Which trailer sailor?

[pcatterall]

A year on from selling my old Atlanta and still looking for a small trailer sailor.
2 have recently caught my fancy; the sailfish 18 and the newbridge navigator.
I was really taken by the crafty design of the latter but I know that the sailfish has a good following. The navigator sits on small bilge keels so may be a bit more difficult to launch.
Can anyone offer comments based on direct experience of either of these?

 

[Chrusty1]

Although the Navigator is trailable, I wouldn't class it as a true trailer sailor. They are a quite heavy little lump and the bilger keeler needs a fair depth of water to dump it in off a slip.

The Sailfish 18 is a much better proposition in my view for somebody wanting to trail sail on a regular basis, it's a bit lighter, and requires much less water off the slip. I have trail sailed a Sandpiper, which I believe uses the same hull as the Sailfish, and I have launched and retrieved a Navigator that belongs to a friend.

Hope this helps? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[WoodyP]

I had a Gem micro , which incidentally are still made in Australia. They were built either as stripped out racers or as a slightly more comfortable weekender. Rob Humprhies design, loads of cockpit space, lift keel. Good fun. One here
http://www.lymeregissailingclub.co.uk/discuss/Blah.pl?m-1224173833/

 

[Chrusty1]

Great little boats........but need a bit more input from me than I am capable of these days. Micro cuppers in general are worth a thought if you are fit and fairly agile, the exception to that is probably the Swift 18, which is in my opinion a cruising micro cupper, and a pretty fine boat too, given you can find one that isn't a shed these days.

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks guys.

 

[MrCramp]

I had a Skipper 17 before I moved onto bigger boats, and so did two of my mates. They are very safe, stable, easy to launch and a good seaboat. They can be pushed along at a good rate by a 6/8 hp outboard. I had a good cockpit tent which makes staying aboard more comfortable. I would expect to get a good one, on a good trailer with a decent outboard for around £2000. Here is a link to one that is sold.
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/PMS507

The hull molds were then used by a compnay called Morton Boats, who are near my at Newark, to make a boat they called the Eagle 525. These have a much higher standard of fit-out and are newer. See these on Boats and Outboards.
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/php/browser.php3?kword2=eagle+525&Submit.x=5&Submit.y=9

PS. I wouldn't want to try and launch and rig a boat any bigger than this on my own, and I am fit and not yet 60.

 

[aquaplane]

I could launch and recover my First 18 on my own. It was about as big as I would want to tow behind a car.

It looked very pretty and sailed very well, much like the Swift 18 I would imagine.

The Newbrige and Sailfish probably have more room inside but they don't look half as pretty to me.

Where do you want to put your compromise, performance or comfort?

 

[Alfie168]

[ QUOTE ]
I had a Skipper 17 before I moved onto bigger boats, and so did two of my mates. They are very safe, stable, easy to launch and a good seaboat. They can be pushed along at a good rate by a 6/8 hp outboard. I had a good cockpit tent which makes staying aboard more comfortable. I would expect to get a good one, on a good trailer with a decent outboard for around £2000. Here is a link to one that is sold.
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/PMS507

The hull molds were then used by a compnay called Morton Boats, who are near my at Newark, to make a boat they called the Eagle 525. These have a much higher standard of fit-out and are newer. See these on Boats and Outboards.
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/php/browser.php3?kword2=eagle+525&Submit.x=5&Submit.y=9

PS. I wouldn't want to try and launch and rig a boat any bigger than this on my own, and I am fit and not yet 60.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Morton Boats Eagle 525 hulls were in fact moulded by Parkers for Morton boats. The Parker moulded hulls are of a very superior finish compared with the earlier boats. There are example of both close to me in the boatpark at Rutland. Ditto a VERY nice Swift 18 which is anything but a shed, but on the other hand there is an unloved one as well ripe for some elbow grease.

Tim

 

[Lakesailor]

Don't know if an Evolution 22 is a bit big for your needs, but must be a great boat to launch.

I would think the mast raising and lowering arrangement should be as much a priority as the keel arrangement. I had a Foxcub, which is available as a bilge keeler, however the mast step is a bit rubbish for shorthanded mast-raising .
Much better with a tabernacle mounted mast on a hinge bolt.