There are many fine 27 - 28 foot fixed keel sailboats for sale at very reasonable prices. I am very eager to get one however I do not want to keep it in the water. Ideally I would like to keep it in dry storage and launch it using a ramp. I am in Miami, Florida and all the ramps with dry storage that are availabe are rather short and have a sudden drop offs. I have never seen anyone use them like I would intened to. Can I use this type or ramp for my purposes? If so how? Is there a particular length or angle of ramp that is best suited for this? It will make the difference between a 25'- 26' to a 27' - 28'. Thanks.
Using a trailer for 4'11" fix keel
- Thread starter Cofresi
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If you aren't keeping it in the water, that would mean you probably aren't doing extended stays on it?
Bigger boat doesn't get you much if all you are doing is hauling all that extra boat in and out of the water every time. The most people drysail boats weighing < 3000 lb
Bigger boat doesn't get you much if all you are doing is hauling all that extra boat in and out of the water every time. The most people drysail boats weighing < 3000 lb
Good luck!
You’re looking for one of those few locations that everyone dreams about!
All launch ramps were built for the power boater and which use these ramps 99.999 percent of the time.
You’ll always find a depth problem, a ramp length problem and a tide problem and then if the wind is right, it will lower the water depth also.
Over the years 4 friends of mine tried this at different locations on the Chesapeake Bay, one or two times and they rented a dock.
You’re looking for one of those few locations that everyone dreams about!
All launch ramps were built for the power boater and which use these ramps 99.999 percent of the time.
You’ll always find a depth problem, a ramp length problem and a tide problem and then if the wind is right, it will lower the water depth also.
Over the years 4 friends of mine tried this at different locations on the Chesapeake Bay, one or two times and they rented a dock.
Don't forget that the larger the boat, the more it takes to raise the mast and get it ready to sail. I've owned 3 boats of increasing size over the last 10 years . . .
Laser: daggerboard (up to 2' draft), lightweight unstayed mast, vang, cunningham, sheet, sail goes over mast => About 10 minutes to set up; launch from trailer or carry with 2 people.
Catalina Capri 16.5: centerboard (3.5' draft), fairly light stayed mast (no backstay), furling jib/forestay, vang, cunningham, sheet, single line jiffy reefiing => 30 minutes to setup; launch from trailer
Catalina Capri 22 tall rig: 4' fin keel, Heavy Stayed mast (cannot raise by hand), adj backstay, vang, boomkicker, cunningham, traveler, sheet, in-boom reefing, lights. => 3 hours to set up and tune rig; strap launch from trailer.
Taking each of these rigs down and getting them ready for the road is comparable to setup time. I'd expect a 25-27' boat to take about the same times as my Capri 22
We recently launched on one day, and retrieved the next. It was a lot of work and we actually spent more time setting up and tearing down than we did sailing. The Capri 22 is not what I'd consider a day sailor and I'm not aware of many boats much larger that are either.
Good luck!
Laser: daggerboard (up to 2' draft), lightweight unstayed mast, vang, cunningham, sheet, sail goes over mast => About 10 minutes to set up; launch from trailer or carry with 2 people.
Catalina Capri 16.5: centerboard (3.5' draft), fairly light stayed mast (no backstay), furling jib/forestay, vang, cunningham, sheet, single line jiffy reefiing => 30 minutes to setup; launch from trailer
Catalina Capri 22 tall rig: 4' fin keel, Heavy Stayed mast (cannot raise by hand), adj backstay, vang, boomkicker, cunningham, traveler, sheet, in-boom reefing, lights. => 3 hours to set up and tune rig; strap launch from trailer.
Taking each of these rigs down and getting them ready for the road is comparable to setup time. I'd expect a 25-27' boat to take about the same times as my Capri 22
We recently launched on one day, and retrieved the next. It was a lot of work and we actually spent more time setting up and tearing down than we did sailing. The Capri 22 is not what I'd consider a day sailor and I'm not aware of many boats much larger that are either.
Good luck!
my boat has a 4' draft and the keel is about 10" above the bottom of the tires on the trailer.
I need about 5 '4" to launch with a 20 foot extension on the trailer tounge there are very few ramps that will work! you might look for a marina that will lift and store for you with your mast still up, or consider a swing keel!
I need about 5 '4" to launch with a 20 foot extension on the trailer tounge there are very few ramps that will work! you might look for a marina that will lift and store for you with your mast still up, or consider a swing keel!
Cofresi,
In this part of the world all boats come out of the water for the winter. I've watched them pull the boats in the range you are considering. They are rarely handled by the owners alone. The marina uses a tractor to move the trailer or stand up and down the ramp. This is a fee based service. The marina ramps, unlike the public ramps, are designed for larger sailboats.
As others have said, you just need to find the right marina. It may end up being easier to find one that comes with a slip.
In this part of the world all boats come out of the water for the winter. I've watched them pull the boats in the range you are considering. They are rarely handled by the owners alone. The marina uses a tractor to move the trailer or stand up and down the ramp. This is a fee based service. The marina ramps, unlike the public ramps, are designed for larger sailboats.
As others have said, you just need to find the right marina. It may end up being easier to find one that comes with a slip.
What you want to do is done - but with a BIG but:
We have a lake, not an ocean. Because lake water levels vary 60' during the season, the ramp is verrrry long. Folks with 4' keels use a long and very steep ramp, and need to pull their boats before the lake drops too far. They do not launch every time that they sail - they launch in April and pull in October and use a slip or mooring in between. As sinnettc said - the bigger the boat, each increment of size means lots more work to setup and launch.
Also, an ocean ramp may only be deep enough for the tides and a typical trailer boat, say to 2-3' draft or so. If you are deeper draft, your launch and recover can be tied to the timing of the tides. Unless you know of a local ramp designed to handle fixed keel boats you may find the end of the ramp the hard way if you try it. I think that most keel boats are launched by travel lifts or cranes at the ocean.
I keep my 22' Catalina in a slip - to save the time of launching and spend more sailing. From a slip, I can sail after work, and not just weekends. Even a 22 is more trouble to launch than I would want to do every weekend. Some do ramp launch 25 foot keel boats every time that they sail - but it is a big hassle.
IMHO: If you plan to ramp launch every time you sail, consider water ballast boats or stay to 22'. If you want a bigger keel craft, plan on a slip or mooring. Worst outcome is that you get the bigger boat and get so tired of spending the time rigging and launching that stop going sailing because of the hassle.
Smaller boats often get sailed more than larger ones - unless you make the larger boat easy to get going on. The best money that I spent was on the slip. Because I can go with minimum hassle, with or without crew, I sail a LOT more.
OC
We have a lake, not an ocean. Because lake water levels vary 60' during the season, the ramp is verrrry long. Folks with 4' keels use a long and very steep ramp, and need to pull their boats before the lake drops too far. They do not launch every time that they sail - they launch in April and pull in October and use a slip or mooring in between. As sinnettc said - the bigger the boat, each increment of size means lots more work to setup and launch.
Also, an ocean ramp may only be deep enough for the tides and a typical trailer boat, say to 2-3' draft or so. If you are deeper draft, your launch and recover can be tied to the timing of the tides. Unless you know of a local ramp designed to handle fixed keel boats you may find the end of the ramp the hard way if you try it. I think that most keel boats are launched by travel lifts or cranes at the ocean.
I keep my 22' Catalina in a slip - to save the time of launching and spend more sailing. From a slip, I can sail after work, and not just weekends. Even a 22 is more trouble to launch than I would want to do every weekend. Some do ramp launch 25 foot keel boats every time that they sail - but it is a big hassle.
IMHO: If you plan to ramp launch every time you sail, consider water ballast boats or stay to 22'. If you want a bigger keel craft, plan on a slip or mooring. Worst outcome is that you get the bigger boat and get so tired of spending the time rigging and launching that stop going sailing because of the hassle.
Smaller boats often get sailed more than larger ones - unless you make the larger boat easy to get going on. The best money that I spent was on the slip. Because I can go with minimum hassle, with or without crew, I sail a LOT more.
OC
Not gonna happen, especially down there. You really don't want to step that mast and rig and un-rig, put on sails and sheets, step that mast down again to go sailing. You have width restrictions on the hwy., weight restrictions for towing vehicles, neighborhood restrictive covenants for storeage, etc. that will all conspire to trip you up. I've seen vehicles pulled down ramps and into the water because they didn't have correct extensions on the trailer tongue.
That is one of the reasons boats like you describe are not so expensive. Slip fees add up weather or not you use the boat and maintance too.
Not a good idea. a) suitable trailer will be likely impossible to find and the cost to convert or custom build one will be high. b) A hefty tow vehicle will be required to launch and retreive perhaps a tractor c) suitable ramps may be the private domain of yacht clubs or boat yards. d) it may quickly become a nightmare to schedule launches and retreivals to coincide with high tides and favorable sailing weather not to speak about your personal schedule.
Thanks for the input
It seems that I have a couple of options. To clarify, my intent was to use dry storage at the place of launching to keep the prep time down to a minimum. I did this with a 21 Macgregor for years and it worked out great. I guess it will either have to be in the water or I will have to pay for a machine to put it in.
It seems that I have a couple of options. To clarify, my intent was to use dry storage at the place of launching to keep the prep time down to a minimum. I did this with a 21 Macgregor for years and it worked out great. I guess it will either have to be in the water or I will have to pay for a machine to put it in.
Cofresi,
My Lancer 25 is about 4000 lbs with gear, draws about 30 inches, sleeps 5 (in a pinch) and we launch it every time. From the time we stop the truck to the time the boat is floating free is about 35 minutes, unless I strike up a sailing conversation with a passer by. It happens. We sail about 20 times per year. We have to step the mast, attach the roller furler, the boom, hank on the main,and run all the lines. But, after two years, we're getting pretty good at it. I'm 48 and in reasonable shape and my wife is in good shape. There Macs that are water ballasted, Seawards that draw 17 inches (board up) and all are trailerable.
Oh, and we make long weekends at the islands too. Keep heart! The right boat is out there for you!
My Lancer 25 is about 4000 lbs with gear, draws about 30 inches, sleeps 5 (in a pinch) and we launch it every time. From the time we stop the truck to the time the boat is floating free is about 35 minutes, unless I strike up a sailing conversation with a passer by. It happens. We sail about 20 times per year. We have to step the mast, attach the roller furler, the boom, hank on the main,and run all the lines. But, after two years, we're getting pretty good at it. I'm 48 and in reasonable shape and my wife is in good shape. There Macs that are water ballasted, Seawards that draw 17 inches (board up) and all are trailerable.
Oh, and we make long weekends at the islands too. Keep heart! The right boat is out there for you!
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Oh, should have mentioned:
2ND time launching was at a a rather shallow ramp on a large lake. There was a large band of twenty somethings in bathing suits the size of band-aids, a short distance away watching intently, waiting for the old guy to give up. The boat launched without a hitch, much to their chagrin. A shoal keel does have it's limitations but we have had it to 6 1/2 knots (hull speed) and in 30 knot winds (not at the same time!). Go shoal!
2ND time launching was at a a rather shallow ramp on a large lake. There was a large band of twenty somethings in bathing suits the size of band-aids, a short distance away watching intently, waiting for the old guy to give up. The boat launched without a hitch, much to their chagrin. A shoal keel does have it's limitations but we have had it to 6 1/2 knots (hull speed) and in 30 knot winds (not at the same time!). Go shoal!
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