Mirage Navigator 37

 
Mirage's Navigator 37 adds sea legs to large living spaces.

By Capt. John Wooldridge

The two- and three-foot waves and gusty 15-mph winds out of the northwest that greeted us on test day barely fazed Semper Fi, the prototype Navigator 37 trawler from Mirage Manufacturing, a Gainesville, Fla.-based builder of recreational trawlers and fishing boats. We were on our way from Annapolis to Baltimore, Md., turning a steady 3000 rpm and making headway at between eight and nine knots.

I took a turn at the wheel and put the helm hard over to both sides, creating circles that were comfortable and stately, but not too large. Nailing the 10-degree turn button on the autopilot to avoid crab pot floats produced a prompt change of course. Running beam-to the waves produced a slight rock, but the tug-like chines that give this hull its distinctive shape quickly leveled it out. Propulsion machinery, systems equipment and tankage are kept very low in the boat, adding to the high degree of stability.

The 37 seems well suited for island hopping, coastal cruising, and voyaging the ICW or Great Circle Route. Two small diesels share the work of one large main engine, providing backup power should one engine fail. Twin skeg keels and shoes protect the running gear and provide support should you find yourself upright on the bottom. A shallow draft enables you to explore shoal areas where beauty and shelter may await.

Beamy and low to the water, the 37 offers large living, storage and machinery spaces. Headroom in the pilothouse and cabins forward exceeds 6'6" and ranges from 5'0" to 6'0" in the engine room. The pilothouse features a door to starboard for quick access to the deck from the helm. To port, a double bench and large chart flat are notable. A long entertainment and storage center to starboard faces the comfortable L-shaped bench opposite. The galley has loads of counter space and is spacious enough to accommodate full-size, home-style appliances. In combination with a large storage locker on the centerline, there are enough cabinets to store months of provisions.

Semper Fi's accommodations include a massive master stateroom forward with a queen berth and spacious single head, plus a guest stateroom/office space across from the galley. Two other interior layouts are available for the 37.

It may not have traditional trawler looks like a Grand Banks 36, but the usable space that this boat's raised, flush foredeck and beamy forward lines provide for long-distance cruisers and liveaboards is hard to fault. And the 37 is designed and engineered to make long passages. In fact, Semper Fi has put well over 6,000 miles beneath her keel, including long offshore runs to Cuba, Bermuda and the Bahamas.

According to company figures, this twin-diesel rig has a range with 10 percent fuel reserve of 1,600 nm at 8 knots, and 2,500 nm at 6 knots. That's the kind of range and capability under way that serious cruisers require.

©Motor Boating Magazine, June 2003

Other Sea Trials featured this month:

• Cabo 40 Express
• Rampage 34 Express
• Maxum 3100 SE
• Azimut 50
• Sea Ray 48

Electronics Archive

• More Electronics from past issues.