Best 10 Trawler Yachts?

[Nigelpickin]

I would consider the Darwin above the rest, even some of the most notable names.
On the other hand they are more tug boat looking then trawler, and start at 90 feet nowadays and cost a lot.

While trawler is used I many times do not understand what they mean by it. Why should it look like a trawler any ways?
That is why it stayed a niche with only a couple of percentage points, cause no one fishes in these boats.
The Magellano and Absolute Navetta are two example where the Explorer crusiers and yachts will look like in the future, as far as European builds of medium sizes (12-24 meters) are concerned.
The others are slowly catching up as well. Very slowly, unfortunate for them while they let Azimut take the cake all alone, and it is a big cake.
Ask them how much 66 and 53 Magellano have they sold this year.

If I want to fish I buy a sportfish IMO, most trawlers even those most revered in Mapis list are not suitable for much fishing if we want to take Trawler literally.

That is why bar none I will always call them Explorer, as longer term navigation and more comfortable for life aboard is the idea they want to present to customers.

Very well put, not sure why Mapism doesn't se the M53 as a trawler motor yacht, even if it is a rather modern take. For me the term describes a vessel that is capable of long passages in various conditions, that has great visibility from the lower helm, has good, safe access to all deck areas while underway and of course that is styled with trawler dna; high bulwarks, steep pilot house glazing, Portuguese bridge etc...
Different stokes and all that but really, what are you talking about Willis?

 

[alant]

Very well put, not sure why Mapism doesn't se the M53 as a trawler motor yacht, even if it is a rather modern take. For me the term describes a vessel that is capable of long passages in various conditions, that has great visibility from the lower helm, has good, safe access to all deck areas while underway and of course that is styled with trawler dna; high bulwarks, steep pilot house glazing, Portuguese bridge etc...
Different stokes and all that but really, what are you talking about Willis?

Yes, I did ask about Trawler "Yachts", not interested in their capability as fishing vessels.

Just to push a few more buttons, subscrbers may find this interesting.
http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/top-15-trawlers

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Otoh, he also said (and titled the thread!) "Trawler Yachts", a term which still means something, regardless of the totally misleading usage that has been made of it lately in the pleasure boat industry.

Well I took it to mean what the industry currently means by the term which is a boat, usually SD or D, which is slightly more capable of bluewater passages than the average gin palace planing boat, both in terms of its seakindliness and its practicality. Like it or not thats what it means to most boaters these days, not a pleasure boat based on the hull and lines of a traditional seagoing fishing trawler

I think you're probably right about Tony Fleming but the fact is that most boaters would look at his boats and say yup thats a trawler yacht

As for the Beneteau ST don't slag a boat off until you've sailed in her! They do have a good reputation as a sea boat and a lot of people can't afford the £2.5m it costs to get into one of Tony Fleming's creations

 

[Nigelpickin]

Well I took it to mean what the industry currently means by the term which is a boat, usually SD or D, which is slightly more capable of bluewater passages than the average gin palace planing boat, both in terms of its seakindliness and its practicality. Like it or not thats what it means to most boaters these days, not a pleasure boat based on the hull and lines of a traditional seagoing fishing trawler

I think you're probably right about Tony Fleming but the fact is that most boaters would look at his boats and say yup thats a trawler yacht

As for the Beneteau ST don't slag a boat off until you've sailed in her! They do have a good reputation as a sea boat and a lot of people can't afford the £2.5m it costs to get into one of Tony Fleming's creations

Agree again that the ST52 is a fine boat for the money and on shafts, qualifies for the OP's consideration. The incumbent model, (ST50), is probably chancing its luck as a qualifier for 'trawler' status; as much of an IPS fan that I am - even I could not argue in favour of IPS on a D speed boat....and believe me I know, I'm taking one across Biscay as we speak
(IPS boat that is)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Agree again that the ST52 is a fine boat for the money and on shafts, qualifies for the OP's consideration. The incumbent model, (ST50), is probably chancing its luck as a qualifier for 'trawler' status; as much of an IPS fan that I am

I was very disappointed with the ST50 when I saw it. IMHO it was a retrograde step by Beneteau after the ST52 which was widely praised. Yes I have to say that shaftdrive is probably a prerequisite in most peoples' eyes for a trawler yacht although as you say, you're proving that you can go an awful long way in an IPS powered boat! I see that even Grand Banks is putting IPS into its boats now so maybe hoary old trawler yacht types will accept IPS soon

 

[longjohnsilver]

I was very disappointed with the ST50 when I saw it. IMHO it was a retrograde step by Beneteau after the ST52 which was widely praised. Yes I have to say that shaftdrive is probably a prerequisite in most peoples' eyes for a trawler yacht although as you say, you're proving that you can go an awful long way in an IPS powered boat! I see that even Grand Banks is putting IPS into its boats now so maybe hoary old trawler yacht types will accept IPS soon

Nope!! As I suspect is the same as you.........

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Agreed ST52, I think it measured 56 was not a bad boat from Beneteau.

Anyways like the Brits did a couple decades before they can bring the term to pricing with sensible engineering in the picture as a point in all the ST models.

I actually think pod drives in particular are well suited to Explorer type ships even more so then there planning counter parts.

 

[MapisM]

Yes, I did ask about Trawler "Yachts", not interested in their capability as fishing vessels.

Just to push a few more buttons, subscrbers may find this interesting.
http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/top-15-trawlers

Fairenuff, forget my list then. To me, trawler still means ...ermm, trawler.

Just to avoid reinventing the wheel, I'll cut and paste what the Cape Horn founder wrote about this subject more than a dozen of years ago: "A true trawler is a full displacement power vessel with a relatively deep ballasted hull, with low center of gravity and high weight-carrying capacity relative to its size. It is designed for cargo capability, fuel capacity (distance) and safety in bad seas.
Commercial trawlers “trawl” – i.e. drag nets to catch fish. They go to sea for days and weeks, sometimes months at a time, with no turning back for gales. They need torque to drag those nets and a boat capable of handling torque. Then they have to carry the fish home, which represents a lot of weight, so they need serious cargo capability and stability under load."

There's nothing inherently wrong in non-full displacement hulls for pleasure boats. Not one iota.
But the idea of calling some of them trawlers just to fool punters into thinking that they are as safe as offshore fishing vessels (which is the one and only reason behind the use of the term with pleasure boats), well, that strikes me as 100% marketing BS, and I will never accept it.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

But the idea of calling some of them trawlers just to fool punters into thinking that they are as safe as offshore fishing vessels (which is the one and only reason behind the use of the term with pleasure boats), well, that strikes me as 100% marketing BS, and I will never accept it.

Agree entirely only to say that what are described as trawler yachts are IMHO generally more seaworthy than the average gin palace and deserve to be called something different so why dont we spend the next 10 pages of this thread thinking of another name for trawler yachts that more accurately describe their purpose. I was thinking 'offshore capable motor yachts' but that doesn't exactly trip off the tongue so any other ideas?

 

[Nigelpickin]

Agree entirely only to say that what are described as trawler yachts are IMHO generally more seaworthy than the average gin palace and deserve to be called something different so why dont we spend the next 10 pages of this thread thinking of another name for trawler yachts that more accurately describe their purpose. I was thinking 'offshore capable motor yachts' but that doesn't exactly trip off the tongue so any other ideas?

How about:

Trustworthy
Rigid
All weather
Well built
Long range
Explorer
Reliable

Yachts.

Or erm, T.R.A.W.L.E.R Yachts for short?

 

[Nigelpickin]

Fairenuff, forget my list then. To me, trawler still means ...ermm, trawler.

Just to avoid reinventing the wheel, I'll cut and paste what the Cape Horn founder wrote about this subject more than a dozen of years ago: "A true trawler is a full displacement power vessel with a relatively deep ballasted hull, with low center of gravity and high weight-carrying capacity relative to its size. It is designed for cargo capability, fuel capacity (distance) and safety in bad seas.
Commercial trawlers “trawl” – i.e. drag nets to catch fish. They go to sea for days and weeks, sometimes months at a time, with no turning back for gales. They need torque to drag those nets and a boat capable of handling torque. Then they have to carry the fish home, which represents a lot of weight, so they need serious cargo capability and stability under load."

There's nothing inherently wrong in non-full displacement hulls for pleasure boats. Not one iota.
But the idea of calling some of them trawlers just to fool punters into thinking that they are as safe as offshore fishing vessels (which is the one and only reason behind the use of the term with pleasure boats), well, that strikes me as 100% marketing BS, and I will never accept it.

I guess things get lost in translation, the OP asked about Trawler Yachts, not 'true trawlers' or 'commercial trawlers'.
If Azimut, Beneteau or any other manufacturer think that there is a market for a boat that takes some aspects of a Trawler, (perhaps in terms of range, style, safety) and combine it with a leisure yacht, (perhaps in terms of kerb appeal, accommodation, construction convention), then I don't think its marketing BS, more like a gap in the market place. If one falls on the semantics and definition for purposes of debate then its a bit clumsy of them to be selective. A trawler yacht is clearly different to a trawler.
Ive had a couple of Alfa Spyders and a Gransport but I really didn't see them as sports cars even though the brochures and sales people were adamant

 

[Portofino]

Here's a copy from the Adagio site "Anglo Saxon " -- seems like us ,who use the term for describing a certain type ?
Now we are squabbling amongst each other

Dear Navigator, Welcome on board!

Adagio is not only a brand but also an art of navigating. Built by navigators for navigators, you will find all you need on the Adagio boat: really very refined and comfortable living areas, as well as advanced technology, performance and safety for cruises you will be the only one to determine their limits.

Enjoy discovering our new motorboats range made of two lines with different versions:

- Europa / Europa LBC: : a big cockpit as the same level as the living-room, a panoramic piloting house and a round central walkway which makes the offshore navigation secure.

- Sundeck / Sundeck LBC: a spacious aft-cabin, a central square and a big deck living-room with an outside bar for wonderful party nights with your friends

By choosing the Adagio art of sailing, you will get and enjoy a unique boat model built according to your wishes with the experience and the know-how from our research and development department. Each fitting plan is adjustable depending on your needs: number of cabins, equipment location, etc. in order for your Yacht Adagio to be a charming and pleasant place each time you’re on board, like a mobile and floating apartment with all conveniences.

We will be happy to let you try personally the Adagio model you’d like, to listen to your expectations from now on, or at the time of the next boat fair

Let’s meet!
Waiting for the pleasure to give you the keys of an Adagio boat of your dreams,

* The Anglo-Saxons describe our boats as recreational trawler, luxury trawler, luxury yacht trawler, cruising trawler, trawler à fly, Pilothouse trawler yacht

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

How about:

Trustworthy
Rigid
All weather
Well built
Long range
Explorer
Reliable

Yachts.

Or erm, T.R.A.W.L.E.R Yachts for short?

I think I'd substitute E = Explorer for E = Exceedingly Expensive !

 

[MapisM]

why dont we spend the next 10 pages of this thread thinking of another name for trawler yachts that more accurately describe their purpose. I was thinking 'offshore capable motor yachts' but that doesn't exactly trip off the tongue so any other ideas?

Haha, thanks God it's summer - were we in January, 10 pages would barely be enough to scratch the surface...
Far from pretending to know better than you folks when it comes to EN vocabulary, but I think that over the Pond they are right on the money with the "LRC" definition.
Even Ferretti adopted that some years ago, though with a boat (the Mochi 23) which hasn't been exactly an overwhelming success.

Anyway, since we drifted into semantic, another bit of cut and paste comes in handy (and interestingly, Sever wrote this almost 15 years ago):

Today all kinds of boats are marketed as "trawlers" or variations thereof, in order to appeal to the fast-growing cruising market. We have seen ads for "trawler catamarans", "fast trawlers", "coastal trawlers", etc. The “trawler” part is meant by the marketers to imply safety and offshore seaworthiness, often a misleading association.
We consider it an unfortunate, unnecessary, and inaccurate use of what is, outside yachting, a commonly accepted term for a specific type of motor vessel. “Fast trawler” is an oxymoron. A “trawler catamaran” is a two-hulled vessel with a superstructure we suppose. But more correctly, a catamaran is a catamaran. A trawler is a trawler.
We say it is unnecessary because there is nothing wrong with more honest terms like “motor catamaran", "fast cruiser", "coastal cruiser", "coastal passagemaker" and other more accurate category names. There is nothing wrong with these boats or their intended purpose. Indeed, we like catamarans as a hull form and they have advantages. Many of the coastal cruisers are superb successful boats (such as Grand Banks, Fleming and their type) which we often recommend to customers over ours, if their cruising dreams are less far-reaching. But they are not trawlers, even if their superstructures bear some resemblance to that of a fishing boat.

 

[Nigelpickin]

Haha, thanks God it's summer - were we in January, 10 pages would barely be enough to scratch the surface...
[/I]

Very true, I'm only getting involved because I'm on the computer waiting for some video to render
I'll be back on the boat in a week so you won't have to put up with me for much longer

 

[Paul&Ness]

We passed a very nice looking Beneteau ST34 en-route from Brixham to Hythe today. She was rolling a bit but no more than we were, seems quite a good sea worthy boat.

 

[Nigelpickin]

They're really nice boats and ironically, based on some of the commentary on here, you see loads of 34's, 44's and 52's on the French Atlantic coast.
I imagine that JHaines could testify to their seakindly/worthiness....

 

[rustybarge]

We consider it an unfortunate, unnecessary, and inaccurate use of what is, outside yachting, a commonly accepted term for a specific type of motor vessel. “Fast trawler” is an oxymoron. A “trawler catamaran” is a two-hulled vessel with a superstructure we suppose. But more correctly, a catamaran is a catamaran. A trawler is a trawler.

Here's one ....

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Ferretti adopted that some years ago, though with a boat (the Mochi 23) which hasn't been exactly an overwhelming success.

Today all kinds of boats are marketed as "trawlers" or variations thereof, in order to appeal to the fast-growing cruising market. We have seen ads for "trawler catamarans", "fast trawlers", "coastal trawlers", etc. The “trawler” part is meant by the marketers to imply safety and offshore seaworthiness, often a misleading association.
We consider it an unfortunate, unnecessary, and inaccurate use of what is, outside yachting, a commonly accepted term for a specific type of motor vessel. “Fast trawler” is an oxymoron. A “trawler catamaran” is a two-hulled vessel with a superstructure we suppose. But more correctly, a catamaran is a catamaran. A trawler is a trawler.
We say it is unnecessary because there is nothing wrong with more honest terms like “motor catamaran", "fast cruiser", "coastal cruiser", "coastal passagemaker" and other more accurate category names. There is nothing wrong with these boats or their intended purpose. Indeed, we like catamarans as a hull form and they have advantages. Many of the coastal cruisers are superb successful boats (such as Grand Banks, Fleming and their type) which we often recommend to customers over ours, if their cruising dreams are less far-reaching. But they are not trawlers, even if their superstructures bear some resemblance to that of a fishing boat.

That Mochi 23 Long Range was a good boat. I guess it deserved much more then it did, and I am still surprised how Ferretti Group did not pursue more the tech they brought into it more.
It did not sell bad but I think FG expected more. If I am not wrong they sold like 12 of them.

Lol I guess I opened Pandora Box with my initial post

 

[Forty_Two]

I always liked the original Grand Banks description...

"Dependable Diesel Cruisers", it certainly what ours have been.

Paul