Trailer sailer

paulburton44

paulburton44

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Jul 2004
Messages
681
Location
Sleaford
www.withamsailingclub.co.uk
Looking to sell my Parker 235 to free up some cash.....

Will have about 10k to spend. Must be able to launch and recover (already have a disco).

Would like to be able to dry out flat (not swing keel)....

Like look of the sun 2000 but how tender are they.????
 
The Jeanneau Sun 2000 was one of 8 small trailer sailers reviewed in the last of several articles on trailer sailers in the Feb April May and June 2002 editions of PBO. Only good things were said about it. Its stability was attributed to beam and form stability. The article is available for purchase or download but I would be disappointed with what I got for £4.50 / £4.95 if I ordered /downloaded it.
 
I guess for that amount of money it is a matter of what kind of boat you find for sale.
Most T/S have a kind of stub keel into which the swing keel stows but this means the boat still has some significant draft with keel up and would flop on an angle if dried out.

The boat I have a Castle 650 is unlike these in having a flush bottom with vertical dropping keel which fully retracts into the cabin area. The keel is 100kgs but there is another 180kgs or so under floor ballast. Yes the boat is quite tender but has been proven many times by me to be self righting rapidly from mast in the water and the performance is so good that you can cruise with quite tiny jib / reefed main. Raced properly it will easily beat any of your larger cruising boats. ( despite being the tiiest boat we have won the most fastests trophey for the last five years in Div 3 at EFYC against 26 to 31 fters.

Unfortunately you would have to import a second hand Castle from Oz but 10K pounds should get you one if and when they come on the market. They are about 14K pounds new but there is a waiting list that could mean a wait of 2 years or more.
Regarding Murrelet if that is a McGregor 26 and you love sailing forget it. They do not sail effectively.
Sorry I am not being much help just look around and good luck olewill
 
We cruised in company with friends who have a sun 2000 on our 25 ft boat over the last 4 years. For what they are they are great boats, fun to sail, fast compared to the majority of 20 ft boats. I think you will find that they are very similar to the parker 235 in stability both having a ballast plate. They are in my opinion a slightly wider hull shape particularly at the back which gives better form stability. We sailed with them in up to F6 in the solent area mainly and I have been generally very impressed with the boat. However it can be very wet going to windward and you do need to sail it actively, which if you’re a dinghy sailor at heart should not be a problem. Like the 235 you need to reef down pretty early. The centre board arrangement is very useful as there is no damage if you hit the bottom; however watch out for the standard rudder which is a straight up and down, however I have seen several with a pivoting rudder a la 235. You can rig them up and down and on and off the trailer pretty quickly and if your strong get the mast up without any extra kit. In conclusion I’d say they are a 235 on a budget.
 
The Red Fox 200 (now sold as the Hunter 20) Could tick all your boxes. She has twin centerboards,fairly beamy and not bad accomodation.Reportedly quick .
web page
 
Shame on you Paul! I've learned a lot about 235s from your posts here and elsewhere!
Why not keep an eye open for a 21, they're about that price and sail similarly. though they're pushed for room below! None up for sale at the moment but thre are nearly 100 of them so they do come up from time to time.

The Sun 2000 we had at CSC had a non-ballast keel that went up into a ballasted stub. It would dry out level in our gloop but not on a sandy beach. Asymmetric kite on a bowsprit and a flat run aft they certainly go on a broad reach in a blow!
 
Can't help on Sun 2000 but worth considering a Jaguar 21. An old design now but sails well and a completely flat bottom. 10K would buy a really nice one. You have to watch the keel mechanism on older boats, the keel runner brackets are prone to rusting, far better if they have been replaced with stainless steel. One draw back is the limited accommodation caused by the keel box, still that's a problem with any 21 footer with a completely retracting keel.
I have just sold my one and moved up to a MG Spring 25.
 
Sailed a Sun 2000 on which we got blown flat and then it turned 'turtle' - not a nice experience at the end of October in a F6. Analysis of the event afterwards would probably say too much sail etc, etc but one issue was the centre board may well have lifted slightly, probably due to slamming into waves and then once upside down dropped back into the casing altogother. All that said it was not a bad boat to sail and was more like a dinghy with a lid. If I ever had one again I would look to device some mechanism for 'locking' the plate down.
 
There's a Fairey Atalanta been parked half a mile from here for over ten years, but its under cover. Its a restoration job, but not too major. I reckon £6-8k would see it seaworthy (and mucho elbow grease), but when I last spoke to the owner...10 years ago..he was 'restoring it'......still waiting..but its all there..or was when I last looked. Heavyish, and pretty bulky, but I love their originality of design, and their excellent sailing qualities. A yacht engineered and built by aircraft builders. The Atalanta assoc is still active and full of helpful people.

My Dehler 22 has a big stub keel when the drop keel is wound up, and the rudder would have to come out too. It would therefore fall over..but I have toyed with the idea of legs..but fairly dainty ones..no more than an idea though, and I've no idea how i'd attach them firmly to the hull in any way acceptable to me.

Sun 2000 is a big dinghy, and none the worse for that. It does exactly what it says on the tin. I'd have thought a 235 was less tender...but I've never sailed one, they just look damned good going upwind.

Tim
 
you mean like this.....

rwladyp.jpg


It's on boatsandoutboards .....
 
To keep sailing on minimal money i.e. to seriously release the capital from the Parker 235 I'd consider a Swift 18, an Eagle 525 (bit odd looking, but designed by Peter Milne of Fireball fame, and a good boat), or a bilge keel GRP Silhouette. You could have change from £4000 or even less for any of these, and loads of fun. Jaguar 21s are in this range, but good ones don't crop up too often (there's a beauty AND a wreck of a Jag 21 in the Rutland boat park at Whitwell Creek..and an unloved Swift 18 right next to your boat Paul)

Going upmarket a bit, there are a couple of Parker 21s on yachts and outboards, and yes the Red Fox with assymetric boards is a good sail, but not an easy one to sell in view of its non conformity in the board dept. Shame, as nobody has a bad word for the Red Fox on the water.

Tim
 
Paul,
I am very surprised to see your selling the parker after reading your posts on SSAC, just out of personal interest, are you disapointed with and want to move on or is it to free up cash.
 
It is to free up the cash.... The 235 is a fantstic boat with few faults.

Read this http://www.withamsailingclub.co.uk/log07.htm

Our house is for sale and we have found one we love .....the 15k or so extra will relly help reduce the new mortgage.

There are 3 Parker 21's on b&o at the momemt also a couple of sun 2000's. I do like the jags but they are getting a bit dated just like the Hunter Medina.
I have been looking at the Red Fox and do like them. " Scud" was for sale when I bought "Lady P" don't know if its been for sale since then (2years)

I think a swift would be a little small for us !! Although "Brats" (next to me) at Rutland would be considered for a very low price...

Need to sell "Lady P" first then I am a serious buyer.
 
Hi Paul,

I have a Sun 2000, which I am very pleased with. It is quite tender and needs to be reefed early, but is beautifully balanced with one reef and is pretty quick. Big asymmetric spinnaker can be carried on a close reach in light winds, and will keep up with many 30 footers. Space for two families in the cockpit, and fine for overnighting.

Draws 9 inches and dries out flat on ballast plate - no need for beaching legs. Can adjust centreboard from cockpit, which is very useful. Had up and down rudder blade until c. 2005, when they switched to a pivoting blade. An old rudder can be replaced with a new style, but prohibitively expensive.

Sails are OK quality, but not fantastic. Most kit is pretty good (Harken blocks throughout), but worth swapping standard jib fairleads for adjustable tracks, and consider bringing some of the halyards back along coachroof.

Comfort version includes floorboards, interior lighting, forward hatch, water supply & hob.

Note that they swing quite a bit on a mooring - ours is tight in amongst keelboats and is left with centreboard down and sea anchors off the stern to damp the motion - works fine.


Happy to provide further info if you would like.

Regards,
Mike
 
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