Hi, I apologize for asking a question that has likely been asked before. I own a Ford F150 4 door, 4 wheel drive pickup,5.4 Triton, and would like to know what is the biggest Oday that I can tow, launch and sail by myself. I have considerable experience towing boat but they have been Ranger Bass boats. I have some sailing experience but it has been with small boats, I own a Hobie 16 currently. I will likely be sailing a inland Lake that is not very deep, Carlye Lake in Illinois so I was thinking a swing keel boat like a Oday 25 would be a good option. We would like to have more than a Spartan cabin with things like a private head and full length sleeping areas as well as a cooking and sink area.
most spacious trailor sailor for 1/2 ton truck
- Thread starter troutman
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Check out the Catalina 250 swing keel models as they could be what you need. I use my 1/2 ton Nissan Titan 2010 to tow mine and even with a wing keel. Thats a 6k load but Titans are rated at 9.4k and tows it fine. Hope this helps. Chief
Hunter 26 or 260
The biggest boat you can trailer. Tom Grass has one and is on Carlyle Lake and on Hunterowner. Ask him to see it.
The biggest boat you can trailer. Tom Grass has one and is on Carlyle Lake and on Hunterowner. Ask him to see it.
Thanks for the replies. I guess I need to go look at some boats. I like the Catalina 25's and Hunters but I was under the impression that they both were too heavy to trailer safely with a 1/2 ton truck. It is my understanding that the weight of the truck must be deducted from the total weight a truck can haul, so a truck with a 11,000 pound rating that weighs 5,500 pounds can only safely haul a 5,500 pound boat. When people talk about how much a boat displaces is that a accurate measure of its true weight?
I have a 2006 Explorer with the tow package and is listed as able to tow 7000#. My O'Day 25 empty is 4007#. So if you add stuff, trailer and what not you are probably pushing 6000# or so. I towed it back from north of Detroit to Minneapolis without any problems. Took it out of overdrive and took it easy. This is what we looked like going down the road.
I tow a 2000# Com-Pac Suncat which is a 17 ft. shoal keel/centerboard cat boat with my Jeep Wrangler 3.6 ltr V6. I also use it for off-road so I have 34" dia. tires. Slows down some on the hills otherwise 75 MPH is good.
Take a look at the Com-Pac models. Good boats and also have sloop rigged ones.
Take a look at the Com-Pac models. Good boats and also have sloop rigged ones.
I have trailered a Catalina 22, O'Day 26, and O'Day 272 with my Ram 1500 4x4 with 5.7 Liter. Not all at once, mind you! 
The 22 is way easy for this truck. The 272 is pretty heavy to tow for anything more than a 30 - 40 miles. I towed it for 4 hours to get it home. Took it easy. Got there fine, but felt that thing the whole way.
The 26 was comfortable. I had to traverse some challenging terrain: brought it 110 miles West from The Hudson River to Endicott, NY.
I would go with the 26. 4800 lbs plus a 800 lb trailer will put you in the towing capacity. Make sure you get an extended tongue on the trailer, the boat has a fixed keel beneath it. It also has a swing centerboard, but that tucks inside a trunk in the keel. Also, make sure you get brakes on the trailer, disc brakes if you can. You will need them!
Thanks,
Andrew
The 22 is way easy for this truck. The 272 is pretty heavy to tow for anything more than a 30 - 40 miles. I towed it for 4 hours to get it home. Took it easy. Got there fine, but felt that thing the whole way.
The 26 was comfortable. I had to traverse some challenging terrain: brought it 110 miles West from The Hudson River to Endicott, NY.
I would go with the 26. 4800 lbs plus a 800 lb trailer will put you in the towing capacity. Make sure you get an extended tongue on the trailer, the boat has a fixed keel beneath it. It also has a swing centerboard, but that tucks inside a trunk in the keel. Also, make sure you get brakes on the trailer, disc brakes if you can. You will need them!
Thanks,
Andrew
Your info about towing weight is incorrect. iBoats says use the 75% concept for a safe towing weight. If towing weight max for your truck is 10000 lbs that means they do not suggest that you tow anything over 7500 lbs. Chief
It handled fine. As I said, I took it pretty easy, hovering between 55 & 65, rarely at 65 though. The cargo area of my Explorer also had a couple spare tires for the trailer, the rudder, the sails, the outboard, miscellaneous boat stuff, and a small amount of luggage.
Know your limits and stay within them and you should be just fine.
U have a good truck and motor - If U need the room go with a 25 Oday or Catalina or maybe the 26 ODay or S2. The only issue U will experience will be mast raising and lowering. Your concern will not be your truck!
With a similar truck I pulled our 22 ODay from Cuba, WI to Detroit through Chicago at 5:00 PM and forgot it was behind? The gentleman that now has the boat is taking it from Port Huron, MI to Punta Gorda, FL for the winter using his Trailblaser.
If you are going to be a traveling trailer sailor keep between 17ft and 23ft... You have many choices... ;o)
With a similar truck I pulled our 22 ODay from Cuba, WI to Detroit through Chicago at 5:00 PM and forgot it was behind? The gentleman that now has the boat is taking it from Port Huron, MI to Punta Gorda, FL for the winter using his Trailblaser.
If you are going to be a traveling trailer sailor keep between 17ft and 23ft... You have many choices... ;o)
Thanks Happy Dolphin, I agree with your assessment. I was able to purchase a very easy trailer sailor boat, V21. I know it is not spacious but it is very easy to tow and launch. In the end I decided to go with a boat that I felt comfortable with. The boat is clean and solid, the mast was bent and I was able to straighten it already, it is ready to go and only cost $575. I will sell it in a few years and get a Oday or Catalina but for now this is what I am going with.