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Trawlers are fuel efficient yet rugged, seaworthy displacement hull designs designed for blue-water and long-distance operation. They are built of FRP up to around 80’ (24 m) with larger ones usually made of aluminum or steel (with aluminum superstructures to keep the center of gravity lower). Engines are reduced horsepower as they are designed to only achieve a certain speed, thus more any further horsepower doesn’t help or conserve fuel. Full displacement hulls are for the yachters who value distance and comfort over speed. Trawlers typically have deeper drafts (with a skeg or keel deeper than the propellers so that props aren’t damaged if the hull touches the bottom). Large luxury yachts in the 120’ (40m) plus range are considered motoryachts, yet typically share the same displacement characteristics as trawlers (more horsepower makes fuel consumption at this level ridiculous).
Trawlers typically have a round chine, or hull configuration with a curve near the waterline instead of a hard chine typically found on semi-displacement motor yachts. This hull design has been proven over many centuries to be the most efficient at this speed as well as offering the most volume. With this in mind, many trawler (or expedition style) yachts employ stabilizers to minimize roll - which come in different designs, the most common being the fin type with hydraulic contolled gyros.
Bulbous bows are also found on these displacement style hulls. Large commercial vessels use this protruding underwater stem to break the water in front of the vessel and thus reduce the friction of movement (saving fuel). Yachts may use them for the same effect as well as for possible attributes in reducing pitch, or fore and aft motion. Bulbous bows are sometimes used as a water or fuel tank , depending on needs. Many naval engineers don't feel that they are worthwhile on vessels under 150' or so.
Many yachters are drawn to the idea of crossing oceans and exploring the far reaches of our wonderful globe – thus the expedition style of trawler. Of note however, most ice-bound regions require a yacht with special reinforcement, especially around the bow waterline area. Asia imports small to mid-sized FRP trawlers for the US market - Fleming and Grand Alaskan are built in Taiwan yards. Selene and Nordhavn are built in China. Kingship, a large (90-140’) steel trawler style with European architectural pedigree is also built in China.
The Pacific Northwest in the US has a few notable trawler manufacturers – Aleutian ( steel construction), Nordic Tug and Fathom Yachts. Cape Horn trawlers were built in Nova Scotia. Palmer Johnson in the Great Lakes region have produced a few big expedition yachts. Realship is building in Alabama while Newcastle is building expedition style superyachts in Florida. Europe, particularly northern Holland produces some of the finest, high-end customs trawlers in the world – builders such as Kuipers, Lowland and Heesen have produced some masterpieces in the world of trawlers and expedition yachts. Inace in Brazil has been exporting 60-95’ trawlers over the last decade. Grand Banks has been a cornerstone in the mid-sized trawler market for decades and are built in Malaysia.
