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Model profile · for Great Loop buyers
Camano 31
What the published record establishes about this model, what owners report,
and the questions worth asking while a boat is still a listing. This page is about the
MODEL — a specific hull always gets its own homework.
A well-built, fuel-efficient single-diesel pocket trawler with a low profile that suits the Loop; watch the Volvo aftercooler and a documented twin-tank fuel-return imbalance.
The Camano 31 (originally marketed as the Camano 28) is a single-engine pocket trawler with a fully protected keel, a low air draft, and a strong reputation for build quality and fuel economy — owners commonly report under 2 gph at a 7–8 knot trawler cruise. It shipped with a range of engines over its production run, most commonly the Volvo TAMD41P, and carries two Loop-relevant quirks worth surveying: the TAMD41 raw-water cooling/aftercooler system and a Camano-specific twin-tank fuel-return imbalance documented by Loopers. The "31" name reflects overall length including the swim platform and bow davit; the hull itself is closer to 28 feet.
How to read this: 🟢 Fact = confirmed against a document, spec sheet,
or owner. Everything else — Claim, Pattern, Question, Context — is not yet
verified: things to check, not settled truth. Sources are linked where published.
Fuel system
CLAIM
Twin-tank fuel-return imbalance is a documented Camano quirk
Loopers report that with both fuel returns open the starboard tank fills while the port tank drains, because the engine returns far more fuel than it burns and the return flow is channeled unevenly to the two tanks. It shows up mainly when pushing the boat hard (around 8.5 knots / higher rpm). One Looper nearly ran the port tank dry — starting both tanks at half, by end of day starboard was nearly full and port empty. The suspected cause is a clog in the fitting that channels engine return to the port and starboard return valves; the balance can flip abruptly with a slight valve adjustment.
src:
Trawler Forum (Looper owners, e.g. Hull 248)
Your move: Before a long Loop run, learn the return-valve balancing on the specific boat, monitor both tank levels underway, and have the return manifold/fitting checked for blockage.
CONTEXT
Fuel starvation and tank-switching trouble reported on Troll models
A marine engineer notes fuel starvation and difficulty switching between tanks are common complaints on Camano 31 Troll models; when the engine won't draw from the starboard tank, the fuel selector valve is the first thing to check for blockage or damage.
src:
JustAnswer (marine engineer)
Tankage & range
CLAIM
Early boats carry small fuel tankage; later boats got larger tanks
Original boats had only about 100 US gallons of fuel — modest for a boat this size — which limits range between fill-ups. Boats from roughly 2003 onward received larger fuel and water tanks. Actual usable capacity should be confirmed on the specific hull.
src:
Trawler Forum
CONTEXT
Owners report roughly 1.8 gph at a 7–8 knot trawler cruise
Multiple owner data points converge on about 1.8–1.9 gph at displacement cruise: one owner runs 2,000 rpm for about 7 knots and 1.8 gph, and a Loop boat cruised around 8 knots. The boat can run up to about 15 knots but loses its fuel-sipping economy when pushed. This efficiency is a real strength for long Loop days.
src:
Trawler Forum; Pau Hana blog
Handling & hull
CONTEXT
Fully protected keel and heavy-for-length build
The Camano has a fully protected keel that shields the running gear, and it is relatively heavy and substantial for its length — roughly a 10'6" beam, a shallow draft in the low-3-foot range, and around 10,000 lbs displacement. The protected keel is reassuring for the shallow, debris-prone stretches of the Loop, though actual loaded draft should be measured on the specific boat.
src:
BoatUS/Jack Hornor review; Pau Hana blog
Air draft
CONTEXT
Low profile is a genuine Loop advantage — but measure the actual boat
The Camano's low air draft (one Loop veteran boat reported clearance with the top and antenna down) gives it a large margin under fixed bridges compared with taller Looper boats. However, radar masts, flybridge additions and tower structures are not standard and vary boat to boat — one owner who built a tower over the flybridge found a nearby bridge was already too low for his added height.
src:
Pau Hana blog; Trawler Forum (Camano radar thread)
Your move: Measure the actual air draft of your candidate boat and identify exactly what (antenna, radar, mast) can be lowered before committing to Loop routing.
Reading the boat
CLAIM
The "31" name includes swim platform and bow davit
The Camano is marketed as a 31 because the overall length includes the swim platform and the stainless anchor davit at the bow; the hull itself is closer to 28 feet, and the model was originally sold as the Camano 28. This matters for slip fees and any length-based Loop gate, so use the LOA that includes appendages when planning.
src:
BoatUS/Jack Hornor review; Trawler Forum
Engines
The engines research — factory options, tested performance,
and the engine-specific questions our members' dossiers carry — is part of the
full profile inside the product. It travels with every dossier and survey brief
built on this model.