Driving a 280 like a trawler?

F

Froghunter

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Jun 13, 2017
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Texas
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im looking to buy a bigger boat. Something I can run the icw, the Florida keys and make a fair weather run to the Bahamas. I like the idea of a trawler for fuel consumption and an express cruiser for the speed. could I drive a 280 like a trawler, Running 7 to 18 knots? Googled specs show fuel usage at lower speeds is greatly reduced. I love this idea as it's the best of both worlds..... go slow to save gas but have tons of speed and hp on stand by if/when needed. I know trawler hulls have a displacement/ plowing design where a Sundance is a planeing hull.

I appreciate any thoughts or solid info on this!!!
 
Not as efficiently as a trawler, and once you get over hull speed, which is around 5 knots in a 280, your efficiency goes down the toilet until you get up on plane.

To figure this out, run the 280 at slow speed, and when the bow starts to pick up, you're starting to push water getting inefficient. So speeds in the 7 to 15 knots just don't work well. Now, my 280 will start to plane at 15 knots, and does quite well in the low 20s for efficiency. However, it would beat my 40 ft semi displacement hull trawler which gets twice the economy than the Sundancer..... but at 7 to 8 knots.

It's hard to get the best of both worlds. The 280 is a fairly efficient boat that still provides some creature comforts. However, it would not be a boat I'd take to the Bahamas or Keys... just too small.
 
I drive my 340 like a trawler. I think right around 7 knots is the sweet spot, not pushing too much water. It's still burning way more fuel than a trawler though. If I wanted to go fast I wouldn't have bought a Sundancer!

Most folks around these parts will call this "cocktail speed". And it's where a lot of us slow boaters spend a lot of our time...
 
Thanks for the info! I do agree a 280 can be small. I live in central Texas and trailering anything above a 280 will be a huge problem for me. It would take forever to run the icw all the way to the keys and even longer to make the Miami - Bimini crossing. I love the idea of trailering closer to my destinations. I still have a 9-5 so vacation time is limited. No one boat can do everything I want so I'm trying to find a happy medium.
 
I'm totally fine with cocktail speed! And, will spend most of my time there too. I like the idea of being able to outrun storms and to make good time across smooth water if needed.
 
Froghunter said:
Thanks for the info! I do agree a 280 can be small. I live in central Texas and trailering anything above a 280 will be a huge problem for me. It would take forever to run the icw all the way to the keys and even longer to make the Miami - Bimini crossing. I love the idea of trailering closer to my destinations. I still have a 9-5 so vacation time is limited. No one boat can do everything I want so I'm trying to find a happy medium.
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If I remember correctly, Miami to Marathon in the Keys is approximately 110-120 NM. This is running Hawks Channel, running inside would shave off some distance.

Miami to Bimini is approximately 55-60 NM.

Don't have my iPad handy with routes, but approximate distances.

Mark
 
Bimini crossing looks to be fun. YouTube is full of videos. People cross over in everything from super yachts to bay boats, ski boats and even jet skis! I hope to someday make all the keys, dry tortugas and the marquesas.
 
How about a Ranger Tug? They are all designed to be trailered. I think they move decently fast too.

I was on one - I think a 27 - at a boat show. It was the most impressive display of efficient boat design I've ever seen. Intended for cruising, the amount of useful seating, berths, stowage, and social space on the Ranger line is borders on mythical. The fit an finish was really nice too. I think they just released a new 27 model with an outboard that looks pretty quick also.
 
The rangers do look good. Im not 100% set on any brand just yet. However searays are sold/serviced locally and seem to offer a great deal of comfort.
 
I did the trip from toms river to Haverstraw ny on my 95 330da running about 1700 rpm , making 8.5 kts over the ground , burned half a tank (both sides) for the whole trip. I come from a trawler , so I am in tune with that speed. it may drive others crazy.
 
Looking at it from a trawler stand point.....would a single engine be more efficient at those speeds or would twins be better?
 
Froghunter said:
Looking at it from a trawler stand point.....would a single engine be more efficient at those speeds or would twins be better?
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Not even close...the trawler with a single will destroy a cruiser in efficiency. It's not just the engine(s), it's also the hull design.
 
+1 on efficiency, especially in the 7-15 kt range you are speaking of. 7 kts okay, once you get above that you will absolutely guzzle volumes of fuel until you get up over plane. We have a 240 Sundancer and "cocktail speed" is pleasant, on plane works, but between those two speeds I can almost watch the fuel gauge walk down. We sometimes cruise with a group of trawlers and can't match their speed of 8-9kts or so; we have to lag behind at 6 kts, then get up on plane to catch up to them and / or pass them a ways, then back down to 6 kts, wait for them to catch up and pass us, then start all over again.
 
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Seevee said:
Not as efficiently as a trawler, and once you get over hull speed, which is around 5 knots in a 280, your efficiency goes down the toilet until you get up on plane.

To figure this out, run the 280 at slow speed, and when the bow starts to pick up, you're starting to push water getting inefficient. So speeds in the 7 to 15 knots just don't work well. Now, my 280 will start to plane at 15 knots, and does quite well in the low 20s for efficiency. However, it would beat my 40 ft semi displacement hull trawler which gets twice the economy than the Sundancer..... but at 7 to 8 knots.

It's hard to get the best of both worlds. The 280 is a fairly efficient boat that still provides some creature comforts. However, it would not be a boat I'd take to the Bahamas or Keys... just too small.
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This is spot on for the 280. I LOVED my 280 but the one thing I couldn't stand was that I was either at 5-6 knots or over 18-20 knots. Most speeds in between were plowing water and leaving a massive wake.
 
Have you looked at the Beneteau Swift Trawlers? While not as fuel efficient as a true trawler they do share a lot of the same characteristics. Where they differ is the 34 foot one has a 425 Hp Cummins QSB 5.9 which allows it to get up and go when you don't mind burning the fuel. It will do just over 20 knots at 3100 rpm.
 
I can cruise up to about 7-8 MPH. after that my tach jumps in-proportionately to speed. meaning at 7 MPH I am at about 1200-1300 RPM but at 10 MPH I am at about 2000 RPM
 
Westie said:
Have you looked at the Beneteau Swift Trawlers? While not as fuel efficient as a true trawler they do share a lot of the same characteristics. Where they differ is the 34 foot one has a 425 Hp Cummins QSB 5.9 which allows it to get up and go when you don't mind burning the fuel. It will do just over 20 knots at 3100 rpm.
Click to expand...

Looked at one at the last FL boat show I went to. Too many fit-and-finish issues. Saw too many things that would be a problem in 6 months - on a brand new boat. Lost any interest in the brand.

Just my observation for what it is worth.

Mark
 
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