What is happening in this world?

Now Grand Banks says that a POD drive is the only way to go for their newest trawler yacht.

My, my.

Its a revolution out there.

No pictures seabuddy......I am very dissapointed!

That is one sweet trawler though

I hope I don't step on any seabuddy toes here....


Grand Banks 41 Heritage EU

So the idea of the trawler being a slow, fuel sipper is on the way out?

This one is no speed demon............

...As a result, the 41EU cruises smoothly and efficiently at 10 and 24 knots alike. Handles a tight slip as confidently as a tall sea. Impresses with her luxury as much as her practicality. Goes faster and farther, yet still rides cleaner and quieter...

Some people say that $5 fuel will turn the trend right now, but new slow boats have tended to be hard to sell for awhile now in USA.

Some also say that the expected bump in sales for slow boats from high fuel prices is not showing up like they expected.

try...

http://www.grandbanks.com/yachts/heritag...at=zeus&sn=

...EVOLUTION OF AN ICON. In 1964, Grand Banks launched the first in a long succession of boats that would become the Heritage Series. Combining a genuine nautical spirit with the very best in materials and manufacturing, equipment and engineering, it brought a remarkable new cruising experience to owners around the world. An icon was born, and boating was changed forever.

In 2008, Grand Banks does it again. And once more, cruising will never be the same...

Grand Banks website

As far as trawlers are concerned, 24 kts is fairly speedy?

Yup.

This is a 41 model with a waterline lenght of about 38'. Take that times about 1.33 or so, and its displacement speed should be roughly 8 mph. Harden the chines, lighten the boat and shape the hull to a semi-displacement design and power it up and then think older boats of this size tend to go 14 mph at cruise. Re-shape the hull design again into a planning hull design with a pod system drive and they are thinking over 20 mph or even more for a cruising speed.

A 24 knot cruise speed is just under 28 mph.

Soooo would these fall under the same category as Back Cove, Saber, etc as far as boat type?

"Trim tabs are built in to the pods and deploy automated to improve performance and visibility during acceleration."

Very interesting....

So..... we basically have a motor yacht that looks like a trawler???

I am not sure that they want to say it that way.

They do say it's a new world.

I've admired GB's since I was a kid.

When I retire and sell off a few of my rental units, I plan on investing in a new GB as my final "big" boat.

I have been watching the intro's of the new GB's, and I am not too impressed with their direction of the pod drives.

Time will tell...

What would YOU say, Seabuddy?

I'll get alot folks mad with this, but a Grand Banks hull shape has never looked like a North Sea Trawler hull shape to me. I think a smart marketing guy just put that name on it, but after all this time its accepted by the marine folks.

A designer once said that the seakeeping of these pleasure trawlers is NOTHING like a North Sea Trawler. For the very simple reason that the GB, etc, are so much lighter. Physics is physics.

In the market the trawler label is certainly a matter of style above the waterline. Anything goes below the waterline. I expect this new package from GB will find buyers. Who will not be the same buyers who actually potter up to Prince William Sound and back.

I like performance motoryachts. But in my view "yukky" sport fishermen fill this niche better than slapping a trawler cabin together with pod drives.

Oh well,
Kelly

Hull shape and power, too.

I think of working fish boats as having much rounder hull shapes.

I'll agree with that.

I always thought that one of the benefits of a trawler was fuel economy. I'll make an assumption and say that this twin engined trawler doing 24 kts is not going to get the same economy as the same boat with a small diesel doing 10-12 kts.

So what's next? Take a 45 ft MY, tweak the hull a couple of times and throw in a 180hp single screw diesel? Would that still be called a MY?

I recall the trend of going towards "more power" for GB started back in the early 90's when they introduced the twin Cats in their 42'er.

They praised its speed and agility for quite some time.

Back in the early to mid 80's, Sea Ray took an existing 36' hull and put a different cabin on it and equpped it with twin 4 cyls and introduced it as the 36T. The T was for trawler.

They actually sold a few...

The all-new '82 Bayliner 32 was called an Explorer (they had a series of them) and were equipped with twin 4 cyl Volvo i/o's.

Again, with the "trawler" theme to keep up with the market "changes".

That same mold was used well into the mid 90's and was equipped with twin gas and diesel inboards and was called one of their Motoryacht line.