beachable/groundable trailer sailer

[MWelcome]

Hi-

I have been searching the forums to try to find a boat that meets my requirements without much luck and was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. I have been put in charge of finding a boat for a friend with the following requirements:

- trailer sailor in the 20-24 foot range
- decent enough accomodations for a weekend with 2 people
- the budget is under $7500 (might be a little flexible there)
- Beachable (or more accurately groundable)

The main sticking point seems to be that the boat needs to have a fully retractable keel. In addition to trailering, it will spend a week or two every year moored in Cape Cod Bay which means it will sit on the ground for 12 hours a day due to the tides. Everything I can find with a swing keel that is deemed "beachable" seems more suited to the occasional nosing up to the beach for an hour or 2. I need something that sits relatively flat on the ground and can take the full weight of the boat for half the day as well as the inevitable bouncing on the bottom as the tide goes out/comes in.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Mark

[Faster]

This YW search brought up a few possibilities.. The Compac was the first that came to mind but it's not a fully retractable keel. The Chrysler 22 on this list looks interesting.

trailerable (Sail) Boats For Sale

[jdpmus]

You might do a search overseas. When we were in Scotland we saw a large number of sailboats with shoal draft TWIN keels. When the tide was out, they were resting on the bottom still tied up in their slips.

[cruisingdream]

consider a bilge keel boat? sitting flat when the tide goes out is what they are designed to do.

[swampcreek]

Push the easy button for this one. While there are quite a few different brands I can say from experience that an older (I think they made them untill 1995) Macgregor 26S (swing keel) can be had for that price, many probably lower. We love ours although we are looking to go larger very soon. We will miss a lot about our little trailer sailor like the ability to beach it, dock almost anywhere, low slip fees, not having to schedule with the travel lift, the ability to bring her home during the off season, the ability to pull her out when a hurricane is on its way, etc.

The older 26D (dagger board) can be found even cheaper and I've heard they sail better than our 26S but I do prefer if we run aground having the swing keel simply swing up.

You'll hear a bunch of negative posts about Magregors but they are mostly from people who haven't even been out on one. Our little boat leaves the slip a few times a week passing large expensive "proper" boats that sadly sit tied up growing barnicles and slime. We also find ourselves heading out when the white caps are starting to form while many larger boats are clearing off the bay, its no storm chaser but we've been in weather where we actually surfed her into a creek to anchor for the night which was a little hair raising but the boat did well.

We just put her in Friday evening and so starts another great year of sailing! Even after almost 3 years of ownership I still have a hard time leaving the pier when it's time to go home.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by swampcreek

Push the easy button for this one. .....
You'll hear a bunch of negative posts about Magregors but they are mostly from people who haven't even been out on one. ....

Swamp.. I think you'll find most if not all the 'negative' MacG posts are in reference to the dual purpose 'motor/sailboats' with the large outboards and excessive freeboard that don't seem to do either purpose particularly well (compared to single purpose boats of either genre) That said they obviously fill a market niche and have been well marketed.

Most will give credit where it's due to the smaller, earlier Ventures and MacS models as good starter (sail)boats.

[kwaltersmi]

The first boat I ever owned almost meets your criteria. The Helms 25 (one foot longer than you're looking for!) is:

-trailerable: Simply boat to rig & launch.
-affordable: Easily attainable for much less than $7.5k
-beachable: fully retracting swingkeel and kick-up rudder
-"weekend-able": very roomy v-berth and dinette (no standing headroom, however).

There's probably plenty of others as well. You might even consider the well-known Catalina 22 with a swingkeel.

[CrazyRu]

Beachcomber 25 if can find one.

[deniseO30]

Enter boats of old... sharpies being one type.

[EJO]

Look at an old Hake Seaward 25 or 26 Maybe out your price range look but for an old one (I saw one for $7K last year) or if you win the lottery go for the new 32RK 32 footer. All the comfort of home in a trailerable fast sailing boat with less than 2 ft draft. Step off and your on the beach.