Choosing a 22ft trailer sailor for six

Re engines

I have an 8hp ouboard on the back of my 211 and it only just got me back into Chichester harbour on the recent spring ebb tide (it took over two hours from the west pole to Hayling Island). With only 5 horses on the stern you could well get caught out by the solent tides with a fully loaded boat.
The other advantage of a larger engine is that it charges the batteries.
All in all I think a 211 would suit you well but accomodation is going to be tight unless you can persuade two of your crew under 6ft to sleep in the cockpit under a boom tent.
 
baltic

have you thought about a lifting keel sonata quick and responsive 2 fore peak berths 2main saloon berths and 2 pilot berths abit cosy but fine for kids see sonata org and yachting monthly review
 
Thanks again Arfa. Not suprised you struggled against the ebb, if it was the same recent weekend springs I experienced at East Head that was a very high one and very little wind.
Thanks for the Sonata suggestion, will take a look.
Dave
 
6 into 22 don't go.
Your only chance is an old Atalanta - will even sail well with 6 andd naval cadets used to sleep 8 ! Trailer boat - twin lifting keels - Uffa Fox design.
Try the AOA (owners associaation.)
 
have you thought about a lifting keel sonata quick and responsive

I'd second the Sonata. My family of five inc three young daughters cruised quite happily in a lifting keel Sonata and we trailed it behind a Vauxhaull Carlton although I would suggest it's only really a once a year job. If you would like a more detailed opinion PM me.
 
22ft trailer sailer for 6!......

Yes the Seals have thought of that - there is a kitchen sink aboard!

As regards the engine power,my friends have been using a 5hp Yamaha,which was fine in Christchurch harbour with no waves and moderate current,but well underpowered in anything of a chop against the tide or wind,making a recent trip through Hurst Narrows"interesting" -with full sail up too.
Now they have their 9.9 installed they will have no problem.
Stowage of gear is always going to be a problem ;sailing bags with enough gear for a transatlantic crossing are a no-go. A cockpit tent will work OK though for kit, or bodies at night.
With too many in the cockpit on any yacht it will give a stern down attitude and ruin pointing performance,so heavier kit will need to be placed forward to balance the trim for a good performance - just like a dinghy.

ianat182
 
FairweatherDave said:
........and you haven't even met my family!!:)
Click to expand...

Eventually I would love to know how you get on with 6 in a small boat. I have just had triplets (3 daughters) and I'm trying to persuade SWMBO that:
a. we don't need 7 to go sailing (one adult for each baby, plus one for the boat)
b. 6 of us, SWMBO, nanny, me and babies can fit in a 29footer for a weekend.

Any tips for domestic harmony in a cramped environment??
 
Jeanneau 2000

Got mine in Spring this year and is great fun. Will sleep four in the cabin and two can lie flat out in cockpit. Kit can be shoved into space at stern behind the aft bunks, but all will need to be good friends, it'll be tight for 6. The 2000 takes the ground easily and will take a blow too if you get caught out. Three or four of these 21 footers usually do the Round the Island Race, in about 11 hours! We have the asymmetric spinnaker kite up regularly and it is great fun and very stable. Reefing is easy. The Bene 210 has a more luxurious cabin but smaller cockpit. 2K's are easy to trail and launch. I'd recommend them, my intention is to park mine in Chichester next summer to cruise the Solent.
 
Hi
Congratulations on the triplets. Twins enough for us. Couldn't possibly comment on tips for domestic harmony, except if you are all together sailing then if wife is happy, children will be happy and then Dad is happy (she's therefore the boss!).

Back to 6 into 22ft...... glad to get another vote for the Jeanneau. My anxiety arises at the prospect of indifferent weather driving us all into the cabin at once. I haven't the cruising experience. But then I'm not trying to cruise, just do the occasional weekend over the summer alongside day sailing. A maximum sail with my lot would be 3 hours (to make IOW from Chichester) , and then we would decant to the beach or wherever.

BTW still examining Sonatas, Seal 22, Jaguar 22, Pippin, Beneteau 211...

Also I guess if someone said get something longer, if you get the right car insurance you can tow a longer boat behind an ordinary family car (not a 4x4) so displacement still max around 1200kg....
Dave
 
Last edited:
Not sure if you're towing each weekend or just at the beginning / end of season? If it's just a couple of times a season, then it might be easier to hire a vehicle for the towing (about £60 for the day from my local hire company for a Toyota Hi-Lux pick up), then you'd have more flexibility on size of boat.
 
I'm going to suggest things people seem to love or hate.....catamarans!

Their shallow draft, and ability to dry out, makes them ideal for Chichester harbour and the Solent.

The Hirondelle is a pretty little boat, sails well and has loads of room.

http://www.hirondelle-association.org/

You might also find some of James Wharram's designs appeal....loads of deck space, lots of compartments inside that allows a bit of privacy, and oodles of eccentric charm!

http://wharram.com/index.php

http://www.multihulls.uk.com/wharram/boats.htm
 
Interesting thread.... I am also considering a similar size trailer sailor (22ft ish), that can take the ground confortably (level ish..)

I'm after something quite high performance, with little in the way of fitting out below, but allowing a few overnights on board.

I really like the look of the recent catalina 22 sport, although I dont think it will take the ground as I would like and I would prefer if the pilot berths extend under the cockpit coamings.

(see http://www.catalinayachts.com/yachts.cfm?act=model&id=73 )

Keep the suggestions coming
 
EBoat126 said:
Have you looked at an E Boat (I'm biased I know)
www.e-boats.org.uk
Lifting keel so floats in about 10 inches of water, basic (very basic) accomodation for 4. Sails like a big dinghy with lots of flat deck space for a larger group of people.
Click to expand...

I have to agree that the e-boat is a good buy, come in between about £3000 - £6000. I have had mine 5 years and the outlay other than what I have wanted to update has been minimal. I have a 4hp o/b which is fine. I tow twice a year, too and from the water and then she sits on a swing mooring. I am not sure about sleeping 6 on board though but it does have 4 full bunks. Others have mentioned that it is not just the berths but also storage space and that is minimal on an e-boat. My front berths have sails on them, I have used a total of four different headsails this year (no roller reefing) and still haven't put the spini up. This all takes up space. I believe that the original system for raising/lowing the keel was not great, I use an electric 4x4 winch, a couple of pulleys and 5mm dynema.

As regards towing she weighs just under a tonne but that excludes all the gear that I carry. When I last changed my car, I found that this plus the trailer was close to the towing limit of many "family cars" and not feeling comfortable I went for a Volvo V70 which doesn't even notice it is on the back. I am sure somebody will come along and say that they have towed a 6 ton boat up a mountain on the back of a bike but it is what you feel safe doing, not just what the law says.

This may be a cheap way of getting into sailing and at this price you probably wouldn't lose out if you sell in a few years.

P.S. Mine isn't for sale !!
 
Ecosse120 said:
As regards towing she weighs just under a tonne but that excludes all the gear that I carry. When I last changed my car, I found that this plus the trailer was close to the towing limit of many "family cars" and not feeling comfortable I went for a Volvo V70 which doesn't even notice it is on the back. I am sure somebody will come along and say that they have towed a 6 ton boat up a mountain on the back of a bike but it is what you feel safe doing, not just what the law says.

QUOTE]

Nope, what I would say is if you are going to tow on two days a year, don't let that dictate what car you are going to drive for the other 363 days in the year. Cheaper to hire a towing vehicle for those two days, if you would otherwise drive a more economic car. Indeed even the cost of fitting a tow bar may take 5 years worth of hire tow vehicles to pay for itself.
Click to expand...
 
QUOTE]

Nope, what I would say is if you are going to tow on two days a year, don't let that dictate what car you are going to drive for the other 363 days in the year. Cheaper to hire a towing vehicle for those two days, if you would otherwise drive a more economic car. Indeed even the cost of fitting a tow bar may take 5 years worth of hire tow vehicles to pay for itself.[/QUOTE]

Totally agree but I couldn't find anybody in this area that would hire me a vehicle. I even posted a message on the forum but other than a very kind offer from a guy who would use his own 4x4 nobody could come up with a company that rented out vehicles with non commercial towbars.
 
Probably of limited relevance but I can't resist mentioning that a few years ago the Wayfarer newsletter had an article describing how a family of five had cruised in 'comfort' aboard a 15'10 Wayfarer dinghy. Sleeping arrangement was: two adults lying on the floor lengthways, a shelf made between the thwarts to allow the two children to sleep cross-ways above the adults' legs, and a baby shoved in there too, somewhere.
So yeah, 6 in a 22ftr should be a doddle!
 
A 22ft westerly Pageant or cirrus is right up your street(if you can find a nice one), single fin keel 3ft 6 draught, 6ft headroom(which is extremely rare in boats of this size), wont cost half as much either, you can get a really good example in cracking condition for less than 6 grand with all the bells and whistles. they have a double vee birth, a table that drops down to form a small double(will fit two small children or make one large single) another full size bunk on the port side and long enough cockpit seats to make more bunks with a tarp over the top. one of the best designed boats ever in my opinion for fitting alot into a small space, they even have a heads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top