Buck Turgidson
Well-Known Member
Why not have a word with the RAF chaps and see if you can stick the mast in the back of a Herc or Tristar?
A trailer sailer to fit 20ft container?
- Thread starter dllcooper
- Start date
dllcooper
Member
The cape cutter 19 looks like a lovely little boat - will research that one thankyou! It would be possible to sail around in a mirror in the right weather but agreed weather is key here. At the moment the tradewind is so strong it feels like out bungalow is trying to take off at times, definitely not small boat sailing weather!
Thankyou everyone for all the different ideas.
In an ideal world we would be looking for something much larger but it isn't possible on out budget, short of having something sailed up from Capetown for free! Our only option is small boat sailing in the lee side of the island probably most the time and perhaps around when weather/swell allows.
Thankyou everyone for all the different ideas.
In an ideal world we would be looking for something much larger but it isn't possible on out budget, short of having something sailed up from Capetown for free! Our only option is small boat sailing in the lee side of the island probably most the time and perhaps around when weather/swell allows.
dllcooper
Member
Thankyou Sarabande - Will have a look into the kit idea that might well be something more appropriate.
Seajet
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I can't help thinking one of these would suit your needs well, no I don't have one though do have a larger version.
The Hunter 19 / Europa is about as bullet-proof as it gets.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hunter+Europa&tbm=isch&source=iu&imgil=SZWg4W5V9XlzWM%3A%3Bhttps%
Edit; please excuse some of the oddball things on that website, I was just hoping to show the boat !
The Hunter 19 / Europa is about as bullet-proof as it gets.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hunter+Europa&tbm=isch&source=iu&imgil=SZWg4W5V9XlzWM%3A%3Bhttps%
Edit; please excuse some of the oddball things on that website, I was just hoping to show the boat !
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dllcooper
Member
Thankyou - I was looking at the Cape Cutter 19 which looks like a perfect boat as designed to for the open waters off Cape of Good Hope, it is sadly out of budget though.
The Europa might be just the ticket I think.
Another concern here is in the lee of the island which is where it would be sailed mainly, large gusts are a problem coming around Green Mountain so the sail would need to be conservatively reefed in a lot of the time I think. Once in the windward side of the island the air should be clean although trade wind chop which the Europa should be able to handle easily enough.
Thanks again and will research the Hunter Europa or 19 further.
The Europa might be just the ticket I think.
Another concern here is in the lee of the island which is where it would be sailed mainly, large gusts are a problem coming around Green Mountain so the sail would need to be conservatively reefed in a lot of the time I think. Once in the windward side of the island the air should be clean although trade wind chop which the Europa should be able to handle easily enough.
Thanks again and will research the Hunter Europa or 19 further.
Malabar
Well-Known Member
Yes, all the early Cape Cutters were shipped in a container to UK from South Africa. Being designed with the rugged conditions off Cape Town in mind the Cape Cutter would suit the waters around Ascension well. A very pretty little boat that sails well.
[3889]
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Not sailed a Cape Cutter but they look like lovely boats, ideal for what you want. A member on here, Ru88ell, had one and might be worth PMing. Here's a video of his boat
.
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Seajet
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No guardrails on the Cape Cutter and Great White sharks about; no thanks ! 
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
You think a pice of 6mm wire would stop a hungry shark? Might come in handy as dental floss but that's all!
Seashoreman
Well-Known Member
Seajet
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Twister Ken,
you've been watching ' Jaws ' again haven't you ?!
If the thing wants to get at the crew while still aboard I'd think the only solution is a Very Big Gun / Bazooka, then an airlift to the island before the T-Rex's and Velociraptors join in.
dllcooper
Member
Probably half the boats in the world share the water with sharks, Ascension is a diving and spearfishing centre and never been a case of sharks coming near humans. There are all sorts here, as well as turtles, whales, mantas dolphins of all kinds, a bit like jurassic park of the coast here as a 200 mile commercial fishing protection zone around the island. It would be amazing to see what decides to join the boat as she cuts along under sail.
Cape Town waters have many more great whites than here and the Cape Cutter is designed for those waters around the Cape itself, unfortunately that boat is too expensive when combined with shipping. Would definately prefer something with as large a beam+LOA as possible although the 20foot container is the restriction.
Cape Town waters have many more great whites than here and the Cape Cutter is designed for those waters around the Cape itself, unfortunately that boat is too expensive when combined with shipping. Would definately prefer something with as large a beam+LOA as possible although the 20foot container is the restriction.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
If you are worried about mast length get it cut & an insert fitted so you pop rivet it back together
If you are considering a squib put it on a launching trailer with a lower ride height then dismantle the arms off the road trailer & stick it in on its side
The launching trailed need only have a couple of inches clearance
Caravans used to have an emergency skid for towing with a puncture. Take the wheels off the road trailer & put a couple of skids under the trailer which will knock 6 inches off the height
Make the trailer so one arm can be released a bit & lay the boat in the container diagonally
Same for the length, the boat can go in angled
If you use a launching trailer you can make the tow bar in 2 bits so it does not project beyong the overall length of the boat- harder for a road trailer but do-able
Loads of options
You could even cut 3 ft off the bow of one of those knackered old boats laying around- what are they called? Ah yes I remember - Anderson 22. You could sail it like a cadet
You could even have an outboard well & call yourself a "Dillon":encouragement:
If you are considering a squib put it on a launching trailer with a lower ride height then dismantle the arms off the road trailer & stick it in on its side
The launching trailed need only have a couple of inches clearance
Caravans used to have an emergency skid for towing with a puncture. Take the wheels off the road trailer & put a couple of skids under the trailer which will knock 6 inches off the height
Make the trailer so one arm can be released a bit & lay the boat in the container diagonally
Same for the length, the boat can go in angled
If you use a launching trailer you can make the tow bar in 2 bits so it does not project beyong the overall length of the boat- harder for a road trailer but do-able
Loads of options
You could even cut 3 ft off the bow of one of those knackered old boats laying around- what are they called? Ah yes I remember - Anderson 22. You could sail it like a cadet
You could even have an outboard well & call yourself a "Dillon":encouragement:
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
The door on a 20' container may be your limiting factor
The Europa may be a tight fit lengthwise (container 5.710 m -- Europa 5.78) the question is.....does that LOA include the transom hung rudder?
The bad news is that it doesn't seem to http://perso.wanadoo.es/hunter_europa/images/especificaciones/Hunter_Meas_Diag_Web_Page.jpg
Even fitted in skewed there would be chance of damage.
But the beam would be fine, even the road trailer isn't much wider than the boat. However the height may be a concern. There is a version with an awkward 3 keel (stub and two bilge keels) set-up which may sit lower on the trailer.
May I offer the Seahawk 17? You can buy them from below £1K. I had one which was a sturdy little boat with ballast in a stub keel and a drop keel plate.
The important figures are
LOA: 5.13m
Beam: 1.98m
(The Pedro version of the same hull has a shorter mast, doesn't have the pod over the hatch and lacks the drop plate, but retains the ballast in the keel)
The Europa may be a tight fit lengthwise (container 5.710 m -- Europa 5.78) the question is.....does that LOA include the transom hung rudder?
The bad news is that it doesn't seem to http://perso.wanadoo.es/hunter_europa/images/especificaciones/Hunter_Meas_Diag_Web_Page.jpg
Even fitted in skewed there would be chance of damage.
But the beam would be fine, even the road trailer isn't much wider than the boat. However the height may be a concern. There is a version with an awkward 3 keel (stub and two bilge keels) set-up which may sit lower on the trailer.
May I offer the Seahawk 17? You can buy them from below £1K. I had one which was a sturdy little boat with ballast in a stub keel and a drop keel plate.
The important figures are
LOA: 5.13m
Beam: 1.98m
(The Pedro version of the same hull has a shorter mast, doesn't have the pod over the hatch and lacks the drop plate, but retains the ballast in the keel)
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dllcooper
Member
Presumably a swing keel might be a better option to limit her height whilst sat on the trailer it could then be possible to wheel into the container. Does a swing keel have any limiting factors on performance or maintenance or durability? A bilge keel looks and seems stronger?
As a bilge keel it would need a special trolley rig to get into the container safely presumably, something could be fashioned up I am sure as long as she doesnt start wheeling around during the voyage! The height limit I have been quoted is 2.28m and this diagram hopefully is scaled and hence showing standing height from bottom of keel to top of cabin on 2.21 so that is also tight, a trolley with profile of 7cms (2 skateboards)
5.85 internal length is what I have been quoted by shipping company so that should be Ok based on that figure.
Many thanks for thoughts as considering the Europa s best option at the moment.
As a bilge keel it would need a special trolley rig to get into the container safely presumably, something could be fashioned up I am sure as long as she doesnt start wheeling around during the voyage! The height limit I have been quoted is 2.28m and this diagram hopefully is scaled and hence showing standing height from bottom of keel to top of cabin on 2.21 so that is also tight, a trolley with profile of 7cms (2 skateboards)
5.85 internal length is what I have been quoted by shipping company so that should be Ok based on that figure.
Many thanks for thoughts as considering the Europa s best option at the moment.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Whatever boat you buy I suggest you measure it yourself first
Not all boats are made to the length they say they are
It would be disasterous to buy a boat finding it was too long
Not all boats are made to the length they say they are
It would be disasterous to buy a boat finding it was too long
Croak
Well-Known Member
Demount-able catamaran, something like a Wharram or a more modern looking equivalent?
Seajet
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Very few boats are longer than they advertise, for instance the David Sadler designed Frigate 27 is actually 26' LOA; of course in the days it was designed and marketted marina berths didn't cost quite so much per foot !
As for fitting the Europa in a container, what exactly is the huge logistic problem in taking off a transom hung rudder ?
Yes it makes sense to check everything yourself with a tape measure before committing to it, and I'd think the RAF might be willing to help, especially if a good PR slant could be put on it.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
I never really thought about it - but you are more than quite correct. Gambit was in HK from the late 1980s and I'm pretty sure she was 28' - but maybe it was a 40' container.
Jonathan
Seajet
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If you're handy with rivets - and sort out the bits beforehand - it would be possible to cut a mast in half then rebuild it on delivery using an inner sleeve.
It might not have the bend characteristics of a trendy racing boat, but for normal use it would be fine.
It might not have the bend characteristics of a trendy racing boat, but for normal use it would be fine.