At 37 feet, 2 inches long with 8½ feet of beam, the SeaPiper 37 is a pocket trawler with surprising features for boaters who understand the importance of a yacht having a specific mission.

The SeaPiper 35 was the brainchild of Ritzo Muntinga, a California-based electronics engineer. His vision was to create a reliable, small trawler that was simply outfitted for affordability. He also wanted to make the SeaPiper trailerable, for easy moves between cruising grounds.

The earliest couple of builds were undertaken in California, before production moved to China. After about a dozen or so builds there, the pandemic arrived and construction stalled.

Enter the dealer and brokerage firm Seattle Yachts and its subsidiary, Marine Manufacturing Group, which builds Tartan sailing yachts and Legacy motoryachts near the shore of Lake Erie in Ohio. The team at Seattle Yachts believed the SeaPiper would appeal to Great Loopers and other cruisers who didn’t want to cross oceans, but who instead wanted relatively low operating costs and simplified maintenance—with an offbeat, yet attractive workboat flavor.

The tooling was shipped from China to the United States, where Seattle Yachts is building the boats under another subsidiary, Northern Marine in Anacortes, Wash. Those craftsmen are turning out the latest version of the SeaPiper 35, whose design remains mission-focused on providing maximum value and utility in a rugged, compact, trailerable trawler yacht package.

Her propulsion is the naturally aspirated 85-hp BetaMarine diesel used in her predecessors. That diesel is built on a Kubota long-block engine; since Kubota is a worldwide supplier of engines for farm equipment and other machinery, boaters can find parts and service just about anywhere.

Speed, according to the builder, is 7 to 8 knots with a top end just under 10 knots. At displacement speeds, her range is reportedly 1,400 to 1,800 nautical miles. The reserve power from her engine, when it’s fitted with a high-output (100- to 130-amp) alternator, can charge a house power battery bank for use instead of the optional, standalone genset. A 2,000-watt inverter and solar panels would be smart additions.

Inside, the SeaPiper has a split arrangement, with the midships cargo deck and high bulwarks bookended by the salon and accommodations. Her profile is reminiscent of a European canal barge, and the layout allows for lounging at the dock or on the hook—as well as providing space for a rack and electric bikes. The wheelhouse and galley have large windows for a bigger feel.

Owners who want a more upgraded experience can add a Raymarine electronics suite, a Seakeeper gyrostabilizer and an HVAC system with heat and air conditioning, but for those who prefer simplicity, the SeaPiper 35 exudes plenty of character.  

SeaPiper 35

LOA: 37ft. 2in.
Beam: 8ft. 6in.
Draft: 2ft. 11in.
Construction: FRP
Displacement: 17,700 lbs.
Fuel: 200 gal.
Water: 80 gal.
Engine: 1x 85-hp BetaMarine Beta 85
Info: seapiper.com

This article was originally published in the October 2023 issue.