Eager to learn.

[Kermit]

Don't mean to highjack the thread but, Kermit, do you tow with your bimini up like in your photo? Also, I like your longer guide posts. I might have to adopt that idea to.

That's exactly the way I tow. Never occurred to me to drop the bimini lower. I bought two 10' pipes with the intention of cutting them. 5' wasn't long enough to get away with just one. Then I figured it wasn't hurting anything so I just hauled off and didn't cut them.
Wait, they might be only 8' each.

 

[Benny17441]

The majority of trailerable boats will fall well below the towing capacity of your truck. With a few exceptions these boats will be between 13' and 26'. A trailer boat is a design compromise to allow a boat to be transported with reasonable ease from one location to another. The main obstacles are presented by weight, size, the type of keel and the mast. Some increase size and reduce trailering weight by utilizing a water ballast tank. Others give in size to emphasize sailing capabilities by retaining a retractable or short ballasted keel. They all have a mast that can be stepped up or down by one or two persons. Do your homework about which type of sailing you want to do and choose a boat accordingly. Whatever you do, do not go up to the maximum towing capacity of your truck as you will always need some capacity in reserve. Pulling a boat out of the water on a steep ramp will require more effort than its towing weight.

 

[LloydB]

Welcome to SBO glad you are here.

 

[rgranger]

Take a look at the Compac 23. They are pretty tough trailer sailors. They are comfortable for 2 people but, if you have to, you can sleep 4. It is light enough to trailer and the rig is okay for stepping. Another nice feature is the 2'3" draft, no centerboard.

yep .... compac 23 is a nice starter boat and in fact, many big boat sailors scale back down to the compac as they ease into retirement. It is a comfortable boat, safe, seaworthy and easy to launch and retrieve.

Some others to consider, the Rhodes 22, the MacGregor 25', the MacGregor 26D or 26S, the Catalina 250, and Hunter 260.

These are all easily trailored, have a separate head compartment, galley, sleeping for 4 and room for stowage. There is a fella on here named Sumner who has taken a Mac 26 all over the place.

 

[Chris & Lenore]

A Mac 26 S or D tows well, is relatively inexpensive, sails extremely well and is a good first boat.
We sailed ours for eight years and trailered it thousands of miles. And regardless of your tow vehicle, 3500 lbs is easier to tow than 10,000.
And if it's a "first boat" it's easier to sell a cheap boat when you want to step up.

Food for thought and all boats are good boats!

Chris

 

[bran1371]

Thanks for the advice everyone. That is good news. I was really worried that i would have to get a bigger truck. BUT i have another question. My wife is not a fan of the porta potti? Do any of the boats that were listed have a flushable toilet? Not to big a deal i think i can sway her either way.

Sincerely agonist.

 

[cb32863]

Beneteau First 235. Though, I am a little biased.

 

[jwilcoxon78]

The H260 can be equipped with a marine head.

 

[Kermit]

We have a marine head on our H260. It's quite convenient.

 

[bran1371]

Would catalina 27 with a swing keel be to much boat for my truck? Ram 1500 V8

 

[Brian S]

According to sailboatdata.com, the original Catalina 27 shoal draft lists 7300 pounds displacement. If I recall, you say your Dodge RAM has a tow capacity of 10,500 pounds. Depending on where and how you plan to tow (eg. up mountains, or just on flats across town between your house and the launch) you should be able to tow a 27. I say depending, because you might not want to be towing that thing up and over mountains a lot... Other Catalina 27' boats such at the full draft 27, or the 270, or the new 275 Sport all list lower displacements.

 

[Joe]

Would catalina 27 with a swing keel be to much boat for my truck? Ram 1500 V8

Never knew they made a 27 with a swing keel. Shoal draft (wing) yes.... Maybe thinking of the Catalina 25.

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=814

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=407

 

[bran1371]

Thanks gents. I wasn't aware of that website. That is really helpful. But it looks like that will have to stay at a slip. Curious though is a 4.50 a foot per month a good price for a slip? That's for non live aboards. 5 for live aboards. That could help decide between a trailer sailor or not. Thanks in advance.

 

[shemandr]

... Curious though is a 4.50 a foot per month a good price for a slip? That's for non live aboards. 5 for live aboards. That could help decide between a trailer sailor or not. Thanks in advance.

So that's about $100 per month for the 22. Of course it's all market driven but here on the East End of LI that would be a stone cold steal. It also depends on the term of the contract. Here most slip rentals run from April to November - 7 months. So at $100/month for seven months, which is $700, that's cheap in this market.
Does it matter whether it's 4.50, 5.00 or whatever? It's so much better to have the boat launched and ready to use that it doesn't matter.
It's so important to understand how you will actually use the boat, so that these decisions are possible to make.

 

[JoeSailer10]

So Bran, have you made a decision yet? Did you buy a boat? I must say, If I could find a slip at 4.5 or 5 a foot/month, I would keep my Ranger!