41 Mainship Expedition Trawler

Source: Power & Motoryacht Magazine

The Expedition opens up a new design for Mainship and replaces the 40 Trawler in that series. It has an optional summer grill that will certainly be popular, especially for those sunset al-fresco dinners with your favorite mate. Under the cover of the flying bridge, you have room to serve an entire group for dinner or show off your favorite anchorage while serving wine and cheese. -Inside, one of the changes in the transition was to move the galley to port opening up the salon to more entertainment space. A new 26” LCD TV is standard mounted in the port side wall.

Key Features

• GFCI Protection Throughout
• High Water Alarm with 4000 gph Emergency Bilge Pump
• Macerator with Overboard Discharge
• VHF Radio – Raymarine® 218
• Anchor Pulpit with Dual Rollers
• Bose®3-2-1® Stereo System with CD & DVD Player
• Cherry Interior
• Double Freedom Doors to Cockpit with Screen
• Full Windshield with Wipers & Washers

There are few things in life more enjoyable than coastal cruising. Mainship makes this lifestyle available to a wider audience. Good on ‘ya, Mainship.

Mainship took a fresh look at the desires of cruising families as well as their own need to update the 40 Trawler. The result is today’s Mainship Expedition, the start of a new series for them. The builder has opened up the salon and it is now more inviting for that relaxing time after a day’s voyage.

Her roomy salon is the result of moving the galley forward. Note how the accommodations deck is just a few easy steps down from the main deck.

Starting from the Stern
One of the smart things that Mainship does that I like is the fact they intend for the stern to be used as a platform both underway and at anchor. What I mean is, they have a transom door so you can enter and leave without climbing, if at a floating dock, and you can enjoy the swim platform as just that, a swim platform. Most trawler-type boats I have seen have the stern designed to be straddled and crossed. Mainship also uses a civilized door with beefy hinges.

These doors make you feel more like you’re entering a home. Note the easy to climb stairs that lead to the bridge deck.

For the alongside dockage, they do have a step you can flip down for that extra boost up you may need. In the cockpit you will enjoy enough room to set up a couple of deck chairs and relax with a chilly beverage as the sun sets. Stairs with a sturdy hand rail lead up to the flying bridge and boat deck.

Topside Fun
The topside on this particular model was really set up for a couple to enjoy a quiet evening together or to entertain the dockside neighbors to an al-fresco meal. The optional summer grill also includes a sink and ice maker and there’s a table for two at the aft starboard rail for those more intimate moments.

When the neighbors all show up, you can serve on a folding table under the bimini in the flying bridge with lots of bench seating. These large bench seats also provide a wealth of storage space. The upper control station is the place for driving this trawler. Views and visibility are excellent. This is one of the largest flying bridge decks in its class according to Mainship, and I believe them.

The upper helm is spacious and check out the seating to either side for keeping the driver company, as well as for allowing additional eyes looking forward.

The aft end of the bridge deck features a summer grill, sink, and icemaker with storage to either side. To the center is the radar mast.

On the Bow
I found getting to the bow was fairly easy with wide side decks and rails for balance. Once there I noticed that there was plenty of room to move about, handle lines and work with the anchoring system if you needed to. If you want to get away from everyone, it is also a space you can plop down a beach towel and relax with a favorite novel.

The Salon
Moving inside we begin to see where Mainship made its most significant changes. The salon and galley were rearranged to have the galley forward along the port side and a large semi-circular lounge and table to starboard behind the helm. Two lounger seats were set up to port, across from the couch, and these could easily be moved to enjoy a large flat screen 26” TV mounted in the port bulkhead. The helm bench seat back is hinged to fold it down, which opens up the view for those on the salon couch looking forward. For additional overnight guests, the lounger and table convert into a sizable guest bed.

A roomy salon has movable recliners to port. To starboard, an L-shaped sofa and table for relaxing or dining. Note the galley forward.

The cabinet on the aft bulkhead has a countertop and inside room for a Bose system and sub woofer as well as an optional ice maker to keep the chilly drinks coming without having to go all the way to the galley inside or topside.

The galley is very functional with refrigerator and freezer drawers. Note the dual basin SS sink. The range and oven are electric with an option for propane. We’d rather see the microwave be a convection combination and save the lower oven for a dishwasher, which currently is not available.

The inside steering station is the other huge change from its predecessor. Instrumentation is typical and seemed to be arranged for good view. Visibility from the inside steering station is good, although more limited, or course, than the open steering station on the bridge, yet it is certainly nice to have the option of driving from inside on those particularly nasty days. Electric DC bow thrusters are standard, stern thrusters are optional.

The lower helm features plenty of open room for nav packages. A door to starboard leads out to the side deck so a captain can quickly slip outside to help with lines and fenders.

The engine is accessed from panels in the floor of the salon. The center panel offers the captain good access to the Yanmar engine for daily inspection. For more detailed maintenance, additional floor panels may be removed expanding the room available to work. My test model was powered with a Yanmar 380-hp electronically controlled engine. Several options are available.

Mainship wisely moved the flat screen from a position over the dual chairs, to the aft bulkhead. Behind is the ships electrical. Note the light over the TV that also illuminates the electrical panel.

Overnight accommodations
Moving forward, the Expedition does have two dedicated berths for the master and guests. The guest berth can be a multi-purpose cabin. This one was set up as a twin berth. Across the foot of the bed, overhead, a clothes rod had been added to expand the hanging clothes capacity aboard.

The accommodations forward feature an island berth for the master and twins for the guests.

This design only has one head shared by the master and the guest cabin. It does have a shower with separate enclosure. The floor of the shower is slightly lower than the head main sole which I thought was nice for allowing for more head room, for instance, when reaching up to wash your hair.

Boat Specifications: 41 Mainship Expedition Trawler

The Expedition measures 41’4” (12.60 m) length overall and 14’2” (4.32 m) across the beam. She weighs about 24,000lbs (10,896 kg) and has a fuel capacity of 300 gallons (1,136 L). Draft measurement is 3’8” (1.12 m) and fresh water capacity is 130 gallons (492 L). This model is rated for single or twins. Single Yanmar engines up to 440-hp or twin Yanmar 6BY-260s are available.

I tested this model in Biscayne Bay south of Miami with 3 people on board and found she handled smooth, even in steady traffic. The Yanmar engine work flawlessly. I found her top speed was 19.2 mph at 3368 rpm and her best cruise was 18.3 mph at 3250. Sound levels in the salon never reached over 73 dBA, and this is noteworthy.

Conclusion
I did enjoy the idea of the summer grill topside as much time will likely be spent with the wind in your hair on this model. If you truly do a lot of cruising, you will probably want to add a few things, such as the 9kw generator and sea strainers, to make your life much easier aboard.

Mainship Expedition Trawler Test Result Highlights

• Top speed for the Mainship Expedition Trawler is 19.2 mph (30.9 kph), burning 18.8 gallons per hour (gph) or 71.16 liters per hour (lph).

• Best cruise for the Mainship Expedition Trawler is 18.3 MPH (29.5 kph), and the boat gets 1.07 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.45 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 290 miles (466.71 kilometers).

• Tested power is 1 x 380-hp Yanmar 6LY3-UTP – Diesel.

Boat Specifications: 41 Mainship Expedition Trawler