I would like to find out which boats are equiped for my idea of the best boat for towing. Here is the criteria. 25ft to 30ft, Retractable keel, diesel engine. Of course the other necessary things like a mast that will stow etc. The combination of retractable keel and inboard diesel is what I cannot seem to find. Is it hit and miss or can I look for a specific manufacturer and boat class.
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Ideal Boat
There is a reason you are having trouble finding more than a few boats that meet your criteria. When you include an inboard engine in a boat less than 30ft you give up a lot of interior room. When you get above 26 ft in length there is more interior room, but the weight of the tow package requires a much larger and more expensive vehicle.
If you modify the criteria to include outboard engines you'll have a much greater selection. Also, take a look at the catalina 250 wing keel and water ballast - some are available with diesel. The Pacific Seacraft 25 and Dana 24 are also nice choices, but I've been in all the boats mentioned and while well built, are pretty cramped down below compared to my H260.
Also you have to define "trailerable" as some boats like the Dana 24 are trailerable but you'll be pulling over 10,000lbs.
This link will give you something more to think about: http://h260.com
There is a reason you are having trouble finding more than a few boats that meet your criteria. When you include an inboard engine in a boat less than 30ft you give up a lot of interior room. When you get above 26 ft in length there is more interior room, but the weight of the tow package requires a much larger and more expensive vehicle.
If you modify the criteria to include outboard engines you'll have a much greater selection. Also, take a look at the catalina 250 wing keel and water ballast - some are available with diesel. The Pacific Seacraft 25 and Dana 24 are also nice choices, but I've been in all the boats mentioned and while well built, are pretty cramped down below compared to my H260.
Also you have to define "trailerable" as some boats like the Dana 24 are trailerable but you'll be pulling over 10,000lbs.
This link will give you something more to think about: http://h260.com
a boat manufacturer would go broke...
...designing the type of boat you're looking for. A diesel-powered 30 footer will weight upwards of 10,000 lbs, but a 3/4 ton pickup will only tow 9,000 lbs. There's not going to be much of a market for a sailboat that requires a $60,000 truck and an $8,000 trailer just to get it to the water.
...designing the type of boat you're looking for. A diesel-powered 30 footer will weight upwards of 10,000 lbs, but a 3/4 ton pickup will only tow 9,000 lbs. There's not going to be much of a market for a sailboat that requires a $60,000 truck and an $8,000 trailer just to get it to the water.
You've got criteria that are almost mutually exclusive. A retracting keel takes up a fair bit of room inside the boat, yet you want to have an inboard diesel as well... Finding both is not very likely on a boat that is less than 30'. IIRC, the in-board diesel on the RK26 is an OPTION, not standard. The drawings of the boat don't even show a prop shaft setup...
You might want to ask yourself, what are your real reasons for wanting a retractable keel and a diesel inboard engine....on a boat that is supposed to be light enough to trailer.
Obviously, trailerabilty is a necessity, since that is the first requirement you put listed... and trailering a boat without a retractable keel is a non-starter... why do you want a trailerable boat?? What kind of sailing are you looking to do??
BTW, most trailerable boats can't afford the complexity or weight of an inboard diesel.
Is an inboard diesel really a necessity??? Why is it a necessity???
You might want to ask yourself, what are your real reasons for wanting a retractable keel and a diesel inboard engine....on a boat that is supposed to be light enough to trailer.
Obviously, trailerabilty is a necessity, since that is the first requirement you put listed... and trailering a boat without a retractable keel is a non-starter... why do you want a trailerable boat?? What kind of sailing are you looking to do??
BTW, most trailerable boats can't afford the complexity or weight of an inboard diesel.
Is an inboard diesel really a necessity??? Why is it a necessity???
Hobie 33? It has an inboard..outboard motor
It's also really really light for a 33 footer, and trailerable. Headroom is about 40"
As for cruising..I dunno. It's doable?
It's also really really light for a 33 footer, and trailerable. Headroom is about 40"
As for cruising..I dunno. It's doable?
Trailerable
Take a look at the Catalina Capri26. It meets all but retractable keel requirement, but most came with a lead wing keel that only draws about 3 ft. Some have an inboard diesel, 11hp and a walk thru transome. Very roomy for a 26 footer. Has the same size head as a Catalina30, and a great aft almost queen size berth. I had one for 4 years and loved it. Could be towed with a F150.
Fair winds
Dave
Take a look at the Catalina Capri26. It meets all but retractable keel requirement, but most came with a lead wing keel that only draws about 3 ft. Some have an inboard diesel, 11hp and a walk thru transome. Very roomy for a 26 footer. Has the same size head as a Catalina30, and a great aft almost queen size berth. I had one for 4 years and loved it. Could be towed with a F150.
Fair winds
Dave
Trailerable or Transportable
Like others have said, having a diesel engine makes them less than trailerable and more transportable. The Hake Seaward has both a 26' & 32' transportable sailboat but you need a honkin big truck to haul them and the 32' requires a permit in some jurasdictions.
Like others have said, having a diesel engine makes them less than trailerable and more transportable. The Hake Seaward has both a 26' & 32' transportable sailboat but you need a honkin big truck to haul them and the 32' requires a permit in some jurasdictions.
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If you're really serious about getting a trailerable cruising sailboat, you might want to consider a folding sport trimaran. While they don't have the diesel inboard, most have a very shallow board up draft of about 12-15"... and are much easier to launch because of the shallow draft. Some, like my Telstar 28, also have very good mast raising systems, to make getting the stick up much simpler.
Just some food for thought.
Just some food for thought.
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