Trailerable Catalina
- Thread starter Richie50
- Start date
[FONT="]I have a Catalina 25 wing keel that I can trailer. I have taken it to a few lakes for extended days. I built a crutch and A frame to lower and raise the mast. The beam on a Catalina 27 is 8’10”, which may require a wide load permit in some places. A Catalina 25 is 8’ beam and can be pulled with a ½ ton pickup safely. I think I would like a bigger tow vehicle for a Catalina 27.[/FONT]
A C27 requires an owner to add a pivoting mast base. It's a serous mod and even with it, raising the very heavy mast is a hair raising operation.
The fixed keel draft also requires a specialized trailer and a very compatible (deep) ramp.
I'd stick with a C25 or C250.
The fixed keel draft also requires a specialized trailer and a very compatible (deep) ramp.
I'd stick with a C25 or C250.
Launching at a ramp or at a marina with crane or travel-lift?
If at a marina, I agree with 27 for short annual trips. 2:00 a.m. would be a good time for avoiding traffic.
I sold a boat this spring, and the buyer's surveyor said he has a Catalina 30 and had a trailer made for it. He said he towed it once, but it scared the hell out of him
If at a marina, I agree with 27 for short annual trips. 2:00 a.m. would be a good time for avoiding traffic.
I sold a boat this spring, and the buyer's surveyor said he has a Catalina 30 and had a trailer made for it. He said he towed it once, but it scared the hell out of him
Any boat can be trailered. It depends on the facilities, the hardware and the setup of the boat. Not to mention the capabilities and preparedness of the trailerer.
Judging by some of the things we just saw on our little roadtrip last week, it appears that the capabilities bar still isn't very high.
Judging by some of the things we just saw on our little roadtrip last week, it appears that the capabilities bar still isn't very high.
Thats funny, he comes on as I am typing! Mariachee is the 27' trailerable expert. Ask your questions. Chief
Just back from the famous roadtrip. Discovered that the "plan" of trailering straight to the island and launching from there isn't going to work. Had the pleasure of watching a guy scrape most of the paint off the lower tail end of the RV while loading on the ferry and thought that it's good to keep learning by watching other's troubles. I like my rudder too much to even think about that kind of hit. Ouch.
Indeed. But I would not take what Mariachee is capable of with his 270 as typical. Based on looking at his blog, he possesses mechanical skills beyond the ken of the average trailer sailor.
Thanks Jack. I must have done something right, that trailer attracts a lot of attention. Then again, seeing some real world examples of the fine junk out there, I'm not surprised what difference a coat of paint can make. Some of these rigs I wouldn't pull across the parking lot, never-mind the Rockies.
Thanks all. My fist mate saw a very nice 28 in the slip just down from us. Just looking a head to see how big we could get and a aid some marina fees, Launching and storage.
I recently looked an early 80's Capri 25 on a trailer. The weight of the boat and the trailer combined were well within the GVWR for my 2009 Silverado Gas V8. The fin keel has the boat sitting pretty high on the trailer so it was equipped with a VERY long tongue extension, but the PO had also added a balanced lift point to the keel bolts for crane launching.
Considering the height of the boat on the trailer, its overall length including mast, I'd say a 25 foot would be as much as I'd be comfortable towing with a gas V8 truck, anything more and I'd want a 2500 Diesel. The PO had added a third axle to the trailer, I think it was overkill but he liked the way it towed.
I've already picked out my next truck, I want the new Dodge Ram 1500 that has the Eco-diesel, I ill buy it in the 'work truck' trim because I refuse to pay $50K for a truck that has a bunch of fu-fu chrome trim and other usless crap. The eco-diesel has impressive towing capability, about 9.5K pounds and gets impressive fuel mileage, far better than the 18 to 19 highway I'm getting from my V8 Silverado.
Considering the height of the boat on the trailer, its overall length including mast, I'd say a 25 foot would be as much as I'd be comfortable towing with a gas V8 truck, anything more and I'd want a 2500 Diesel. The PO had added a third axle to the trailer, I think it was overkill but he liked the way it towed.
I've already picked out my next truck, I want the new Dodge Ram 1500 that has the Eco-diesel, I ill buy it in the 'work truck' trim because I refuse to pay $50K for a truck that has a bunch of fu-fu chrome trim and other usless crap. The eco-diesel has impressive towing capability, about 9.5K pounds and gets impressive fuel mileage, far better than the 18 to 19 highway I'm getting from my V8 Silverado.
I heard lots of noise about adding a third axle prior to the change, but I'll say that it does track better, and the comfort level of having an extra wheel per side in the event of blowing a tire or bearing makes it all worthwhile. You never blow something outside a tire shop
I did this for several years with my Capri 26. Yes, the beam is nearly 10 ft. No I never bothered with a wide load permit. Never had a problem. I have a very nice custom trailer. Launching is easy with the wheel chock and tow strap method. I step the mast before launching using an A frame and an electric winch located on the bow stop. It's a one person operation. Getting the boat back on the trailer on a steep ramp can be an issue but is doable.
I towed the boat from Utah to north Idaho using a 3/4 ton rental pickup and had no problems. I would think a 27 would be much the same... Larger than that, I think you would want to load and unload with a travel lift or crane... Just my two cents...