Bob Deering of Juneau wrote:
<<Georgs, by that logic many "trawlers" are "sales gimmicks designed to
appeal to the inexperienced" as well.  Have you looked at what they're
trying to pass off as trawlers these days in the back of PassageMaker?>>

I haven't read the magazine for some time so cannot comment
specifically, but I do know picnic boats and cruise ships are not
trawlers.

My general definition of "trawler yacht" is that it's a motor vessel
suited for voyaging, cruising and living aboard.

Voyaging, for me, like my definition of passagemaking, means
offshore, bluewater, trans-oceanic. Cruising is a broad term, but in
the world of trawlers, it means away for at least an overnight.
Living aboard is living aboard, although some of us need more space
and/or creature comforts than others.

We have had this debate--about what defines a trawler--several times
since the List was started six years ago. The discussion has always
been lively. If it's time to exchange ideas and thoughts again, I
look forward to reading your comments.

--Georgs

<< We have had this debate--about what defines a trawler--several times
since the List was started six years ago. The discussion has always
been lively. If it's time to exchange ideas and thoughts again, I
look forward to reading your comments.

--Georgs >>

Not sure I want to open up that can of worms again Georgs or soon we'll
be back to debating whether forward sloping windows are required to be a
trawler...  Defining trawler yachts is like defining pornography - I
know it when I see it.  In the universe of compromises that make up a
boat, a trawler yacht is weighted towards seaworthiness, reliability,
comfort and economy over flashy styling and outright speed (IMHO).

It seems that "trawler" has become purely a marketing term these days.
When I see an ad for an "express trawler" boat that has 900 hp and a top
speed of 35 knots and looks like a cigarette boat on steroids... well
call it what you want, but that ain't no trawler.  The marketing
departments must figure that if they slap the word "trawler" on their
product that will imbue it with some mystical qualities (that will make
it sell).

Out of curiosity, who first coined the phrase "Trawler Yacht"?  Perhaps
they should be the one to provide the official definition.

Bob Deering
Juneau Alaska

I try to stay out of the philosophical discussions on TWL. Folks get rather
lively when discussing things they love to do and my philosophies are
generally rather simplistic yet. . . long winded . . . an annoying
combination.

All that said, I have some experience with facilitating discussions on
strategic issues and find the best place to start is to define the topic.
Georgs has asked for a discussion on what is a "trawler yacht". So the
topic is a type of machine. Machines are defined by what they do and Georgs
adds "that it's a motor vessel suited for "voyaging, cruising and living
aboard". Further defining these three terms (as Georgs did) is where the
discussion will get lively. Everyone will have a different view on what
attributes of this machine are needed to best fit their voyaging, cruising
and living aboard. Perhaps I should take a stab at narrowing the "voyaging,
cruising and living aboard" part . . . so for my 2 cents.

The trawler is a type of motor vessel designed to provide safe,
comfortable, self sufficient, long range and extended voyaging.

One of hotly contested issues in previous discussions was speed. IMHO if
you can cruise at 40 knots and meet the above definition, your in. But
physics will take care of limiting the range and extended nature of the
speedy contenders. Also, one can argue that they are not self-reliant
requiring frequent marina stops for fuel, water, food etc.

We humans (especially us American humans) tend to focus our interests and
even affections on the machines and not the purpose. I prefer to say "I
like to get out on the water", rather than "I like going to the boat". We
can all benefit by focusing on the final purpose, what do we want it to do
and how best to get it done. Everyone will have different reasons for
wanting to get out on the water to cruise long range for extended periods,
to go where no man has trawered before. Everyone will have different
resourses to apply to this task and thus all the folks will come up with
different trawlers.

Of course I'm a great one to talk . . . I'm still looking for a horn that's
loud (purpose) and sounds cool (no focus). Perhaps an economical
Kahlenberg? And if I told the Admiral that Skooch was just a machine, well
. . . it wouldn't be pretty.

Skooch
Hatteras LRC 42
Worton Creek MD

David Stahl

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