Today we took a drive to Cape Coral to begin our search for the perfect boat for our adventure on America’s Great Loop. We are hoping to start our 6000-mile journey in 2024, and one of the first things we need to decide on is what kind of boat to buy for the journey.
As the boat we buy will be our home away from home for a year (or more), it will be important to choose one that ticks some boxes on our checklist.
The punch list
- A trawler that’s well taken care of, especially as it relates to maintaining the key things that keep the boat running (ie: engines, generator, etc.)
- Not more than 17 feet tall (as we want to cruise through downtown Chicago on our loop and there are height restrictions to do that). Alternatively, we would be fine with a higher air draft if it is able to be lowered as needed.)
- Between 38 and 43 feet
- Wide beam (14-ish feet)
- Comfortable salon, with good seating (sofa or comfortable chairs)
- Galley with fridge and freezer (on main salon level)
- Two heads, with at least one having a separate shower
- Two cabins
- Lots of windows (for light)
- A good amount of storage
- Up-to-date electronics (radar, GPS, stereo, etc.)
- Bow and stern thrusters
- Dual engines
- Access door to port and starboard side decks
- Large walkaround
- Large aft deck and swim platform
- Flybridge + pilothouse
- Isinglass enclosure at flybridge
- Bimini at flybridge
- Hydraulic davit for dinghy
That’s the list so far. Of course, that may change as we explore different models. Some of the list items are wants and some are must-haves. We want to feel not only comfortable living on a boat but also comfortable handling it in a variety of conditions on the water.
Today, we were able to do a walk-through of a 2014 Beneteau Swift Trawler. This boat definitely ticked off a lot of the boxes on our list. Two cabins, nice comfy seating, perfectly wide walkaround, flybridge with bimini, beautiful teak finishes, two cabins, two heads, lots of light.
On the downside, the galley didn’t have great storage and the fridge was super small. Not ideal for a long journey like the Loop. The electronics could use an upgrade and the overall condition of the boat was less than average for its year. Cushions were worn and the overall feel was that it wasn’t really “loved.” We learned very quickly–because Dave noticed that everything at the helm was labeled–that the vessel was used as a charter boat. That probably explains the run-down feel overall of the boat.
Overall, it was a nice boat and I’m glad we had an opportunity to look at this particular year and model. It was also great to see what is out there right now, both for the money and the style. A Beneteau Swift Trawler is still on my list of a maybe Loop boat for us as there is a lot to love about the charm and the layout of them.
