Aboard the small Beneteau Swift Trawler 30 everything is essential, yet smartly made. It’s a boat that you need to understand first.
Going for a trawler is like choosing the battlefield. Even more so in the case of this Beneteau Swift Trawler 30. Nine meters, one engine, a single cabin…it seems there’s nothing thrilling about it. But out there there is a core of passionate boaters who will find the real advantages of such a craft.
Beneteau Swift Trawler 30: the deck
Let’s say it first: Beneteau Swift Trawler 30 gets to plane and cruises in excess of 20 knots with no trouble. But that’s not what it’s been made for. Actually, the real point to me is exactly this: why making a single-engine, shaft-drive trawler which is able to plane? Why go for such a compromise? I would have rather seen Beneteau introducing IPS transmissions on this size, gaining a lot of inner space, or on the other hand stick to a displacing boat. This way seems to be made more for the Northern European markets, but maybe it will please some expert boaters also in the Med.
The cockpit is not huge, but with the removable flybridge ladder and two gates on the platform it is practical and livable. A couple seats are part of the transom, while the table can be moved from the inner dinette and some freestanding stools come out from underneath the salon couch. There you have your area for dining outside.
The port passageway is rather narrow, while the starboard one is properly sized and gives access to the helm station through a side hatch. A standard sun bed occupies the foredeck.
The flybridge is where passengers will enjoy most of their daytime: the back part is free and can host some little furniture, while beside the dashboard (which tilts, probably for low passages under French bridges) there’s a second dinette with L couch.
Nothing’s missing, and everything shows care for detail but no frills. That said, we would have expected a more reasonable price, lower than the € 171,000 (+VAT) of the base version or the frankly excessive € 258,000 (+ taxes) of our version, with Volvo Penta D6 370 HP (instead of 300HP D4) and some extras (Lounge pack, electronic pack, aircon are the main).
Beneteau Swift Trawler 30: interiors
The same philosophy can be found indoors. The long cabinet to port houses the kitchenette (a bit far from the cockpit) and some handy closets. The table can be moved to the cockpit, while under the sofa some cubic drawers can work as stools (as mentioned) or as additional stand for the second salon berth. The pilot seat is double and allows to drive the Beneteau Swift Trawler 30 while standing or sitting, while the equipment is complete thanks to the electronic package (optional for € 10,100). The headroom is 195 cm (77 in), the same as downstairs.
Belowdecks the cabin is located to bow, with a center bed and the necessary space around it. A second cabin with bunk beds can replace the large shower room to port, while the toilet is on the starboard side and in this latter case could house the shower itself. I personally prefer the single-room solution, also because in the designers’ words the second cabin is good for two children.
Beneteau Swift Trawler 30: the test
We are in Palma de Mallorca for the annual Beneteau tests. Te sea is calm, so I foresee no trouble for our Beneteau Swift Trawler 30. In fact my sensation is that it’s more at ease planing at 20 knots rather than slowly cruising. When I suddenly stop after speeding the water gets in above the platform and into the cockpit, but it’s no big deal and on the contrary it is a pleasure to run with the whole cockpit door slid open.
Minimun planing speed is 9 knots at 2280 revs but, as I mentioned, Beneteau Swift Trawler 30 gives its best at pacier speed: the passages across our wake is steady and the turns are extremely narrow, especially considering it is shaft-driven. My last consideration is about the single-engine choice. Somebody will be perplexed, thinking of the safety granted by a twin propulsion. But, let’s not forget how realiable engines are nowadays. And, in case, there’s the option to go for a small spare unit… BoatMag International has tested also HYPERLINK “http://www.boatmaginternational.com/246-beneteau-swift-trawler-evolution-species/” \n _blankBeneteau Swift Trawler 50
The numbers of Beneteau Trawler 30
Length overall 9.90 m (32ft 6in)
Beam 3.53 m (11ft 7in)
Displacement 6.000 Kg
Draft 1.05 m (3ft 5in)
Engine Volvo D6 370 HP
Fuel reserve 720 l (190 US gal)
Fresh water reserve 300 l (79 US gal)
Berths 4-6
CE design category B-8
Design Beneteau Power/Andreani Design
Performance
Test conditions
Calm sea, temperature 18° C (64° F), clean hull, fuel 350 l (92 US gal), water 300 l (79 US gal), 4 passengers.
Indicative prices
Volvo Penta D4 300 HP € 171.600 + VAT
Volvo Penta D6 370 HP € 177.100 + VAT
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