4 Cruising Tugs and Trawlers Under 40 Feet
Spend enough time around owners of trawlers and tug-style cruisers, and you’ll notice that they tend to think differently about boating. For these boaters, the destination is only part of the adventure. They’d rather cruise at a comfortable pace, linger in quiet anchorages, and wake up to a new harbor each morning than race from one port to the next. That’s why boats in this category have earned such a devoted following. Designed with long-range cruising in mind, they prioritize efficiency, livability, and protection from the elements over raw performance. Tugs and trawlers under 40 feet make that lifestyle more accessible.
They’re generally easier to dock, less expensive to own and maintain, and capable of taking couples or small families on cruises that range from weekend escapes to multi-week getaways.
And they prove you don’t need a 50-foot yacht to enjoy the character and capability that have made tugs and trawlers so enduringly popular.
Beneteau Swift Trawler 37 Fly
Base price: $592,500
Beneteau has spent more than two decades refining its Swift Trawler line. It’s newest model, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 37 Fly, replaces the outgoing 35 with more adaptable living spaces and updated cruising systems. Aboard the new 37, every square foot works even harder for owners who plan to spend extended time aboard.
At the helm, a lift-up table transforms the companion seat into a practical workstation for planning the next leg of the cruise or catching up on remote work. Below, the roomy owner’s stateroom features a Jack-and-Jill head with a separate shower. Plus, the salon sofa converts to a double bunk with a privacy curtain.
Throughout the boat, thoughtful storage solutions accommodate everything from provisions to cruising gear. Beneteau outfitted the flybridge with a U-shaped lounge, a table, and a built-in coolbox. The bridge serves as an inviting second social space above the main deck. At the stern, Beneteau’s Adaptive Cockpit can be fitted with a sliding seat to provide additional usable space.
Beneteau also offers an optional Silent Boat package that incorporates solar panels and lithium batteries to reduce dependence on shorepower. And living up to its Swift Trawler designation, its semi-planing hull, combined with a Yanmar diesel, gives owners the flexibility to cruise at higher speeds than with a traditional displacement design.
Specifications:
- LOA: 37 feet
- Beam: 13 feet, 1 inch
- Draft: 3 feet, 10 inches
- Dry weight: 18,298 pounds
- Bridge clearance: 16 feet, 4 inches
- Fuel capacity: 211 gallons
- Water capacity: 79 gallons
- Maximum horsepower: 440
SeaPiper 37
Base price: Consult dealer
The SeaPiper 37 traces its roots to designer Ritzo Muntinga’s vision of a compact, trailerable passagemaker that could travel long distances economically while remaining simple to own and maintain. The company introduced it as the SeaPiper 35 before evolving it into today’s 37-foot model.
The SeaPiper 37 differs from more conventional trawlers because of its narrow 8-foot, 6-inch beam. Owners can trailer this boat without the special permits required for most wide-beam cruising boats. And they have the option of exploring distant cruising grounds without lengthy repositioning voyages.
The design philosophy is all about practicality. The boat’s systems are intentionally straightforward to simplify owner maintenance. Its bridge clearance is low so you can navigate inland waterways more easily. And the hull is designed for economical cruising rather than maximum speed. SeaPiper also created plenty of space and ways to carry kayaks, paddleboards, and other gear.
One of the SeaPiper’s most distinctive features is its 60-square-foot amidships cockpit. By separating the accommodations forward from the aft pilothouse, salon, and galley, the design creates an unusually large outdoor living and working space for a boat this size.
A compact aft cockpit provides seating and a swim step. A large hatch offers access to the engine compartment, which houses the Beta Marine diesel.
Specifications:
- LOA: 37 feet, 2 inches
- Beam: 8 feet, 6 inches
- Draft: 2 feet, 11 inches
- Dry weight: 12,500 pounds
- Bridge clearance: 8 feet, 6 inches (radar mast down); 14 feet (mast up)
- Fuel capacity: 200 gallons
- Water capacity: 80 gallons
- Maximum horsepower: 85
Helmsman Trawlers 31 Sedan
Base price: Consult dealer
At just over 31 feet, the Helmsman Trawlers 31 Sedan delivers many of the characteristics associated with bigger trawlers. It also remains manageable for couples moving up from small express cruisers or sailboats.
Built on the semi-displacement hull originally developed for the Camano 31, this pocket trawler combines economical operation with the ability to cruise at more than traditional displacement speeds. The sedan layout also provides one open living area from the cockpit to the lower helm station. That makes the boat feel quite spacious for a 31-footer.
Handcrafted teak gives the interior a warm, traditional feel. The main deck includes a well-appointed galley, L-shaped seating with a convertible table, and the lower helm station. Belowdecks accommodations include a stateroom with a full-size berth and separate head and shower compartments. Those are unusual luxuries for a 31-footer.
The flybridge includes a centerline helm seat and two pedestal seats. Stainless steel handrails along the side decks provide security when crew move fore and aft. The single Hyundai V-6 diesel engine is housed beneath the main-deck sole, with generous access for service.
Specifications:
- LOA: 31 feet
- Beam: 10 feet, 6 inches
- Draft: 3 feet
- Dry weight: 11,500 pounds
- Bridge clearance: 16 feet, 4 inches (radar arch raised); 12 feet (arch retracted/folded)
- Fuel capacity: 150 gallons
- Water capacity: 100 gallons
- Maximum horsepower: 270
Nordic Tug 34
Base price: Consult dealer
Few builders have done more to define the recreational tug market than Nordic Tug. Since introducing its first tugboat-inspired cruiser in 1980, the company has spent more than four decades refining the concept. The Nordic Tug 34 traces its lineage to a 32-foot model introduced in 1985, and it retains the purposeful profile and cruising philosophy for which the company is known.
Nordic Tug designed the 34 primarily for cruising couples who plan to spend significant time underway. Its raised pilothouse creates a dedicated helm station separate from the salon. The single-stateroom layout reserves more space for liveaboard comfort. And its flow makes it easy to move between helm, galley, and salon during long passages.
Nordic Tug’s emphasis on practicality extends to the boat’s construction. Nordic uses multidirectional stitch-mat fiberglass and vinylester resin, with stainless steel reinforcing areas such as the keel shoe and rudder support. The hull-to-deck joint and other major laminated components also receive fiberglass reinforcement.
The result is a durable boat intended for years of serious cruising with a 260 hp Volvo Penta diesel.
Specifications:
- LOA: 34 feet, 11 inches
- Beam: 11 feet, 4 inches
- Draft: 3 feet, 8 inches
- Dry weight: 15,700 pounds
- Air draft: 13 feet, 2 inches (waterline to top of mast)
- Fuel capacity: 205 gallons
- Water capacity: 100 gallons
- Maximum horsepower: 260
Tugs and trawlers under 40 feet represent an opportunity for several types of buyers. Couples who don’t need the extra space for children can downsize to this class. Former sailboat owners who enjoy the slow pace but not the effort required to sail will find this class to be a nice alternative. Folks who want to extend their adventures beyond short-hop weekends will enjoy the cruising amenities of tugs and trawlers under 40 feet and still appreciate the ease of operation.
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Heather Steinberger
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