Pushing a Swift Trawler35 with an outboard.

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LadyJ

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A question for the experience on this forum. I'm just back a weeks cruise in a 25 footer and loved every minute but realistically need to consider a larger boat for more expended cruising. I keep coming back to the Swift Trawler 34 which ticks most of the boxes. My 'concern' is that I have zero mechanical know how and my cruising ground is the West Coast of Scotland including the inner and outer Hebrides with limited mechanical backup. I want therefore a back up plan for engine (or fuel) issues. I've been told a 10/15hp on a bracket on the swim platform would get me out of trouble and to a harbour/anchorage until I got a solution.
What are the views on the ability to push a boat of this type and size with an outboard of the type noted. Pref would be a short shaft with a bespoke bracket to get the prop in the water but allow the outboard to push a good tender when I wanted rather than a redundantly large backup outboard of the longshaft variety.

Any thoughts?
 
There's probably a good reason that I've never seen a trawler yacht with an auxiliary o/b. Can't imagine that it will do any good unless flat calm and with no wind and tide. I'd spend the money on making sure the engine is properly serviced and doing a diesel maintenance course and then carrying a decent spare kit.
 
I used to own a single engine Antares 760 but moved to a twin engined boat because I was a bit nervous on a single engine. I did look into fixing an outboard on the transom of the 760 but there was no particularly easy solution, hence move to twin engines.
I never had any trouble from the good old fashioned engine in the Antares, unlike the modern twin engine set up in her replacement. Came to the conclusion you are as well of with one solid, reliable engine as you are with two that you don't trust.
For that reason we are picking up our new (secondhand) Swift 34 this Wednesday with the super reliable and proven Cummins QSB 5.9.
As longjohn says, proper maintenance, spares and the ability to fit them (primary fuel filter springs to mind!!) plus good planning, safety equipment and VHF, and ability to quickly deploy the anchor. Hope I don't end up eating my words.
As for fitting an outboard on the Swift, can't see it myself, and an engine of the size you refer to would require some tender.
 
Not a chance. Properly maintained inboards are as reliable as you can get.

You are asking for a motor that will push a small tender and several tons of boat with a high windage. Just not possible. Look around and how many boats of that size do you ever see with an extra engine?

Best investment is a diesel course so that at least you understand the basic principles.
 
Never had a peep of trouble from our White Lump.

Keep it maintained and use it so the fuel turns over.

You don't see many twin engined commercial Trawlers :p
 
The 15hp would have no trouble moving it, even against a decent headwind. A 5hp would move it in calm water and light wind. I'd put money on a 2hp being able to shift it slowly in those conditions. What none of those would do is give you appreciable progress against decent wind and waves.
 
A friend moved his 40' steel sailboat along the southcoast in becalmed days with the tender + 5hp outboard tied to the side, it moved it but I would not be relying on it when the wind got up or the tide is running against you, so yes a small engine will move a seemingly big / heavy boat, but it would depend on what conditions you expect to do it in that would determine the size required. think about when you have ever tried to move your boat against the marina dock, on a calm day you can push pull it around, if a strong wind it beam on pushing it into the pontoon you might struggle to move it an inch away.

Ants
 
I would say forget the bracket on the platform idea.. I guess you would put a reasonable tender up on the top of the Swift 34 so an option would be to tie the tender alongside the boat and move it from the tender.. Similar to how Seastart move boats.. This would obviously be weather and tide dependant..
 
TQA said:
If you do go down the outboard route a Tohatsu Saildrive in extra long shaft would be a good choice 6 8 and 9.8 hp.

They come set up to push big boats slowly not dinks at speed.
Click to expand...

The boat weighs 7.5 tons light, has enormous windage and is normally powered by a 400+ hp Cummins. The engines you suggest would make little impression on the boat, nor would they be suitable for the OPs tender, which was one of his requirements.

The reality is that no small outboard is capable of providing any meaningful auxiliary power to such a boat. As it is single engined (like most trawlers, which seem to manage OK BTW) the only sensible secondary power is a wing engine as already suggested. 50hp or so with a feathering or folding 3 blade prop would provide effective emergency power.
 
Some years ago I had a 37ft Dutch steel motor cruiser with a single engine. I too wondered about what would happen if it failed. I experimented with the inflatable strapped alongside and its 5hp mercury o/b. I was surprised to find that not only did it push the thing along quite nicely, I could lock the o/b in ahead and still steer effectively with the boats rudder. This was in flat calm conditions. The problem was trying to stop!
 
Tranona said:
The boat weighs 7.5 tons light, has enormous windage and is normally powered by a 400+ hp Cummins. The engines you suggest would make little impression on the boat, nor would they be suitable for the OPs tender, which was one of his requirements.

The reality is that no small outboard is capable of providing any meaningful auxiliary power to such a boat. As it is single engined (like most trawlers, which seem to manage OK BTW) the only sensible secondary power is a wing engine as already suggested. 50hp or so with a feathering or folding 3 blade prop would provide effective emergency power.
Click to expand...

I know it's counter intuitive but all of us who've alongside towed with small o/b's disagree, it's remarkable just how little hp is needed to move quite enormous displacements. Waves and strong winds are the killer but also is getting it near hull speed. A 15hp o/b with a high thrust prop would do a surprisingly nice job of pushing it in all but bad weather.
 
Really appreciate all the replies and the views voiced. I'm liking the idea of the inflatable strapped alongside in an emergency, it is after all just a peace of mind thing. I suspect I will also go down the mechanics course route and if any have recommendations on those then great.

I'd also be keen to get some view from the Swift Trawler 34 owners who posted.
Are they happy with their boats?
How well does it handle chop?
Is it a viable cruising boat for a couple with the odd guest for periods up to 6 wks etc?
Good and bad points?

Any thoughts appreciated as there isn't a plethora of Swift Trawler feedback on these forums.
 
LadyJ said:
I'd also be keen to get some view from the Swift Trawler 34 owners who posted.
Are they happy with their boats?
How well does it handle chop?
Is it a viable cruising boat for a couple with the odd guest for periods up to 6 wks etc?
Good and bad points?

Any thoughts appreciated as there isn't a plethora of Swift Trawler feedback on these forums.
Click to expand...

My two penneth:

1) Very happy with it. Great volume for its size and a decent flybridge. Happy bimbling or if you push the stick you will get north on 20 knots. Fuel Economy very good at lower speeds. Very well behaved in close quartering, with full rudder and nudging the throttle forward/reverse it will turn virtually in its own length, thrusters a great aid.

2) Handles chop well, we are on the East Coast so shallow depths and wind over tide mean we get our fair share. With the slight 'keel' a stern quartering sea has some effect but not huge and a bit of extra power when needed is on tap.

3) For a couple it is perfect. Guests can be accommodated in either the bunks which would be snug for a 6 plus footer or the Sofa Bed which is extremely comfortable and well made.

4) Only one head but for a couple with occasional guests no issues. Build quality is as expected for Beneteau functional but not luxurious but quite a bit of boat for the money IMHO.

Any more detailed information drop me a PM.

Have you seen the Boat Test Series?

You will need to sign up (free) I think.
http://www.boattest.com/review/beneteau/2508_swift-trawler-34
http://www.boattest.com/review/beneteau/2508_swift-trawler-34_rel2290
http://www.boattest.com/review/beneteau/2508_swift-trawler-34_rel2302
http://www.boattest.com/review/beneteau/2508_swift-trawler-34_rel2289
 
Colvic Watson said:
I know it's counter intuitive but all of us who've alongside towed with small o/b's disagree, it's remarkable just how little hp is needed to move quite enormous displacements. Waves and strong winds are the killer but also is getting it near hull speed. A 15hp o/b with a high thrust prop would do a surprisingly nice job of pushing it in all but bad weather.
Click to expand...

While rafting alongside will certainly move the boat in calm water at low speed with surprisingly small hp, that is not what the OP is proposing. His suggestion was a short shaft engine from his tender attached to the swim platform. Pushing a 7 ton+ boat of high windage from the back will not be effective. He is looking for get home emergency power in the unlikely event that his Cummins lets him down. The only thing that will do that effectively is a second inboard engine. Commonly fitted to single screw boats in the past when engines were less reliable, but rarely fitted these days.
 
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