GoodShipLollipop
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2022
- Messages
- 29
- Vessel Make
- Looking at a Grand Banks 36
I'm going to be buying a boat to live aboard in a month or so. There seem to be just tons and tons of good options in my price range, so I figure it's best if I ask for advice early in the process.
My budget isn't super firm, can make it work up to about $250k. But I'd rather go with a well found old boat that costs less than a newer, nicer boat. The nice boat is planned for 3-4 years from now, so the more I save today the nicer a boat I can get then.
Aside from power, my needs are pretty modest. I'm going to be working full time from the boat (software engineer), and listening to a generator all day every day sounds awful. So I'll need either lots of solar+lithium or to spend weekdays plugged into shore power. Solar strongly preferred, l'd much rather spend my time on anchor than in a slip. From what I've seen it looks like I'll be installing that myself, not a lot of trawlers seem to have big solar arrays, or even have the space for them without adding a hardtop.
I don't need much personal space, so I'm fine with smaller boats. I was planning to buy a sailboat and go cruising before I got this job offer, so even the smallest trawlers have loads of space compared to what I was planning for. I suppose more space is better so family can visit in more comfort, but it's a relatively low priority.
I have lots of experience on much smaller boats, but none on anything as big as a trawler. So ease of operation for a single hander is a must. I figure that makes a bow thruster a key feature, and somebody mentioned ease of access to the side decks, but otherwise I really don't know what to look for here. All my research on single handing was centered on sailboats.
I'm an avid fisherman and will try to spend every waking minute fishing if I'm not working. Probably I'll have lines in the water while I'm working. Sorry my task is late, boss, but this salmon isn't gonna land itself! I don't know if any trawler is particularly well suited to fishing, but if there is one I'd love to know.
I've been looking hardest at the Grand Banks 36 and Tollycraft 40 Tri Cabin, but I'm open to all suggestions. I'd like to split my time between the Columbia River and Inside Passage. Absolutely no project boats, I just don't have that kind of time.
My budget isn't super firm, can make it work up to about $250k. But I'd rather go with a well found old boat that costs less than a newer, nicer boat. The nice boat is planned for 3-4 years from now, so the more I save today the nicer a boat I can get then.
Aside from power, my needs are pretty modest. I'm going to be working full time from the boat (software engineer), and listening to a generator all day every day sounds awful. So I'll need either lots of solar+lithium or to spend weekdays plugged into shore power. Solar strongly preferred, l'd much rather spend my time on anchor than in a slip. From what I've seen it looks like I'll be installing that myself, not a lot of trawlers seem to have big solar arrays, or even have the space for them without adding a hardtop.
I don't need much personal space, so I'm fine with smaller boats. I was planning to buy a sailboat and go cruising before I got this job offer, so even the smallest trawlers have loads of space compared to what I was planning for. I suppose more space is better so family can visit in more comfort, but it's a relatively low priority.
I have lots of experience on much smaller boats, but none on anything as big as a trawler. So ease of operation for a single hander is a must. I figure that makes a bow thruster a key feature, and somebody mentioned ease of access to the side decks, but otherwise I really don't know what to look for here. All my research on single handing was centered on sailboats.
I'm an avid fisherman and will try to spend every waking minute fishing if I'm not working. Probably I'll have lines in the water while I'm working. Sorry my task is late, boss, but this salmon isn't gonna land itself! I don't know if any trawler is particularly well suited to fishing, but if there is one I'd love to know.
I've been looking hardest at the Grand Banks 36 and Tollycraft 40 Tri Cabin, but I'm open to all suggestions. I'd like to split my time between the Columbia River and Inside Passage. Absolutely no project boats, I just don't have that kind of time.