The perfect (to me) tiny trawler

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SeaWoof

SeaWoof

Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2024
Messages
16
Location
Salish Sea
Myself and my partner are starting our research on smaller trawlers capable of weekend, week long... and potential longer journeys. A goal of starting off by playing around in the Gulf Islands, exploring the many inlets, arms and channels. With a goal of heading from Vancouver Island to Alaska and back. It's an interesting sub-category that we feel is akin to "van life". Living light, maximizing efficiency, stretching budgets and miles on a craft that is built with simplicity, accessibility and semi-protected coastal waters in mind.

We do realize that there is no "perfect boat" that will tick all of the boxes and that everything is a compromise, but are still looking. Not quite ready to make the investment just yet (working on shaping our careers and finances), but aiming for 2025 / 2026 if all goes to plan!

So what would be the perfect boat? Does it exist? Did it exist?
  • full displacement (~6-7kt hull speed, ability to push slightly faster) 8-10k lbs
  • sturdy hull.. a requirement up here with so much logging debris up here. Been there.
  • ~28-34ft length / Beam of ~10ft. ie offers flexibility in transport when and if, but primarily in the water.
  • single head, single berth with dinette sleeping options (2/4/6 rule)
  • simple, single low hp diesel.
  • walk-around (can be skinny)
  • raised pilothouse with accessibility to deck or controls at stern for docking single-handed
  • simple finishes. Some wood for warmpth, but utilitarian.
  • simple accessable systems (ie. not a Ranger)
  • "somewhat" comfortable in moderate seas (3') and safe if it gets a little rowdy. Seakeeper an option.
There are a few older boats out there that fit the bill, Ie. Willards, Maple Bay's, and the semi-recent North Pacific 28 (though a bit over powered imo), but a seeming gap in market these days. Sea Piper took a swing, but I feel they missed the mark with their overall design. Maybe a good boat for sunny FL or CA, but not for the PNW / Alaska with so much exposure. If they only made it a foot or so wider, 4 ft shorter and in a traditional froward pilothouse lol. Right?

What are your thoughts? Might be time for me to start a second career as a boat designer / builder... ;)
 
They are a beaut and on my radar! If only they kept building and modernizing their small recreational trawlers. Not that I am fully against an older boat, but it would sure be nice to have something less than 20 years old. :)
Bob Cofer said:
Willard for the win!
Click to expand...
 
You mention some boats have all of the features you want, but are overpowered. If it is a diesel don’t worry about it. After a few days of running slow, just run run her up for a few minutes to blow out the accumulated carbon soot. A 250 hp diesel on a 28-30’ boat will get about the same mpg at 6-7 kts as the same boat with a 50 hp diesel engine.

The situation is different for a gasser though. A 250 hp gasser run at 50 hp is very inefficient.

David
 
The AT Cummins is is very economical at hull speed. The reserve speed is to get me out of ‘trouble’ and to have better control in tidal situations.
Your car can go over 100mph but don’t do it or do your do if? LOL
 
SeaWoof said:
They are a beaut and on my radar! If only they kept building and modernizing their small recreational trawlers. Not that I am fully against an older boat, but it would sure be nice to have something less than 20 years old. :)
Click to expand...
We have updated/upgraded Puffin to nearly the same standards as modern vessels. The original Perkins has been replaced with an Isuzu, aluminum fuel tanks, rewired to current ABYC standards, LiFePo battery banks, modern electronics and a composting head. All of those upgrades and she is still well below the price of NT's or AT's. We are very happy with her.
 
Second the Camano Troll. About 280 of them built in Canada for Canadian waters. We had ours for nine years and loved it.
 
I looked at most pocket cruisers. Loved the Willard except for three things. 1) expanding cement in the keel. Looked like it was/would be a problem. 2) Difficulty in getting off/into a dingy. No transom door or swim step. 3) No convenient place for a dinghy.

Loved the Camano Troll except for two things. 1) Commonly they have a Volvo diesel. I loved my Volvo 1800ES, but parts for it were cheap and easily sourced. Plus, it was orange. 2) They always seem to have too big of an engine. The OP may "need" this if wanting to go 10 knots. I don't need that.

And one more thing that both of them have that I don't need. A flying bridge. Both have models without a FB, but they are rare. I ended up with a little boat that has a FB and in cruising 2 months in northern BC this past summer, used the FB steering station about 3 times. It simply isn't that practical, especially if you have decent visibility from a lower station and seating in the stern.

So I ended up with a 30' Tung Hwa (also sold under several other brand names). It has a dinette that makes into a bed and that is the one that we prefer to use. We can sit up in bed in the morning and drink coffee while having a 180 view of the anchorage. 80 hp Lehman is all the hp necessary and leaves room to get around in the engine room. Maximum speed to date is 12 knots, but that was in Race Passage pushed by a nasty tidal stream. Won't do that again. 6.5 knots is normal and safer. Just over 1 gph. The boat is easy to solo, the right size for two, with no room for dogs or kids. Perfect. It has cured (at least temporarily) my gawking at other boats in a marina.
 
Would love to see a Pacific NW 28 in person. Looking online that is a great looking pocket trawler.
 
The Willard 30 remains my benchmark. But FD comes with a pretty low speed. It's a 5.5 - 6.0 kt boat. I wouldn't insist on FD.

You probably don't see them on the west coast in any numbers, but there are a number of Scandinavian boats that might meet your needs. The Albin 25/27 and Windy 26 come to mind.

Given your minimalist approach, there may be work boats or fishing boats that would be suitable. And as mvweebles suggests, several good OB powered boats. Check out C-Dory and Nimble as well for o/b trailerable cruisers.

Out of curiousity, have you considered any sailboats?
 
Jeff F said:
The Willard 30 remains my benchmark. But FD comes with a pretty low speed. It's a 5.5 - 6.0 kt boat. I wouldn't insist on FD.

You probably don't see them on the west coast in any numbers, but there are a number of Scandinavian boats that might meet your needs. The Albin 25/27 and Windy 26 come to mind.

Given your minimalist approach, there may be work boats or fishing boats that would be suitable. And as mvweebles suggests, several good OB powered boats. Check out C-Dory and Nimble as well for o/b trailerable cruisers.

Out of curiousity, have you considered any sailboats?
Click to expand...
The Willards are for sure up there. I hear nothing but good things about their capabilities, being able to handle rough days and overall simplicity. Some issues around the keel ballast of course that can be a major pain.

I don't mind sailing and have spent a fair bit of time on friends boats in the Gulf Islands, but growing up I spent time on Great Lakes fishing tugs and have a fondness for cursing while not on a lean ;)

I'm not totally against semi-displacement either, but certainly lean towards some of the FD style hulls. There is a maple bay for sale right now that I really love, but the timing isn't quite right (isn't that always the case?)
 
trihartsfield said:
Would love to see a Pacific NW 28 in person. Looking online that is a great looking pocket trawler.
Click to expand...
I have to agree. It's a great layout (i think) and the salty look is there. I believe they only ended up making a handful. It's one I will keep a lookout for.
 
SeaWoof said:
The Willards are for sure up there. I hear nothing but good things about their capabilities, being able to handle rough days and overall simplicity. Some issues around the keel ballast of course that can be a major pain.
Click to expand...

The issue with concrete ballast really comes down to whether or not the bilge has been chronically wet.....as in for years. Kept relatively dry, the concrete ballast will last as long as the Roman Colosseum. The challenge is these boats are all quite old now. Often an owner along the line has not been good about maintenance. Majority of Willards are tired and often show misguided DIY efforts.

Willard's carry the highest percentage of ballast of any powerboat I know - well over 20% of their design displacement is ballast. I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing, but the root stock of Willard's is a Wm Garden design of the W36. There are other displacement designs out there, but none are nearly as classicly displacement with canoe stern as the Willard. Again, neither good nor bad, but sure makes for a beautiful boat

There W30 is an extremely economical cruiser. Last year, TF member AKDoug took his late model W30 (late 1990s PH) from Alaska to La Paz MX......and back in 6-months!!!!! Something like 6000 miles round trip. This trip mimicked the original marketing trip from Chesapeake Bay to Bermuda and back a W30 did when the model was briefly reintroduced around 2000 (same model as AKDougs). Aboard that Bermuda boat was Steve D'Antonio, then yard manager from Zimmerman Marine, and Bill Parlerore, founder and publisher of Passagemaker Magazine.

Despite my obvious enthusiasm for the Willard 30, I consider them capable but not ideal long distance cruisers. In all fairness, you can't keep enough stores on any 30-foot boat. Unless a wildly calm day, the prevailing seastate of open water has modest chop. Short waterline and slow speed are not a good defense. Frankly, while my W36 is a quantum leap beyond my W30, the W36 is still too short for sustained open water. I spend a lot of time waiting for perfect weather which is fine, but slow.

Great boats. But you have to understand them which I don't think many people do. Their reputation is at once overblown and underestimated.

Peter
 
@SeaWoof
What is your boating experience? (I suspect little to none)
What is your budget? (under 1/2 mil I notice)
Are you a DIY guy? (full time worker leaves little time so newer boat is better)

Have you experienced the Gulf Islands in a cuddy cabin on trailer, they are great for the weekend warrior who is still on a career path. Move on up to a 24 footer with a galley package. Still for the weekend use. Get into a 30 footer for more comfort and week long trips.
Any of these can get you to Alaska BTW. Bigger is better however.
 
mvweebles said:
The issue with concrete ballast really comes down to whether or not the bilge has been chronically wet.....as in for years. Kept relatively dry, the concrete ballast will last as long as the Roman Colosseum. The challenge is these boats are all quite old now. Often an owner along the line has not been good about maintenance. Majority of Willards are tired and often show misguided DIY efforts.

Willard's carry the highest percentage of ballast of any powerboat I know - well over 20% of their design displacement is ballast. I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing, but the root stock of Willard's is a Wm Garden design of the W36. There are other displacement designs out there, but none are nearly as classicly displacement with canoe stern as the Willard. Again, neither good nor bad, but sure makes for a beautiful boat

There W30 is an extremely economical cruiser. Last year, TF member AKDoug took his late model W30 (late 1990s PH) from Alaska to La Paz MX......and back in 6-months!!!!! Something like 6000 miles round trip. This trip mimicked the original marketing trip from Chesapeake Bay to Bermuda and back a W30 did when the model was briefly reintroduced around 2000 (same model as AKDougs). Aboard that Bermuda boat was Steve D'Antonio, then yard manager from Zimmerman Marine, and Bill Parlerore, founder and publisher of Passagemaker Magazine.

Despite my obvious enthusiasm for the Willard 30, I consider them capable but not ideal long distance cruisers. In all fairness, you can't keep enough stores on any 30-foot boat. Unless a wildly calm day, the prevailing seastate of open water has modest chop. Short waterline and slow speed are not a good defense. Frankly, while my W36 is a quantum leap beyond my W30, the W36 is still too short for sustained open water. I spend a lot of time waiting for perfect weather which is fine, but slow.

Great boats. But you have to understand them which I don't think many people do. Their reputation is at once overblown and underestimated.

Peter
Click to expand...
Thanks for your detailed reply Peter! I'm devouring as much information on Willards (and other boats) as I can. I do think they are a beautiful boat and the canoe stern is a nice touch on some of the models. It suits what I feel would be my cruising style.

I will certainly have to chat with AKDoug about his experience. I also read through the trip log on Steve D'Antonio's trip as well. Steve did a great job on prepping the craft for the journey.
 
mvweebles said:
In all fairness, you can't keep enough stores on any 30-foot boat.
Click to expand...
Not always the case. According to the old sales literature, our pocket trawler supposedly "sleeps 6." It had a silly "berth" in the salon with pipe berth above that I converted into a food locker and work bench. Much more practical for our use. We also put stores forward under the V berth. We had too much food for our 2-month cruise. Probably returned with enough for another month. Fresh eggs (oiled) and produce were kept in the lazarette. We bartered with a woman in Ocean Falls for some lettuce and tomatoes from her garden. It can be done.

Here is my makeshift food storage area (curtesy of Walmart). The tool chest is sitting on what was allegedly a berth (cushions removed). Second photo is some of the stores that went in the lazarette. It did involve some home canning, which might be beyond the skill set of some. We had tons of stores.
IMG_20230612_164515318_HDR.jpg

IMG_20230616_083019658.jpg


What got me back into "big" boating after a several decades with canoes and kayaks was a blog about a couple that did some extensive cruising in a 16 foot C-Dory. So I bought one. 16 feet is difficult to get enough stores in for a Canada cruise for two, but it is possible. It helps to like fish for dinner.
 
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