What we saw - part 1

We looked high and we looked low for a trawler meeting our needs that was still affordable.

We looked at a PT 38 that someone wanted to trade for the Stray Cat but that turned out be a derelict.

Doesn't look too, too bad from the outside - well maybe if you squint a lot!!

Now usually if someone says that the port engine is missing a little, you think of a fouled spark plug or maybe of a fouled injector. This motor was missing a lot!! Actually, the head was there, it was just not on the motor. That is because the motor was siezed solid due to salt water ingress - not a healthy thing for a fine piece of machinery.

We looked at a gulfstar 43 that even had stabilizer wings but turned out to have steering posts that were almost completely rusted out.

Gulfstar 43 - they even built sailboats and motorsailers on top of this hull. It has round chines and a reputation for being "rolly".

Nice back porch. Too bad you have no direct access to it from the saloon as you do on motorcruisers. Instead, you have to go out the side doors and then go around.

This one should not roll much. See the stabilizer fin. There is one on the port side as well. They turn to counteract any rolling action. Expensive but cool!

Nice saloon, but small for a 43. That is because the side decks are wide. Oh well, I guess you can not have it all.

They do have a reputation for being solidly built compaired to the Tiawanese boats and offering comparatively few long run problems.

We have looked at a Marine Trader 40 Labelle Sundeck that had oh so much space and so nicely proportioned. Unfortunately, it had twin engines that were sandwiched in so tightly that only one of them could easily be serviced.

Nice back porch or sundeck. There is a substantial crane for lifting the dingy onto the roof.

There is also a bit of a vertical climb from the swim platform to the gateway. This would not be great with an arm load of groceries.








Saloon. Note the galley down to port and the dining table to starboard. The space on this boat is extremely well used.

The far side of the engine (the side you have to get to in order to maintain it) is sandwiched tight up against a tank. Marine Traders also have a reputation for having fuel tanks that corrode out necessitating either removal of the engines or cutting a huge hole in the side of the boat in order that they may be replaced. Bummer!!!

This boat appeared to have been well looked after. There were still some signs of significant damage due to water leakage (typically around doors and windows).

We looked at a Formosa 40 that had all of its major systems very recently redone, had few signs of significant leakage but was a traditional trawler design and so had little useable space.


Stern view.

Galley to port: The refrigerator seems like an afterthought.

Across from the galley was a very nice dinette. Unfortunately, that was it for lounging space. Compared to other boats we saw, this one was really tiny inside.

Next: The Marine Trader 44s we looked at and a Thompson 44.