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Trad v Semi-Trad v Cruiser!!....Fight Night!!


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Right then folks!

i never quite understood all of the benefits that each boat offered to its own 'Committed' following and wondered what 'made you' but the type you did?....have you owned different types and how did they go?

I realise it is all very personal like pump-out v ....ok ok I won't go there....but!....for me...

...being a newbie with Rose Tinteds on ....& I know most of you will roll their eyes....I wanted the stern space...I had to quickly up my boat length from 40' due to other wants & wishes but this deck space for me was paramount.

Semi-Trad - I liked the idea of the wind breaker space etc. but it did start to head towards the Trad access to living space.

Trad for me felt like having a garden shed on board so didn't gain any living space so with my glasses on all I could see was.....Me being a grumpy fT old man stood in 6" of deck space in full knowledge that I would be swimming after my boat more often than steering it.

....

what experiences bought you into owning a specific type of boat or converted you away from/into?

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16 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Maximum internal space,no rainwater ingress. 

 

Can you guess what we have? 

and nice and warm in the winter, especially with a cycle cape.

Also, my father and I took the view (when designing the boat) that steering was a fairly solitary activity, and socializing is for the sharp end. We have compromised a bit by moving to a slightly larger hatch so that 2-3 people can comfortably congregate at the stern if they absolutely have to.

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I have had all three designs and I still prefer cruiser by far but there is no definitive answer to the question unlike bogs which obviously have to be cassette or porta bog.

  • Greenie 1
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Its got to be trad, didn't fancy bedroom door opening straight onto stern. The space over the engine gives very useful storage & separation, wifey can sit on her stool in the hatch if she wants too & I can squeeze in behind her to stay in front of tiller, keeps us both warm!!!!:)

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Cruiser stern for me.

Usually better access to the mechanicals and batteries than a semi-trad. Engine away from the accommodation behind a bulkhead (less chance of diesel smell inside boat). Can walk about when your legs get stiff while cruising, in many cases easer to access the cabin area without twisting or stooping as you may on a trad, can look right down either side of the boat without getting close to unguarded edge of boat. Social area both when cruising and for sitting around when stopped. We can get four folding chairs (just - two easy) around a small table on a Desmo leg.

 

  • Greenie 3
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We are opting for cruiser....we are outdoorsey people and like to eat dinner outside so space for this is important to us and also to sit and watch the wildlife.

Better view down the side of the boat without getting to close to 4ft of water gushing into your wellies

And reverse layout so wifey can sit in the kitchen and chat to me as i attempt to control our semi fat boat down unsuitable southern canals lol.

Oh and closer to carry the all important brew in the colder months

Edited by Matt&Jo
  • Greenie 1
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1) If it's got rivets it has to be counter-cabin-engine 'ole. (washers don't count).

2) If you're a Captain Bligh who needs a constant supply of underlings to bark orders at ..... "fenders down" ..... "cuppa tea" ...... "grab a windlass I said a windlass not a mooring pin and get ready to jump off to the left ..... THE OTHER LEFT!" Then a cruiser stern is for you.

3) If you like the look of number 1) but get lonely, then try The Semi-Trad.  You'll have two lessons to learn.  Just because you have a bit of shelter won't stop them all discovering things they need to go and do the moment it spits or the wind changes.  Then not only do you not have a stove like in number 1) gently toasting your nether regions, but you're also too far from the back door and steps to be able to raise anyone from inside. 

  • Greenie 1
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I've steered all three and cruisers and semi trads drive me to distraction with engine noise.

Once you go trad, but specifically with back cabin and separate engine room, the cruising experience is transformed. No longer is the engine chundering away right under your feet, it's ten feet away from you and behind a closed door. Bliss!!

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I have a cruiser stern, not because I chose it so much as that's what happened to be on the boat I bought...

I have cruised on all three types, mainly cruiser sterns and trads. If I were buying again, I would get a trad. Space to sit outside etc., can all be found in the well deck or on the tug deck. I don't cruise with all of my friends and three generations of my family supervising me and chatting along as we go, so having space to have people around while I am steering is not a concern. However, I find myself generally pretty happy perched on the gunnels alongside of the stern position on a trad when someone else is steering, often for hours on end. I accept that this might not suit everyone!

Semi trads... I don't see the point, other than if you want to keep your dog outside and in sight while cruising but confined and not underfoot.

Edited by Starcoaster
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Socialising - towpath or pub.  No need to stay on the boat, and the last thing you need whilst helming is others getting in the tiller arc - they can stay down the pointy end listening to each other as one revels in favourite choons on the ghetto blaster.  So a trad for me.

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Trad for me too. I've tried cruiser stern and on a big family sized boat it was good (9 on board) but enough room for me and Mrs Jak.  Though TBH she's usually sat out on the bow with a Bacardi!

 

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11 hours ago, mark99 said:

Seen a trad with a hatch within a bigger hatch.

That is exactly what our boat has and largely what sold it to us, all the advantages of a trad, but with room for 2 or 3 at a push to stand there.  

The only didadvantages over a regular size hatch that I can think of are, the hatch is heavy, in rain with the hatch pulled up to you there are gaps either did so you do get a bit more water in.

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I have tried all 3 types, first experience on 70 foot ex-working boat trads, hired cruisers, 2 shared ownership semi-trads and now own a trad with an oversize hatch.

Don't like cruisers, far too cold steering in winter,  look awful and such an loto of  wasted space. Engine access  is good,  bilges usually full of rainwater.

Semi-trads look OK,  can accommodate 3 or 4 on the stern deck, reasonably protected steering position in winter.  Engine access design dependent. Can be ok. Never found noise to be a problem when engine fitted with hospital silencer.

Trads are warm to steer in winter, can only accommodate one in the hatches (and another two clinging onto the gunwales) unless fitted with an oversize hatch. Engine access ok for rear engined, and excellent for mid-engined. Much more interior space than cruisers and semi-trads. Look great, and do sound great when fitted with a "proper" engine.

Overall I much prefer a trad.

  • Greenie 1
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10 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

I've steered all three and cruisers and semi trads drive me to distraction with engine noise.

Once you go trad, but specifically with back cabin and separate engine room, the cruising experience is transformed. No longer is the engine chundering away right under your feet, it's ten feet away from you and behind a closed door. Bliss!!

And you lose 15ft of cabin space.

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Richard (RLWP) pointed out in another thread that the trad stern is an historic aberration, what other type of boat has the cabin in the tiller arc and in the way of all the bits you need to get at? I'd only go for a trad if it was done properly, like MtB describes - and my how easy it would be to get at the engine then!

Cruiser stern depends on how it's done - Lutine has one and whilst we can gather on the back deck (all two of us on the occasions I'm not alone) there is no seating, and putting the folding chair up anywhere seems to be in the way when moving

Ripple had a semi trad, that was good, seating where it wasn't in the way, 2 or 3 in comfort and dogs and children, when visiting, could be on the back deck and be safe. Engine access was awful though

Juno has a proper cruiser stern, wrap around seat at the back, socket for a table, canopy, the layout is made possible by wheel steering. Outboard is a bit of a pain because it's behind the bench - everything is a compromise I guess 

If specifying my own build I'd be very tempted with cruiser and wheel steering, even in a 70 footer... buying a second hand narrow boat my preference (in this order) would be semi-trad, cruiser, trad with engine room forward of back cabin. I don't think I'd want a modern "trad" at all

Unless of course I'm buying a cruiser, in which case a big version of what Juno has, with a quiet inboard diesel would be lovely...

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