Displacement and single engine trawlers

Hi folks. New to the forum. My wife are looking at making the transition from a sailboat to a trawler and are leaning toward a relatively low power/low fuel consumption boat that we would be comfortable and safe cruising to Alaska or Mexico, for example.

We have started the process of looking at different boats in the 36 to 42-foot range and started with a preference of two engines for redundancy purposes and have been surprised that single engine boats seem to predominate. We understand the trade offs between going single versus twin but are curious to hear perspectives from single engine owners, especially those who cruise in fairly remote areas where help may not be nearby.

We are also hoping we can hear from folks on full displacement versus semi displacement hulls. It sounds like there is a greater need for stabilizers in full displacement boats and we are nervous about using either the old style stabilizers or electrical/mechanical systems.

We don’t care in particular about going faster. Six or seven knots is fine for us.

Thanks in advance!

Dan

Recently a single vs twin discussion. You might find it informative.


Cliff-Note: Weebles is a 1970 Willard 36 displacement trawler with a single Perkins 75hp 4.236. We left from San Francisco, stopped in Ensenada for a several-year refit, and left last fall with the Baja Ha Ha and then continued down the Pacific to the Guatemala border. Boat is on the hard there waiting for us to return for Season 2 beginning Nov 1st or so.

Peter

Friendly suggestion is start searching the threads. Single vs twin and what type anchor might be 2 of the most covered topics. Nothing new I can add.

FYI I have had both and if doing long distance offshore cruising might prefer a twin but it would not be in the top 3 criteria on my shopping list.

Thanks Peter!

READY said:

Friendly suggestion is start searching the threads. Single vs twin and what type anchor might be 2 of the most covered topics. Nothing new I can add.

FYI I have had both and if doing long distance offshore cruising might prefer a twin but it would not be in the top 3 criteria on my shopping list.

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Will do. Thanks for the suggestion.

With that kind of cruising plan: Alaska and Mexico which probably meets the semi-blue water definition, check out the ongoing thread of a similar name.

I would be more interested in the soundness of the boat and its stability system than number of engines.

David

Daniel B said:

Hi folks. New to the forum. My wife are looking at making the transition from a sailboat to a trawler and are leaning toward a relatively low power/low fuel consumption boat that we would be comfortable and safe cruising to Alaska or Mexico, for example.

We have started the process of looking at different boats in the 36 to 42-foot range and started with a preference of two engines for redundancy purposes and have been surprised that single engine boats seem to predominate. We understand the trade offs between going single versus twin but are curious to hear perspectives from single engine owners, especially those who cruise in fairly remote areas where help may not be nearby.

We are also hoping we can hear from folks on full displacement versus semi displacement hulls. It sounds like there is a greater need for stabilizers in full displacement boats and we are nervous about using either the old style stabilizers or electrical/mechanical systems.

We don’t care in particular about going faster. Six or seven knots is fine for us.

Thanks in advance!

Dan

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I am a proponent of single engine trawlers with simple mechanical tractor engines, for coastal motor vessels. The advantages of simple engines and engine room gymnastics are not to be ignored. Complexity and a need for speed ups the ante. I am surprised you are having a problem finding a twin. I had to search long and hard for my single GB 36. A twin GB 36 is nearly impossible to navigate the ER, I can barely get around my single. I always wanted a single GB 42, but never found one timely, but I know they're out there. We do about 8 kts, and plan for 7.5 kts. Stabilizers, center bunk and a navigable ER room should be high on your list of things you'd like, for these things are important if you're really going to cruise, even coastwise.

Not all ERs are created equal. Our IG36 had a walkway between the twin Lehmans. Same goes for our Integrity 386,twin Cummins, the ER is frankly spacious. And hull is same as the Integrity 380 which comes with single only. But the Clipper 40, same builder of origin as NP, has twins you work on from either end, you can`t pass between them. Best not generalize, check each boat for ER access with twins.

BruceK said:

Not all ERs are created equal. Our IG36 had a walkway between the twin Lehmans. Same goes for our Integrity 386,twin Cummins, the ER is frankly spacious. And hull is same as the Integrity 380 which comes with single only. But the Clipper 40, same builder of origin as NP, has twins you work on from either end, you can`t pass between them. Best not generalize, check each boat for ER access with twins.

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Agreed. It depends on the engines and size of the boat, but also depends a lot on where other equipment is mounted. A 35 - 40 foot boat with twins and fuel tanks outboard of the engines is likely to have poor access. But if the fuel tanks are placed somewhere else to leave open space outboard of the engines, access can be just fine.

My own boat is a 38 footer with twins and access is pretty good. There's about 2.5 feet between the engines and about the same outboard (but with a bit less height due to the hull shape). And enough space above them to work on most hardware up top without pulling the floor panels above the engines. The only stuff mounted outboard of the engines are some above waterline thru hulls (plus the hoses to them) and the mufflers for the engines in the aft corners of the engine room. A few things on the back end of the engines are a little tough to reach, but that's mostly the fault of the exhaust systems making that area a little crowded and also restricting where you can position your body while working.

Daniel B said:

Hi folks. New to the forum. My wife are looking at making the transition from a sailboat to a trawler and are leaning toward a relatively low power/low fuel consumption boat that we would be comfortable and safe cruising to Alaska or Mexico, for example.

We have started the process of looking at different boats in the 36 to 42-foot range and started with a preference of two engines for redundancy purposes and have been surprised that single engine boats seem to predominate. We understand the trade offs between going single versus twin but are curious to hear perspectives from single engine owners, especially those who cruise in fairly remote areas where help may not be nearby.

We are also hoping we can hear from folks on full displacement versus semi displacement hulls. It sounds like there is a greater need for stabilizers in full displacement boats and we are nervous about using either the old style stabilizers or electrical/mechanical systems.

We don’t care in particular about going faster. Six or seven knots is fine for us.

Thanks in advance!

Dan

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Hi Dan,
we have a single diesel in our 2001 Mainship 390, aptly named "After Sailin'" Originally, my concerns were the same but after having this boat for 10 years i am still very happy with my choice. being aware that its a single, we maintain the engine to a high standard. unless you run out of fuel, engines don't just quit. Accessibility is another advantage of the single. with this being said its less manurable, but we learned to live with that.

Hi Daniel,
We are admittedly at the small end of the size spectrum. Puffin is a 30', full displacement, single engine Willard. I am all for the simple systems concept, no stabilizers or generator. We cruise extensively in the Inside Passage. Our method is to keep an eye on the weather and the current charts and plan accordingly. Best of luck with your search.
Bob

Look at the American Tugs of different lengths.
I could sing the phrases of the ATs but I encourage you to search the web. I think you will be impressed

We have a full displacement Cheoy Lee Pilothouse 34 with twin Ford Lehman E-Con-O-Power motors 100 hp (very, very similar to the 120's). I was searching for a single engine like the Willard 36 when we found the Cheoy Lee. I am now glad to have the twins, even with the engine room gymnastics. The close quarter control is amazing.
I have always believed 90% of diesel failures were fuel related, so I was looking for a single screw. That being said, I have had to come in on a single after catching a line and shutting down one screw. Now I carry a dive suit and mask. But I would have been stranded without that "spare engine" in 2022.
FWIW, I think Cheoy Lee makes one helluva fine boat and you can find them with both single and twins. Had a GB 42 before and I just love my Pilothouse with large boat deck and Flybridge model.

Just a week ago I had a newly changed impeller failure which fortunately I caught quite early. Where the shutdown occurred would have been quite problematic with the current, depth and waves. Having the second engine was all the difference.

Hi,

We have been sailing our single engine boat for 28 years now and there are almost 13000 hours on the hour counter.
Average speed is 6 miles per hour resulting in approximately 78,000 miles.
In these 13000 hours the engine let us down once, a broken V belt that was replaced in half an hour.
However, after 6200 hours a new engine was installed in the boat, the first engine was worn out.
The current engine, 14 years old, has 6300 hours and we are about to install a new engine.
Not because the current engine is worn out, it is in very good condition, but is a calculation.
We hope to sail this boat for another 20 years, it is estimated that there would be 15000 hours on the engine and it is 34 years old.
Personally, I don't have much faith anymore in a engine that is 34 years old and has 15000 hours on the clock.
Age also plays a role, then I'm in my eighties and it's harder to solve problems that can come with an older engine.
That's why we're replacing the engine now and we'll have one less thing to worry about for the next 20 years.
We do the replacement of the engine ourselves, which is not a problem physically at all, but may be in 15 years.
Then the additional advantage of an engine, the cost, it would have been an expensive affair if I had to replace two engines every time.

Greeting,

Pascal.

As said above access all depends on the boat. I am a big guy. We had a 46’ trawler with twin Detroits, V6s, and I could crawl all the way around the engines on the outboard sides pretty easily. And the V engines are quite a bit wider than an inline. Good luck in your search.

Pascall said:

after 6200 hours a new engine was installed in the boat, the first engine was worn out.

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Pascall said:

The current engine, 14 years old, has 6300 hours and we are about to install a new engine.

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@Pascall, Curious what the 1st and 2nd engines were, and what you're planning for this 3rd engine

The first engine was a Nanni 60 hp 6 cylinder, an engine that was very quiet but probably too little power for the 14 ton heavy boat.
The current engine is a Nanni 100 hp 4 cylinder, a great engine and has enough power.
As for the difference in top speed between the two engines, 60 and 100 hp, is half a knot.
Fuel consumption at cruising speed (6 to 7 knots) has decreased by 1 litre per hour with the 100 hp.
The new engine will be a Nanni, actually I wanted the same one as the current engine but unfortunately it is no longer available.
The replacement for the 100 hp (Nanni N4.100) is a 115 hp Nanni N4.115.
The Nanni 115 hp (max 2600 rpm) is more favorable in speed compared to the current engine (max 2800 prm)

Greeting,

Pascal.