Learning About Trawlers

How to do the homework — magazines, online resources, boat shows, and the on-board details that separate the right trawler from the rest.

Dive into PassageMaker, Ocean Navigator, Yachting, and other boating magazines to build broad market knowledge.

Use search engines, broker directories, and manufacturer websites to discover detailed listings and specifications.

TrawlerFest and similar events let you board trawlers and experience their living spaces firsthand.

Check headroom, hallway width, pilothouse visibility, stateroom comfort, and engine room access on every boat.

Viewing trawlers out of water reveals hull shape, thrusters, through-hulls, rudders, and overall condition you cannot see at the dock.

Current trawler owners are an invaluable resource. Their real-world experience can save you from costly mistakes.

Inspect the Spaces

Questions Worth Asking on Every Boat You Step Aboard

How do you physically fit in the living and working spaces?

Is there enough headroom and are the hallways easy to walk through?

Can you see out the pilothouse windows? Is the saloon seating comfortable?

Are the stateroom beds big enough for a good night’s sleep?

Is there enough room in the engine room and lazarette for inspections and service?

The full essay on the research process — magazines, online resources, boat shows, and the on-board inspection checklist.

Eight practical tips for buyers, drawn from decades of helping trawler owners through the search and the deal.