Marine Trader 40 Sedan

By Fraser Munro

The trawler has a teak accent. Michael and Mary Sutherland are the proud owners of Scotia Blue, a 40 foot, two state room Marine Trader sedan. Scotia Blue is the Sutherlands’ second 40 foot, single engined diesel with a full displacement hull.

For his second boat, Mike Sutherland wanted a boat outfitted with a bridge so he was not always confined under canvas or a hardtop while underway. The sedan flybridge was a main consideration because of the comfort and living space it offered.

Before they bought, the Sutherlands researched manufacturers and boats that met their requirements, including Oceania, Grand Banks, Cheoy Lee and American Marine. “The Marine Trader gave us exactly what we were looking for in livability and space, and was within our price range,” Mike stated. Built in Taiwan, Marine Traders were introduced to North America in the early ’70s. There are about five shipyards in Taiwan that build different models of the Marine Trader. Where a particular Marine Trader is built totally depends on the model ordered. The same manufacturer may also build other designs or brands known to us in North America, such as Oceania. Because their builders are so diverse, and depending on the specific model ordered, Marine Traders vary – not drastically, but noticeably – from model to model and yard to yard.

Scotia Blue is a fine example of a Taiwan built trawler. The exterior is accented with teak on all handrails in the bridge and deck areas. Mike and Mary agree that there is just enough brightwork on Scotia Blue to keep them busy.

The flying bridge is like a huge outdoor patio, with more open space than could ever be fully utilized by an average size family. A huge teak wheel dominates the control stat ion. Four bench seats back-to-back seat eight adults comfortably and offer an unobstructed view of the passing scene. In the centre of the bridge area, the boom takes the place of davits for hoisting the dinghy.

When a Marine Trader is built, the teak parquet floor is laid first. The settee, sofa and cabinets are then fastened onto the floor. This leaves future owners the option of changing the interior floor layout without leaving gaping holes where built in fixtures have been located. In the Sutherlands’ boat, the main cabin and two private staterooms are also panelled in teak.

The dinette, which seats four adults easily, is to port and aft of the saloon. A sofa to starboard, directly across from the dinette, is also standard furniture. Mike and Mary are thinking about replacing this fixture with two comfortable chairs for reading.

There is no shortage of counter space in the L shaped galley. It comes standard with a three-burner propane oven and an under the counter refrigerator/freezer. Cupboards are dropped from the ceiling between the dinette and the galley, which allows for ample storage space too. More counter space is found under the starboard side behind the lower helm station- a great convenience if there are two gourmet cooks in the family. A hideaway, pull-out bar with sectional cutouts to separate bottles and glasses is under the lower helm seat.

The lower helm stat ion itself is also richly appointed with teak and a second huge teak wheel. Above the main helm console Mike has installed Loran C and VHF radios. A drawer with stowage for charts and navigational aids is located under the white vinyl helm seat.

From the main saloon and galley area, the companion-way leads to the private staterooms and enclosed head. The forward V berth stateroom has headroom clearance of about seven feet. Drawers underneath the V berth supply more stowage for personal belongings, and there are large hanging lockers to starboard.

Mary had fitted sheets, pillowcases and duvets custom made for both forward staterooms in an intricate white and blue pattern. The master stateroom consists of a double berth, a chest of drawers to starboard and a hanging locker to port at the foot of the berth. The passage to the two staterooms and head can be closed by securing the full length doors to all three areas, offering total privacy to both guests and owner.

The head, with a single access door from the passageway, consists of a separate shower stall, vanity mirror and stainless steel sink, again, accented with teak. Mary also had shower curtains custom-made to match the other linen aboard.

Main engine access aboard Scotia Blue is under the galley floor. The engine room is huge, containing only a single six-cylinder Lehman diesel engine, which produces 120 hp while turning a single 27-inch propeller.

When Mike and Mary are at anchor they dislike the noise of a gasoline or diesel generator constantly starting up, running, and shutting down. So this is one cruising boat that does not carry a conventional generator. Instead, Mike has installed four complete and separate battery packs with a 12-volt motor that turns a 110-volt alternator. This supplies 1,500 watts of 110- volt active current power on demand. All lights onboard and the refrigerator /freezer work off this system. With only a single engine and no generator in the engine room, Mike has all kinds of space in the bilge for future options.

Scotia Blue cruises at eight knots while using only 2V2 gallons of diesel fuel per hour- a power boater’s dream!

Another change Sutherland made to the Marine Trader was to extend the rudder. The rule of thumb for a full displacement hull is that there should be one half- inch of rudder after the rudder post for every foot of overall length of boat. On a single-engine vessel the rudder is extremely crucial to controlling and maneuvering the boat, especially while reversing. Marine Trader, like a fair number of other modem manufacturers, installs a twin engine rudder on a single-engine boat. This is usually 50 per cent less rudder than a single-engine boat requires- but it cuts manufacturing costs. While the majority of Marine Traders are manufactured with single engines, the majority of boats delivered are altered for the optional twin engines. So when the owner prefers a single engine, it is critical to replace the original rudder.

Mike Sutherland doubled his rudder size from 10 to 20 inches past the rudder post. While maneuvering forward at dead slow, Scotia Blue will almost turn in her own length.

I decided to check the noise level in the saloon while cruising at eight knots. Climbing down the solid teak ladder at the stem and entering at the rear saloon doorway, the only noise was the churning of water from the Marine Trader’s prop and a distinctive, muffled hum from the Lehman diesel engine. Scotia Blue is a very quiet boat.

For extended cruising, the Marine Trader 40 Sedan will give the cruising couple or family more than ample luxurious living space, while remaining extremely economical.

Originally published in Canadian Yachting’s November 1983 issue.

SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 39 ft 8 in.
Beam: 13 ft 8 in.
Draft: 4 ft
Fuel capacity: 400 US. gal
Water capacity: 200 US. gal
Hot water: 12 gal
Holding tank: 50 gal
Engine: single 120 hp Lehman
Propeller: 27-in., 3-blade

PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Photo 1 – Marine Trader 40 Sedan overview.
Photo 2 – The lower helm station includes complete instrumentation and storage for charts beneath the helm seat, top.
Photo 3 – The dinette seats four adults comfortably, opposite the sofa, at right.
Photo 4 – The Sutherlands will exchange the sofa for chairs.
Photo 5 – Mary Sutherland’s custom-fitted sheets and duvets make Scotia Blue’s V berth warm and cozy.
Photo 6 -The liquor cabinet houses a fully equipped secure bar.