- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
- Messages
- 10,123
- Location
- Australia
- Vessel Name
- Now boatless - sold 6/2018
- Vessel Make
- Had a Clipper (CHB) 34
Nehringer, I think I know where you are coming from. For most of our boating life, when our kids were young we had trailer yachts, our last being a 'maxi'. It was fun, and they had the advantage of being able to be taken to interesting places quickly, but accommodation was pinched, privacy minimal.* Not an issue when kids are kids, but once they are teenagers or more, and one is not as flexible as before, then ROOM becomes more important - better still, ROOMS plural. We also found when we moved to a warmer climate from NZ, (Queensland, Australia), that being able to get out of the sun, but still be 'outside' was what one wanted to be able to do, but harder in a yacht, even quite a large one. And boy can I relate to your following comments...
"Geez! Hook up, drag it to the ramp, wait in line to launch, find a parking space for the boat, find a parking space for the truck and trailer, blast off, come back and repeat. Load up, tilt up, tie down, lower aerial equipment, go home, back in, pick up the trash can, straighten, back up, unhook, flush, wash, cover...its wearing me out just typing it all! Isn't it far less of a production to pay the harbor master each month, wheel the cooler down the dock, mount up, power up, disconnect shore power, cast the lines and ease out of the marina?"
And yes, I love the sentiment in the last sentence...and if someone offered me a trailer boat now, I would say, "thanks, but no thanks - been there, done that."
I think the coloquial term 'trawler' is understood, but a bit of a mis-nomer, as others have mentioned.* They are really 'coastal cruisers', with the top end ones being true long range, ocean-going versions.* I think this is the concept which has bitten you, and for good reason.* Stick to the plan, but take on board all the great advice you have had, and you won't go far wrong.* If I was to put here the pluses and minuses of my boat now after owning her 10 years, all I would change is for her to be a bit newer, with less timber in her construction, and a tad bigger, just enough to accommodate a double walkaround bed instead of Vee berths in the stateroom, otherwise I wouldn't change a thing, and we just love the sedan/Europa type layout.* If you want to fish as well, that's almost a must, for what it's worth.
"Geez! Hook up, drag it to the ramp, wait in line to launch, find a parking space for the boat, find a parking space for the truck and trailer, blast off, come back and repeat. Load up, tilt up, tie down, lower aerial equipment, go home, back in, pick up the trash can, straighten, back up, unhook, flush, wash, cover...its wearing me out just typing it all! Isn't it far less of a production to pay the harbor master each month, wheel the cooler down the dock, mount up, power up, disconnect shore power, cast the lines and ease out of the marina?"
And yes, I love the sentiment in the last sentence...and if someone offered me a trailer boat now, I would say, "thanks, but no thanks - been there, done that."
I think the coloquial term 'trawler' is understood, but a bit of a mis-nomer, as others have mentioned.* They are really 'coastal cruisers', with the top end ones being true long range, ocean-going versions.* I think this is the concept which has bitten you, and for good reason.* Stick to the plan, but take on board all the great advice you have had, and you won't go far wrong.* If I was to put here the pluses and minuses of my boat now after owning her 10 years, all I would change is for her to be a bit newer, with less timber in her construction, and a tad bigger, just enough to accommodate a double walkaround bed instead of Vee berths in the stateroom, otherwise I wouldn't change a thing, and we just love the sedan/Europa type layout.* If you want to fish as well, that's almost a must, for what it's worth.