I’m a total rookie and I’m finally ready to take the plunge, so to speak, and I’d like any and all advice, opinions, or plain ole BS. I live in central Michigan, plan on mooring somewhere on Lake Huron, most probably take some lessons this spring, and in five years moving to Florida’s Gulf coast. I’m thinking something used to start with, in the 25 ft range. I’m also thinking a trailer so I could winter it at home, have it there to work on pre- and post-season, and save some winter storage costs. I kinda thought size alone determined the ability to trailer, but are there significant design sacrifices for ‘trailerables’? I’ve no intention on towing every time, just spring and summer. Will I sacrifice much handling in order to bring it home for the season?
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It all comes down to the launch.
Matt, There are a lot of very nice sailboats, in sizes from 26 feet down, that can be trailered nicely. The advantage of bringing them home for the winter saves money and it really helps to be able to work on your boat at home. There are water ballasted boats that launch as easly as powerboats in shallow water. Next are the swing keel boats that are somewhat higher riding on the trailer but still easly launched. Extended tongue trailers help greatly for the larger boats. Finely there are the full keel boats. These require some expertice in launching as they ride quite high on the trailer and either must by lifted with a sling and lowered into the water, or you simply detach the trailer from the truck and hook a long chain between the trailer and truck. Next you shove the trailer out into deep water to remove the boat and pull the trailer back with the chain. Not for the faint of heart. You might follow the "smaller boats" or "trailer sailor" section on this site for some background in this field of sailing. Good luck to you, Ray
Matt, There are a lot of very nice sailboats, in sizes from 26 feet down, that can be trailered nicely. The advantage of bringing them home for the winter saves money and it really helps to be able to work on your boat at home. There are water ballasted boats that launch as easly as powerboats in shallow water. Next are the swing keel boats that are somewhat higher riding on the trailer but still easly launched. Extended tongue trailers help greatly for the larger boats. Finely there are the full keel boats. These require some expertice in launching as they ride quite high on the trailer and either must by lifted with a sling and lowered into the water, or you simply detach the trailer from the truck and hook a long chain between the trailer and truck. Next you shove the trailer out into deep water to remove the boat and pull the trailer back with the chain. Not for the faint of heart. You might follow the "smaller boats" or "trailer sailor" section on this site for some background in this field of sailing. Good luck to you, Ray
Advantages of a trailer
I have a 1982 Hunter 22. I bought the boat because it is trailerable. I have found that for this stage in my cruising, the trailer is a huge plus. It gives you the ability to take your boat out of the water (saving the bottom coat) and you can bring the boat home to do work and repairs to the boat. I am not sure what slips are costing up where you are, but the cheapest marina that I know of in my area is about $70 a month. That is expenisive over the course of a year. At this point I don't feel like I have lost anything by having a smaller boat. I have plenty of room for my wife and I (been out of 10 days and had no problems with space). I have been doing a lot of work to my boat, at home, and found that it is a good way to pass the cold weather! The best advise that I can think of, that I have been given, is to consider what you want to do with the boat. Are you cruising for long periods of times or are you going to day sail? Are you cruising often? Do you think that you might want to be able to go to new areas? Do you want to pay the expense of hauling a boat every year and doing the bottom paint every two years? Let me know if you have any questions that I might be able to answer about having a trailerable boat.
I have a 1982 Hunter 22. I bought the boat because it is trailerable. I have found that for this stage in my cruising, the trailer is a huge plus. It gives you the ability to take your boat out of the water (saving the bottom coat) and you can bring the boat home to do work and repairs to the boat. I am not sure what slips are costing up where you are, but the cheapest marina that I know of in my area is about $70 a month. That is expenisive over the course of a year. At this point I don't feel like I have lost anything by having a smaller boat. I have plenty of room for my wife and I (been out of 10 days and had no problems with space). I have been doing a lot of work to my boat, at home, and found that it is a good way to pass the cold weather! The best advise that I can think of, that I have been given, is to consider what you want to do with the boat. Are you cruising for long periods of times or are you going to day sail? Are you cruising often? Do you think that you might want to be able to go to new areas? Do you want to pay the expense of hauling a boat every year and doing the bottom paint every two years? Let me know if you have any questions that I might be able to answer about having a trailerable boat.
Trailer
Matt, Like Ray says, a lot depends on your ramp availability. The largest boat in out marina is a Hunter 33.5. All boats are on the hard from Oct. thru April. They have a special trailer that holds the cradle and they launch/retrieve with 4X4 pickup. We will be doing what you are planning with our Sun 27. I will use a F250 4X4 to tow with. Boat/trailer goes about 8500# so I will be pushing my limits. Even with the deep keel, there is not a problem at Atwood lake because the ramp is STEEP. Our old boat was a Venture 222, and I had problems launching because the trailer would drop away from the boat so fast and far. Best of luck with your decision. Bryon This picture was taken on the day we bought her in Oct. 2003. I am still in the process of rebuilding her. Talk about "needs a little TLC."
Matt, Like Ray says, a lot depends on your ramp availability. The largest boat in out marina is a Hunter 33.5. All boats are on the hard from Oct. thru April. They have a special trailer that holds the cradle and they launch/retrieve with 4X4 pickup. We will be doing what you are planning with our Sun 27. I will use a F250 4X4 to tow with. Boat/trailer goes about 8500# so I will be pushing my limits. Even with the deep keel, there is not a problem at Atwood lake because the ramp is STEEP. Our old boat was a Venture 222, and I had problems launching because the trailer would drop away from the boat so fast and far. Best of luck with your decision. Bryon This picture was taken on the day we bought her in Oct. 2003. I am still in the process of rebuilding her. Talk about "needs a little TLC."
Welcome Aboard!
You will love it! There is nothing quite like sailing regardless of the size of the vessel. There are a lot of factors that will influence your purchase decision. Certainly no small factor is the cost. Only you can make that determination. One observation that I might make is that, on the average, trailer sailors just don't sail as much or as often. For me, it was the "hassle factor" that moved me from trailer Sailor to Marina tennent. It was just too much hassle to get the boat in the water, and get underway. I found that I was using the boat less and less as the bones got older and the time available got shorter. If you are committed to the idea of cruising, and the budget is there, consider one of the popular production cruisers (used or course) in the 28'to 32' range. Resale value is generally OK and when you have a few hours and want to go for a sail on a Sunday afternoon, it is an easy decision. s/v Parrot Tales, Beneteau 321
You will love it! There is nothing quite like sailing regardless of the size of the vessel. There are a lot of factors that will influence your purchase decision. Certainly no small factor is the cost. Only you can make that determination. One observation that I might make is that, on the average, trailer sailors just don't sail as much or as often. For me, it was the "hassle factor" that moved me from trailer Sailor to Marina tennent. It was just too much hassle to get the boat in the water, and get underway. I found that I was using the boat less and less as the bones got older and the time available got shorter. If you are committed to the idea of cruising, and the budget is there, consider one of the popular production cruisers (used or course) in the 28'to 32' range. Resale value is generally OK and when you have a few hours and want to go for a sail on a Sunday afternoon, it is an easy decision. s/v Parrot Tales, Beneteau 321
Balancing Act
As Bad O. says, it all depends upon what you want to do with the boat. To go cruising, you'll want a boat you can be comfortable on - for the type of cruising you want to do. To race, you'll want a boat that performs well, and perhaps has sisterships to race against. If you're only using the trailer at the ends of the season, there's no need to limit yourself to some trailerables that compromise a lot of performance and habitability to enable them to get launched easily from a ramp. Any marina with a crane or travelift will be happy to help you in & out, and it shouldn't be too expensive, since you're taking the boat home for the winter. One skipper I know does this with his Tartan 10. Many Yacht Clubs have hoists that can easily pull J/24's - another boat you might want to consider, since it is popular not only in Michigan and Florida, but probably just about everywhere in between as well. The best thing to do might be to try a couple of different boats and see what suits you best.
As Bad O. says, it all depends upon what you want to do with the boat. To go cruising, you'll want a boat you can be comfortable on - for the type of cruising you want to do. To race, you'll want a boat that performs well, and perhaps has sisterships to race against. If you're only using the trailer at the ends of the season, there's no need to limit yourself to some trailerables that compromise a lot of performance and habitability to enable them to get launched easily from a ramp. Any marina with a crane or travelift will be happy to help you in & out, and it shouldn't be too expensive, since you're taking the boat home for the winter. One skipper I know does this with his Tartan 10. Many Yacht Clubs have hoists that can easily pull J/24's - another boat you might want to consider, since it is popular not only in Michigan and Florida, but probably just about everywhere in between as well. The best thing to do might be to try a couple of different boats and see what suits you best.
Hey there Matt
As you can see, i'm just up the road from you
There is a TrailerSailer specific forum here but it doesn't seem to see alot of posts. The link below is to a forum that i've found unbelievably friendly and helpful. Good luck with your quest, we just bought a Morgan 22 last month.
As you can see, i'm just up the road from you
There is a TrailerSailer specific forum here but it doesn't seem to see alot of posts. The link below is to a forum that i've found unbelievably friendly and helpful. Good luck with your quest, we just bought a Morgan 22 last month.Hauling
Matt, Just to let you know, hauling companies (at least in my area) are quite reasonable considering the work that gets done. I bring my 33' hunter home every year, and the total cost (unstepping the mast etc) when you add it all up is only about $100 more than winter storage at the local yard, so don't rule out a full keel should it prove to be what you want. Good luck getting a mooring in FL.
Matt, Just to let you know, hauling companies (at least in my area) are quite reasonable considering the work that gets done. I bring my 33' hunter home every year, and the total cost (unstepping the mast etc) when you add it all up is only about $100 more than winter storage at the local yard, so don't rule out a full keel should it prove to be what you want. Good luck getting a mooring in FL.
Trailer vs marina. cost and use.
Matt, Ray again. I saw in one post that trailered boats don't get the use of docked boats and there are differene options available to you. Where we sail in eastern Washington State marina costs for the summer are about $700 for a 3 to 4 month season. If you want more time you are out of luck. Many of us simply leave the boat rigged and launch her when we want to go out. In my case the cost is $15 per month or $100 for the year. We leave the boat totally rigged and haul her about 100 yards to the ramp. I can hook up and launch in less than 15 minutes and more like 10. The reverse is the same. Hell, it takes longer to walk most docks and then there is the lovely item called the "dock cart search". Add 20 min. to the dock walk. Do the math, we save $645 for the 3 summer months alone and we sail 3 to 5 times a week all summer and one to two days a week thru the cold parts of the spring and fall. If you chose a reasonable size boat with a good trailer, and have a good ramp, then go for the trailered boat. Most marinas in the NW allow this type of use and many racers do this all the time. We have owned a 1980 Catalina 22 and a 1995 Hunter 26 and done this with both. Look hard at the Cat 22's. Low price, BIG fun and performance, easy to tow and launch. You will always get your money out of her when you move up to a bigger boat. Ray
Matt, Ray again. I saw in one post that trailered boats don't get the use of docked boats and there are differene options available to you. Where we sail in eastern Washington State marina costs for the summer are about $700 for a 3 to 4 month season. If you want more time you are out of luck. Many of us simply leave the boat rigged and launch her when we want to go out. In my case the cost is $15 per month or $100 for the year. We leave the boat totally rigged and haul her about 100 yards to the ramp. I can hook up and launch in less than 15 minutes and more like 10. The reverse is the same. Hell, it takes longer to walk most docks and then there is the lovely item called the "dock cart search". Add 20 min. to the dock walk. Do the math, we save $645 for the 3 summer months alone and we sail 3 to 5 times a week all summer and one to two days a week thru the cold parts of the spring and fall. If you chose a reasonable size boat with a good trailer, and have a good ramp, then go for the trailered boat. Most marinas in the NW allow this type of use and many racers do this all the time. We have owned a 1980 Catalina 22 and a 1995 Hunter 26 and done this with both. Look hard at the Cat 22's. Low price, BIG fun and performance, easy to tow and launch. You will always get your money out of her when you move up to a bigger boat. Ray
Plan on two boats...
one for now and one in five years. I suspect you will be ready for a different boat when you move to the Gulf. A lightweight trailerable has many advantages/disadvantages compared to a heavyier boat. Our 1988 MacGregor 26D only weighs 2200 lbs, including trailer. (Not including motor, anchor, stuff, etc.) It carries 1200 lbs of water ballast, which we leave behind and don't have to burn gas to haul down the road. We launch and recover in a couple feet of water and a six cylinder 2 wheel drive will pull her without problem. Several will disagree, but, our M26D will not survive a storm on open water. To stay light it gives up strength and I would expect a hull separation in a storm or a prolonged heavy gale. A hurricane would be suicide, as it just wasn't designed for 30 foot seas. I'd do the day-run to the Bahamas, but nothing overnight on open ocean. After 31 years at sea and dozens of ocean crossings I know how fast weather and luck can change. Enjoy the ability to learn the sport and easily tow a light trailer boat. You've got an excellent highway system that'll expose you to many sailing venues. In five years, sell her for at least break-even and move up to a boat that'll handle the seas and weather on the Gulf Coast. There's one heck of a difference between a lightweight 26' trailerable and a 26' bluewater boat. Besides, once you get hooked on sailing you may end up buying a big boat and taking a 10 year weekend. Speaking of which, has anyone read about the Ottawa family's 1999-2003 circumnavigation? After only six afternoons on a 22' boat they sold it and bought an old 42' cruiser and took off the next spring. They wrote a book called, "The Voyage of the Northern Magic", which is a great read for any sailboater. Check the link for a quick look at their story.
one for now and one in five years. I suspect you will be ready for a different boat when you move to the Gulf. A lightweight trailerable has many advantages/disadvantages compared to a heavyier boat. Our 1988 MacGregor 26D only weighs 2200 lbs, including trailer. (Not including motor, anchor, stuff, etc.) It carries 1200 lbs of water ballast, which we leave behind and don't have to burn gas to haul down the road. We launch and recover in a couple feet of water and a six cylinder 2 wheel drive will pull her without problem. Several will disagree, but, our M26D will not survive a storm on open water. To stay light it gives up strength and I would expect a hull separation in a storm or a prolonged heavy gale. A hurricane would be suicide, as it just wasn't designed for 30 foot seas. I'd do the day-run to the Bahamas, but nothing overnight on open ocean. After 31 years at sea and dozens of ocean crossings I know how fast weather and luck can change. Enjoy the ability to learn the sport and easily tow a light trailer boat. You've got an excellent highway system that'll expose you to many sailing venues. In five years, sell her for at least break-even and move up to a boat that'll handle the seas and weather on the Gulf Coast. There's one heck of a difference between a lightweight 26' trailerable and a 26' bluewater boat. Besides, once you get hooked on sailing you may end up buying a big boat and taking a 10 year weekend. Speaking of which, has anyone read about the Ottawa family's 1999-2003 circumnavigation? After only six afternoons on a 22' boat they sold it and bought an old 42' cruiser and took off the next spring. They wrote a book called, "The Voyage of the Northern Magic", which is a great read for any sailboater. Check the link for a quick look at their story.
Thanks all
Very helpful folks. I'd had a conversation with a marina owner and was told that anything you can trailer will not be satisfying because of the compromises. I was a bit leery of that answer, and you've all given me food for thought. As I said earlier, I liked the idea of the trailer to keep, and work on, at home during the off-season. Another reason was that I'm not finding many deals close to where I want to moor it, and the thought of taking an extended cruise as my first sail sounds a bit hairy. I've never checked but I assume paying someone to get it from one Great Lake over to another would be pretty high.
Very helpful folks. I'd had a conversation with a marina owner and was told that anything you can trailer will not be satisfying because of the compromises. I was a bit leery of that answer, and you've all given me food for thought. As I said earlier, I liked the idea of the trailer to keep, and work on, at home during the off-season. Another reason was that I'm not finding many deals close to where I want to moor it, and the thought of taking an extended cruise as my first sail sounds a bit hairy. I've never checked but I assume paying someone to get it from one Great Lake over to another would be pretty high.
Slip Fees
Maybe I need to move. The marina (and only marina) where I'm at charges $22.00/foot/month! If I want ot rent for the season, then it's only $20/foot/month, and this doesn't include daily dredging/maintenance fees and shore power. I'm envious of you guys. I love trailer sailoring. With many lakes and San Francisco not far away, I'm always gauranteed a change of scenery. Also with the cost of slip fees-- a heck of alot cheaper keeping it in my driveway. Bryan
Maybe I need to move. The marina (and only marina) where I'm at charges $22.00/foot/month! If I want ot rent for the season, then it's only $20/foot/month, and this doesn't include daily dredging/maintenance fees and shore power. I'm envious of you guys. I love trailer sailoring. With many lakes and San Francisco not far away, I'm always gauranteed a change of scenery. Also with the cost of slip fees-- a heck of alot cheaper keeping it in my driveway. Bryan
Mac 25 - In the water
The Mac 25 is designed to be a trailer sailboat. When I bought mine, the trailer had long been sold, kept, lost, whatever. I bought it in a slip, and there it stays. I do plan on moving to another lake when my slip contract is up early next Summer. The nice thing about being in the water is I am always ready to go. I can get in and out of the marina in about 20 minutes (sometimes less; I'm usually not in a hurry). What I give up is the ability to go to other lakes or down to the Gulf coast at will. I have sailed smaller boats and this is my first larger sailboat. The nice thing about it is that it is very forgiving! I can make a mistake without fearing that I am going to harm myself or the boat. It is also very easy to singlehand. A 22-27 foot sailboat is perfect to start on. You will enjoy the sailing without having to worry about too much boat or needing a crew. Once you are comfortable with your own abilities, then you can move up. That is my plan.
The Mac 25 is designed to be a trailer sailboat. When I bought mine, the trailer had long been sold, kept, lost, whatever. I bought it in a slip, and there it stays. I do plan on moving to another lake when my slip contract is up early next Summer. The nice thing about being in the water is I am always ready to go. I can get in and out of the marina in about 20 minutes (sometimes less; I'm usually not in a hurry). What I give up is the ability to go to other lakes or down to the Gulf coast at will. I have sailed smaller boats and this is my first larger sailboat. The nice thing about it is that it is very forgiving! I can make a mistake without fearing that I am going to harm myself or the boat. It is also very easy to singlehand. A 22-27 foot sailboat is perfect to start on. You will enjoy the sailing without having to worry about too much boat or needing a crew. Once you are comfortable with your own abilities, then you can move up. That is my plan.
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