Boat interior

Paul Thomas tries a trawler that is good news for traditionalists, ex-sailors – indeed anyone seeking a goanywhere, economical, comfy power boat.

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THE WORTHY CREW of Tomora are - predictably - Tom and Norma. And when you consider their lifestyle, Tom’s choice of this power cruiser for his 30th boat in full-time ownership has to be quite a tribute.” Ninety days on into that ownership, following the craft’s sale to him by Fox’s of Ipswich, he and Norma took me down the Orwell to put Tomara through her paces. Foxs were pretty pleased too - Tom’s sales from them are now in double figures and they praise this customer, like many others but perhaps a little more! The new Beneteau Swift trawler 34 is an interesting mix of traditional power and sail boat capabilities wrapped up in less space but with more down-to-earth competence than many other craft you come across today.

As with numerous new models today, its identity as a “34” confuses - the boat is in fact overall of bathing platform slightly longer than 37 feet, the hull length is indeed 34 but the space and equipment within it suggest something not far off 40 feet! This is a trawler yacht. Not exotic but practical with numerous bigger boat features. Such as a flybridge with derrick and space to store a dinghy on it; much of the owners’ lives will more likely however be spent below in a spacious saloon with big, high windows giving very adequate vision forrard as opposed to somewhat shallow screen second helm position flybridge boats.

Surprisingly this trawler is quick - in the case I trialled thanks to one big diesel giving acceleration to near 20 knots in less than that number of seconds; cornering flat and without disturbance in tight turns again at that speed - and docking precisely, egg shells and all, thanks to bow and stern thrusters.

Accommodation comprises a basic double cabin forrard, two upper/lower bunks to port and the conversion, if you need it, of a comfortable and traditional settee in the saloon, into a double bed - and six folk in what would be a cosy setting inside but with plenty of space outside on deck.

This boat has no pretensions and I doubt if it’s for your newcomers to boating, young parties, flash, fast or luxury needs.

Sunseekers not! But it is a surprising and reassuring, mass-produced boat offering mature boaters, ex sailors (like Tom and Norma), folk with eyes on speed and fuelrelated dials, and those seeking a good, basic, go anywhere craft, an excellent buy.

My visit was a grey October day and plus point no 1 was boarding via a very civilised gate in the starboard side, straight onto a side-deck and in through a door by the helm position - to meet Tom and Norma, reading the papers (and Anglia Afloat!) over a cup of coffee.

Boarding craft these days can be easy - or an adventure. And too many high-sided, elegantly-lined speedsters ignore midships boarding in favour of the bathing platform only (often crowded with toys) and not necessarily moored stern to.

The gate is only on the starboard side and the low side deck served by it goes forrard to a higher deck over the bow cabin, then returns at a higher level and slightly narrower to port. I felt a handrail right along the saloon side to port might have helped but a high outer rail gave one a feeling of security.

The two differing sides of the Beneteau trawler typify this boat’s advantages and the thinking of the builder’s power boat design team. The more you look, the more little practical touches you find.

We took off down river, Tom at the helm and with Fox’s aftersales manager David Butt handling the ropes and fenders. I felt like a guest - but then took over at the wheel as we passed under the Orwell bridge, headed for sea against the flood.

For a 34 feet boat with four metre beam, she feels sound, solid yet versatile and extremely quick in direction change, acceleration and overall reaction - a bigger boat feeling than her length suggests.

Later, out of the Orwell speed limit, I emphasised this reassuring performance, noting the mental difference a big single gives you. Would I feel less secure crossing to Ostend, for example, “just” with this single? The answer is no and the market that will buy this trawler would agree. Indeed I’d be happy taking her anywhere, given sensible weather and conditions.

The simplicity of single screw operation is also a qualification, through the smoothest electronic control lever plus bow and stern thruster joysticks. Turn it in its own length without touching the wheel, park it anywhere - who says twins are tops? Again, as a traditionalist, I was sampling thrusters at each end with a single for the first time and it equalled the Zeus and other more exotic (Oyster’s LD43?) handling in tight, difficult areas.

While Zeus and other ‘park it precisely and easily’ systems are brilliant for newcomers, we traditionalists who grew up from sail only, then into singles, then perhaps twins and finally with thrusters - the single with bow and stern propulsion answers all needs.

Rather more economically.

Which brings us back to performance. From a standing start with the Cummins, biggest available 425 hp diesel (the boat also offers a 335 hp) acceleration is smooth, quiet and reaches 20 knots in as many seconds - and that was with four people plus reasonable tanks aboard.

Top speed at 3,000 rpm is said to be about 22 knots and she was very happy to 10-12 knots at which, I’m told, she will consume 13 litres an hour which is giving about four miles to a gallon.

The dashboard delivers instant fuel and performance readings of course - and at 3000 rpm she was drinking 85 litres - a shade over a mile per gallon but you would not cruise this boat at that more thirsty speed for long I suspect.

At the other end, cruise her at four knots, perhaps inland, and she is said to return 2.1 lites an hour - efficient! And so to accommodation and living. This is a sensible boat, down to earth without the wow factor of some.

First, outside. The flybridge is almost astonishing. You climb to it, predictably assess it’s fine for sunny day, slowish trips, short distances. There’s a mast and boom and old sailors might think it’s for steadying sails - but no, this is an ace extra which comes as standard and can hoist a three cwt RIB and outboard from alongside to lie on the bridge without troubling bridge occupants - as opposed to davits and dump it on the bathing platform as with so many craft. If you don’t regularly carry a RIB or dinghy - the mast can stow flat.

Tom assured me it was an easy task - yet surprising on a 34 foot hull boat. This flexibility to carry a decent RIB is just one of various serious plusses on this craft. Back down to the spacious aft cockpit with gate to a decent bathing platform, which is also ideal for boarding if you are moored stern to.

In through a big sliding door to the saloon, deep high vis windows, a double helm seat, settee and two armchairs, small but practical galley with oven, burners, a fridge, ideal but nothing lavish. Engine access is below the saloon And down below there’s an adequate double cabin with storage, two bunk cabin, heads, all convenient from steps down from the saloon.

The quality of fittings and the boat generally is good if mass-produced.

On deck it’s a little ship with walkway to starboard and reasonable working space forrard for anchor and mooring. You can have a big sunbed up there if you want.

When I left this little ship, it felt just that. No luxury, style-bound, swooning-encouraging wow-performer.

Just solid, sensible, cruise-anywhere, economically with space and equipment top satisfy most of us. It’s pricing puts it below some less practical craft - you get a lot for your money. It’s all about style and needs. And for practical types, definitely old sailors looking for ease and comfort of power, the Beneteau 34 trawler is loaded with qualifications.

The owner’s lifestyle and why it’s a tribute; Tom Budworth is a character. An engineer from various backgrounds where, I suspect, his entrepreneurial instincts excelled. He was into his first boat at the tender age of 11 (snap, me too). His was a rowing dinghy and camping out on the Manchester Ship Canal.

More than half a century ago.

In his 20s boating got more serious - into sailing boats and 27 passed through his ownership before he succumbed (as some would say, I remain neutral) to a motor boat, or two - and then the third - Tomara.

Norma Booker, a long-term friend and now partner, had also been into boats, partly thanks to him. And they share this passion for living aboard. He has owned the 34 for 90 days and they have spent 75 of them aboard - despite having a lovely home in Felsted, Essex. Plus spending six months a year in a Spanish holiday home to dodge the worst of the English winter.

Tom and Norma assure me this high balance of time aboard the boat, despite the luxury of their Essex house, typifies life. In the past, cruising abroad, regular trips to London’s St Katherine’s Dock and more - including with their Walton and Frinton YC friends. All of it qualifications to the boating life. Sensible, practical, relatively economical. And well done to the 34 trawler!

Beneteau Swift Trawler 34

L.O.A*: 11.14 m

Hull length: 9.98 m

Beam: 4.00 m

Air draught**: 3.32 m

Air draught***: 4.40 m

Draught: 1.10 m

Fuel tank: 800 l

Water tank: 320 l

Maximum engine power: 1 x 425 HP

* (with aft swimming platform) ** (with mast folded)

*** (with mast in position)

Specification: similar to that tested above:

1 x Cummins QSB5.9 425hp shaft driven

diesel engine; Elegance pack including

Raymarine autopilot and plotter in

wheelhouse and also repeaters on flybridge,

electronic pack including radar, dual station

VHF radio, double station stern thruster (bow

thruster standard). Diesel air heating, steel

blue hull, other extras, commissioning, etc:

Total including VAT: £237,543.88

Prices based on 1.15 euro

Contact: Fox’s Yacht Sales, Ipswich - Tel:

01473 695010 www.foxyachts.co.uk

Entry price including Cummins 335 hp

engine but excluding radar, autopilot,

stern thruster and other important extras:

From £150,000 plus VAT.