Smallest and easiest to maneuver

[bshillam]

Looking at inventory and boats to replace my Navigator. Looking for one that is super easy to maneuver, bow and stern thrusters. Small enough to get into skinny fairways. Love to have a flybridge. Semi or planing hull though as I occasionally need to get there, both of us still work. Thoughts? Budget - $200k (ish) or less.

 

[firehoser75]

Nordic Tug 32? Usually travel at 7-8 knots, can go up to 15 knots depending on how the boat is loaded. Comfortable boat for a couple and very occasional guests. Most have bow thrusters and some have added stern thrusters (or you could add).

 

[Toki]

The diesel Ranger tugs come standard with bow and stern thrusters. My Ranger 27 (actually more like 30' overall) is ridiculously easy to maneuver into tight quarters.

Newer Rangers 27' and below are outboard powered, and I believe they may be bow thruster only. However, I imaging that pivoting outboard is nearly as effective as a stern thruster.

Lot's of pristine used Rangers out there under your $200K price point.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Helmsman/Camano
Big FB. Good speed. Lots of room. Not bad economy ....
Speaking of that what do the Camano Troll’s sell for now?
We have at least two that come and go regularly on our fairway.

 

[bshillam]

Yes I do like the Camano, well built and well regarded.

 

[bshillam]

Any more thoughts? I have looked at the RT. Unfortunately the one I looked at seriously was neglected and put away wet more than once.

 

[Northern Spy]

Smallest? Coming from a 48 that could be a large range of boats.
Smallest boats with a flybridge that I would consider:
Cape Dorys (I love these boats)
Camanos
Norstar (small Puget Sound builder)
Saberline (Sabre) used to build faster trawlers, but I think they were all mid 30s

 

[bshillam]

Do like the CDs, not many of them West Coast. +1 on the Camanos!

 

[Lepke]

Small but fast

 

[FWT]

Helmsman/Camano
Big FB. Good speed. Lots of room. Not bad economy ....
Speaking of that what do the Camano Troll’s sell for now?
We have at least two that come and go regularly on our fairway.

Not recently, but I have seen some Camanos listed that needed a bit of TLC go for about $100k

Edit: ASKING about $100k. Who knows what the sales price might have become

 

[IronZebra]

Atlas Acadia 25.

 

[Capnal]

My experience has been that Camanos are rather wind-sensitive but otherwise great boats.

 

[Conrad]

Calibre yachts currently have a Camano listed for $97k Canadian, located in Comox.

https://calibreyachts.com/brokered-boat/1993-camano-troll-trawler/#photos