First post

[Boatingbill]

I’ve been hanging around here a while, but figured I’d jump in now that I have bought my cruising boat. Been on an express cruiser on Lake Erie for the last couple years. Casually looking for “the boat”. Well we found it. Perhaps a year or 2 ahead of schedule. It’s certainly not a true trawler, but that is how we intend to use our new to us 1974 Uniflite 42 aft. Totally unmolested boat. 2nd owner of 20+ years has maintained her well. After looking at many boats nothing compared to this one. Electronics are ancient, but work. Twin 903 cummins with a whopping 1300 hours. Supper low hours, but this boat has been in the water every year. Mostly a dock queen. Heated indoor storage for winter since new. So excited to get started making her mine

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Welcome aboard. Not a true trawler? Who cares...

 

[Bacchus]

Welcome aboard TF and congrats on the "new" boat... it sounds like a great find.
We will expect some pics.

 

[Bare Necessities]

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome aboard.

 

[Boatingbill]

Greetings,
Welcome aboard. Not a true trawler? Who cares...

lol. I certainly don’t care! It may not do as well on fuel as a displacement hull, but should still do fine at hull speed. Super heavy at 35,000 for a 42’er, so that will hurt her a bit. However it’s nice to know the hull will stop a round from an AK47 just in case I get attacked by pirates!

 

[Star0210]

I’ve been hanging around here a while, but figured I’d jump in now that I have bought my cruising boat. Been on an express cruiser on Lake Erie for the last couple years. Casually looking for “the boat”. Well we found it. Perhaps a year or 2 ahead of schedule. It’s certainly not a true trawler, but that is how we intend to use our new to us 1974 Uniflite 42 aft. Totally unmolested boat. 2nd owner of 20+ years has maintained her well. After looking at many boats nothing compared to this one. Electronics are ancient, but work. Twin 903 cummins with a whopping 1300 hours. Supper low hours, but this boat has been in the water every year. Mostly a dock queen. Heated indoor storage for winter since new. So excited to get started making her mine

Do you have pictures?

 

[Boatingbill]

I don’t have many as I have not closed yet. Waiting to launch for a sea trial, and final inspection

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard.

 

[rsn48]

First post is always better than last post. Welcome.

 

[Jmk2000]

Your gonna love those 903’s! They are a great diesel! Very simple to work on and tougher than nails.

 

[klee wyck]

Welcome aboard.

 

[menzies]

Welcome aboard.

"True Trawler?" Awww don't start that again!

This may apply to you. I recently saw a meme of Meat Loaf singing:

"I will do any thing for love..."

Then a photo of his wife saying "Then stop buying boat parts!"

And then Meat Loaf again;

"But I won't do that!"

Enjoy your new journey!

 

[fractalphreak]

It’s certainly not a true trawler, but that is how we intend to use

Nothing wrong with that. We used our 30' Reinell twin gas powerboat as a trawler for basically the entire 14 yrs we had her. She was a challenge to dock in a stiff breeze, light and no keel. I do LOVE the ride and feel of a heavier boat we have in our trawler though. Great Escape was only 12,000 lbs, NWD is closer to 28,000 with a 4 1/2 ft draft. With your length and weight I'd think you'll have a pretty sweet ride.

Don't get crazy until you've finished your surveys, sea trials, and whatnot, but hope it goes well. There are probably others that can chime in on fuel burn, but I think you'll be surprised how well these old diesels do at low throttle settings. Welcome!

 

[LaBomba]

Welcome to the forum and the Great Lakes and good luck with closing the deal.

 

[Boatingbill]

Thanks for all the well wishes! I’m actually in the trucking business. I’ve been at it so long my second truck had a 903, so I’m familiar with it. The old truck had over 800,000mi on it when I got rid of it. My brother in-law is a diesel pump guy. All parts are available, but getting hard to find. As soon as I close the deal I will start sourcing the hard to find parts. Major mechanical stuff is readily available. A rebuild kit is around $1,500.00, so I’m guessing I’d be about $2500-$3000 per engine come rebuild time. Of course that is me doing the overhaul plus machine work for heads, and whatever for exhaust manifolds. Anyways, cheers all!

 

[sparky66]

Is this the one at Cedar Point? I have my 42' DC at Lakefront Marina, and someone told me his friend had one for sale and kept it at Cedar Point.

 

[Boatingbill]

Yes. That’s the boat. Doing a sea trial this weekend. If all goes good I will own it by next week

 

[Action]

Welcome aboard!

Pictures look like well cared for vessel.

 

[FlyWright]

To be honest, nobody really knows just WTF a trawler really is and with Trawler Forum's 20,000 members, we're never going to agree either.

We're a bunch of powerboat cruisers who know how to have a good time.

Welcome to the club!

 

[Alemao]

Wellcome aboard e bem vindo também [emoji6]
Preciso de opiniao sobre meu motor, pode ajudar?

 

[Steve]

Boatingbill
Lisbon, Portugal or a city in US named Lisbon?

 

[Nomad Willy]

Not a trawler indeed but a great boat. I know. I worked at Uniflite in the early 70’s. May well have been aboard your boat. The Uniflite’s were stout compared to other contemporary cruisers. No Riva but built in an old fashioned no-nonsense way that earned them a large and faithful following. In that day the 42 was basically the flagship of the brand and I think most were powered by Johnson&Towers DD.
I worked there when the “Mega 28” was being developed. My plywood OB was photo chase boat at times working on the prototype load and trim pics.

 

[STOWAWAY]

Great to see another Uniflite on board. Seems to be a great boat . Enjoy making it yours.

 

[Imp]

lHowever it’s nice to know the hull will stop a round from an AK47 just in case I get attacked by pirates!

Not to be cheeky, but are you aware that piracy is more prevalent today than at any other time in history? Depends, of course, where you poke your bow, but I am personally aware of several cases, which is why I recommend cruising prepared & with caution. That's been my practice.

 

[Boatingbill]

I did my sea trial over the weekend. The boat preformed fantastic. I knew that it was a 2 owner vessel, and had guessed at an even split on time owned. The amazingly wonderful current owners bought her in 1980. It’s crazy when you add up total expenses to own a vessel this size. They have a filing cabinet full of manuals including the original owners manual for the boat, lists of services performed, and pretty much anything else they did. I took my oil samples in yesterday. Should have results back Thursday.

 

[JohnEasley]

I did my sea trial over the weekend. The boat preformed fantastic. I knew that it was a 2 owner vessel, and had guessed at an even split on time owned. The amazingly wonderful current owners bought her in 1980. It’s crazy when you add up total expenses to own a vessel this size. They have a filing cabinet full of manuals including the original owners manual for the boat, lists of services performed, and pretty much anything else they did. I took my oil samples in yesterday. Should have results back Thursday.

That's great news, Bill! All sounds positive. The original manuals are a huge help. The service documentation is great to have a a good sign that she has been as well cared for as you suspected. Let us know what comes out of the oil samples.

John

 

[Boatingbill]

Oil samples came back as I had expected. Clean bill of health on both engines. Closing tomorrow. Just as an aside I sold my current boat today. Everything is coming up roses! The owners of the uniflite need a week, or two to get 40 years of personal belongings cleared out. They didn’t really want to sell, but they are in their 80’s and know it’s time. We are only moving the boat a couple miles, and have invited them to visit if they get to missing her. We will enjoy her for the next 2-3 years while we refit, and upgrade systems in preparation for our next adventure!

 

[Comodave]

Well, good luck with your new baby. Glad it is working out so well for you.

 

[JohnEasley]

Awesome news, Bill! Sounds like it's all falling into place. Looking forward to hearing about your travels.

 

[Boatingbill]

We took ownership of the new boat Saturday. Couldn’t be happier with everything. We have a lot of cleaning, and some quick upgrades to get through the rest of the summer.