Small trailable weekender

ghostlymoron

ghostlymoron

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Mrs Moron has suggested I get a small trailable boat similar to the Leisure 17 we had when we first started sailing. The advantages are:- cheap to buy, cheap to moor, can bring home to do maintenance during winter, no worries about expensive asset breaking free of moorings, ability to sail in different areas. Disadvantages are :- no standing headroom, only able to sail in moderate conditions, not able to undertake offshore passages.
I'm still not convinced but thought I would do some investigations.
I would need something that could be towed by an Audi A4, I'd think less than 20', bilge or lifting keel, probably outboard powered (although inboard preferred), Cornish Shrimper/Crabber would be nice but too expensive, budget around £2k
What would you lot recommend?
 
What sort of weight can you tow with the Audi?
IMHO there's a big advantage in the boat being light enough to go on an unbraked trailer. That way you can dunk the trailer and there is a lot less to worry about. Of course in an ideal world we would all use a combi launching trolley system like Dylan, but we're not all luxury yacht owners.
 
Audi A4 "BRAKED" towing weight I belive starts at 1500kg rising to 2000kg on some models.. The thing is when car makers issue these figures it is done when the suspension is brand new.. After a few years, what may be good enough to pass a MOT may not be totally up to the job of towing something heavy.. People think that as long as their brakes are ok that all is well.. Bad mistake.. That said, the Audi A4 is certainly one of the better tow cars on the market..
 
The Manta 19 is a good lift keeler, if you can find one.

Beware of two snags;

A, police go by the max stated weight on the trailer makers' plate, it could have a Mirror dinghy on it at the time but if the plate says it's capable of more than the car can legally tow you're in bother.

B, Also with all lift keelers do check the raising part of the plate for condition; a major drawback with towing the boat home for the winter is that the keel plate remains inaccessible, which is why I have my lift keeler hoisted onto high trestles at the club every winter.

I have yet to be convinced trailer sailing is a good idea, even for relatively small boats like the Manta 19, Swift 18 etc; good slipways are quite rare and on decent days the world and his wife will have had the same idea - even if you have a machine gun to get to the slipway before the tide goes, there's finding a place to leave the boat when launched, finding somewhere secure to leave the car & trailer, getting back to the boat and rigging her, then all this in reverse before the trip home...

I tried all this with sailing dingies ( Caricraft 10 to Osprey ) and that was hassle, I've always found a half tide swinging mooring both economical and pleasant, close to shore to row to and observe the comings & goings + wildlife and sheltered compared to deep water moorings.
 
Seajet said:
The Manta 19 is a good lift keeler, if you can find one.

Beware of two snags;

A, police go by the max stated weight on the trailer makers' plate, it could have a Mirror dinghy on it at the time but if the plate says it's capable of more than the car can legally tow you're in bother.
Click to expand...

Can you quote the relevant legislation?
 
It used to be the case but has been changed.
I have seen the relevant info, but cannot find it again. The problem with Googling is that a page which gives loads of info may not be up-to-date.
 
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Seajet said:
T
I have yet to be convinced trailer sailing is a good idea, even for relatively small boats like the Manta 19, Swift 18 etc; good slipways are quite rare and on decent days the world and his wife will have had the same idea - even if you have a machine gun to get to the slipway before the tide goes, there's finding a place to leave the boat when launched, finding somewhere secure to leave the car & trailer, getting back to the boat and rigging her, then all this in reverse before the trip home...
Click to expand...

The OP was asking about a trailerable weekender, not a trailer sailor.

I would put my boat in that category. 18ft 6 LOA, space in theory to sleep 4, small and light enough to easily transport on a trailer, but too big and awkward to launch and recover frequently from a slipway.

It spends the summer in the water, and the winter on the trailer at home.

I just say to the OP be open minded and look at anything you see for sale within your budget and see if it ticks your boxes.

I bought mine, simply because it was for sale locally sitting in a brokers yard, at the right price and it ticked the boxes. The fact it happened to be a boat made in small volumes for a short period in the 1980's doesn't really matter (though it might if I ever decide to sell it)

There should be plenty of similar 1970's and 1980's boats within your budget. and don't discount another Leisure 17 there are still quite a few around.

The condition of the trailer, and motor (if any) with the boat are as important as the boat itself. If the trailer was a pile of rust then replacing it could cost as much as the boat. In my case the trailer was basically sound, but set up really badly, with 2 knackered wheel bearings, and 2 rotten tyres. But all easy to fix and it's fine now.

As already noted, if you buy a lifting keel boat, you need some way to maintain the keel. In my case I have modified the trailer to allow the keel to lower between the two main trailer members, but that's not always feasible depending on the trailer construction, Even if you can't lower it, regular maintenance of the lifting mechanism is vital.

Your mooring choice should also influence the keel choice. My lifting keel is fine as the harbour is soft mud when it dries, but I wouldn't want my boat to dry onto a stony bottom, which might be okay with bilge keels.
 
I'm currently selling my Micro challenger https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=m...PaswaA3oDACw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1277&bih=599
It's a little bit less than your budget, at £1500ish but I think all the Micro 18s would fit your needs.

Micro 18, first 18, swift 18, gem 18, there's a big variety out there.. I think the race setup was for trailer sailor cruisers that had to be able to sleep 4, so there's no stripped out racing prototypes... (except for the prototype class :-) )

My Ford Focus towed it everywhere, including the first 8 hour drive from Lake Windermere to Kent!
 
As with all boats there is a compromise - performance or accommodation. At a trailerable size the accommodation is never going to be palatial so I would concentrate on performance and go for a generic Micro 18 - earlier this year a really nice Micro Gem sold on eBay for £2k. For a more readily available boat where performance is at a premium hunt out a decent Hunter Europa - I towed mine easily - and the fin is easier to tow than other versions - and is a rock solid seaworthy fast wee boat.
 
ProDave said:
The OP was asking about a trailerable weekender, not a trailer sailor.

I would put my boat in that category. 18ft 6 LOA, space in theory to sleep 4, small and light enough to easily transport on a trailer, but too big and awkward to launch and recover frequently from a slipway.

It spends the summer in the water, and the winter on the trailer at home.

I just say to the OP be open minded and look at anything you see for sale within your budget and see if it ticks your boxes.

I bought mine, simply because it was for sale locally sitting in a brokers yard, at the right price and it ticked the boxes. The fact it happened to be a boat made in small volumes for a short period in the 1980's doesn't really matter (though it might if I ever decide to sell it)

There should be plenty of similar 1970's and 1980's boats within your budget. and don't discount another Leisure 17 there are still quite a few around.

The condition of the trailer, and motor (if any) with the boat are as important as the boat itself. If the trailer was a pile of rust then replacing it could cost as much as the boat. In my case the trailer was basically sound, but set up really badly, with 2 knackered wheel bearings, and 2 rotten tyres. But all easy to fix and it's fine now.

As already noted, if you buy a lifting keel boat, you need some way to maintain the keel. In my case I have modified the trailer to allow the keel to lower between the two main trailer members, but that's not always feasible depending on the trailer construction, Even if you can't lower it, regular maintenance of the lifting mechanism is vital.

Your mooring choice should also influence the keel choice. My lifting keel is fine as the harbour is soft mud when it dries, but I wouldn't want my boat to dry onto a stony bottom, which might be okay with bilge keels.
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I don't really get the difference between trailer sailer and trailable weekender. I don't intened to keep it at home and trail to a new location each time, what I would do is trail to somewhere nice and leave it in the water for a season. i would have the option of putting it somewhere else for the next season. Thanks for your advice so far. I'm checking up on Frolics and the other boats mentioned.
 
Seajet is of course correct, a Manta 19 would be perfect, what you need is a Manta 19 on a recently rebuilt trailer complete with a mariner 3.3. By remarkable coincidence I have one that answers that description for sale on my drive after I have switched to an open dayboat. PM me if you would like it on your drive !!

Whatever you look at please don't ignore the trailer like I did, sorting out the trailer can cost far more that sorting the boat. Mine needed everything but the frame replacing at vast expense (but its now perfect or it would be if it was on your drive). The Manta and most similar boats of that era can be towed behind a normal car
 
IJL said:
Seajet is of course correct, a Manta 19 would be perfect, what you need is a Manta 19 on a recently rebuilt trailer complete with a mariner 3.3. By remarkable coincidence I have one that answers that description for sale on my drive after I have switched to an open dayboat. PM me if you would like it on your drive !!

Whatever you look at please don't ignore the trailer like I did, sorting out the trailer can cost far more that sorting the boat. Mine needed everything but the frame replacing at vast expense (but its now perfect or it would be if it was on your drive). The Manta and most similar boats of that era can be towed behind a normal car
Click to expand...

IJL,

one of the best ad's I've ever seen, I wish you luck !

Just out of curiosity, when was she last hoisted to inspect and maintain the keel plate ?

I always advise Anderson 22 & 26 + Hunter 701 owners to take lots of photo's of the lift keel in its' lowered state including one or two with a newspaper in shot showing the headline so the date can be proven ( the date itself being too small print usually ).
 
I think few of this type of boat get hoisted until something stops working. On the Manta the main mass of the keel is a steel stub with a fairly light plate that lowers out of it. Mine works well and the pivot can be takes out on the trailer and it's lifted with chain that comes out on the bridgedeck. There's a lot less to go wrong than on many other boats of this type.
 
Ah now that is a tricky dream to fulfill. Not that I am suggesting you do not follow that dream. Much depends on the launching facilities available nearby and at desirable cruising places. Do you really love sailing or would a Mobo suit you better. They can be great for backwater out of the way places to camp. We have camped a bit on my TS that des not have standing room. No problems really you go ashore a lot. More space is of course nicer but for 2 people a small boat is fine. certainly better than a tent.
I wonder if a narrower boat suitable for canals might also give some pleasure.
Funny I had a dream a bit like yours 34 years later after buying the boat we still love it. The actual dream and use has gone out the window (see my earlier post) to be replaced by mostly gentle competition sailing but that is OK. good luck with your quest
 
The main problem I can see is the requirement to be able to weekend on the boat and also tow it. Some people are more adaptable to small spaces. If you enjoy camping a small cabin may suit. If you don'r like camping and have a creaky back and are 6 ft tall you may be in shit-creek.
Certain Clay-people manage four-up weekending in an 18ft Micro Gem. Not something I could manage. :)
 
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