trailer sailing and downsizing.

wotayottie

wotayottie

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Thanks to everyone for advice on the earlier thread about trailer sailing. I went to SBS yesterday for a good look at what is on offer in the 20 to 24 ft range. A couple of boats caught my eye - the First 20 and the Elan 20. The Elan in particular looked like a really fun boat.

But I wonder if I am being realistic at 67 years old in thinking of a go faster tea tray type boat, or am I being silly and thinking I'm an 18 year old dinghy sailer still. Always been a bit of a speed freak whether cars bikes or boats. So would I be better off thinking Crabber or similar - I do fancy being able to overnight in secluded little inlets. A touch of the Dylans if you like.

And what has been the experienmce of other older sailers downsizing? Has it been a success or have problems of decreasing mobility combined with a small boat made life impossible? I would class myself as a fitter than average geriatric but I am definitely less agile than I was in part thanks to bike/tarmac interface.
 
I have found for several years now I get two distinct types of people enquiring about Andersons; novices looking for a first boat with a lid on ( or second after a cuddy or Shrimper style design ) and experienced older sailors downsizing from very large boats.

Unsurprisingly the latter group know exactly what they're doing and pounce when a good boat comes up, while the newbies dither and often lose out !

My Dad is a fit 88 and he comes sailing a few times a year.
 
The Elan 210 is certainly an interesting boat with some quirky design elements, especially the outboard motor 'well'. In the PBO test below, you can see the outboard being rigged and also the keel being raised/lowered... put rigging the mast on top I would say this is much more of a boat that can be trailered rather than a trailer sailor. I've seen the demo boat coming and going out of Hamble Point marina and she does look like fun (and the outboard well keeps her lines - and better weight distribution- rather than having the the thing haning out the back).

 
I downsized from a Beneteau 285 based in a UK marina to a Hawk 20 on a trailer in NZ. I love the Hawk and after a year I still feel that the decision was a good one for my circumstances out here.

That said, trailer-sailing is relatively physically hard work. I sail single-handed much of the time (SWMBO misses her cabin and is on strike for greater comfort). Each launch and recovery is a work-out and every mast-stepping is a test of strength, organisation and dexterity. The Hawk is a total delight to sail, but you are closer to the elements and more aware of stronger winds and gusts.

Too old at 67? Not necessarily, I am 5 years younger than that, but when my contract ends in NZ I'll be back in UK in something with a lid and a good cabin with a dry, wind-proof vantage point from which to view weather, creeks and anchorages.

When comparing boats, take a look at Hunter 20; close contest for me, but the Hawk scored on one key point: the drop-keel hinges upwards if you strike a shoal. The Hunter's keel rises vertically in its trunk.

Good luck with the choosing!
 
Is the forseeable future sailing going to be crewed or single-handed?
The sportboat type of yacht are going to be a bit of a handful I would have thought, on your own.
 
My first boat with a lid was a Gem Micro 18 (one of Rob Humphreys early designs) and we absolutely loved it. Saw the Elan 210 yesterday and just wanted to go sail it! .... more than any other boat at the show

The accomadation isn't bad either!
 
Lakesailor said:
Is the forseeable future sailing going to be crewed or single-handed?
The sportboat type of yacht are going to be a bit of a handful I would have thought, on your own.
Click to expand...

Fair point. I remember single handing my first boat, a Hunter 26, that was like a big dinghy. Trying to keep a hand on the tiller whilst tacking the genoa - etc etc.

Hmmmm! :confused:

Maybe something with a self tailing jib?
 
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Upsizing from a dinghy!

We have been trailering a trailable yacht for a couple of years.We do not as such trailer sail but we have made the choice to be in a different cruising ground up to twice a year and enjoy storage and maintenance at home over winter.

I came from a competitive dinghy environment and I wanted a trailable yacht that would sail as well as one but without the effort of leaning out.I assure you a deep bulb keeled trailer sailer is the only way to go. It allows us to sail in company or outsail much bigger cruisers in in most enjoyable sailing conditions.

I do not regret the decision to buy a Trapper TS240 and have been happily single handed with the occasional help from partner or Tiller pilot to help tame it when reefing or preparing for mooring.

Our TS240 is every bit as lively and similar to the Elan in many ways

What would improve it or the Elan as we are not getting any younger?

An inboard diesel engine. I use the most powerful 9.8hp and lightest two stroke available as we sometimes need to push up to 4 knots of tide. I can see that I will get tired of lifting any OB in and out of a well. The Elan solution is over complicated and wastes a load of space all for the sake of half a knot extra speed if you lift the OB. Also if you want to cruise a little bit further from base you will be wanting to carry up to 50 litres of fuel.

Does the Elan 210 have storage space for fenders,warps,bucket,scrubbing brush,spare fuel and water for extended weekend cruising,kedge,roll up inflateable? Does it have the capabilty to carry a decent bow anchor with a few meters of chain and warp?

Does it have a workable galley that you can cook on rather than just boil a kettle?

Does it have a private heads compartment with sea toilet and wet locker.

Does it have four useable berths prefferably in two separate cabins so that you can occasionally have friends or grand children stay on board overnight? Alternatively you can leave the spare berths made up ready for bed rather than go through the pre bedtime ritual of making the bed?

Does it have an enclosed lifted keel as slopping smelly low tide water into the cabin as you dry out at your lunch time stop is not to be recommended?

We have toyed with the idea of trading ours in for a Bene 25.5 which can have all of the above.

But we then saw the Bene 27.7

Which appeals to my current circumstances.

I know the 27.7 is too wide for trailing without notifying the police in advance! I also know it will sail even better than our TS 240 and give a better ride in bigger seas.


It all depends how far you are downsizing. If you currently enjoy bigger boat cruising you may find the Elan fun but a little restrictive.
 
The Elan looks interesting - some expensive looking sails on the test boat too.

Depends how much you want to trailer sail/ go into shallow waters as lifting the rudders and keel does not appear to be something I would want to do daily/every weekend.

Was the Baycruiser 20 there from Swallow?
 
Lakesailor said:
2.6 tons! Some trailer sailer :D
Click to expand...

Glad you like my choice:D:D:D:D
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/beneteau-first-27-7/first-27-7.htm

Isnt that the crux of it.

Horses for courses...

If you want something for routine trailing to new locations one or two nights a month during the season and confine your passage making to sheltered coastal cruising in fine weather then go the water ballasted or in hull ballasted/plate trailer sailer route. I know Russel of this parish enjoys this route and has found his ideal trailer sailer.

My definition would be sea camper/sailer and legally towable with a normal family car.

If you enjoy or have enjoyed sailing a performance dinghy or yacht and dont accept any compromise. If you realistically want to fully explore up to 2 different semi offshore/cruising grounds a year in most weather then go for a trailable yacht. In our case we can tow it ourself but having it trailered is always an option. Having a lift keel just helps us access more sheltered anchorages and to dry out between tides.

My definition trailable yacht towable with anything other than a normal family car!

As far as the op is concerned another man in the news not acting his age
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-month-impossible-trek-across-Antarctica.html

Go for a test sail before you buy from one adrenaline junkie to another.
 
Boomshanka said:
The Elan 210 is certainly an interesting boat with some quirky design elements, especially the outboard motor 'well'. In the PBO test below, you can see the outboard being rigged and also the keel being raised/lowered... put rigging the mast on top I would say this is much more of a boat that can be trailered rather than a trailer sailor. I've seen the demo boat coming and going out of Hamble Point marina and she does look like fun (and the outboard well keeps her lines - and better weight distribution- rather than having the the thing haning out the back).

Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I don't like the faff involved in setting up the OB, and as for the procedure to lift the keel up?

I like my transom hung OB that can be lowered into the water and started in seconds. and I like my wind up keel, 50 turns of a handle (the mechanism stays in place permanently) and it's up when I need to get in or out of somewhere shallow. And my keel box is reasonably sealed.
 
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Greenwichman said:
When comparing boats, take a look at Hunter 20; close contest for me, but the Hawk scored on one key point: the drop-keel hinges upwards if you strike a shoal. The Hunter's keel rises vertically in its trunk.
Click to expand...

+1

I like the Hunter's as well.... I like the Hunter 20 Mini C and in the unlikely event I ever had enough money to buy new this would be high on my list of possibles....
 
TSB240 said:
We have been trailering a trailable yacht for a couple of years.We do not as such trailer sail but we have made the choice to be in a different cruising ground up to twice a year and enjoy storage and maintenance at home over winter.

I came from a competitive dinghy environment and I wanted a trailable yacht that would sail as well as one but without the effort of leaning out.I assure you a deep bulb keeled trailer sailer is the only way to go. It allows us to sail in company or outsail much bigger cruisers in in most enjoyable sailing conditions.
Click to expand...

The Hunter Mini C is, I believe, the Hawk dinghy with a different lid. I suspect its getting a bit small for us, having looked at the Hawk at SBS. On the other hand the Parker looks a bit big in terms of handling the launching and rigging.

How do you manage the rigging of your boat - how long does it take from arriving somewhere by road to having the boat rigged and in the water.? Can you do it single handed?

You mentioned two points about the Elan that concerned me too - the lack of a small diesel and the cooking / washing facilities. I've had o/b powered boats before but that was in my beginner days when I didnt know how easy it was to do almost anything under sail that you could do under engine. The cooking and washing bit is more of an issue since the one thing I cannot stand is being dirty.

But there is a price to all these facilities and that is size. My present 35 footer lacks two things to make it really civilised - a generator and 200 gallon water tanks. To get them I would have to go up 10 foot at least. You pays your money and makes your choice.

But to go back to the original question , I really would appreciate your comments on the time and difficulty in handling the launch and recovery of your boat. I would be single handed, am 67 and whilst reasonably fit and a gym regular, I am not getting stronger and more agile as I age.
 
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