Experience after several years of ownership; maintenance, replacements and upgrades

The boat has certainly kept its promises and been suiting and exceeding our requirements as a cruising couple, and occasionally with a guest. We have never felt a lack of space or comfort, and living on board for three weeks or so at a time is a pleasure; I know other owners who stay even longer. Tarilian has become our very personalized home for those best periods of the year.

Even after years of ownership and looking at other, recent, models, I have not found any that could offer as generous covered outdoor spaces and satisfactory accommodation at the same length as this one.

Tarilian has proven capable of relaxed and steady passage making. Fitted with the standard size of engine options for this model, I find them well suited to the character of the boat, and always offering more reserves of power than we needed. Whilst the boat does not provide sporty handling or the frightening excitement of planing speeds (we aren't looking for that), cruising is dependable and safe.

There is a characteristic to grumble over specifically regarding the Traders:
The Trader hull, with its traditional semi displacement shape, has a tendency to roll  in seas from abeam and aft quarters. It is more of concern for passages in the long Atlantic swell than in the Med, and it's about comfort not safety. Although there is nowadays an increasing marketing pitch on stabilizers for smaller boats, retro-fitting stabilizers to Tarilian would be technically difficult to install and hardly affordable to me. I rather consider the forecast for sea conditions when planning a passage. As a leisure skipper I can afford taking time, planning a different route, or, if necessary, wait for a favourable forecast rather than put the crew at risk of a prolonged uncomfortable ride.
Note: Additional loads high up on the boat raise its centre of gravity and increase its tendency to roll. Tarilian, a Signature model, carries its tender low on the swim platform, the aft deck roof is not designed to carry it. The Trader Sunliner range have a stronger hard top that is integrated with the superstructure, and a tender crane to lift it up. However, as cool as it might look, storing a heavy dinghy on the roof of a 535 without stabilization should be carefully considered from the point of stability in heavy seas.

Regarding running costs; the much talked about fuel consumption of motor boats is not one of the big issues for us in case of Tarilian: Based on our average annual usage, the cost of fuel during an active season (at around 4 ltrs/nm) amounts to only a moderate percentage of the total annual costs of boating, 10-15%. When you cruise more locally it may be less. The lion share of 85-90% of costs goes towards berthing fees, annual maintenance, repairs/renewals and upgrades, not to forget insurance. Costs of marina berths, labour and yard costs are going up year on year above inflation rates. I am talking about Croatia.

At this point some generic and personal comments about my experience during cruises: To keep everything on a sizeable boat in good condition and working order (without employing a paid skipper), the single handed owner operator has to be ready to act as cleaner, handyman, trouble shooter, electrician, and even ad hoc mechanic or plumber when need arises. Needs keep arising, it's a boat! By the nature of cruising, service men are hardly ever available at the time and place you want them. Magazines and books do not prepare you for it; you learn by practical experience. Of course, all boats are different, and, it is up to the skipper how much or little he does, and how he cares to prepare.

A further experience is about a boat not being used. Be aware, whether you are on it or not, decay happens. Ropes, fenders, batteries, engines, inflatable tenders perish, the sun wreaks havoc on exterior parts and decks, leaks spring up, electrical systems corrode and age prematurely due to the salty air, underwater gear gets fouled, and so on. That's is where the worries and money go, not into a few litres more or less of fuel. Enough said.

The dinghy & swimming ladder issue

On a Trader 535, the original swimming ladder is a substantial swivelling L-shaped ladder. On Tarilian, it is on the starboard side of the swim platform. When stored, the part that goes into the water leans against the transom, where there is also the deck shower. This arrangement works well as long as there is no dinghy on the platform. I had from start realized this being an issue, and had a small auxiliary telescopic ladder fitted underneath the platform near to the port side corner. It also serves as an emergency ladder which can be pulled out by a swimmer.
Our 3.1m Walker Bay console rib tender was chosen in the UK to fit fine on the aft platform of a Trader 535 Signature; but it 'filled' the platform to its edges. The outboard's prop shaft was in the way and made getting to the auxiliary swimming ladder a struggle for anyone other than the most athletic young members of crew. Looking at other boats around us, I feel that I was not the only Med boater who had a similar problem.

By the end of 2016, after six seasons, the Walker Bay tubes had suffered sun damage and become unsightly.
I was adamant that the replacement should be an equally capable console tender, just a little shorter so there would be space left to get to the ladder; I went for an affordable model, a Brig 300T, and for an outboard engine with electronic fuel injection for reliable starting, a Yamaha F25 which fitted the weight bill.

To complete the new "convenient swimming arrangement", I had an additional 'swimming pool style' bathing ladder custom-made which goes on the corner of the aft platform. When not in use it it lifted out and has its place on the aft deck.
In the following year an additional deck shower was installed on the side of the staircase for an easy shower, all with the dinghy on the platform.

By 2020 it's 20 years since Tarilian was first launched and 10 years since the refit in Falmouth.
Superyachts get refurbished every few years, but ordinary motor cruisers often go without cosmetic updates for a long time.
Tarilian's looks have generally kept up well. For her age, her original condition is fine and nothing is urgently needed to continue enjoying the boat.
However, environment and Med sun have been at work for a good while; on closer inspection cracks and imperfections in gel-coat and plastic are noted. A refurbishing program should be considered.

Then, in late 2020, a parachute rocket, recklessly launched from the local village during celebrations, hit Tarilian at her annual berth in Marina Frapa.

The flybridge tarpaulin was ignited and the fire seriously burnt the helm and flybridge before it could be put out by the fire services. The superstructure, deck and all interiors of the boats remained untouched. I spare you the sad images of Tarilian's darkest hours.

Dealing with the repair of the damages was not helped by the calamitous pandemic restrictions and travel bans that were imposed on us over the following winter and spring 2021.