Number of Crew Needed for 45' Trawler?

[ALman]

Looking to buy "fast" trawler but unsure how many total crew I may need to help wife and me cruise Carribean?

[FLLCatsailor]

You guys will be plenty fine just the two of you all. What kind of fast trawler are you looking for? If you have any questions on Beneteau Swift Trawlers shoot me a PM...

[skipmac]

Yep. The two of you will be plenty, assuming you have some practice with handling the boat. The only time I would want more than two would be on a long passage, as in more than a day or two. Makes life a lot easier if you don't have to do four hours on, four hours off or some combination of that. But plenty of couples or even single handers go around the world so even for a few days a crew isn't necessary.

[chrisjs]

We have a 47 ft Selene ("slow") trawler. As with most other Selene owners, we find that 2 people can manage the vessel easily. Docking is usually a 2-person activity unless it is really honking!!! A "fast" trawler probably has 2 props so should be easier to control in docking, especially if it also has a bow thruster. One important consideration in my opinion is side deck configuration. I am strongly of the opinion that walk-around side decks are the way to go. You can more easily access lines, dinghies, docks etc. Far safer than the "wedding cake" stacks you often see, which also have increased windage. Lastly, how "fast"? We get 3nm/gallon at 7.5kt!!!

[djmarchand]

Make sure that the fast trawler has enough range to get where you want to go.

David

[ranger58sb]

In normal conditions, two: you, plus one. In good conditions, you can do it yourself, although if a dock hand happens to wander by when you're in port, it doesn't hurt to have help

-Chris

[ALman]

I don't recall for sure, but Tiara has twin 550HP diesels and efficient cruising is 27-28 knots. High end is mid 30's. About 1 mile per gallon of diesel, worse than most, better than a few. Thank you for your response. I'm gonna have to learn alot fast to handle it that way, but you're encouraging. Sounds like some one experienced crewing for at least a month or two. Thanks again Joe

[Bash]

Originally Posted by ALman

Looking to buy "fast" trawler but unsure how many total crew I may need to help wife and me cruise Carribean?

A Tiara 4500 is a nice boat, but it's not a trawler. More of a sedan. It's going to have a range under 250nm, which isn't really sufficient to cruise the Caribbean. (Note the spelling: one R, two Bs.)

[chrisjs]

I would take the 1gpm figure with a very large pinch of salt. It is very hard to believe that 1,100 HP moving a 45ft boat at 27-28kt would only burn at that rate.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by chrisjs

I would take the 1gpm figure with a very large pinch of salt. It is very hard to believe that 1,100 HP moving a 45ft boat at 27-28kt would only burn at that rate.

Really! Tiara rates the burn rate at 33.6 gph at cruising speed. Even there, a pinch of salt may be required.

[ALman]

Will recheck and thanks so much.

[ALman]

I appreciate your optimistic appraisal. Unfortunately i'm not yet that good, but will get there. Thanks so much for your thoughts.

[ranger58sb]

Maybe we're hearing about "Tiara" (the boat name) versus Tiara the brand of (mostly) express cruisers, with the occasional flybridge cruiser from time to time? The latter are certainly not fast trawlers, unless I've missed a recent build...

-Chris

[svinshallah]

Several years ago in Costa Rica, I ran into a couple "cruising" on a 104' Sunship. They often had guests aboard, and separate crew quarters for 8, but they often handled the boat themselves. Five steering stations, fly bridge, enclosed bridge, port/starboard wings, and stern. If you set it up correctly, a couple can handle almost anything.

[ALman]

Thank you, Chris. I've also looked at 40' and 43' Tiaras and may have given the wrong no.'s, i.e. that may have been for the smaller boats. There is so much for a beginner to try and keep straight. You and others are very helpful. -Thanks. One way or the other intend to carry extra fuel, possibly by bladder. -Joe