BY BILL JACOBS
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY
magine that you are looking for a second home on the west coast of Florida, and you read this ad: “Direct waterfront, 360° view, two bedroom, two bath + den, 1,000 Sq. Ft. condominium, new construction…$1,200,000.” You might not blink an eye and you may even call your real estate agent.
Well, I’m assuming you’re a boat nut, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this. If so, might I suggest an alternative to the condo—the new Endeavour TrawlerCat 42—at about half the price of the condo, and you can move whenever and wherever you chose, and take your condo with you. A bargain? Yes, but wait, there’s more.
Endeavour TrawlerCats have been around since 1996 when Bob Vincent, owner of Endeavour, expanded his line of cruising monohull sailboats to include a 36-foot catamaran sailboat and shortly thereafter, his first 36-foot TrawlerCat. His loyal customer base, many of whom had been cruising his sailboats for years, had been asking him to build boats more comfortable to cruise for longer periods of time. In response, he built the 38-footer and then a 40, all with similar layouts sporting a saloon positioned between two hulls that were dedicated to sleeping quarters.
Then, in 2009, Vincent introduced a new 48-foot catamaran that featured an entirely new concept: a layout that placed a huge master stateroom on the main deck forward of a spacious galley and dining saloon. The helm was moved to the upper and fully enclosed “sky lounge” deck. Recently I tested the new design and was amazed at the size of the living spaces, the quiet running of the boat, and the quality of the fit and finish. This model found a receptive market and 10 have been built to date, and two new ones are under construction. The 48-foot length and 18-foot beam provide spacious accommodations, but also result in a very large vessel. Vincent decided to build a new 40-foot by 16-foot version of the same concept, with the goals that it could be handled easily by a couple, and that it would fit in more marina slips.
ILast year, a loyal owner of the 40-foot version, now in his mid70s, said to Vincent, “I’m getting too old to go into the engine room for service or repairs. Couldn’t you build one of these things with outboards?” That started a discussion between them that led to the creation of the TrawlerCat 42. Vincent’s response? “If you buy it, I will build it.”
Vincent and his engineering staff surveyed the manufacturers of outboards and selected Suzuki Marine. They worked together to adapt the DF300AP four-stroke 300-horsepower unit to the application. This Suzuki offers selective rotation of the drive unit, making it a natural to combine with drive-by-wire joystick control.
5200 sealant and stainless screws on 10-inch centers. The cabin will be joined in an identical fashion to the top of the deck molding. The hull, deck, and structural bulkheads are made of biaxial fiberglass over Nida- Core. Endeavor has not changed the construction features of its boats very much over the past few decades, because they have been proven to be more than adequate.
Vincent and I boarded the main hull and walked through the interior, clearly in the midst of construction. It was fascinating to see inside the walls and observe carefully bundled wiring and wellrun plumbing. All cabinetry is fabricated in the same location, ensuring an excellent fit.
She was in the water a few weeks later and ready for testing at Endeavour’s yard on Tampa Bay. I stepped aboard the mid-level boarding platform—one of three entry points that guarantee easy access at any dock. Molded steps in the stern of each hull provide the lowest point of entry, perfect for a floating dock as well as providing a platform adjacent to the outboards. Need to clear a prop? Just hit the electronic lift button and up comes the engine. This also means that the running gear is out of the water when the boat is not being used.
The covered 4-foot by 14-foot afterdeck is the only space on the boat that is on the small side, but still adequate for a couple of folding chairs. A fully glazed stainless-framed sliding door provides easy access to the saloon, but watch your step. The view entering this area is so enticing that you need to be careful not to miss the step down. There is also a full-height door on the port side of the entry, providing access to the “basement” level. I’m not sure what else to call the large space below the saloon. It could easily be outfitted with extra equipment that complements the owners’ cruising plans.
The 84-square-foot saloon is dominated by a beautiful island galley with a stool-height counter. A semi-custom light fixture above the sink sets a nautical theme. The galley is complete with a rear counter and plenty of cabinetry. To port is an L-shape settee with an adjustable side table that doubles as a dining table. To starboard is a beautiful open staircase leading to the sky lounge.
A convenient corridor to port of the galley provides space for refrigeration, electrical panels, access to the port hull and finally, the master stateroom located on the main deck. The queen-size