Trailerable boats around 26-28'?

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GTom

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I am looking for a seaworthy trailerable boat beyond 25' if exists.

Living in Europe, this means <2.55m/8.3' beam, around 2 tons displacement. I'd prefer a deep swing keel and 2 cabins.

Any suggestions?
 
GTom said:
I am looking for a seaworthy trailerable boat beyond 25' if exists.

Living in Europe, this means <2.55m/8.3' beam, around 2 tons displacement. I'd prefer a deep swing keel and 2 cabins.

Any suggestions?
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It's a great idea to dream of trailering to different places, but I don't think that the size and weight you are thinking about is on. Just too big and heavy . Not just towing but rigging etc. The stress of it all is likely to take away the pleasure.

Lots of stuff about this if you use a keyword search.
 
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I'll give it some more thinking. I definitely wouldn't move the boat every day, more like on a seasonal basis: summer vacation = Med, spring-autumn: one or two lakes nearby, where I can rent a berth or buoy for a few weeks, winter: out on the dry.
 
Such boats are far more popular in Europe than in UK - many of them made in Poland even if they are sold under popular brands such as Jeanneau or Beneteau. Water ballast is one way of reducing trailing weight and is used in some designs. Inevitably though these boats are light and mostly in category C - that is for lake and estuary sailing or short coastal passages in light conditions.
 
Tranona said:
Such boats are far more popular in Europe than in UK - many of them made in Poland even if they are sold under popular brands such as Jeanneau or Beneteau. Water ballast is one way of reducing trailing weight and is used in some designs. Inevitably though these boats are light and mostly in category C - that is for lake and estuary sailing or short coastal passages in light conditions.
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I was also wondering whether the OP was particularly looking for an RCD Cat B vessel or whether a seaworthy Cat C would suffice. If category B is required, I cannot think of any boats under 26 foot with a Cat B certificate. I can think of boats over 27 foot with a Cat B (or even Cat A), but we then encounter another challenge is that the beam of the boat tends to be in direct proportion (about a third) of the boat length. Therefore a boat of 8.3 foot beam is likely to have a length of less than 25 foot (which defeats the OP's requirements). Alternatively it will be something like an LM which is much heavier than 2 tons.
 
There is one Oz design from Queensland called an RL28. A friend at our club has a Maxi 8.5 (?) both trailable. The first I think with a swing keel the second with a lift keel. Both within the limits of 2.5m beam. The latter also being quite heavy.
I did enjoy a talk by an RL28 owner some time back. Where he (and his wife not young) towed the boat to Wyndham and sailed it back to Broome. This took many weeks in a really remote part with huge tides. I believe that he normally keeps it in undercover storage on the trailer.
A little time and practice would reduce the time to launch and rig a bigger TS. But you are still limited by the narrow beam so tending to be a bit tender. My 21fter has 2.5m beam but being light weight is also a bit tender needing good reefing facilities. I can launch and rig in about 20 mins from arrival at water but I still prefer to keep it ona swing mooring. olewill
 
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Ok, I've had a bit of time to ponder...

Dehler 25 can be put on a trailer and the V berth can be shut off from the main saloon. Will have to leave it to the OP as to whether this boat is seaworthy

If you're feeling rich, you could buy a Dragonfly trimaran. These can be put on a trailer and are Category B.

Alternatively you could have a look at the BayCruiser 26 - I think Swallow Yachts were looking to get it a RCD Cat B certification, but am not sure whether they achieved this.
 
RobF said:
I was also wondering whether the OP was particularly looking for an RCD Cat B vessel or whether a seaworthy Cat C would suffice. If category B is required, I cannot think of any boats under 26 foot with a Cat B certificate. I can think of boats over 27 foot with a Cat B (or even Cat A), but we then encounter another challenge is that the beam of the boat tends to be in direct proportion (about a third) of the boat length. Therefore a boat of 8.3 foot beam is likely to have a length of less than 25 foot (which defeats the OP's requirements). Alternatively it will be something like an LM which is much heavier than 2 tons.
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Cat B would be better of course, but older vessels don't have this classifications available/for someone not working in the boat business, difficult to dig out.

RobF said:
Ok, I've had a bit of time to ponder...

Dehler 25 can be put on a trailer and the V berth can be shut off from the main saloon. Will have to leave it to the OP as to whether this boat is seaworthy

If you're feeling rich, you could buy a Dragonfly trimaran. These can be put on a trailer and are Category B.

Alternatively you could have a look at the BayCruiser 26 - I think Swallow Yachts were looking to get it a RCD Cat B certification, but am not sure whether they achieved this.
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Thanks! Dehlers are on my list - and available around here - the Baycruiser is an interesting concept with its water ballast. Yet, latter can only be bought as new, 100k is beyond my budget (I don't intend to spend more than 30k€ on the project).
 
GTom said:
Cat B would be better of course, but older vessels don't have this classifications available/for someone not working in the boat business, difficult to dig out.



Thanks! Dehlers are on my list - and available around here - the Baycruiser is an interesting concept with its water ballast. Yet, latter can only be bought as new, 100k is beyond my budget (I don't intend to spend more than 30k€ on the project).
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being in Europe you could always pick up a brand new Viko 27 DS (20k€ + VAT) i saw them at a boat show and don't know anyone who owns one, but on dry land they are very roomy, as for seaworthiness they may sail like brick or they may be great who knows... but they have water ballast too and are under your size specs.

http://www.vikoyachts.com/index_en.php?id=9

Total length 8,80 m
Hull length 8,40 m
Beam 2,55 m
Draught with sword 1,40/0,35 m
Total mass from 1900/2200 kg
Ballast/keel version 600 - 700 kg
Transport weight of
water ballast version 1600 kg
Water ballast 550 kg
Sail area 24 - 30 m²
Mast height 9 m
Berths 4-6
Height in cockpit 1,95 m
CE category C/B

viko27_05.jpg
 
GTom said:
Cat B would be better of course, but older vessels don't have this classifications available/for someone not working in the boat business, difficult to dig out.
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Although boats prior to 1998 do not have categories that does not mean they are more seaworthy. Many would not meet Cat C, but probably on the details rather than the fundamentals. The reality is that boats of this type are constrained by weight and hull shape so cannot meet the stability requirements for the higher category. That is why they are sold for use in inland and inshore waters.

While there were many smaller lift keel boats that would potentially meet Cat B on stability this is because they had higher ballast ratios and when you scale them up to 25-27' they become too heavy and too wide to tow regularly.

You mentioned in your other post wanting to sail from Gibraltar to the Canaries. If you want to do this you need a very different kind of boat. Although smaller boats are capable of ocean sailing, but they are either a different type or are dedicated racers with no pretence to creature comforts.
 
Thanks for the Viko, it's a really interesting one... What was your impression on build quality?

CE category C/B - what does that mean? The water ballast version C, keel version B?

SAPurdie: haven't considered multies yet, if the structure is rigid enough to withstand rough seas, why not? Honestly I lack education in multihulls :)
 
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GTom said:
Thanks for the Viko, it's a really interesting one... What was your impression on build quality?

CE category C/B - what does that mean? The water ballast version C, keel version B?

SAPurdie: haven't considered multies yet, if the structure is rigid enough to withstand rough seas, why not? Honestly I lack education in multihulls :)
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i only know limited information from last September from a sales guy at the boatshow, and i only asked as i saw such a large boat on a trailer!

The build quality looked really good - although basic, modern it looked like it was put together well - nothing to be ashamed of, loads of head room, and a well thought out interior, the cockpit was a bit too basic if im honest and while on dryland on a stand it was great i could imagine you feeling exposed in rough seas or heeling over too much. and that open transom is more dinghy like than a boat built for long passages - lack of hand holds / fixing points etc going up on deck would also suggest why it has a lower category too, - also storage for things like fenders, lines etc was a little tight.

but trailer sailor and generous comfortable accommodation it certainly exceeds and ticks those boxes, and i would imagine force 5/6 would still be ok, not sure i would envy the guy doing a decent off shore passage - i may be wrong though!

they had some in the water in the UK for test sails im sure other dealers offer the same.

there are loads of videos and info on youtube etc, they are also called Pogo rather than Viko in some places
 
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PBO did a boat test in the April 2017 issue of the Viko 21, which although smaller than you require may give an indication of build quality. You could order a back issue if interested.
 
GTom said:
Thanks for the Viko, it's a really interesting one... What was your impression on build quality?

CE category C/B - what does that mean? The water ballast version C, keel version B?

SAPurdie: haven't considered multies yet, if the structure is rigid enough to withstand rough seas, why not? Honestly I lack education in multihulls :)
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The RCD category indicates the typical usage area for the boat. The key issue here is stability and is measured in relation to the typical size of waves the boat can withstand before capsizing. Clearly the more stable the yacht, measured in terms of the angle away from the vertical, the more stable it is. This stability is achieved by a combination of hull shape and ballast. So in general terms the more ballast and the lower it is placed the more stable the boat. Water ballast is less dense and higher up than a ballasted drop keel, hence the difference in rating of the two versions.

In addition to stability the category also determines construction and equipment requirements. So a lower category often means lighter weight construction and less equipment such as guard rails. In many countries in Europe it is illegal to use boats outside their category areas, although this is not the case in the UK.

Think you have to accept that the sort of boat you are looking at is not intended for offshore use.
 
Just to add my tuppence worth.
My previous boat was an Albin Vega, which at 2300kg design weight was legally trailable. We did get a trailer for it and this allowed us a wider range of options for winter storage, including having her at home. This brings obvious benefits. However towing something that is close to the 3.5t legal limit is a serious affair, needing a well sorted tow vehicle and an experienced driver. Whilst we did sometimes ponder the idea of e.g. towing her to Peterhead for a trip to Norway, the logistics of it seemed very daunting. We never attempted to float her on or off the trailer, using a crane instead. The crane wa also necessary for rigging the mast.

None of which is to say that your plan isn't achievable. But there is a very small sweet spot where a boat will be practical as a trailer sailer and yet capable offshore.
 
GTom said:
Thanks for the Viko, it's a really interesting one... What was your impression on build quality?

CE category C/B - what does that mean? The water ballast version C, keel version B?

SAPurdie: haven't considered multies yet, if the structure is rigid enough to withstand rough seas, why not? Honestly I lack education in multihulls :)
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Although a small folding trimaran may be able to do or have done open ocean passages it is not a suitable boat for the task. It's not designed to be.
 
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