Trailer sailer Got any experience?
Discussion
I started a thread a bit ago saying I wanted a RIB,however after some reflection we are now thinking of a trailer sailer.
Being based 2 hours from the Atlantic coast and 4 from the Med it seems like a better choice also I don't see the point of going for a blast while the thought of going for a days sailing holds much appeal and is another skill to learn.With school age children we can also tow any where in the med,get a ferry to the Balearics etc.only need to be able to do a couple of nights on board before coming back to shore to re-supply,empty the toilet
My experience stretches to dinghy sailing at school so need some proper lessons which I will investigate at the Southampton boat show as well as looking at boats out of my price range.
Being based 2 hours from the Atlantic coast and 4 from the Med it seems like a better choice also I don't see the point of going for a blast while the thought of going for a days sailing holds much appeal and is another skill to learn.With school age children we can also tow any where in the med,get a ferry to the Balearics etc.only need to be able to do a couple of nights on board before coming back to shore to re-supply,empty the toilet
My experience stretches to dinghy sailing at school so need some proper lessons which I will investigate at the Southampton boat show as well as looking at boats out of my price range.
I had an etap 20 for a while. Was a good boat but I always worried that the keel mechanism might fail. Have now got an Eagle 525 now. It is mainly dry sailed at the local club, but I tow it to the Solent and the lakes a couple of times a year. Takes around an hour and a half to rig and launch. Could probably get the time down a bit if it was rigged more often. Don't listen to the seller regarding rigging times. Don't underestimate the importance of the trailer. I have spent a fortune on trailer maintenance over the years. My mate works for Greenflag and I have heard some right horror stories.
I've considered a trailer sailer and rejected the idea on a few occasions.
1. You need to find a decent launch site. Around the UK they aren't that common.
2. You need to have a car capable of towing it. By the time you add the weight of a trailer you soon realize that you need a decent 4x4.
3. Trailers don't like salty water.
4. Rigging the boat is a hassle.
5. You launch the boat, where are you going to park the car + trailer while you are off sailing?
If you are simply going to trailer the boat to the sea at the start of the season and then trailer it home come winter it might make sense but if the idea is to move the boat from one location to another on a frequent basis I'm not sure the idea works well in practice.
1. You need to find a decent launch site. Around the UK they aren't that common.
2. You need to have a car capable of towing it. By the time you add the weight of a trailer you soon realize that you need a decent 4x4.
3. Trailers don't like salty water.
4. Rigging the boat is a hassle.
5. You launch the boat, where are you going to park the car + trailer while you are off sailing?
If you are simply going to trailer the boat to the sea at the start of the season and then trailer it home come winter it might make sense but if the idea is to move the boat from one location to another on a frequent basis I'm not sure the idea works well in practice.
Recovering half a ton of trailer sailer in the dark on a falling tide with a gale blowing when you're wet, cold and tired and in a rush to get home on a Sunday night doesn't sound like much fun to me.
Launching could be an issue too - there's not many slips here on the east coast that aren't chained and padlocked and controlled by somebody who may decide to go home before you do.
IIRC there is a book - called Where To Launch? - for small craft like RIBS and dingies. May be worth a Google
Launching could be an issue too - there's not many slips here on the east coast that aren't chained and padlocked and controlled by somebody who may decide to go home before you do.
IIRC there is a book - called Where To Launch? - for small craft like RIBS and dingies. May be worth a Google
I have a Juno 560 on Loch Lomond and if I'm brutally honest, the only advantage is the ease of launching/recovering at the beginning and end of the season.
I keep meaning to take it other places but it's a faff and I probably won't. That said, I wouldn't let it put me off buying one as they have other advantages. Lifting keel great for beaching and unsticking you after straying a wee bit too close to shore on a couple of occasions (oops!) and if you are anchoring somewhere very tidal it's as handy as a bilge keeler.
And it's nice to know you could trailer it somewhere else, in theory
I keep meaning to take it other places but it's a faff and I probably won't. That said, I wouldn't let it put me off buying one as they have other advantages. Lifting keel great for beaching and unsticking you after straying a wee bit too close to shore on a couple of occasions (oops!) and if you are anchoring somewhere very tidal it's as handy as a bilge keeler.
And it's nice to know you could trailer it somewhere else, in theory
As a family for years when I and my sister were younger (6 up to early teens) we would trail sail in Scotland. Started with a Wayfarer and then worked our way up the Drascombe range.
Generally we just trailed when going on holiday either to the Lake District, the West Coast of Scotland or sometimes the Cairngorm's. Rarely did we do it on a one if day basis for the reasons stated by posters above. ie the hassle if a long trip there and back just for a 5 hours Max on the water.
Makes more sense for weekends and short breaks. If you are well organised you can do it ( Drascombe Association members don't seem to bat an eyelid at high miles just for a day I'd two) but it wouldn't be for me.
Generally we just trailed when going on holiday either to the Lake District, the West Coast of Scotland or sometimes the Cairngorm's. Rarely did we do it on a one if day basis for the reasons stated by posters above. ie the hassle if a long trip there and back just for a 5 hours Max on the water.
Makes more sense for weekends and short breaks. If you are well organised you can do it ( Drascombe Association members don't seem to bat an eyelid at high miles just for a day I'd two) but it wouldn't be for me.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff