My new to me C27

[caguy]

I have been looking for a long time for a C27 on a trailer that I could afford and finally did. I will bringing it back during Spring Break. I'll have nine days +/- for an adventurous road trip.
Here is a link to my new boat.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...5682&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#v4-14
Any suggestions are always appreciated.

 

[JerryA]

cayguy,

Looks like a good deal. Needs some love, but looks pretty straight forward. What is the keel setting on? In the picture it looks to be sitting on the axle? Is it ok to trailer a C27 without the keel as support? Just wondering. I'm on the way from PA depending on your route. I'll PM my number just in case you run into some trouble on your way through Ohio, as I'd be willing to help where I can. Maybe some of the other forum members will chime in and build you a safety net of sorts back to California.

JerryA

 

[CalebD]

Sounds like a decent price Frank. I guess you will become familiar with the sail-drive motor while trying to fix that one up. I too wonder about the trailer and lack of keel support.
It is a pretty long ride from Philly to MDR. I guess there weren't any other C27s that were closer to you?
Congrats on moving up.

 

[CharlieCobra]

Congrats Frank.

 

[caguy]

cayguy,

Looks like a good deal. Needs some love, but looks pretty straight forward. What is the keel setting on? In the picture it looks to be sitting on the axle? Is it ok to trailer a C27 without the keel as support? Just wondering. I'm on the way from PA depending on your route. I'll PM my number just in case you run into some trouble on your way through Ohio, as I'd be willing to help where I can. Maybe some of the other forum members will chime in and build you a safety net of sorts back to California.

JerryA

Thanks Jerry for that observation and the support. I'll write to him and see what he says. The trailer was made for the boat in 2001. His company makes trailers for just about anything including boats. He is at
http://www.vikingtrailer.com/company.html .

 

[Sumner]

Congrats on the boat. I imagine you will be on 40. I'm about 3 hours north of Gallup, NM. If you have any problems in this area get hold of me. I also have car buddies along that whole route that could/would help if you needed it.

I guess you saw this one in LA....

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/boa/1529399876.html

This one is sure close to you so you must of seen it....

http://losangeles.en.craigslist.org/wst/boa/1527009996.html

I just checked craig's list a minute ago and found these...

http://www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.c...&fil=27&ys=&ye=&ps=&pe=&pgs=100&submit=++++go++++

If I was you and found something as good or better between now and when you pick her up then maybe put that one back up for sale.

Whatever the outcome I'll be envious of you. I read about that boat in "Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere" and fell in love with it. It will be a great boat,

Sum

 

[Benny]

Caguy, it looks like a nice deal. You have a very nice trailer to take the boat back home with and then you can sell it perhaps to cover some of the costs of repowering. This boat once launched will require a wet slip or a mooring as it is not a "trailerable" boat. Take advantage that the boat will be on the trailer to redo the bottom and replace any through the hulls. This is also the time to try and fix the engine and if it is not possible, then to consider the mode of repowering. It would be the time to replace the sail drive or seal up the hole and install an outboard. Have seen many C-27 with outboards and they seem to do just fine. It looks like a lot of the work needed is elbow grease so after the sale of the trailer you can end up with a real nice boat at a bargain cost. Yes the keel will need some support for trailering, see if you can set up a 2 X 6 piece of lumber to sit under the keel and restrain any vertical movement. Good luck and congratulations.

 

[JoeWhite]

I thinkyou got a good deal. The good part is that you have a trailer to go with it.
1) Since its beam is 9' - check the states you are going through. Some states allow no more than 8' and some up to 8.5'. Also check the surge brakes on the trailer and make sure its axle bearings are greased and the lights work. I trailer my 25.5 Hunter that has 9' 1" beam and no one has stopped me! Also you might want to travel during day only. Carry a spare tire for the trailer. The rims are different than cars. Carry a hydraulic jack - if you go flat and need to chang the tire, the jack from your car will not lift the boat and the trailer. If you need to stop at a gas station be aware of the hight of the load that you are carrying and the radius that you need to turn. Try to not back-up! If it has an outboard engine - remove it and palce it in your truck with the handle on the bottom of the engine.
Good luck and let us know how it went.

 

[caguy]

Sum I did see those but they all have fin keels or by the time I find a trailer they are off the market and /or out of my cheapo price range. Most of the good deals I found are always back east where the cost of living is much cheaper.
Frank

 

[caguy]

Caguy, it looks like a nice deal. You have a very nice trailer to take the boat back home with and then you can sell it perhaps to cover some of the costs of repowering. This boat once launched will require a wet slip or a mooring as it is not a "trailerable" boat. Take advantage that the boat will be on the trailer to redo the bottom and replace any through the hulls. This is also the time to try and fix the engine and if it is not possible, then to consider the mode of repowering. It would be the time to replace the sail drive or seal up the hole and install an outboard. Have seen many C-27 with outboards and they seem to do just fine. It looks like a lot of the work needed is elbow grease so after the sale of the trailer you can end up with a real nice boat at a bargain cost. Yes the keel will need some support for trailering, see if you can set up a 2 X 6 piece of lumber to sit under the keel and restrain any vertical movement. Good luck and congratulations.

Benny I plan on keeping it on a trailer. The most I will trailer it is 100 yds from mastup storage to the ramp. There are quite a few shoal draft keel boat in mastup storage I don't anticipate any problems with launching and retrieving on a weekly basis. As far as traveling I believe the beam on the '82 is 8-6. /The later C27's have a 9+ ft beam. The most I might trailer it is to San Diego once a year.

 

[BobM]

Insurance

Be sure to get your insurance sorted before you go. I know that BoatUS has insurance that covers you for trailering as well and for such a long trip it may be well worth the coin for a one time deal. They are pretty flexible and will quote on nearly anything in my experience. For example, I hired a Captain to help me move my boat and they gave me a rider on my policy for a couple of weeks to be sure he was covered on my policy. Cost was $120, which I thought was cheap insurance if for some reason disaster struck.

Congratulations on the new boat! Buying a boat on a trailer from a guy who sells trailers seems perfect. Hopefully his trailer is in perfect condition and it isn't a case of the shoemakers children going barefoot. I suggest you push for a thorough assessment from him before hand and offer to pay for any repairs before you get there. That can be risky in that if you get there and need to walk away from the purchase you have more money involved. Alternately it seems that you have a few days built into your schedule for emergencies. Given your long trip I'd probably be sure the trailer has new wheel bearings and that the tires aren't dry rotted. Whether or not the brakes, if there are any, are functional will also be important. What is your tow vehicle?

 

[r.oril]

Way cool! Get her in the water, fix whats needed to be safe and enjoy the boat as you fix her up. Tires may look good but four brand new ones that have had the manufactured date checked (XXXX) would be a small investment(SAT ON TRAILER FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS). Mine look good but they were made in 2001. Only good for 6 years max. They will be replaced this summer.
Maybe this year, we can sail together.

 

[Slim pickins]

Caguy,
congrats!!!! Looks to be a winner. If your coming thru Kansas city, I'm available for any help or a place to crash for the night. Just send me an email and I'll give you my cell #.

 

[Sumner]

I've made the trip east on 40 and west to Calif many times. There are very long distances between towns. Like the others have said......tires....tires and more tires. If you can find the bolt pattern (most likely 5 on 4 1/2) and can borrow another tire/wheel or two to take with you I would. One minimum and 2-3 is not too many in this case.

I loaned my car hauler to a friend and he took it about 800 miles round tirp and the tires were less than 6 years old and only had about 10,000 miles on them. He blew one on the trip and the others were about ready to let go when he got back. I replaced them. Right before the trip one was flat, the rubber tire stem had rotted off. I checked the others and I just had to push them and they broke off. I replaced them all with metal stems. Sorry to harp on this, but it is a real drag to have a problem and have to leave the trailer and travel a couple hundred miles round trip to get a tire or tires fixed. Had that happen helping a friend move from Wyo. to Calif. The tires on her trailer gave out in Nevada and we had a 240 mile round trip to get new ones. Like someone said hopefully since he is a trailer manufacture this is all for naught.

I agree only travel during the daylight. No fun trying to fix something in the middle of the night in the dark with semi's roaring by you 10 feet away at 75-80, what they run in New Mexico and Arizona. Had that happen also. It looks like a 5 day trip to me from PA to CA if you run in the daylight. I drive fast (75-80), but with a boat that big 60-65 would be tops.

Do you have trailer wiring now? Call ahead and make sure you are wired the same way for the same plug and save some time there.

Do you have a transmission cooler on the tow vehicle?

Road wise it is a pretty easy trip. OK City can be confusing, stay on your toes there. I would not go straight into St. Louis going west with the boat. Pretty confusing right after you get to the Missouri side of the bridge and some tight turns. Take the outer bypass route that goes around south of the city.

It is going to be a great adventure and hope you don't mind some of us harping about the tires and such. We just want to see you have a safe trip with no real drama. My number is 435-678-3094 and like I said I have friends all along that route that can fix most things.

Good luck,

Sum

 

[caguy]

Re Tires: Have you guys forgotten I'm the one who posted the video warnings about tires.
Thanks for the phone numbers I will keep them handy and hopefully won't need them. Its reassuring to know a friendly face is close at hand.
I agree about traveling by day, I would like to see some sights along the way. I will probably use Google Earth http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/outboard-bracket.htm to plan the trip. If you haven't discovered Earthink (sorry meant to say Google Earth) yet, its pretty cool.

 

[Sumner]

Re Tires: Have you guys forgotten I'm the one who posted the video warnings about tires...........

Hey I'm 65, that is my excuse and I'm sticking with it :cry:. Ok I'll quit worrying about you , but that is a long haul.

Last fall (Nov/Dec) we went to Long Beach and moved Ruth's stuff back here to Utah and were here for 2 days and then drove to her daughter's in PA and then on to my sister's in Conn.. We were back home a couple weeks later via Kansas City in a snow storm to pick up a trailer full of aluminum we left there. We decided no more winter trips east in the cold and snow for the two of us. You should have good weather, but you can still get snow that time of the year from Flagstaff to the Oklahoma border.

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[caguy]

Hey I'm 65, that is my excuse and I'm sticking with it :cry:. Ok I'll quit worrying about you , but that is a long haul.
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/macgregor-links-1.html

Sum I really appreciate your concern. I've written the seller and requested the wheel size, hole spacing and hub size. I will likely take two spares to switch out before I hit the road. And you better believe I will decode the date on the tires before I buy.

The seller wrote back and said a keel support can be attached. I spoke to him on the phone and he seems like a pretty decent fella. Of course, he's from the State of Brotherly Love, as is my wife.

 

[Sumner]

.... I will probably use Earthlink to plan the trip. If you haven't discovered Earthink yet, its pretty cool.

When I tried that it linked me to MapQuest and they had a disastrous route if you were pulling a heavy load. It took you up through Utah and across Colorado. A great scenic drive (done it a number of times), but to haul a heavy trailer that way would be a terrible experience. Also as far as I can tell the south end of Chicago where all of the interstates intersect is another place to try an avoid at all costs. I guess all the road work there might be finished since I've been through there.

The route I would for sure take with a trailer would be 15 up to 40, then 40 to Oak City, then 44/Ok turnpike to St. Louis and then 70 east to PA. At least you don't have to drive all the way across PA. Well reverse that route since you are coming from the other way with the boat:cry:.

I had to throw this in as you didn't want anymore tire advice,

Sum

 

[caguy]

Sorry Sum I meant Google Earth. It gives you a three dimensional view to the terrain. It also points out places of interest with pictures that people have posted. I have a few post in there myself. No lie with 8000 lbs of boat behind me I won't be looking for any hills to climb.
Here is a link to Google Earth, check it out.

http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/outboard-bracket.htm

Frank

 

[Sumner]

.....Here is a link to Google Earth, check it out.

http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/outboard-bracket.htm

Frank

Hey that isn't the same Google Earth I've been looking at. I can't see closeups like that . Great looking bracket though.

Google Earth is amazing and I think I'm getting it figured out how to save caches to look at areas on the computer while out on the water and away from the Internet.

Also Flash Earth....

http://www.flashearth.com/

is great. Doesn't have some of the features of Google Earth, but is fast to use for some things. Just put Butler, PA in and you are right there. I couldn't find your boat though ,

Sum