Trailer Boat

[ilnadi]

We are looking at the following boats to trailer-sail. We probably will not trailer every weekend but we''d like to sail 4-5 areas in a year. Any feedback would be appreciated (assume we have a vehicle that can tow any of them :^)

* Catalina 25 (Swing Keel)

* Beneteau First 235

* Com-Pac 23 (or 23/3)

* O''Day 240.

[aflanigan]

I sailed on a neighbor''s 1980 Cat 25, he claimed displacement was about 5600, but it seems like he was off by about a half a ton. Most info I see on the internet puts displacement at about 4500 lbs. My boat, a Helms 25, is about 500 lbs. lighter.

The Cat 25 is a pretty heavy beast to trailer regularly, but 4 or 5 trips a year on the road seems doable. The swing keel will facilitate trailering (you can use a roller trailer, I bought a used powerboat tandem axle trailer with rollers to put my Helms on for storage) and the mast will take careful handling to step on the trailer, but with bridles and/or a gin pole for stability you should be OK stepping it with two people.

Bear in mind that with trailer, boat, and gear, you are looking at towing 6500lbs. or more. You''re gonna need a serious tow vehicle. Do yourself a favor and try to find a boat that comes with a trailer in good (or at least serviceable) condition; used boat trailers of the necessary capacity are difficult to find. Learn how to judge the roadworthyness of trailers if you don''t know (frame condition, bearings, brakes, springs, axles).

You will come to appreciate the convenience and flexibility a trailer offers even for a boat at the upper end of "trailerable" size range.

Allen Flanigan
Alexandria, VA

[DirtManly]

I has been my experience that the Catalina 25 is one of the best boats around for the money, however the swing keel version in my opinion is one of the worst pigs I have ever sailed. Both it and the Beneteau 235 seem to be quite tender, so be prepared to reef early and often.
I haul boats regularly as a side line and the the C 25 and Beneteau 235 are easy enough to step the mast on, I have stepped a C25 mast by myself on two different occasions. Don''t try to step the mast on the Beneteau by yourself as the alloy mast step is terribly brittle and will snap off wit the slightest twist.
I have no experience with the Compac or the O''Day 240.
May I suggest the O''day 25 centerboard version. Most of these boats are getting a little age on them, but there seem to be a good number of them out there that are still in wonderful shape. You can buy this boat in the same price range, often with a trailer, and they sail so much better than the C 25 swing keel or the Beneteau 235.
Good Luck
Dirt

[BadKittyJones]

I am looking for a trailer for a 2001 Catalina 310.

[Sailormon6]

There are a lot of Catalina 25s at my venue, and I''ve sailed all of them (swing, wing and fin keels). They all perform reasonably well, especially considering they are relatively heavy. The local club rates the swing keel a wee bit faster than the fin or wing, and that''s consistent with what I''ve seen, so Dirtmanly might have sailed a swinger with a foul bottom or other problem.

If you buy a Catalina 25, the standard rig is probably a better choice for your purposes than the tall rig. Although the tall rig is faster in light to moderate winds, it''s probably not quite as good in heavy air, and the mast on the tall rig is much more difficult to raise. Inexpensive gin poles are available to help raise either mast, however.

[bidet]

Ilnadi, we have moved up to a larger boat and are selling our Oday 26. having looked at Catalina''s I liked the Oday better. 2" more head room, displacement 4800 lb Catalina 4500lb, shoal draft C/B 2''9" Draft with board up and no winch to break like a swing keel. I have more details if interested.

Bill

[maestro]

If you want to downsize a foot, the O"day 23 is a great trailor sailor. Centerboard, lots of room below (for a 23 footer) easily trailored, and there are a number of them on the market. As they are getting old in the tooth, you have to be careful but a gem is there if you look hard enough.