Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 Review

In this review the experts of topRik share their impressions after testing the 19-meter expeditionary poweryacht Beneteau Grand Trawler 62, which became the winner of European Powerboat of the Year 2022 in Displacement Boats category.

As always - a lot of photos, a list of videos, as well as reviews on this boat from well-known yachtsmen-journalists who create content for leading yachting magazines.

Displacement cruising yacht Grand Trawler 62 is designed for those who want to switch to an easy-to-handle boat and comfortably live at sea for months with occasional restocking. Beneteau shipbuilders together with MICAD engineers and Nauta Design made such desires come true.

Building on the ideas behind the Swift Trawler cruiser line from the same shipyard, Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 remains a stand-alone model with an impressive and capable displacement hull and on-board comfort rarely seen on boats of this size. We can safely say that reliability, safety, freedom of movement and comfort of living on board allow us to say that Grand Trawler 62 belongs to the class of trawler-type expedition superyachts with a long range.

topRik team made sure from their own experience that the speed characteristics of the yacht declared by the developers are rather underpromised, especially if fuel consumption is taken out of brackets.

But usually, sailors try to use fuel efficiently, and not only because of financial savings. Accidents at sea are common, and it's always safer if you have a supply of water, food, and of course fuel.

In a practical study, which took place as part of the next boat show in France, topRik experts concluded that the least amount of fuel (31 liters) is spent if you go at 1000 rpm. Then, at a speed within 7 knots per hour, the range on a conventional Grand Trawler 62 fuel supply (2 fuel tanks x 1935 l) will be more than 1000 km. At the same time, the noise level from the engine is minimal.

But it is always a pleasure for any yachtsman to know that you can get out of the weather much faster. Our experience has shown that it is possible to exceed 20 knots per hour at speeds above 2400. It should only be remembered that fuel consumption will increase significantly - more than 11 times, and the range will decrease by 4 times. Keep this in mind if you do not want to get stuck in a storm far from the coast.

Before you virtually board the Grand Trawler 62 with the topRik team, get acquainted with the main characteristics of this motor cruiser, so that during the research process you will not be distracted by clarifying the parameters.

We also remind you that on the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 for sale you will find additional information in the form of brochures from the manufacturer, as well as a built-in calculator, developed by us especially for this yacht. The virtual configurator will help you build a trawler superyacht that will exactly match your needs and budget.

Features of Beneteau Grand Trawler 62

Price calculator

Maximum speed and fuel consumption

Review of Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 by topRik Team

We must admit right away that the topRik team is not indifferent to the yachts that leave the Beneteau shipyards. A good third of our SimpleSail fleet, which is located in the marinas of Montenegro and Croatia, consists of Beneteau boats. Therefore, when a company needed a reliable and comfortable motor yacht for representative purposes, we first of all turned our attention to the trawlers of this shipyard.

Because we are accustomed to scrutinizing the boats we buy, we have gradually familiarized ourselves with all the models of the shipyard - Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 caught our attention as it was the flagship of the new Grand range and its sheer size made it stand out among displacement boats.

First Look

Who wouldn’t be conquered by these chopped lines, an almost vertical stem, a far protruding platform and a high flybridge roof! From the cockpit you’ll have to look up almost vertically to take a glance at the flybridge of Grand Trawler 62.

Very high sides are the promise of high ceilings in the cabins. However, the height of the headroom in the saloon and on the flybridge can be determined even from the shore. Our tallest expert (almost 2 meters high) immediately noticed this on the approach to the yacht.

At the same time, the yacht does not give the impression of a grandmother's Victorian house - all the parameters of the boat are harmoniously balanced. We, dealing with charters and observing the behavior of passengers, immediately realized that while being on the flybridge even the most restless ladies don’t have to grab the rails during rolling. That’s because, judging from our tests of the Grand Trawler 62 at sea, even with a high wave it moves like a tanker – stable and reliable.

Numerous portholes on the sides mean a lot of light in the lower deck rooms, where the cabins are located, and where we will definitely climb down later.

Transom

Like most trawler superyachts, the transom of Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 is an open type. That is, there is no transom wall. This stylish glass partition between the two ladders on the sides can’t really be called a full-size wall.

Moreover, these ladders have lower steps across the entire width of the stern. This makes it possible to be stay near the water even without a platform, if you decide not to purchase this option. Then your beach spot will be somewhat narrower, and you will not be able to go down into the sea with the platform.

The platform can be used to transport a dinghy, jet ski or other water toys – it is quite spacious (9 m²) and powerful enough to avoid constantly using a lifting mechanism to deliver all this equipment from the upper deck during anchorage.

And now let's go up to the main deck, which has this layout:

On the deck, there is a cockpit and a saloon, conventionally and with the help of furniture arrangement, divided into several zones, with the bow area serving as a large sunbathing area.

In the Cockpit

The cockpit on a motor vessel performs other functions in contrast to this area of the main deck of a sailboat, because the control posts for sailing equipment and the yacht itself are not placed here together with the helms, winches, baskets for halyards, etc.

Beneteau Grand Trawler 62’s cockpit is about a fifth of the upper deck across its entire width. Here you can take out the dining table and even install a grill. But the latter is not really necessary, because the galley is located right behind the transparent partition that separates the cockpit from the saloon.

From the cockpit you can go up the ladder to the flybridge, and convenient exits to the side decks lead to the bow of the boat.

We will certainly examine these areas a little later, but for now the path leads to the saloon. The see-through sliding partition mentioned above separates the cockpit from the saloon, but if fully extended, it creates a large area with enough space even for a crowded party if the owner decides to invite guests from neighboring yachts while moored in the marina.

In the Saloon

This is a clearly zoned space, divided by partitions and different levels into working areas: a control post and a galley, as well as social areas - a dining room and a living room.

The interiors are minimalistic, but functional and elegant. In the standard version, walnut or light oak wood, natural leather and textiles are used for decoration, furniture and partitions.

The saloon is filled with natural light thanks to glazing on three sides of the perimeter. Opening windows provide natural ventilation. Pay attention to the rounded corners of the furniture - this is always a concern for the safety of passengers.

Modern control post, located on a raised platform, includes a full-fledged chart table, a helm and a steering panel. The panel has all the necessary navigation equipment, including marine displays, communications and sensors for controlling engines and other ship systems.

There is also a powerful throttle/reverse switch handle.

Comfortable chairs are adjusted to the needs of the helmsman in terms of height. And just look at that sofa there is on the port side - the captain can always lie down there or it could be a good place for some company.

Another feature of Grand Trawler 62’s saloon is an internal ladder that provides access to the flybridge in addition to the cockpit ladder.

The galley also has a door for access to the deck, and the galley itself is also separated from the saloon by a door so the cooking smells don’t spread to living areas.

By the way, near the control post there is also access directly to the side deck. This allows us to go directly to the foredeck without leaving the cockpit.

On the Foredeck

On the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 the bow doesn’t have a lower level, like some others. There is a large sunbathing area with several sun loungers, two spacious lockers for deck equipment and fenders, an anchor winch stowed in the locker, and a shortened capstan on the coaming for dock cables.

The sun loungers can be transformed: you can raise the back part or assemble a sofa out of the pillows – there are also holes for bottles and glasses on the sides.

At the Flybridge

Remember we mentioned a possible party on board the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62? So, the flybridge is an opportunity to expand its scope. The view that opens up to you on the flybridge depends on which ladder you used to climb here - from the cockpit or from the helm station in the saloon.

But no matter which ladder you climbed, it will still be the same 31 m² of space, which includes several areas: recreation, work, dining, cooking and tender storage, although this area can be used for other purposes - sports or dancing, for example.

Recreation area is located in two places - in front of the control post and to the left of it. This is a large sunbed and a comfortable L-shaped sofa, respectively.

The dining area includes a large fold-out table with sofas around the table on three sides. On the fourth side, if necessary, you can put folding chairs. There is a well-equipped galley with stove, grill, refrigerator, freezer and sink.

The flybridge roof is located about 6 meters from the waterline, so it is quite spacious and vertical. The diagram clearly shows the distribution of zones and the place for the tender, equipped with a crane for lowering the dinghy to the platform.

The Cabins and the Engine Compartment

On the lower deck there are cabins for passengers and crew, as well as an engine room. The layout of this deck with three cabins looks like this – you get the owner's cabin amidships, the bow cabin and the starboard cabin. All cabins are made for two with private bathrooms.

The owner’s suite contains a king-size double bed-island and bedside tables, has a dressing room, a large number of bedside tables and a table with a reclining table top.

This table can be used as a writing or dressing table, and the dressing room, in addition to compartments for clothes, has drawers for linen, shoes and accessories.

Same bed from master cabin comes with several bedside tables in the bow cabin. These beds open up a large locker when the bed is raised. So there is enough storage space for all the necessary baggage.

The second cabin can be equipped with two single beds. This cabin has a porthole that provides natural light, as well as storage space for personal items.

All cabins have bathrooms of different sizes, but all have a shower, washbasin, toilet, mirror and lockers.

The 4-cabin version has two cabins amidships, which can be fitted with beds according to the needs of the owner, as well as bulkheads.

Please note that part of the space below the cockpit can be equipped as an additional crew cabin, bathroom, or storage space.

The engine room occupies the entire width of the lower deck, the equipment installed there ensures the balance of the vessel. There are engines, a gyroscopic stabilizer, a watermaker, air conditioning and other equipment necessary to maintain the life on board.

We know what kind of acrobatic feats are sometimes required to get to the right unit on some boats, and here we were pleasantly surprised. Even our giant did not need to fold in two to move inside the engine room.

Advantages of Beneteau Grand Trawler 62

Let's start, as usual, with the shortcomings instead. At the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 there is only one - this is the price of a superyacht. You can, of course, reduce the cost by eliminating the gyro stabilizer or hydraulic platform, as well as some other items on the optional list, but don't get too carried away.

We attributed real, practical comfort to the advantages. We are not talking about excessive luxury, but about the convenience of life on board that can last for months at the sea. Everything you need for this is provided here:

• the ability to stock up on fuel, food and water for a long period;
• comfortable, well-equipped control posts – even using them for hours is not tiring;
• engine room, where you can move freely and equip all free places according to your needs;
• galley in saloon, mini-galley on flybridge;
• comfortable spacious cabins;
• recreation and sunbathing areas;
• the possibility of privacy.

By virtue of its design, the ship is safe even during significant sea waves and a lot of light and fresh air in the cabins provides a great mood and conditions for good rest.

Reviews of Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 from Professionals

We present reviews of the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 from professional journalists and yachtsmen who got to know this yacht at different times and under different circumstances. We tried to choose the nuances that for some reason were not covered in our review. Full materials can be read by clicking on the links to the pages of the leading yachting media, where they were published.

Jack Haines Article

The author of the popular magazine almost missed the Grand Trawler 62 sea trials as he was carried away by the wealth of choice at the Cannes Boat Show (oh, how we understand it). But, having caught up with the yacht and looking at it from the cockpit of the small RIB, he was able to fully appreciate the dimensions of this huge yacht.

From that point on, and later when he came on board, Jack was always amazed at how different this flagship of the new line was from the top brand Swift line of the same parent brand. Unlike the very practical Swift boats, the Grand trawler aims for elegance. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it was not built in France, but in Italy at the plant in Monfalcone, where Monte Carlo Yachts vessels are manufactured.

Starting to describe the main deck, he said that the platform has a capacity of 400 kg, as well as a crane, which is provided on the flybridge.

Jack believes that the yacht is designed solely for the owners who will manage the yacht and serve those on board, and therefore the layout is made with this in mind – not much space for the crew is available.

He remarked that access from the galley to the deck was a great idea, since the garbage will not be carried through the saloon when it needs to be moved to shore.

The author of the review suggested that the developers carefully listened to the wishes and comments of the owners of the Swift Trawler in order to ensure the convenience when cruising on the Grand Trawler 62. Undoubtedly, the ladder from the saloon to the flybridge is one of appropriate amenities, which was adopted by many naval architects.

Jack noted that in the saloon dining area, the sofa is only present on one side of the table, but he immediately added that optional folding chairs could be installed on the other side.

During testing at the sea, the reviewer drew attention to the fact that the effect of a high-mounted heavy hardtop in combination with a round bottom is noticeable here: at low speeds, the yacht begins to choke. Jack suggested that this process could also be caused by the fact that up to two dozen journalists were crammed onto the flybridge. The optional Quick gyro stabilizer will prevent this phenomenon, and at 8-10 knots it does not occur even without this expensive equipment.

John Higginson Article

The author of this review covered the arrival of the fourth Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 hull in Asia, predicting the same triumph for this line as the Swift Trawler.

He noted that, despite the ability to organize sleeping accommodation for the crew, this yacht is still geared towards practical owners. But good things can’t be cheap, so the cost of a Grand Trawler 62 is twice the price of the latest Swift Trawler 48.

John quotes a Beneteau spokesman for the region as saying that common sense is not sacrificed for luxury - luxury simply camouflages practicality.

Manufacturers and developers have drawn on all the experience gained since the day when the first trawler yacht was launched in 2003. With 1,300 hulls sold in that time, the Swift Trawler continues to dominate the market for fuel-efficient long-range flybridge motor yachts.

Beneteau listens closely to the needs of its clients to recognize their interest in yachts ranging from 50 to 100 feet. With the new yacht, the company hopes to repeat the success of a range of displacement yachts from 30 to 50 feet that had left all competitors far behind.

Video Reviews of Beneteau Grand Trawler 62

We have selected several video reviews of this motor yacht so you can see her in action and get a better idea of the exterior and interior of this superyacht.

Beneteau have their own yachting channel, and this 18-minute review of Grand Trawler 62 is one of the best we’ve seen:

Shorter version, more footage and demonstrations:

BoatTube, without any commentary, gives you useful footage of interiors:

More unusual angles thanks to high-quality CG animation:

Finally, the most comprehensive 25-minute walkthrough of Grand Trawler 62:

Conclusion

So, who is this superb Beneteau trawler superyacht for?

It is still possible to rent it out. Of course, in this case, it is necessary to stipulate a mandatory crew from in order to exclude damage to property.

But still this yacht is more suitable for one or more owners for personal use. This is a great and comfortable option for:

• lovers of a comfortable vacation at sea;
• fans of high-speed swimming;
• those who want to provide their family (including small children) with safe and comfortable cruises;
• those who like to retire in comfort in the expanses of the sea;
• romantic couples who prefer to spend a lot of time at sea or travel along the coast.

Where to Buy Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 at a Bargain Price

topRik marketplace is the platform, using which can buy the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 at the best possible price. Our experts will help you with this. You already know that all of them are experienced sailors who are well aware of the features of the yachts of the world's leading manufacturers.

Marketplace employees are always ready to give you a free consultation. Right now, you can contact them by phone, send an e-mail to [email protected] or via feedback system.

After you decide on the configuration of the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62, experts will select a yacht for you on favorable terms, as well as:

• negotiate with a dealer or manufacturer;
• prepare all the documents that are necessary for the purchase and transfer of the boat;
• check for the compliance with your requirements at the assembly site;
• transfer the boat to the berth indicated by you.

If you wish, we will take the yacht in for permanent maintenance.

If necessary, through the topRik marketplace, you can order almost all additional marine equipment from leading manufacturers, as well as accessories that are not provided by the manufacturer: dishes, bed and table linen, fenders, ladders, rugs, appliances and tools, etc.