Trawler School Charters Blog

There are 4 different trawler hull styles the Trunk, Sundeck, Sedan, Pilothouse this article is on the Trunk model. Trunk styles are also referred to as the classic or double cabin trawler. These are considered the true traditional trawlers. a good example is the 42′ Grand Banks Classic. They normally come with a wide walk around deck with easy access for handling lines and getting around the boat in a hurry. It is pet friendly and can get off and on from the cockpit onto the dingy. Also, there is access to the salon through port and starboard side doors. The trunk sits low to the water making it easy to board the boat without hassle.

Aft is the trunk, which has 2 steps from either side of the walk around deck with the cockpit aft. ere two side access doors port and starboard leading into the salon. The trunk has  and aft windows for a view from the aft master stateroom. The topside trunk deck is where the dingy would normally sit. The boom, which acts as a hoist for easy loading and unloading, places the dingy on the storage racks. The fly bridge is normally 3 steps up from the trunk deck. A traditional mast with boom running aft holds a steading sail. This sail is used to help steady the boat in bad weather (to help prevent a certain percentage of rolling. I personally only seen 2 trawlers with steading sails in more than 15 years.

Usually the fly bridge is large with plenty of seating this is where your entrainment and hosting of guest will occur the trunk really dose not count for this purpose. getting to the fly bridge is a little tricky you must use the port or starboard side access doors then walk aft and onto the trunk up the steps to the fly bridge, you will get use to it quickly. the fly bridge has a soft Bimini top and normally Isinglass it is clear plastic weatherproof 3 or 4 side enclosure, with large zipped windows for ventilation. I would not know what to do without them they are wonderful. These are also a must for well-traveled trawlers and in northern boats.

the outline of the trunk has a low profile to the waterline, which makes it more stable and less windage while underway. The layout of this boat is a double cabins one aft stateroom with head and shower and one forward guest stateroom with a common head. The salon is large, roomy and has large surrounding windows. It could come either with galley up or galley down.

The traditional double stateroom provides complete privacy when having guest on board. Please Thru my own experience after eight years I found out the hard way with all those steps up and down it is like a four story building cause it has four levels the state rooms, Salon, trunk up to the fly bridge. Please consider this you must be healthy and stay healthy  so try before you buy. This is one reason to consider a trawler school to find out for your self before moving forward with your trawler plans.

Sea U Captain Bob
www.trawlerschoolcharters.com
Dania beach Fl.

Welcome to the introduction of trawler buying, if your among the boaters that value comfort, roominess, stability, and seaworthiness coupled with reliability and economy of operation, then this article is for you. On the other hand, if your idea of pleasure boating is racing up and down the intercoastal in a sleek, super charged “go fast” cigarette type boat, consuming 60 gallons of fuel per hour, then this article will be down right dull. Among the finer things in life, trawlers are like fine wine, they take time. Trawlers move with leisure to get where they are going, unhurried.

Most buyers, thus far, have been owners or previous owners of another type of vessel; either sailboats that take too much physical work, or motor yachts that consume too much fuel and have short cruising ranges. Some are retirees who want the ability to cruise long distances or who are selling  their house for an ocean-going live-aboard vessel. Some are seasoned yachtsman who appreciate the comfort, stability, seaworthiness and fuel economy of trawlers. Normally, they have a general knowledge of what they are looking for. However, being new to the trawler market, once they start learning more about these vessels, their ideas and plans begin to change.

Some important things you should consider should be the size, model, layout, a single or twin engine, new or used, how much money you want to invest, and what you intend to use your trawler for; short range cruising, long range cruising, live aboard, charting or owning….  It has been my experience that  you may want to attend a three or four day trawler school which offers hands on training while living on board, gaining the true knowledge and feel for the trawler life. This experience will assist you to make a educated decision. Hoped you enjoyed my blog Captain Bob

Blue Water Cruising

Displacement hulls are well suited for rough, offshore seas and ocean crossings. Because of their design, these hulls can carry large payloads of fuel and water, which make them ideal for long range cruising.

Passage makers use the low power demands of displacement hulls to their advantage. Little driving force is needed to move one of these boats until the hull speed is reached. the hull goes through the water without ever raising up to plane off. Making this hull the most fuel-efficient desired for trans-oceanic crossings. (more…)

• Naturally aspirated diesel engines produce anywhere between 10,000-20,000 hours of use.
  • There is no strain on the engine and it requires low maintenance and repair.
  • If well maintained, these engines literally run forever.
  • Turbo charged engines are found on faster trawlers. (more…)

Pleasure trawlers should never be confused with the commercial fishing trawlers.

A trawler in general means: Any pleasure craft more than 25’ in length that does not carry sufficient horsepower to lift itself out of the water and plane. Practically all trawlers are designed with long, deep keels. These boats are popular for cruising 7-8 knots and ideal for waterways where speeds are limited. They are well suited for long passages where fuel conservation becomes critical. (more…)

If you are a person that loves being on the water, you have two choices: continue to rent expensive charter boats for day long pleasure cruises, or make the decision to invest in a boat of your very own. Clearly, the decision to buy your own boat is a big one, but over time you will find that it is less expensive than chartering a new boat each weekend. Read on to find out what your motorboat options are – and why trawlers come out on top! (more…)

With so many boats and yachts available for purchase on the market, you may be wondering why you should select a trawler for your recreational pleasures. Known as cruising trawlers these vessels are perfect for couples long rang cruising. Trawler school charters is an excellent place to  start your learning process. (more…)

At Trawler School Charters, we’ve witnessed new trawler owners moving on to establish a remarkable resume of cruising experience. While all people succumb to the philosophy of lifelong learning through experience, some lessons are more important than others. Whether you’re purchasing your first trawler or are buying your third, it’s important to understand the most common mistakes people make when shopping for a trawler. (more…)

Recreational sailing in a trawler is one of the most relaxing and rewarding experiences that anyone can enjoy on the water. If you haven’t spent much time in the water or didn’t grow up in an environment where cruising was integrated into your everyday life, some of the most common nautical terms and phrases can be confusing to understand. (more…)

Dear TMCA Trawler Owners and Future Trawler Owners,

I am writing to you to relate a very satisfying experience: being tutored in the art of trawler cruising (and being roundly entertained and well fed) by Capt. Bob Hamilton, aboard the Miami Mermaid, during a 4-day Trawler School Charter.

In May of 2010 my wife Matilde and I decided to buy a small trawler for cruising in retirement. We believed that it would take us a year to find the perfect boat, so we reserved the first available slot on the calendar of Trawler School Charters, namely November 15-19, 2010. We wanted to get some professional instruction in our new cruising environment prior to setting sail on our own. Well, it only took two months to find our 1994 Island Gypsy 32 Europa “Awesome 1”, and we were then in a dilemma about whether or not to cancel our Charter. (more…)