Of all the folks who head to the sea on yachts, I have always believed the luckiest are those who do so aboard trawlers. After all, when you are blessed with the luxury of an unhurried pace, you can enjoy the voyage as much as you do the destination. Mainship's trawlers, with their unexpected comfort, good performance and excellent value, have allowed owners to do just that. The builder's new 400 Trawler maintains that tradition.
In response to the fuel crisis of the 1970s and '80s, Mainship built more than 1,200 trawlers from 30 to 40 feet LOA. These fuel-efficient designs were relatively simple, and they earned a loyal following that helped spawn an active segment of the brokerage market.
In the 1990s, Mainship reintroduced its trawler line with two new models: a 35- and 39-footer. The company delivered more that 300 in five years, so it had a fairly broad base of owners to tap for input when the time came to develop the 400.
As you might expect, these folks wanted a bit more space, particularly for a dinette in the cabin and additional seating on the bridge. What they did not want was complication. Mainship's demographic data suggests most of its trawler owners are retired, with semi-fixed incomes. For them, creature comforts are important but cannot come at the expense of reliability. With this in mind, Mainship used the KISS approach in the design of the 400, and as a result, she is easy to operate, clean and service.
The choice of a single engine complemented by an electric bowthruster keeps the engineroom uncluttered. Large hatches in the cabin's sole open to well-organized systems that are easy to reach and understand. The 8kW Kohler generator has a sound shield and is accessible from a hatch in the afterdeck. The hatch is guttered, and the generator is not directly beneath it, which should keep it dry. Fifty-amp shore service can be brought aboard at the bow or stern-a nice touch. Those who ride on the hook will want to spring for the optional inverter package, which includes an extra pair of batteries. In fact, several options, such as the dripless shaft log and internal sea strainer, should not be overlooked.
The laminate of the 400's hull bottom begins with a 20-mil gelcoat, followed by two layers of 1.5-ounce mat and a combined five layers of 24-ounce woven roving and mat. Fiberglass-encapsulated marine plywood stringers and bulkheads provide support. Her hull sides and exterior decks are cored with balsa. Fuel is carried in two aluminum tanks outboard of the engines.
