Top 10 Trawlers 2024
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO Syndicate
Top 10 Trawlers 2024
Trawlers are the long-distance pickup trucks of the cruising world: full-displacement or semi-displacement hulls built to run for days at single-digit speeds while sipping diesel and carrying a couple in real comfort. For 2024, the field spans efficient single-engine passagemakers, nimble pocket trawlers a couple can dock alone, and stretched flybridge cruisers with twin diesels and serious tankage.
We judged each boat on fuel economy and range, build quality and storage, livability for two-up cruising, handling in a seaway, engine access, and how well prices hold up at resale. This list mixes new-from-the-factory models with proven used hulls, because most trawler buyers shop the brokerage market where condition matters more than model year.
Direct Answer
Our BEST OVERALL pick is the Nordhavn 41, a true ocean-crossing passagemaker that starts around $1,000,000 new but delivers genuine bluewater range and resale that barely dips. The BEST VALUE is the Mainship 34 Trawler, a clean used example of which sells for roughly $95,000–$130,000 and gives a couple a real flybridge cruiser for the price of a runabout.
Match the boat to how far you actually cruise: many buyers overspend on range they never use, so always commission a professional survey and sea trial before signing.
How We Ranked
- Range and fuel economy — a trawler lives or dies on how far it goes per gallon, so we weighted real-world burn and tankage heavily.
- Build quality and seaworthiness — hull lay-up, stabilization options, and behavior in a beam sea separate ocean boats from coastal cruisers.
- Livability for two — galley, berth, head, and storage that let a couple live aboard for weeks without friction.
- Engine access and serviceability — trawlers run thousands of hours, so easy access to the diesel and systems lowers cost of ownership.
- Resale and parts support — strong brands hold value and keep an owner supplied with spares decades later.
1. 2024 Nordhavn 41 🏆 BEST OVERALL
The Nordhavn 41 is the boat the rest of this list aspires to be. It is a genuine full-displacement passagemaker built to cross oceans, with a heavily glassed hull, watertight bulkheads, and a deep keel that protects the running gear if you touch bottom. A single John Deere diesel of roughly 180 horsepower pushes the 41-footer at an easy 7-8 knot cruise while burning around 2 gallons per hour, which translates to a transoceanic range from its 700-plus gallon fuel capacity.
At about 41 feet length overall with a 15-foot beam and a displacement near 50,000 pounds, the 41 is heavy for its length on purpose; that mass is what makes it ride so calmly offshore. Optional paravane stabilizers or active fin stabilizers tame the roll that full-displacement hulls are prone to.
Owners report that resale on used Nordhavns is famously firm, so the steep entry price is partly recovered when you sell.
- Price: ~$1,000,000 new; used 40-footers from ~$450,000
- Pros: True ocean range, bulletproof build, excellent resale, watertight integrity
- Cons: Very expensive, slow, rolls without stabilizers
Verdict: The benchmark passagemaker for couples who actually cross oceans.
2. 2024 Mainship 34 Trawler 💎 BEST VALUE
No longer in production, the Mainship 34 is the smartest dollar in coastal trawlering. These semi-displacement boats came with a single diesel and an efficient hull that cruises economically around 8 knots yet can push past 12 when you need to beat weather. Clean used examples trade for $95,000 to $130,000, a fraction of a new build, and the single-engine layout keeps maintenance simple and cheap.
At roughly 34 feet with a 12-foot 4-inch beam, the boat offers a surprisingly roomy single-stateroom interior, a real galley, and a flybridge that doubles the living space in good weather. Common items to check are the fuel tanks (older aluminum tanks can corrode) and the teak decks on early hulls.
Parts and a strong owner community keep these boats running for decades.
- Price: ~$95,000–$130,000 used
- Pros: Affordable, efficient single diesel, roomy for the length, big owner network
- Cons: Out of production, aging tanks/teak on older hulls
Verdict: The most boat-per-dollar a coastal cruising couple can buy.
3. 2024 Kadey-Krogen 44
Kadey-Krogen builds full-displacement trawlers with a reputation for soft, sea-kindly motion and exceptional efficiency. The 44 carries a single John Deere diesel and a fine-entry hull that lets it cross long stretches of open water at 7-8 knots while sipping fuel. With around 41 to 44 feet of length and a generous 15-foot beam, the interior feels far larger than the footprint suggests.
The walk-in engine room is a Krogen hallmark, giving an owner stand-up access to the diesel and systems. Pilothouse layouts keep the helm dry and visibility high for long passages. Used Krogens hold value well and rarely sit long on the brokerage market.
- Price: ~$650,000+ new; used from ~$300,000
- Pros: Sea-kindly motion, walk-in engine room, excellent efficiency
- Cons: Premium price, slow displacement speeds only
Verdict: A refined ocean cruiser with one of the best engine rooms afloat.
4. 2024 Beneteau Swift Trawler 41
Beneteau's Swift Trawler line bridges the gap between a true displacement passagemaker and a fast cruiser. The 41 Sedan rides a semi-displacement hull and a single Volvo Penta diesel of around 425 horsepower, giving an efficient 8-knot trawler cruise with the ability to climb to a 16-to-20-knot top end when you want to outrun a front.
That flexibility is the whole pitch.
At about 42 feet with a wide beam, the Swift Trawler offers a modern, bright interior with two cabins and a full beam master option, plus a big flybridge. It is a newer design with broad Beneteau dealer support across the U.S. And Europe, which matters for warranty and parts.
Fuel burn climbs sharply at planing speed, so most owners run it slow.
- Price: ~$700,000+ new
- Pros: Trawler economy with planing-speed flexibility, modern interior, strong dealer network
- Cons: Pricey, thirsty if run fast, lighter build than ocean passagemakers
Verdict: The best choice for couples who want efficiency and the option of speed.
5. 2024 Grand Banks 42 Classic
Few names are more synonymous with trawlering than Grand Banks, and the 42 Classic is the iconic shape: a teak-trimmed, semi-displacement sedan that has cruised the world for decades. Most on the market are well-kept used boats with twin diesels in the 120-to-210 horsepower range, cruising comfortably at 8-9 knots and reaching the low teens when pushed.
At 42 feet with a 13-foot 6-inch beam, the layout is classic and roomy, with a big saloon, two staterooms, and a flybridge. Buyers should budget for teak deck upkeep and inspect the older fuel tanks. Resale is strong because the Grand Banks name carries weight on the brokerage market.
- Price: ~$150,000–$350,000 used depending on year/condition
- Pros: Iconic design, strong resale, roomy twin-engine layout
- Cons: Teak maintenance, older boats need careful survey
Verdict: The classic flybridge trawler that defined the category.
6. 2024 Ranger Tugs R-29
The Ranger Tugs R-29 is the trailerable pocket trawler that a couple can own, run, and afford without a captain. A single Yamaha or Volvo diesel of around 270 horsepower drives a semi-displacement hull that trawls economically in the 7-to-9-knot range but can plane into the high teens, and the whole boat tucks into a marina slip a 40-footer would never fit.
At about 29 feet with a 10-foot beam, the R-29 packs a stunning amount of living space: a real galley, an enclosed head with shower, a convertible dinette, and a forward V-berth. Trailerability opens up cruising grounds far from home. Build quality is solid and resale on Ranger Tugs has been notably strong.
- Price: ~$300,000+ new; used from ~$150,000
- Pros: Trailerable, efficient, big interior for the size, strong resale
- Cons: Small for extended liveaboard, single-engine docking takes practice
Verdict: The best pocket trawler for couples who want to tow and explore.
7. 2024 American Tug 365
The American Tug 365 is a Pacific Northwest-built semi-displacement trawler that punches above its size for build quality. A single Cummins diesel of around 380 horsepower gives an efficient 8-knot trawler cruise plus the ability to climb to the mid-teens, and the pilothouse layout keeps the helm dry and the visibility excellent in any weather.
At roughly 37 feet length and a 13-foot beam, the boat sleeps a couple in real comfort with a single large stateroom, a proper galley, and abundant storage. American Tugs are hand-laid with attention to engine access and systems, and their limited production keeps used values firm.
Buyers prize the dry, secure pilothouse for shoulder-season cruising.
- Price: ~$650,000+ new; used from ~$350,000
- Pros: Excellent build, dry pilothouse, single-engine economy, firm resale
- Cons: Premium price, limited production means fewer used hulls
Verdict: A beautifully built single-stateroom cruiser for serious coastal couples.
8. 2024 Selene 43
Selene built a strong following with affordable full-displacement ocean trawlers, and the 43 is a sweet spot in the range. A single Cummins diesel of around 230 horsepower pushes the heavy hull at an economical 7-8 knots with long range from large fuel tanks, and the protected full keel shields the prop and rudder.
At about 43 feet with a 15-foot beam and a displacement near 45,000 pounds, the Selene offers a walk-around master, a pilothouse, and a flybridge. Used Selenes deliver passagemaker capability for meaningfully less money than the premium brands. Inspect the stabilizer system and check service records, since these boats are built to rack up serious hours.
- Price: ~$300,000–$500,000 used
- Pros: Ocean capability for less money, walk-in engine room, big tankage
- Cons: Slower brand resale than Nordhavn/Krogen, survey-dependent condition
Verdict: A value-priced full-displacement passagemaker for distance cruisers.
9. 2024 Helmsman Trawlers 38E
The Helmsman 38E is a modern, sensibly priced semi-displacement trawler with a pilothouse and a layout aimed squarely at a cruising couple. A single Cummins diesel of around 380 horsepower gives an efficient 8-knot cruise and a useful mid-teens top end, and the boat is known for solid value relative to the legacy names.
At roughly 38 feet with a 13-foot 6-inch beam, the 38E offers a comfortable single stateroom, a real galley, a dry pilothouse helm, and good storage for extended trips. Engine access is straightforward, and the boat's contemporary systems are easy to service. It is one of the better new-trawler buys for couples who want quality without the top-tier price.
- Price: ~$500,000+ new
- Pros: Strong value new, dry pilothouse, efficient single diesel
- Cons: Less brand cachet, semi-displacement rolls without stabilizers
Verdict: A smart modern trawler for couples shopping new on a budget.
10. 2024 DeFever 44
The DeFever 44 is a classic, roomy semi-displacement cruising trawler that trades almost entirely on the used market, and it remains one of the best liveaboard values in the segment. Twin diesels of around 120-to-135 horsepower each give a relaxed 8-knot cruise with the redundancy that long-distance couples appreciate when far from a yard.
At about 44 feet with a wide 15-foot beam, the DeFever delivers cavernous interior volume, two large staterooms, a big saloon, and acres of storage for living aboard. Buyers should plan a careful survey of the fuel tanks, stringers, and steering given the age of most hulls.
When found in good shape, a DeFever is an enormous amount of cruising boat for the money.
- Price: ~$130,000–$280,000 used
- Pros: Huge interior, twin-engine redundancy, strong liveaboard value
- Cons: Aging hulls demand thorough survey, dated styling
Verdict: A spacious twin-engine liveaboard trawler at a bargain price.
How to Choose
What to Look For
- Hull type: Full-displacement boats cross oceans efficiently but only at hull speed; semi-displacement boats trade some range for the option of planing speed. Match the hull to your real cruising plans.
- Engine hours and access: Trawler diesels routinely run thousands of hours, so prioritize documented service history and a boat where you can physically reach the engine to maintain it.
- Tanks and structure: On older hulls, inspect aluminum or steel fuel tanks for corrosion, and check stringers and the steering system carefully.
- Survey and sea trial: Always commission an independent marine survey and run a full sea trial under load before you buy any trawler.
FAQ
What is the difference between a full-displacement and semi-displacement trawler? A full-displacement hull is limited to its theoretical hull speed (roughly 7-9 knots on these boats) but rewards you with the best fuel economy and ocean range. A semi-displacement hull cruises economically at trawler speeds yet can climb onto a partial plane to reach the mid-to-high teens when you need to outrun weather, at the cost of much higher fuel burn at speed.
How much does a good trawler cost in 2024? A clean used coastal trawler like a Mainship 34 or DeFever 44 runs roughly $95,000 to $280,000, while modern semi-displacement cruisers from Beneteau or Helmsman start in the $500,000-plus range new. A true ocean passagemaker such as a Nordhavn or Kadey-Krogen runs from the mid-$300,000s used to over $1,000,000 new.
How far can a trawler travel on a tank of fuel? It depends on the hull and tankage. A full-displacement passagemaker like the Nordhavn 41 can carry over 700 gallons and cross oceans burning about 2 gallons per hour at 7-8 knots. Coastal semi-displacement trawlers typically have shorter range but still cover hundreds of miles between fill-ups at displacement speed.
Is a single-engine or twin-engine trawler better? Single engines are cheaper to buy and maintain and burn less fuel, which suits efficient passagemakers and pocket trawlers. Twin engines add redundancy and easier docking, which long-distance and liveaboard couples on boats like the DeFever 44 or Grand Banks 42 often prefer.
Most modern trawlers also carry a bow thruster to make single-engine docking manageable.
Bottom Line
The Nordhavn 41 earns BEST OVERALL as a genuine ocean-crossing passagemaker with rock-solid build and resale, while the Mainship 34 Trawler takes BEST VALUE by giving a coastal cruising couple a real flybridge boat for used-runabout money. Between those poles, the Ranger Tugs R-29, Grand Banks 42, and Helmsman 38E cover trailerable, classic, and modern-value buyers.
Whatever you choose, let your real cruising range and a professional survey, not the brochure, make the final call.
Sources
- Boat Trader — trawler listings and pricing
- Discover Boating — boat type guides
- BoatUS — marine survey and ownership guidance
- Cummins Marine — diesel engine specifications
- Volvo Penta — marine propulsion specifications
- Boating Magazine — trawler reviews
- PassageMaker — trawler and passagemaker coverage
*Keywords: Top 10 Trawlers 2024 — review, reviews, rating, comparison, best of 2027.*