H27...trailer launchable?

[Bonzai]

Hi Guys!Am looking to get more roomy trailer boat and have found a 1982 H27 w/ 3'5" draft according to specs...3'3" according to the owner...and was wondering if anyone knows of this boat being trailer launchable...been told I will need to have a hinged mast step fabricated...have winches to assist in the lifting of the mast so that part shouldn't be a problem.Appreciate any and all input.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Boy, I don't know. I have sailed an H27 and that's a lot of boat for a trailer. You are talking serious rigging issues even if you can get the mast vertical. I know people who do it twice a year, once at launch and down for the winter. But with six shrouds to attach and adjust plus forestay and backstay and then the boom and sails and . . . . And that assumes a hanked-on jib. I know I wouldn't do it.

 

[Bonzai]

Hi Ed..I know it's a lot of work but so is my Lancer.I figure this may be a bit more but I too only plant to raise and lower a few times a year.A couple good 2 or 3 wk coastal/ICW trips a yr...rest of the time in a slip on nearby lake.I have a good 12 volt winch I use to raise my current mast and have no trouble at all after the mast is secured to step for raising.It is a single hand wrestling match up to that point tho...lol.I should prolly back off of this one, as sweet as she is, and look for something else.

 

[Ed Schenck]

It is such a great boat. Too bad that it has to be trailered. My Highlander with nothing but a forestay and two shrouds is even too much. I do appreciate the advantages of towing to new sailing grounds though. I guess I just got too old too soon.

 

[MrUnix]

...was wondering if anyone knows of this boat being trailer launchable...

Yes.. with a boat lift and crane. Is it worth it? Well, being unable to trailer our H27 was the reason we sold it and downgraded to an H23

First off, you will need a custom trailer for the boat, and a tow vehicle that can handle it (the H27 weighs in at 7000lbs dry, then throw in the weight of the trailer, gear, etc..). And while you might be able to fabricate a hinged mast step, I wouldn't attempt raising/lowering the mast without the aid of a crane. That stick is just too big and heavy to safely do otherwise.

As for the draft.. I believe the owner was correct.. according to the specifications I have for our old H27, they made a 3'3" shoal draft keel and a 4'3" full keel between 1975 to 1984. 1985 and on had a 3'6" draft keel.

Yes, it's a nice boat with plenty of interior space and headroom.. but if you are looking for something that can be trailered, I'd keep looking for something a bit smaller and designed for trailering.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Bonzai]

Hi Brad...Thanks and I agree...have already shifted focus to a nice little Bayfield 25.Trying to satisfy the wife's demands for a seperate sleeping v berth cabin,and my desire for an inboard diesel in a trailerable pkg.Wanting to find something nice before vacation time in mid January.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Can be trailered

There was a Hunter 27 on a trailer every winter at Sailing, Inc. in Cleveland, from 2000 through 2003.

The Admiral and I took our mast down, (and put it up) in about an hour every winter for 3 years, since Mentor Lagoons did not have a lift the could pull boats with the mast up. We would not think of doing it without a crane, though.

I think this trailor really functioned as an elaborate boat stand, since the owner kept it in the marina yard every winter. But, with the proper towing vehicle, I assume he could have towed it home. No reason it couldn't have been towed farther, again with the riight vehicle.

We love our '77 h27. 5 good bunks (but we never use more than 4, except with grandsons), seats 4 for a meal, standing headroom for a 6 footer, good looks, and a good ride in serious weather. With jib sheets on fairleads on the toerail, this is a cruising boat that does not go close to the wind, even with the 4 foot keel. (ours is the 3.25 foot shoadraft) But this is a great cruiser. We were on her for 6 weeks this last summer, and 8 weeks three years ago, and never got tired of cruising in her.

 

[OldCat]

Hi Guys!Am looking to get more roomy trailer boat and have found a 1982 H27 w/ 3'5" draft according to specs...3'3" according to the owner...and was wondering if anyone knows of this boat being trailer launchable...been told I will need to have a hinged mast step fabricated...have winches to assist in the lifting of the mast so that part shouldn't be a problem.Appreciate any and all input.

This is done "all the time" here in Colorado. There is no way to launch other than a ramp, and nowhere to put the boat in winter except on a trailer. Several 27-28 foot Hunters are present on the lake where I sail.

Most lakes here where bigger boats sail (25-28') have mast cranes near the launch ramp, that is how the masts are stepped here. The crane is like a tall telephone pole with rigging for hoisting.

The boats are generally launched on a steep ramp with a strap to lower the trailer and boat into the water. Some folks with experience and crew do it themselves, some hire the marina to launch it.

It depends then on your experience, and the availability of local help, preferably experienced help, especially the first few times. It also depends on how steep and deep your local ramps are. Nobody that I know of launches this way every weekend - they launch in April and pull in October. I doubt you'd sail much after finding out how much work it is to launch and recover if you don't have a slip or mooring to stay on through the season.

That and you need at least a 3/4 ton truck, with big block or diesel, and very preferably, 4wd.

OC

 

[mel22]

I second what OldCat says.

My brother trailor sailed a Catalina 27 tall rig with no problems. Search net for sail boat mast raising ideas.

Good luck

 

[dscribner]

Mel22,

Talk to me. My dream boat (don't laugh) is a Catalina 27, 1984-1987. I like that style of boat and the price is reasonable. So . . . you trailered her often, occassionally? Could it be done every weekend? We trailer our Lancer 25 everywhere. Never been moored. Is this a possiblility with the Cat27?

 

[sidneyK]

My Lancer 28 is on a trailer. The mast step that I use is a U shaped stainless steel 5in. high sides, 6in. long, and 4in. opening. There is a ½ in. slot, 3 ½ in. high in the two sides. My mast is open at the base and there is a ½ in. hole the mast 2 ½ in up from the base. I use a bolt through the step slot and mast. With the mast in the stepped and bolted. The mast rested on a roller on the back pulpit. I use a 10ft A frame, feet of frame resting on the shroud chain plates and deck. At the apex of the frame I connect the forestay and the winch wire from the trailer. I raise the mast using the trailer winch. The backstay and shrouds connected. I have used this method for stepping the mast for 10 years and have not had any problems. If you think you can use this, I can send more details and photos.

 

[Bonzai]

Thanks Sidney.My Lancer 25 is reasonably easy to raise the mast on using my cockpit wenches and a stern rail block set up connected to the boom,raising the mast from the front pulpit to upright by levering down on the secured boom from the cockpit.I just attach the forestay and upper shrouds then raise. Same deck step as the 28.The H27 is much more complicated and heavy ....am looking at a Bayfield 25...will be half the trouble and appears to be a nice little boat.I love my Lancer but the wife doesnt....the veeberth in the 25 is non existant so is essentially a 1 cabin boat...she needs 2.....Thanks again.

 

[mel22]

Mel22,

Talk to me. My dream boat (don't laugh) is a Catalina 27, 1984-1987. I like that style of boat and the price is reasonable. So . . . you trailered her often, occassionally? Could it be done every weekend? We trailer our Lancer 25 everywhere. Never been moored. Is this a possiblility with the Cat27?

That was my brother, but yes it is possible. He and his wife with son somtimes to help and I a few times would trailer her for a week here or there. He also was good enough at setting her up they would do it for a 3 day weekend without much thought. He never moored the boat but did keep on the water in one place for a month.
He hauled cattle for a hire so was very comfortable pulling trailers. He also modified his trailer to be a 5th wheel with stairs and a platform so you could work at bow of boat while standing on trailer. Made 2 bridals (one for each side) which hooked to for and aft chain plates so center shroud could be hooked up with mast in the down possition and stabelize the mast as it was raised. This is important so mast of this size does not tip off center as it is being put up or down. Most people also use the boom for a gin pole or make special gin pole type set up. Somthing on line of two preceding posts.
A thorough internet search on raising mast on sailboats will show some very good methods.
I might add also, some people enjoy trailering their larger boats, however it is not for every one.
Good luck

 

[mel22]

dscribner

I just did a check and on www.tropicalboating.com/sailing/mastra they show a chain set up as a bridal hooked to "baby stays". This is doing what I describe my brothers bridals doing. Only he had lashed rings to his lower middle stays instead of using special "baby stays" as the artical calls them.
Hope this helps