Last month, Scott and I made our way down to the beautiful Bahia Mar Marina in Fort Lauderdale for Trawlerfest 2025, and wow, what a great event! This was our second time attending a Trawlerfest (our first was in Stuart, FL back in 2023), and while this one was still smaller than the Pacific Northwest version, it definitely delivered. With around 20 yachts on display and a prime location right on the iconic Fort Lauderdale waterfront, it was well worth the trip.
As many of you know, our long-term goal is to purchase a trawler and take on the Great Loop. So every boat show we attend now has a purpose—we’re no longer just admiring yachts for fun (okay, maybe a little of that), but really digging into the features that are important to us and how we envision living aboard for an extended period of time.
Yachts Toured
We toured a number of yachts, but a few stood out that we wanted to share:
🛥 Greenline 39
This compact cruiser caught our attention for its efficient design and eco-friendly hybrid power option. It’s a great example of how less can be more—plenty of smart storage, clean lines, and thoughtful use of space. But for our loop plans, it might be a bit tight in terms of long-term liveability.
🛥 Swift Trawler 54
The Swift Trawler series has been on our radar for a while, and stepping aboard the 54 confirmed why. The open salon layout and integrated galley gave us that homey feeling, and the modern touches didn’t hurt either. It’s a bit larger than what we’re aiming for, but we loved the up galley and easy access to the flybridge—no ladders, thank you!
🛥 Leopard 53 Powercat
Okay, catamarans aren’t what we initially envisioned for the Loop, but this Leopard 53 was impressive. The wide-open entertainment spaces and visibility from the salon to the aft deck were unmatched. Still, the beam was over 25 feet, which wouldn’t work for some of the narrower locks and marinas along the Loop. But it gave us great ideas for what we want in terms of layout and flow.
Important Yacht Features
As we continue the search, we’ve gotten really clear on what matters to us:
- Up galleys that connect with the salon
- No ladders to the flybridge (stairs only, please!)
- Open entertainment spaces that feel connected
- Asymmetrical walkarounds for maximizing interior space
- Boats under 18’ in beam and no longer than 50’
Trawlerfest was a fantastic checkpoint in this journey—it gave us a chance to talk to other cruisers, brokers, and manufacturers, and to physically step aboard boats we’ve only seen online.
Be sure to stay tuned as we will be bringing you some more great tours from the Palm Beach Boat Show. Plus, we have some exciting summer trips planned, so stay tuned for more adventures and yacht tours.
As always, thank you for following our journey and for all of your support. Our YouTube channel now has over 21,000 subscribers and we are humbled by everyone rallying behind us. We promise you, we will be back on the water soon! Be sure to follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney too!
Cheers, Scott and Ally