Having just completed the ASA Basic Coastal Cruising course, I am now beginning to shop for our next boat. WANTED: Trailerable (max about 26-28 ft) sloop, shoal keel with centerboard, wheel steering, or easily convertible to same. Powerful sailplan (reefable), lively hull. Flexible on whether inboard or outboard auxiliary power, but if inboard MUST be diesel. Well conceived sail controls with traveler. QUESTION: What boat(s) exist that fit the criteria, and where can I find more info? Thanks! Bob
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O'Days
Have you looked at O'Days in that size range? They seem to fit your criteria and are available at very reasonable prices.
Have you looked at O'Days in that size range? They seem to fit your criteria and are available at very reasonable prices.
All that and more...
I had a Venture (MacGregor) 17 and an O'Day 20. Next will be a MacGregor 26X or 26M. Living in an inland county with 80 public, shallow lakes (550 total), I'll get as much use out of the motor (fishing/camping) as the sails. For longer sails, I have Tampa Bay and near-by islands/keys less than an hour's drive. http://www.macgregor26.com/
I had a Venture (MacGregor) 17 and an O'Day 20. Next will be a MacGregor 26X or 26M. Living in an inland county with 80 public, shallow lakes (550 total), I'll get as much use out of the motor (fishing/camping) as the sails. For longer sails, I have Tampa Bay and near-by islands/keys less than an hour's drive. http://www.macgregor26.com/
Not too many
After reviewing your criteria, I couldn't think of any boats that meet all of them. The one that comes closest: Oday 25: while the entire Oday line of trailer sailers all have the shoal keel/centerboard combo (early models of the 22 did not have a centerboard, only the stub keel) only the 25 is potentially big enough to have wheel steering added. However, you would have to overcome the fact that the rudder is mounted on the transom (how the heck do you get wheel steering on that?!). I have never seen a 25 with inboard power, but I have read posts on this site about owners who have added that feature to their 23's and 25's. Like most trailerables, the sailplan of the 25 is not particularly powerful, and it did not come with a traveler, although I have seen them added. I think you will have to make some compromises somewhere. The two most limiting factors in your criteria seems to be the centerboard/shoal keel and your desire for wheel steering. There just aren't too many boats built with the shoal keel/centerboard combination; it is perhaps the most expensive way to construct a trailerable boat. I agree with you if you are of the opinion that it is the best configuration for sailing ability in shoal areas and trailering; however, with the exception of the Rhodes 22, I don't know of any manufacturer of trailerables who is still making one. If you really want a trailerable, you may need to consider swing keel models like the Catalina 25, which had a tall rig option, came with a nifty sail handling package including a traveler, and was often retro-fitted with inboard power. Wheel steering is also going to be tough because every trailerable cruiser I know about has a transom-mounted rudder, and (even assuming you can find the room between the seats and reenforce the cockpit sole enough to accept a pedestal) there is just no easy or cheap way to retrofit that kind of system. To get wheel steering, you need to go with a rudder mounted with an internal rudder post; you may need to move out of the "trailerable" category of boats to find it. There are lots of great boats out there. Good luck and let us all know what you decide on.
After reviewing your criteria, I couldn't think of any boats that meet all of them. The one that comes closest: Oday 25: while the entire Oday line of trailer sailers all have the shoal keel/centerboard combo (early models of the 22 did not have a centerboard, only the stub keel) only the 25 is potentially big enough to have wheel steering added. However, you would have to overcome the fact that the rudder is mounted on the transom (how the heck do you get wheel steering on that?!). I have never seen a 25 with inboard power, but I have read posts on this site about owners who have added that feature to their 23's and 25's. Like most trailerables, the sailplan of the 25 is not particularly powerful, and it did not come with a traveler, although I have seen them added. I think you will have to make some compromises somewhere. The two most limiting factors in your criteria seems to be the centerboard/shoal keel and your desire for wheel steering. There just aren't too many boats built with the shoal keel/centerboard combination; it is perhaps the most expensive way to construct a trailerable boat. I agree with you if you are of the opinion that it is the best configuration for sailing ability in shoal areas and trailering; however, with the exception of the Rhodes 22, I don't know of any manufacturer of trailerables who is still making one. If you really want a trailerable, you may need to consider swing keel models like the Catalina 25, which had a tall rig option, came with a nifty sail handling package including a traveler, and was often retro-fitted with inboard power. Wheel steering is also going to be tough because every trailerable cruiser I know about has a transom-mounted rudder, and (even assuming you can find the room between the seats and reenforce the cockpit sole enough to accept a pedestal) there is just no easy or cheap way to retrofit that kind of system. To get wheel steering, you need to go with a rudder mounted with an internal rudder post; you may need to move out of the "trailerable" category of boats to find it. There are lots of great boats out there. Good luck and let us all know what you decide on.
I'm wondering ...
... about a couple of your specs. Wheel ... as a previous poster mentioned, it's a tough spec in this size. I have a C27, which often comes with a wheel, but I wouldn't want it in that size cockpit, much less in a 25. (personal preference I think) Trailerable ... as the primary use or a way of occassionally moving the boat? If primary, I think you'll end up having to compromise on a number of your other requirements. If secondary ... i.e, to move the boat to different waters once in awhile ... that opens up a lot of alternatives. What is really driving your shoal keel/centerboard spec? There are some fixed shoal-draft keel models out there that are relatively trailerable that let you get in pretty close to the beach while still providing great performance. Bill (previous post) has one ... the Huunter 25.5. It has a 39" draft and great sailsplan/controls. There are numerous others, although again, you probably wouldn't want to trailer them all the time. Start checking out the model information and owner reviews on these websites. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
... about a couple of your specs. Wheel ... as a previous poster mentioned, it's a tough spec in this size. I have a C27, which often comes with a wheel, but I wouldn't want it in that size cockpit, much less in a 25. (personal preference I think) Trailerable ... as the primary use or a way of occassionally moving the boat? If primary, I think you'll end up having to compromise on a number of your other requirements. If secondary ... i.e, to move the boat to different waters once in awhile ... that opens up a lot of alternatives. What is really driving your shoal keel/centerboard spec? There are some fixed shoal-draft keel models out there that are relatively trailerable that let you get in pretty close to the beach while still providing great performance. Bill (previous post) has one ... the Huunter 25.5. It has a 39" draft and great sailsplan/controls. There are numerous others, although again, you probably wouldn't want to trailer them all the time. Start checking out the model information and owner reviews on these websites. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
How About the Hunter 260?
Bob, The Hunter 260 seems to meet your criteria - you can get it with wheel steering and both rudder and centerboard retract. I just bought one after having a MacGregor 26D for 8 years. David Hoch S/V Abundance
Bob, The Hunter 260 seems to meet your criteria - you can get it with wheel steering and both rudder and centerboard retract. I just bought one after having a MacGregor 26D for 8 years. David Hoch S/V Abundance
Attachments
what about trailering?
David, How are you able to get away from trailer width laws? I was looking at the Hunter 260 and was very interested..then found out the beam is 5 1/2 inches wider than maximum allowed without a permit. I seem to keep going back to the Mac 26 classic. You have one for sale?
Bryan blricks@pol.net
David, How are you able to get away from trailer width laws? I was looking at the Hunter 260 and was very interested..then found out the beam is 5 1/2 inches wider than maximum allowed without a permit. I seem to keep going back to the Mac 26 classic. You have one for sale?
Bryan blricks@pol.net
Reminder
Just a reminder that our forum policies do not permit the posting of boats for sale. If you wish to communicate that to the author of this topic please contact him offline. Thanks! ph.
Just a reminder that our forum policies do not permit the posting of boats for sale. If you wish to communicate that to the author of this topic please contact him offline. Thanks! ph.
Cops don't bat an eye at H26.
We towed our 95 H26, on a Hunter 2 axle trailer, all over the west coast and northwest and never had a cop even look twice at her for width. They did look it over when they found out that we used it as a camper when hauling to other waters. You see 24 to 27 foot power boats being towed without permits all the time and they are even wider. Ray
We towed our 95 H26, on a Hunter 2 axle trailer, all over the west coast and northwest and never had a cop even look twice at her for width. They did look it over when they found out that we used it as a camper when hauling to other waters. You see 24 to 27 foot power boats being towed without permits all the time and they are even wider. Ray
narrowing down 2nd boat choices
My desire for a "trailerable" boat is NOT so that I can drag it up and down I-95 all year. I just want to keep it rigged, sitting on the trailer at the marina where my H216 is now. The Indian River is close to Guiness status in barnacle production! I can waive the shoal keel with centerboard spec if necessary. Shoal keel alone, or maybe just ballast in the bilge with centerboard/daggerboard will probably do. Another thought was the vertically-retracting bulb keel I've seen on a few newer designs. Budget realities may impede going that way, however, especially when you consider that it usually (not always) takes 3 or more tries before you find what you REALLY like. I've recovered from my Corsair fetish by exposure to the two at our marina. I see too many fin keel and deep keel boats getting hung up in the shallows down here. I haven't really considered the water ballasted models because (no offense to their MANY advocates!), the fuller mid-hull look just doesn't appeal to my eye. We all know that emotional appeal weighs in when considering boats, potential significant others, cars, etc. I found a couple of Chrysler 26's that I'm trying to get specs on right now. They have a centerboard and wheel steering. I need to know: 1. Sail area 2. Total displacement 3. How much ballast they carry Any other info, especially from owners (current or former) would be appreciated, as well as suggestions for boats from my now more relaxed set of specs. Bob Cowgill Cocoa, Florida E-mail:rcowgill@cfl.rr.com
My desire for a "trailerable" boat is NOT so that I can drag it up and down I-95 all year. I just want to keep it rigged, sitting on the trailer at the marina where my H216 is now. The Indian River is close to Guiness status in barnacle production! I can waive the shoal keel with centerboard spec if necessary. Shoal keel alone, or maybe just ballast in the bilge with centerboard/daggerboard will probably do. Another thought was the vertically-retracting bulb keel I've seen on a few newer designs. Budget realities may impede going that way, however, especially when you consider that it usually (not always) takes 3 or more tries before you find what you REALLY like. I've recovered from my Corsair fetish by exposure to the two at our marina. I see too many fin keel and deep keel boats getting hung up in the shallows down here. I haven't really considered the water ballasted models because (no offense to their MANY advocates!), the fuller mid-hull look just doesn't appeal to my eye. We all know that emotional appeal weighs in when considering boats, potential significant others, cars, etc. I found a couple of Chrysler 26's that I'm trying to get specs on right now. They have a centerboard and wheel steering. I need to know: 1. Sail area 2. Total displacement 3. How much ballast they carry Any other info, especially from owners (current or former) would be appreciated, as well as suggestions for boats from my now more relaxed set of specs. Bob Cowgill Cocoa, Florida E-mail:rcowgill@cfl.rr.com
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