the practicalities of trailer sailing

[Fittster]

There are plenty of places where you can hire a power 4x4. If you aren't going to move the boat often it might be cheaper than upgrading your own car.

For example: http://www.neneoverland.co.uk/4x4services/4x4_hire.php

 

[Romeo]

looking at it from another angle...

Mrs Wototottie has always been more interested in the ports we visit than the actual sailing anyway.

Just maybe what you should get is a pleasant campervan and an open boat that is a delight to sail. Then Mrs W can potter about in the port, and sail with you when she feels like it, and you can enjoy purer sailing without needing to worry about the big stuff. Consider a Hawk 22 if you want a boat that can sail well.

R

 

[Zagato]

There are plenty of places where you can hire a power 4x4. If you aren't going to move the boat often it might be cheaper than upgrading your own car.

For example: http://www.neneoverland.co.uk/4x4services/4x4_hire.php

Google Neneoverland, court cases, poor after-sales etc and make your own mind whether to use a bunch like this, lets say they are not well respected in the LR world - just close to LRO mag offices!!. The guy was in court from his previous LR company before Nene, I understand Nene is in his wifes name as he wasn't allowed to put it in his! Crime does pay though, he has a nice operation now

 

[dylanwinter]

renting vans

the last van I rented from Northgate cost me £40 for the day

big mercedes

towed a treat



launching is fairly simple

recovery can be a right faff

so get the yard to do it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j1fjcstRZo

my trailer is on the way to recovory after the bloke who borrowed it dunked it in the North Sea

when I stripped the bearings and hubs they were full of salty water

most worried about the brake cables

on the bright side.... at least I knew it had been dunked

I have now written please do not dunk my trailer in indellible pen all over it

aaaaagh!

Dylan

 

[Lakesailor]

Just maybe what you should get is a pleasant campervan and an open boat that is a delight to sail. Then Mrs W can potter about in the port, and sail with you when she feels like it, and you can enjoy purer sailing without needing to worry about the big stuff. Consider a Hawk 22 if you want a boat that can sail well.

R

Have they grown a couple of feet?

The Hawk 20 is a great day boat, but is fairly heavy at 816KGs

 

[wotayottie]

Just maybe what you should get is a pleasant campervan and an open boat that is a delight to sail. Then Mrs W can potter about in the port, and sail with you when she feels like it, and you can enjoy purer sailing without needing to worry about the big stuff. Consider a Hawk 22 if you want a boat that can sail well.

R

That would be Mrs Wota's approach. Personally I dislike campervans with intensity.

Having read all the above helpful posts with some care and thought about the issues they raise, I have decided to continue with the present 35 footer for the next season and at the end of 2013 to find somewhere down Falmouth way to overwinter the boat. I suspect that a trail sailor would please neither of us - the accommodation being a bit too much like camping for either of us, and the trailing and launching being a PITA.

Thanks to everyone who has replied.

 

[viago]

. Incidentally I would lean more towards a fold up Dragonfly than a Drascombe.

But how practical is all this for a 60 year old - in other words, is it going to be easier for me to handle that my current boat or would it all be more difficult.

So comments please on :
1/ what is the practical upper limit of trailability with the sort of family car you might reasonably use for the rest of the year?
2/ At that size, how easy is launch and recovery? Is it really a yard job?
3/ At that size, how seaworthy is a trailer sailer. There have been few enough sails on a 35 footer this year due to weather. I get no braver as I age so I dont want to buy a boat that would frighten me in a F3.
4/ At that size is it really possible to live aboard in some comfort or are we talking camping in the cold unable to stand up?

katie l meets some of your requirements and dylans trailer system is a dream.
but it seems you still have a need-for-speed and are not wanting to have to buy a huge 4x4.
at the risk of bringing upon myself Armageddon itself you might want to consider the mcgreggor 26 trailer-sailer. could be towed by a passat say, easy mast raising, goes like a bat out of hell if the weather turns, very spacious, standing head room.
ok, its not going to sail like your current vessel but plenty of fun to be had and residuals are pretty good. mrs wotta could even get her wetsuit on and take up water skiing.
worth a thought.
taking cover!

 

[dylanwinter]

I agree

katie l meets some of your requirements and dylans trailer system is a dream.
but it seems you still have a need-for-speed and are not wanting to have to buy a huge 4x4.
at the risk of bringing upon myself Armageddon itself you might want to consider the mcgreggor 26 trailer-sailer. could be towed by a passat say, easy mast raising, goes like a bat out of hell if the weather turns, very spacious, standing head room.
ok, its not going to sail like your current vessel but plenty of fun to be had and residuals are pretty good. mrs wotta could even get her wetsuit on and take up water skiing.
worth a thought.
taking cover!

I agree

and would have been very happy to do my journey in a mac

and imagine what a 3,000 strong customer base would do the dvd sales

I have seen lots of them around and you know from what I can see they sail prettty well

D

 

[Lakesailor]

Interesting article from one who sails a MacGregor here

The safety precaution's from MacGregor's own site http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/safety.html

 

[CreakyDecks]

Here we go

 

[Lakesailor]

at the risk of bringing upon myself Armageddon itself you might want to consider the mcgreggor 26 trailer-sailer. could be towed by a passat say,
taking cover!

It's a bit heavier than you think. The trailer is plated (according to MaGregor) at 4200 lbs which is 1905Kgs.
Therefore you'll need a vehicle that is rated for at at least that to be legal.
I couldn't find a Passat that was rated for more than 1800Kgs (although there are loads of models). Strangely the 3.6 VR6 4-Motion model is only 1000Kgs.

 

[Boomshanka]

Here we go

I'm just out to get some popcorn... anyone else want anything?... Don't start before I'm back

 

[viago]

It's a bit heavier than you think. The trailer is plated (according to MaGregor) at 4200 lbs which is 1905Kgs.
Therefore you'll need a vehicle that is rated for at at least that to be legal.
I couldn't find a Passat that was rated for more than 1800Kgs (although there are loads of models). Strangely the 3.6 VR6 4-Motion model is only 1000Kgs.

yes, sorry. mine is only 1.8 ton
dry weight of macgregor is only 1.2 ton but the trailer and engine are heavier than i realised.

p.s. this would do it-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-VOLK...omobiles_UK&hash=item2ec13e064a#ht_699wt_1144

 

[Seajet]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-VOLKSWAGEN-PHAETON-V6-TDI-4MOTION-A-BLACK-72K-/200810563146?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2ec13e064a#ht_699wt_1144[/url]

Viago,

I'm not at all sure that car would 'do it', the towing vehicle has to have weight as well as power.

 

[Lakesailor]

It has a towing weight of 2200Kgs (although that is the V6 3.2, the V6 3.0 TDI is 2500Kgs but neither are 4Motion. The only 4Motion listed is a 5 litre which has a towing weight of 2500Kg).

 

[viago]

It has a towing weight of 2200Kgs (although that is the V6 3.2, the V6 3.0 TDI is 2500Kgs but neither are 4Motion. The only 4Motion listed is a 5 litre which has a towing weight of 2500Kg).

if you put 57 phaeton into parkers you will see that the phaeton was only
available as a 4 motion awd.
its bound to be a good tractor with that length and weight, let alone its power and awd capability.
you're getting a 45k car for 8k at just 5 year old.
hmmm, - get thee behind me satan.

 

[Seajet]

if you put 57 phaeton into parkers you will see that the phaeton was only
available as a 4 motion awd.
its bound to be a good tractor with that length and weight, let alone its power and awd capability.
you're getting a 45k car for 8k at just 5 year old.
hmmm, - get thee behind me satan.

So according to Lakesailor it tows up to 2500kg; does a Macgregor ( my keyboard just melted ) and trailer weigh less than that ?

I'd go for a RangeRover for towing Ta very much, with something like an, oh I don't know, Anderson 22 ?

 

[Lakesailor]

Post #31

 

[Lakesailor]

if you put 57 phaeton into parkers you will see that the phaeton was only
available as a 4 motion awd.
its bound to be a good tractor with that length and weight, let alone its power and awd capability.
you're getting a 45k car for 8k at just 5 year old.
hmmm, - get thee behind me satan.

So long as it is an auto. No low ratio could be a stumbling block.

 

[Seajet]

Post #31

So if it's 1905kg, I'd have thought it's pushing it by the time a 4 wheel trailer and boaty junk is added.