T&T: <Trawlers versus motor yachts

[George Hechtman]

Of course Arild is right. The term "trawler" is misleading and often  
ridiculous when used to describe recreational boats. I remember  
waiting for a bridge a few months ago on the ICW and somebody hailed  
the bridge describing themselves as  "the southbound trawler"since we  
were in a commercial fishing area, I looked behind me curious as to  
what would be coming my way. Well around the bend comes a shiny new  
little fiberglass cabin cruiser, about the most untrawlerly craft one  
could imagine. The tender actually put out a call to the hailing  
trawler, asking when they would be in sight of the bridge; the answer  
came back "we're here!"

As for what to buy, buy a good boat. As mentioned above many 5-10  
year old boats are on the market because all the deferred maintenance  
and replacement-cycle items have mounted up. You want to try and get  
a boat where all of that has been done at the prior owners expense of  
time, money and curse words. Invest in a copy of David Pascoe's "Mid  
Sized Powerboats" for chapter and verse on this.

Although we rented "trawlers" for years for vacation use, including  
about every flavor of Grand Banks and Mainship, when it came to  
buying something we were going to make our home for a couple of years  
as well as cruise extensively, we veered towards late 70's early 80's  
Hatteras motoryachts and LRCs. We ended up with a "motoryacht" after  
running the numbers on depreciation, realistic fuel consumption and  
upkeep for the period of time we expected to keep the boat, plus all  
the stuff we would pour into the boat to make it the way we wanted  
it, with little expectation of financial return on investment. After  
the first 6 months, we grow happier with our choice every day. When  
we entertain "trawlerers" or sail boat couples, the lady of the boat  
usually gives her husband a certain look, or comes right out and says  
something to the effect of  "wow, isn't THIS nice, Bob! " accompanied  
by that same look so many of us have come to know over many years of  
marriage. By the way, we couldn't be happier with the sea worthiness  
of this tank as well. Also by the way, when you look at our boat out  
of the water, one notes that the hull form is remarkedly similar to a  
Grand Banks and many other "trawlers", save the LRCs, Krogens and  
Nordhavns.

But by all means, what is right for us and our current purpose may  
well make no sense at all for others. Make the choice after careful  
consideration of how you are going really to use and live aboard the  
boat. Our multiple charters were invaluable in this process. I think  
of the unhappy fellow who posted recently that they were quickly  
aborting their Great Loop trip and are selling their new boat after  
discovering that cruising made his wife ill amongst other things.

If you are still in the market this summer, come by and see us in  
Westport Harbor, Mass. and make the "amenity" judgement for yourself.

Happily Moored in Marathon

George

1981 Hatteras 56MY "Incentive"