Berth or trailor ?

[Guest]

My wife and I will be in the market for a replacement boat next year. Basic use will be on the inland water ways but I would like to do a little bit of fine weather inshore coastal.
We can probably tow up to 1.25 ton total. Should we buy a tailor boat or something that needs a mooring. Also what makes and sizes. Anyone with practical experiance of this problem out there who knows the answer.

 

[duncan]

Done both for the last 6 years and now settled in a berth in Poole with a boat on the limit for trailing - but no trailer.
Recomend leaving in the water near where you live for most of the year then trail off to new grounds a couple of times for your hols.
19 - 21' is a good seagoing size that can be trailed and launched but you are compromising all the way - bigger/ heavier is safer / more comfortable but harder to trail and launch.
Last was 21' and lived on the Medway but travelled to Spain, NBrittany, Loch Lomond, Plymouth, Poole and the Solent. Always being put into a marina / berth for a few days / weeks to enjoy at the destination.
Happy boating.
By the way you can see the boat on Tameside.co.uk brokerage pages - DellQuay sportfish. - it's not on brokerage as I traded in and have no fin. interest in it anymore.

 

[Guest]

trailer!

having just (Saturday) got back from a week exploring western Scotland I'd say trailer any time!

I live near the upper thames and leaving the thing on the trailer saves a load on mooring fees and makes any maintenance much easier. And if we decide to hack down the river for a bit we can be on the water, fully loaded, within an hour. But more importantly there is the freedom to hook up and explore whicever part of the UK coastline we fancy - innumerable adventures in store (we had quite a few last week!).

Baat is an 18ft hardy which is great for sleeping 2, and can do 4 at a push. She is very seaworthy, and very easy to tow and launch. If you prefer a bit more space / weight the Hardy Pilots (20ft) are fab. I'm sure there are lots of other boats in this catagory, but I really believe you can't realise the possibilities of trailer sailing until you've tried it.

Think we might do N Wales next . . .

Ian

 

[DavidJ]

Weve trailored for over 10 years now. First with a 21ft Sealine now witha 24ft Sealine. We shoot off to a different bit of the Med each year for nearly a full month. However dunking trailors in salt water gives load of problems. We all know to check bearings for ingress regularly but salt water gets in the brake cables, rots the brake springs, gets underneath the brake shoes etc etc. After replacement of practically everything that moves we now have the boat crained in every time. On my previous boat we had problems of the GRP crushing where it sits on the rollers due to a bit of overloading but also to trailer manufacturers being mean on the rollers. They are very easy to obtain and fit. Squeeze in as many as you can
have fun
David

 

[Scubadoo]

Re: trailer!

I did trailer boating for 10years and in the end got fed up with it. If you are travelling around for a week or more then I agree with you. However most of my trailering was at weekends for a day and was pain to waste time driving to a location and launching which wasted for me nearly 3hours and another 3hours on return and get wet. Now all I do is drive to the boat and usually on my way within an hour and half or less.

The things I used to hate was the detrioration of the trailer even when I serviced thoughout the season, however the trailer did last 10years from new before I sold it. Wheel bearings, brake cables get stiffer, wheels corrode etc etc. Also with just me and the girlfriend it proved difficult when you get idiots with jetskis creating waves by the slipway.

My new boat is kept in a marina and yes costs alot more, but then I get more boating and feel more relaxed, even the fuel cost are much cheaper, my trailer boat was an outboard now I have a diesel.

RM.

 

[lanason]

What do you think of your sealines ?? I am just about to buy a fairline holiday, but ast 23' is on the limit o towing. A 21' sealine may be a better bet. How many can you sleep on board, whatb is the layout etc.....