Howdy

[myalexander]

We are the new guys, Bob & Cynthia. We were full time liveaboards on our trawlers (Marine Trader 44 and Krogen 42) for 11 years in Connecticutt and Annapolis before swallowing the anchor and moving to Florida. We're getting the itch again. Our intended use is local cruising and maybe an extended trip or two a year. The 28 TE looks like the ideal boat. We are also considering the Mainship Pilot 30 but the Albin's quarter berth is a big deal for family use. I think your owners group is excellent and have read much of it before registering.
If there are any members in the Melbourne Florida area where we live, temporarily, who might be so kind as to show us their 28 and let me measure a couple of things we would surely appreciate it. In the mean time we are tramping boatyards looking at them from the outside. Saw 2 beauties on Merritt Island last Sunday. Thanks.

[JC78]

6 months ago I was going thru the same choice. Here is a link that I started on a different board that had a lot of quality responses.

http://www.trawlerforum.com/index.spark ... D=38662221

Let me know if you have any specific questions after you read the thread.

[RicM]

i'm planning on listing my 2003 28 TE for sale in the spring. PM me if you would like to take a look at her before it goes public.

[myalexander]

Thanks for the responses. JC78 I read the thread and it was good stuff. Ric and tnolin thanks also. Bob

[loubennett]

When I was boat shopping a couple of years ago I considered both the 28TE and the Pilot 30. One thing that for me clearly differentiated the two was ease of access to the foredeck. Every time I was on board a Pilot 30 it seemed to be a precarious trip along the side decks. The 28TE felt much more safe and secure. I think there are several contributing factors. The 28TE has slightly wider side decks, the grab rails are better placed, and the pilothous sides lean in giving room for your shoulders. The pilot house sides on the Pilot 30 are vertical forcing you to lean outboard. I found this a very insecure feeling as I moved around the boat. I singlehand most of the time so being able to quickly and securely move forward is very important to me. Also much of my boating background is on sailboats where much wider sidedecks are the rule. Other than that the Pilot 30 is a lovely boat with larger accommodations than the 28TE but to me operation of the boat is more important. I really have a hard time understanding why there are so many power boat designs around that seem to ignore seamanlike operation in favor of larger accommodations. The Pilot 30 is far from the worst offender but I think it's ashame that the designer didn't give up a little room in the interior to make it significantly safer and easier to operate. These are relatively expensive boats and many of the owners are no longer good deck monkeys. Give a break to those of us that have lost some of our youthful agility.