Classic Trawlers
Part of the reason I first fell in love with trawlers was their salty lines. If you’re hatching an escape plan (as I was), you’re going to want a boat that can really take you places, and the traditional trawler announces its serious voyaging potential with a high bow, a pilothouse with forward raked windows and perhaps a Portuguese bridge, as well as voluminous fuel tanks — this kind of vessel lets you know it’s not messing around.
Economical, rugged, reliable and excruciatingly slow, traditional trawlers compensate for their pokey pace with creature comforts that force you to kick back and remember: It really is all about the journey.
Nordhavn 63
The Nordhavn 63 is an aft wheelhouse version of the N60. A new deck and engine room mold were created for it, providing increased interior volume and added amenities, though it rides the proven hull of the N55. Nordhavn says the most noticeable difference is in the level of luxury and spaciousness. The main saloon has two wrapping settees, with the galley on the same level, which makes entertaining a social event for the chef. A GE stainless steel four-burner LPG stove and convection/microwave oven and a Sub-Zero fridge and freezer are part of the gourmet galley equipment. Granite countertops and raised cherry paneling round out the sense of luxury. There’s a master cabin amidships on the port side and a large guest cabin forward. The pilothouse is comfortable and has a nearby off-watch cabin with head and shower, as well as access to the open aft deck lounge and Portuguese bridge with optional docking stations.
LOA: 62 feet 6 inches
BEAM: 18 feet
DRAFT: 6 feet, 8 inches
DISPLACEMENT: 143,000 pounds
POWER: 225-hp John Deere 6090AFM
FUEL: 2,500 gallons,
RANGE: 3,000 nm at 7 knots
CONTACT: Pacific Asian Enterprises, Dana Point, California
(949) 496-4848.
Krogen 52
The Krogen 52 follows in the wake of the successful 58, built from all-new tooling and featuring the design cues that signal its bluewater abilities. The signature “back porch” cockpit leads through watertight doors to a spacious saloon, with a gourmet galley forward. A four-burner Viking range with oven and a full-size Jenn-Air refrigerator will make you feel at home, but the weather-tight Dutch door to starboard will reassure you that the designer has not forgotten where all this good eating will happen. The raised pilothouse may be the best spot on board, with dual helm chairs and excellent sightlines.
Accommodations are offered in two- or three-cabin arrangements, with the master stateroom forward or amidships. Those who choose the two-cabin plan can enjoy a dedicated office space. Both heads feature enclosed showers.
LOA: 57 feet, 9 inches
BEAM: 17 feet, 9 inches
DRAFT: 5 feet, 5 inches (with single at DWL and half load)
DISPLACEMENT: 70,000 pounds (DWL with half load)
POWER: 231-hp John Deere 6068AFM75 (standard) FUEL: 1,400 gallons
SPEED: 9.5 knots (top)
RANGE: 3,300 nm at 7 knots
CONTACT: Kadey-Krogen Yachts, Stuart, Florida
(772) 286-0171
Diesel Duck 462
The best-known builder of George Buehler’s Diesel Duck trawler range is family-owned Seahorse Marine, outside Hong Kong, China, which averages four of these steel-hulled boats a year. The marketing model is unusual: Sell directly to customers without advertising or promotion. Most owners take delivery in China (they can also be shipped to the United States), so these vessels have to be ready for a serious shakedown cruise. Ducks are old-school seaworthy, with double bottoms; aluminum commercial windows, hatches and doors; self-righting features; and a steadying sail that can also provide get-home power in case of engine problems. The Diesel Duck 462 includes a separate galley, and dining and large main saloon areas with a handsome teak finish. There are two staterooms with dedicated heads — one forward, one aft.
LOA: 51 feet
BEAM: 14.9 feet
DRAFT: 5 feet (dry)
DISPLACEMENT: 72,000 pounds
POWER: 125-hp John Deere 4045
FUEL: 1,600 gallons
RANGE: 4,700 nm at 7 knots
CONTACT: Seahorse Marine, Zhuhai, China,
PHONE: +86 (0)756 550 1060.
George Buehler Yacht Design
Freeland, Washington
(360) 331-5866
Garcia GT-54
It’s hard to resist chuckling at a French-built passagemaker billed as “Le Trawler,” but for those drawn to Euro-styling, the Garcia GT-54 is a serious option. The overall look is minimalist, with large windows that allow light and fresh air to flood the single-level galley and saloon areas. There’s port-side seating for eight at a hi/lo dining table. Light oak cabinetry is grain-matched, and a white faux-leather headliner accentuates the bright feeling. There are clever storage options and 6 feet, 5 inches of headroom throughout the yacht. Step up to the pilothouse, which is surrounded in glass and provides an ideal cruising perch for guests behind the captain. Stairs here lead down to the accommodations. There’s a forward guest cabin and a master amidships. Both feature king berths, desks, en-suite heads and plenty of storage. The engine room is impressive, excellently organized and offers easy access to service points. The Caterpillar engine is designed for 20,000 hours of use before requiring a rebuild — or six circumnavigations. The aluminum hull is built to last, too, and Americans will marvel at the spacious areas for sun worshipping.
LOA: 56 feet, 4 inches
BEAM: 16 feet, 1 inch
DRAFT: 5 feet, 1 inch
DISPLACEMENT: 57,300 pounds (light) 70,500 pounds (laden)
POWER: 125-bhp Caterpillar 3056
DITA FUEL: 1,370 gallons
RANGE: 3,500 nm at 8 knots
CONTACT: Garcia Yachting, Condé-sur-Noireau, France,
PHONE: +33 2 31 69 03 92.
Seaton De Alm Kotter 1760
Seaton Yachts, a custom designer and builder looking to move into production boats, is the exclusive North American distributor for the Dutch-built Jachtbouw De Alm line of steel trawlers, which range from 36 to 90 feet. The 57-foot Seaton De Alm 1760 is trans-Atlantic-capable, yet designed to transit the European canals and the Great Loop. The double-chine hull, with a deep forefoot, canoe stern and long-plated steel keel, offers exceptional directional stability and protection from grounding. De Alm yachts mirror Seaton’s designs for ease of operation, so hydraulic bow and stern thrusters and a windlass are standard. The layout is available in two- and three-stateroom arrangements, and the flybridge is geared to the North American market.
LOA: 57 feet, 6 inches
BEAM: 16 feet, 3 inches
DRAFT: 5 feet, 1 inch
DISPLACEMENT: 92,595 pounds
POWER: twin 158-hp John Deere 6068TFM75 (standard)
FUEL: 2,200 gallons
SPEED: 8 knots (cruise)
RANGE: 2,500 nm at 8 knots
CONTACT: Seaton Yachts. Newport, Rhode Island,
(401) 851-2002.
See related articles:
April 2015 issue
