Posts
Review Of 1980 Trojan 40 Aft Cabin
You may wonder why go far back as a 1980 Trojan 40 Aft Cabin for a review. Well the simple reason is I looked the new 40 foot yachts ( the ones that were there) at the Toronto International Boat Show this year and they sure as hell did not look 40 feet. Certainly did not feel like 40 feet. So I choose this one a true 40, at todays boat show this boat would be considered a 48 minimum. A Yacht that you do not have to duck at 5ft 11 inches to get any were in!
If you are saying to yourself I would never buy a 1980 think of a boat like this more in line with a Harley Davidson, Big boats like motor cycles will live as long as you allow them to.
This Trojan 40 has a full aft stateroom, queen size bed ( a real bed) with a large head complete with a shower, a massive salon area. A nice size galley complete with a full size fridge and double stainless sink (like the one at home). Another large forward head complete with shower and a v birth you can actually sleep in. All this and several usable hanging closets. The decks are flat and wide you can walk all the way around this boat. A large aft outside seating area over the aft cabin (large enough for tables chairs and a love seat). To top it off this boat was ahead of its time with exhaust through the bottom of the hull, providing an incredibly quite ride at all speeds. A large forward deck, and a bridge that seats 6 adults without tripping over each other. It looks like a 40 foot boat and feels like a 60 foot boat when you are at the helm.
Being a 1980 means that the two 5.7 liter carbureted motors can be worked on by any skilled mechanic. And in a large engine room you can get to almost any side of any motor you wish including the generator. Its simple!
This boat is no speed demon but that's not what this boat is about. This is a cruising boat and if you can't out run it you can always go through it. It gives you all the security of a floating tank. three or four foot waves no big deal just protect the fine china. Being a 1980 Trojan Aft Cabin it will be hard to find one that the owners have not made changes to. If you do find one that is unmolested. Some money will have to be spent to bring this boat up to current standards. That being said its not a six page list or even a complete one page list. The boat we tested had a few upgrades which were nice to have: A bow thruster, Electronics, Davit System (so the tender could ride up on the aft hard top), Invertor, and GFI receptacles on each circuit on the boat.
Even though this boat is from 1980 it has all the amenities you need: Air conditioning, Generator, Invertor, Center console Tender, Vaccu Flush Heads, Shore Power (on each side plus the transom), Bow Thruster, Dockside Water, Wash Down (at bow), Windlass, All the electronics you will ever need, Swim platform. Everything a starter boat owner will need to be comfortable at the dock, at anchor, and any were in between. Just because this boat is 35 years old does not mean its over the hill at all. As a matter of fact these classic designed yachts, kept in really nice condition draw more attention than a brand new 40 ever will!
This is a boat that would be perfect for a first time yacht owner who wants to by pass the smaller cruisers and go right to a boat that will provide you with enough space to live aboard all summer or indefinitely.
However there are several draw backs to this Trojan, A boat that I really love to operate. Some of these draw backs will affect any ones decision in the purchase of an aft cabin boat of any make or model.
An aft cabin design is quite possibly the boat the most effected by side winds, you really need to practice and know your boat. A bow thruster helps a lot, but you cannot count on it you should be able to handle your boat without it. As the captain you should also be able to recognize your operational limitations which means operating your boat in all kinds of conditions (Not just fair weather only). If these ideas scare you away maybe an aft cabin is not for you. At the helm it is easy to see the bow and the sides but the back is a complete blind spot. Again a camera will assist you with this but you have to be able to feel your way with your boat, Practice. Practice.
There are other deterrents with aft cabin models and they are:
A lot of stairs this model is no exception, Stairs to board the boat more to the salon or bridge. Yet more stairs to the aft stateroom and down to the galley, forward head and v birth. If you have issues with your knees stay far away from this or any aft cabin. Access to the swim platform is via a steep ladder (not the best) and if you are on the platform while docking you are impossible to see from almost any were. There is an uneasy feeling about being the person standing on the platform (I suggest not ever doing this).
Odor also plays a role on an older large cabin boat. The reason for this is quite simple there is a lot of air space and if you buy a boat that has not been regularly aired out you will detect the smell of the motors and the heads. There are some precautions and things you can do to prevent this from happening. However if you look at a used boat and you smell that smell it is very hard to get ride of. It gets in the carpet and any soft material, this can be a curse.
Trojan Systems that never worked well or not at all:
The 3 Fuel tank delivery system (port, starboard and aft) is crap and doesn't work well, as a matter of fact the rear tank never gets used at all in 99% of the cases.
Access below the aft queen mattress is a huge hassle. You do need to get in here once and a while for maintenance.
The aft port light windows will leak after a few years.(Trojan in all its wisdom put plugs here)
Access to the hard top over the aft Cabin is a limbo act under the arch.
Storing the aft lines is a pain in the ass there is no were to hang them.
Not a fault, but this boat has as much area to wax as a two story house
All in all this is a really solid nice boat to operate and spend time on!
Trojan 40 Aft Cabin
*WOULD I BUY ONE * Yes I would as long as my knees were replaced this is a terrific starter yacht no doubt about it. Its great for a live aboard , floating Cottage or boat used every day. I really liked this boat. For a 1980 it has many features that were ahead of its time. the only thing that would deter me from a purchase would be if the exterior finish had been allowed to deteriorate. Old Trojan Gel coat is hard if not impossible to bring back from the dead. On the decks the gel is notoriously thin not a lot to work with. The platform would be kicked to the curb and a more appropriate size installed. For a boat this size and age this isn't a lot to complain about!
Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided
Not once was the price mentioned on this classic boat. I think a fair price would sell... No shame in mentioning the cost..
ReplyDeleteI owned the 1980 Trojan 40 Motor Yacht that Trojan took to the 1980 Miami Boat Show. Loved it! Had Detroit 6-71 diesels. Did a little over 12,000 miles in three years and lived aboard full time during our travels with it. Made the Great Circle about 2 1/2 times. Purchased her in CN and last saw her on the Cumberland River above Nashville, TN. We named her "Camelot". Cap'n Bob and First Mate Judy
ReplyDelete