60 | TRADEABOAT.COM.AU
RIGHT The Swift Trawlers on display at the Cannes boat show
invited plenty of interest.
BELOW It’s a crowded marketplace for boatbuilders, but
Beneteau has found a welcome niche for its Trawler range from
30-50 feet.B
eneteau's Swift Trawler is yet another
variation of the practical motor cruiser.
Traditionally, trawler-style yachts
have taken cues from the working vessels that
lend them their name – seaworthy hulls, high
bulwarks, enclosed decks, low-revving engines
and long range fuel tanks. Interiors are usually
fairly utilitarian to both maximise space and
minimise maintenance, so plenty of hardwood
and benches with little else to cause fuss.“We have created
a simple, low
maintenance boat
that’s strong,
yet can be
easily handled.”
Major builders such as Grand Banks and
Fleming have been producing sturdy boats like
these for decades, but Beneteau have tweaked the
concept considerably, as product manager Thomas
Gaillard showed me during the walk-through of
this new 47 when it launched in Cannes, France.
“We have created a simple, low maintenance boat
that's strong, yet can be easily handled,” explained
the Beneteau veteran, who has overseen dozens
of vessels in both power and sail built during his
many years at the company.
Back in 2003, the French company refreshed
this traditional concept when it launched its
Trawler range, which has gone on to number
five models ranging from 30 to 50 feet – the 47
being the latest member of this flotilla of semi-
displacement hulls.
It has a large flybridge, which may compromise
classic trawler stability, but for the average coastal
cruiser, it greatly adds to the attraction by creating
a three-tiered living space. Three is also the magic
number when it comes to cabins, with owners
enjoying a spacious bow berth with ensuite.