Trawler Time

D

Dene

New member
We're on our maiden voyage of our 27' Devlin trawler....equipped with a whoppin 44 hp diesel. Time from Olympia to Jarrel Cove (where we are by our lonesome), took 3 hours and 3 gallons of diesel.

Every boat I've owned prior has always been able to cruise 17 mph or greater. The destination was the focus....not the journey.

But now I understand trawler time.....and those who love the blow boats. It's the journey that matters. Twas soooo relaxing. Pointing the bow in the general direction and taking my sweet time. This is especially true with this semi-displacement hull. No wallowing at 7 mph.

I love it.

-Greg
 
Greg,

We have been on 'trawler time' for two years now. This summer we just cruised in the Gulf Islands, BC in June and then again in September. Did 500 miles total at 7 knots. Last summer we went to S E Alaska, (90 days and 2,000 miles total).

With a smooth but slow boat, life (and cooking and eating breakfasts and lunches) goes on while underway. Our boat is big and heavy enough to be smooth and stable at 7 knots. I sometimes miss the zoom of a C-Dory, but I could no longer take the vibration and pounding.

I have always liked the Devlin designs and considered buying one many years ago.
 
As has been said many times, all boats have compromises and there are many different advantages and disadvantages to any boat.

Here, however, with boat speed, the trawler has very little advantage over a C-Dory. Thinking only of speed (and not of comfort size or any other features), with our C-Dory, we merely don't push the throttle forward. Over our many years on Halcyon, our usual top speed is between 10 and 12 knots (just into planing speed) -- and when crusiing through our destination area we are rarely above 6 knots. This is trawler speed. We still have the ability to go fast, when we feel the need and conditions warrent it -- we feel that need rarely and usually for one or the other of these two reasons: bad weather on the horizon and we want to get into a comfortable anchorage or we are traveling with others with limited time and they 'need' to go faster in order to see the sights nearby within their limited time frame (such as at Lake Powell recently, when we sometimes went above our 'normal' speed to be with others with less time available and they wanted to see more of the beauties of the side canyons on Powell).

So -- there are many debates we all have (within ourselves, with our spouses and with other boaters) about the advantages or disadvantages of different boats or styles of cruising -- but speed is not one of them for us. ANY boat can go trawler speed -- and all the advantages of a slow passage are yours if you choose.
 
Agree. Boating is full of compromises and this trawler has a couple of glaring ones. It can't outrun anything and there is cabin noise with the inboard diesel, similar to that of a Ranger with a Yanmar. (We're meeting with a Soundaway rep. today at Gig Harbor to address this.)

All my previous boats have been planing hulls so 7 mph speeds were possible but not particularily comfortable. This trawler has a keel so even with seas abeam, we were't getting tossed off course.

I've been on a CD-22 once. A fellow coast guard aux. membder has a brand new one with twin Mercs. While on the dock, we got a call out and had the choice between my Campion or his. I yielded to him and regretted it. We had a 15 mph headwind and chop. At WOT, 22 mph, we were beat up pretty good. I admire CD's alot but I suspect that this model was better suited for slower speeds. My Campion has only three speeds. Helm, Cruise (25 mph) and WOT (35-40 mph). Many times I'd love to go 10-15 mph but cannot. I suspect that's the advantage a CD has.....the ability to cruise at any speed.

Anyway. Jarrell Cove is beautiful, especially when we're by ourselves. The Espar heater kept us toasty all night. My wife just finished making breakfast and soon we're departing for Gig Harbor. The fog has cleared and the process was beautiful. While she slept, I went for a dawn hike and feel wonderful! What a blessing to forget about my IRA's, President Obama, and my honey-do list.

-Greg
 
Greg -

How right you are -- a CD-22 is mighty uncomfortable, as you described, running at high speed with any kind of chop -- that's when it is a slow boat for sure, unless you want to get beat up -- and who does?

Your description of your morning is marvelous -- a capsulation of the joy of the easy-going cruising lifestyle -- good on ya and keep on enjoying!
 
This is a nice exchange...I sold my 22 to buy the R25. I loved the 22, but for me the space was a problem...and I have always had an aversion to outboards! There, i've said it. This goes back to old 1960 engines, starting problems, noise, etc...none of which was true of my Honda 90.
Now, with the Ranger, the clatter and noise of the Yanmar is actually comforting to me..i love the sound (not the Mase generator noise, though)Go figure.
Like El and Bill, in the 22 i mostly ran the rivers at 7 knots...very economical..and i ran fast on occasion...It is your choice.
Boats are a very personal thing. Both boats met my needs, both were lovely to look at, both were what i wanted at the time.

When I sold the 22 i was both happy and sad. Now i just may face selling the Ranger..(NOT because of the current financial market, but because my health situation may require two surgeries over the next year and a half, taking me out of boating...not life threatening, but still major).

So, for me, after now 9 boats...it is just having a boat that is important...some of my best times were from 1972 to 1978, with a 20 ft. Bay built bateau, powered by a 9hp Briggs and Stratton air cooled, no gear..pull the cord and off she goes...I went all over the bay with that boat and a blue tarp and cooler and coleman stove. I had it built , and with engine it was $900.
terraplane tom
 
Dene, I'm a big fan of Sam Devlin's boats. Good choice.
El and Bill, we tend to run our boat the way you described. We love being on the water, what's the hurry to get there?
 
We just sold our Trawler (32' Sundowner Tug) last month and replaced it with a CD22. There are many things that we will miss about the Trawler, but there are many things that we can't wait to have with the CD22.

Even though they are not the same (Trawler / CD22) -- they are similar in many ways.

Our main reason for downsizing -- simplify. Overall price will be about the same, but instead of a 20 year old boat -- we'll have a new boat.

I wouldn't doubt if a number of years from now we are back in a Trawler.

Enjoy...
 
Hi to all- Having been both ways we have learned one thing boating and boats are a crompromise of one thin or another.

When we downsized to the CD-22 we really liked the simplicity and ease of everything. We could cruise at 6 knots or kick it up a bit if we liked. We were as comfortable on the 22 footer as we were on the big Monk and seemed to have just as much fun. The Monk was sure too big to trailer and at 6-7 knots Florida took some time.

Terraplane Tom hope your cuttings do not keep you from boating. We were sure Pat's health would stop us , but , after selling the boat she is still hanging in there.

We will add you to our prayer list.

Fred, Pat, and Mr Grey(the cat)
 
El and Bill":1lh7wl8i said:
Greg -

How right you are -- a CD-22 is mighty uncomfortable, as you described, running at high speed with any kind of chop -- that's when it is a slow boat for sure, unless you want to get beat up -- and who does?

Your description of your morning is marvelous -- a capsulation of the joy of the easy-going cruising lifestyle -- good on ya and keep on enjoying!
Click to expand...

Thank you. As I've said before, I always think of you two when we're experiencing days like today. We look forward to the vagabond days in a few years.

One thing I'd like to say about my Campion, in the negative. She cuts chop beautifully BUT she's tippy. Any slight weight distribution, port or starboard, it's trim tab adjustment time. Not so with any CD.

We're at Arabella's in Gig Harbor. Met with the Soundown tech who claims our diesel sound will be cut by at least 8 dbs. They use a 2 inch foam product to accomplish this. Ball park price is $600 including materials and installation. Looking forward to it. I'll know within two weeks.

Tomorrow is Dock Street Landing in Tacoma. I'm hoping downtown Tacoma will be similar to Portland's waterfront....attractive and safe, in contrast to Seattle near Pike's Place.

-Greg
 
Just departing Dock Street Marina which I highly recommend. Cleanest showers/bathrooms I've ever seen. Fueled up. She took 6 gallons. Calculated distance traveled thus far. 60 miles, at 6 mph, 2000 rpms....6 gallons. That's 10 mpg.

My wife is still smiling.

-Greg
 
Back
Top