Trailerable lake boat

[sealover]

Tom, Speaking of moving a boat around... Something nobody seems to talk about but is a huge plus for me -- you can MOVE the boat around on the trailer by hand, and pick up the tongue to sit it on the hitch ball. Just back the tow vehicle up somewhere near the boat and pull, lift, drop, latch, chain, chain, wiring, check lights and drive off. No spotter, no trailer smash marks on your license plate (or worse) and I haven't cranked a boat trailer jack in years! And the 17 at least will take up the space of one car in a garage for storage of repairs. And after retrieval if it's crooked on the trailer you can shove it straight with some effort. Fend it off a piling with your foot or standing on the dock hold it by the side stay, bow rope, and a foot on the rail - you're in full control. None of that is particular to the V17 -- it applies to any number of sub-20 footers but there really is something to be said for simplicity. Especially if on a tight budget, single-handed, or just lazy. See my signature? I've had kitchen appliances that have required more maintenance, parts, and repairs than my boat. I've spent $160 at West Marine since I've owned the thing, and half of that was the VHF. The rest of the repairs or modifications I've done were from Home Depot. My stays are coated galvanized cable (they sell it to tie dogs to a stake in the yard) and I stripped the plastic off the ends and swaged them myself. They've held up for years now with no sign of corrosion, and when coiled up on the cabin top or next to the mast at 65mph they don't scratch the finish. Thinking of replacing the halyards -- not sure if I'll get the nice stuff from Lowe's or if I'll splurge for stuff from a marine vendor.

[tom3215]

SeaLover.....everything you just said makes so much sense on all kinds of levels
for many, many sailors. I like your signature also... "Keep the expenses low and the good times high"...... really, you bring up another excellent point that
really is not discussed a whole lot - cost. Sometimes one of the biggest challenges in this sport/hobby is not the weather, its longevity..... there are many sailor in particular and boaters in general that simply fade in and out of sailing and sometimes just stay out completely, because it just sometimes costs to much in a tight economy and that $2,000 to $5,000 per year just has to go.
I think thats why, more than ever the Venture series and other trailer sailers just make so much sense.

Of course I still want the Tashing 31, along with a signed photo of Bob Perry and myself with two beers in our hands hanging in the galley. But I am still happy with the Catalina 22 on the trialer as like you I can just stuff it in the pole shed out of the snow!

Happy Venture Sailing !
tom 3215

[SHNOOL]

Paid $4800 for my sailboat, and plan on spending less than $2k a year on it (slip fees, trailering, and parts). In the meantime, I'm going to sail the bottom off it.

[sea_hunter]

Originally Posted by Fourbtgait

1. Shallow draft, under 16 inches, prefer no keel/skeg for ease of beaching at times.
2. Long cockpit, minimum of 6 feet 6 inches
3. Good cockpit storage
4. Swing rudder
5. Swing keel
6. Small cabin but capable of sleeping in with remodel of v berth, 4’ min. headroom? yes I know, difficult.
7. Porta potti room
8. Fairly dry sailing
9. Self draining cockpit
10. No need for a sink or stove
11. Tabernacle mounted mast
12. Dry sailing
13. Flotation material built in
14. Good initial stability
15. Self righting
16. Fairly close to wind sailing
17. Listed empty weight of under 2,000
18. 16-20 feet, preference is 18-19 feet
19. Good resale value
20. Lets put a max price of $3,500 on it.

Reminds me of the guy who comes into the car dealership, looking for a 4-5 year old Honda ACCORD wagon, 5 speed, with only 5-7000 miles.
Anyways I'll bight; Pacific Seacraft 23 - 27'. You'll have to set your budget a little higher. You can't have everything for nothing.

[Fourbtgait]

Back after a bit of winter here.
I do agree with Tom3215 and Sealover in that to often people forget the simplicity.
When I review comments of people, the boat size increases, along with the cost in some cases.
My post was to get ideas to go back to the simplicity of sailing, trying to meet as many criteria as possible, full well knowing that not all can be met.
I did get to look at the Kent Ranger 20 last November, beautiful boat, well thought out, the "open cabin" is not such a bad idea, solid fiberglass without a core, yes, I have recored boats before and that is no fun. I would love to have one, another is for sale now that is in excellent shape, but the 2 things that still hold me back is minimum draft is 21", which means when it is on the trailer, it sits higher also. Now some will say "wow, only 21"?, whats the big deal, but when one is looking at simplicity... Sure, it could still be beached, sort of, but it is a larger boat overall than say the oday mariner.
Speaking of which, there is an old style mariner for sale on the coast which meets a lot of the criteria, but a long way to drive to see if in person it "feels" right.
I did finally get to look at the windrose 18, it fit most all of the criteria also, but...he was stuck on his price, period. So I pointed out deficiencies, the swing keel was out of a catalina 22 made to fit, the bow pulpit was off of another boat, the original holes not filled cleanly, the mast was bent, swing keel housing cracked, etc, etc.

So one keeps looking, which is part of the fun or one accepts that in life there is always trade offs, decides what can be traded off, in order to meet simplicity without making life even more complicated.

Sure, I would love to have a larger boat, even a Catalina 27, but then I might as well go a little bigger, I would prefer a 34' boat. But..

[frjeff]

Take a look at thr Montgomery 15 or 17.
I just purchased a 15 and love it.

Bit more than your dollar limit, but I have seen them at your number.

The 17 is probably more the cabin space you desire, but it has a compression post, the 15 does not. Also a bit more to rig, but not much more. There is an active owners group and forums.

Jeff