Somewhere on the site we should have a FAQ section and model description section. This piece should definitely be included as it's exceptionally well written.
On Jun 11, 12:43 am, waterguy <[email protected]> wrote: > If you're looking at trawlers in the 42-foot range, you're probably > looking at twin engine boats anyway, unless it's a real cheap-and- > nasty Taiwan or mainland China boat that was built to a price. And > you already know about the problems with those boats (fiberglass-over- > plywood deckhouses that turn to pulp due to window frame leaks, ditto > teak plank-over fiberglass-over plywood decks, electrical gremlins, > etc.) > > That 42 Uniflite you're looking at is far superior in construction > quality to almost any trawler built in the last 20 years. > > The differences in design are going to be that the trawler will have > slightly safer outdoor walkaround decks (because they're wider and > have raised gunwales). However, the drawback to the wide side decks > is cramped interior quarters. The Uniflite will have a much roomier > cabin. This tradeoff may work for you as a liveaboard. > > If the engines are original, they may be GM/Detroit Diesel 6-71NA or > 6-71TI's (great engines, IMHO, a little noisy and a little less fuel- > efficient than 4-stroke diesels, but more powerful for a given > displacement, and repair parts and mechanics who know them are > everywhere), possibly the Cummins 903's, or just barely possibly the > Caterpillar 3208's. Some 42's were fitted with Chrysler 440's or Chev > 454's. Avoid those unless you know that (1) the engines are new; and > (2) you're never going to run it above hull speed. Gas-powered 42's > have seriously overstressed engines. > > The other difference in design will be that the Uniflite, as a planing > hull, has sharp chines and no keel, so when you're stopped or going > slowly in a cross sea, there's a tendency to snap rolling, which can > be uncomfortable. The trawler won't roll as sharply in a cross sea. > > To me the biggest factor is the safety margin given by the planing > hull and big engines. As noted by other posters, your fuel economy > won't be too much worse than the trawler when you're running at > trawler speeds, but if the weather turns nasty, you can do what a > trawler can't -- shove the throttles forward and run for a safe > anchorage. Only thing is, if the boat has Detroit Diesels, know that > they won't tolerate being run at constant low speeds. > > May I suggest one other boat to look at? That would be the 1967 to > (about 1975) Chris-Craft 47-foot Commander. Built like a battleship; > it was Chris-Craft's first fiberglass boat; and I think that Chris- > Craft's designers decided, "Well, we use 3/4-inch mahogany in our > motoryachts, let's lay on 3/4ths of an inch of fiberglass mat!" The > hulls are literally bulletproof (I know of one that stopped a .38 > Police Positive round). The older style flush deck design may be > offputting because it causes the windows in the cabin to be above head > level when you're sitting down. Look for a 1968 or older, as they > have beautiful interior woodwork in the classic Chris-Craft style > (became more wood-grain Formica in later years). > > Most were originally underpowered, having GM/Detroit Diesel 8V-53's > (about 250 HP) or 427 Ford sideoiler gas engines (about 325 hp, > equivalent to the 250 hp diesels), so you almost have to plan on a > repower. A boating magazine a few years ago had a feature on a 47 > Commander that had been repowered with 350-horse Perkins diesels. She > ran 26 knots at 20 gph. The 47 Commander had a very efficient hull > for high-speed cruising. > > There are a couple of layouts; standard was a large aft stateroom with > private head; there was an option for two aft staterooms with a shared > head opening off a companionway; this is the one you'll most likely > see. > > Presently, these boats are selling in the mid-to-high five-figure > range. A hell of a lot of boat for the price. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "UnifliteWorld" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/unifliteworld?hl=en.
