These trawlers share some of the best attributes of sailing: amazing fuel economy, ocean-crossing range and seaworthiness, all at a sedate seven-knot cruising speed. Plus, we can point directly into the wind!”
Indiscretion, Nordhavn 43′
Interview with the Captain — Bob Breen
About the Boat
Why did you choose to buy this trawler and what else did you consider?
I love the water and have been a sailor for a big part of my adult life. As I got older, I didn’t enjoy the physical aspects of sailing as much, but the desire to travel to far away anchorages grew even stronger. My partner and I began researching blue-water trawlers and it seemed like every bay, inlet, and fairway led us straight to Nordhavn trawlers. We looked at a few Selenes and a Diesel Duck, but for us, the quality construction and blue-water pedigree of the Nordhavn won us over. The Nordhavn 43′ is the perfect ocean-going trawler for a pair of empty-nesters, two dogs, and occasional guests.
What boats have you previously owned?
All sailboats: a Marshall Sanderling catboat, a Bill Boyd catboat, an Ericson 35, a Catalina 320 and an E-33 day sailor.
What are the features you like most about your boat?
Coming from sailboats, we love the comfort and safety of voyaging in any kind of weather, to practically any destination, aboard our Nordhavn trawler. These trawlers share some of the best attributes of sailing: amazing fuel economy, ocean-crossing range and seaworthiness, all at a sedate seven-knot cruising speed. Plus, we can point directly into the wind! My wife and I have both recently retired, and this little ship will help us fulfill some life-long dreams.
What features/improvements have you added or do you plan to add?
Running a generator in a quiet anchorage is something that still nags me after all those years on sailboats. Last year, we installed a new inverter and a second battery charger that helped reduce the time it took to charge up the batteries under generator. This year, we’re adding solar panels to the top of our fixed flybridge cover to further reduce generator runtime.
Do you belong to a yacht club or other boating organizations?
We are members of Quartermaster Yacht Club here on Vashon Island.
What is the biggest challenge you have in servicing your boat?
Me! Before this boat, I relied exclusively on a list of marine mechanics and contractors for maintenance and repairs. With our cruising plans to remote parts of the world, I needed to develop the skills to maintain a trawler with enough systems to rival a small municipality. Despite my inexperience, I made it a priority to learn the boat’s systems and maintenance requirements. I attended engine maintenance training classes, spent a small fortune on the best tools, and watched a lot of online videos. After nearly three years of ownership, I’m proud to say that I am now pretty competent with the upkeep and repairs of all our engines and systems. If I can do this, really anyone can.
Who first introduced you to boating?
I grew up in Port Angeles, WA and usually got seasick when we ventured across the Strait of Juan de Fuca aboard my Dad’s 28’ ChrisCraft. Hanging off the stern in my misery, I vowed never to own a powerboat myself. Years later, an uncle introduced me to sailing and I spent many hours listening to him wax on about the joys of sailing across the horizon for destinations remote and unknown. My uncle bought a stout blue-water sailboat, but sadly he passed away before he could cast off his bowlines. His death inspired me to take up sailing, and I know his spirit is still with me even as we switched over to the dark side.
Do you have any advice for those looking to buy a trawler like yours?
There are some amazing online resources for researching the various makes and models, and even a Facebook group for “dreamers” looking to buy a Nordhavn. But, my advice would be to find a knowledgeable and connected broker to help guide you in the process. We were able to buy our Nordhavn before it came on the market with the knowledge and relationships of our broker. You can’t get that kind of help online.
What’s the story behind the boat’s name?
We named our trawler INDISCRETION for a couple reasons. First, I’m a CPA and have always been pretty conservative with our finances. Buying this trawler, which cost more than our house, definitely fits the definition of an indiscretion. But the thing is, you can’t put a price on dreams, right? Second, our family loves Star Trek. The helm chair in the pilothouse will be the closest thing I’ll ever come to Starship. Our last name (Breen) happens to be the name of a hostile alien race that first appears in an episode of Deep Space Nine called … Indiscretion. I know, pretty nerdy.
Any recent boating-related purchase you’ve been enjoying (e.g.product/tool/equipment etc)?
I installed a dedicated internet router with an external cellular antenna this spring. We now enjoy WiFi and good internet service throughout the boat in some pretty remote anchorages. It’s amazing to me how important an internet connection is in life these days.
Do you have any other notable resources you use (apps, devices, etc)?
We swear by Windy.com to help us plan our cruises and anchorages. The accuracy of its wind forecasts, even a week out, is astonishing. I wish I had something like that when we’re sailing.
CHECK IT OUT
Click the gallery below for more photos and information about Indiscretion!
