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