Hello... new around here... I am looking for a boat... with a strange set of requirements... Essentially... it must be: - As large as possible inside for a 2 adults and 2 children... but... - Must have a mast that can be raised and lowered singlehandedly or can be rigged to do so... and... - Must have a trailer... the weight and size can be high but it must have a trailer not a cradle and not require a crane to launch and retrieve I am on a Canal system (Rideau) with a few reasonable sized lakes, and can wander among a few lakes without worrying about mast height. However, to get out of the canal system, I would need to lower the mast and motor for a day or so and would like to to so to take sailing vacations around the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario. I will be able to leave it in the lake during the season, but would need a trailer to launch, retrieve, and store. There is no crane on the lake. However again, the weight is not important I expect to use a tow truck service and don't mind getting the permit in spring and fall if it is overwide. The draft cannot be more than about 4', but likely would have to be a shoal keel to make it launchable without a crane. If you have a boat for sale that meets these criteria, please get in touch... Otherwise... any suggestions on what might suit my needs? I would like it to be as large as possible, up to around 30', if it meets the above criteria. Cheers.
Looking for a boat recommendation... see within...
- Thread starter tboicey
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Look up Seaward 25 or 32 under yachtworld.com
made by Hake in Florida....I think they are nice boats the a very shallow draft and can be trailered. abe
made by Hake in Florida....I think they are nice boats the a very shallow draft and can be trailered. abe
Oday ,Catalina
The 25 Odays had a shoal draft .The Catalina 25 have a swing keel The 25 Hunter my well firt your needs.Pretty much any deck stepped mast can be raised or lowered by one person. I am easily and safely able to raise the mast on our 25 Oday even on the water.The key is technique and control not muscle. Almost everyone wants a trailer for a boat in this size range. When we were shopping for our boat online ,we always typed in trailer in the search box.
The 25 Odays had a shoal draft .The Catalina 25 have a swing keel The 25 Hunter my well firt your needs.Pretty much any deck stepped mast can be raised or lowered by one person. I am easily and safely able to raise the mast on our 25 Oday even on the water.The key is technique and control not muscle. Almost everyone wants a trailer for a boat in this size range. When we were shopping for our boat online ,we always typed in trailer in the search box.
shoal draft boats
I would consider looking at some of the cat boats (not to be confused with catamarans) which tend to be very beamy, flat bottoms, shallow draft and roomy except for head room. Go to the cat boat association website (link below) for a lot of information, including companies that make them and available used boats. I am sure that many of them have masts on hinges, especially the classic ones with gaff rigs. On the plus side is shallow draft, comfortable room, easy to handle, not too much heeling and they look terrific. On the down side, many of them are not great to windward, and there isn't usually much headroom below. Some of them can be expensive for their size.
I would consider looking at some of the cat boats (not to be confused with catamarans) which tend to be very beamy, flat bottoms, shallow draft and roomy except for head room. Go to the cat boat association website (link below) for a lot of information, including companies that make them and available used boats. I am sure that many of them have masts on hinges, especially the classic ones with gaff rigs. On the plus side is shallow draft, comfortable room, easy to handle, not too much heeling and they look terrific. On the down side, many of them are not great to windward, and there isn't usually much headroom below. Some of them can be expensive for their size.
Unusual requirements
Finding a trailerable sailboat with shallow draft won't be much problem. If I understand your requirement you want to be able to raise and lower the mast to get under bridges then raise it again. My guess is you'll have to settle for something well below 30 foot. Finding a sailboat that can be water stepped without much trouble will be a challenge. Good Luck!! Let us know what you come up with.
Finding a trailerable sailboat with shallow draft won't be much problem. If I understand your requirement you want to be able to raise and lower the mast to get under bridges then raise it again. My guess is you'll have to settle for something well below 30 foot. Finding a sailboat that can be water stepped without much trouble will be a challenge. Good Luck!! Let us know what you come up with.
Big trailer cat
How about a 36'long X 24'wide catamaran that can be folded to be street legally trailered? See related link below. The video of compressing/extending hulls is particularly interesting. Well, you didn't mention what your budget is! Happy sails *_/), MArk
How about a 36'long X 24'wide catamaran that can be folded to be street legally trailered? See related link below. The video of compressing/extending hulls is particularly interesting. Well, you didn't mention what your budget is! Happy sails *_/), MArk
Follow up... combined replies...
Many thanks for all of the comments... some more info: > Finding a trailerable sailboat with shallow draft won't be much problem. If > I understand your requirement you want to be able to raise and lower the > mast to get under bridges then raise it again. > > Finding a sailboat that can be water stepped without much trouble will > be a challenge. Good Luck!! Let us know what you come up with. To clarify, I don't need to put the mast up and down all day. Specifically, for me to leave my lake to get to the St. Lawrence seaway, I would have to lower the mast, then motor for a day or so through smaller lakes and canals, then put it up once I popped out of the end of the canal and began the "sailing" part of the vacation. So I'm ok if it takes even an hour to drop the mast and raise it, but obviously the faster the better. > Big trailer cat Crazy...! > MacGregor 26 I have viewed both 26Xs and the older 26 style. The older 26 style would suit, along with the Hunter 260s/Catalina 25s and similar. Of note though, in case I wasn't clear, the boat doesn't really have to be "trailerable" so much as "movable with a trailer". So even if it was 8000lbs, as long as I can hire a tow truck to come and launch/retrieve, that's fine. I don't expect to own a vehicle that can even tow a 3000lb'er for a few years. The Hunter 260 certainly does look large inside, at least in images. Lots of research.... ;>
Many thanks for all of the comments... some more info: > Finding a trailerable sailboat with shallow draft won't be much problem. If > I understand your requirement you want to be able to raise and lower the > mast to get under bridges then raise it again. > > Finding a sailboat that can be water stepped without much trouble will > be a challenge. Good Luck!! Let us know what you come up with. To clarify, I don't need to put the mast up and down all day. Specifically, for me to leave my lake to get to the St. Lawrence seaway, I would have to lower the mast, then motor for a day or so through smaller lakes and canals, then put it up once I popped out of the end of the canal and began the "sailing" part of the vacation. So I'm ok if it takes even an hour to drop the mast and raise it, but obviously the faster the better. > Big trailer cat Crazy...! > MacGregor 26 I have viewed both 26Xs and the older 26 style. The older 26 style would suit, along with the Hunter 260s/Catalina 25s and similar. Of note though, in case I wasn't clear, the boat doesn't really have to be "trailerable" so much as "movable with a trailer". So even if it was 8000lbs, as long as I can hire a tow truck to come and launch/retrieve, that's fine. I don't expect to own a vehicle that can even tow a 3000lb'er for a few years. The Hunter 260 certainly does look large inside, at least in images. Lots of research.... ;>
Hunter 260
At the marina where I've got my Mac 25, there's a few Hunter 260's. I spent an hour on one (2001 model) with the owner chatting while we were waiting for wind to pick up last Saturday. I was very impressed with the roominess of the cabin, and he said mast raising is a snap. He bought his boat from a guy in Virgina who had to lower and raise the mast to get out for "good sailing". If money isn't an object, the 260's look like a good boat and seem to be selling used in the range of well-equipped Mac 26's. One advantage the Mac may offer you is being able to use a larger motor to get out to the St. Lawrence quicker. I still have not been on a Mac 26X or 26M, so I can't speak for their head room. All I know is I'm 6' and I was able to move about in the Hunter comfortably. Personally, I like the retractable keel on my Mac, if I want to get into a shallow cove, I just reel it in, or if the depth finder is wrong and I stick it in some mud, I'm out of there in no time.
At the marina where I've got my Mac 25, there's a few Hunter 260's. I spent an hour on one (2001 model) with the owner chatting while we were waiting for wind to pick up last Saturday. I was very impressed with the roominess of the cabin, and he said mast raising is a snap. He bought his boat from a guy in Virgina who had to lower and raise the mast to get out for "good sailing". If money isn't an object, the 260's look like a good boat and seem to be selling used in the range of well-equipped Mac 26's. One advantage the Mac may offer you is being able to use a larger motor to get out to the St. Lawrence quicker. I still have not been on a Mac 26X or 26M, so I can't speak for their head room. All I know is I'm 6' and I was able to move about in the Hunter comfortably. Personally, I like the retractable keel on my Mac, if I want to get into a shallow cove, I just reel it in, or if the depth finder is wrong and I stick it in some mud, I'm out of there in no time.
Mast raising/lowering while underway
Ok maybe the 36' cat is not your style. MacGregor has been making mast raising systems for their boats for at least 20 years. The link below is to MacGreor's site showing how it's currently done on the 26M. http://www.macgregor26.com/mast_raising/mast_raising.htm I have to agree with Abby; if you need to motor a ways to get to your favorite sailing waters, a 26X (my personal favorite) or 26M will get you there faster saving more time for what you really want to be doing... sailing! I still have my 26X VHS from 1996. You can get the MacGregor 26M DVD for $6 here: http://www.macgregor26.com/video_55_minutes/video.htm Happy sails *_/), MArk
Ok maybe the 36' cat is not your style. MacGregor has been making mast raising systems for their boats for at least 20 years. The link below is to MacGreor's site showing how it's currently done on the 26M. http://www.macgregor26.com/mast_raising/mast_raising.htm I have to agree with Abby; if you need to motor a ways to get to your favorite sailing waters, a 26X (my personal favorite) or 26M will get you there faster saving more time for what you really want to be doing... sailing! I still have my 26X VHS from 1996. You can get the MacGregor 26M DVD for $6 here: http://www.macgregor26.com/video_55_minutes/video.htm Happy sails *_/), MArk
Two Key needs...
You have a special situation and have defined your needs. I think a Mac or a water ballasted Hunter is the ticket. I am answering tow of your specific needs. 1. Raise and lower the mast. The Hunter 240 makes that pretty easy. 2. Small Lakes: though I would perfer an O'Day, Catalina, Seaward, I think since the chance of light winds are the norm in these small lakes, the Hunters and Mac's are great light air boats. The problem I have is mixing this with a Great Lakes type of sailing. hope this helps. r.w.landau
You have a special situation and have defined your needs. I think a Mac or a water ballasted Hunter is the ticket. I am answering tow of your specific needs. 1. Raise and lower the mast. The Hunter 240 makes that pretty easy. 2. Small Lakes: though I would perfer an O'Day, Catalina, Seaward, I think since the chance of light winds are the norm in these small lakes, the Hunters and Mac's are great light air boats. The problem I have is mixing this with a Great Lakes type of sailing. hope this helps. r.w.landau
looking for a boat
Only one way to go really. Water ballast and there are lots around. Do you want new or used how much $$$$$$$$.Look up Bill at BOATS4SAIL.He sells MACGREGOR 26M and will give you a great deal.You can sleep 6 easily in the mac26.You should be able to get a new M26 with all you need to start for undder $30,000 including 50hp motor, it will float in 12" water and comes with the trailer.Look at Macgregor sailors web site.Get the Mac dvd to learn all about it. Good luck.
Only one way to go really. Water ballast and there are lots around. Do you want new or used how much $$$$$$$$.Look up Bill at BOATS4SAIL.He sells MACGREGOR 26M and will give you a great deal.You can sleep 6 easily in the mac26.You should be able to get a new M26 with all you need to start for undder $30,000 including 50hp motor, it will float in 12" water and comes with the trailer.Look at Macgregor sailors web site.Get the Mac dvd to learn all about it. Good luck.
mast raising
do a google search for a gin pole and then a search for an a-frame use mast raising in both searches. These are pieces of equipment that could be easily built to assist you in raising or lowering your mast. I've even used my boom for the gin pole version. Here's a link to a site that details the construction of a gin pole. good luck.
do a google search for a gin pole and then a search for an a-frame use mast raising in both searches. These are pieces of equipment that could be easily built to assist you in raising or lowering your mast. I've even used my boom for the gin pole version. Here's a link to a site that details the construction of a gin pole. good luck.
I think your looking for an
Mac 26 X motor sailor. You might like the older/newer 1999s better 2004s. The extra power will be good dealing with currents.
Mac 26 X motor sailor. You might like the older/newer 1999s better 2004s. The extra power will be good dealing with currents.
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