anchoring and trailering the 26 d
i just returned from trailer sailing my 26d...i started from fairhope, alabama and bought a house in prescott, arizona along the way. i bought a brand new 6" aluminum i beam, dual axel trailer with surge brakes and torsions rather than leaf springs. it was a great move as i never had a problem towing this boat including going over the tetons and all through southern british columbia. i did have problems anchoring until a crust old cod fisherman saw my dilema and told me i had great need of more chain than i had on. i improvised with a found mooring ball and it held the bow line good while taking stress off the anchor. not enough weight (chain) was causing the anchor to lift in the mud off the islands and inlets in the inside passage. i only have a jib and main, not a large genoa and no roller furling yet, but this boat did great in a 40+wind until i found safe harbor. i am thinking about a remodel down below, but will sail on a friend's 26x first and see how it feels. i did meet some folks with a 99 26x and i liked the looks of their interior, especially the extended sleeping area they improvised in the bow...two comfortably. i have no intentions of crawling under the cockpit to sleep so i am curious if any "d" boaters have rearranged the bow area to create better room for sleeping for two.i never cooked inside and probably never will, so that area is looking like a remodel to me and maybe move the head some.but, all in all this was an amazing boat to travel with. i did 7,000 miles over many mountain ranges and deserts and sailed everywhere i could. it is now a new life style.gary