Looking for wise advice

[tkanzler]

By way of general comments about trailer sailors, it's important to decide early on just what you mean by 'trailerable'. Many boats can be legally trailered in all 50 states without permits, on interstates (8-1/2 ft width max on any interstate in any state), and on state, county, and local roads (8 ft width max, no restrictions in any state). But some can be trailer launched at a ramp easily, some may need a tongue extension to get it deep enough, and some really can't be ramp launched unless it's a reeeeallly long ramp and you use a rope and dolly wheel. What you pick will necessarily limit your choices, but you have to decide how you intend to use (and launch/retrieve) the boat.

 

[cb32863]

I have an O'Day 25 with centerboard. I would consider this a trailerable boat but not a trailer sailor. The Catalina 25 with the swing keel would be in the same.... ok I will say it, boat. Do you want to drive your boat around to many places, launch, sail, have a blast, retrieve and then go home or... do you want to trailer your boat to some place where you have a mooring or slip and leave it for the season? As others have said, go look at as many boats as you can. My son is 6' - 3" 265 as well. He does not really "fit" on even my boat. I doubt he would want to spend the night on it. But, he could. I am on a mooring as well so access to shore would not be a problem.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

My 2 cents, avoid the McGregor 26' trailorable. I sailed on one this weekend and it was one of the worst sailing boats I have ever seen. A sunfish is more superior in a hundred+ different ways. However, if you're in the market for a strictly downwind sailing motor boat, maybe...

note: there are power sailor macgregor 26's and classic sailboat macgregor 26's. (I'm sure this is a later model (big 40+ hp outboard)

the classic are light, and don't have standing head room, but are huge and quite fast in coastal / near shore conditions. (and have a 10hp max).

mac's are probably the easiest to launch and tow.

but yes, I agree the power sailors are better downwind boats. they can go to weather but not great. and they are not very fast except downwind.

-however the big OB allows you to do things sailboats cant. like pulling a innertube, or waterski

 

[rgranger]

My 2 cents, avoid the McGregor 26' trailorable. I sailed on one this weekend and it was one of the worst sailing boats I have ever seen. A sunfish is more superior in a hundred+ different ways. However, if you're in the market for a strictly downwind sailing motor boat, maybe...

Whoa now... there are two general classes of MacGregor 26' sailboats. The original 26' was called the 26'D (for dagger board) followed by the MacGregor 26'S (swing). These two are now collectively called the MacGregor 26C (for classic). They are fantastic sailing boats, very fast with decent upwind ability, and water balasted. So at 26' they are still easily trailered. The 26M came out later (Motor sailer) followed by the 26X (fast enough to ski behind). Those last two have a rep for being bad sailing boats.

Your advice is for the 26M or 26X I'd assume. The 26C is a great starter boat with decent interior room and easy to trailer... inexpensive to buy and maintain etc. You can get a nicely outfitted ready to sail 26C for under $4K.

I used to have a MacGregor 22' which preceded the 26D. It had essentially the same body style, just smaller. It was a very fast boat and could go to windward like a beast. I would regularly chase down Catalina 27's and blow past them. And on a run, I could make her plane flying wing-on-wing.

 

[dlandersson]

I don't think it's a secret - I do it all the time.

19 May 2013 5.0 knots
http://youtu.be/9pHvX5qBe-8

I'm curious as to why you could not.

Yes, the owner is new to sailing but I as well as several others aboard have decades of sailing experience. Center board all the way down this boat went sideways better than it went forward. If there is a secret to sailing up wind I am all ears.

 

[dlandersson]

The kids love that

the big OB allows you to do things sailboats cant. like pulling a innertube, or waterski

 

[dlandersson]

Bear in mind the OP mentioned visiting the Bahamas, hence my point to look at 26X/M or 26 Tatoo.

See: http://www.ne-ts.com/cr/cr-401bimini.html

I used to have a MacGregor 22' which preceded the 26D. It had essentially the same body style, just smaller. It was a very fast boat and could go to windward like a beast. I would regularly chase down Catalina 27's and blow past them. And on a run, I could make her plane flying wing-on-wing.