Need help selecting a boat.

[MadMacX]

Hi guys,

I'm in the market for a decent trailerable sailboat in the 26-28 foot range. My primary use would be inland lakes and coastal cruising. I had a MacGregor 26 but I found it to be too tender for my tastes, also my wife never felt comfortable on the boat. I would like something with about 6' feet of headroom and the ability to step/unstep the mast without the need of a crane. I'm open as to inboard/outboard, gas/diesel. It would be nice to have a beam of 8 1/2' or wider, the Mac was only 7' 10" and it seemed too close. Any advice would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,
PB

[IslanderGuy]

IIRC, typically trailer-able boats will be under 8' beam, as 8' is the widest you can legally trailer without permits (at least in most US states).

[cruisingdream]

actually 8'6" in most states and most boats over 26' are wider that 8'6" so that limits you to a 26 foot boat . Having said that there are some trailer boats up to about 32' but have a wider beam & require permits in many states to trailer around with/or/without a chase car.

[cruisingdream]

check out this thread
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/boat-r...-sailboat.html

[QuickMick]

when i was in the market these kinda caught my eye:

Balboa 26 Boat Review

[scubaaz2001]

I have a friend that lived on and cruised the carrib with his spouse for 3 years on a Hunter 26 that had a trailor he pulled behind his truck. But you still have to be launched and have the mast stepped with a crane. The depth of the keel is what will cause the biggest issue, as how do launch a 5ft draft with a truck on a trailor without a 15 ft extension on the trailor to keep your truck from floating?

[MadMacX]

Thanks for the input guys. Trailering an oversize boat doesn't really bother me, I've hauled my cruiser around the Southeast for the last 3 years and it's right at 9'6" and 8100 lbs., but maybe I didn't phrase my request properly. I don't want an oversize sailboat, 8'+ would suit me just fine, it's just that I don't want to go narrower than 8'.

QuickMick, I looked at a Balboa 26, but I couldn't really find much about it when I tried to research the boat. Anyone know what they are like?

I also looked at a Ranger 26, but it had been pretty well stripped down and used as a racer. Again, I couldn't find much when I tried to research the boat. I'm not looking for a racer, just a decent cruising boat for the admiral and me.

I have found several trailerable boats that looked good and had a good background, but in most cases the owner sold the trailer. By the time I purchased the boat and then added a trailer, it would have gone way over the budget.

I know everyone has their favorite boat, so maybe I should ask...What boats do you feel I should stay away from and why?

Again, thanks for the input.

PB

[bljones]

This question comes up quite often, and the OP usually forgets one important piece of info- what is your budget?

Have you looked at the Nimble line up or the Hake Seaward line?

[MadMacX]

Originally Posted by bljones

This question comes up quite often, and the OP usually forgets one important piece of info- what is your budget?

Have you looked at the Nimble line up or the Hake Seaward line?

Yes, I should have included that. I'm trying to stay under $9K. The admiral likes our cruiser, but I'm trying to get her interested in sailing again, so I can't get too carried away with the budget.

To answer your other question, I know of them, but have not found any available that I can physically see. I am just starting my research, so as I widen my search area, possible I will run across them.

PB

[bljones]

Where y'at, MadMac?