As I look at trawlers they all seem to have 3.5-4' draft (a plus to someone who has been cruising around on 6'4" draft). I have to wonder about the rocking, rolling and stability of these. They are low draft and high windage with nothing really to stabilize it. Let me tell some observations so you know how I view it (all I can currently base it on whether right/wrong):
My first trip across to Bahamas we were sailing and in sight of a trawler in front of us most of the trip. We watched this boat for hours just rolling back and forth in what we considered pretty mild open water seas. We later asked the guy how his crossing was and he said "It SUCKED"
Last week at an anchorage I met up with some ex-sailors on a 44' DeFever that they had "fitted" out for "comfort". It had a 6' draft and stabilizers (the ones on poles that have the plates, don't know what those are called). At anchor they rolled around just as much as us. A few days ago they were next to us in what turned out to be a terrible anchorage for rolling due to the surge. They were rolling just a much as all the sailboats and like me were pulling up anchor a first light to get out.
So what should I look at far as type and design to reduce this issue in a trawler? It didn't seem to me that the 6' draft made any difference at anchor. Are those pole type stabilizers and trawler sails really of use?
I am sure I am asking a loaded question because far as trawler go I don't enough to ask a more specific one.
Or is this just something you have to put up with and try to plan around?
thanks
My first trip across to Bahamas we were sailing and in sight of a trawler in front of us most of the trip. We watched this boat for hours just rolling back and forth in what we considered pretty mild open water seas. We later asked the guy how his crossing was and he said "It SUCKED"
Last week at an anchorage I met up with some ex-sailors on a 44' DeFever that they had "fitted" out for "comfort". It had a 6' draft and stabilizers (the ones on poles that have the plates, don't know what those are called). At anchor they rolled around just as much as us. A few days ago they were next to us in what turned out to be a terrible anchorage for rolling due to the surge. They were rolling just a much as all the sailboats and like me were pulling up anchor a first light to get out.
So what should I look at far as type and design to reduce this issue in a trawler? It didn't seem to me that the 6' draft made any difference at anchor. Are those pole type stabilizers and trawler sails really of use?
I am sure I am asking a loaded question because far as trawler go I don't enough to ask a more specific one.
Or is this just something you have to put up with and try to plan around?
thanks
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