Wife says "GET A BIGGER BOAT"

lazyj · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

You just have to love it!!!
The Catalina 21 was just great for day sailing up to a week, when I pushed it to 2 weeks up in the San Jaun's she said all right you can get a bigger boat. The problem is we still want to trailer. We have been in 26'ers but still want to go a little bigger.
Would like any info and help on 28'-32' shallow draft, under 3' if possible. Do know about dragging around a big trailer and all the problems as I have to do that on occasion for work, have 1 ton crew 4x4 with full bed. 40 acre turn ration!!!!!!!!!
Boat will be in slip in the local reservoir until it drys up the first of July, after that we like to go for 1-4 weeks up to the San Juan's maybe south to the Sea of Cortez.
Would like to stay under $20,000 if possible.
Is all this possible?
Any ideas on boats?
Fair winds
J

FrankLanger · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

Check into "shearwater" boats. There is a sailor on Trailer Sailor website that has a 27' that he trailers around all over the place. It sits quite low on the trailer (can sail in about 3 feet of water). You can probably do a search to find information about it.
Frank.

BlueWaterMD · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

Seaward makes a 26 and 32 with a lifting keel. They might be a bit out of your price range as there are not many on the used market.

joeybkcmo · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

once you start getting over 26' the beam starts going over 8', the C&C mega 30 has an 8' beam, not sure how it would be for a 1-4 week trip

JimsCAL · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

Biggest trailerable sailboat I am aware of is the Hobie 33. Narrow hull, retractable keel, and VERY light for a boat that size.

blt2ski · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

J105's are trailerable, and staying with in the 8.5' width issue. You just have to turn them slightly sidways! Being as the OP is form here in the NW, hopefully he has seen how the unlimited hydros are hauled around, they are over 12' wide, and fit legally on the road at 8.5'

Not that a J105 is the most comfortible boat around, a boat wider tha 8.5' is legally trailerable if one thinks out of the box! There are a couple of custom trailer builders in Bellingham that can make a wider boat legal!

You will want a reasonably size DOT class 2 or 3 truck tho! ie over 8500 GVWR to upwards of 12K!

marty

Sailormann · #7 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

These are good boats. The design is about as seaworthy a boat as you can find in the "trailerable" category....

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listi...g_id=1880&url=

deniseO30 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

Heres a thought! Keep the 21 on the res. get a real keel boat for the coastal crusing! Bet you never go back to the trailer sailor. (IMHO)

I had a trailer sailor for 11 months and sold it.... realized real quick the labor intenseivness of rigging, de-rigging.. etc. Bought a 30ft keel boat. it's 12 - 16 hrs to the ocean from here but someday I'll find the time . good luck!

ps don't show this post to our trailer sailor friends! (don't wanna get yelled at lol)

denby · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

I hate to say it,

but look at a sail boat with training wheels. A tri-hull.

Sailingdog could help in this department.

Dennis

Raggbagger · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007

I think I have to agree with Denise on this one . Once you get to a certain point in your sailing experience , that trailer sailor will get old . I have a little daysailor myself and thats just so I can keep sailing right now . Its a temporary measure . I have owned two full keeled boats myself and crewed on I dont know how many others of varying hull designs . It sounds like its time to step away from the trailer and get a beefy bugger with some ballast .

As I said Im a trailer sailor myself right now , however I dont think a day has gone by in the past two years that I havnt been on line shopping for my next cruiser .

Best of luck with it ,
Paul