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February, 2018

The market for used, late model trawlers has enjoyed renewed popularity in recent years as increasing numbers of baby boomers look to these boats for their retirement years. Economical to operate and easily handled, coastal trawlers under forty feet tend to be affordable and roomy enough for extended cruising by couples. Profiled below are ten of the most popular models in this category. Ranging in price from under $100,000 to well over $300,000, these best selling trawlers have earned a solid reputation for owner satisfaction and long term investment quality.

At a Glance:  A ballasted, full displacement trawler perfect for blue water or coastal cruising. Based on the iconic Krogen 42 Trawler, the single-stateroom interior is designed for the cruising couple. Entering the salon through a watertight door from the aft deck, a dinette is to port and an L-shaped leather settee with fold-out table is to starboard. The compact galley is located forward in the salon on the starboard side. Four steps up from the salon/galley, the Krogen 39’s raised pilothouse offers commanding views of the water. The settee behind the helm pulls out to form a watch berth. The stateroom and head are reached from the pilothouse—the head is on the starboard side, and the stateroom with island queen berth is forward. The standup engine room is accessed through a door at the foot of the pilothouse steps.

Price Range: From the low $300s.

1998–2007

Kadey-Krogen 39

Krogen 39 Trawler

10 Top Selling Used Trawlers Under 40 Feet

1996–2005

At a Glance:  A huge sales success, the Mainship 350 Trawler (called the 390 Trawler in 1999–2005) is an economical, low-maintenance coastal cruiser with classic trawler lines and a good turn of speed. Stepping inside from the covered aft deck, large wraparound windows provide lots of natural lighting in the salon and excellent visibility from the lower helm. An L-shaped galley with refrigerator/freezer and Corian counter is forward to port. The teak and holly salon sole is an attractive feature, and a sliding door at the helm provides easy deck access. The master stateroom has an island queen berth and the guest stateroom (partially tucked beneath the galley) has twin single berths. Molded steps ascend from the aft deck to the flybridge. A single 370hp Yanmar diesel will cruise at 10–12 knots. Twin 230hp Yanmar diesels cruise at 14 knots.

Price Range: From $75K up to $150–175K.

Mainship 350/390

Mainship 35 Trawler

At a Glance:  With over 200 produced, the Nordic 37 Tug (called the 39 Tug in 2013–15) ranks high on anyone’s list of popular midsize cruisers. For many, this is the perfect boat for the retired couple—easy to handle, fuel efficient and roomy enough for extended cruising. The raised pilothouse floorplan of the 37 Tug was originally arranged with two staterooms forward including an island berth in the master stateroom and over/under berths in the guest cabin. In 2003, an alternate single-stateroom layout greatly enlarged the master stateroom while also adding more floor space in the shower. In both configurations, the Nordic’s full-beam salon is open to the pilothouse and cockpit. The Nordic rides on a semi-displacement hull with moderate beam and a full, prop-protecting keel. A single 330hp Cummins diesel will cruise at 12–14 knots.

Price Range: From the mid 100s to $400K-plus.

1998–2015

Nordic 37/39 Tug

Nordic 37 Tug

1965–2004

At a Glance:  An iconic boat—over 1,200 were built during her production years. (The original GB 36 was built of Philippine mahogany until mid-1973 when the transition to fiberglass was made.) A semi-displacement hull with a long keel, hard chines and a deep forefoot provide the stability that won the 36 a reputation for seaworthiness seldom matched by other boats in her class. Several twin-stateroom interiors were offered over the years, all finished with handcrafted teak woodwork and all incorporating the very best in workmanship, hardware and materials. Notable features include teak decks and functional mast and boom. Note the cockpit door in the aft stateroom. In 1987, the 36 Classic was slightly enlarged when six inches were added to the length and four inches to the beam. Most were powered by a single 120hp (or 135hp) Lehman diesel.

Price Range: From $30K (early model) to over $200K.

Grand Banks 36 Classic

Grand Banks 36 Classic

At a Glance:  An updated version of the Nova 36 Sundeck, one of the better-selling Taiwan imports of her era. Built on a solid fiberglass semi-displacement hull with moderate beam, hard chines, and a full-length, prop-protecting keel. The galley-down, total-teak interior features a roomy salon with large windows, and two comfortable staterooms, each with a double berth. Storage is plentiful for a boat this size, and a deck access door is provided next to the lower helm. The full-beam aft deck is large enough for entertaining several guests. Additional features include a teak-and-holly cabin sole, hinged radar arch, wide side decks, spacious engine room, and a molded transom stairway. A fiberglass hardtop is standard. A fuel-efficient ride, a single 220hp Cummins will cruise at 8–10 knots. Over 250 were reportedly built.

Price Range: From $75–85K to the high 100s.

1998–2006

Heritage East 36

Heritage East 36

1982–2007

At a Glance:  Built in Nova Scotia after 1992, the Monk 36 gained popularity in the 1980s as a durable and affordable Taiwan import. Construction is solid fiberglass, and the hull features a skeg-protected prop as well as an upswept, well flared bow that contributes to her dry ride. Early models came with plenty of exterior teak—decks, window frames, hatches, etc.—but in later models built in Nova Scotia only the handrails are teak. The galley-up floorplan of the Monk 36 remained essentially unchanged over the years although post 1992 models eliminated the tub in the aft head and moved the bed away from the wall in the owner’s stateroom—a big improvement. A single 120hp or 135hp Lehman diesel was standard in early models (about 7 knots at cruise). Later models with a single 220hp Cummins cruise at 9–10 knots.

Price Range: From  about $100K to just over $200K.

Monk 36

Monk 36

At a Glance:  Designed for coastal cruising, the Mainship 34 Trawler combines a salty profile with sturdy construction and a practical single-stateroom interior. Built on a semi-displacement hull with a full keel, the galley-down layout of the Mainship 34 results in a notably spacious salon. A serving counter (with two stools) overlooks the galley, and a convertible sleeper-sofa is available to accommodate overnight guests. Forward, the stateroom has a centerline double berth and the double-entry head compartment includes a separate stall shower. Note that a lower helm was optional. On deck, a flybridge overhang shelters the Mainship's wide walkways. The engine room access hatch beneath the flybridge stairway is a tight fit. A single 240hp Yanmar diesel will cruise at 8 knots (12–13 knots top). Twin 315hp Yanmar diesels reach 16–18 knots top.

Price Range: From the low 100s to $200K-plus.

2005–09

Mainship 34 Trawler

Mainship 34 Trawler

At a Glance:   A popular trawler-style cruiser (over 350 were built) with distinctive styling and an innovative asymmetrical deck layout, the Swift Trawler 34 is a single-diesel sedan designed for economical coastal cruising. She rides on a lightweight hull with hard aft chines and a long shallow keel. The 34’s roomy interior has the galley all the way forward on the port side, directly across from the helm station (the refrigerator is under the double helm seat). The salon settee folds out to form a double berth, and large cabin windows provide panoramic views of the water. The master stateroom with island berth is forward and a guest cabin with upper/lower berths is to port. With her asymmetrical side decks—the starboard side deck is wider than the portside deck—getting around the 34 is easy. A single 425hp Cummins diesel will cruise at 10–12 knots).

Price Range: From the high 200s to the mid 300s.

2011–17

Beneteau Swift Trawler 34

Beneteau Swift Trawler 34

2001–09

At a Glance:   A sturdy, well-constructed family cruiser with a roomy interior and a salty, workboat profile. Built on a beamy semi-displacement hull with a full-length keel, the spacious teak interior of the 34 is ideal for the cruising couple. Both the stateroom and head are particularly large for a boat this size, and visibility from the raised pilothouse, with weathertight deck doors, is excellent. In the salon, a linear galley to starboard provides an abundance of counter and storage space—features quickly appreciated when it comes to daily food-prep activities. The side decks are wide with raised bulwarks all around for added security. A transom storage locker and bow thruster are standard. The cabintop can stow a dinghy. A single 330hp Cummins diesel will cruise at 13–14 knots. At 7–8 knots the cruising range can exceed 1,000 nautical miles.

Price Range: From about $200K to the mid 300s.

American Tug 34

American Tug 34

1986–Current

At a Glance:   The Nordic Tug 32 (called the Nordic Tug 34 since 2013) is a full-keeled, semi-displacement cruiser whose classic tugboat profile and quality construction have endeared her to yachting enthusiasts for many years. Two interior configurations were available: one with an angled double berth in the stateroom and the galley forward in the salon, and the other with V-berths forward and an L-shaped galley aft in the salon. The 32 received an extensive makeover in 2002—the result was the Nordic Tug 32+ with an island berth in the forward stateroom, a new galley layout with under-counter refrigeration, and a swim platform that extends the hull and waterline length. In 2008, the hull was revised to include a prop pocket. The Nordic Tug will cruise at 12 knots with single 220hp Cummins diesel or 14 knots with a 270hp Cummins engine. Over 300 have been built.

Price Range: From  under $100K to $300K-plus.

Nordic 32/34 Tug

Nordic 32 Tug