Number of Crew Needed for 45' Trawler?

[FLLCatsailor]

2000 Tiara 4300 Convertible with Cat 3196e's 660Hp from an engine survey that took place about a month ago...

RPM/MPH/KTS/GPH/MPG
600/7.2/6.2/2.4/2.97
1000/10/8.7/9.2/1.08
1300/13.5/11.7/19.4/.7
1600/17.6/15.3/31.9/.55
1800/23.2/20.1/38.8/.60
1900/25.4/22.0/40.9/.62
2000/27.6/24/45.6/.61
2100/29.9/26/49.3/.61
2200/31.1/27/53.9/.58
2300/35.1/30.5/60.7/.58
2332/36.2/31.4/62.9/.57

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by ALman

Chris, I started looking at Mainship trawlers and slowly shifted toward Tiaras. I will use the boat for long cruises in Caribbean and perhaps Grand Loop or through the Panama Canal and up the West Coast of the Americas. Will the Tiara hull design work, or do I need a true trawler. Can't stand to think of going 8-10 knots? Joe

As usual, "it depends."

If you'll make one long trip and then island hop thereafter... you could probably make a Tiara work. It's not particularly fuel efficient relative to your cruising plans, but you could maybe work around some of that.

OTOH, there are actually "fast" (sorta) trawlers out there. Still not as fuel efficient as a "true" trawler, but maybe well in your compromise range. Generally these will be a semi-displacement hull with a decent keel. The keel helps tracking and partially mitigates roll (sometimes) but you can sometimes go faster sometimes depending on installed horsepower (and you wallet size). The various Mainship models are decent examples, but there are others. See Sabre (I think), maybe some of the Eastbay flybridge models, I think Grand Banks actually markets one or more now, etc. The trawler forum mentioned above, and something like Passagemaker magazine might help you research.

Be aware: you can greatly increase fuel economy by running at hull speed BUT BUT BUT planing hulls (as on the Tiara models) are not always comfortable at hull speed... depending on sea states. IOW, you can get beat up quite a bit at slow speeds, sometimes.

The Tiara Sovran models are generally called "express" boats, comparable to several models by Sea Ray, Cruisers (their relatively new Cantius models look decent)... and in general, lots of your living time is "below decks." FWIW, we tried that design on our last boat -- as an experiment to avoid flybridge ladders -- and didn't care for it. We've come to prefer boats with a good size enclosed saloon, as on most flybridge boats (we have stairs now, no ladder) and also one some of the boats by Eastbay, Hinckley, Sabre, etc. YMMV.

If you do some more shopping and find various examples that seem interesting to you, we can certainly home in a bit better on pros/cons.

-Chris

[River Cruiser]

If you started out looking at Mainship did you look at the 430? A friend bought one to do the loop, I helped him take it down river a few miles. Very nice boat with the twin 440 hp yanmars he has the option to go fast when required or slow down to hull speed when he wants. The faster he goes the shorter the range but that is true with any boat under power.

[dohenyboy]

The 48' Fountain express cruiser has triple yanmars and it set the Key West to Cancun speed record. Not very big inside but its stable. You can go quite economically at 40 kts

[bobconnie]

As far as crew needed for a 45 ft trawler, whats wrong with just the 2 of you ? Connie and I sail our 51 ft Ketch by ourselfs! Im 75, and Connies 61. We do use some work savers, but we can and do handle it well! Im sure with some experince you could handle a 45 to 50 ft trawler together! Just my 2 cents

[micksbuddy]

Seems like this might be a good application for a power cat, if you have no interest in sailing, a nice power cat will be efficient at slower speeds while still being capable of higher speeds(like 15-20kts or so) when desired, if you don't need to stretch the fuel range for that particular run. Plus they should be reasonably stable in rougher conditions. Worth a thought.

Don't know what your price range is, but something like this

2004 Alwoplast or Atlantic 50 Power Catamaran Power Boat For Sale -

or this

2006 Manta Power Catamaran Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[rw58ph]

Just my wife and I on our 58ft. The lay out and how out fitted is more important than the size. I basically single hand. With auto pilot and electronic chart the Eagle basically steer itself. Most of the time I am monitoring /look out. With the auto pilot remote, I am not stuck in the pilot house. So size is not that big of limitation.

[Captaincees]

I do have a 64 steel trawler of 80 tons that i always operate single handed since my wife doesn't like to be at sea. Hydraulic trusters, remote control, camera's make docking and operating the vessel no issue and the only problem to handle is how to get enough sleep if i am gone for a week or even longer. So if you take care to have some basics on yr boat you should not have any problem with the two of you only even if you have to dock it alone now and then. Can imagine a sailboat has more deckhandling but even some friends are using their sailboats singlehanded most of the time. (37- and 54ft)
Also looking still for a 2nd boat to use in the Caribbean and will take the same setup or even more simple since docking in most places is not what it is in the Med. Often you just trow the hook or step off with a rope in your hand. Even my son can do that without me on the boat. Dont you worry i would say and who wants crew in such a crampy place?

[Skinnylegs]

Have you thought of Fleming

[Amapola]

It's just the two of us on Amapola, a 48' slow trawler.