Trailer Yacht - How Bigs Too Big or Too Small?

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dewent

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Would welcome some advice.

Thinking of a sailing yacht that I can tow behind my 4 X 4. I thought leave in the water over summer and in the garden over winter.

We have a larger boat but its too big for me to use single handed.

Would like to use mainly on the Irish Sea but it would be nice to be able to take to the Lake District too.

Don't want a dingy, a proper yacht that will be comfortable and safe for a few adventures.

How bigs too big, how small is too small?

Just to get a feeling for sizes I was looking at the Beneteau web site. The First 20 looks fine to tow but small at sea in a chop, then the First 257 may be too big to tow.
 
I don't think I can give you much advice but maybe give you something more to think about. I had an Etap 22i which I trailer sailed and found to be great in pretty much every way. I recently sailed an Etap23i which felt exactly the same to sail as my old boat. With only one foot difference that is not surprising. I understand the weight difference between the two is over 400kg. When towing, launching and recovering that extra weight will make a big difference.
Allan
 
I've been pondering this too & had a look at couple of boats. Looked at a Beneteau Spirit 260 which was the predecessor of the 25.7. Its just about towable but you need something capable of towing the full 3.5tonnes max allowable by a 4x4 - and then there's few capable of that anyway. I think I'd be as happy in that in most seas in a boat of that size/type.
Also looked at a Sunfast 2500 - a little lighter and more dinghy-like in it's initial appearance.

Most of these boats at the upper end of the towing limit are "move twice a year" type boats and definitely not trailer-sailers as you need the mast craned up & down. These boats are also in the £30K bracket & so quite an investment for a 2nd boat - if that's what you intend.

I'm sure someone will fly in shortly and recommend an Anderson 22 so I'll suggest it first. It seems to me that you need to be around this size for what you intend - I'm still unsure if mast raising is a crane-job or not. My son's Pandora International (21ft) was just "do-able" without a crane.

The Pandora International would also do well, I think they made a lift keel, without it you need cradle-like trailer and a definite crane-job on & off
 
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The First 25.7 should be OK if your 4X4 is man enough.

It would be a once a year move though, well twice if you count bringing it home again.

As you said, stepping and unstepping the mast would be a pain without an A frame but not too hard with one, even single handed, obviously a couple of extra bods makes it easier.

Loads of other Trail Sailer or Trailable Boat threads on here with other options for older boats from 20' to 26' so I won't rehash all that again.
 
BAtoo,

actually I always say the Anderson 22 is too big and heavy to trail regularly - 2,500lbs is quoted in the brochure but I expect it's significantly more with cruising junk.

The odd relocation to different cruising grounds for something like a summer cruise would be OK, towing with something like a RangeRover.

Towing home for the winter is not such a great idea with any lift keel boat, as unless the trailer is heavily modified the keel plate will be retracted and inaccessible for maintenance.
 
With all the attention Anderson 22s get on here every day, you are unlikely to be able to acquire one for sensible money.
Depending on your budget I would go for the First (easy to move on when you go to sell again) or if spending less a Trapper TS240. I used to race on one of these in winter series and in latter years I recall evidence of incipient osmosis on the inside of the hull, but that particular owner was not too particular and she always seemed to have water sloshing about inside. Nice wee boat though, quick and easily handled but lacking the fifties retro character that Oliver Lee gave the Anderson.
 
Seajet said:
BAtoo,

actually I always say the Anderson 22 is too big and heavy to trail regularly - 2,500lbs is quoted in the brochure but I expect it's significantly more with cruising junk.

The odd relocation to different cruising grounds for something like a summer cruise would be OK, towing with something like a RangeRover.

Towing home for the winter is not such a great idea with any lift keel boat, as unless the trailer is heavily modified the keel plate will be retracted and inaccessible for maintenance.
Click to expand...

Not all. The keel on our Parker 235 can be lifted out from above with some suitable equipment for a spot of TLC:)

5104681490_ffd81bc6fa_z.jpg
 
Towing will be decided on what weight you can pull with your 4x4. I never find towing boats/caravans a problem so for me I suppose it all comes down to how much launching you are going to do. i.e. how easy do you want the boat to launch and rig.

Remember a single axle trailer is a lot easier to manoeuvre than a double axled one - I forgot this to my cost :rolleyes: Like you I wanted to store mine at home but ended up paying for storage and buying a different boat as I couldn't get the trailer around a tight turn :rolleyes:

Work out where you want to sail and how many times and that will determine what boat/rig you need.

PS That Parker looks nice...

Not cheap though, one for sale at moment for £23,000

"The Parker 235 Mini Cruiser is a Trailer Sailer that offers the freedom to choose different and quieter sailing localities, avoiding marina charges and enroute accommodation.

The design features all round sparkling sailing performance that is achieved by having a long waterline, beamy hull form stability, which combined with a deep low centre of gravity keel gives great stability for offshore safety and sea keeping. All sail controls and the Parker’s unique lift keel system can be operated from the large cockpit. The yacht can be moored with its keel raised in shallow waters and still have remarkable stability. The Parker 235 can dry out on mud, sand or gravel and sit completely upright for all round comfort aboard. It has easy handling ashore with its 0.3m draft and flattish bottom to launch and recover from the custom built 4-wheel trailer. The mast can be raised & lowered effortlessly from the cockpit by using a custom supplied system.

With its sporty external looks the Parker 235 has a surprising amount of internal accommodation and volume. Below decks there is a large roomy main saloon with two single berths and galley, with storage located on the starboard side. On the portside there is a separate head compartment with a hand basin and forward is a very large forepeak locker. In the aft section is a double berth with further storage lockers".
 
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The legal limits on towing will set your upper limit. Don't know what they are but it shouldn't be too difficult to find out.

I know of one 34' boat which has a trailer. The owner can legally tow the trailer with a 4 X 4 but needs to hire a truck to tow the boat plus trailer. As it is a beginning and end of season thing, this might work for you too.
 
not certain they are available yet, but if you can do sporty and basic. what about a Bavaria One?

I saw a write up and I thought it was cracking value for money and looked kind of exciting. just depends how bom proof they are. ..

OK I just recommended a Bavaria :eek: do not tell anyone. ..
 
I was able to single hand a Jaguar 22 across the channel, Troon to Stornoway and back, Pula to Albania and back.

I could raise the mast, launch and recover the boat on my own to in benign conditions.

I did this when I was a fairly fit and strong 40 year old. I felt it was my upper limit boatwise.
 
If only moving occasionally, don't feel constrained to lift keelers.

Loads of folks tow Sonata's, For example, which are superb sailing boats and not too difficult to get on and off if the location suits. Many have been heavily used but loads available for little money and a refurb on the interior could be a simple project
 
I have an Evolution 25.
25' x 9' beam dry weight 2 ton.
Twin axle trailer - Range Rover tow car.
In my 1st year of ownership I trail-sailed her from home near Cambridge.
Covered the east coast, west country and the Norfolk Broads.
That was to much hard work.

The Evolution 25 is a great boat for the east coast and is good for cross channel trips etc.
The original mast can be raised and lowered on the mast foot with a strut to the forestay.
There are one or two for sale at the moment.

More info
http://z10.invisionfree.com/EvolutionYachts/index.php?

My Blog - A bit out of date.
http://www.yotblog.com/cliveg/
 
I have a 4 * 4 and tow a trailable lift keeler and our all up weight is approaching 2.5 tonnes

I have cruised around Angelsey and to the Isle of Man this year and despite the weather have sailed every weekend except 2 since the end of March.

I am prepared to launch in up to 2 different cruising grounds in a year.

It takes me about 4 hours to launch and sail to a mooring with a minimum of help

I lift my own tall mast single handed with a gin pole and temporary shrouds.

I have a rule to never immerse my trailer in salt water so we always pay for a hoist in and out.

I have towed launched and recovered our boat in Brittany in the fresh water River Villaine,cruised the southern islands and the Morbihan for 3 weeks.

I am considering something a little larger and younger than our Trapper TS240 but at the moment can not find anything that I am prepared to open my wallet for.

Feel free to PM me if you want unbiased answers you can talk to My wife!

She has enjoyed most of the weekends apart from one with a 42knot squall :eek:

Steve
 
dt4134 said:
The legal limits on towing will set your upper limit. Don't know what they are but it shouldn't be too difficult to find out.
Click to expand...

AFAIK its the plated towing weight on the tow vehicle which is a maximum of 3500kg for 4x4's etc. & not many are plated for this weight. Land Rovers, Range Rovers ( I think), the only hybrid truck is the Isuzu double cab, over this its trucks etc.
 
BAtoo said:
AFAIK its the plated towing weight on the tow vehicle which is a maximum of 3500kg for 4x4's etc. & not many are plated for this weight. Land Rovers, Range Rovers ( I think), the only hybrid truck is the Isuzu double cab, over this its trucks etc.
Click to expand...

Full size 4x4's can tow 3500kg. Land Rover Defender/Discovery/Range Rover, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mercedes ML, Toyota Land Cruiser, The odd Shogun and VW Touareg. there is also some older stuff, Trooper, Four track etc.

The crop of modern Pick ups look like they can tow a lot but usually have fairly small capacities, even the Isuzu is only 3000kg.
 
You can check out towing capacities here. Some surprises there.

Lots of threads on this subject. Consensus seems to be that 21/22ft is max for regular trail-sail (and that depends on displacement and mast stepping.... a 22 ft fin keeler with a tall mast is a bit of a handful)
25/26ft is do-able for the twice a year movement.
 
If wishing to raise and lower masts singlehanded, a good idea is to have the cap shroud chainplates on the same pivot axis as the mast step, which usually requires custom made stainless fittings to raise the chainplates; this prevents the dreaded lateral movement of the mast.

Also tie up the bottlescrews with elastic sail ties, plastic tubing etc keeping them upright, to prevent the bottlescrews toppling mid hoist and being a serious pain preventing the mast going fully up, requiring a lower again and rethink.
 
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