this yacht has a resin-infused fiberglass hull.
• Kadey-Krogen 50 Open : The 50 Open can cruise at 6 knots nonstop for 5,000 nautical miles.
• Outer Reef 620 Trident : It has a three-stateroom layout and optional 600 hp Cummins diesels.
• Grand Banks 60 Skylounge : This yacht is efficient across a variety of cruising speeds.
• Krogen Express 52 : Headroom to spare, two staterooms, a chef-ready galley and long range define this trawler yacht.
• Grand Banks 85 Skylounge : Grand Banks’ V-warp hull form makes for a level running attitude, seakindliness and long range.
• Vicem Yachts 82 Classic : Construction is in cold-molded, strip-planked mahogany with epoxy.
• Outer Reef 610 Motoryacht : Power on this Outer Reef is a pair of 500 hp John Deere 6090 diesels.
• Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot : Did someone say this is a 20-knot Nordhavn?
• Marlow 58E : A high level of customization and admirable performance are at the heart of the Marlow 58E.

Nordhavn 96

The Nordhavn 96 is the yacht builder’s second-largest yacht its 17-model fleet, which ranges from 41 to 120 feet length overall. (There is a new 112 on the drawing table.) The builder says the N96 is based on its earlier 86-footer with a 10-foot cockpit extension, which increases both main-deck, skylounge and below-deck volume. The N96 we reviewed was built by an owner who previously had an 86-foot Nordhavn, but with his plans for extended cruises to remote destinations, the 96 was the right size for his voyaging plans. In fact, since the owner took delivery of the boat, it has been on a continuous circumnavigation.

Quick Specifications

Beneteau Grand Trawler 62

Beneteau’s Grand Trawler 62 has 1,000-plus-mile range and 20-knot speed with twin 730 hp i6 MAN diesels . The Grand Trawler 62 is the builder’s flagship in its Trawler series, which also includes the Swift Trawler 35 , Swift Trawler 41 Sedan ,  Swift Trawler 41 Fly and Swift Trawler 48 . Small touches set the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 apart. They include sea rails on all lockers to keep stowed food and gear in place, leather-wrapped interior handrails for security in a seaway, and leather drawer pulls like those found on larger yachts. Long-range cruising accommodations include a full-beam master stateroom aft, a forepeak VIP and twin-berth guest stateroom. A Quick X3 gyrostabilizer helps mitigate any potential rocking and rolling on rough days.

Kadey-Krogen 52

The Kadey-Krogen 52 is the trawler-yacht builder’s smallest offering in its raised-pilothouse series, complete with a Portuguese Bridge. Owners can choose from either a two- or three-stateroom layout, and between a single-diesel engine or twin-diesel engines, for owners seeking redundancy. The standard engine is a 231 hp John Deere diesel. With the single-engine setup, draft is 5’5” and with twins it’s a shallower 4’6”. At 6 knots, range is an ocean-crossing 4,850 nautical miles. At 7 knots, it’s 3,300 nm. At 9 knots, it 1,700 nm. The builder states, “The entire Krogen 52 is built from only three molded pieces for maximized structural integrity. There are no additional secondary bonds or caulk joints that can inevitably cause issues. All deck and superstructures are cored and vacuum-bagged to maximize strength while minimizing weight.” Additionally, six longitudinal stringers enhance overall strength.

Bering Yachts B76

Lemanja  is the first custom boat that Bering has built in this size range. The yacht is notable for its steel hull and aluminum superstructure, and for its 4,000-nautical-mile-plus range with its twin 404 hp Cummins QSL9 diesel engines. As rugged as the Bering 76 is built on the outside, it also offers homelike comforts in its skylounge inside, offering panoramic views out large windows surrounding the space. Sole-to-ceiling glass offers similar views in the open-plan salon. Accommodations are fox six guests in three staterooms with a master stateroom and two guest staterooms, plus crew accommodations. In addition to its traditional diesel engines, the B76 has a solar-rechargeable battery bank for hybrid propulsion.

Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge

The Ranger Tugs R-43 Command Bridge is a long-distance cruiser with creature comforts. Our expert found the R-43 Command Bridge to be a solid candidate to cruise The Great Loop . We agree. Twin Volvo Penta IPS450 pod drives give the boat efficient low and high cruise speeds at 7 and 18 knots, respectively. For those that have work during their cruise, the R-43 Command bridge’s master stateroom is set up with an office with a desk. Long trips require extra stowage and a way to clean salty clothes, so on the R-43 Command Bridge there is a washer, dryer, auxiliary refrigerator/freezer and stowage under the dinette, which rises on electric rams. Voyagers who buy a R-43 Commander Bridge can opt for a Factory Delivery Experience, which is three days of instruction on Puget Sound, and includes in boat systems, handling and maintenance.

Beneteau Swift Trawler 48

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 has a 1,300-nautical-mile range at 8 knots, but can also speed away at 26 knots if the weather goes south in a hurry. Based on the builder’s 47-footer , the three-stateroom, two-head Swift Trawler 48 has a resin-infused fiberglass hull. Power is a pair of 425 hp Cummins diesels. The main-deck layout includes a galley aft setup, which is accessible to the cockpit. There, the seating and dining area can be fully enclosed, with tracks in place for side curtains. The helmsman is kept comfortable on long passages with a bolstered, pedestal bucket-style seat with a flip-up footrest. The Swift Trawler 48 we reviewed had upgraded 12-inch Raymarine HybridTouch displays (9-inch screens are standard).

Kadey-Krogen 50 Open

Designed for serious extended cruising,  Kadey-Krogen Yachts 50 Open provides owners with amenities that will enhance those longer passages. The galley is fitted with a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, a four-burner Wolf range, a microwave and an optional dishwasher. Unlike in many trawlers and their traditional pilothouse design, the galley is located on the same level as the helm and salon. Belowdecks is the master stateroom amidships with two hanging lockers, 12 cabinets, additional drawers for stowage and an en suite head, shower and two sinks. Forward of the master is an office. The 50 Open’s hull has soft chines and a curved after end, much like the characteristics of a sailboat built for cruising. The result is an efficient hull form that provides a gentle landing into troughs when the sea gets a temper. This trawler can cruise at 6 knots for 5,000 nautical miles; 7 knots for 3,000 nautical miles; 8 knots for 2,100 nautical miles; and 9 knots for 1,200 nautical miles.

Outer Reef 620 Trident

Outer Reef Yachts 620 Trident delivers a three-stateroom layout and optional 600 hp Cummins diesels that allow this vessel to approach a top hop of 21 knots. Cruising speed is a little over 16 knots, burning about 34 gallons of fuel per hour at 2,750 rpm. The amidships master stateroom has 6-foot-8-inch headroom, a walk-in closet and a shower enclosed in smoked glass. In the forepeak VIP stateroom, there are seven drawers, a hanging locker, a 31-inch Samsung TV and 7-foot headroom. The portside guest stateroom can convert to an office, too. The aft galley has a U-shape countertop, a three-burner electric cooktop, a Bosch microwave and a Vitrifrigo refrigerator and freezer. Cherry, walnut and oak are the available wood options.

Grand Banks 60 Skylounge

It’s obvious after a quick peek inside the Grand Banks 60 Skylounge that the  Grand Banks Yachts  trademark external DNA is retained. The deck, cabin house and skylounge are all composed of infused carbon fiber, reducing weight aloft and creating a lower center of gravity. With twin 900 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels , the 60 Skylounge can accelerate to 31 knots and cruise at about 25 knots. The 60 Skylounge can also travel up to 2,000 nautical miles at 10 knots on a 1,530-gallon fuel tank. Twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS1200s are also available.

Krogen Express 52

The Krogen Express 52 runs on twin 440 hp Yanmar diesels and can cruise at 8 knots for 1,680 nautical miles or at 16 knots for 500 nautical miles. Top hop:  22 knots. In the interior,  Krogen Express  has outfitted the 52 with a master stateroom and a guest stateroom. The former has a queen island berth, more than 7-foot headroom, hanging lockers and smaller cubbies to port and to starboard, and an en suite head with a molded fiberglass shower stall with a seat, a VacuFlush toilet and a granite countertop. A power lift elevates the berth and grants access to more stowage underneath. The Krogen Express 52’s salon has a 26-inch HD LED TV and a home-theater system, leather Stressless chairs to port and a built-in, L-shape settee to starboard. The galley boasts granite countertops, a three-burner Force 10 propane range with an oven, a refrigerator, a GE microwave oven, a deep Elkay sink and a pullout sprayer faucet. There is a Buff Ultraleather Stidd helm seat for extra comfort during long runs.

Grand Banks 85 Skylounge

The Grand Banks 85 Skylounge comes in at more than 87 feet length overall and displaces 108,000 pounds, with a 22-plus-foot beam and an air draft of just under 26 feet. Owners can choose either a three- or four-stateroom layout. The standard motors are twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS diesels, twin 1,300 hp MAN straight-shaft diesels are optional. With the larger engines, owners can also choose an optional stern thruster, in addition to the standard bow thruster. With the IPS diesels, top speed is 26.5 knots and fuel burn is 100 gallons per hour, resulting in a range of 699 nautical miles. At a 21-knot cruise speed, fuel consumption drops to 57 gph, and range climbs to 972 nm. At a 9-knot jog, fuel burn falls to 9 gph, and the Grand Banks 85 Skylounge can cruise nonstop for about 2,500 nautical miles.

Vicem 82 Classic Flybridge

The Vicem 82 Classic is a flybridge model built in cold-molded mahogany, which creates a stout hull form with reduced weight. The yacht is notable for its timeless Downeast lines and strong joiner work. For cruising enthusiasts, the Classic 82 Flybridge is powered with twin 900 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels . The yacht has a top-end speed of 17.8 knots, and the cruising speed is 15 knots. At 9 knots, and considering a 10-percent fuel reserve, range is reportedly 1,100 nautical miles.  Accommodations three en-suite-equipped staterooms. The master stateroom is full-beam and amidships with a king-size berth is on centerline. The starboard-side guest stateroom and a forepeak VIP each have queen-size berths.

Outer Reef 610 Motoryacht

Built for an enthusiastic cruising couple after a three-year boat search, the Outer Reef Yachts 610 Motoryacht (part of the builder’s Classic series ), was customized with a fore-and-aft berth in the owners’ stateroom (as in, not athwartships), and berths rather than bunks in the smaller of two guest staterooms. This Outer Reef 610 was designed to be used as a liveaboard vessel, so the salon is not set up for dining (there are tables in the pilothouse, on the aft deck and on the bridge). A pair of swivel chairs in the salon face the built-in couch and the pop-up TV to port. The 610 is built with hand-laid fiberglass, PVC coring above the waterline, resin infusion and a vinylester barrier coat against osmosis. Power is twin 500 hp John Deere 6090 diesels turning ZF transmissions . The 610 tops out at about 13.5 knots with full tanks and 21 people aboard. The engines burn 20 gph at 1,800 rpm for 11 knots at 45 percent engine load. Those numbers should allow it to cross oceans without shortening engine life.

Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot

Nordhavn has long been known for its stout circumnavigation -capable craft, and the Nordhavn 59 Coastal Pilot carries on the the tradition of a beefy build with addition of…speed. Twenty-knots-plus, actually. Twin 715 hp Cummins diesel inboards and a new semidisplacement hull form  are said to be key to the performance equation. The Nordhavn 59CP has a 777-nautical-mile range at a 9.3-knot cruise, and a 255-nm range at its 20.3-knot top-end. Construction is a solid fiberglass hull bottom supported by full-length longitudinal stringers and a series of transversal supports for added backbone. High freeboard should keep the decks dry in a seaway, while rails keep the crew secure during transits. Nordhavn says the 59CP has a “CE category A unlimited offshore rating, ensuring the vessel has the seakeeping and strength capabilities to take on most serious coastal cruises up to 1,000 miles.”

Marlow Yachts 58E

Following on the successful Marlow 57 , the Marlow 58E was started from scratch on a blank sheet of paper. The essence of the 58E is that it has better performance and more internal and external volume than her predecessor. The centerline length grew 10 inches over the 57, but the waterline length increased 16 inches and the beam widened 4 inches. If you were to examine the two boats out of the water, you would see more bell-shaped forward sections making for a soft impact with the vee’d portion. Power options start with twin 575 hp Caterpillar C9 diesels, but the 58E we got aboard had beefier twin 1,015 hp Caterpillar C18 diesels. Top speed: 27.9 knots. At 8 knots, the Marlow 58E can cruise nonstop for 1,400 nautical miles.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a trawler yacht?

A true trawler typically has a full-displacement hull form and robust construction to handle open-water operation, and it’s designed to operate self-sufficiently for long periods of time. They are slow-cruising vessels, but over the years, hybrid yachts called fast trawlers have emerged to offer displacement-speed operation as well as the ability to run at planing speeds when desired.

What is a full-displacement hull form?

A displacement-hull form is known is for its rounded nature and deep draft. Full-displacement vessels do not plane on the water, but rather push through the water. This hull design makes displacement-hull vessels incredibly seakindly, but it also makes them relatively slow (think 5, 6, 7, 8 knots) when compared to semidisplacement- and planning-hull designs.

Is a long-range cruiser the same as a trawler?

While all trawlers are certainly long-range cruisers, not all long-range cruisers are trawlers. True trawlers will have full-displacement hull designs and not all long-range cruisers have them.

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Welcome to Nordhavn Trawler Yachts

Nordhavn is the world’s most celebrated expedition trawler yachts for adventure boaters of all levels. With models ranging from 41 to 120 feet, there is a Nordhavn perfectly suited to you, no matter what your experience or ambition. Nordhavn trawler yachts provide the safety and comfort necessary for expeditions to the highest latitudes of the globe and coastal day-cruises down the eastern seaboard. Known for robust construction, forward-thinking engineering, luxurious interiors, clever space planning, millions of successful ocean miles traveled and hundreds of happy, dream-fulfilled owners, Nordhavn is the number one name in trawler yachts.

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Swift Trawler

Trawlers give breadth to your more ambitious projects: long-distance cruises, expeditions, explorations, and more besides. These safe elegant efficient boats have all the comforts of your home and are designed to spend long periods at sea and to enjoy watching delightful seascapes roll by through their large windows. Trawlers have elegant lines and trims, but they also appeal to insatiable travellers, always ready to escape to distant destinations. The Grand Trawler 62 is the flagship of the range which  builds on the accumulated knowledge of Swift Trawler in combination with simple luxury.    

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Did you know, navigation programmes, the promise of long cruises.

Designed to cut through high seas over long distances, Trawlers prompt you to explore Norwegian Fiords, before setting a southern course to Gibraltar and then on to explore the Ionian Islands. With a powerful, reliable, efficient engine that also saves fuel, Trawlers have an excellent cruising range and can sail for hundreds of miles at speeds approaching 10 knots. With beautifully balanced flowing lines, the entire Trawler line has a semi-displacement hull and the Grand Trawler 62 a displacement hull. This contributes to their performance and excellent sea keeping. 

Weeks on Board in True Comfort

At anchor or underway, the Trawler is a joy to live aboard as a couple, or with friends or family. The quality of the equipment, size of the living spaces and the storage capacity make life very easy-going and offer peace of mind over long periods. The central living space is the wheelhouse saloon, which has an all-round panoramic view, so that you can comfortably enjoy the surrounding seascapes. The galley connects the interior space to the cockpit outside, through a large glass door that opens to create a large seamless space in sunny weather. The bright spacious cabins are stylishly designed with multi-ple woodwork, upholstery and lining trim options.

Reliability and safety are fundamental in a passagemaker. Firstly, with regard to passengers, the cock-pit is completely closed, and the freeboards and high guard rails offer extra safety when the boat is underway. When cruising the oceans, the hull cuts easily and effectively through the water, even in sloppy seas. Lastly, the engine saves fuel at cruising speed, but can also quickly accelerate to 20 knots if you need to get back to harbour for an emergency or to sidestep strong gales and rough seas.

Fantastic Feature

SEANAPPS : The Trawlers are smart boats, fitted with the SEANAPPS system, a mobile application that you use from your smart box. With SEANAPPS  sail safely in peace of mind. It allows you to check the status of your boat, anticipate maintenance and access your Boat Maintenance Book 24 hours. 

1681 Trawlers were sold up until the end of the 2022 tax year, since the boat was first designed in 2003! 

Designed for ocean cruising , beautiful crossings and passagemaking, Trawlers stand apart for their cruising range over long distances, their seaworthiness, and relaxed comfort over long periods. Of course, these wonderfully comfortable and spacious boats are also perfect for coastal cruising with your family or friends. The Trawler handles easily and has a large swim platform as well as a vast seamless space running from the cockpit outside to the driving station through a sliding glass door, so they also lend themselves well to dayboating on a sunny day.

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Models of the range.

Length Overall

11.29 m / 37’0’’

Beam overall

4.03 m / 13’3’’

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13.43 m / 44’1’’

4.25 m / 13’11’’

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Top 6 Trawlers For Cruising With Families [Yacht Buyer’s Guide]

Fast, slow, large or small — these are the best trawler yachts for family fun on the water..

Looking for a boat to accommodate your family? Look no further than the trawler, boating’s distinct type of vessel that’s designed for long distanced cruising or extended vacations. Livability and practicality make trawlers a perfect family yacht . They offer spacious accommodation and versatility in performance while being easy for the captain to maneuver.

We’re featuring the top 6 trawlers for cruising with families, currently for sale with Denison Yachting. No need to pack light when setting out on an unforgettable boating adventure aboard one of these vessels.

1. Beneteau Swift Trawler 41

The Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 is a new addition to the swift trawler fleet and an excellent option for families. She’s affordable, spacious, and great on fuel — at a top speed of 23 knots, she can drive to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale with plenty of fuel left to cruise around and return without a refill.

Large interior windows create an ideal galley for parents to watch the kids play in the water while making lunch. She can accommodate up to seven people with three cabins, two heads, and fully equipped amenities to enjoy long-distance cruises or weekend trips with family and friends. She’s available in a flybridge or sedan style.

The new Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 exudes safety and luxury while preserving performance and comfort. The ST 41 will be featured at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2020 — stop by to check her out or contact a Denison yacht broker for a private showing of this seaworthy cruiser.

2. 86’ Outer Reefs Yacht 2017

This 86′ Outer Reef Yacht , named Simon Says , was designed for travel. Her systems were built and optimized for sea conditions that would otherwise prevent a similar size yacht to seek shelter in the closest port. This trawler is made to accommodate a family, plus crew with eight cabins in total.

Her 3,500-gallon fuel reserve lets her sail comfortably for an extended period of time at a cruising speed that ranges from 8.5 knots to 14.5 knots. Her standout features include a sky lounge, beautiful teak, and spacious country kitchen that makes her the perfect trawler for accommodating families.

3. 70’ Marlow 2008

Pappy’s Toy is an elegant used trawler for sale with Denison Yachting. This family trawler was recently updated with a new bottom paint job, hull compound and wax, and new stabilizer seals. She’s equipped and built for long-range cruising with the help of a crew.

This 70’ Marlow is made for cruising with families because she’s comfortable, spacious, and homey. Her standout features include a wet bar, a large entertainment center, and a VIP guest stateroom. Pappy’s Toy is ready to take you on a luxury family adventure along the coasts.

4. Beneteau Swift Trawler 47

Another new addition to the Swift Trawler range is Beneteau’s Swift Trawler 47 . She offers more room and more power than your typical trawler. The ST 47 provides a true sense of comfort and the ability to take you farther and faster.

The new ST 47 features an open-deck layout, with large walkways and handrails to help passengers move around safely. Her generous cabin space can accommodate up to eight people on board the vessel. She combines those familiar characteristics of a classic long-range cruiser with the speed and convenience of a yacht twice her size.

5. 70’ Marlow 2005

Marlow Yachts were built with performance and innovation in mind. Bravo Zulu is the most well-equipped and meticulously maintained used Marlows for sale with Denison Yachting. Her updates were made with a family in mind, including a brand new electronics package, new teak decks on the swim platform, and a flybridge enclosure to protect from the elements.

Her three-stateroom, four-head layout with separate crew quarters makes her a comfortable trawler to live in. The master suite includes a king-size berth, office, and plenty of storage — there’s even a separate washer and dryer. You can easily spend weeks on Bravo Zulu and feel pleasantly at home on the water.

6. 65′ Hampton 2009

This 69′ Hampton 2009, named FeuryUs , is for sale in Old Saybrook, Connecticut with Denison Yachting. She’s in excellent condition with over $300,000 in upgrades, including new Garmin electronics, joystick dockmate remote control, and stabilizers with larger fins. FeuryUs is perfect for families or entertaining guests as she’s fully equipped with four cabins, four heads, a cozy salon, and a large aft deck. She’s stable and reliable, with plenty of space for storage and entertaining.

FeuryUs has the capability of a 1,500-mile range at 8 knots (900 rpm), but can be pushed up to 19 knots at full throttle (in case you need to outrun a storm or want to get back in time for happy hour on the dock). She’s is one of those yachts that make you feel unstoppable on the water, and she’s ready to make memories with you and your family.

Trawlers are an excellent choice if you’re in the market for a comfortable and spacious boat. Their large fuel capacity makes them ideal for long-distance cruising and overnight vacations. Contact a Denison yacht broker to find the right trawler for you and your family.

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The 10 Most-Exciting Yacht Debuts at the Palm Beach International Boat Show

Besides the debut of smaller vessels, more than 60 yachts over 100 feet will be at palm beach this week. it promises to be a banner event., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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For superyacht shoppers, the Palm Beach International Boat Show, kicking off its four-day run this week, is set to break records with more than 60 yachts over 100 feet long on display. Last year was also a banner year for superyachts at the show. 

Headliners will include the likes of the 295-foot Corsair Nero ,  the 278-foot Victorious by AKYacht, the 230-foot Turquoise-built Talisman C , and 213-foot Benetti Triumph among brokerage yachts, and in new yachts, the 113-foot Ocean Alexander Puro 35 is making its world debut.  

There are so many gleaming white vessels over 100 feet, in fact, that the fleet will be split between the Palm Harbor Marina at the main show site on the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront and the Safe Harbor Rybovich Marina two miles north. 

Now in its 42nd year, PBIBS will also showcase hundreds of models of dayboats, cruisers, and fishing boats, as well as marine accessories. Running from this Thursday through Sunday, the show coincides with the Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art show, a fortuitous opportunity for yacht owners wanting to add new art to their collections.

Here are 10 must-see boats at this year’s show.

Corsair Yachts ‘Nero’

The undisputed star of this year’s Palm Beach show? That would be the 295-foot, classically styled superyacht Nero , built in 2007 and inspired by American financier J.P. Morgan’s legendary 1930s steamer Corsair IV . Nero ‘s attendance at PBIBS marks its return to the charter market after an extensive refit in 2021. Now better than new, the boat is being managed by Burgess. With weekly charter rates from $497,000, the vessel offers five-star accommodations for 12 guests in six cabins, with pampering from a crew of 20. Part of the refit included a full interior refresh by Italian interior designer Laura Pomponi, plus a major focus on wellness. That meant the construction of a new, state-of-the-art gym and spa, the assistance of a certified onboard trainer, a masseuse and beautician. After PBIBS, Nero will spend the winter in the Caribbean before returning to the Med for the summer season.

Ocean Alexander Puro 35P

Ocean Alexander is debuting the first of its new Puro superyacht series at PBIBS. The 113-foot Puro 35P comes from the drawing board of Italian designer Giorgio M. Cassetta and is a step back from the polarizing lines of OA’s recent Revolution and Explorer series with their bold, vertical bow designs. Aimed at long-distance cruising, the 35P can carry over 5,000 gallons of fuel and is powered by twin 2,000 hp MAN V12s for a 24-knot top speed. Twin 55kW Kohler generators can also keep the yacht powered at anchor for long periods. Other standout features include extensive glazing in the chiseled fiberglass hull, a forward deck plunge pool, and spacious accommodations for 10 guests. 

Think of it as the “starter” Sirena. Aimed at a younger demographic, the Turkish builder’s brand-new Sirena 48 is making its U.S. debut at PBIBS after a global reveal at last fall’s Cannes boat show. Such is its appeal that 27 hulls have already been sold, with 13 of the orders coming from North America. Looking like a scaled-down version of Sirena’s popular 58, its distinctive, trawler-style lines are from Argentinian designer Germán Frers. With more interior space than a typical 48-footer, the yacht offers three staterooms—plus a crew cabin—a spacious, light-filled salon, a large cockpit, an oversized flybridge, and a vast forward social area. Take your pick from twin 550 hp Cummins QSB, or 670 hp Volvo D11 turbo diesels. Or the builder is also offering hybrid power with twin 285 hp electric motors charged up by variable-speed generators that are good for a 30-mile battery-only range.

Feadship ‘Olympus’

Picture purchasing a classic 180-foot Feadship superyacht, and then getting a $10 million bill for a major refit. That was the case with Olympus , built by the Dutch masters at Feadship in 1996 to a design by Britain’s Andrew Winch and the celebrated naval architect Frits De Voogt. Sold in 2022, the new owner sent it to the Monaco Marine refit center in La Ciotat, France for a major makeover. It included overhauling the 2,600 hp Caterpillar engines and generators, repairs to the structure, substantial upgrades to the guest areas and crew quarters, and new paint throughout. With the work completed just last year, the vessel is said to be in mint condition. Offered jointly by brokers Fraser and Edmiston, Olympus has an asking price of $28.5 million. With accommodations for 16 guests in eight cabins, the boat’s highlights include two primary suites, tropical-spec air conditioning, and Palm Beach-chic decor.

Benetti ‘Triumph’

Italian yachting powerhouse Benetti is showing off its superyacht-building skills with the 213-foot Triumph . Delivered in 2021, this Giorgio M. Cassetta-designed steel-and-aluminum world girder features six decks, a 1,400-square-foot primary suite with outdoor terrace and adjoining lounge, a 750-square-foot beach club, and a touch-and-go helipad. What sets Triumph apart, however, is its lavish interior furnishings put together by the owner along with Benetti Interior Style and Monaco-based Green & Mingarelli Design. It includes pieces by French glassmaker Lalique, marble from Marfil, Statuario and Armani, furs, silk and wool carpets, plus a collection of cool black-and-white wildlife photographs by British fine art photographer David Yarrow. The pièce de résistance? That would be the owner’s Triumph Bonneville motorcycle displayed in the salon.

Fjord 39 XP/XL

Germany’s Fjord Yachts, part of the Hanse Group, has a new 39-foot day boat that it’s unveiling at the Palm Beach show. The 39 XP and XL keep all the bold design cues of the bigger Fjord 41 XP and XL, like a big, open cockpit, walkaround center console, vertical bow, mile-high windshield and stretched hardtop. As for the differences between the XP and XL, it’s all about power. The XL comes with a choice of twin 320hp Volvo D4 diesels, or bigger 440 hp D6 versions, both with Volvo stern drives. Likely more appealing to U.S. buyers will be the XP powered by twin 400 hp Mercury Verado V10 outboards giving a 50-knot top speed. Pricing starts at around $500,000.

Turquoise ‘Talisman C’

Chandeliers don’t come more dramatic than this. Cascading down the central spiral staircase of the Turkish-built, 231-foot superyacht Talisman C , this jaw-dropping piece of art comprises an array of multi-colored glass balls threaded on stainless-steel rods and illuminated by hanging fiber-optic strands. It’s the creation of Prague-based Crystal Caviar and is one of a number of glass installations on this sleek, low-profile superyacht. Built in 2011 by the Proteksan Turquoise shipyard, Talisman C was designed inside and out by London-based studio H2 Yacht Design, with naval architecture by Italy’s Hydro Tec. With cabins for 12 guests, one of its highlights is a huge primary suite, which boasts more crystal chandeliers and a private library. Twin 2,447 hp Caterpillar diesels give a top speed of 18 knots and a transatlantic range of 7,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. It’s listed with Burgess for $59.9 million. 

Sanlorenzo 44 ‘Kamakasa’

Delivered in 2020 and sold to a new buyer just last August, the 146-foot Sanlorenzo 44 Alloy Kamakasa will be for sale at PBIBS. The asking price, through the Italian Yacht Group, is $23.75 million. Lack of use might also be the issue here; the yacht’s twin 2,600 hp MTU V16 diesels have a mere 289 hours on the clock. Built in aluminum to a design by Rome-based Zuccon International Project, Kamakasa was the second hull in the Sanlorenzo 44 Alloy series. One of the top features is a primary suite that spans three levels and almost 1,600 square feet; it also comes with a private Jacuzzi, separate bathrooms, a walk-in closet, and a private study. The yacht’s lightweight construction and MTU power combine to deliver an impressive 20-knot top speed.

Bahama 41 GT2

As ultimate, reel-’em-in, fishing center consoles go, the Bahama 41 from West Palm Beach-based Bahama Boat Works is as hard-core as they come. But when owners kept asking for a little more comfort for the family, the builder responded. The result is the brand-new flagship 41 GT debuting at PBIBS. While the proven, wave-slicing hull stays the same, the cockpit layout is new. In place of the single bench seat, there are now three-across bucket seats with a second row behind. The wider console now has space for a pair of 22-inch Garmin screens, while the new extended hardtop features sun shades and even a rain shower. Outboard choices stay the same with either twin Mercury V12 600s, or four 400 hp Mercury V10s, good for a 65-knot-plus top speed. Pricing is from around $920,000.

Heesen ‘Book Ends’

Launched in 2022, this 164-foot Heesen is part of the Book Ends collection, owned by an American couple who have had more than 18 yachts with the same name. The exterior design of this Heesen was by Omega Architects, while Dutch studio Van Oossanen did the naval architecture. The yacht is part of Heesen’s fast cruising series, which is more efficient than other vessels its size, and can reach 23 knots at full speed with its MTU 16V 4000 M65L engines. The yacht is listed through Ocean Independence for 42 million Euro, or about $45.7 million.

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Best Trawlers for 2024 – Top 5 Options to Consider

Swift Trawler 50

Nordic Tugs 54 Trawler

Ranger Tugs R-23

If you love the idea of long-range cruising on the open ocean in a seaworthy vessel that offers the creature comforts you need to live in your watercraft for extended periods, a trawler is precisely what you need in your life.

It’s the closest thing you can get to a yacht without the hefty price tag that comes with it. If you squint hard enough, trawlers look like mini-yachts.

They are stout vessels fitted with powerful engines, a skeg, and a displacement hull designed to plane on the water. Below deck, you’ll find a pilothouse forward, an engine room, a freezer hold, a galley, and accommodations that can host a small crew.

But, perhaps the most important feature of trawlers is that they are designed for fishing . Most come with heavy fishing machinery such as net rollers and trawl winches, which incidentally, is how these vessels get their name. They tow a net through the water to herd and capture fish – a technique known as “trawling.”

So, what are the best trawlers, and how do you choose the best one? We’ve reviewed the top 5 options and put together a comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you pick the best one.

Beneteau is best known for its range of powerboat and sailboat watercraft . Now, if you thought those boats were amazing, you haven’t seen their range of Swift Trawlers.

The Swift Trawler 50 , in particular, is an absolute beauty. It has an expansive interior with lots of natural lighting and exquisite intelligently-designed fittings that make it perfect for both fishing expeditions, as well as romantic or family getaways if you ever need a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The boat has a spacious deck plan with wide walkways and high bulwarks for added safety onboard. Standard features include a flybridge lounge that comes with a foldable sliding table, an external galley with a sink and worktop, as well as an optional electric grill.

The U-shaped galley comes with two refrigerators, an extractor hood, a double sink, and a service hatch. All in all, the Swift Trawler 50 adds a whole new dimension to luxury cruising.

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● Fully-customizable ● Spacious and luxurious interior ● Comes with lots of convenience amenities

● Slightly pricey

If you love the finer things in life and don’t mind spending a little extra moolah on a boat, you need to check out the Nordic Tugs 54 Trawler. Its meticulous craftsmanship, stunning exterior design, and plush interior finishes make this vessel feel like an ultra-luxurious home on the water.

This American-built trawler has plenty of room inside and comfortably sleeps up to six people. We particularly love its custom wooden fittings that blend luxury and sophistication to give you a true masterpiece.

The beauty of this Nordic tug isn’t skin deep either. This trawler is powered by a 670hp diesel Volvo Penta engine to give you a cruising range of approximately 2,600 NM at 8 knots. So, if you want a vessel that oozes opulence and has loads of comfort and convenience features to boot, the 54 Trawler is precisely what you need.

● Excellent craftsmanship ● Exquisite interior finishes ● Large cruising range

● It’s a bit of a fuel guzzler

Trawlers don’t exactly come cheap. Most of them retail for $500,000+. The Ranger Tugs R-23, however, was designed with the price-conscious boater in mind. At a base price of only $115,000, this trawler boat delivers outstanding value for money.

It is powered by a 200hp Yamaha outboard engine and has a very open and airy feeling about it. The galley is equipped with a microwave, cooktop, and refrigerator with a freezer. This ensures that you have everything you need for those long extended stays out on the water.

It has plenty of storage and is highly versatile – a feature that ensures every space on the boat has multiple uses. For instance, the dinette converts to a sleeper, while the mid-berth can be used as storage or converted to a sleeper for the kids. It also has separate sleeping accommodation for two, or you can add the filler cushion to combine them.

What sets the R-23 apart from other trawlers in its class is the fact that it has many of the same amenities you would expect in a larger cruising yacht. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a similar vessel at that price point.

● Great value for money ● Packed with loads of convenience amenities ● Suitable for long-range cruising

● The engine is slightly noisy

If you’re up for a cruising adventure on the open ocean, then you’ll love what the Kadey-Krogen range of trawlers brings to the table. The boat manufacturer has been around for more than four decades and has maintained its classic patented full-displacement hull design, making these trawlers one of the most stable vessels you’ll come across.

This makes them perfect for ocean cruising, even in rough waters and sloppy weather conditions. It has ample room to store all the fuel and supplies required for long passages across the ocean.

The Krogen 50 , in particular, is a work of art. Its beauty takes your breath away the moment you lay your eyes on it. The interior has a rich, cozy home-like feel that makes you forget you’re on the water. Every aspect of this trawler is designed meticulously to combine high-performance capabilities with livability.

● Built for long ocean cruises ● Provides exceptional stability even in the rough waters of the high seas ● Beautiful interior design

● Slower than other trawlers in its class

Nordhavn 41

No list of top trawlers would be deemed complete if it didn’t feature Nordhavn. The boat manufacturer has been around for several decades and is renowned for its well-engineered crafts built to last a lifetime.

Now, if you’re in the market for a liveaboard trawler that you can use to cross oceans on your cruise around the world, the Nordhavn 41 is designed to do just that. The folks there weren’t playing around when they built this boat.

They employed the world’s most advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics alongside the latest design technology to produce the safest and most efficient watercraft you’ll ever come across. It has ample liveaboard space, with an expansive galley that comes with loads of amenities like a stovetop, refrigerator, cabinetry, and a countertop.

It also has an exquisite master cabin and a guest stateroom that sleeps two. All in all, if you plan to live onboard your trawler, this is the boat you want to do it in.

● Roomy interior ● Has several convenience features ● Built to last a lifetime

● Fuel efficiency not as you would expect

How to Choose the Best Trawlers – Mistakes to Avoid

There’s an old saying that trawler owners have some of the most impressive cruising résumés in the boating world. That experience has come, in large part, from trial and error.

And, make no mistake about it – the opportunity to make a big blunder is always lurking around the corner. In this buyer’s guide, we explore some of the mistakes to avoid when you go trawler shopping, as well as some useful tips that will come in handy when looking for the best trawlers.

1. Setting Unrealistic Expectations

This is the easiest of mistakes to make, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. But, as long as you do your homework and research on the boat you want to buy, it’s easy to minimize the chances of making this classic rookie mistake.

The first step involves a serious introspection about what you want to use the boat for – for the first five years, at least. Five years is the sweet spot.

Do you plan to use it for some heavy-duty fishing, or do you intend to use it more for recreational purposes like cruising the open ocean waters with your family? Once that’s clear in your mind, then and only then can you start the search for your perfect boat.

There are three main things you need to think about when looking for the best trawlers to buy.

Hull Design

First is the hull design. This is important since it will affect the way your boat handles in rough waters. Ideally, you want a boat with a full-displacement hull that’s ballasted.

It should be able to give you the range you need to make long ocean passages and economic enough to get you to your destination and back without having to spend a small fortune in the process.

If, on the other hand, you want to get to your destination faster and don’t plan on venturing into exceptionally choppy waters, a trawler with a semi-displacement hull will suffice since it runs faster compared to its full-displacement counterparts.

The next thing you need to consider is the overall safety of the trawler you want to get. Some of the features you should be looking out for include its ability to navigate extreme weather conditions , remain stable in the rough open seas, and carry heavy equipment on board. The vessel you buy should also be unsinkable.

Finally, you should think about the comfort and convenience features that come with the boat. You are, after all, going to be out at sea for long periods.

Now, if the purpose of the boat you’re getting is exclusively for fishing, then you can get away with buying a basic boat with Spartan accommodations. Such a boat would be more focused on the fishing features built into the boat’s design and less on luxury.

On the other hand, if you intend to use it for recreational purposes, the majority of the time, get a boat whose interior setup makes it ideal for the whole family. It should have plenty of comfort and convenience amenities that make it feel like a home away from home.

Once you know the type of trawler you want to get based on what you plan to use it for, you can now start narrowing down the specific models that embody your vision for the perfect boat. Sea trials should soon follow to give you a feel of the trawler’s handling characteristics.

We cannot emphasize enough how important this step is. This is why you should take the sea trial bit very seriously. So, while the boat is still at the dealer’s dock, schedule a long sea trial, preferably in iffy weather, to put the trawler through her paces.

If you’re happy with the results, you can now address your expectations of the boat one at a time. Keep in mind that you may need to compromise on certain aspects of it. Nonetheless, based on how much customization the manufacturer allows for, you may be able to get a good number of the features you might want it to have.

2. Underestimating the True Cost of Owning a Trawler

This is yet another common mistake most first-time boat buyers make. You may become so fixated on buying a trawler that you end up overlooking the operational costs that come with owning one.

Now, owning a boat is nothing like owning a car. While both pieces of machinery need regular maintenance and occasional repairs to keep them in good running form, the costs associated with each are worlds apart.

A seemingly simple task like cleaning your trawler is nowhere near the price of taking your car to the drive-through carwash to get it spick and span. The process may involve getting experienced scuba divers to clean the underside of the trawler for you. That aside, other costs you have to factor in include:

• Boat insurance
• Fuel and oil changes
• Monthly slip fees at the marina
• Servicing and repair
• Spare parts
• Waxing it every 6 months
• … and several other expenses

Once you add all these up and break the figure into a monthly rate, you’ll be able to get what the true cost of ownership is. Buy a boat that’s within your budget while factoring-in what it will cost to run it.

3. Buying the Wrong Type of Boat

Again, this all comes down to your intended use of the vessel. If you’re looking to buy a liveaboard trawler, you might want to get something with a little more room. Boats can start to feel a little claustrophobic after a while. So, if that’s going to be you and your family’s full time living space, you might want to consider how much livable space the boat in question comes with.

The other thing you need to think about is the overall speed of the boat. A trawler with a full-displacement hull may offer the stability it needs to combat the high seas’ rough waters, but the tradeoff here will be speed. Boats with this type of hull move painfully slow through the water.

Think – A snail riding on a turtle’s back going, “Weeee…” as the wind blows across the snail’s head. In this case, you would be the snail, and the full-displacement-hull trawler would be the turtle. You may even experience the occasional sailboat zooming past you as you trudge along the water.

So, if speed matters a great deal to you, you’ll need to buy the right type of trawler. Perhaps one with a semi-displacement hull instead?

4. Not Involving Your Partner in the Purchase Process

The secret to the successful purchase of a trawler is a lot like relationships themselves: compromise.

To avoid putting your trawler up for sale less than a year after purchasing it, ensure your partner is involved in the decision-making process. You need to find a boat that you’re both happy with; otherwise, that’s just a disaster waiting to happen.

Since you’re both going to be spending considerable amounts of time out at sea, it’s important that boating is an equal passion for both partners. The boat in question needs to have the features and amenities you both want in a great trawler.

Granted, you may not get a vessel that addresses all the individual needs of each party, but it’s about compromise once again. Find a middle ground that makes you both happy.

5. Impulse Buying

Trawling is a lifestyle, not a hobby. If it’s a day cruising boat you’re after, this isn’t it. Trawlers are designed for people who intend to spend most of their time on the water, fishing in the high seas.

So, if you recently attended a boat show and fell in love with that swanky-looking trawler you came across, you might want to pause before you go ahead and purchase it. As a rule of thumb, never sign a contract when you’re at a boat show – tempting as it may be.

Don’t get sucked-in by the artificial pricing of boats, only to end up entangled in a long-term financial commitment simply because you made an impulse decision in the heat of the moment. Understand what trawlers are intended for and take the time to figure out if that’s the lifestyle you envision for yourself for the next five years.

If it is, avoid making the mistakes outlined in the previous sections when choosing the best trawler to buy.

The Ultimate Adventure-Filled Lifestyle

If you’re passionate about the trawling, we recommend getting any of the 5 boats we’ve reviewed in this guide. Ensure that you avoid making the common mistakes made by first-time boat buyers when shopping for the best trawlers.

One thing is for sure, though. You’re about to embark on the most thrilling adventure of your entire life.

In the meantime, if a yacht is more your speed, we’ve reviewed the best yachts . They’re worth checking out.

About Chris

Outdoors, I’m in my element, especially in the water. I know the importance of being geared up for anything. I do the deep digital dive, researching gear, boats and knowhow and love keeping my readership at the helm of their passions.

Categories : Boats

michael mann on August 5, 2021

i really enjoyed your article. the 5 boats you have listed are very ocean capable. i do have a question. how about BERING yachts. i believe their full-displacement and are also ocean crossing capable? can you tell me anything about BERING yachts? and why they didn’t make your list?

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A Complete Guide to Liveaboard Trawlers: All You Need to Know

Are you thinking about spending a few days at sea on a boating adventure? Living out on the ocean on a dive trip or an extended deep-sea fishing journey is an experience you’ll never forget.

Some boats allow you to live permanently out on the water. Liveaboard trawlers are an example of a vessel equipped to spend days or weeks at sea without the need to return to land.

Trawlers also make popular liveaboard boats for marinas, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle, and the expense, of living in the city. Liveaboard trawlers suit everything from student accommodation in a marina to a research vessel for marine scientists.

The liveaboard trawler gives you all the conveniences of living in an apartment. Sure, you might not have the floor space you get with an apartment, but not everyone needs that in their life. Liveaboard trawlers provide you with a snug, comfortable living space.

This post unpacks everything you need to know about liveaboard trawlers.

What Are Liveaboard Trawlers?

Trawlers typically feature displacement hulls and wide beams, with single or twin outboard or inboard motors powering the boat . Trawlers are one of the more popular fishing boats , and they work well as liveaboard dive boats.

A liveaboard trawler is ideal for traveling long distances up and down the east or west coast or around the Great Loop. They make sturdy vessels for deep-sea conditions and can handle rough weather.

What Is the Layout of a Liveaboard Trawler?

The trawler layout comes in many designs and setups, and they are highly customizable if you’re buying a new model from a dealership. If you’re buying pre-owned, it pays to shop around, and you might find an owner with plenty of additional customizations to their boat.

The good news for buyers is that pre-owned boats don’t fetch any extra market value for the accessories and extras included in the vessel. So, there’s a chance you could find a fully-kitted boat at a great price on the secondary market.

Regardless of the layout, most trawlers come with the following design features.

Berths and Cabins

The large displacement hull of the trawler means that there is plenty of room for a large berth. The size of the berth depends largely on the length of the boat. Depending on the boat manufacturing brand and the layout, a 40-foot trawler may accommodate up to eight to six people.

The berth usually features four small living quarters with bunk beds or full-size queen beds. The range of finishes and fittings varies depending on the price of the boat and the manufacturing brand .

Most trawlers under 40-feet come with a center cockpit and aft cabin layout. You’ll find a standard-sized bedroom and queen size bed in the aft, separated from the other living quarters.

These berths are far more spacious and accommodative than v-berths, and the cabin with Pullman berth, typically in the bow of the boat, provides a standard size bed with enough room to sit up in bed.

Dining and Entertainment Salon

The salon is the lounge and dining area of the boat, and it’s where people hang out during the day. Salons vary widely in design, depending on the manufacturer.

Some features, such as a drop-leaf folding table in the salon center, might make no sense to the design, making it hard to walk around the table. Some plans also offer you better natural lighting than others.

Look at the positioning of the port hatches and lights to get an idea of the light you’ll get inside the salon. You don’t want to feel like you’re living in a cold basement. Most trawler designs offer better lighting in the salon compared to other styles of boats.

Many have panoramic windows and other features to bring in more natural light. However, the more glass on the boat, the higher the price tag.

If you’re out at sea for a few days, you’re going to need somewhere to cook your meals. The galley is a small kitchen in the boa, usually in an L-shape design. The design allows the chef to wedge themselves into the L to give them stability when cooking in rough weather conditions.

Look for features like double-sinks, plenty of counter space, burners, refrigerators, and electrical outlets. Don’t forget about the dedicated storage space for your dinnerware and cookware. If the stove features a propane burner, check to see that you have enough space to fit a 50lbs tank, at minimum.

Captains Cockpit

The captain’s cockpit sits high up on the trawler, overlooking the ocean, giving the driver a 360-degree view of the water. Most cockpits come sealed from the elements, with sides and walls. Some boats may have an open-back design to the cockpit, while others come with folding doors.

A few models come with an open cockpit design featuring waterproof consoles and a windshield. The issue with this design is that it’s not very weather-friendly. You’ll need to invest in a Bimini top for shade and rain protection when driving the boat.

If you’re regularly operating the vessel in cold and rainy conditions, we recommend going with a canvas bridge and full enclosure if you have the budget.

Storage Systems

Boats’ storage space comes at a premium, and the more you have, the better. The galley should feature cupboards for your plates and dry goods, the bedrooms should have closets and drawers for your clothes, and the captain’s area and salon should have enough storage to accommodate your fishing and dive gear.

Older boat models tend to have more storage space than newer designs. The cost of having a streamlined design with spacious living areas means that you have less storage space on modern models.

If you need extra storage space for your boat, consider purchasing dock boxes and using one of the cabins as a storage area.

The head, or the bathroom, differs between boats. The higher the price tag, the better the bathroom. Regardless of the price of the vessel, the head should include a shower, basin, and toilet.

Many boats don’t come with showers, but we recommend going for one with a shower if you can find it; it helps with rinsing the salt from your skin after a dive or swim.

The shower should connect to the water heater, and the boat should come with enough capacity for storing fresh water for a long trip at sea. The larger boats come with two heads on board.

Benefits of Liveaboard Trawlers

The liveaboard trawler offers you a unique on-the-water living experience compared to sailboats and other common watercraft choices for long trips at sea.

Here are the top advantages of buying a liveaboard trawler.

Wide Hulls and Roomy Interiors

As mentioned, the wide displacement hull of the boat means the trawler comes with plenty of generous space below the deck . You get bigger sleeping accommodations and better finishes and fittings than small boats.

Plenty of Headroom

The trawler comes with plenty of headroom, and you’ll find it easy to stand up straight in the bedrooms, kitchen, and salon. They are the ideal entertainment vessel, and they also have plenty of deck space for having a party in great weather.

Superior Stability

The hard chines of the trawler bring exceptional stability to the boat. As a result, there is less rocking effect than in other boat designs using rounded chines.

Shallow Draft

The trawler has a shallow draft, thanks to its displacement hull design. As a result, it’s the ideal choice for navigating through shallow waters where yachts and sailboats can’t go. It’s a great choice for waterways around the Florida Keys, where the water can get shallow fast.

Good Bridge Clearance

Most trawlers are bridge-friendly, and they can sail under without raising the bridge.

Drawbacks of Liveaboard Trawlers

Liveaboard trawlers have a few drawbacks compared to other liveaboard options on the market.

Slow Cruising Speeds

Trawlers are not performance vessels. Most of them reach speeds of between six to seven knots, and they don’t benefit from the wind.

Noisy Engines

The trawler’s engines are noisy, and they can detract from the experience on the vessel.

Trawlers are Thirsty

Trawlers have one of the highest fuel consumption rates of any boat design.

High Maintenance Requirements

The larger the trawler, the larger the maintenance bill.

Hard to Handle in Rough Weather Conditions

The displacement hull in the trawler makes it more suitable for calm weather conditions, and they tend to “slap” on the water in rough weather conditions. Sailboats and other designs will slice through the water.

What Is the Suggested Length for My Liveaboard Trawler?

If you’re looking at sizing your trawler, follow these guidelines.

• 25-35 feet for singles.
• 35-45 feet for couples.
• 40+ feet for four or more people.

Take the Liveaboard Trawler for a Sea Test

We recommend downloading the Boatsetter app. This app is like the Airbnb of the boating industry, and you can rent a trawler directly from its owner. It’s a great way to see if you like the trawler layout and design before finalizing a purchase.

If you get out on the water and find that you don’t like the boat’s handling or the noisy engines , a test drive could end up saving you from making a big mistake. The reality is liveaboard trawlers are expensive boats, and you don’t want to spend all that money to end up with a vessel you don’t like.

Affordable Trawlers Under 40-Feet

Nordhavn 40.

This trawler is an excellent example of a 40 footer that’s a great choice for cruising. The Nordhavn is an established sea-faring brand with a reputation for high-quality builds and designs. It successfully completed a global circumnavigation and the Atlantic crossing.

The N40 is the shortest vessel in the Nordhavn range of ocean-crossing trawlers, and it comes with a real pedigree backing it. You get a full displacement hull design with a 900-gallon fuel capacity providing a range of up to 2,400 nautical miles per tank .

The boat features a buoyant bow design with a dry ride, and the forefoot in the bow design helps the boat cut through the water like a sailboat to avoid slap in choppy conditions. We like the Seakeeper gyro-stabilization system that minimizes rocking and rolling.

With the N40, you get an amazing vessel and one of the highest-quality trawler designs available.

Affordable Trawlers Over 40-Feet

Beneteau swift trawler 44.

The Beneteau “fast” trawler range, including the “Swift Trawler 44,” debuted back in 2011, and it’s one of the top-selling trawlers of the last decade.

You get twin Volvo Penta 300-HP diesel engines, providing a top speed of up to 23+ knots, which is far above the seven to eight knots you’re going to get with most other trawler models. The boat has one of the best cruising speeds in the market, and it comes with an elegant look.

You’ll find plenty of room topside on the deck, and a spacious cockpit in the aft, loaded with teak trim. There’s a large foredeck on the boat ideal for dancing, fishing, or any other activity where you need plenty of room.

The cabin top and sun pad area feature a large flybridge deck and plenty of seating with storage available for an inflatable dinghy. Drop anchor and paddle to the shore of an island for some exploring. The boat’s interior features a two-stateroom design plan, with a master bedroom in the bow and guest accommodation in the aft.

It’s an amazing boat, but it comes with a heavy price tag. The base model starts at $500,000, and you could end up adding another $200,000 in accessories.

Wrapping Up – Get the Best Liveaboard Experience with a Trawler

Whether you’re going out on the ocean for a liveaboard dive trip, or you need the boat for a few days to go on a deep-sea fishing trip, the trawler is a great choice. This boat is a cruiser’s dream with plenty of space, luxury accommodations, and living quarters.

John is an experienced journalist and veteran boater. He heads up the content team at BoatingBeast and aims to share his many years experience of the marine world with our readers.

A Complete Guide to Micro Skiffs: All You Need to Know!

A complete guide to narrow boats: all you need to know, a guide to aluminum fishing boats.

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Fish Catcher Jim Member

We have been looking at trawlers as well as motor yaghts and some sport fishing boats all of course live aboards. Now then I am truly impressed with some of these trawlers such as the Albins and Mainship and Hatteras and so forth. I am wondering if those with a modified V hull will handle any better or worse then those claiming a semi displacment hull? My concerns are the speeds as well. I like the idea of a trawler cruising at or around 5 to 8 kn and top out a 17 to 24 kn. I want some power and speed when i need it and the ability to crawl sipping fuel as well. I also want at least a 5 ft X Beam deck as close to open as I can get and thats as important as well. The plan is looping for at least a year (probably more) but I also want the ease of doing a little fishing here and there. Not looking to run 30 miles out or anything but a few miles away from the marina or bay what have you. Another concern is holding tanks.......... seems too many of them short change you and thats also a big concern. Sorry for taking this post in several directions butI figured if threw a few needs or wants in there it might add to any replies... Thank You for your time Jim

Capt J Senior Member

What size range are you looking for? What price range? Those two items will help with any advice someone could give you.

NYCAP123 Senior Member

Welcome to YF Jim. Given your plans let me first recommend that you check out the thread Great Loop Cruise Video, and also Google the AGLCA. There are lots of boats that meet your criteria, and some (like 17 to 24 kt. WOT) that you'll find aren't as important for the task as you currently think. Things like holding tank size are fairly easy to remedy on a lot of boats simply by increasing the size tank (s). I was at the AGLCA Spring rendevous in Norfolk (and there's another this month at Joe Wheelers), and there were as many different types of boat as there were boaters. From 23' trailerables to our 60' Hatt. So give us a few more specifics about what you're looking for, to do, what's a must have, etc. and I'm sure we can give you some good places to start your search.

Capt J said: ↑ What size range are you looking for? What price range? Those two items will help with any advice someone could give you. Click to expand...

NYCAP123 said: ↑ Welcome to YF Jim. Given your plans let me first recommend that you check out the thread Great Loop Cruise Video, and also Google the AGLCA. NYCAP123 Thank You and I am glad to be here and I will check out the links as well. Right now the hull design is something I am trying to narrow down as well as type of layout. I have been steered towards motor yaghts and sport fishing boats and this and that and full vs semi displacement hulls and for this DV outboard guy it has been a learning adventure to say the least. I mean all I used to look for was a reversed chine and so on. lol I think once I narrow down a hull style I will be more prepared to narrow down a brand or style of boat. I have allways been throttle down and get out to the fish right now and then over there real fast and so forth. However in this new realm of things I have to learn all over so to speak and think slow or slower. I think my biggest thing to overcome is trying to find two boats in one and learn to adapt a little. Looked at a 2006 Albin North Sea Cutter 40 and there was enough deck space to enjoy some serious fishing with no overhanging top to get in the way. Just not sure 40 is the best fit. The Loop is a big part of the boat in question as is living aboard and also cruising out in open water. I do NOT want to be stuck with a puddle jumper and calm days and canals and rivers. LOL Dont get me wrong I am also not looking for 1000 pluss horse either. Thank You again NYCAP123 Jim Click to expand...

Since your plan is Looping, I'd keep it closer to the 39' size if you can handle living on that. We're currently Looping on a 56' Hatteras (60'LOA), and we're a very big boat for the job. Finding dockage and sufficient electric up north and out west can be a challenge, our air draft requires lowering our arch for places like the Erie Canal, Trent Severn and Chicago, our 4'10" draft could also be an issue in a lot of places along the loop. Most of the fishing along the fresh water part of the Loop is drop the line type as opposed to trawling, so I'd stay away from SF. Since Looping is all about cruising a long distance over a long period (we'll be doing it over about 3 years from purchase date), I think you'll find fuel economy more important than speed. Most loopers cruise around 50 miles a day, with 90 miles a long day. We were just cruising with a 36' GB that tops out about 8.5 kts. To me that's just a bit slow, especially if you get a late start or get hung up. To me about 12kt. cruise with no more that an 18kt. top end is ideal. Remember that speed = $$$, both to buy and run. You want what you need for your purpose. There are lots of rainy days in the northern section. So interior space is more important than cockpit space. A full keel is also very helpful as you'll find yourself in some very shallow waters, and it's nice to have your running gear protected. It's more a case of when you'll touch bottom rather than if.

Thank You Again NYCAP123 It's funny you mentioned stay away from a SF because even though I really and I mjean really liked 2 Hatteras's and an EggHarbor and ranged from 36 to 59 I began to think a little about the slow cruise and the bigger engines burning more fuel even at slow speeds and it might not be as stable anchored up as some other hull types. Looked at a 36 SB tonight and it actually was a 31 foot and it was ok but rather on the tight side of things. I agree with interior being more important then cockpit space and I know that I know I do not want just a L setting dinette one one side and gally on the other but then again a 2 foot or less by beam cockpit wont do either. I am really paying some attention to several GB and several Albins in the 36 to 44 foot range. The only issue I have is the unprotected running gear ( lack of Keel ) on the ones I saw. Now I really liked what I (saw) not heard within the lord nelson tugs I looked at and were all 37 ft with lots of moving around space but 7 or 8 knts top end and lots of slack towards them came my way. The other factor is single vs. twin. I am not used to only having one form of power and always ran with a second form vering from a kicker to twins or something. Being out like that I just dont understand why you would ever run a single. LOL I need a wing engine for sure. What about hulls? So many choices and so many questions. I say we will take a year at least but in all truth, well there is no desire to ever really stop and If I had it my way (lol) we would just go from N to S and stay warm and Fish. Any way thank you again. Jim

Single vs twim. All depends on whether economy is more important than maneuverability.The Hatt I'm running doesn't need a thruster, but we put one on and I was real grad to have it at several locations. I like twins. It's just easier and more reliable. I like speed, but speed costs money. 8 kts. is too slow for me. 10-12 kts. works. Personal preference. Were I coming off a sailboat, 8 kts would feel like NASCAR. You don't need a keel, but it's a good thing for this kind of running. More protection in the shallows and more stability at slow speeds.

Take a look at the Lagoon 43/44' Powercats (same boat, different exterior layout.) You want the larger engines. But they do 10 knots at 3 mpg, 12 knots at 2mpg and 16.5 knot cruise at 1.5 GPM with the large Volvo's. Very efficient, very seaworthy, and very stable with a lot of interior and exterior room......albeit there are a lot of steps inside, but you have 3 real staterooms and 3 real heads. Bigger engines in SF are just as fuel efficient down low as trawlers almost. SF have a very fast hull speed and it doesn't take a lot of HP to push them at 10 knots or below. You will need to run them up to cruise for 30 mins a couple of times a day, but they're also very seaworthy and would make a great loop boat IMO providing the height on the hardtop is low enough. The cockpit is also easy to handle lines. Look at a Cabo 40' FB with the zues, you have fuel efficiency and maneuverability.

The trouble with the power cat is her beam. It'll severely limits the docking options. A big problem with SF and such is the lack of a lower helm station, and often ladders to the bridge. With the Hatt we spend 90% of the time at the lower helm station. It's easier to work lines from, better weather protection and doesn't set the helmsman apart. Also it's a lot of wasted hp. When you're in no hurry to get anywhere, who wants to burn 70 gph (or even 30 gph) getting there. Of all the boats at the AGLCA Spring Rendavous rhere was one SC and no SF. There were no boats capable of doing more than about 20 kts., and most were around 10 kt or less WOT boats.

Up until this afternoon I would not give a second look at anything with a top speed of 8knts or so. That is until I started reading about the Great Harbor 37. Cruise is only 7.25 knts with about 2.5 gph burn. Twin 54 hp yanmars would have made me laugh until it hurt but reading what others have said about thiers sorta changes the way I am thinking. The whole set up makes sense to me but what do I know. Jim

Fish Catcher Jim said: ↑ Up until this afternoon I would not give a second look at anything with a top speed of 8knts or so. That is until I started reading about the Great Harbor 37. Cruise is only 7.25 knts with about 2.5 gph burn. Twin 54 hp yanmars would have made me laugh until it hurt but reading what others have said about thiers sorta changes the way I am thinking. The whole set up makes sense to me but what do I know. Jim Click to expand...

NYCAP123 said: ↑ I like. Only drawback is the speed. Be aware that there will be places where you'll face a 4 kt. current, which can make steering a bit dicey. Beyond that I've got nothing negative to add. Along those same lines check out the Florida Bay Coaster, one of my favorite boats. Click to expand...

Capt J said: ↑ Forget about the steering, in a 4 knot head current you hardly make way!!! Click to expand...

Tried to check out the flordia bay coasters but the site wont play well with my laptop here. The current and or wind is my only drawback or concern about the boat. So many articles written by folks who run the gh35 and 47 and have nothing bad to say about themand they seem to be going all over the place with them. Looked at the 42 nordic tug and some here fell for the lay out but there I was again, uhhhh single engine........ I think if the GH's would top out at least around 14 I would be very interested in them. Twin 54 hp in the 37 and 74 in 47 just leaves me with wonder. I come from a place where more hp was a good thing and getting on plane quickly and then back off to cruise was the norm and rigging with big enough trolling motors to fight the wind and current became an everyday thing...................... Now its cruise speeds and slow go and wheres the power scotty type of thing going on. lol Is it always this much fun finding the right fit in a liveaboard? LOL dont take me wrong I am not complaining...... Jim

As long as you're going faster than the current you're moving forward. It just requires care. Really the biggest challenge is a following current or coming into an inlet. Every boat has short-comings though. You find the boat that bests suits your needs, and then adapt to its nuances. There's a lot of sailboats out there sailing at 3 or 5 kts. on single engines and doing fine. And yes the search is a great adventure. Do it right and the rest of the adventures stays better as well.

olderboater Senior Member

NYCAP123 said: ↑ As long as you're going faster than the current you're moving forward. It just requires care. Really the biggest challenge is a following current or coming into an inlet. Every boat has short-comings though. You find the boat that bests suits your needs, and then adapt to its nuances. There's a lot of sailboats out there sailing at 3 or 5 kts. on single engines and doing fine. And yes the search is a great adventure. Do it right and the rest of the adventures stays better as well. Click to expand...

I see way too many people that get caught up in eeking out the most fuel efficiency they can. I think a 7 knot boat is really too enjoy the Great Loop in 1 year. You spend too much time transiting and not enough time enjoying the stops you want to enjoy. That being said I would want something Capable of cruising at 20-25knots and capable of doing at least 9, but 10 knots would be even better while not throwing a huge wake and at hull speed getting good fuel economy. Most of it 10 knots is a very good speed to do the loop in, BUT, some places you need to pick up the pace to get to marina's. Also, crossing the lakes themselves I would certaintly want to do at 20-25 knots. There is nothing to see in the middle of the lakes and the weather changes so quickly, so IMO someone else can wallow around at 7 knots when you see the wind on top of the lake really kick up and you want to get in, in 2 hours (40 miles) before it gets rough..... But everyone is different. Quite honestly, I think a SF with a hardtop and small dinghy on the bow could be a very good choice.......Or a 20-25 knot diesel motoryacht that has a good hull speed......but the smaller SF tend to have a better hull speed for their size.

Capt J said: ↑ I see way too many people that get caught up in eeking out the most fuel efficiency they can. I think a 7 knot boat is really too enjoy the Great Loop in 1 year. You spend too much time transiting and not enough time enjoying the stops you want to enjoy. That being said I would want something Capable of cruising at 20-25knots and capable of doing at least 9, but 10 knots would be even better while not throwing a huge wake and at hull speed getting good fuel economy. Most of it 10 knots is a very good speed to do the loop in, BUT, some places you need to pick up the pace to get to marina's. Also, crossing the lakes themselves I would certaintly want to do at 20-25 knots. There is nothing to see in the middle of the lakes and the weather changes so quickly, so IMO someone else can wallow around at 7 knots when you see the wind on top of the lake really kick up and you want to get in, in 2 hours (40 miles) before it gets rough..... But everyone is different. Quite honestly, I think a SF with a hardtop and small dinghy on the bow could be a very good choice.......Or a 20-25 knot diesel motoryacht that has a good hull speed......but the smaller SF tend to have a better hull speed for their size. Click to expand...

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Haven 1999 | 36' Sabreline 36 Fast Trawler Trawler for Sale

1999 sabreline, 36' (10.97m) 36 fast trawler - haven.

• Ft Myers Florida United States
• 36 Fast Trawler
• Fiberglass Hull

$ 139,900 USD

€ 129,904 euros $ 188,876 cad.

• EMAIL BROKER

Description

A perfect blend of classic styling, impressive performance, and exceptional comfort, this 36 Fast Trawler from Sabreline should not be overlooked. “Haven” has been impeccably maintained by its knowledgeable owners, and is without a doubt, the most updated 36 Fast Trawler on the market today. If you have been searching for a turnkey trawler-style vessel that is ready to comfortably cruise to your hearts content, then look no further. 

Highlights and recent updates include: 

• 2 Staterooms 2 Heads w/ Full Beam Aft Master  
• Private Access to Aft Deck from Master Stateroom 
• Full Walk Around Decks w/Raised Bulwarks and Railings 
• Port & Starboard Side Doors 
• Simrad GPS/Chart Plotter 
• Simrad Autopilot 
• Furuno Radar Display  
• Twin CAT 300 HP Diesel
• Northern Lights 6kW Generator (approx. 700 hours)  
• Oil Change System 
• Engine service (Feb. 2022) 
• Mastervolt Easy View 5 Remote Panel (Dec. 2018) 
• Marine Air Vector Compact 16 k BTU Reverse Cycle Heat and Air (Nov. 2015)  
• Breathe Easy UV Air Purifier System (Dec. 2015) 
• New Insulated AC Duct System (Dec. 2015) 
• General Ecology Seagull IV Water Filtration System (Oct. 2015) 
• 22 inch Samsung Flat screen Salon TV & Cable (Nov. 2015) 
• Demand Pressure Water System with Dockside Connection (Nov. 2015)  

LOA: 36' " (10.97 Meters)

Type: Power - Used

Beam: 12' 6"

Bridge Clearance: 23' "

Draft Max: 3' 4"

Draft Min: ' "

Maximum Speed: Knots

Cruise Speed: Knots

• Fuel Type: Diesel

Hull Material: Fiberglass

Fuel Tank: 300 Gallons (1135.62 Liters)

Fresh Water: 200 Gallons (757.08 Liters)

Holding Tank: 40 Gallons (151.42 Liters)

Full Details

Vessel walk through.

The 36 Sabreline Aft Cabin has a very desirable layout with 2 staterooms, 2 heads, master stateroom aft, and galley up. It is a great cruising liveaboard in the style of a Trawler that is capable of Motor Yacht performance with Twin CAT 300HP diesels. Upper and lower helms are equipped with Simrad electronics. Walkaround decks provide great access and safety for docking, locking, and getting around the boat when underway.  

Salon/Bridge Deck

Entering from port, you are greeted by the beautiful salon. Large panoramic windows allow for great visibility throughout, and the spacious floorplan allows for easy accessibility to fore and aft staterooms.  

• Teak & Holly Flooring Throughout 
• U-Shaped Settee with Table 
• Lower Helm folding Seat 
• Port & Starboard Side Doors to Wide Walkaround Side Decks 
• 12 - LED Overhead Lights (Nov. 2015) 
• 22 inch Samsung Flat-screen TV & Cable (Nov. 2015) 
• Sony Stereo System AM/FM/CD 
• 4 – Overhead Rod Holders  

To port you find the very desirable galley-up configuration with impressive countertop space and ample storage. 

• Double Stainless-Steel Sink 
• Princess (3) Burner Electric Range with Oven 
• New Galley Faucet (Nov. 2015) 
• NorCold Refrigerator Freezer 
• LED Light Over Sink 
• West Marine 4 GPM Freshwater Pump (Nov. 2015) 
• Fire Extinguisher Under Sink  

Master Stateroom

The spacious aft master stateroom offers a fore and aft walkaround berth, ensuite head with separate shower, and private access to the aft deck. 

• Entry from Aft Deck and Salon 
• Island Double Berth  
• Wardrobe Locker 
• 7 - Storage Drawers 
• 2 - Sliding Door Storage Areas 
• 2 - LED Reading Lights (Dec. 2016) 
• 4 - LED Overhead Lights 
• 3 - Opening Port Lights 
• Fire Extinguisher 
• Digital Marine Air A/C Control (Dec. 2015)  
• Mastervolt Easy View 5 Remote Panel (Dec. 2018)  
• Electrical Panel with Battery Shut-off 
• Bilge Pump Controls 
• Windlass Breaker 
• Manual Bilge Pump 

Master Head

Ensuite master head with separate full stall shower. 

• Mirror on Bulkhead 
• Electric Flush Head 
• Tank watch System  
• Stainless Steel Sink 
• Delta Faucet (Nov. 2019) 
• Two Towel Racks 
• Medicine Cabinet & Storage Lockers Separate Shower Stall with Bi-Fold Door 
• Ambassador Shower Mixer (Feb. 2016) Electric Shower Sump Pump 
• Electric Exhaust Fan  

Guest Stateroom

Moving forward, you step down to the guest stateroom. A sizeable double berth and ensuite head combine to offer a great space for friends and family. 

• Opening Overhead Hatch Mirrored Bulkhead Wardrobe Locker  
• Starboard Settee with Storage 2 - Opening Port Lights V-Berth With Cushions  
• 4 - Drawers Below Berth 
• 2 - Lockers Above Berth 
• 2 - Overhead LED Lights (Dec. 2016) 2 - LED Reading Lights (Dec).

Ensuite head. 

• Stainless Steel Faucet & Stainless Sink Towel Rack 
• Mirrored Bulkhead 
• Teak Sole 
• Electric Shower Sump Pump 
• Jabsco Macerator Pump (Feb. 2019) 
• 2 – Storage Lockers 
• Opening Stainless Steel Portlight  

Lower Helm Station

 Excellent visibility from functional lower helm with port & starboard side doors for easy access to wide side decks. 

• Simrad NSS8 GPS/Chart Plotter  
• Simrad Autopilot NAC-3 Core Pack (Dec. 2017)  
• Simrad Autopilot Control AP48 (Dec. 2017)  
• Full Engine Instrumentation 
• Glendinning Synchronizer Control 
• Furuno Radar Display 
• Raytheon RayData Depth 
• Icom IC-M59 VHF Radio 
• Bennett Trim Tab Control 
• Windlass Control 
• SeaStar Hydraulic Steering 
• Ritchie Powerdamp Compass 
• Hart System Tank Tender 
• Navigation Desk With Storage 
• Red/White LED Lighting (Dec. 2017) 
• Sony Stereo System AM/FM/CD

Upper Helm Station

• Simrad Autopilot Control AP48 (Dec. 2017) 
• Simrad NSS12 GPS/Chartplotter 
• Raytheon Raydata Depth 
• Standard Horizon Eclipse GX 1300 VHF Radio (Dec. 2018) 
• 2 – 8 ft Mariner 8500 VHF Antennas (Dec. 2018) 
• Ritchie Powerdamp Compass with Stainless Steel Hood  
• Stereo Speakers 
• Helm Cover  
• Bimini Top 
• 2 - Fire Extinguishers  
• 2 - Captain's Chairs 
• Captain's Chairs Cushions & Armrests (Jan. 2016) 
• Flybridge Cushions & Backrests (Jan. 2016) 
• New LED Anchor Lights (Jan. 2017) 
• Port & Starboard Lounge Seating with Fold Out Table  

Electrical System

• Mastervolt Chargemaster 50 Amp Battery Charger (Jan. 2020) 
• 2 x Marinco Stainless Steel 30 Amp Boat Inlets (Nov. 2018) 
• 2 x 30 Amp Shore Power Cords 
• House Batteries – 2 4D AGM 
• Engine Starting Batteries – 2 Deka Group 31 1131 MF (Nov. 2019)  
• Generator – Deka Group 27 M6 Starting Battery (Dec. 2019)  
• Mastervolt Masterview Easy Remote Panel & Master Shunt (Dec. 2015)  

Engine Room and Mechanical

• Twin Caterpillar 3116 300HP Freshwater Cooled Marine Diesel Engines (1145 Hrs.) 
• Northern Lights 6kW Generator (680 hours)  
• West Marine 11 gal water heater (Dec. 2017) 
• 2 – Bilge Blowers 
• 2 – Bilge Pumps 
• Racor Fuel Filters for each engine & generator Carbon Monoxide Detector 
• Sea Strainers 
• U-Lube Oil Change System 
• PYI Dripless Shaft Seals (Nov. 2017) 
• Port & Starboard Starters Refurbished (Dec. 2016)  
• Rule Shower Sump for AC (Dec. 2015) 

Deck Equipment

• 35 lb CQR & Fortress FX-23 Anchors 
• Stainless Bow Rail 
• Muir Electric Windlass 
• AFI Wiper Arms & Blades (Feb. 2016) 
• 2 - Stainless Steel Rod Holders 
• Edson Outboard Motor Bracket (Dec. 2015) 
• Spreader Lights 
• 3 - Life Jackets in Case 
• 4 - Fenders with Covers 
• 6 – 12 Dock Lines 
• Large Container with Canvass Cover for Power Cords/Dock Lines when Underway  

Recent Improvement and Maintenance include

• 12 - LED Overhead Lights Salon (Nov. 2015) 
• 2 - LED Reading Lights Master Stateroom (Dec. 2016) 
• Owner's Personal Effects  
• Engine Make: CAT
• Engine Model: 3116
• Engine Year: 1998
• Engine Type: Inboard
• Drive Type:
• Power HP: 300.00
• Hours: 1135.00
• Hours: 1130.00

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Tristan Kennedy

The Undersea Art Gallery That Ensnares Illegal Trawlers

IT’S 7 AM, and a thin layer of mist still hovers over the harbor in Talamone as fisherman Paolo Fanciulli stretches out his nets. Pulling them out of a plastic tub, he examines them section by section, setting the ripped ones aside to be repaired. It’s a time-consuming process—one that’s occupied men from this tiny village on the coast of Tuscany for centuries. But in recent years, Fancuilli has spent more time working on ways to protect fish than on catching them.  The problems started, he explains, with the arrival of large-scale industrial trawlers in the 1980s. Trailing chain-weighted nets, these boats scraped the seabed bare, scooping up not just fish but all manner of plants and sea creatures. Known as “bottom trawling,” the practice is illegal within three nautical miles of Italy’s coastline, but that hasn’t stopped some unscrupulous operators from carrying on regardless.  “You see, these are like the nets the apostles used,” Fanciulli says, gesturing to his own equipment. “When you put them in the sea, the holes are big, and they only catch the adult fish,” allowing the ecosystem to thrive. “It’s sustainable fishing,” he says. By contrast, bottom trawling endangers not just the future of local fish stocks, but the existence of one of Europe’s most important carbon sinks.  Just offshore from Talamone lie large meadows of Posidonia oceania , an underwater seagrass that absorbs more carbon dioxide per hectare than the Amazon rain forest. “We used to see these big boats—always 10, 20 at once, and when they took away the seabed, they also took away the meadows of Posidonia ,” says Fanciulli.  Today, the waters off Talamone are calm, and the seagrass is slowly recovering—a change that’s largely due to Fanciulli himself. After years of battling the bottom trawlers, he hit upon a solution that’s both elegant in its simplicity and beautiful to look at. Beneath the surface of the bay lie 39 sculptures made of white carrara marble. Carved by leading artists, including British sculptor Emily Young , these hulking blocks are arranged in such a way that they would snag the nets of any trawler that tried to encroach on this zone. The result is Casa dei Pesci —the home of the fish—a unique underwater art gallery that protects both the local ecosystem and the wider environment.  Since the first blocks of marble were sunk in 2015—and rapidly colonized by fish and plants— the gallery has grown steadily. Managing it and fundraising has become almost a full-time job for Fanciulli. “I am still, first and foremost, a fisherman,” he says. “But I understand that if I just take from the sea and don’t give back, I won’t be able to fish anymore.”

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF Casa dei Pesci represents the realization of a long-held dream for Fanciulli. Tall and tanned at 62, with bright blue eyes, a firm, calloused handshake, and the industrious energy of a border collie, he’s been fishing ever since he left school at 13. “I’d always loved shipwrecks and artifacts in the sea,” he says. But it was only in 2006 that he realized underwater sculptures might also serve a practical purpose. He set up Casa dei Pesci as a not-for-profit organization the following year. “I felt [the sea god] Poseidon calling me to help,” he says poetically, but when he started to explore the practicalities of his plan, he discovered science was on his side too.

Matt Reynolds

Jeremy White

Reece Rogers

“The role of seagrasses as natural climate solutions has been recognized and understood only recently,” explains Peter Macreadie, associate professor of environmental science at Deakin University in Australia. Around 10 years ago, he says, scientists working on seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and tidal marshes coined a new term—blue carbon—to describe the disproportionally large amount of carbon that these ecosystems store. In a 2021 paper Macreadie estimated that if seagrasses were protected and restored around the world, they could draw down the equivalent of 1 percent of total global emissions each year by 2030—roughly half the output of the entire international aviation sector. In Europe, Posidonia oceanica plays a particularly important role, says Christine Pergent-Martini, an associate professor at the University of Corsica, who specializes in coastal ecosystems. She is the lead author of a separate 2021 paper examining the plant’s potential as a carbon sink. “It’s what we call an engineer species—it provides the basis for an ecosystem with several thousand other species of mollusc, arthropod, fish, and so on,” she says. But Posidonia meadows also sit atop what is known as a matte—a mass of roots and sediment that can be up to 8 meters deep. “It’s very rich in organic matter, very rich in carbon, and it can sequester carbon for a very long time,” she says—potentially thousands of years.  While it’s not known exactly how much Posidonia oceanica grows in the Mediterranean, the most recent estimates by Pergent-Martini and her colleagues—extrapolated using a mixture of drone imagery, aerial photography, and side-scan sonar—suggest it covers around 2.3 million hectares of seabed: an area the size of Wales. The plant’s ability to absorb CO 2 through photosynthesis is roughly the same as a forest, “with 5 tons of CO 2 equivalent per hectare, per year,” she says. But while a typical forest would only lock away about 5 percent of this CO 2 each year through sequestration, a Posidonia bed can lock in 20 to 25 percent, she says. “So the carbon sequestration is five times more important, per hectare, in a Posidonia meadow than in a forest.”

As a carbon sink, seagrass has other advantages too. It’s unlikely to catch fire and release large quantities of carbon back into the atmosphere at once, for example. But it is vulnerable to other threats. Increased coastal erosion can muddy the waters, making it more difficult for Posidonia to photosynthesize. Cruise ships dropping anchor can cause untold damage. And, of course, bottom-trawlers can ravage thousand-year-old meadows in a matter of minutes.  Drag-net trawling causes most damage to the plant itself, says José Miguel González-Correa, a professor in marine sciences at the University of Alicante, in Spain. But drag nets can easily damage the matte too, he says, causing “carbon to be released by bacterial action, and increasing CO 2 levels.” Restoring Posidonia meadows can be a long process, he says. In a paper comparing trawler-damaged meadows to their healthy neighbors, he estimates they might take as much as 100 years to recover fully. Preservation, he concludes, is better than restoration, and creating anti-trawling reefs—by sinking well-spaced obstacles like Paolo Fanciulli’s Casa dei Pesci sculptures—is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways of protecting Posidonia .  DESPITE ALL THESE recent scientific studies backing up his approach, however, Fanciulli has never received any government funding. In fact, he’s universally scathing about those in authority, lambasting the EU for its fishing subsidies, which he claims only encourage bad practices, and lampooning the local coastguard for their inability—or unwillingness—to enforce the laws against bottom trawling. “They do nothing,” he says.

On occasion in the 1990s, he said, he took it on himself to police the waters off Talamone. “The coastguard always used to use a big light on their boats, so what did I do? I put one on my boat,” he chuckles. “Think about it, three in the morning, you’re fishing illegally, you see a light coming towards you, what would you do? You'd run away.” And they did, he says, but they’d always come back—until he started sinking his statues. Casa dei Pesci has now placed enough anti-trawling obstacles to reach from Porto Santo Stefano to the Ombrone River—a distance of some 20 nautical miles, or 37 km—meaning that some 137 km 2 of Posidonia meadow and fish habitat are now protected. “It’s small,” says Fanciulli. But it’s still remarkable given the lack of any official backing or funds.  “What we do here, we do entirely with the money that we raise and donations,” says Fanciulli. Early on in the project’s genesis, after sinking a few test blocks of concrete, he was lucky enough to meet the director of the Cave di Michelangelo, the quarry where the famous Florentine sculptor sourced his stone. “I asked him to give me two blocks of marble. He gave me 100.”  The sculptors, similarly, were friends of friends who offered their time to the cause for free. “Initially, there were five main artists, but the project quickly grew,” explains Giorgio Butini, an artist whose work now sits on the seabed. An established sculptor from Florence, he would normally expect to sell a comparably sized work for between €50,000 and €60,000 ($49,500–$59,500), but he has been happy to contribute several pieces. His latest, called Giovinezza (or “Youth”), is the first of a planned three-part series called Past, Present, Future that Casa dei Pesci is currently crowdfunding to put into place further up the coast—because while the sculptors might offer up their time and tools for free, moving the sculptures around isn’t cheap. British sculptor Emily Young, arguably the best known of the artists internationally, was introduced to Fanciulli because she owns a studio nearby. Initially, she was impressed by his energy and enthusiasm. “He’s really, really focused, he’s sort of heroic. I think he sleeps almost no hours,” she says. But she was also fascinated, on an artistic level, by the gallery’s longer-term legacy and what the sculptures will say to future generations. “That’s something I think about a lot in my work. When you work with stone, you’re leaving something for the future,” she says. “We’re altering the Earth very profoundly, and some of the things we’re leaving are very destructive—but they can also be very beautiful and poignant.”  She hopes that, “in the fullness of time, people won’t even know what these sculptures were. They will be covered in plants and Posidonia —and that will be the sign that the project is working.” In the shorter term, there’s no doubt her work has helped raise the profile of Fanciulli’s cause. “Already I get emails from people saying: ‘We’re going on a dive, can you tell us more about your sculptures so we know what we’re looking at?’” says Young. And as more and more artworks have been added to the gallery, word of the project has spread. Recently, the outdoor clothing brand Patagonia decided Casa dei Pesci met its high standards for grant recipients, and awarded a grant of €13,000 ($12,800). A German charitable foundation has promised €15,000 ($14,800). But most of the money still comes from fundraisers that Fanciulli runs himself.  ON AN UNSEASONABLY warm Sunday at the end of October, Fanciulli can be found sweating through his camouflage T-shirt while he mans three BBQs at once. The previous night’s catch—amberjack, dolphin fish, some red snapper—is being grilled fresh off the boat, with a simple mix of salt and rosemary, for the 40 guests who have paid to join the fundraiser and enjoy a delicious three-course meal in the process.

Although ably assisted by his wife in the kitchen, his daughter at the tables, and a couple of friends, Fanciulli still seems to be doing everything—flipping the fish, pouring the wine, and chatting with his guests about his next initiative: a home for octopuses, made up of a gallery of hand-painted amphora—narrow Roman jars with handles and pointed bottoms. The only time he stops is to give his presentation, showing photos of broken Posidonia stems and the havoc wreaked by bottom trawlers. Seated at long tables, his guests are listening rapt as he tells them: “If you want to eat well, you have to defend the environment. It’s like a war.”  As the lunch wraps up and his guests depart, Fanciulli finally sits down. There were times over the past 30 years, he admits, where he’d felt like he was fighting a lonely, losing battle. “I’ve been threatened by trawlers, I’ve been threatened by institutions, but I always told the truth. For a long time, no one listened to me,” he says, but now, with public opinion swinging behind him, both locally and internationally, his message finally seems to be getting through.

Reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 will require innovative solutions at a global scale. In this series, in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet initiative, WIRED highlights individuals and communities working to solve some of our most pressing environmental challenges. It’s produced in partnership with Rolex, but all content is editorially independent. Find out more .

Bianca Nogrady

Andrew Kersley

Stephen Armstrong

Matthew Ponsford

Sabrina Weiss

U.S Coast Guard shows ABC7 how they search and rescue on their response boat

S T. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WWSB) - Within the last few months, U.S Coast Guard crews have rescued and searched for several missing boaters, and people stranded, in our Gulf waters.

On Tuesday, the crew stationed in St. Petersburg took ABC7 news on an exclusive ride along onboard their 45-foot response boat to show us how they conduct search and rescue missions.

They start with a call that comes from the command center, then after details about the missing are gathered, a plan of action is created.

After that, the crew on the water takes over, jumping into action fast.

They are responsible for over 1,700 nautical miles of the coast, spanning from parts of Alabama, all the way down to parts of the Everglades.

When they act, they do so with several other agencies, depending on the location of the situation.

Tyler Powers is one of the heroes we had the opportunity to speak with. He has saved over 30 lives.

“The ability to save one’s life is unmeasurable,” said Powers. “It’s why I keep showing up to work,” he said.

When the Coast Guard crews head to the rescue, they go into dangerous water conditions that we’re told to stay out of.

“Anytime leaving the dock can be dangerous,” said Powers.

Tracy Mannes was working alongside Powers during the training session. She also discussed how when stress kicks in, you have to work with it, not against it.

“Its definitely adrenaline driven,” said Mannes. “We train to do this; we train in good conditions, and we train in bad conditions,” she added.

While the crew has no problem saving your life, they ask that you protect yourself as much as possible.

Having a float plan is the best way to stay prepared and get help fast if something goes wrong on a boat day. You can find more information on what a float plan is and see a PDF version of the plan that you can fill out here .

They also recommend always letting someone know when you leave and when you plan to return.

They ask everyone to wear life jackets while on the water, and they suggest that you dress for the water temperature, not the air. That way if you go overboard the insulation will help you have a better chance for survival.

Green Point beach near Yamba littered with debris after abandoned boat runs aground

A remote beach near Yamba on the New South Wales north coast is littered with debris and diesel after a boat ran aground and was smashed to pieces in the surf overnight.

Witnesses said the boat was abandoned by its occupants as they were attempting to cross the Clarence River bar around lunchtime on Monday. 

NSW Road and Maritime said the occupants were evacuated from the vessel by a NSW Marine Rescue crew.

Angourie resident Oli Coe said he later saw the vessel adrift about 2 kilometres offshore.

He watched the boat throughout the day and at one point saw another vessel alongside it.

He said someone boarded vessel and put out its anchor.

"As the wind got up through the rest of the afternoon, we watched the boat drifting and dragging on its anchor and eventually it just dragged way too far and ended up on the beach," Mr Coe said.

At one stage Mr Coe and two friends used jetskis to get out to the boat to see if they could do anything to help.

He said he could not understand why it was not salvaged before it ran aground near Green Point.

"There was definitely some damage to the boat but it was in perfectly good condition [before that]," Mr Coe said.

Clean-up concerns

Locals spent Tuesday morning on the beach, dragging piles of debris above the high tide mark in a bid to ensure it is not taken back out to sea with the next high tide on Tuesday evening. 

Angourie resident Kim Wood said the usually pristine beach at Green Point looked like a "rubbish dump".

"I'm looking at kilometres of debris," she said.

"There is timber, there is oil cans, jerry cans full of diesel, so much plastic, and everything is soaked in diesel.

"You can still see all debris in the ocean."

Ms Wood said the area was home to a wide range of birdlife including oyster catchers and curlews.

Too dangerous to tow

NSW Maritime said the boat was deemed too dangerous for authorities to board or tow.

Senior boating safety officer Bret Ryan said authorities needed to put safety first.

"Marine Rescue revisited the boat several times on Monday, and eventually the Water Police came from Coffs Harbour," Mr Ryan said.

"They came to the same conclusion that it was too dangerous."

"At that point the vessel was secure and the hope was it would remain in that position but unfortunately that didn't happen."

Mr Ryan said the main hazard on the beach was from any sharp objects that might remain buried in the sand.

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