BENETEAU SWIFT TRAWLER 30

While a significant number of armchair experts insist the name “Trawler Yacht” has been adopted from the fishing industry to reflect the traditional trawler’s range, stability and durability, others (like me) disagree.

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Stability? Don't make me laugh. I once spent a long winter's day on a commercial trawler fishing out of Brixham, which tottered and rolled like a Friday-night drunk. The fact the engine packed up in the pitch black, somewhere between Berry Head and Portland Bill, would lead me to question the durability element too. In the absence of a consensus then, it's probably best to sidestep my own unfortunate experiences and go with Beneteau's take on what its trawler boats are all about...

They say it boils down to safety, reliability and something they call ‘autonomy’ - which is basically the ability to remain at sea for extended tours of duty. And there's no doubt that Beneteau has successfully argued its corner on that score, because between 2003 and 2020, it delivered more than 1,300 Swift Trawlers to customers around the world. The Swift Trawler 30 you see here, which is on offer with Ancasta Lymington at an asking price of £185,000 tax paid, represents what was the baby of the range when it was launched back in 2015. It was quietly retired from the range five years later but never directly replaced. Instead it was left to the ST35 to carry the can, although that too is being replaced by the all-new ST37 when it comes on stream next year.

Swift Trawlers now run from the aforementioned 37-footer right up to the flagship Grand Trawler 63.

COMFORT AT SEA

One potential issue with relatively short fly-bridge boats such as this is their propensity to roll about a bit when the sea state picks up due to the extra weight up top. But for many, including Ross McDonald, the owner of our review boat, that's not a deal breaker.