Truly practical is the key measure of this question. I did the research a couple years ago for our needs and bought a used Hunter H260. Now discontinued due to mfg costs, you can find good used newer ones with wheel steering plenty of room inside and a trailer in the low to mid $20's. There is great support, it's a capable boat and underrated only by those who've never sailed one that is properly equipped or captained.
Heaviest?? Does this really mean regularly trailered. I doubt if you meant that. Our 260 trailers very well and can be set up in under an hour...really. It launches at nearly any ramp and I don't use a trailer extension. We sail it off shore with confidence, fully aware of its limits and can still gunk hole in an anchorage under 2' deep. Many have done the Bahamas, the great loop or Baja while they'll daysail and entertain guests with gusto too.
This is not in the same league as a macgregor(no offense intended) nor does it cost nearly as much as a Hake trailerable. It is an exceptionally well thought out design that can be provisioned to go nearly anywhere a coastal cruiser would wander or as simply as any daysailing trailerboat. Our mast step system is too easy with a 12v atv winch w/remote I can safely step it on the water solo in minutes w/o any strain at all.
I occaisionally get four-foot-itis but soon realize the disadantage of having a boat that can't flee a hurricane at 65mph in any direction or the inability to sail virtually any lake or bay in the time it takes to merely drive there.....but that's a trailer sailors best asset and I'm only preachin' to the choir
.
Good luck in your search.
Michael and Kelli
Heaviest?? Does this really mean regularly trailered. I doubt if you meant that. Our 260 trailers very well and can be set up in under an hour...really. It launches at nearly any ramp and I don't use a trailer extension. We sail it off shore with confidence, fully aware of its limits and can still gunk hole in an anchorage under 2' deep. Many have done the Bahamas, the great loop or Baja while they'll daysail and entertain guests with gusto too.
This is not in the same league as a macgregor(no offense intended) nor does it cost nearly as much as a Hake trailerable. It is an exceptionally well thought out design that can be provisioned to go nearly anywhere a coastal cruiser would wander or as simply as any daysailing trailerboat. Our mast step system is too easy with a 12v atv winch w/remote I can safely step it on the water solo in minutes w/o any strain at all.
I occaisionally get four-foot-itis but soon realize the disadantage of having a boat that can't flee a hurricane at 65mph in any direction or the inability to sail virtually any lake or bay in the time it takes to merely drive there.....but that's a trailer sailors best asset and I'm only preachin' to the choir
.Good luck in your search.
Michael and Kelli
