Why Choose De Alm? Dutch Steel Trawlers Explained

Most people shopping for a trawler start with the same question. Which brand? I'd ask a different one first. Where do you actually want to go?

If the answer is the Bahamas for a long weekend, you have plenty of options. If the answer is the Caribbean, a summer in the Northeast, or eventually an ocean crossing, the list gets short fast. De Alm is on that short list. Here's why I think it deserves a serious look.

Why Choose De Alm: A Family Yard That Builds One Kind of Boat

De Alm is a Dutch builder that has been at this since 1977. Cees van Maastricht and Chris Dolislager started building boats in a concrete shed next to Cees's house in Nieuwendijk. Their inspiration was an older De Alm yard that built fishing boats after the war. That working-boat DNA never left.

Today the yard is run by Cees's son, Jacco van Maastricht, together with Arie Pruissen. They build in Waalwijk, in the Netherlands. This is not a production line. Every boat is steel, built to displacement lines and customized for its owner, from canal cruisers to ocean-capable trawlers like the Delfino.

Why does that matter to you? This yard has built almost 300 custom yachts since 1977. It has already made its mistakes. You're buying the version that came after them.

Steel Where It Counts

De Alm builds in steel. On the Delfino 64, the builder specs 8mm plate below the waterline and 6mm on the topsides. A superstructure of 5mm seawater-resistant aluminum keeps weight down up high, which helps how she moves in a seaway. That combination is what makes her a true steel explorer yacht, not just a trawler that looks the part.

Steel isn't for everyone, and I'll tell you that up front. It needs a proper maintenance program. But if you plan to cruise remote places, a steel hull gives you a margin fiberglass doesn't. Hit a log or touch a reef and you're having a very different conversation.

When I walk a steel boat, I go straight to the coatings, the bilges, and the spots where water likes to sit. That tells me more about how a boat was owned than any listing photo ever will.

De Alm Range: The Number That Changes How You Plan

The Delfino rides on a displacement hull. That means the hull pushes through the water instead of climbing on top of it. She isn't trying to go fast. Cruise is around 8 knots, with a top end near 10.

What you get in return is range. De Alm quotes roughly 3,000 nautical miles for the Delfino 64, carrying 10,500 liters (about 2,774 gallons) of fuel. At 8 knots, she's reported to burn about 7 gallons per hour, so the math holds up. Your real number will move with load, sea state, and how you run her. Still, this is a boat where fuel stops stop running your itinerary.

If you're searching for a long range trawler for sale, this is the number to compare. For a South Florida owner, the Bahamas and the Caribbean become routine. A summer in the Northeast is a relaxed run up the coast, not a logistics project.

Built for the Owner Who Runs the Boat

This is where De Alm really separates itself. A lot of yachts in this size range assume you have full-time crew. The Delfino is laid out so a capable couple can handle her.

The raised pilothouse is the center of that, and it's what makes her a true raised pilothouse trawler. Two helm chairs, a settee, and a berth for whoever is off watch. Side doors and direct stairs to the flybridge get you to the lines fast when you're docking. Hydraulic bow and stern thrusters and fin stabilizers handle the rest.

Below, the Werner Yacht Design layout puts comfort ahead of berth count. You get a full-beam master, guest cabins, and a big salon with an open galley, all finished in cherry joinery. Aft, the lazarette doubles as a crew cabin if you bring on a captain for longer runs.

Is a De Alm Trawler Right for You?

Honest answer: not always.

If you want speed, a crowd of guests at the dock, or a boat built for the sandbar, look elsewhere. A De Alm is about where the boat can take you and how comfortable you are getting there.

It's the right fit if you're planning longer passages, want to run the boat yourself, or are moving up from a smaller trawler and already know what you need. It also makes sense for buyers thinking long term. Well-kept Dutch steel has a loyal buyer pool when it's time to sell.

Ownership costs depend on size, how you use the boat, and where you keep her. Before anyone commits, I sit down and map out what ownership will realistically look like for your plan.

Lady Gigi: What a Well-Owned De Alm Looks Like

Lady Gigi, a 2022 De Alm Delfino 64, is a good example of this platform done right. Her owner set her up for real cruising. She has a factory hardtop, a watermaker, a Steelhead ES1000 crane, Victron lithium power, fin stabilizers, upgraded Simrad electronics, Starlink, and remote docking. She was also converted to 115V for U.S. use. She shows 990 hours on her single John Deere diesel, and her service history is fully documented.

She's listed with Luke Brown Yachts in Savannah, Georgia, and her owner will consider clean trades. Lady Gigi is foreign-flagged and isn't available to U.S. residents while she's in U.S. waters. Ask me how that works for your situation. You can see current pricing and full specs on the full Lady Gigi listing on Luke Brown Yachts.

If you're interested, I'll go walk her for you and send an honest video of what I see, the good and the bad, before you ever book a flight.

Let's Build the Right Plan First

Anyone can help you buy a yacht. The right broker helps you enjoy owning one.

If De Alm is on your list, or you're still figuring out whether a trawler fits how you want to use the water, let's talk it through. Whether you're seriously considering a purchase or just starting to explore, I'm here to guide the conversation.