The increasing popularity among yachtsmen itching for the adventure of voyaging to distant ports shows no signs of abating. Open-water passages require yachts that are built and equipped to operate continuously and safely in a wide range of weather and sea states. Finding the boat that fills these needs-and your dreams-is paramount. Here's a selection of trawlers to help you along the way.
Oviatt Marine's flagship Alaskan 80 Raised Pilothouse aims to put the "grand back in Grand Touring. Plush decorator fabrics and leather seating set the tone in the saloon, which is liberally finished with North American cherry furniture and bulkheads. KitchenAid and GE appliances aid meal preparation and entertaining for 10 guests, all accommodated at the pilothouse dining table. Twin Caterpillar 1,000 hp C-18 diesels give this semi-displacement design 20-knot cruising speeds or lower for better fuel efficiency and a 2,000-mile range. A pair of 25kW Northern Lights shielded gensets power a comprehensive suite of Simrad electronics for the pilothouse and bridge, as well as a full complement of high-end entertainment electronics throughout the yacht. A 2,200-pound-capacity Nautical Structures "Euro davit is provided for the standard Novurania 460 dinghy. Four staterooms, all with en suite heads, accommodate eight in lavish comfort; crew quarters for two are found aft. Oviatt Marine, (954) 925-0065; www.oviattmarine.com. To read about the Alaskan 77, also from Oviatt Marine, click here.
Looking like a stylized version of the classic 42 Europa, the new Grand Banks 44 Heritage EU represents the next evolution in design and performance from the company that made trawler yachts iconic. Its Sparkman & Stephens modified-V hull includes a raked stem, a well-flared bow for a drier ride at higher speeds, prop tunnels to minimize depth and maximize thrust with larger diameter props and underwater exhausts for quiet operation. A pair of 455 hp diesels is standard, but equipped with optional 500 hp diesels, the GB44 has surpassed speeds of 24 knots in sea trials. A foot wider than the classic 42, the GB44's beam of 15 feet, 3 inches brings more room, storage and livability to a proven two-stateroom, two-head layout. Grand Banks tapped the Great Britain firm of Design Unlimited to create a contemporary interior that maximizes space and light for owners in the saloon, as well as the staterooms. Like the 42 Europa, the GB44 is designed with bridge deck overhangs for side deck protection and improved aft cockpit usability. Grand Banks Yachts, (206) 352-0116; www.grandbanks.com. To read a full review of the Grand Banks 44EU, click here.
The Hampton 560 Sedan Fast Trawler has a modified-V hull with a partial keel, reversed hard chines and a high, well-flared bow, giving a wide range of speeds. Base power is 500 hp Caterpillar C-9 diesels with a Kohler 15kW shielded genset. Wesmar RS400 stabilizers add comfort underway, while a 10.7 hp bowthruster simplifies handling at the dock. Optional 540 or 660 hp Cummins QSM-11 diesels turning five-blade props have produced top speeds of 19.8 knots and 21.8 knots, respectively, in sea trials. Standard equipment includes a factory hardtop that, when enclosed, can be heated or air-conditioned. The three-stateroom layout is lavishly joined in cherry, and comes complete with a central vacuum system and stacked washer/dryer. The third stateroom can be configured as an office. Anchor Yacht Sales, (954) 797-0030; www.anchoryt.com. To view a gallery of another Hampton yacht, the Endurance 680 Long-Range Cruiser, click here.
Like the other yachts in its Special Edition series, Jefferson's 52 Pilothouse SE is designed to take advantage of increasingly powerful diesels and lighter hull weights, achieved through advanced lamination processes, to offer better-than-ever performance. This raised-pilothouse design features a Portuguese bridge, aft-swept windows and numerous side windows in the pilothouse, creating excellent views for the helmsman as well as family and friends at the table abaft the helm. Power choices include 490 or 540 hp Cummins QSM diesels in a large, Nida Core-insulated engineroom. A shielded Westerbeke 15kW genset is standard, as is a dual-station Raymarine navigation and communications package, Clarion AM/FM/CD on the bridge, Denon AV home theater system in the saloon, and televisions in all staterooms. The boat deck extends over the aft cockpit for weather protection, and can be fitted with an optional davit and RIB. Jefferson Yachts, (812) 282-8111; www.jeffersonyachts.com. To read a review of the slightly larger Jefferson 64 Pilothouse, click here.
