[Arcb]

I have spent quite a bit of time around the Alberg designs, I had a neighbour who lived aboard a 30 and I have a brother that trailer sails his 22 successfully, with wife and 2 kids, although I think they limit their trips to just a couple of nights when its the whole gang. I kind of like them personally.

They do heel over a lot, but they are intended to. It was a design feature that was intended to over come an obsolete racing rule that favored short waterlines, I'm sure some one may correct me on that, but I think that's the basic principle. Once they are heeled over though, they seem to sail well enough to me. They can be a bit wet an unnerving for the uninitiated, but they seem to do what they were designed to do to me.

I don't think an Alberg 30 would be a perfect fit for your situation, based on what you put above though. Here are my thoughts.

-Trailering an Alberg 30, I know its possible, but they are big boats for that sort of thing. Maybe a guy who tows things for a living would be good with it, but it would terrify me, even just from Toronto to Midland.
-They aren't the best upwind performers, which I think would be a pain in southern Georgian Bay. The channels between the islands are just so narrow in places, I think youd be motoring a lot.
-Most of the more affordable Alberg 30s seem to have atomic 4s, which are gas in boards and they are old gas in boards. They aren't the worst (I had a G30 with one) but gas inboards aren't my, or a lot of other peoples favourite motors.

If you want something that can be loaded on a trailer, that sails upwind okay, can handle a bit of weather and are cheap as dirt in southern Ontario, two boats come to my mind. A Grampian 26 and a Tanzer 26. Check them out, they might have almost as much interior space as an Alberg 30 too.

 

[Arcb]

I think I follow the type of feeling you are going for. You want something forgiving, a little less sporty. I can't think of a good reason not to buy an Alberg if that's what you like, the full keel gives them a less twitchy feel. There waterline is only Super short when they are sitting upright in dead calm conditions, but when they are heeled over, which is how they are supposed to be sailed, the waterline gets quite a bit longer, so I wouldn't focus too much on waterline length in isolation.

They aren't that bad to back, but they do have to be backed up like traditional boats rather than like cars, so, it can take some practice and more planning in and out of dock.

Have you checked out this link, it's very good for used boats in Ontario.

Sailboats in Canada - 24' to 27' models

A couple of boats that might be a good fit for what you describe in that range might be Aloha 27, and CS27. However, I wouldn't necessarily rule out alberg if you like them and Can find one in decent shape. There are certainly no shortage of Alberg getting the job done on Lake Ontario.

Ps. If we all bought boats based on forum recomendations alone, we would all be sailing around in million dollar canting full keel CE category Class A blue water racing cruisers.

 

[Arcb]

Another boat that comes to mind is a Grampian 30.

It's also a Canadian built boat, very common and very inexpensive (decent one for around $10k or less) in the Toronto area. They are a bit heavy, like the alberg, good sea boats, but they sail flatter than an Alberg, have more space and have over 6 ft of head room.

I am biased, because I lived on one full time in Toronto. I would take mine out in nearly any conditions, I actually sought out high wind days in the spring and fall on that boat. I thought she was a fantastic boat.

Here's a pic of my old G30 coming in to Toronto Island.

 

[Arcb]

Of your list of boats, there is one that stands out from the rest in terms of simplicity and ease of maintenance; Tanzer 26's are very simple boats.

There is almost nothing to go wrong on a Tanzer 26.

-They have very little wood inside and out, and if there is one thing I have learned about old boats is that wood is a pain in the neck. It needs varnishing, it needs sanding, it absorbs water and it rots. Used to love wood on boats, but after owning two 70's vintage live aboards, I have decided I am done with it. GRP, you just wipe down with a cloth.

-Outboard rudders. Transom hung rudders are much easier to get at for maintenance items, and its one less through hull for water to get into the boat from.

-Outboard motors, some folks hate them because they can cavitate in rough weather, but maintenance wise they are super easy, pop them off, take them to a mechanic, work on them in your garage over the winter, if you get ticked off and decide you don't want to fix it, sell it and buy a new one. If you get a really messed up old inboard, as often as not it can mean scrapping the whole boat rather than just going to the local power sports dealership and buying a new outboard (or on Kijiji). There are no linkages to worry about, no internal fuel tanks, no oil in the bilge, no through hulls for cooling, no stuffing box. Besides, these boats sail well, so motoring in choppy conditions should be minimal.

-They have tiller steering, which is again, simple, very little to go wrong.

Of course, all the other boats on the list are bigger, which means comfort. I am not saying the Tanzer 26 is better, I am just saying from a cost and maintenance perspective, they have a lot going for them.

 

[Arcb]

And should also be trailerable without getting special permits.

Too small for a (close) couple to live aboard?

2 people full time living aboard a Tanzer 26? Just my opinion, but i dont really think so, too small i think. They have everything, a private Vberth, a private head, a little galley, a dinnette, but the dimensions are just kind of small. The vberth isnt bad. My wife and i have slept in the v berth of a tanzer 22, And even it is surprisingly comfortable (she thinks so too, my wife loves tanzers because theyre so easy to keep clean).

I would say the main salon, galley and storage would be pretty small for two folks full time.

However, if by live aboard, you are thinking seasonal, I think it would definitely be okay for a few months in a warm climate. They arent really much smaller inside than an Alberg 30.

I agree that they are trailerable, even behind a stock half ton, theyre only 4400 ish pounds and shallow draft to boot- 3ft10. They will be much more weight sensitive than an Alberg, so you can carry less stores and less stuff.

 

[Arcb]

[[/I]

Maybe it was just a marketing thing? .

The CE Cat A of 1962 irateraft:

Op John, i think the list of small weatherly, trailerable, non racing oriented production boats is fairly short. Westerlies, Norseas, G26s have been pretty well covered between this thread, and your other threads here and on CF.

The other thing you could try is looking at custom/homebuilt designs.

Wharram has a 24 footer d3signed specifically to be trailerable. Should be weatherly, fast, trailerable and has no keel to get in the way of things.

 

[Arcb]

By that last you mean Grampian? I haven't gotten that far in my notes consolidation.

And thanks I'll check out Wharram...

And PS I'm not OP here, sorry if this is a derail?

Yes, Grampian,

Well used wharrams can be found cheap, maybe not the 24 though. You can also build one, not sure if that is something that inteests you. Plywood construction, so i dont think you need to be an expert builder. I think they are super cool boats.

Oops, that was my mistake, dont think it matters if you were op or not.

 

[Arcb]

I agree with both comments; but, the boat handles like a sports car. It seems well built and very reponsive. Just curious if it would be considered suitable for sailing across lake ontario

Yes, Viking 28's are nice, I've looked at a few now and then, never sailed one.

Maintained and with appropriate crew I would say they would handle Lake Ontario crossings nicely. Figure 5-10 ish hours crossing the lake depending where.