Swift Trawler 34

Kingfisher 4 said:
Considering swapping the old winkle barge (aka the boom box!) for a Beneteau Swift Trawler 34 … anyone got one, please?
Pros & Cons? …. :encouragement:
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The problem with your question is that it is rare that anyone really slates the boat they own. Everyone will tell you that what they have is the best choice for all, regardless. :D

Doesn't Jack Haines family have one? I'm sure he will be along in a minute to say its great :D
 
I have one. They’re a good boat, very roomy for its size, easy and safe to walk around lots of storage and very good head height. The heads is small and the wet room style shower is a pain, it leaks through the bathroom door and you have to constantly press the drain sump button while showering. While there are big wardrobes in the master it’s at the expense of a walk around bed. This makes getting out of bed and making the bed a pain.
There is only one engine but it’s the best engine in the world. Earlier models have the 425 hp Cummins QSB 5.8 and later ones, the 425 hp QSB 6.7. Very reliable.
Out side there is a huge flybridge for its size but only a ladder and you can catch your head going up. The cleats are too small, the front sun bathing area on the coach roof is very big and flat (unlike sports boats that you roll off). Best of all there is a dedicated space for a largish tender and a derrick to launch it. It runs very well, handles the lumps with ease but she is short fat and very high so windage is a problem in a marina. Make sure you get the optional stern thruster. One of my favorite features is how all the floor panels lift up giving access to everything. Very easy boat to work on.
I don’t think you’d be unhappy with one, I think they go well (semi displacement upto twenty knots), economical (at slow speed) stylish. The last of the Swift Trawlers to look like a trawler. There were over four hundred made so the second hand market is established.
Anything you need to know just ask
 
I was admiring one in the berth beside us this summer in Kinsale. Very nice vessel. The owner was telling me the sea keeping was excellent even at displacement speeds. Bouba, can you raise any canvas atop to help stabilise her in rolling seas (i.e. like a mizzen)?
 
oceanfroggie said:
I was admiring one in the berth beside us this summer in Kinsale. Very nice vessel. The owner was telling me the sea keeping was excellent even at displacement speeds. Bouba, can you raise any canvas atop to help stabilise her in rolling seas (i.e. like a mizzen)?
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She’s not a Nordhavn:ambivalence:
 
oceanfroggie said:
Just wondered as she seemed to have the rigging for it with the tender crane. :)
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My last reply was meant as humour:encouragement: the mast and boom are not stepped into the hull like a sailboat, they are just attached to the salon roof. They are rated at 120 kgs for lifting the dingy, I don’t know how much pressure even a small sail would give, so I’m not about to test it. But I do sometimes think of a small steadying sail for at anchor. But I’m not sure if it’s worth the effort, unless it can always turn the boat to the swell which I’m not sure it does. I’m sure a raggie could tell us.
The rigging is just to take the derricks load, but again all the cables are anchored into the roof. The mast also serves the radar and navigation lights (which necessitated that I buy a five metre ladder just to change a bulb).
But as I said it’s by far the best solution for a proper rib on a small boat that does not interfere with moving around the boat. The replacement for the Swift Trawler 34, the ST35. Doesn’t have a mast or crane, just davits on the stern but with a dingy on it’s impossible to get on or off the boat when moored Med style!
 
got to say I saw the new Swift Trawler range & my thoughts were at what point does a "trawler" become a flybridge... as I think on looks the 47 is a flybridge not a trawler...

yysw208939.jpg
 
Firefly625 said:
got to say I saw the new Swift Trawler range & my thoughts were at what point does a "trawler" become a flybridge... as I think on looks the 47 is a flybridge not a trawler...

yysw208939.jpg
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Yes, trawlers have gone from the Grand Banks fishing look alikes to ‘lifestyle’ trawlers. A bit like softroaders in the car world.
To me, it’s all based on the front windows. The more vertical the more trawler like. Reverse angle, like Scandinavia boats, well that’s serious boating :cool:
The boat in your picture the ST47, the designers deliberately made the windows slope like a regular boat. It probably signifies a change of ethos for the range.
 
Bouba said:
My last reply was meant as humour:encouragement: the mast and boom are not stepped into the hull like a sailboat, they are just attached to the salon roof. They are rated at 120 kgs for lifting the dingy, I don’t know how much pressure even a small sail would give, so I’m not about to test it. But I do sometimes think of a small steadying sail for at anchor. But I’m not sure if it’s worth the effort, unless it can always turn the boat to the swell which I’m not sure it does. I’m sure a raggie could tell us.
The rigging is just to take the derricks load, but again all the cables are anchored into the roof. The mast also serves the radar and navigation lights (which necessitated that I buy a five metre ladder just to change a bulb).
But as I said it’s by far the best solution for a proper rib on a small boat that does not interfere with moving around the boat. The replacement for the Swift Trawler 34, the ST35. Doesn’t have a mast or crane, just davits on the stern but with a dingy on it’s impossible to get on or off the boat when moored Med style!
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Thanks for the info.
 
I agree. I owned a ST 42, which was a great boat although some of the same issues raised by Bouba also apply. I just don’t see what the 47 is trying to be. For my money the 52 was the apex of the range and is still holding its value well. Maybe one day...
 
BOUBA ….. many thanks for all the info - very useful. I've just made an offer on one and notice you're in the S of F … it's not yours I'm trying to buy is it? … :encouragement:
Just had the offer turned down … he's been on the market for some 2 years, renting a berth and has it on lease. He hasn't had any more offers so the broker tells me. There are plenty for sale between here, down by the Spanish border, and Menton … trouble is this 2012 boat has only 170 hours, is as clean as a new pin and has it's service history. Poor chap has reduced it by €25k in 3 increments so it's now €11k less than average price. Tax and marina fees to pay plus his berth fees and he's paying for a lease … I'm offering cash and he's turned it down! I'll probably buy it anyway!
 
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Kingfisher 4 said:
BOUBA ….. many thanks for all the info - very useful. I've just made an offer on one and notice you're in the S of F … it's not yours I'm trying to buy is it? … :encouragement:
Just had the offer turned down … he's been on the market for some 2 years, renting a berth and has it on lease. He hasn't had any more offers so the broker tells me. There are plenty for sale between here, down by the Spanish border, and Menton … trouble is this 2011 boat has only 170 hours, is as clean as a new pin and has it's service history. Poor chap has reduced it by €25k in 3 increments so it's now €11k less than average price. Tax and marina fees to pay plus his berth fees and he's paying for a lease … I'm offering cash and he's turned it down! I'll probably buy it anyway!
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It’s not mine! If I sold mine, the missus probably wouldn’t let me get another boat:nonchalance:
Good luck with the purchase. it is possible to find a bargain. We know someone who bought a Swifty from an elderly couple (who we also met) and got a good price on a practically unused example.
 
mcanderson said:
Kingfisher - just looked up the boat you mentioned and it looks good. At some time I would like to hear why you decided to partwith the 38.
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The pros were beginning to outweigh the cons … fine boat but very noisy at over 10 knots when the turbos and superchargers kick in! We spend most of our time at displacement speeds or else use a pair of those Sena (?) wireless voice activated intercoms from Sabre leisure if we want to caper about at 30 odd knots! Also, 2 x D4 300s + drive legs + the French trying to rip off foreigners with every job you give them makes servicing very expensive! … we're going to settle for a big single Cummins with shaft drive for our dotage!
 
F82BB1BF-841C-4DC3-A062-4F478243B1C8.jpgI bought a Swift Trawler 34 in 2015 and moved it to Sant Carles in Spain. When travelling from Calvi to Antibes we ended up in a force 7 which the Swift handled brilliantly, the crew less so.
For her size she is incredibly roomy and ideal for a couple cruising long distance. At displacement speeds you can achieve a fuel flow of around 6.5/7 litres per hour but if needed 22 knots is possible.
We use her mainly for family and normally have two or three persons onboard which is good.
The engine as mentioned before is brilliant. It goes on and on and on. You do need a boat with bow and stern thrusters to make mooring easy.
 
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Cavernous for their size and a dream to manouver with bow & stern thruster, a proper 'little ship'. I loved ours but SWMBO had issues with it, only a two seat sofa and a main bedroom that you had to climb on to via the bottom of the bed. Our bed also seemed to tilt down. I would not have changed it had it been left to me but there are two sides to a boating partership. One think is clear as Bouba outlines these are the last of the 'proper' trawler of this size by Beneteau and are sought after. I would agree the best engine in its class by a country mile. They can pick up their skirts when they want to - our sea trial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtBP62z3cKU If you have a look on the Boat Test site or You Tube there are 4 in depth Videos one below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YokmT8Kft8 Mmm that has not worked from my mobile!!
 
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