FAQ's

The Marine Trawler Owners Association is a not-for-profit group dedicated to those with an interest in all things dealing with the trawler lifestyle.

Absolutely not! The MTOA is for you regardless of what type of boat you own, (and even if you don’t have ANY boat at all) as long as you have an interest in the trawler lifestyle….and having fun!

No. MTOA has active members on the East, West, and Gulf Coasts, the Great Lakes and the Midwest, as well as Canada. Wherever you are, you are probably close to another MTOA member and don’t even know it.

We currently have 2300 members nationwide, which equates to over 1200 vessels. As indicated before, we have members in most of the lower 48 states and Canada.

Absolutely! As long as you have an interest in the trawler lifestyle, we have an interest in you becoming a member! In fact, many people who had been considering buying a trawler have joined before buying one so they can learn more about trawlers and the trawler lifestyle.

Back in 1990, our founding members, Mike Creedon and Pete Donnelly and their wives, who had recently purchased Marine Trader trawlers, thought it would be beneficial to create a group dedicated to the mutual interest of Marine Traders and trawlers in general. The club has since grown by leaps and bounds.

Let’s see. Where to begin? Here is a partial list of the benefits of joining MTOA.

• An on-line Forum that provides members with a communication platform allowing them to seek and share information about all aspects of trawlers and cruising including engines, mechanics, repairs, marinas, anchorages, etc.
• National and regional Rendezvous – conferences and workshops
• Local chapters that sponsor lunches and local cruises in selected areas
• A marina partner program that provides discounts to MTOA members
• A quarterly news magazine called Turtle Times packed with articles on everything from how to fix almost anything, to cruising information, boats for sale, etc. Every news magazine since the club started is available on the website's Members Only area where you can quickly search by keyword for any topic
• Port Captains - volunteers who stand ready to provide any assistance needed in their home port to other members who travel through. This might include advice on best fuel prices, assistance in finding a slip, local navigational knowledge, providing transportation for shopping or virtually anything else that traveling members might need
• An MTOA yacht insurance program that offers members good quality coverage with reputable insurers at fair prices
• Yacht Club membership – MTOA is a member of the Yachting Club of America (YCA) which allows members reciprocal privileges at member yacht clubs
• Membership in American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) which provides members with information on standards for all aspects of boat building and maintenance
• 10% discount with Boat US Towing
• 20% discount with Waterway Guide
• a Ships Store where club specific articles such as clothing and burgees can be purchased

It’s like a Trawlerfest, but with more emphasis on camaraderie and without the ‘sales pitch.”  An MTOA Rendezvous is a great experience, and a fantastic value. Usually several days in length, there are many seminars conducted by knowledgeable members and other invited speakers. We have workshops and seminars that appeal to both men and women members (captains and admirals). We frequently have workshops on engine repair, connectivity, navigation, insurance, first aid, cruising destinations and even ladies underway docking classes conducted by retired Coast Guard members. We have something called Green Ribbon hour each day, where members who attend by boat open up their boats to visitors.  And let’s not forget the social aspect. We have organized group dinners, social hours, and planned events to encourage meeting and socializing with other members. It’s very educational, but also great fun.

We have many members who are also members of the AGLCA.  Our members tend to be cruisers who continue to cruise even after completing the Great Loop. Our members have found that MTOA membership provides continual value to them both socially and technically. And our membership fee is very affordable.

The cost for joining MTOA is $65.00 per family. Upon joining you will receive an email with your membership number and password which you can use to access the website's Members Only area. This provides you online access to all past magazines, our roster and lots of other member services as described in the question earlier.

Although subject to change by the Board of Directors, currently membership is based on the calendar year running from January 1st through December 31st. If you join between July 1st and December 31st your membership will be considered paid for both the current and following year.

No. Each Rendezvous has an admission price. This fee includes all the workshops, many meals and social events. Cost is usually between $130 and $160 per person. We are able to keep our prices low because we are a totally volunteer organization.

It doesn’t matter if you are new to trawlering or an “old salt”. You WILL find your boating experience enriched by joining and becoming an active member of MTOA. We have members with very specialized knowledge in virtually every boating topic. We freely share our knowledge and companionship at the Rendezvous, regional get-togethers and on the Forum.

Well, when we started the club, we WERE called the Marine Trader Owners Association. However, over the years, Marine Trader has ceased production, many of our original members have since purchased other boats, but remained members, and in 2005 the club voted to officially change the name to the Marine Trawler Owners Association.