Offshore trailerable sailboats

[Jackdaw]

After the Mac on Lake Michigan thread, I've been giving some thougth to the notion of off-shore trailerable sailboats. I know some models available in Europe might fit the bill, but does anything here in NA (new or used) make the grade? In general it seems the manufactrues have moved the offshore goalpost to 30 feet for the US market, which rules out trailerablity except in the most extreme definition.

And the notion of trailerablity is dfferent for folks. For some it would mean park it in the driveway and take it to the lake every weekend. For others it means only the ability to move it over the road by yourself. For me, something in the middle; in the water most of the time (slip or buoy), with the ability to winterize by myself, and maybe a one-week sailing trip to other waters.

Here's a quick list of capabilities I thought of for both offshore and trailerable. The more the boat has the better. Some are pure yes/no things (IB power), others (like AVS) are a point on a scale. What would others add to the lists, and what boats make the grade?


Offshore metrics
C.E. 'B' offshore rating
AVS (Angle of Vanishing Stability) > 130
CR (Capsize Ratio) < 2.0
Inboard power
Gimbaled stove
Nav station
Fixed head


Trailerable metrics
5000 lb displacment
7500 OTR weight
Deck stepped mast
36 inch waterline to wheel length
8.5 foot beam

Anything else? Boats?

 

[tcbro]

How about the Seaward series by Hake

http://www.seawardyachts.com/

 

[dlandersson]

The 26RK in particular - apparently the 32RK is not trailerable. :cry:

http://www.seawardyachts.com/26rk.html

How about the Seaward series by Hake

http://www.seawardyachts.com/

 

[justsomeguy]

The 26RK in particular - apparently the 32RK is not trailerable. :cry:

http://www.seawardyachts.com/26rk.html

That electrically operated keel, I wonder if there's a manual method of operation, too. Nothing about this in their ad. There'd have to be, no?

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Trailer - Able

The 26RK in particular - apparently the 32RK is not trailerable. :cry: Yes it is!!

http://www.seawardyachts.com/26rk.html

I had the opportunity to witness the 32RK being readied for launch in the park ramp parking lot. The guy had trailered from Oregon all the way up here to Point Roberts Wa., I was amazed! I was invited aboard while on trailer to check out the interior and then watched and provided verbal feedback as the mast was precariously raised. Quite the system for mast raising but nonetheless precarious. It sat rather high on the trailer for a trailerable boat so the guy had to wait around for high tide to get a window for launch. I did not have the time to hang around and wait so I diid not witness the actual launch but I did see the prep for it. He also had a honkin big rig for towing it with, forget the make, just remember it was a pretty big truck. I would be more inclined to call it trailer - able than trailerable, just too big to be haulin around everywhere all the time.

 

[packman]

Pacific seacraft comes to mind

 

[cb32863]

Pacific seacraft comes to mind

Which one is trailerable?

 

[packman]

the 25 I believe, at least I've seen pictures of one on a trailer

 

[Jackdaw]

Which one is trailerable?

The Dana.

 

[Cayennita]

Think Trimarans. Folding amas makes them road legal. Very stable and fast comfortable cruisers. The Inboard might be a problem. Small outboard and small gen set takes care of that. Maybe even an electrical outboard ran from the generator?

 

[Ray Bowles]

There is a Pacific Seacraft (Dana) sitting on a double axle trailer next to my SJ23 where we sail on the Columbia river. It is quite heavy and requires a 1 ton truck to tow. He used a Dodge Ram 3500. To raise the mast requires a truck with a boom to lift it off the trailer and install. To launch the boat they attach a 100 foot steel cable , doubled, to the truck so that the truck is 50 feet back up the ramp from the boat and trailer. If all goes right on the first attempt the trailer goes way out into the water and the boat floats off. Reverse to recover the boat.
This is an operation that requires 3 knowledgable souls and a good bit of skill. They only have used the boat once in the last 3 years which is sad. This is a boat that I would not hesitate to take anywhere if properly fitted out.
Ray

 

[Sumner]

A Seaward 25 anchored near us...

...in the Everglades and I was really impressed with it. I thought that it looked much more seaworthy than our Mac. I just did a look on this site...

http://www.image-ination.com/sailcalc.html

...and was surprised to see that the capsize ratio was 2.17 for it (the 25) and 2.14 for the 26 mentioned above. Our Mac (26 S) comes in at 2.24. Not too far from the Seaward, but I would for sure rather be on it vs. the Mac if we were off shore in heavy weather. The Pacific Seacraft 25 comes in at a more respectable 1.9.

It looks very seaworth, but I'm not sure if I would really call it a trailer sailor...

... but it is trailerable and is one of the 20 boats in Vigor's 20 SMALL SAILBOATS TO TAKE YOU ANYWHERE along with A Cal 20 and the Catalina 27 and 17 others. A good book if you haven't read it,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Jackdaw]

...and was surprised to see that the capsize ratio was 2.17 for it (the 25) and 2.14 for the 26 mentioned above. Our Mac (26 S) comes in at 2.24. Not too far from the Seaward, but I would for sure rather be on it vs. the Mac if we were off shore in heavy weather. The Pacific Seacraft 25 comes in at a more respectable 1.9.
]

Honestly, the Capsize Ratio is IMO is almost silly factor. It really just divides beam by displacement. Nothing else. It does not factor in the vertical center of gravity (lower is better), or LOA (longer is better).

I agree that the Dana is a very nice boat, seaworthy, but not trailerable under my definition. The Seaward 26 is a nice looking boat, and arguably meets all the criteria. Both are on the lower end of the performance curve I'd be looking for.

The Cal 20 is nice but not offshore. The Catalina 27 is a good stout hull, and if gone over and re-rigged is ready, but again not trailerable.

 

[mauruuru]

After the Mac on Lake Michigan thread, I've been giving some thougth to the notion of off-shore trailerable sailboats. I know some models available in Europe might fit the bill, but does anything here in NA (new or used) make the grade? In general it seems the manufactrues have moved the offshore goalpost to 30 feet for the US market, which rules out trailerablity except in the most extreme definition.

And the notion of trailerablity is dfferent for folks. For some it would mean park it in the driveway and take it to the lake every weekend. For others it means only the ability to move it over the road by yourself. For me, something in the middle; in the water most of the time (slip or buoy), with the ability to winterize by myself, and maybe a one-week sailing trip to other waters.

Here's a quick list of capabilities I thought of for both offshore and trailerable. The more the boat has the better. Some are pure yes/no things (IB power), others (like AVS) are a point on a scale. What would others add to the lists, and what boats make the grade?


Offshore metrics
C.E. 'B' offshore rating
AVS (Angle of Vanishing Stability) > 130
CR (Capsize Ratio) < 2.0
Inboard power
Gimbaled stove
Nav station
Fixed head


Trailerable metrics
5000 lb displacment
7500 OTR weight
Deck stepped mast
36 inch waterline to wheel length
8.5 foot beam

Anything else? Boats?

I have a Hake 32RK-2010 model. I bought it new precisely for the vertically retractable keel. All my previous boats were swing keel boats and while I enjoyed the shoal draft feature they do not sail well with centerboard in any but nearly full down position. The Hake design keeps the center of effort virtually in the same place regardess of how far down the keel is and since the majority of the ballast weight is in the bulb there is always significant righting moment even with the keel all the way up so you can sail some pretty thin water---I do. As to trailerability, it has a great trailer, is totally balanced and was trailered to New Jersey from Stuart Florida and twice every year from storage to home to marina and back again so it is clearly trailerable. I sail the Atlantic coast/NJ tidal areas. She is definitely capable of handling any blue water I would plan on going into--but I don't cross oceans. My advice, go to Stuart Fla and test sail one. Its a great company and Nick Hake will take care of you!

 

[mauruuru]

there are two ways to lift the keel if the electric motor fails. You can turn the motor shaft with a screw driver(on an electric drill if you dont want carpel tunnel) or you can use the main halyard to lift the keel! AND YES IT IS TRAILERABLE-I do

 

[justsomeguy]

Thanks!

 

[Jackdaw]

A scan at current/semi-current European models is just about as bleak. AFAICT from the major builders only one still in mass production and a couple of recent boats just out of production. There might be some from minor builders as well.

Beneteau First 25.7 Still in production. CE B rated. Lifting keel helps trailering but 9 foot beam means permits. Never imported into the USA. At least one brought over by private owner.

Etap 24i: I think Etap has suspended all production. CE B rated. Trailerable beam but fixed keel would limit ramp launching. The dual keel version would solve that. Was imported into the USA for a year or so. So there is at least a few.

Jeanneau Sun 2500: Out of production. CE C rated. Like the 25.7 but only make CE C. Must have been close. Never imported.

All of the boats are similar designs, Wide transoms with dual rudders, and forgo aft cabins for inboard space and storage.

First 25.7

Etap 24i

Sun 2500

 

[Steve Dion]

Nor'Sea 27

 

[Jackdaw]

Nor'Sea 27

Now Steve, we said Class B, not A! ;^)

That is an amazing boat. Kinda like Valiant 40 you can move your self.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Trailerable-boat challenge

The famous and impressive story I recall from the early '70s is that, as a promotional challenge, MacGregor Yacht offered a $25,000 cash prize to the fastest elapsed time (uncorrected) in a solo race from Long Beach to Hawaii in a trailerable swing-keel boat. The winner sailed a Venture 21.

Never underestimate those older Macgregor Venture boats. Properly maintained, they are cheap, practical and reliable; and properly sailed, they are like windsurfers for speed and agility. They may be some of the most underestimated small boats of all time.