Trader 575 Sunliner

Trader's 575 Sunliner comes with all the comforts of home and the latest devices to make life stress free at sea. Its classic styling will win over boaters who want practicality and purpose in a serious cruising boat.

SERIOUS TRAVELLER
Production for the Taiwanese-built Traders is currently around 30 boats a year. Most models are aft-cabin cruisers from 41-63ft. All the boats have semi-displacement hulls except for those models above 85ft, which are full displacement craft.

The Trader 575 has already proven itself in local waterways during a delivery trip between boat shows along the eastern seaboard. Along the way, the boat had to tackle 3m swells and winds up to 35kt. Fortunately, that sea was a following one, and the boat surfed at 17-18kt to Southport on its big dead-wood keel.

Yet the beauty of a semi-displacement boat is that you can run at 8kt with the motors barely ticking over and generate much smaller fuel bills. At 8kt, the twin 660hp Cats in the Trader 575 will consume around 4lt per nautical mile, while at 12kt the boat does 1nm to the gallon (4.55lt).

In standard form, the Trader 575 carries 2270lt litres of fuel for a range of 950nm according to the Tarquin factory. But this 575 has a 3400lt fuel capacity, and at 9-10kt has a cruising range of up to 1400nm. Throttles down and lightly laden, the boat touched on 24kt.

Fast or slow, the hard chine hull seems very surefooted and it doesn't roll around as much as the old semi-displacement cruisers.

BUILDING STANDARDS
Manufactured to USL standards, the Trader 575 is built with solid glass and timber bulkheads fixed to the hull. Traders are fitted out without the use of internal moulds, so you can pretty much do what you want with the layout.

On the engineering front, the Trader 575 has an impressive illuminated engineroom. The company assures its customers that every installation has an inspection panel, all the systems are colour coded, and key components are accessible.

It must he said that engine access is one area that is compromised in aft-cabin cruisers such as this one. Removable saloon floor panels let you access the motors from all sides while day-to-day checks can be performed by raising the stairs fore and aft of the saloon.

The Kobelt electronic controls, which were new to me, gave fingertip operation. The boat was set-up for one-person parking, push-button anchoring, and quick dispatch of the Zodiac RIB with outboard.

ROLE PLAYING
One benefit of the aft-cabin cruiser is the giant raised deck that can be used as a stage for entertaining. The aft deck on this boat measured 4.85m long by 4.40m wide. But unlike a lot of aft cabins, Trader's 575 Sunliner comes with a permanent moulded fibreglass hardtop over the aft deck. The bridge was topped with a white bimini, but there is a hardtop option for it, too.

The cockpit amenities centre didn't go unnoticed. Lift up the lid and you will find the Smeg hot-rock stainless steel electric barbie and a handy sink, a fridge under a food-prep counter and a liferaft in case things get really out of hand.

Topped with teak and non-skid along the sides, the Trader 575 is an all-over accessible boat that is safe to move around at sea. The walkaround deck is rounded in the bow and easy to get around. Moulded stairs lead back to the teak-topped transom with clip-in swim ladder and room for a chair or two.

The boat's open-air bridge certainly stirs the senses. There is plenty of seating for family or friends to enjoy the journey. A U-shaped lounge to port can seat six people opposite an icebox big enough to take two slabs. There is a higher lounge for two people seeking views and a helm bench seat big enough for a couple.

The console is customised to accommodate the two Caterpillar EDC displays as well as a 10in Raymarine screen, ST 60 wind, depth and speed gauges and a ST6001+ pilot. There was the spotlight remote, a Maxwell chain counter, trim tab switches (but no indicators) and bow and stern thruster controls. And an Icom VHF radio.

THE INSIDE STORY
It's a very different world inside the Trader 575. There are various saloon seating options. This boat had an L-shaped cream leather lounge to port big enough to seat four people around a dinette. Opposite were two matching leather armchairs beside a lowboy and bookshelf.

A cabinet to port contained the JVC sound system with four-way speaker switchbox and CD drawers. A TV with DVD and video was kept out of view behind a teal roller door. Behind the windscreen to port was a teak return that formed part of the wetbar.

Behind the windscreen to port was the lower helm station with teak wheel and leather bench seat. Aside from the electronic Cat engine gauges and Raymarine gear, the lower helm had the boat's battery monitoring system, fuel tanks, cockpit and engineroom cameras. For docking, a third helm station in the cockpit comprises a remote with controls for the hydraulic and electric thrusters, which can be used continuously, and the engine ignitions.

COOKING OPTIONS
The tremendous galley is down another five steps from the saloon and located aft near the widest point of the boat. Aside from lots of space, the galley certainly has all the mod cons such as a Smeg oven and a four-burner stove with an extractor fan, twin sinks with a water gauge nearby, a faucet with a spray function for washing plates, and a separate fridge and freezer.

As with all good liveaboard boats, there are loads of storage cupboards. A pull-out garbage bin and dishwasher keep things tidy.

But the best thing about this galley is the separate food prep island and appliance centre, which allows two people to work in the galley. The boat's washer/dryer was alongside.

SLEEPING QUARTERS
The owners certainly get the pick of the boat's three cabins and two heads. The full-width aft cabin had a classic cruising boat feel derived from its teak joinery and a big, warm island queen bed. Off to the side are dressers, lockers, and bedside tables with drawers.

A separate television was concealed behind a teak roller door at the foot of the bed near a linen press. Aft picture and escape windows behind the bedhead add to entertainment and provide natural light and fresh air.

The ensuite has a huge shower stall with standing room under the rose and room for your partner to spruce-up. There is an electric loo, loads more storage space, mirror and black-and-burgundy marble vanity tops.

Forward of the saloon down another five steps are the twin guests' cabins and the second bathroom, which doubles as the dayhead.

The guests' cabin to port has two transverse single berths, a good-sized hanging locker, two sets of drawers and portholes and hatches with privacy screens for fresh air. The VIP guests' cabin in the bow is a beauty. Recessed portholes and plenty of hatches above an island double berth. It comes with a giant hanging locker, a full-length mirror and plenty of headroom.

This aft-cabin doesn't break with tradition or break the mould. Instead, it offers a lot of boat for your money and the ability to escape to far-off places away from the hassle of city life. And when in town, you can use the boat as a great entertainer and invite the grandchildren aboard.

FOR MORE DETAILS...
For our more detailed report on the Trader 575 Sunliner, don't miss the winter edition of Big Boat Quarterly, on sale June 18.