Mainship Boats: Are They Worth The Money?

Mainship is a brand of mid-size trawlers and Downeast-inspired power cruisers that was a major force in the market for over 30 years. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2012, but was purchased by boatbuilder David Marlow, who has since been breathing new life into the classic company. Mainship boats are known for their traditional good looks, decent quality, and reasonable pricing. They are considered to be a lot of boat for the money, with their unexpected comfort, good performance, and excellent value. The company's trawlers, in particular, have earned a loyal following, with their fuel-efficient designs.

Mainship's history and ownership

Mainship has a long history of building mid-size trawlers and Downeast-inspired power cruisers. The company was a major force in this market segment for over 30 years, offering traditional good looks, decent quality, and reasonable pricing. Mainship gained a well-earned reputation for good value—it was simply a lot of boat for the money.

In response to the fuel crisis of the 1970s and 80s, Mainship built more than 1,200 trawlers from 30 to 40 feet in length. These fuel-efficient designs were relatively simple and earned a loyal following that helped spawn an active brokerage market.

In the 1990s, Mainship reintroduced its trawler line with two new models: a 35- and a 39-footer. The company delivered more than 300 boats in five years and used customer input to develop its 400 Trawler. This boat was designed with more space, particularly for a dinette in the cabin and additional seating on the bridge. The company also offered a choice of a single engine or twin engines, with the former being more economical and better for displacement-speed operation.

In 2012, the parent company of Mainship filed for bankruptcy. That same year, boatbuilder David Marlow purchased the remaining assets of Mainship and set up shop in Chi Hu, China, where he built his luxurious Marlow Explorers. Marlow then introduced his Prowler 37 Series of uniquely styled express cruisers using similar construction methods.

In 2013, the first Marlow-Mainship 32 was launched, revealing an entirely different boat from the previous Pilot series. The new Marlow-Mainship 37, delivered in 2014, also featured a fresh, modern interpretation of the classic Mainship Pilots. This new model had a reverse transom and lower freeboard, with a cockpit that could be extended by lowering the transom, creating a huge swim platform.

Today, Mainship boats continue to be known for their good value, offering a lot of features and space for the price. They are well-suited for coastal cruising and have a loyal following, especially among retired individuals with semi-fixed incomes.

The Mainship 34's performance and handling

The Mainship 34 is a good choice for a coastal cruiser. It is well-thought-out, roomy, stable, and efficient. The boat is available with a variety of power options, but the single Yanmar 370 seems to stand out as a good balance of economy and speed. The Mainship 34 can cruise at around 7 knots and can reach speeds of up to 14-15 knots. The boat handles well, with good visibility and a full keel that protects the prop. The shallow draft allows access to shallow waters, and the hard chine, semi-displacement hull design provides a comfortable ride. The Mainship 34 is also easy to maintain, with good access to the engine and systems. Overall, the Mainship 34 offers good performance and handling for its size and is a great choice for coastal cruising and island hopping.

The Mainship 34's design and features

The Mainship 34 was designed as a fuel-efficient family cruiser and was introduced just before the fuel crisis of the late 1970s, which ensured its instant success. Since then, it has become one of the most popular 34-foot cruisers ever built. The Mainship 34 Motor Cruiser is often referred to as the "Mainship Trawler", although its design more closely resembles a Down East-style workboat or cruiser with a single engine and a semi-displacement hull form. The hull is constructed of solid fibreglass laminate, and the decks are made with a sandwich construction of fibreglass outer layers and a balsa wood core. The Mainship 34's cockpit size has varied throughout its production history, with the original model having a short cockpit of barely six feet in depth, while the Mainship II extended it to nearly nine feet. The Mainship III reduced the cockpit size slightly to add more interior space.

The Mainship 34's exterior design includes wide side decks with ample handholds and rails, a small but secure foredeck, and no exterior teak to maintain. The interior arrangement has remained mostly consistent across models, featuring an owner's V-berth cabin forward, a U-shaped galley to port, and a head to starboard. Up two steps is the main saloon with a starboard helm and furniture that can be arranged according to the owner's preference. The owner's stateroom has a comfortable double berth and storage space, while the head offers full standing room and a stall shower. The saloon is spacious, offering nearly 360 degrees of visibility and ample headroom.

The Mainship 34's engine has also evolved over the years, starting with a single 160 hp Perkins diesel engine, with options for 200 hp and 220 hp Perkins diesel engines introduced later. The newest Mainship 34s are equipped with a 370 hp Yanmar engine, capable of reaching speeds of up to 21 knots.

The Mainship 400's design and features

The Mainship 400 is a trawler yacht, though it is neither a slow trawler nor a fast trawler. It is most efficient at displacement speeds but can also operate in the semi-displacement range, even with a single engine. The boat is 40 feet in length and has a hull bottom laminate that begins with a 20-mil gel coat, followed by two layers of 1.5-ounce mat and a combined five layers of 24-ounce woven roving and mat. Its hull sides and exterior decks are cored with balsa, and its fuel tanks are made of aluminium.

The Mainship 400 has a single engine, complemented by an electric bow thruster, which keeps the engine room uncluttered. The engine room has large hatches that open to well-organised systems that are easy to reach and understand. The generator is accessible from a hatch in the afterdeck, which is guttered to prevent water ingress. The Mainship 400 has a single 385-horsepower Caterpillar 3126 engine, which can achieve a maximum speed of 16.4 knots at 2650 rpm. However, the boat is most efficient at its hull speed of about 8 knots, where the engine turns a relaxed 1800 rpm.

The Mainship 400 has a built-in stairway leading to the afterdeck and a spacious bridge deck with a built-in Jenn-Air grill. The helm has a simple and well-organised instrument panel with enough room for key electronics. The bridge deck also has comfortable seating for five people and space for additional seating or storage for a small tender. The boat has side decks that lead forward to the bow, with a standard pulpit designed to accommodate two anchors. The cockpit is covered and has moulded-in seating along the sides, although these seats interfere with free movement and can be a trip hazard.

The interior of the Mainship 400 features cherry joinery and a cherry-and-holly sole. It has a side-deck door, hatches, polished aluminium opening windows, and a swinging cabin door, providing excellent natural ventilation. The galley has a Corian counter and is equipped with a dual-voltage refrigerator/freezer, microwave, coffeemaker, and range with an oven. The boat has a dinette that seats four and a settee that can be configured with internal storage or as a convertible berth. The Mainship 400 has two staterooms, including a master with a queen island berth forward and a mid-cabin with two single berths. The head, which has a small tub, is accessible from the master stateroom or passageway.

The Marlow-Mainship 37's design and features

The Marlow-Mainship 37 is a speedy and seaworthy trawler with rugged construction based on proven big-yacht techniques. The yacht features a folding stern bulkhead that drops outward toward the water or the dock, providing easy access and more space in the cockpit and swim platform. The cockpit has a hot-water washdown in a starboard compartment off the transom.

The interior of the yacht features teak flooring and woodwork, with facing settees, a table, and a flat-screen TV in the salon. The helm station has a twin-seat setup and a large steering wheel, with an abundance of room for multifunction displays on the dash. The portside galley is light-filled and open, offering plenty of storage and a full complement of appliances, including a refrigerator, microwave, stove, and oven.

The Marlow-Mainship 37 has two staterooms and two heads below deck. The master stateroom has a double V-berth and a private head, while the guest cabin has a double berth and is located across from the galley. The yacht also features three 10,000 BTU air-conditioning units and a 7.5kW generator, ensuring a comfortable environment throughout the boat.

The hull of the Marlow-Mainship 37 is constructed using state-of-the-art designs and materials, including resin infusion, fine fiberglass, vinylester resin, and Nidacore for parts above the waterline. Kevlar and carbon fiber materials are used in high-stress areas, and the keel protects the prop and envelopes the shaft in case of grounding. The yacht also features wood-free construction, with Nida-Core replacing the balsa coring in the hull for added strength and water resistance.

Frequently asked questions