mercv6
New Member
what boat would be the ideal first trailer sailor between 18-21',modern looking and easy to set up with good sea handling?
thanks
thanks
FIRST TRAILER SAILOR
- Thread starter mercv6
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sofka
Active Member
<trail-sail.org.uk>
craigbalsillie
Well-Known Member
This is a quandry I too have been mulling over for a good year or so now..
I've been keeping an eye on www.baotshed.com
There's a few in this size range on there , although not all of them have a "modern" look.
I still can't decide whether to go for a small trailer sailer or a large(ish) dinghy, like a wayfarer..
I've been keeping an eye on www.baotshed.com
There's a few in this size range on there , although not all of them have a "modern" look.
I still can't decide whether to go for a small trailer sailer or a large(ish) dinghy, like a wayfarer..
SQUIRRELS
Well-Known Member
Unless you're of the 6' plus size, I'd be careful about what can truly be trailed and sailed. First boat was a Hunter Medina with a piggy back trailer, and yes she had a modern look, easy to handle rig and a lifting keel - what more could you ask for? Drawback, needed several pairs of hands or should I say very strong hands to launch and retrieve.
William_H
Well-Known Member
Short answer is "One like mine". (I have had it for 23 years) http://au.msnusers.com/CASTLE650GROUP
However that is not practical to you in UK (I am guessing)
In this case the boat is quite light at (new class min) 740 kg add a trailer brings to one ton. It has a vertically lifting keel with no skeg or ballast keel so it sits very flat on mud draws very little water and hauls onto a trailer from shallow water. The light weight for a 21 fter means it goes very fast but is very tender relying on crew weight however with good quick reefing it can be quite manageable for single handed sailing. ( it is self righting)
It is roomy inside but the keel case does tend to divide and isolate the fore cabin. It has a fractional rig with tapered mast which while 27 ft long can be raised single handed. You need the right A frame set up.
Definitely you need a cabin for the cold and uncomfortable passengers to hide in or for you at anchor when it rains. You should accept that you may graduate your T/S to keeping it on a mooring with occasional towing.
Mind you in UK I might be tempted to look for a more narrow T/S that can use some of your marvellous canals.
So consider these aspects. Of course if you are going to tow it very much you will need an eadequate car. I can't help feeling that SQIRRELS experience might have been aleviated with practice, electric winch and correct mast raising gear. regards olewill
However that is not practical to you in UK (I am guessing)
In this case the boat is quite light at (new class min) 740 kg add a trailer brings to one ton. It has a vertically lifting keel with no skeg or ballast keel so it sits very flat on mud draws very little water and hauls onto a trailer from shallow water. The light weight for a 21 fter means it goes very fast but is very tender relying on crew weight however with good quick reefing it can be quite manageable for single handed sailing. ( it is self righting)
It is roomy inside but the keel case does tend to divide and isolate the fore cabin. It has a fractional rig with tapered mast which while 27 ft long can be raised single handed. You need the right A frame set up.
Definitely you need a cabin for the cold and uncomfortable passengers to hide in or for you at anchor when it rains. You should accept that you may graduate your T/S to keeping it on a mooring with occasional towing.
Mind you in UK I might be tempted to look for a more narrow T/S that can use some of your marvellous canals.
So consider these aspects. Of course if you are going to tow it very much you will need an eadequate car. I can't help feeling that SQIRRELS experience might have been aleviated with practice, electric winch and correct mast raising gear. regards olewill
craigbalsillie
Well-Known Member
thats a belter mate..
Do you know if they have made their way to new zealand?
Do you know if they have made their way to new zealand?
mallet1
New Member
I am in the same boat (pun). I have dinghy sailed for years.... but that stopped some years ago with kids. They are now 4 and 7 and with good life jackets I am ready to introduce them and a trepid wife back to sailing. I have looked at the McGregor but find scorn everywhere, the Hunter, Etap21 et are all great but I can't justify 20k on something in reality I am going to use 10 times a year. Also there is much comment on this forum about the time taken to trailer, rig and then sail ....then repeat for way home - I can easily agree to a whole day out for a couple hours of sailing... assuming tide is right, weather etc.
At the risking of accepting defeat and reverting to reading sailing magazines only, anyone any suggestions?? I can go wayfarer route but really want something with some cabin so the kids can hide from the weather AND, it feels like one is sailing on rather than in the water.
Guess first point of call is somewhere to keep the thing rather than trailer.... I got quoted £50/m/week at a Marina in Hayling Island (my closest sea).... Maybe I should accept defeat !
HELP!
At the risking of accepting defeat and reverting to reading sailing magazines only, anyone any suggestions?? I can go wayfarer route but really want something with some cabin so the kids can hide from the weather AND, it feels like one is sailing on rather than in the water.
Guess first point of call is somewhere to keep the thing rather than trailer.... I got quoted £50/m/week at a Marina in Hayling Island (my closest sea).... Maybe I should accept defeat !
HELP!
GrahamC
Well-Known Member
See this , http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F72865/
Its a Juno, and can be trailed by a cars like a Mondeo .
Still a few around, sailed as a Class at East Lothian Y.C at North Berwick and I know of 3 more at Fisherrow, Granton and Port Edgar.
Good accomodation for the fit and agile.
Regards
GrahamC
Its a Juno, and can be trailed by a cars like a Mondeo .
Still a few around, sailed as a Class at East Lothian Y.C at North Berwick and I know of 3 more at Fisherrow, Granton and Port Edgar.
Good accomodation for the fit and agile.
Regards
GrahamC
mallet1
New Member
Thanks Graham - that and a couple of other replies seem to fit the bill boat wise... I am going to need to find a home for it first (Hayling/Chichester) before I go much further as trailering each time for use is going to be too much hassle. With regards
weaver_fish
Well-Known Member
Trail sail folks all rave about etap 22..... 21 is a bit expensive. a few people I know have had beneteau 211's and 210's but were not too keen on keel arranagement and the jeanneua sun 2000 is very light and best thought of as more a big dinghy.
For my money the best of the bunch are the parker 21s, the etap 22s and the dehler 22.... all have strengths and weaknesses but I narrowed it down to these three..... went for the dehler.. have pm you guys details.
Cheers
For my money the best of the bunch are the parker 21s, the etap 22s and the dehler 22.... all have strengths and weaknesses but I narrowed it down to these three..... went for the dehler.. have pm you guys details.
Cheers
William_H
Well-Known Member
Hi craig if you read some of the recent posts on the Castle 650 site you will see there is a big problem with the manufacturers. Basically they go slow and can't supply. ie a waiting time of 2 years for a new one. It is a pity because it is a brilliant design good build quality good price just not available. Having said that with about 300 built you may find a s/h one in oz and ship it across.
Mine was the prototype built nearly 25 yo but still performs brilliantly. Fastest trophy in div 3 in last 3 years against much bigger boats.
olewill
Mine was the prototype built nearly 25 yo but still performs brilliantly. Fastest trophy in div 3 in last 3 years against much bigger boats.
olewill
hughs
New Member
Try a West Wight Potter 19 (http://www.westwightpotter.com/potter-19/). We have just bought a brand new one from The Leisure Boat Company in Falmouth (http://www.theleisureboatcompany.co.uk/potter19.php).
As the name suggests, it is 19 foot long (18'9" LOA), with enough cabin space for my wife and I, plus our 3 small kids). We trial-sailed in Falmouth in June in a Force 5 and she handled beautifully.
We picked her up on Saturday this week and found her very easy to tow behind our 1.9d estate. We took her out on Rutland water yesterday for her maiden sail. She was really easy to launch and to recover (our car managed her up and down the ramp with no trouble at all).
We are really pleased with her and are taking her to North Wales for a few days in August.
She sits really easily on her trailer in our drive so no costs for a marina.
Cheers
Hugh
As the name suggests, it is 19 foot long (18'9" LOA), with enough cabin space for my wife and I, plus our 3 small kids). We trial-sailed in Falmouth in June in a Force 5 and she handled beautifully.
We picked her up on Saturday this week and found her very easy to tow behind our 1.9d estate. We took her out on Rutland water yesterday for her maiden sail. She was really easy to launch and to recover (our car managed her up and down the ramp with no trouble at all).
We are really pleased with her and are taking her to North Wales for a few days in August.
She sits really easily on her trailer in our drive so no costs for a marina.
Cheers
Hugh
Avocet
Well-Known Member
The Parkers and Jaguars (lift keelers) have a good reputation. Also (bit small for you) but our first boat was a Leisure 17 and we loved it!
Jays
New Member
The RTC-22 is a new trailer sailor coming out this year.
22 feet with Modern hull shape with twin rudders and lifting keel.
British built and the cheapest on the market.
22 feet with Modern hull shape with twin rudders and lifting keel.
British built and the cheapest on the market.