Help with my Trawler search.

SeaGator, I am also agree with you if you are more knowledgeable about sailing and boat than me.... I still like classes - learning more and more and understanding boat worlds... and the most to meet people with the same interests and goals.

Judy at JWY said:

The PMM "new" owners subsequently weren't Bill et all, but TF was still worth going to. I was so disappointed in a few consecutive TFs, that I quit going (I used to fly to Baltimore and Anacortes for TF). Then I gave it another shot and went to TF in Stuart last year. It took me all of about 20 minutes to walk the docks before I left.

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I stopped walking the boats except the type I narrowed down. I do walk them still to get more conformation that they are the ones I want. I am doing a lot of work on my check list and preparation for caption license and buying the right boat. Still, going to TF and taking most of classes to refresh and ask more questions raised after studying more. I think there is no 100% "written in stone" steps for everybody how to get to the end of your goal "buy the right boat and start cruising". What works for one might not work for others. So if you think TF is waste - it is waste for you but not for me or other newbie.

To your original question, I can’t see the point in going to the Trawlerfest given you already have experience sailing, and more important, owning an Amel 50. Better to look at boats that are actually for sale without the pressure of crowds. Or boats that aren’t yet for sale! They all will be some day. I am happy to show my boat to anyone with real interest and suspect most other owners are too. Also, you don’t need such a big boat just for seaworthiness. The Nordhavn 46 might be the most seaworthy of all their designs, except perhaps for the old 62. Certainly the model has completed many circumnavigations. I have nothing against bigger but the operating costs go up and the availability of slips goes down dramatically as size increases. The slip shortage is a very real problem in some areas. All just my opinion, best of luck.

Daveo said:

To your original question, I can’t see the point in going to the Trawlerfest given you already have experience sailing, and more important, owning an Amel 50. Better to look at boats that are actually for sale without the pressure of crowds. Or boats that aren’t yet for sale! They all will be some day. I am happy to show my boat to anyone with real interest and suspect most other owners are too. Also, you don’t need such a big boat just for seaworthiness. The Nordhavn 46 might be the most seaworthy of all their designs, except perhaps for the old 62. Certainly the model has completed many circumnavigations. I have nothing against bigger but the operating costs go up and the availability of slips goes down dramatically as size increases. The slip shortage is a very real problem in some areas. All just my opinion, best of luck.

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Daveo, I do agree with much of what you are saying. Went to the Annapolis Boat show many years ago and took a “Master” class on weather (planning and charting). The instructors dumbed the class down to the lowest common denominator e.g. people who were total rookies to weather planning which in turn drug the class down. No value. Although I am signed up for only one class for the Baltimore show (Nigel Calders Diesel troubleshooting and maintenance) I hope to connect with other like minded boaters. Also, I hope several of the brokers are available so I can press the flesh and begin the relationships for my purchase. I’ve already purchased my tickets and I’m committed to go, albeit my expectations are not that high. Maybe the Miami boat show in September will be a better bet to see beautiful boats and other beautiful things.

SeaGator said:

I have been to several TrawlerFests in both Florida and Maryland over the years. Outside of overpriced and overcrowded seminars, it's pretty much a waste of time and money, IMHO. Way back when, they were good venues but not now. Very few boats to look at.

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I'm sorry to hear this. Seems to be a broadly held opinion that TrawlerFest is not great value.

TrawlerFest was started in the later part of the 1990s by Georgs Kolesnikov. An eminantly enigmatic guy, Georgs was a serial publisher and showman. He started the foreunner to TrawlerForum with an email-based list "Voyaging under Power" that morphed into "Trawlers and Trawlering." I recognize a few names on TF to this day (a shout-out to RGANO for example). Along the way, he published a beautifully produced glossy info-magazine for Nordhavn. The guy knew how to generate buzz.

I didn't know Georgs well, but he seemed like the type that liked to start things, not run them so around 2002, Georgs sold TrawlerFest to Jack & Millie Rose, his right-hand team with TrawlerFest. Cheryll, my wife, and I had a great time working with Jack & Millie (and Dennis & Esther - Jack's right-hand-man). But all things come to pass - I was recruited back into Corporate America; Jack & Millie sold to PassageMaker Magazine (PMM).

In hindsight, this sale was a seminal moment for TrawlerFest. Until then, both Georgs and Jack/Millie viewed their customer base as attendees - folks who wrote the check to attend. Attractive content was extremely important so they hired subject matter experts such as Bob Smith (legendary Ford Lehman god) and others, including TF members Psneeld and myself.

The PMM model was grafted off the standard magazine business model: Advertisers are the 'customer' and attendees are the props. While I don't know, I wouldn't be surprised if PMM now received revenue from advertisers to sponsor/teach a seminar. While I wasn't paid to teach seminars, my expenses were paid including airfare (though very few presenters came from outside the immediate area).

I loved doing TrawlerFests and am saddened they have apparently pivoted from an educational event where you could look at boats for sale to a sales-event that oh-by-the-way has infomercial seminars. Maybe I'm naive and it was always like that - it was certainly good for my delivery business just because I met so many people (BTW - my seminars were "Boat Buying 101;" and "Docking & Close Quarter Maneuvers;" and midday dock demo's to bring folks to the docks; and of course inaugural instructor at TrawlerFest University - Bob Smith being the other first wave of 'professors').

I'd like nothing more than for a few folks to push-back on the above. TrawlerFest is a great concept. I wish it was more about the attendees and less about the advdertisers. But I guess thats naive itself.

Peter

Cubancrisis said:

Looking to buy a Trawler and would like to see as many as possible. I've signed up for the PM Trawlerfest in Baltimore, September 2024. Been reading threads on this forum and thinking it may be a waste of time. I want to maximize my time seeing as many Trawlers as possible. I want to talk to experts in the field and see as many brands as possible. My virtual search is leading me to a Nordhavn 55 or something equivalent. Have never stepped foot on a Trawler. I'm coming from the sailing world so I have some learning to do. Is the Miami boat show the way to go? I've not been able to find a list of boats or brands that will be at the Baltimore show. It's my hope the threads I've read here with regards to the Baltimore show in particular are old and no longer the case. It would be a shame if the show is a bust for me. I'm working on developing a relationship with a broker but haven't found anyone yet who is engaging enough to earn my business.

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Hello, I am going to Baltimore Trawlerfest but not really looking at the displayed boats but take classes - very helpful. I went to last event where I narrowed down on type of boats, I will be concentrating. If you are planning to buy/or order new, Trawlerfest is great place or/and explore/walk on boats to see how you feel about specific one and ask a lot of questions (what I did at Anacortes Trawlerfest). I am going to see other boats I found on my search there, of course but they are not on displayed as I am looking for used one.

yzapanti said:

I stopped walking the boats except the type I narrowed down. I do walk them still to get more conformation that they are the ones I want. I am doing a lot of work on my check list and preparation for caption license and buying the right boat. Still, going to TF and taking most of classes to refresh and ask more questions raised after studying more. I think there is no 100% "written in stone" steps for everybody how to get to the end of your goal "buy the right boat and start cruising". What works for one might not work for others. So if you think TF is waste - it is waste for you but not for me or other newbie.

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sorry, mistyped captain license...

Summitgrpinc said:

Being you somewhat qualified the type of boat and level of investment with the Nordhaven 55, I would recommend that you take a serious look at the Helmsman Trawler company.

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I think Helmsman is a line of boats that is well worth considering for many folks, just not for the OP. He wants a boat that is capable of ocean crossings. A Helmsman of any size, no more than my North Pacific is simply not designed for that purpose. Sure, someone could get lucky and not run into serious sea conditions when they get out past reliable weather forecasts, but that doesn't mean the boat is designed for blue water travel.

The Helmsman website says the 46 only carries 800 gal of fuel. I doubt it has the range to cross oceans. It would be a bumpy ride with a semi displacement hull and no stabilizers. Is the engine certified for 24/7 non-stop operation? It would be a good boat to cruise up the inland passage to Alaska though.

La Sirena said:

The Helmsman website says the 46 only carries 800 gal of fuel. I doubt it has the range to cross oceans. It would be a bumpy ride with a semi displacement hull and no stabilizers. Is the engine certified for 24/7 non-stop operation? It would be a good boat to cruise up the inland passage to Alaska though.

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Great boat for that. I'm biased and think the NP 45 would be even better, but they are both in the same nice coastal cruising class.

Cubancrisis said:

Looking to buy a Trawler and would like to see as many as possible. I've signed up for the PM Trawlerfest in Baltimore, September 2024. Been reading threads on this forum and thinking it may be a waste of time. I want to maximize my time seeing as many Trawlers as possible. I want to talk to experts in the field and see as many brands as possible. My virtual search is leading me to a Nordhavn 55 or something equivalent. Have never stepped foot on a Trawler. I'm coming from the sailing world so I have some learning to do. Is the Miami boat show the way to go? I've not been able to find a list of boats or brands that will be at the Baltimore show. It's my hope the threads I've read here with regards to the Baltimore show in particular are old and no longer the case. It would be a shame if the show is a bust for me. I'm working on developing a relationship with a broker but haven't found anyone yet who is engaging enough to earn my business.

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you cannot not go wrong with a Nordhavn as this brand has a understanding of the requirements, of course perception is alot to do with opinion but as a N40 owner for over 4 years i am very happy with decision given the maintenance factor has not been as large as expected. (i do with my own maintenance) in saying that the Bering boats are nice as well, i looked at a Selene and rejected it the engineering is not as good as a Nordhavn. overall being a ex Marine engineer it feel wrong to be on fire glass boats, hands down its the way to go. now that i am retired i think about getting a project boat but end of day it best to be out there doing it

mvweebles said:

TrawlerFest was started in the later part of the 1990s by Georgs Kolesnikov. An eminantly enigmatic guy, Georgs was a serial publisher and showman. He started the foreunner to TrawlerForum with an email-based list "Voyaging under Power" that morphed into "Trawlers and Trawlering."

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The last time we went to a Trawlerfest was in the late '90s, Solomons (MD) I think, when Georgs was still honcho. Yep, a character.

-Chris

mvweebles said:

I'm sorry to hear this. Seems to be a broadly held opinion that TrawlerFest is not great value...

..I'd like nothing more than for a few folks to push-back on the above. TrawlerFest is a great concept. I wish it was more about the attendees and less about the advdertisers. But I guess thats naive itself.

Peter

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You brought back nice memories, Peter. My first TrawlerFest was when Lowie Bock was my client and she invited me to TF because she was giving a class on decor. I was a faithful attendee thereafter. Loved seeing Jack and Millie at the registration desk. Florida TF was a huge success when it was held at Bahia Mar in FLL but the rapid decline with change of ownership also came with the move to Riviera (?) and then back to Stuart. I gave seminars on Buying a Trawler and on Hull Materials, Pros and Cons. Yes, I was a serious advertiser. When I quit advertising, I lost my invites as a speaker.

dhays said:

I think Helmsman is a line of boats that is well worth considering for many folks, just not for the OP. He wants a boat that is capable of ocean crossings. A Helmsman of any size, no more than my North Pacific is simply not designed for that purpose. Sure, someone could get lucky and not run into serious sea conditions when they get out past reliable weather forecasts, but that doesn't mean the boat is designed for blue water travel.

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Looks good but the biggest is 46, thank you

Daveo said:

The Nordhavn 46 might be the most seaworthy of all their designs,

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I'm curious to what differentiates the 46 to make it more seaworthy than say the NH 55?

If I were going to cross an ocean, I'd rather be on a N46 vs a N55. The 46 has a much lower profile, less windage and a center of gravity closer to the center of buoyancy. Both are stabilized, but if you loose your stabilizers the ride would be much better on a 46. Also, fuel consumption would be much less on the 46. It has a more efficient hull form than the 55. Slower and smaller for sure.

The first 2 Nordhavn models, their 46 and 62, seemed to offer the best stability, handling, and sea-keeping ability. It seems that N began to address what seemed like deficiencies to Americans by changing their models, for example to accommodate more head room in the engine room. The N62 added an optional bustle that really wasn't so optional, but most of the models ended up getting stretched to increase the stability. For example the N55 became the N60 which grew to 63. Most of the increases in LOA did not compel N to adjust the running gear accordingly.