Swift By Name, Comfortable By Nature
WITH NO expertise at all in the field of trawler yachts, it was with an open mind that we went to see Beneteau’s new baby, the Swift Trawler 34 on her arrival in Largs, courtesy of northern dealers DDZ who are based in the Ayrshire yacht haven, writes Andi Robertson. As it happened it was the perfect boat for the day and we left smiling and smitten with the concept and the execution of this little gem which promises and delivers so much. That is why the smallest of the Swift Trawler range has been such a success since it was launched late summer. Five were sold at Southampton and since DDZ took delivery of their demonstrator they have had five demos and the company believe they will have at least three sales before next season. The Trawler range is appealing to a whole different cross section of owners. In Europe, especially France, the like of Jeanneau’s Merry Fisher range is huge. They sell in thousands and are in nearly every marina around the coast. They are owned primarily by older couples who spend their weekends afloat but don’t want the stress or physical effort of sailing. Often they potter around, do a little fishing, swimming, picnic, take their friends afloat and sunbathe, drink a little wine, have dinner, snooze, take their children and their children’s children afloat. It is a step up for the current Targa owners too, who want something which has more live aboard appeal and is capable of more extended coastal cruising round the inshore waters. And this is where I see these adaptable trawler yachts forming the next step up the ladder. In the UK, and the north of Britain particularly, the demand is from a diverse collection of potential owners. There are many who don’t want the expense, the speed or the flash of a sports-powerboat, the poor handling at slow speeds, the noise and discomfort, especially at this size range. These trawler yachts on the other hand, are nice looking boats for those who just want to cruise up the Kyles, down the Clyde, up the canals and out to the islands at steady speeds. For people who enjoy the journey at least as much as getting to the destination at speed. There is also a flow of yacht owners who make the change to this style of power boat. On the day of the YL appraisal we had chilly, damp early December weather, yet the prospect of a day trip up to Tarbert, or even to Rothesay became so much more appealing. Rather than sitting in a damp cockpit for several hours, you have the best of both worlds, up top you can experience the elements, but inside the heating is running and you can take in the near perfect 360° panorama. It is a well put together Beneteau package. The LOA is much closer to 37ft (11.25m), although 32ft 6in (9.99m) on the waterline, so there is an excellent balance, an almost incredible amount of space and she’s light for her size, yet marina fees are eased due to her compact dimensions. The saloon is excellent and well laid out to offer exceptional space. The deep side windows (20cms deeper than you might expect) sizeable windscreen and aft doors offer a superb level of light and all round vision. The extra depth to the side windows mean you can still see the vista to the sides and aft from the dinner table in the saloon. Add the full canvas set to protect the aft deck and the covered floor area becomes quite remarkable, making this a sociable big small boat. The three panel aft doors mean the whole aft deck can be open, and heated in less clement weather. Access on board and walk round is excellent. We especially like the opening hull side door on the starboard side, especially great for berthing short-handed, but also the business of loading and unloading bags, boxes and so on becomes so much easier, however there is also good stern access across the expansive bathing platform. The port side deck is raised to just below window line level with good hand holds, personally I never think there can be too many, but then perhaps I do a good deal more ‘mid ocean’ leaping from boat to boat than most average individuals. The side deck catwalks at just under 30cms wide are good for the size of boat. Up top as well as the seating there is space to accommodate a 2.8m long 120kg tender of any type. This is swung aboard by the boom and jib arrangement which can be done pretty much single-handed with two large winches to do all the work. Of course when the tender is not aboard this leaves an expansive, protected area for lounging around or sunbathing, all in addition to a large area on the foredeck where sun cushions can be integrated. An interesting innovation inside is the use of a great fold down, full sized sofa bed. It is easy to pull it out to form a full sized and comfortable double berth which still allows a walk around passage from the back of the boat. The saloon table hinges neatly on its support legs to free up space, meantime the 1.66m wide sofa is living room comfy; a great, practical idea. Moving forward, the helm position is excellent with first class all round vision. The hot air de-mister is standard. The double helm seat is a proper double width and there is a fold down step for the short legged skipper who wants to stand and steer, as many will, periodically. The galley area is also expansive with a big double aft facing sink, plenty of stowage cupboard and locker space, a full sized 130 litre fridge and a two burner hob with a good gas oven, and there is a high level of work space as well as good all round vision. The cook is not lost in the bowels of the boat! Up front in the owner’s cabin there is good living space for dressing and so on, with ample floor area. The large centreline double bed is on gas struts so lifts to give excellent access to a large storage bin area. There is also a hanging locker as well as a similar sized cupboard space, plus loads of shelf storage. The guest cabin is plain, functional and comfortable with two good sized bunks, natural light and it feels spacious. Opposite is the large heads and shower room. This again is a revelation for a sub 40ft power boat. Only caveat for some owners is the direct access from the shower room to the main electrical wiring board. The chances of water ingress may be tiny, but perhaps Beneteau could do a little more to put customers’ minds at rest with a Velcro spray flap behind the watertight door, or an additional Perspex panel. But this would be just a psychological barrier as much as a physical one. The boat was a joy to handle at slow, medium and higher speeds. We wandered out of Largs Yacht Haven at seven or eight knots and assumed a quiet cruising speed around nine or ten knots. The great aspect, I felt, was the choice. There is the disciplined scrimper, happy to get there as and when to preserve maximum fuel economy you’d be making something like nine knots at around 1,650 revs and using between four and five gallons an hour. At 2,000 revs we were doing 10.5 knots and the consumption is about 6.5 gallons an hour. Push the throttle open a little more and at 2,500 revs you are making 15.5 knots for 11 gallons an hour. In reality the usual cruising speed would be something of the order of 14-16 knots, but that is entirely up to the individual. And the Swift is well named, making just over 22 knots max with surprisingly little rumble and rattle and a dry ride. Even in the chop and little seaway, as well as the wake of our big, beefy photo boat, the waves were neatly deflected. The engine is a Cummins QSB5.9 giving 425hp which offers plenty of grunt and the boat responds positively to the throttle. Though this is essentially a displacement cruiser it is quite nimble, turning positively on demand. At slow speeds, manoeuvring was pretty good. The bow thruster is standard, but the twin station stern thruster is well worth the extra £4 grand. Overall it is a great package and one which I am sure will find a steady stream of buyers in northern waters. Build quality is generally good and it is cleverly put together to offer an exceptionally adaptable boat. The price from DDZ is £235,000 including VAT, delivered and commissioned Clyde, complete with a comprehensive package of add-ons.