So many good suggestions above! The C-dory and Rosborough ideas are appealing. I went through the selection process after some lake boats and sailboats going back to the 70s, saw a Camano at a boat show years ago and was drawn to that, buying one in 2017. I'm very pleased with the Camano, as it "fits" my cruising area. Bought it in Bristol, RI, and with good weather forecasts, brought it down the east coast to home port in Chcowinity NC. Single diesel, full keel with enclosed prop, large v-berth (I tell my wife it's a "stateroom"), fabulous visibility, efficient at hull speed and 2 kt. more, thirsty at full speed 12.5 kt, very thirsty doesn't track well at flank speed (15.1 kt max). Common description is that it entertains 6, feeds 4, and sleeps 2. It can sleep more than 2, but I am unlikely do that other than with grandkids or my kids. Not great for trolling, as cabin draft often picks up exhaust. Several on the west coast for sale now, different ages and prices. I'm delighted with how my 2005 has held value, run well, and fits our utilization.
Selection process: Read Passagemaker for years, followed Yachtworld, evaluated the alternatives. I went to Trawlerfest in 2016, and one of Steve Zimmerman's classes helped me a lot. He had some forms with questions about how participants would use their boat - number of people, distances, how long a typical cruise would be in days (endurance - fuel, food, laundry and other considerations), inshore/offshore, etc. Another form converted answers from those questions into suggestions on size, power, and more. That told me I was looking at the right kind of boat for us, cruising to local colonial towns in eastern NC - fantastic places with affordable dockage, meals ashore, history venues, and so much more, but was clearly capable of the delivery trip from RI to NC with a good weather eye, flexible schedule for ducking into a protected river or bay if conditions were challenging.
From experience: Whatever you buy, have it checked out well, and strongly consider having all fuel filters changed after a fuel polishing before the delivery cruise. I didn't, and had the primary RACOR clog just off Cape May. Flipped to the back up filter, replaced the clogged one the next day. That and attending Trawlerfest, and walking docks in and near my home port to see that configurations are utilized locally are the best ideas I can offer. Have fun looking, and have a rock solid surveyor check Everything.
Best wishes!
NCheaven
(because eastern NC - Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound and the many bays and rivers, colonial towns, etc., really is small trawler heaven! Check the maps!)
