T&T: Define Trawler

[Faure, Marin]

>Just to throw another fly in the ointment, I think these fishing boats
are more properly called "trollers", and "trawlers" is sort of a
prostitution of that word.

Trolling and trawling are two different types of fishing altogether.
However both types of boats typically use similar hull shapes--- full
displacement, seaworthy, high bow, sweeping sheer, etc.  I don't know
how prevalent trolling is around the world--- it used to be a very
popular way of commercial fishing in the Pacific Northwest until more
efficient methods like gillnetting and purse seining took over.  But
trawling seems to be practiced all over the world.  Trollers are almost
always smaller boats--- 26 to 40 feet, and generally have the "Grand
Banks" layout--- wheelhouse set forward with a small forecabin.  The
space occupied by the rest of a GB's main cabin and aft cabin was where
the fish hold was, the gurdies for working the troll lines, etc.

Trawlers can be either pilothouse forward or pilothouse aft.  They tend
to be larger boats since their net handling gear takes up more space, is
heavier, etc. than a troller's.

If the application of the word "trawler" to recreational boats whose
configuration is copied loosely from seaworthy commercial fishing boats,
"trawler" is probably the much more universal term.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington