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7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising

Many sailors balk at the idea of leaving their boat in the water at a marina. Slip fees are expensive, and maintenance bills get bigger the longer you leave a boat in the water. However, if you want a boat under 30 feet long, there are trailerable sailboats that will fit the bill.

Like any boat purchase, you’ll need to analyze precisely what kind of trailer sailer you want. Will a simple weekend sailboat suffice, or do you really need the best trailerable cruising sailboat you can find? 

Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of the best trailerable sailboat. Plus, we’ll look at how to compare them for your purposes.

Table of Contents

Best trailerable sailboats, easy to launch trailerable sailboats, quick setup time, towing weight, catalina 22/25 “pop-top”, com-pac horizon cat for classic coastal cruising, marshall sanderling — small, portable, classy, west wight potter 19 — the tiny go-anywhere sailboat, seaward 26rk with retractable lead keel, corsair f-24 trimaran – sporty sailing, macgregor 26m — maximum speed meets maximum living space, long-range cruising boats, 7 best trailerable boats – a recap, what’s the best trailerable sailboat for a cruise, trailerable sailboats faqs.

• Catalina 22/25
• Com-Pac Horizon Cat
• Marshall Sanderling
• West Wight Potter 19
• Seaward 26RK
• Corsair F-24 Trimaran
• MacGregor 26M

We’ll get into more detail about each brand in my post today, so hang tight!

What Is a Trailerable Sailboat, Exactly?

For this article, the priorities for a trailerable sailboat are:

• Easy to launch
• Require minimum setup to launch and store
• Lightweight enough to be towed by the average vehicle

Before you can really classify a sailboat as trailerable, you need to evaluate and narrow your search criteria. Truthfully, 50-plus-foot ocean-going sailboats are regularly put on trailers. But that’s done commercially, on a big rig, with special permits for oversized loads, and even led cars.  

That probably isn’t what most people mean when they think of a trailerable sailboat. But what is the priority here, the trailerable part or the sailboat part? Compromises are going to have to be made somewhere. 

If you’re looking at the 20-foot-and-under sailboat crowd, finding a trailerable example should not be hard. Most sailboats this size are designed for trailers anyway since they aren’t the sort of boats people want to pay to leave in a slip year-round.

Things get more interesting when you look at the 20 to 30-foot boats. In this class, there are stout ocean-going cruisers with deep keels and lightweight centerboard trailer sailboats designed from the get-go to be trailered by the average car or SUV. The differences between these boats are night and day.

Sailboats often have a hard time at boat ramps. First, deep keels mean that the trailer must extend farther into the water than the average boat ramp allows. This means the ramp needs to go back far enough, and the trailer tongue needs to be long enough not to swamp the car. 

If you have a boat like this, you’ll need to find the right boat ramps. Unfortunately, not all ramps are created equally. If your boat draws more than two or three feet on the trailer, you’re going to be limited to steep, paved, and high-quality boat ramps. Unfortunately, those aren’t standard features, so your cruising grounds are going to be limited.

Usually, ramps aren’t built steeply because they are often slippery. Your tow vehicle will need excellent traction and torque to pull your fully loaded boat out of a steep ramp. The steeper the ramp, the more trouble you’ll have. 

The alternative to finding steep ramps is to use a trailer tongue extender. This lets you get the trailer into deeper water without swamping the tow vehicle. But it also means that the ramp needs to extend deep enough. Many ramps end abruptly. Allowing your trailer to sink off the edge is an excellent way to get stuck or pop a tire.

Pick a boat as easy to launch and retrieve as a similarly sized powerboat to remove all of these boat ramp problems. The soft chines of most sailboats will always require a little more water, but a swing keel and the hinged rudder raised mean that the boat can sit low on the trailer bunks. That way, you only need one or two feet of water to launch, an easy feat at nearly every boat ramp you can find.

The next consideration for a sailboat to be portable enough to call it “trailerable” is the amount of time it takes to step the mast and get it ready to cruise. 

To accomplish this, you need a mast that can be stepped by a two-person team–maximum. Ideally, it will have some tabernacle hardware to enable one person to do the task for solo sailing.

There is an entire family of pocket cruisers that could ideally fit on trailers. But you won’t find the Fickas or the Falmouth cutters on my list, simply because they aren’t easy to launch or easy to rig. But, of course, they’re also too heavy for most vehicles to tow, which leads us to the final point of excluding them this trailable pocket cruiser’s list.

One of the most significant financial burdens the trailer sailer faces is their tow vehicle. You are all set if you already drive a two-ton dually diesel pickup truck. But if your daily driver is an SUV or light pickup, you need to think long and hard about the math of the towing equation. 

Whatever boat you buy cannot exceed the towing rating limits of your tow vehicle. If you don’t have a tow vehicle, you’ll need to buy one. This will double or triple the cost of getting a trailer sailer in most cases. For the same money, you may want to look at a boat that stays in the water at a traditional boat slip. For the cost of a trailer sailer and a tow vehicle, you can probably step into a nice boat that is larger and more comfortable than any towable.

If you have a tow vehicle, you need a light enough vessel for it to tow. Most modern SUVs tow less than 2,500 pounds. Anything more than 5,000 will require a full-size pickup. Remember that the tow weight isn’t just the boat’s displacement—it’s the empty hull weight, plus the weight of the trailer and any extra gear you need to pack into the boat. 

Finding a vessel that fits these limitations on weight isn’t easy. If the manufacturer’s goal is to make it towable, immediate limits are placed on the materials they can use. This means less seaworthiness since boats are built light and thin. As far as stability goes, lead keels are generally out, and water ballast systems or centerboards might be used instead. It doesn’t mean these boats aren’t safe and fun, but they aren’t designed for rough conditions, crossing oceans, or living on in the water full-time .

7 Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats

There are more trailerable sailboats out there than you might imagine. Here’s a look at seven popular options of all shapes and sizes to give you a taste of what you might want to take to sea.

The boats here are selected for their storage and living space. With these boats and a little outfitting, you can spend weeks gunk-holing in the Chesapeake Bay or island hopping the Bahamas. If you broaden your scope to include daysailers with no cabin space, there are countless more options.

One of the worst parts of a small trailerable sailboat or pocket cruiser is the lack of stand-up headroom. One clever solution that you’ll find on some weekend sailboat types is the pop-top. 

The pop-top is simply an area around the companionway hatch that extends upward on struts. So when you’re at the dock or anchor, you get standing headroom down below—at least right inside the pop-top.

You can build a canvas enclosure for your pop-top to use it in all weather. A pop-top makes your boat feel much larger than it is and allows you to move freely to cook or get changed down below or even do a nice boat bed area. 

Later models of the Catalina Sport 22 and Capri 22s lacked this cool pop-top feature, so if you want it, you’ll need to seek out an older model on the used market.

Com-Pac has been building small sailboats since the early 1970s. They currently sell two lines, each with various-sized boats. All are well built, and a majority of their boats are trailerable. 

Most interesting at the Com-Pac traditional catboats . The rigging is more straightforward than modern sloops, with only one large mainsail. Com-Pac boats come with a unique quick-rig system to make getting on the water fast and simple.

The Horizon Cat Coastal Cruising has a displacement of 2,500 pounds with a 2’2″ draft when the board is up. She has a separate head forward and space to lounge either topside or down below. The smaller Sun Cat has slightly few amenities but shaves off a few feet and pounds, making it easier to tow and it is one of these amazing small sailboats. Com-Pacs features stub keels, so their centerboard and hinged rudder do not take up space in the cabin.

On the sloop rig side, the Com-Pac 23 comes in a 3,000-pound traditional sailboat or a very interesting pilothouse. Both are incredibly livable for their size , with shallow two-foot-long fixed keels and high-quality construction.

Another option if you like catboats is the Marshall Sanderling. This salty 18-footer oozes traditional charm , all while being easy to sail and easier to tow. And while she has wooden boat lines, she has a modern laminated fiberglass hull.

The Sanderling has a 2,200-pound displacement, so tow weights will be around 3,000 pounds. At only 18-feet, she’s on the small side for cruising. The cuddy cabin has no galley, and the portable toilet is not enclosed. But that small size means a simple boat that’s easy to maintain and take anywhere. 

An electric motor package is an exciting option on this weekend sailboat!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @marshallmarinecat

You can’t mention tiny trailer sailers without touching on the famous West Wight Potter . These 15 and 19-foot pocket cruisers have earned a worldwide reputation as the ultimate go-anywhere coastal cruiser.

The West Wight Potter 19 offers the most living space for staying aboard and cruising. So even though its dimensions are diminutive, this little boat packs a lot in. There’s a single burner hotplate and sink and a porta-potty tucked under a cushion. Yes, it’s tight—but the company claims the little boat can sleep five people. Any more than two will feel pretty crowded, however.

The boat comes standard with a mast-raising system that a single person can manage alone. It has a daggerboard for a shallow draft of a half-foot when the board is up. The total towing weight is around 1,500 pounds, which means nearly any car can tow a West Wight Potter.

This little-known trailer sailer is produced at the same Florida factory that makes Island Packet Yachts. That should give you a little bit of an idea of what sort of boat it is—trailerable, yes, but also high-quality, beautiful, and built for cruising. In other words, it’s one of the nicest all round pocket cruisers and it feels like a much larger boat.

The Seaward is easily the saltiest boat on this list . It’s beefy and seaworthy. Instead of a lightweight centerboard, Seaward fits the RK with a bulb-shaped retracting keel. Other big-boat items include a Yanmar diesel inboard motor and an enclosed head. The spacious cabin of the boat features a double berth and is ready for salt water cruising.

According to sailboatdata.com , the tow weight of the 26RK is 6,000 pounds. With the keel up, the draft is 1.25 feet.

Multihull sailors need not feel left out from the trailer sailer club and the pocket cruiser. Beyond the ubiquitous beach Hobie Cat, there are not many options for catamarans. But trimarans are uniquely suited to be towed.

Why? For one thing, performance oriented boats like trimarans are based on it being built light. There is no ballast—a trimaran’s stability comes from its two outer hulls. Additionally, the living space is entirely housed in the central hull–the outer floats are small and sometimes foldable. Finally, there are no keels on tris, so they are extremely shallow draft and perfect for trailering.

If you’re looking for adrenaline-pumping sporty and fun sailing, it’s impossible to beat what a trimaran will offer. Let’s not beat around the bush—most of the trailer sailers on this list have hull speeds around five knots. The Corsair has no such limits, routinely sailing at 15 knots or more .

The new Corsair 880 trimaran has an unloaded weight of 3,659 pounds. It is trailerable behind a big SUV or small pickup and is probably the most fun sailing option that is trailerable at all.

An even more portable option is the older Corsair F-24. It has a light displacement of under 2,000 pounds—so nearly any SUV can tow it.

MacGregor owns the market on trailerable motor sailers since they more or less created the product to fit the bill. The MacGregor 26 is not like other boats. The design combines a planing powerboat with a centerboard sailboat. Imagine scooting along at 20 knots or more when the wind is down or enjoying a sporty sail on a breezy day–in the same boat.

The entire boat is built from the ground up for towing and long-range sailing. So if you want a big sailboat that you can tow behind pretty much any SUV, the MacGregor has to be on your list. 

Depending on the model, the 26-foot-long boats have incredibly light dry weights of between 1,650 and 2,350 pounds. Considering the massive volume of the roomy cabin, the ability to tow such a large vessel opens up an entire world of opportunities for owners. 

It’s not all good news, of course. MacGregor owners love their boats, but they are built light and are not ideally suited for offshore cruising or rough weather. But in bays and for coastal sailing on nice days, few boats can get as much use as a MacGregor. 

The motorboat capability of the 26M and 26X might not appeal to hardcore sailors, but for those looking to maximize their use of the boat depending on the weather, their mood, or location, it makes a lot of sense. 

MacGregor shut down in 2015, but the daughter and son-in-law of the original owners took over production and renamed the boat the Tattoo 26 . The company will soon release a smaller version, the Tattoo 22 .

If the 26 is a bit big to make your list of best trailerable small sailboats, consider the smaller Powersailer 19. It’s nearly identical to the 26, just smaller and lighter.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dale Roddick (@droddick33)

What Do You Want Your Trailer Sailer To Do?

After you’ve settled on how you will tow and launch your trailer sailer, now it’s time to dream about what you want it to do. Where will it take you? 

The beauty of a towable boat is that you can travel anywhere. A boat in the water might take weeks or months to move a few hundred miles. But if you can attach it to your car and do 65 mph on the interstate, you could sail on the Pacific on Monday, the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, and the Atlantic on Friday.

We can divide our trailerable sailboats into three groups – daysailers, weekenders, and cruisers.

These are designed with open cockpits and no space to sleep. This is a majority of the sub-22-foot boats on the market. They are designed to be launched, play for the day, and return to the ramp or dock.

A weekender will have rudimentary sleeping facilities. Think of it as a floating tent—it’s not a five-star hotel, but you can sleep under the stars or get out of the rain. Conceivably you could stay aboard indefinitely, but it doesn’t have much room for gear. So most people are ready to get off after a day or two. 

A cruising boat has sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities built-in. These might be small and simple, but in any quantity, they mean you can disconnect from shore for a long time. Unfortunately, squeezing all of this into a tow-friendly package isn’t easy, and very few boats do it well. 

The best trailer sailor for your adventures will depend on many factors. Like any boat, whatever you decide on will be a compromise – boats always are. But there are plenty of choices out there, no matter what size your tow vehicle is and no matter what sailing adventures you have in mind.

What size sailboat is trailerable?

Even large yachts are routinely transported by towing across land, so the question is more of how big a sailboat can you tow? Your tow vehicle will be the limiting factor. The upper limit for most large SUVs and trucks is usually a sailboat around 26 feet long.

Sailboats are generally very heavily built, with ballast and lead keels. Sailboats specifically made to be trailer sailers are lighter. They may use drainable water ballast tanks instead of fixed ballast and have fewer fixtures and amenities.

To find the best trailer sailer, you need to balance the total tow weight, the ease of rig setup at the boat ramp, and the boat’s draft. Shallow draft boats with centerboards are the easiest to launch and retrieve.

Is a Hunter 27 trailerable?

No. The Hunter 27 is a one of those fixed-keel larger boats built from 1974 to 1984. The boat’s displacement is 7,000 pounds, not including trailer and gear. That alone makes it too heavy to tow by all but the beefiest diesel trucks. 

Furthermore, the fixed keels had drafts between 3.25 and 5 feet, all of which are too much for most boat ramps. In short, the standard Hunter Marine 27 is too big to tow for most people.

On the other hand, Hunter has made several good trailer sailers over the years. For example, the Hunter 240 and 260 were explicitly designed for trailering. They have drainable water ballast and shallow keel/centerboard drafts less than two feet. 

Is a Catalina 22 trailerable?

Yes, the Catalina 22 is easily trailerable and makes a wonderful weekend sailboat. In fact, there were over 15,000 Catalina 22s made and sold over the years. 

The boat’s displacement is 2,250 pounds, which means your total tow weight with trailer and gear will be under 3,000 pounds. This is within the capabilities of most mid to full-size SUVs and light trucks. Be sure to check your vehicle’s towing capacity, of course.

The centerboard on the Catalina 22 is another factor in its easy towing. With the board up, the boat draws only two feet. This makes it easy to float off the trailer at nearly any boat ramp. You should avoid fixed keel versions of the 22 for towing unless you have access to extra deep ramps. 

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

Can someone tell me why no other manufacturer makes pop tops? Those who have them, love them. Makes sense for head space with a trailerable boat too. Catalina stopped making them decades ago, yet people still swear by them. So, why isn’t there any newer models?

MacGregor put pop tops on many of its trailerables

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Trailerable Sailboats Comparison

Trailerable sailboats come in a variety of shapes and sizes. These vessels can be used for everything from racing to offshore cruising.

In this article, we'll compare six of the most common trailerable sailboat types along with their uses. Additionally, we'll cover vessel design elements that distinguish different types of trailerable sailboats.

The most common types of trailerable sailboats include dinghies, racers, open-top cruising sailboats, pocket cruisers, coastal cruisers, and compact offshore sailboats. These vessels differ by size, rig type, hull type, and weight.

The information contained in this article was sourced from sailing guides and vessel identification records. Additionally, we took into consideration the opinions of sailors with experience on a variety of trailerable sailboats.

Table of contents

Defining Trailerable Sailboats

What distinguishes a trailerable sailboat from any other small cruising craft? The first and most obvious consideration is size. A trailerable sailboat has to meet the dimensional requirements set forth by the Department of Transportation. In other words, it must fit on a trailer that's small enough to travel on the road.

An additional consideration is weight. A trailerable sailboat should weigh less than around 7,000 pounds, as this is the upper towing limit for most typical Class C vehicles. Most trailerable sailboats can be towed behind a typical half ton pickup or SUV.

Additionally, most trailerable sailboats have a swing keel or centerboard. This makes it possible to rest a boat on a low trailer. Most displacement keels are simply too tall, though there are a few exceptions. The maximum trailer load height in most states is 14 ft, which a trailerable sailboat should clear without trouble.

Length is a consideration, though it's not as important as width. The maximum beam of a trailerable sailboat is 8 ft 6 in, as this is the limit for standard trailers on American highways. Typically, trailerable sailboats don't exceed 30 feet in length, as the length to beam ratio of a longer boat would lead to poor handling characteristics.

The final consideration is rigging. Due to height requirements, trailerable sailboats must have collapsible masts. Additionally, rudders and other items that extend beyond the hull must fold or stow in some manner.

Types of Trailerable Sailboats

Trailerable sailboats come in many varieties, weights, in sizes. These vessels are designed for specific uses, such as racing, cruising, fishing, or training. Here are the most common kinds of trailerable sailboats, along with what they're used for.

1. Dinghies

Dinghies are small, open sailing craft that usually don't exceed 15 feet in length. Dinghies are designed for use in protected waters. They're sometimes used to shuttle between an anchored sailboat and the shore. Dinghies are popular racing vessels, and many sailing schools use them for sailing instruction.

Popular Trailerable Dinghies:

• Optimist “Optie” (7 ft 9 in LOA)
• Minto (9 ft LOA)
• Wayfarer (16 ft)

Trailerable racing sailboats are long and narrow. They're designed for speed and agility, not comfort or offshore cruising. These boats generally have a low profile, and they're often open-top and lack sleeping accommodations.

Racing sailboats are lightweight and easy to tow. That said, trailerable racing sailboats are designed for experienced sailors as they're easier to capsize in high winds. These vessels range in size from 15 feet to over 25 feet.

Popular Trailerable Racing Sailboats:

• National 12 (12 ft)
• Sunfish (13 ft 9 in)
• Merlin Rocket (14 ft)

3. Open-Top Cruisers

Open-top cruising sailboats lack a cabin. However, these seaworthy craft are more than capable of coastal cruising in a variety of conditions. Many of these vessels are based on proven workboat designs that date back over a century. These vessels are ideal for harbor sailing and cruising on lakes.

Some people use open-top cruising sailboats for camping, as these traditional vessels are long enough to lay down a cot or sleeping bag. They make a great starter sailboat, as they're safe and easy to store in the garage or driveway.

Popular Trailerable Open-Top Cruisers

• Norseboat (17 ft 6 in)
• Bay Rider (20 ft)
• Com-Pac Legacy (23)

4. Pocket Cruisers

Pocket cruisers are similar to coastal cruisers, though they're distinguishable by their size and amenities. Generally speaking, a pocket cruiser is a small sailboat (under 25 feet in length) that features a cabin, galley, self-draining cockpit, and other 'big boat' accommodations.

Pocket cruisers usually aren't designed for serious offshore cruising, but they are comfortable for extended coastal or inland voyages. They weigh more than racing vessels, as stability is a key aspect of their design. Pocket cruisers are popular because they offer impressive capabilities in a small package.

Popular Trailerable Pocket Cruisers

• Sandpiper (15 ft)
• Sanderling (18 ft)
• West Wight Potter (19 ft)

5. Coastal Cruisers

Coastal cruisers are some of the most popular trailerable sailboats on the market. These vessels usually feature a cabin with a V-berth and a sink, though they occasionally include a head and a complete galley. Coastal cruisers are seaworthy enough for most near-shore and inland weather conditions.

Some adventurous sailors have taken coastal cruisers on extended bluewater voyages, though it's not particularly common. The size and sailing characteristics of these vessels is often not their greatest limiting factor.

There's only so many provisions you can store aboard a 22 to 25-foot sailboat, which is why coastal cruisers are generally considered impractical for offshore voyaging. Coastal cruisers handle well, and they're easy to sail, which is why this type of trailerable sailboat is popular in bays and harbors across the country.

Popular Trailerable Coastal Cruisers

• Cal 20 (20 ft)
• Catalina 22 (22 ft)
• Hunter 22 (22 ft)

6. Compact Offshore Sailboats

Compact offshore sailboats are the rarest and most capable type of trailerable sailboat. These vessels are a big boat in a compressed package. They typically feature a long displacement keel, a wide beam, and a cramped but feature-filled cabin.

These vessels are true cruising boats inside and out. The cabins usually feature a full galley, standing headroom, ahead with a shower, a V-berth upfront, and provisions for navigation. Their rigging is strong enough to handle offshore weather conditions.

Compact offshore sailboats usually have the greatest displacement, as their deep draft and wide beam keep them stable in rolling seas. This also contributes to greater dry weight, which is why they can't be towed by small vehicles.

Vessels of this type are technically trailerable, as they meet the dimensional requirements to travel on the highway. That's said, moving one of these boats is difficult. Owners generally keep these vessels in the water or in dry storage most of the year to avoid the hazard and hassle of towing such a hefty boat.

Popular Compact Offshore Cruisers

• Flicka 20 (20 ft)
• Dana 24 (24 ft)
• Nor'Sea 27 (27 ft)

The keel of a sailboat keeps it stable and tracking a straight course. Most trailerable sailboats have retractable keels of some variety, though some have fixed (permanently lowered) keels. Here are the most common types of trailerable sailboat keels in order of their popularity.

1. Centerboard

A centerboard is a form of retractable keel that's common on the smallest types of trailerable sailboats. A centerboard is essentially a long, thin blade that descends through a hole in the bottom of the boat.

Half of the centerboard remains inside the boat in a box called the 'centerboard trunk.' Centerboards are simple and easy to use, but the centerboard trunk takes up useful space in the cockpit or cabin.

2. Swing Keel

The swing keel is a type of retractable keel that eliminates the inconvenient centerboard trunk. A swing keel is a centerboard with a hinge on one end. It lives in a trunk, typically below the base of the hull, and swings down when in use.

Swing keels allow the sailboat to ride low on a trailer, which makes them a popular choice for pocket cruisers and trailer-sailers. Swing keels raise and lower using a  block and tackle system or a crank, usually located near the bilge or under a seat.

3. Fin Keel

Fin keels are less common on trailerable sailboats than they are on larger cruising boats. This type of keel is fixed to the bottom of the hull. A fin keel blade extends between 12 inches and 3 feet below the hull, and it occasionally includes a hydrodynamic bulb on the end. Fin keels are most often found on racing boats.

4. Semi-Displacement

Semi-displacement keels are long, fixed keels that run along the aft 2/3 of the hull. This type of keel is designed for cruising boats that value speed but still want to retain the stability and seaworthiness of a full keel.

Some trailerable sailboats have semi-displacement keels, especially if they're designed for offshore use. The benefits of a semi-displacement keel over a full keel are negligible on a trailer, as both types have a deep draft and high ride height.

5. Displacement (Full Keel)

Displacement keels are traditional and highly seaworthy. This type of keel runs across the entire length of the hull, usually reaching its deepest point at the stern. Displacement keels are found on vessels that are designed for offshore use.

Displacement keels are uncommon on trailerable sailboats, as they're long and cause the vessel to ride high on a trailer. Additionally, the type of vessel that uses a displacement keel is often wide and heavy, which isn't ideal for trailering.

Collapsable rigging is a hallmark of trailerable sailboats. The best trailerable sailboats have collapsible masts that stow securely across the deck. These vessels typically have a fork-shaped mast boot that acts as a hinge, allowing sailors to easily lower and secure the mast.

Many trailerable sailboats are gaff rigged. Though the traditional gaff rig is more complex than a modern Bermuda rigs, it uses a shorter and stronger mast. This has obvious benefits for trailerable boats, as the mast and spars store more easily.

Trailer Types

There are multiple types of trailers used to tow and store sailboats. The most common kind of sailboat trailer is the single-axle trailer. These trailers have one wheel on each side, and you can tow them with a standard Class IV trailer hitch.

Larger sailboats, such as heavy offshore cruising vessels, require something a bit sturdier. These vessels typically ride on dual-axle trailers, which have two wheels on each side.

Larger trailers, such as those with two axles, connect to a standard trailer hitch or to a fifth wheel hitch, which is mounted in the bed of a truck. Fifth-wheel trailers are the least common type of sailboat trailer.

Sailboat Weight and Towing

Dry weight is an important factor to consider when comparing trailerable sailboats. It's important to avoid confusing displacement and weight, even though both values use the same units.

Displacement is the weight of the water displaced by the vessel, whereas dry weight determines how much the boat weighs with its tanks empty and bilge dry. The ideal towing weight of a typical trailerable sailboat is between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds. This weight is within the towing capabilities of most trucks and full-size SUVs.

Larger trailerable vessels, such as many coastal cruisers and offshore trailer-sailers, can weigh 7,500 pounds or more. A sailboat of this magnitude requires a heavy-duty towing vehicle, such as a 1-ton diesel pickup truck.

Best Trailerable Sailboat for Cruising

For protected cruising, such as in a bay or after the river, it's hard to overlook the Catalina 22. This iconic fiberglass sailboat is known for easy handling and fun sailing characteristics. It has a comfortable cabin with plenty of room for a weekend on the water.

For more extensive cruising, especially offshore, the best trailerable sailboat is the Nor'Sea 27. This vessel is ideal due to its spacious interior and full accommodations. It has a full keel for stability, along with a head, galley, and sleeping arrangements down below.

Best Trailerable Sailboat for Weekend Sailing

The ideal weekend cruiser should be easy to tow in fast to rig, as larger and more complex vessels take too much time and effort the launch. With this in mind, it's a tie between the Wayfarer dinghy and the West Wight Potter. Both of these vessels are well-designed, fast to launch, and fun to sail.

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Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Trailerable Sailboat Reviews: Small Boats, Big Adventures

• By Herb McCormick
• Updated: May 24, 2024

We were approaching the trickiest, most hazardous stretch of the Northwest Passage , high in the Canadian Arctic, when we happened upon a sight more wondrous in its own way than all the ice, polar bears and other assorted wildlife that preceded it. Tucked up against a barren shoreline, its anchor embedded in a handy ice floe, was a nifty little trailer-sailer, what we soon discovered was a NorseBoat 17.5 Classic. 

Hopping in the dinghy from our rather cushy 64-foot steel cutter, we pulled alongside and were greeted by a pair of strapping Royal Marines named Kevin Oliver and Tony Lancaster. They were on military leave for a busman’s holiday of sorts: sailing, rowing and occasionally dragging their open boat, with a simple cuddy for accommodations, through the notoriously challenging high northern latitudes. One thing was clear: If these dudes were running the British Empire, there’d still be one.

Those chaps, and that boat, captured my imagination. I thought about them again late last fall on a road trip from New England to Florida with my daughter as we passed one compact camper after another. We both love camping, and we were debating the merits of one mini Gulf Stream to another tiny Winnebago when she said something profound: “Why not have a trailerable sailboat as your RV? You could sleep in it while traveling, then when you reached your destination, you could go sailing.” Why not indeed?

I’ve owned many fully found, systems-rich cruising boats but have always been enamored with the simplicity and versatility of something small and trailerable that you could tow and launch from just about anywhere: the Florida Keys, the coast of Maine, the Sea of Cortez, the Pacific Northwest. (The closest I’ve personally come is a J/24, which can be trailered anywhere, but which is more of a dedicated racer than a pocket cruiser.) There’s something seriously appealing about the idea. Which is why, over the years, I’ve kept a short list of the boats I think could fill the bill, having sailed them to test their potential. What follows are a few of my favorites. 

– TOW LIKE A PRO – Remember to leave extra stopping room when trailering your boat. At the ramp, be considerate of others but take the time you need to launch and recover your boat safely. Always check tie-downs, safety chains, lights – and the drain plug. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

For the Hearty at Heart 

I’ll always relate to those ­hardened Brit lads in the Arctic when I think of the NorseBoat 17.5 Classic. (Perhaps to underscore their no-nonsense attitude, they co-authored a book about their adventure entitled—what else?— Blokes Up North. ) The boat’s Canadian builder has an appropriate nickname for its vessels, which include 12.5 and 21.5 models: the “Swiss Army knife of boats.” The 17.5 Classic is one salty-looking craft, with a pronounced bow, sweeping sheerline, lapstrake fiberglass hull, pivoting carbon-fiber gaff-rigged spar, fully battened mainsail, kick-up rudder, and a pair of rowing stations with a set of 9-foot oars. Options include a full-size tent that encapsulates the entire open boat, though the cuddy works well for most outings, and motor mounts for a 2 or 4 hp outboard. Talk about distinctive. NorseBoat says that the boat can be towed by a midsize car, fits in a standard garage, and is ideal for “cruising sailors who want to downsize, sea kayakers who are moving up, and daysailors who want a high-performance boat with lovely traditional lines.” I agree with that assessment. It will also work, ahem, for grizzled soldiers looking for a “relaxing” break from the front lines. norseboat.com

The Trailerable “Legend”

My lasting memory of the Catalina 22 is a visit I paid to the Southern California plant where they were built some four decades ago. From a balcony overlooking the factory floor, I saw four production lines knocking out the classic little 22-footer, each line producing a boat per day (another facility on the East Coast also churned out one daily). It was the Golden Age of American boatbuilding, and I’ve always considered this compact craft to be the gold standard of trailerables (longtime Catalina designer Gerry Douglas prefers to call it “the Miller Genuine Draft of sailboats: cheap and cheerful”). Seeing that almost 16,000 have been launched over the years, “ubiquitous” also works. The early models were bare bones: no winches, lifelines, nothing. But over the years, Douglas says, “the options grew, and it morphed into a cruiser,” with galleys, heads, holding tanks and other accoutrements. The trouble with all the stuff was that many sailors liked racing their 22s, and the extra gear made the boats heavier and noncompetitive. Douglas eventually went back to the drawing board and designed a lighter version, the Catalina 22 Sport. It was competitive with the older, original boats—and is still produced today. “If you opened up a dictionary with a picture of a sailboat, it would be the Catalina 22,” Douglas says. “I think it has a place in the history of our sport. It was simple, with no bad habits. It introduced a lot of people to sailing and provided a lot of pleasure over the years.” And continues to do so. I’ll take one anytime. catalinayachts.com

Fast and Fun

My first exposure to the Seascape line of quick and trim racers/cruisers—a brand built and launched from Slovenia, which is a rather sailing-crazed nation—came from my colleagues at our sister publication Sailing World , a dedicated racing magazine. They raved about the quality of construction and sailing experience. Then, in 2018, Seascape was acquired by Groupe Beneteau, and all previous Seascape models were integrated into the Beneteau First product range. It provided the line with the sort of widespread, mainstream marketing punch that it deserved. I’ve since sailed a pair of larger models produced by their collaborative effort, but if I were inclined to go the trailer-sailer route, my choice would definitely be the Beneteau First 24 SE (the SE standing for Seascape Edition). It’s a high-tech version of the previous First 24 with a serious boost in performance. The SE line’s sweet spot, in the company’s own assessment, is as a dual-threat boat aimed at competitive one-design racing and adventure sailing. I reckon that 24 feet is an ideal size for both, and the 24SE delivers on the promise with a carbon rig; swing keel with lead bulb; laminate sails; and light, high-tech, infused-­vinylester construction. With ­removable crew bags and modular components that can also be stored ashore when racing, the 24 SE can be set up quickly and easily for cruising or competition. beneteau.com  

– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

One Sharp Sharpie

The late Rodger Martin was a South Africa-born naval architect who is probably best known for the robust ­round-the-world racers he conceived for solo legend Mike Plant, which is when I first met him. Tellingly, ­however, when it came to ­designing his own personal boat, he produced the very cool Presto 30. The 30-­footer was an offshoot of the Outward Bound Hurricane Island 30 that he designed for the wilderness program based in Maine, but that was a hybrid sailing/rowing boat. To upgrade it for cruising, Martin basically designed a sharpie, based on the straight-sided 18th-­century fishing boats with a hard chine, flat bottom and centerboard for access to shallow water. With a beam of 8 feet, 6 inches, the boat is eminently trailerable, and Martin regularly towed it south from New England in the wintertime for cruising forays across the Gulf Stream and into the Bahamas. Due to that shallow draft and minimal freeboard, the rig required a low center of effort, which Martin addressed with a simple cat-ketch rig. With the addition of a slightly raised cabin top, he was able to insert basic interior accommodations (which were also somewhat compromised by the centerboard trunk). For a couple who can embrace camper-style cruising, ­however, it fit the bill. In recent years, a couple of Presto fans have tried to put the boat back into production, which has yet to happen. But if you can find a used one, you’ll have a boat with a fine and unusual pedigree. ­ rodgermartindesign.com

An Upgraded Ensign

A couple of years ago, I got myself a 1963 Pearson Ensign, a venerable daysailer designed by the great Carl Alberg that measures in at a smidgen under 23 feet with a full keel and a spacious cockpit. I quite enjoy my Ensign, but designer Tim Jackett has taken some of the ancient classic’s best features and incorporated them into a thoroughly modern upgrade: the Tartan 245. Conceived as an ideal tool for teaching sailing, the 245 replaces that massive keel with a lifting one that has 900 pounds of ballast, which makes it just as stiff as the old-timer. With the board down, it draws 4 feet, 6 inches, but once raised, the draft is just 1 foot, 8 inches—and with its kick-up rudder, you can nudge into the shallows that the Ensign could only dream about. Like the full-size members of the Tartan clan, the 245 has a carbon-fiber spar that’s stepped on deck and is easily raised and lowered. A retractable bowsprit is ideal for flying off-wind reachers; for working sail, there’s a choice of an overlapping headsail or a self-tacking jib. The little cuddy space forward is another feature reminiscent of the Ensign; it can be employed, along with the handy tiller, for camper-style cruising. You may be able to have more kicks on a little sailboat, but I’m not sure how. tartanyachts.com

– LOWER YOUR RATES – Taking a boating safety course won’t just make you a better skipper. It could also help you save big on insurance. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Happy Little Girl

And now for something completely different: the Pacific Seacraft Flicka (Swedish for “happy little girl”). It’s a 20-foot, heavy-displacement, full-keel pocket cruiser that, yes, you can pop on a trailer and wheel to destinations of your heart’s content. Designed by Bruce Bingham—an illustrator and sailor who, for many years, penned this magazine’s Workbench column—the boat was originally offered in kit form, and then bounced around to a couple of builders before finding a permanent home at Pacific Seacraft, which produced the grand majority of them (reportedly, roughly 400 Flickas were ultimately produced). Bingham loved his, sailing his pretty Sabrina all over creation, which is when I became enamored with the boat. The Flicka certainly fits the definition of a cult boat, and these days, if you look hard enough, you can find one in almost any configuration: sloop, cutter, yawl, schooner, even gaff-rigged. With a startlingly roomy interior, the Flicka is cozy but certainly not the fastest 20-footer you can find. You might not get where you’re going quickly, but you will get there. flicka20.com

To the Third Power

Talk about a boat that was ahead of its time. Any list of good trailerable boats has to include a multihull, and few have reached the overall popularity of the Corsair F-27, the prototype for which was originally launched way back in 1985. It’s designed by Kiwi Ian Farrier, based on another little trimaran he’d created a decade earlier. The signature feature of the three-hulled 27-footer is the folding outrigger system—better known as the Farrier Folding System—which reduces the beam from a significant 19 feet to a mere 8 feet, 2 inches, which makes it eminently trailerable. You can still see (and find) F-27s just about everywhere. They have active one-design racing fleets all over the place, and they make for tidy pocket cruisers when they’re not zipping around the racecourse. From a pure sailing point of view, there’s nothing more enjoyable than finding yourself perched out on an ama of an F-27, coursing along at double-digit boatspeeds, with a light touch on a long tiller extension. We’re talking joy, cubed. corsairmarine.com  

• More: pocket cruiser , print March 2023 , Sailboats , trailerable
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Best Trailerable Sailboat Brands to Cruise or Race

18th dec 2023 by samantha wilson.

Being able to trailer your sailboat opens up many possibilities, from cost saving  boat storage solutions to being able to take your boat to new cruising grounds. It's common to see trailered motorboats on the roads in the United States, Canada, and Europe, but sailboats tend to be trailered in smaller numbers.

Of course the act of trailering a sailboat involves a bit more preparation, namely lowering the mast, but as we'll see there are many excellent brands out there ensuring that the sailboats they build can be trailered nearly as easily as a RIB or center console. And they're not just bathtub-sized sailboats either. Some of the best trailerable sailboats are up to 30 feet in length. While it's trickier to trailer a large catamaran due to its wide beam, the multihull world hasn't been left behind, as you can find clever trimarans that fold up in different ways.

We have picked out some of our favorite trailerable sailboat brands in this article but it's important to remember there are many excellent brands building excellent boats.

Corsair Marine photo. 

What Is the Biggest Sailboat I Can Trailer?

Daysailers have long been trailered, thanks to their compact size, simple rigs, and easily lowered, relatively short mast. For those who want a slightly larger boat that they can take the whole family out on or use for overnight trips, then a 20- to 25-foot sailboat may be more useful than a 16- to 19-foot one. Going up a size category allows for a whole new range of activities, with proper galleys, running water, electricity, and an enclosed head to provide more substantial home comforts. But how big is too big to trailer?

You might be surprised to hear that in the United States, sailboats up to around 31 feet in length can be trailered legally. In fact, it typically depends less on length, and more on the weight, beam, and height of the vessel and the trailer together, must meet several legal requirements.

• Weight : While there is no specific weight limit to be towed, the sailboat has to be able to be towed easily by your vehicle, usually a pickup-style truck or full-size SUV with substantial power. Most single- and tandem-axle trailers can handle a maximum combined load of 7,000 to 8,000 pounds, so your weight limit will also be dictated by your trailer.
• Beam : To travel without permits, the trailer and vessel must fit on the road in regular traffic. In the US, that's a maximum width of 8 foot 6 inches (a couple inches less in the EU at 2.55 meters). Most trailerable monohull sailboats will be less than this for ease of maneuvering in traffic, but when it comes to catamarans and trimarans, adjustments have to be made (we'll look at those later).
• Length : The upper length limit of a sailboat can be anything up to 65 feet, but that's a moot point because vessels of that size would never meet the width limits. In reality, a 30-footer is the longest sailboat you're likely to tow, with 15- to 25-footers being much more common.
• Height : Your trailer and sailboat have to fit under bridges and highway overpasses and so for most states the maximum height is 14 feet. This will obviously require lowering the mast onto the deck and including that into your height calculation.

For more advice on the practicalities of trailering see our guide to Buying a Boat Trailer .

The Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats

The best trailerable cruising sailboat brands.

• Catalina Yachts : As one of North America's best-known sailboat brands of sailboats, Catalina has a long history of building trailerable models. Their entire Sport line cruising boats—except for the 275—can easily be trailered, and the 22 and 22 Sport, in particular, make for a great step up from daysailing to enjoying a pocket cruiser.
• Beneteau : Beneteau 's reputation for affordable, capable yachts spans the globe, and their skill at building trailerable sailboats up to 30 feet is just one of many attributes. Take the First 27SE and 24; they are not luxury cruiser (although the 27SE can sleep six crew!) but they sure can sail fast on short distance races or fast adventure cruises. With impeccable and high-quality design featuring double rudders, these are some of the nicest fast cruisers on the market.

Beneteau First 27SE. Beneteau photo. 

The Best Trailerable Sport Sailboats

Several brands on this list create high performance sports sailboats , and one of the top names you think of in this sector is Laser whose speedy tiny racers are now an Olympic event in themselves. But there are many excellent brands building ultra-fast sports sailboats – several on our list are considerably bigger than a Laser too. Here we take a look at some of our favorite sports dinghies which are the quintessential trailerable sports boat.

The Best Trailerable Sport Sailboat Brands

• Melges : Founded in 1945 by Harry C. Melges, Sr., this is an iconic Midwestern brand made famous, in part, by Harry's son, Harry “Buddy” Melges Jr, an Olympic medalist in the ‘60s and National Sailing Hall of Fame member. Today the business is run by Harry III, also a championship sailor, who oversees a range of high performance vessels from the award-winning Melges 14 and 15 dinghies, to A, C, E and MC scow classes, and international sportboat classes, the Melges 20 and 24—the latter has more than 900 boats sailing competitively all over the world. All of their models are trailerable, allowing them to be transported easily to competitions. Melges boats for sale
• J/Boats : The most successful volume builder of trailerable, performance keelboats is also a family-run brand founded by brothers Rod and Bob Johnstone and now led by second-generation Johnstones—Jeff, Al and Stuart. Starting with the J/24 (more than 5,500 boats built) and most recently with the J/70, the company has popularized a series of international racing classes from 22 to 26 feet while also building many popular larger racer/cruiser-style models that don't fit easily on a trailer.  J/Boats for sale
• RS Sailing : British-built RS Sailing performance dinghies and keelboats are spreading in popularity across the world. Distributed widely on the east coast of the US, they're excellent pocket racing dinghies, easily trailered and ultra-fast. Their range of boats runs from 12 feet and 21 feet and includes dinghies, catamarans, and keelboats, allowing you to find exactly the right boat for your experience level and interest, but it's their Racing Series which sets them apart as high performers in the market. They're lightweight, simple in their design, and well-suited to being trailered thanks to their compact sizes.

Melges 24. Melges photo. 

The Best Trailerable Youth Sailboats

Trailerable sailboats designed for younger sailors are lightweight, easy to rig, and easy to sail. They should offer a simple platform in which to learn the mechanics of sailing, the movement of the boat on the water, and the basic maintenance of a sailboat. For more guidance check out our guide to choosing the best beginner sailboat .

The Best Trailerable Youth Sailboat Brands

• ILCA : Formerly known as the Laser, the ILCA design is one of the most popular sailboats of all time, a responsive yet high-performance one-person sailboat that is an excellent step up, particularly for sailors who outgrow their smaller dinghies as teenagers. As a racing class, ILCA offers three different mast sizes so sailors can start in what's called the ILCA 4 class and as they gain weight, move to ILCA 6 and 7. By that time, you're in a class of boat that can take you all the way to the Olympics. Designed in the 1970s by Canadian sailor Bruce Kirby, the 13'10.5” boat teaches high-performance skills, subtle steering and trimming techniques, and astounding speed once on a plane.
• Hobie Cat : We've put Hobie Cat in this category simply because of the brand's long-standing legacy of creating fun, simple, and compact catamarans that are loved by families and easily trailered. The classic Hobie 16 model with more than 100,000 built remains an active international class worldwide for the young and the young at heart; newer models provide a good, stable platform for a variety of off-the-beach and daysailing contexts. Catamarans are obviously wider than their monohull counterparts, but beach cats like the ones made by Hobie are well within the maximum width allowance to be towed on American roads. And because of their lightweight fiberglass or rotomolded hulls, they can be towed by much less powerful vehicles too.

Laser sailboats. Laser Performance photo. 

The Best Small Trailerable Sailboats

There are many benefits to opting for a small towable sailboat , and plenty of excellent brands out there are producing high performance pocket cruisers. A smaller sailboat won't require a large trailer and together they will weigh less and be able to be towed by a regular family car rather than a pick-up truck. Navigating smaller roads or heavier traffic will be less of a consideration, plus getting your sailboat launched will be a simpler affair. Several brands on our list could be in this category but special mention must be made of:

The Best Small Trailerable Sailboats Brands

• Cape Cutter : The traditional beauty of these sailboats, twinned with modern-day advancements, makes them really stand out from the rest. The design originates from the classic gaff cutter work boats, but today it's one of the fastest small gaffers in the world. The interior is cleverly spacious, with four berths, as well as a simple galley area. With quick rigging, it can be sailed solo, but is also able to accommodate small groups, making it a capable and hugely versatile pocket cruiser. At 22 feet long, 7 foot 7 inches wide, and under 5 foot in height with the mast lowered, it's perfect for trailering too. Cape Cutter boats for sale.
• NorseBoat : These beautiful, hand-crafted, and impressively versatile Canadian-built sailboats offer good performance and are described by the manufacturer as "the Swiss Army Knives of sailboats". Whether it's the 12.5 model, which can be sailed, rowed, and motored, or the 17.5 or 21.5 models, they can all be trailered, easily beached, and even used as camp cruisers, allowing for overnight adventures. And with traditional styling they're absolute head-turners whether you're cruising along the road or water.

NorseBoat 17.5. NorseBoat photo. 

The Best Trailerable Catamaran and Trimaran Sailboats

Multihulls have gained popularity in the last 20 years thanks to their stability, lack of keel, performance, and increased space on board compared to a monohull of the same length. Yet there are obvious challenges when it comes to trailering a sailboat with a very wide beam such as a catamaran or even more so a trimaran. In fact, by having three hulls, the trimaran type has bred for some innovative engineering, folding in the two outer hulls thus creating a smaller overall beam for transport. This is trickier with catamarans as they're not foldable in the same way. We've mentioned the well-known Hobie Cat brand of small beach cats above but there are some other innovative brands out there making it easier to trailer multihulls.

The Best Trailerable Catamaran and Trimaran Sailboat Brands

• Nacra : Catamarans are difficult to trailer because their beam is likely to exceed the legal road limits due to their double hull structure. Having said that, small models such as Nacra's lightning fast racing cats will squeeze within the beam limits at 8 foot 5 inches wide including the 15, F16, and F18 Infusion. If you're after trailerable performance and some competition, these cats provide a whole different level for serious and athletic sailors.
• Corsair : Corsair makes some of the best trailerable trimaran sailboats on the market and were pioneers in the folding trimaran sector for more than three decades. Yes you read that correctly…foldable trimarans up to 20 feet in length. With technology straight out of a Transformers movie, a 15-foot beam folds down into a neat little 8-foot wide package ready for trailering. Even the 31 foot 10 inch long 970 Cruze, with its standing room cabin, can be put on a trailer thanks to the folding system and retractable daggerboard and rudder.
• Dragonfly : With a focus on beautiful, cruise-worthy, high-quality, and high-performance trimarans up to 40 feet, Dragonfly offers two models— the 25 and 28—that can be folded and trailered for ease of transport and to allow you the freedom to access different cruising grounds. At a folded width of 8 feet 3 inches, the 28 is still just within legal width for towing on US roads, while offering you a true weekend cruiser complete with saloon, cabin, and galley.

Dragonfly 28.1. Dragonfly photo. 

Written By: Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson has spent her entire life on and around boats, from tiny sailing dinghies all the way up to superyachts. She writes for many boating and yachting publications, top charter agencies, and some of the largest travel businesses in the industry, combining her knowledge and passion of boating, travel and writing to create topical, useful and engaging content.

More from: Samantha Wilson

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Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

The best trailer sailer boats for weekend cruising… or longer

• Duncan Kent
• July 12, 2023

Duncan Kent reviews a selection of new and used trailer sailer boats that are large enough to accommodate crew for a weekend, but small enough to launch and recover single-handed

The Beneteau first 20 has a roomy cockpit and is spacious below. Credit: Jean Marie Liot/Beneteau Credit: Jean Marie Liot/Beneteau

The best trailer sailer boats for weekend cruising

If you’re happy just day sailing in fair weather then you won’t really need more than a sprayhood to duck in out of the odd shower or to make a brew.

But many more enthusiasts, especially those with young families or grandchildren, like to get involved in more than just the sailing.

To some, especially youngsters, the ‘camping’ element is crucial to the whole experience.

Yes, many dayboats could support a full cockpit tent for the occasional night on board in the summer, but it soon gets tedious if you try to spend more than one night under canvas without at least some of the basics of home living such as a cooker, running water, electricity, a proper toilet and enough room to stow a few changes of clothes.

Take a step up from the 16-18-footers into a weekender-size boat, say 19-21ft, and you get a lot, lot more to make life not just bearable on board, but in some cases positively comfortable.

New trailer sailer boats

Beneteau first 20.

The Beneteau First 20 is a trailable, modern, mini cruiser race. Credit: Jean Marie Liot/Beneteau

Finot-Conq’s Beneteau First has been around in various guises (210, 211, 21.7 and currently the First 20) for a while.

A modern mini-cruiser/racer, the F20 sports a 7⁄8ths fractional sloop rig with option for a furling asymmetric.

Having no backstay allows the mainsail to be flat-topped, thereby increasing the sail area.

It has also enabled the mast to be shortened, lowering the centre of effort on the sails and resulting in her being noticeably stiffer.

Beneath the waterline sporty, shallow sections extend out to a wide, flat stern.

Twin rudders keep a bite on the water when heeled and windward ability is hugely assisted by her 6ft (1.83m) deep, lifting fin keel.

She has a well-arranged and roomy cockpit and, though she’ll accommodate four adults, the position of the sheets enables her to be easily single-handed.

The F20 only has provision for an outboard but, thanks to the twin rudders, this is positioned centrally on the transom .

While you won’t get any useful prop wash, the outboard can be steered for manoeuvring into tight spaces.

Below she has a spacious and practical open-plan layout with a structural inner moulding creating the furniture, as well as providing enough hull rigidity to do away with bulkheads.

There are bunks for four adults on a vee-berth and settees, and basic facilities for living aboard such as dry stowage, a small galley cabinet and an optional loo.

Headroom is 1.45m (4ft 9in) maximum and there’s a privacy curtain across the forepeak.

Although not as easy to launch and recover as some, due to her keel protrusion when lifted, she is trailerable.

Having fixed ballast adds to the gross towing weight, however, which is a hefty 1,500kg (3,307lb) all up.

Beneteau First 20 specifications:

LOD: 6.25m/20.5ft Beam: 2.48m/8.1ft Draught: 0.70-1.78m/2.2ft-5.8ft Dry weight: 1,245kg/2,744lbs Ballast: 300kg/661lbs SA: 25.50m2/274 sq ft Keel: Lifting Motor: 10hp outboard Sail plan: Bermudan sloop RCD category: C New price: From £29,350 Used price: From around £20,000 Contact: Beneteau Yachts, www.beneteau.com

Windhunter 19

The Windhunter 19 is inspired by Bristol Channel working boats

Built in Poland, the design of the gaff-rigged , GRP Windhunter 19 was inspired by the old Bristol Channel working boats.

Though most compact trailer-sailers have gone the swing-, or lifting-keel route, usually with added water ballast, the WH19 has a long, fixed shoal keel containing 400kg (881lb) of lead ballast.

This, plus the additional stability created by her ample beam, results in a stiff boat that is easily capable of cruising northern European coastal waters safely and in comfort.

Being a long keel also adds to her directional stability too, something some of the centre-boarders can lack, and deep bilge-boards mean she can take the ground safely and remain level – in fact she’s pretty much a triple-keeler.

The downside of fixed ballast is extra towing weight which, at around 1.5 tonnes calls for a fairly powerful towing vehicle.

Her deep, self-draining cockpit isn’t huge, but it’s secure with high coamings and all sails can be easily controlled from here with coaming-mounted jib sheet winches and main sheet horse astern.

She has a transom-hung rudder and an outboard well, into which a 5hp motor mounts.

Although the prop is ahead of the rudder, being offset from the centreline does mean you lose the benefit of propwash over the rudder when close- quarter manoeuvring.

Her rig is a simple sloop with a high-peaked gaff mainsail and a smallish jib tacked down on a wooden bowsprit.

Her sail area isn’t huge, but this is ideal for those who want easy control when single-handing. Spars can be of either wood or aluminium.

Having a long cabin might reduce cockpit space, but the payback is below, where she feels like a 22-footer at least.

There’s a large vee-berth, a good galley area with a GRP moulding containing sink, hob and stowage and two lengthy quarter berths.

However, if you choose the 3-berth model you get something that is very rare in a boat of this size – a separate, private heads compartment.

Windhunter 19 specifications:

LOD: 5.80m/19.02ft Beam: 2.20m/7.21ft Draught: 0.55m/1.80ft Dry weight: 1,100kg/2,425lbs Ballast: 450kg/992lbs SA: 21.50m2/231.42 sq ft Keel: Fixed Motor: 5hp outboard Sail plan: Gaff sloop RCD category: C New price: From £27,900 Used price: From £18,000 Contact: Character Boats UK, 07976 406768, www.characterboats.co.uk

Cape Cutter 19

Cape Cutter 19: classic looks with all the mod cons

In 2001 Dudley Dix created this traditional, lapstrake-hulled pocket cruiser to be sound enough to take on an ocean passage with confidence.

Though she looks like a classic working gaffer, she boasts all the mod-cons of a modern cruising yacht in a package small enough to trail.

First built in South Africa, she was given a plumb stem and transom to provide the longest waterline possible, while still fitting into a 20ft (6.10m)-long shipping container.

Her hull is a solid GRP laminate, reinforced with stringers, and her balsa-cored deck is bolted to the hull and glassed over.

Three-quarters of her ballast is lead shot, bonded into the bilges. The remainder is provided by her cast-iron centreplate, which hinges up into the saloon using a 6:1 tackle.

Her mast and spars are wood, and she comes with either a high-peaked gaff or Bermudan cutter rig, to keep her sails manageable.

A tabernacle supports the mast safely for rigging and provides a rigid mounting for the boom gooseneck.

Her genoa/yankee is on a furler, anchored to the tip of her 1.40m-long bowsprit, while her hanked-on staysail tack terminates at the stem head .

All lines, including throat and peak halyards , can be controlled using jammers and winches in the deep cockpit.

Below, she is basic, but surprisingly spacious and comfortable. There’s a 1.92m (6ft 3in)-long forepeak vee-berth, under which is a portable toilet .

Then there’s a small GRP moulding each side – one containing the galley sink, the other a small hob.

Aft of these are two 1.90m (6ft 3in)-long settees.

Her performance under sail is impressive for a small boat, thanks to a sleek underwater profile, long waterline and generous sail area.

Her deep centreplate reduces leeway to a minimum and she tacks nimbly.

She can also be motored easily using a 4-6hp outboard in the well, which is positioned forward of the rudder.

Cape Cutter 19 specifications:

LOD: 5.80m/19.02ft Beam: 2.20m/7.21ft Draught: 0.45-1.22m/1.47ft-4ft Dry weight: 1,150kg/2,535lbs Ballast: 400kg/881lbs SA: 27.40m2/294.93lbs Keel: Pivoting centreboard Motor: 6hp outboard Sail plan: Gaff or Berm cutter RCD category: C New price: From £30,250 Used price: From £16,000 Contact: Cape Cutter Marine, 01377 538110, www.capecutter19.com

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Norfolk Gypsy 20

The Norfolk Gypsy 20 has a deep cockpit which can seat six. Credit: Neil Foster/Waterfront Yachting

The Norfolk Gypsy is a classic 20ft (6.10m) gunter-rigged micro-cruiser with a high-peaked gaff, spruce spars, bronze fittings and hardwood trimmings.

Her hull is hand-laid GRP, and for stability combines internal ballast with firm bilges.

A shallow draught and bilge runners enable her to be beached comfortably.

The modest gaff rig offers a fair performance in light airs and strong winds, and she’s easy to handle, even in rough weather.

In gusts, the lightweight, flexible gaff tends to bow around the mast, automatically flattening the sail.

Tweaking the peak halyard also allows you to make useful sail shape adjustments, while the slab-reefed mainsail and genoa furler make reefing easier and safer.

The centreboard is lowered and raised by a winch, with the control rope led into the cockpit for the helmsman.

Her deep cockpit is roomy enough for six, although four is more sensible.

Everything is to hand for the helmsman, with the mainsheet aft and jib cam cleats atop each coaming.

Being below the waterline it isn’t self-draining, but a manual bilge pump is supplied.

Decks are moulded non-slip, while the cabin top has Treadmaster. The foredeck is lowered to provide a safe working area and there is a stout Samson post .

Below, her sitting room-only interior is cosy with plenty of nice wood, although white deckhead and hull sides plus several portholes brighten it up.

A GRP furniture moulding incorporates the berths, galley and lockers, and a child-size vee-berth adjoins the two adult-length saloon settees.

The centreboard intrudes into the footwell a little, but there’s a swing-out table around the kingpost and a small chart table aft, below which is the optional loo.

There are outboard (6-8hp) and inboard (Yanmar 10hp) motor options. The former in a well ahead of the rudder, the latter situated under the bridge deck.

Norfolk Gypsy 20 specifications:

LOD: 6.10m/20.01ft Beam: 2.30m/7.5ft Draught: 0.51-1.20m/1.6ft-3.93ft Dry weight: 1,300kg/2,866lbs Ballast: 420kg/925lbs SA: 19.70m2/212 sq ft Keel: Pivoting centreboard Motor: 6hp outboard/10hp inboard Sail plan: Gaff sloop RCD category: C New price: From £50,090 Used price: Around £29,000 Contact: Neil Thompson Boats, 01263 741172, www.neilthompsonboats.co.uk

Bay Cruiser 20

The Bay Cruiser 20 features high tech construction

Apparently, the initial plan was to fit a cabin to the Bay Raider 20, but it quickly transpired it would require a taller cabin for sufficient headroom, making her less attractive and, more importantly, less stable.

So instead a brand-new hull was developed with a wider beam and higher freeboard.

Construction is an epoxy composite of ply, GRP and Airex polymer foam to produce a very strong, yet very lightweight (451kg dry) boat that can be towed by a saloon car on an unbraked trailer.

Like the BR20 she is water ballasted, storing 400kg of water in two tanks beneath the waterline, which fill automatically when launched. A high- capacity hand pump allows them to be emptied afloat, or they drain by gravity when recovered to the trailer.

The ketch rig enables her to sail in windier conditions under mizzen and jib alone, and means the sails are small and easy to handle.

Unlike the BR20 she comes with a one-piece carbon mast and a conventional boom for easy reefing .

All sail controls lead into the cockpit, which has angled coamings for comfort and is sized to allow the crew to brace against the seat opposite.

An optional sprayhood covers half the cockpit, providing shelter for crew and helmsman alike.

She will accommodate a 6hp outboard in her centreline well, which can be tilted up out of the water when sailing.

On the foredeck raised bulwarks offer security and there are two lockers plus a stout Samson post.

Below, she has a large vee-berth forward and one quarter berth under the cockpit seating to port.

A small galley unit sits between the two, while to starboard is a short settee, allowing for a deep cockpit locker.

The centreboard is disguised by a folding saloon table and there’s room for a portable toilet under the bridge deck.

Storage is underneath the seats and berths, and behind backrests.

A 40-litre, hand-pumped freshwater system is optional, as is cabin lighting, and the layout can be customised to a degree.

Bay Cruiser 20 specifications:

LOD: 6.17m/20.24ft Beam: 2.32m/7.6ft Draught: 0.25-1.20m/0.82ft-3.93ft Dry weight: 451kg/914lbs Ballast: 380kg/837lbs SA: 20.60m2/221.7 sq ft Keel: Pivoting centreboard Motor: 6hp outboard Sail plan: Bermudan ketch RCD category: C New price: From £40,895 Contact: Swallow Yachts, 01239 615482, www.swallowyachts.com

Cornish Shrimper 19

The popular Cornish Shrimper 19, which has a planking style GRP hull

The Roger Dongray-designed Shrimper 19 has the classic multiple chine with lapstrake planking style GRP hull which, together with her gaff rig, wooden spars, low-profile coachroof, gentle sheer line and raked transom make her a very pretty little boat indeed.

Beneath her waterline is a long, very shallow keel, which is just deep enough to keep her on the straight and narrow downwind.

She has encapsulated internal iron ballast beneath the sole plus a heavy galvanised steel centreplate to keep her powering to windward with the minimum of heel and leeway.

As standard, she has an offset well for a 5-6hp outboard motor, although unusually for a 19ft (5.79m) boat, the Shrimper 19 offers the option of having an inboard 9hp Yanmar diesel engine and shaft driven prop – though this increases the towing weight.

She has a long and deep, self-draining cockpit with tall seat backs and all the sheets and centreplate tackle are within easy reach of the helm for single-handing. Below she offers two layout choices –classic, with two quarter berths and a large galley in the forepeak, or 4-berth vee-berth and a smaller galley.

The latter has space for a portaloo under the vee-berth.

She is available as the traditional Shrimper, with a high-peaked gaff mainsail and spruce mast and spars.

Alternatively, there’s the Adventure 19 with alloy spars and a modern Bermudan sloop rig.

Cornish Shrimper 19 specifications:

LOD: 5.86m/19.22ft Beam: 2.18m/7.15ft Draught: 0.45-1.20m/1.47ft-3.93ft Dry weight: 1,500kg/3,306lbs Ballast: 440kg/970lbs SA: 18.02m2/193.96 sq ft Keel: Pivoting centreboard Motor: 6hp outboard/9hp inboard Sail plan: Gaff sloop RCD category: C New price: From £32,1200 Used price: From £9,000 Contact: Cornish Crabbers, 01208 862666, www.cornishcrabbers.co.uk

Secondhand trailer sailer boats

Red fox 200.

Red Fox was a David Thomas design. Credit: David Lewin

The 1993 David Thomas -designed Red Fox 200 was available as the RF200/200E (cruising version), the RF200S (sport, larger cockpit, lower coachroof, twin rudders), the RF200T (twin fixed keels) and, after Select Yachts took it over, the Hunter 20.

The twin daggerboard design was the same in all except the 200T and greatly simplified launching and recovering, as did the mast A-frame.

She had a solid GRP hull and a sheathed plywood deck , later changed to a GRP/foam sandwich. Internal ballast is bonded in beneath the floor.

A vertical stem and transom gives her the volume of a 25-footer, further boosted by the lack of a keel box.

The open-plan layout has a small vee-berth and two adult settee berths.

Headroom is a generous 1.83m (6ft) under the hatch and she even boasts a private heads.

She has a modern fractional sloop rig with alloy mast and boom. Under sail she’s quick, with minimal leeway.

The boards are asymmetric, providing lift and allowing her to point higher. Downwind you can lift both halfway to reduce drag.

While swapping boards adds another procedure to tacking, the reward is worth it.

Depending on model the outboard is either mounted off-centre on the transom, or in an outboard well ahead of the rudder.

Red Fox 200 specifications:

LOD: 6.17m/20.24ft Beam: 2.50m/8.2ft Draught: 0.20-0.89m/0.65ft-2.91ft Dry weight: 1,160kg/2,557lbs Ballast: 400kg/881lbs SA: 18.70 m2/201.2 sq ft Keel: Twin daggerboard Motor: 6hp outboard /9hp inboard Sail plan: Bermudan sloop RCD category: C Used price: £7,500-£12,500

Jeanneau Sun 2000

No frills, but fast – the Jeanneau Sun 2000. Credit: David Harding

This modern, ‘no frills’ centreboarder had a sailing performance to match many racing yachts in her time.

Just under 22ft (6.71m) and 1,150kg (2,535lb), she is trailerable with a large car, but you might need help at the slipway.

Though good value, the standard spec was rudimentary.

Owners wanting to race usually bought better sails than the standard Dacron wardrobe, but skimped on an outboard.

She’s so slippery, however, that just 4hp is enough to reach hull speed.

Below she has just 1.3m (4ft 3in) headroom, a child-sized vee-berth and two adult quarterberths.

Between the two there’s a small sink and a galley unit, but stowage is limited to beneath the berths.

The ‘Comfort Pack’ included ‘luxuries’ such as water tank, portable loo, battery, lights, saloon table, etc.

A large forehatch lets in light and air, and is also ideal for quickly dumping the spinnaker .

Her self-draining cockpit is 2.4m (7ft 10in) long, with stowage under the seats. Side decks are wide, and she even has an anchor locker and bow roller.

With her 7⁄8ths fractional sloop rig, swept-back spreaders, adjustable backstay and removable bowsprit, she’s well set up for sailing.

The mainsheet is easily reached by the helm, but the genoa winches are on the coachroof , which isn’t ideal.

Under sail, speeds of over 6 knots are common, planing downwind at 10 knots not unheard of!

Jeanneau Sun 2000 specifications:

LOD: 6.64m/21.7ft Beam: 2.55m/8.36ft Draught: 0.30-1.60m/0.9ft-5.24ft Dry weight: 1,150kg/2,535lbs Ballast: 390kg/859lbs SA: 23.10 m2/227.1 sq ft Keel: Pivoting centreboard Motor: 6hp outboard/9hp inboard Sail plan: Bermudan sloop RCD category: C Used price: £7,500 -£15,000

Others trailer sailer boats to consider

• Caravela 22
• Jaguar 21/22
• Hunter Sonata 21
• Mirror Offshore (19)
• Westerly Nimrod 18

Towing laws

Apart from the legal regulations you must adhere to there’s a good deal more to towing a large load than just knowing the figures add up.

Some vehicles tow well, others don’t, even though they might look the part. Thought should also be given to launching and recovering the boat.

Your large saloon might be able to tow her without problems on the highway but could well be useless down a steep and slippery launch ramp.

Many of these boats weigh up to 1,500kg (3,306lb) when they’ve got everything strapped onto them.

Choose your tow vehicle wisely – not all are up to the job. Credit: Roy Procter

Then there’s the extra gear you’ll have in the car, such as fuel tanks, outboard, provisions, etc.

In all, you’ll be driving a pretty heavy load along the highway and if you’ve never tried it before then a little bit of training might be in order.

There are trailer-training schools all over the UK that’ll give invaluable advice and safety tips.

Take your own trailer fully loaded and they’ll advise you on how best it should be balanced.

License notes

The rules on what you can tow are different depending on when you passed your driving test.

In England, Scotland and Wales, if you passed your car driving test before 1 January 1997 you can:

• Drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.
• You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM

If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997 onwards you can:

• tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM.

The law on towing was updated on 16 December 2021. Details here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer-or-caravan-with-a-car-from-autumn-2021

There are different rule for towing if you live in Northern Ireland

Important rules for towing trailer sailer boats

There are myriad rules and regulations regarding the towing of trailers in the UK and Europe.

A typical single axle braked trailer

Here is a summary of the most important rules you must heed and the commonly used acronyms referring to them:

• MAM – Maximum Authorised Mass is the maximum weight a vehicle or trailer is designed to carry. It includes the vehicle or trailer weight plus its load.
• MGW – Maximum Gross Weight is the maximum total weight as set by the manufacturer.
• GTW – Gross Train Weight is the maximum weight a vehicle can move on a road and should be engraved on the vehicle’s VIN plate.
• MTL – Maximum Towing Limit is the total weight the vehicle can move from a 12% hill start. The vehicle must be able to repeat this procedure five times in five minutes. This limit must never be exceeded and should not be used as a guide to your vehicle’s towing ability. GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight is the total weight (load and trailer all-up) a vehicle is designed to carry.
• KW – Kerbside Weight is the weight of the towing vehicle without passengers, but with 90% fuel and oil. In the EU this includes the weight of the driver plus 7kg of luggage.
• Nose weight – the maximum downward pressure on your trailer’s tow-hitch. The maximum must be no greater than that stated in your vehicle’s handbook and is usually between 50-100kg (typically 75kg).
• Car to Caravan weight ratio – It is strongly recommended that you do not exceed an 85% trailer to car weight ratio, ie. your fully-loaded trailer should not be more than 85% of your car’s KW (or maximum tow weight if this is lower).
• Maximum Trailer Width for any towing vehicle is 2.55m.
• Maximum Trailer Length (not including the A-frame) when towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg is 7m.
• Towing Mirrors must be fitted if your trailer is wider than the rear of your car.
• Brakes – Your trailer must have a working brake system if the fully-loaded trailer weighs over 750kg.

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RetireFearless

Biggest Trailerable Sailboats

Although there are some exceptions, most sailboats 30 feet long and below may be driven on roads safely. These are the biggest trailerable sailboats.

March 16, 2023

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

In this post, we'll look at twelve of the biggest sailboats that are trailerable on the market. The Catalina 27, Hunter 27, Cape Dory Typhoon, Cal 20, Islander 24, Catalina 22, O'Day 240, Moore 24, Helms 25, MacGregor 26, Nor'Sea 27 and Catalina 25 are some of the best trailerable sailboats.

These boats have comfortable cabins, exceptional sailing qualities, and meet all of the towing criteria for U.S. highways. These boats can usually be towed by a truck.

I’ve sailed a few of these boats throughout the years and have unique perspectives on how each compares. Growing up on sailboats was the best learning experience, and I welcome any opportunity to share my experiences.  Read on to find out more!

Table of Contents

‍ Considerations for a Trailerable Sailboat

The limits and dimensions of American roads impose certain standards on trailerable sailboats. The first is width (otherwise referred to as the beam). The sailboat and its accessories and the trailer it's towed on must fit in normal traffic lanes. Another important factor to consider is the overall weight of the boat. The ideal trailerable sailboat is light enough that a modestly equipped truck or suv can tow it.

Overall Length

There are definitely boats out there on the longer side, but the longer the sailboat, the wider it has to be for stability purposes. However, it would be difficult for such a long boat to meet the width standards because sailboats of that length are typically much wider. In practice, the longest trailerable sailboats are usually 30 feet or less in length. The average is about 20 to 25 ft long, with a few exceptions at 27 feet in length.

Keel Draft And Type

The keel design is also significant, since it influences the boat's height above the ground. Sailboats that are trailerable feature a smaller centerboard that can be pulled within the hull to make towing more manageable.

Total Height

This is a big one. Sailboats are tall and need a collapsible mast in order to be transported on a trailer.

In most states, a trailer load may not exceed 14 feet in height. Sailboat masts are incredibly tall and unwieldy at reasonable towing speeds. The mast must be broken down, and the keel and boat height combined can't exceed 14 feet tall.The height of the trailer must also be considered, since a tall boat may not be able to fit under highway bridges.

Displacements (Weight)

Weight's a consideration as well. Most trailers are limited to around 3,300 pounds per axle. A triple axle trailer will allow around 9,000 lbs of weight capacity, but you might have a hard time finding a reasonable heavy duty truck to tow this boat size around.

As mentioned, The most width/beam for a sailboat that may be trailered is just under nine feet. This is due to the fact that the typical trailer in the United States has a maximum width of 12 feet. The logistic behind rowing a larger boat are a nightmare, and its worth mentioning that unless you plan on keeping a larger boat in one place, a trailerable sailboat might be a better option.

Most sailboats fall below this upper limit to make them easier to trailer and handle on the road.

12 of the Best and Largest Trailerable Sailboats

Trailerable sailboats tend to be on the smaller side, but it doesn't mean you can't find a roomy, weekend cruiser for fun with the family. The vessels we chose range in length, but all of the are under 27 ft, and are great for cruising around the bay. We'll take a look at two of the larger boats in the series then work our way down from there. Here are twelve of the best large trailerable sailboats.

1. Catalina 27

This might be a controversial one as the weight of Catalina's 27 is just shy of 7,000 pounds, but it's technically trailerable and might be the best boat on this list for sheer fun and pleasant sailing.

The Catalina 27 is a roomy cruiser with a comfortable interior and a spacious cockpit. There's plenty of storage, and the boat is rigged for single-handing. The wide beam and stable platform make the Catalina 27 an ideal boat for coastal cruising and long-distance sailing.

The Catalina 27 has a fixed keel that draws 2 ft 6 in, making it easy to tow. The mast folds down for highway travel, and the overall length is just shy of 30 ft.

• Ubiquitous design
• Great cabin space
• Fun weekend cruiser
• Fast for its age
• The cabin lack storage space
• Not sealed well against the elements

2. Hunter 27

This 27 footer is also on the heavy side and would require a much heavier duty truck for towing, but it's doable if needed.

This trailerable sailboat is a roomy coastal cruiser that's perfect for weekend getaways and family sailing. The Hunter 27 has a wide beam and a comfortable interior with plenty of headroom.

The Hunter 27 is a sturdy cruiser with an easy-to-sail short-keeled sloop rig. The mast and boom are made of aluminum, making them corrosion resistant and lightweight. The boat has a swing keel that draws 3 ft 9 in, allowing it to ride low on the highway.

The Hunter 27 isn't the best boat for bluewater sailing, but it's a great vessel for weekend trips and coastal cruising. The overall length is just shy of 30 ft, and the boat has a beam of 8 ft 3 in.

• Wider beam makes this boat luxurious compared to the others on this list
• Many sub models to choose from
• Large on a trailer
• Heavy on a trailer as well

3.West Wight Potter 19

This sailboat is a fantastic, small, lightweight sailing dinghy that's perfect for weekend getaways and easy to tow behind a standard car. The boat has a fixed keel that draws 1 ft 6 in and this boat can be easily sailed by one person.

This trailerable boat is made of fiberglass and has an open transom that makes it easy to get in and out of the water. The mast can be quickly be lowered for transport, and the overall length is just shy of 20 ft.

This boat also has a great cabin with berths and storage to make your weekend trips more comfortable.

Our third addition to this list is a great sailboat for beginners, and it can be sailed solo or with a partner. This smaller boat is a joy to sail, is fast, easy to use, making it a great choice for weekend sailing trips.

• Lightweight and easy to tow
• Can be sailed solo or with a partner
• Fast and easy to sail
• Not the best choice for long-distance sailing

4. Cape Dory Typhoon

One of America's best selling sailboats and the "Littlest yacht"

The Cape Dory Typhoon is a trailerable sailboat that's perfect for weekend cruising and long-distance sailing. The boat has a fixed keel that draws 2 ft 6 in, and the mast can be lowered for transport. The overall length is just shy of 30 ft, and the boat has a beam of 10 ft.

The Cape Dory Typhoon has a comfortable cabin with berths for four people. The boat is also equipped with a head. The cockpit is spacious, and the boat has plenty of storage space for all your gear.

The Typhoon can be sailed shorthanded, but it's best enjoyed by a crew of two. The boat is well-suited for light bluewater sailing, making long trips or offshore passages easy and safe.

• Cabin with berths for four people
• Spacious cockpit
• Well suited for bluewater sailing
• Can't carry much in terms of gear for those long trips

This is a great sailboat that’s been available for over 30 years, and it's a great choice for coastal cruising. In the right hands, this trailerable boat is capable of plenty more, as the Cal 20 is well regarded as an ocean crossing race boat.

This hull is renowned for its interior and ease of use while trailering. It has a fixed keel that draws 2 ft 6 in, and the mast can be lowered for transport. The overall length is just shy of 21 ft, and the beam is 7 ft.

This sailboat has a comfortable interior with berths for four people. The boat also has a head, sink, and galley. The cockpit is spacious and well-suited for coastal cruising.

This boat is a great choice for all types of sailors, and it can be sailed solo or with a partner. The boat is fast and easy to sail, making it a great choice for weekend sailing trips.

It's not the lightest trailerable sailboat on our list, but it should be towed without issue by a well-equipped truck.

• Trailerable
• Cabin isn’t all that

6. Catalina 22

This boat is a bit of a legend and one of the first boats I sailed.. Considered by many to be one of the best selling sailboats in America, and for good reason. This trailerable boat is perfect for weekend cruising and coastal sailing. The boat has a fixed keel that draws 2 ft 6 in, and the mast can be lowered for transport. The overall length is just shy of 25 ft, and the beam is 7.67 ft.

For a twenty two foot boat the interior is comfortable with berths for four people. The original boat also has a head, sink, and galley. The cockpit is spacious and well-suited for coastal cruising.

This vessel is a great choice for all types of sailors, and it can be sailed solo or with a partner. The boat is fast and easy to sail, making it a great choice for weekend sailing trips.

This sailboat has one of the best interiors in its class, but the mast requires regular maintenance.

Despite its age, the 22 is still in production.

Production began in 1969, with over 16,000 built in total. Catalina 22’s have been made to differing specifications. As a result, it is a popular sailboat made in great numbers and across the states. At any time, thousands may be available on the secondhand market at reasonable costs.

• Looks great
• Thoughtful cabin design
• Available everywhere
• The cabin isn't tall

7.O'Day 240

This boat is rugged and is a great choice for those looking for a trailerable sailboat that can handle more than just coastal sailing. This boat has a fixed keel that draws 3 ft 6 in, and the mast can be lowered for transport. The overall length is just shy of 26 ft, and the beam is just over 8 ft.

The boat looks great. It’s wide and this contributes to its ease of use and stability while underway.

The O'Day 240's interior is particularly distinctive. It's packed with features, including a great berth in the shape of a V, galley, and room for a head. There’s also room in the rear for more berths. There's plenty of headroom in the cabin, which is rare in this size of boat. This boat is great for longer trips!

• Beamy which means more cabin space
• Great coastal cruiser
• Cabin design might be off putting to some

8. Islander 24

Islander's are renowned for their larger sailboats and are known for their great coastal cruisers. This boat is a great trailerable example by the company.

Built in a time when manufacturer's understood less about fiberglass, the hull is made thicker than modern sailboats. This gives the boat a sturdier look and adds substantial weight to the platform.

This fiberglass sailing boat is well-crafted and suitable for coastal cruising across a variety of conditions..

• Thicker fiberglass means stronger hull
• Great performance qualities
• Coastal cruising
• Heavy, Heavy, Heavy

The Helms 25 is a trailerable sailboat of exceptional quality, design and a swing keel. The boat has a fixed keel that draws 3 ft 6 in, and the mast can be lowered for transport. The overall length is just shy of 26 ft, and the beam is 8 ft.

The boat is well-appointed and has a nice layout. There's a small galley, two seats at the table, a berth in the shape of a V, and has room for more aft.

This boat is a comfortable, seaworthy, and trailerable boat. There is a lot of information available about this yacht. It's inexpensive to maintain and has a high resale value post new sale, making it an excellent investment opportunity.

• Cabin Layout
• Not great for extended trips

10. MacGregor 26

It seem we all have opinions about MacGregor. The 26 is no exception.

It's not quite like anything you've seen before. It looks blocky, wide and tall. This unique appearance might be off putting to some but it makes the boat much easier to handle and stable in conditions that would put other boats to shame.

The MacGregor 26 is loaded with options and a variety of models are available. With varying cabin layouts, window designs, and color schemes you're sure to find a MacGregor out there for you. If you're into the non traditional look, this is a great option as a trailerable sailboat!

• Modern design may be a trend setter
• Excellent headroom
• Stable across many conditions
• The look might put some people off

11. Nor'Sea 27

This boat might be one of the only true offshore sailboats with cabin amenities that might put some of the larger sailboats out there to shame. This 27 footer is a well designed, full-keel displacement sailboat. While underway, this boat feels safe and comfortable. A full keel allows this boat to weather more than others on this list.

This boat has a fantastic and large cabin, which is unique for these vessels. The interior’s paneled in attractive wood, and the whole ship has an elevated feel with quality materials throughout.

This boat’s a cruising sailboat that's ideal for extended travel and offshore sailing. If you're searching for a genuine cruising sailboat that'll trailer well, this boat is the one for you. Because of its size, weight and capabilities, towing this boat safely will require a vehicle that’s a bit more hefty.

• Large cabin
• Extended offshore trip capable
• Large and heavy

12. Catalina 25

The Catalina 25 is a sailboat that has been around for a while and is known for its great performance and easy handling. It's one of the most popular trailerable sailboats on the market, and it's easy to see why.

At just over 25 feet, the Catalina 25 is an easily handled sailboat that's perfect for weekend getaways. It has a spacious cockpit, a well-appointed cabin, and is capable of handling a wide range of wind and sea conditions.

The Catalina 25 is also one of the most affordable sailboats on the market. You can find them used for as little as $2,000, and they hold their value well. If you're looking for an affordable, trailerable sailboat that's perfect for weekend getaways, the Catalina 25 is a great option.

• Well-appointed cabin
• Not ideal for long-distance sailing or rough seas

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Sail Far Live Free

Camping on a keel - trailer sailers for cruisers.

Great compendium Kevin. Also a sensible choice for those who've done the conventional cruising and are looking at phase 2 options. All the best.

While I'm not sure how old this post is, Ill add another boat to consider using your criteria above. We have a S2 7.9 Gran Slam which we cruise locally in Milwaukee and also take a few weeks out of the summer and trailer to better cruising grounds. We pull it with a Chevy Suburban and are quite please with having a performance boat that is straight forward to launch and rig. The beam is actually over legal limit at 9', but these boats have been trailered extensively to one design regattas over many years and I have never heard of anyone being stopped by the hi way revenuers.

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Largest Trailerable Sailboats

• Thread starter Sail123
• Start date Jun 14, 2012
• Forums for All Owners
• Trailer Sailors

Know of Harstad 31, the couple of versions of Clipper Marine 32's & Hobbe 33, but what other big fish are out there in the Trailerable sailboat world? I own both versions of CM32's and really enjoy their value and contribution to the sailing community, but I often times wonder what lurks out there in the marinas across the globe. I know there are several folding multi hulls that are fascinating. Here is my pair of Clipper Marine 32's side by side on trailers. One going in and one just out of the water. They share slip time. I imported both to Nebraska from FAQ away waters. One the Great Lakes, the other LA. CM32's were once the largest trailer sailboats to be able to go down any public road without special permits because of their 8' beam. Their relative light weight made it possible for the family car to pull them around. Tell us a brief history of a boat you know about or own.  

Attachments

I have a Luger 30 I hope to foat this summer.  

I have seen a Tartan T10 on trailers, thats about 30 feet.  

Large trailerable boats While not really a sailboat, the Nimble Wanderer is 31' and road legal width in most all states. They made it in motor-sailer and power only version.  

Chris Blubaugh

they look to be very different boats...in what year were they manufactured?  

Check out the Seaward 32RK.  

watercolors II

NorSea 27 NorSea 27. http://www.norseayachts.com/norsea27.php check out site below these people have been sailing across oceans for years. http://www.enezacko.com/  

Merlin Clark

I think the definition of a trailer sailor is one that can be launched off the transport trailer, and I would add, by the vehicle that tows her and can be rigged by the operator without heavy equipment. Any boat under legal limit on lenght (overall with tow vehicle is 65 ft) can be moved by trailer but that does not make all of these boats trailer sailors.  

I only trailer it 9 miles to the marina and back spring and fall, but it works for my 85 C30TR. No brakes, lights or anything but we take the back way to the marina.  

merlinuxo said: I think the definition of a trailer sailor is one that can be launched off the transport trailer, and I would add, by the vehicle that tows her and can be rigged by the operator without heavy equipment. Any boat under legal limit on lenght (overall with tow vehicle is 65 ft) can be moved by trailer but that does not make all of these boats trailer sailors. Click to expand

anchorclanker

Some obviously have different ideas of what constitutes "Trailerable". To me it would require max 8.5 foot beam (legal width), requiring zero permits to haul, and be light enough you need a dually to pull it.  

I look at setup time. if it takes you more than 2 hours to launch its 'transportable'  

cephius (Dave)

Since Sail123 is not looking for recommendations, but stories, do we really need to define "trailer boat" again?  

I leave the mast up on the trailer at the marina and launch within 20 minutes... If I'm going to the same lake over and over anyway, might as well leave it there...  

Whats available in a blue water, legally trailerable, around 30 feet??  

Squidd said: I leave the mast up on the trailer at the marina and launch within 20 minutes... If I'm going to the same lake over and over anyway, might as well leave it there... Click to expand

Sail123 said: We tow, launch, recover with my pick up. We step the two masts by hand (we are 55) while in the water in her slip. Easier and safer than on a trailer way up in the air. For long trips, we use our toter home so we have somewhere to sleep. If we did not slip this sailboat, we would still be comfortable working from a trailer each time we use her. However, when we sailed a Mac 25 we also slipped that sailboat. Just so much more convenient to enjoy the sailboat. Click to expand

anchorclanker said: Whats available in a blue water, legally trailerable, around 30 feet?? Click to expand

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13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels

Sailboats are awesome, but they do come with their drawbacks. Storage and transport, for one, tends to be a demanding matter, which excludes their owners from many ways of sailing - you are unlikely to store one in your garage and drive it anywhere you please on the weekends, so finding a long term berth and sailing in the near vicinity is what most do. Luckily, there are models designed with precisely this issue in mind - so without further ado, here are 13 sailboats that you can easily put on a trailer and drive to a body of water of your choice.

13 popular sailboats with lifting keels that can be trailered

Beneteau first 18, catalina 22 sport, yacht yard focus 750, norseboat 21, bayraider 20, parker 235 mini cruiser, alubat ovni 365, gunfleet 43, franck roy solenn 27, maree haute django 670.

Now some of these are better at transport than others and some had to sacrifice space or performance for mobility. Let's have a look at them in detail so that you know which one fits your needs the best.

This one has to make the list because it is immensely popular. Rightfully so. It is small enough to be transported on a trailer, plus it has a lifting keel that makes the draft only 30 centimeters when up - but over a meter when down, so it still has to say a lot in terms of performance.

It has a spacious, open cockpit for six people and a v berth in case you want to spend the night. It is then not just a daysailer, but a weekend cruiser.

And if it is too large for you, it even has smaller brothers, Hunter 15 and 18. Those won't let you sleep under a roof, but their dinghy-like character makes them even more mobile.

I can't not mention a European brand - Beneteaus are made in all shapes and sizes, but this time, let's give a shoutout to their First 18, a tiny daysailer. It looks spectacular and has a significantly sportier character than the above Hunter - and even at 18 feet, it will let you sleep inside.

Just as is the case with the Hunter, First comes in more sizes - 14, 22, and 27 feet.

Make no mistake, this is not a boat to chill on. You can, technically, but its racing pedigree won't let you.

And thanks to its retractable keel, it is easy to pop out of the water and take back to your garage where you can admire its prettiness until the next time.

Before we get into more unknown brands, let's get this one out of the way - also an incredibly popular model, that is, if you are in the USA.

With the board down, its draft goes all the way to 1.5 meters and retracted, up to 0.5. You can trailer it easily, but at the same time it sleeps four people, so it isn't just a one-day pleasure craft.

A nice thing about Catalina 22 is that the model has around five decades of existence behind it, constantly improving on its design. So you won't be getting into experimental waters, so to say. It is a bit conservative conceptually, but that is the price to pay for being on something that knows what it's doing - as it has been doing it for more than half a century.

Now here is something you have probably never heard of if you are from the USA. A polish brand, established by former sailboat racers - and it shows.

For those unfamiliar with European geography, Poland borders the mighty Baltic Sea - so just as Scandinavian boats, their projects are properly seaworthy.

The N Fun 30 is a trailerable, lifting keel little vessel, in fact, the only model the company makes, but it is unlike any other boat in its class.

It looks gorgeous, has a racing pedigree, comes with a teak deck option (though it's not really teak, just a lookalike) which is so rare in the day sailing racers' class, and most importantly, is configurable to your liking.

Fully specced, this boat costs nearly $180,000. Yes, that. But if you can do without all the extras and are looking for something relatively traditional, it can be yours for $70,000. Even for this lowest configuration, you will still be getting one hell of a racer.

Another Polish project - that's why the numbers here mean meters, not feet. This approximately 24 ft long boat gets in and out of the water easily and is similar to the above N Fun in its good looks and racing character.

It is a forgiving single-handed sailor but can accommodate up to four people both on and under the deck. Just as the N Fun, it comes with an optional 50 square meters gennaker.

This boat is modern both in terms of design and materials used. Multi-directional fiberglass with a foam core, spacious, light interior design - quite a contrast to projects like Catalina. Its aim is modernity and it does it well.

Back into more familiar territories. Norseboats are known for their rugged, bluewater designs. They can survive pretty much anything since they are made to withstand the North Sea formerly populated by Vikings and the Kraken.

Trailering is a breeze, as the keel can be taken out almost completely, it looks beautiful, especially if you get the all-wooden version, new, it costs around $35,000 and it was made with performance in mind.

What sets it apart from the rest is its seaworthy nature. You can take it across oceans if you choose so. Then there are the old-fashioned, rugged looks. This boat is serious about its abilities and it shows.

On the water, you will be envied by vessels much larger than yours.

This one's a project from Swallow Yachts, a company that focuses on a classic look with modern performance. Not my words, this is their tagline. But it is more than just a marketing gimmick.

An interesting feature with the BayRaider is its water ballast, giving you a choice between greater righting ability and lightness, thus speed. The company also offers a 17 ft version as well as a 23 ft one - all of which feature a lifting keel, making the trailerability uncompromised.

The aforementioned performance part is taken seriously here. All foils have been calculated and constructed so that their shape helps with windward performance. In other words, the rudder and centerboard aren't just flat - their cross sections resemble those of airplane wings. That's racing boat territory.

The draft variability is also quite unique. Board up gets you to some 8 inches, the smallest here yet, board down gets you all the way to 4 ft 4 inches - something rather rare with a boat this size.

On the surface, this is just your normal, well-built, nicely designed trailerable family weekend cruiser. What differentiates it from, say, the above Hunter 22, is its interior.

Trailerable boats often have to compromise on space, but on this Parker, you will find enough space to sleep four, plenty of storage, and even a sink.

So if you wanted to cross an ocean on this boat with two people, you'd have enough space for all the equipment and crew. As well as a boat actually capable of such a crossing.

It is a vessel made well, it is sturdy enough for choppy waters and stiff enough to handle well in trickier conditions, all the while staying in the reasonably priced, small boat range.

As I like to stretch limits, let's touch the length ceiling. This aluminum boat has everything you would expect from its size. Two cabins, salon, galley, heads, captain's corner… simply a nearly 40 ft cruiser. And a comfortable one at that.

But a trailerable one. Lift the keel up and you can put it on a trailer. You'll need a larger one, and a car capable of towing around 10 tonnes, but all that is still within an easily reachable range.

With a boat this size, you can expect versatility. Long crossings, weekend cruises, all that is possible. It performs very well, looks stylish, and the aluminum gives you extra sturdiness.

Lifting the centerboard up will give you a draught of 2.5 ft, putting it down results in nearly 8 ft. The total sail area with a spinnaker is 177 square meters, the water tank is hundreds of liters… this is a boat for all occasions.

And as if that wasn't big enough, here goes another one. We won't go higher, because although even larger boats are trailerable, that would start to be unrealistic for the average Joe, so let's consider this the top.

As with the Alubat, you can expect everything you would from this size. It is roomier than you would think, comfort and good use of space was the aim here.

It features a center cockpit design, something rather unseen in boats this size these days, which makes for a pleasant on-deck experience.

Yes, trailering it might need some planning, but with its liftable keel, it will still be possible.

The French always had an eye for design. Solenn is a brand making classically looking, classy boats, with, of course, modern features.

Solenn 27 is a retro-looking vessel that comes in three variants - weekend, day, and cabine, each for a slightly different way of use.

So whether you are looking for a daysailer or a small boat capable of several day journeys, you will get what you need. It comes equipped with a sink, stove, a few berths, and plenty of storage for a week-long journey.

Given its small size and weight, transporting it is not an issue, even without a big truck. It does come at a price, for around $150,000 you could certainly get a larger, or better-equipped boat, but as far as style goes, you can t beat the varnished mahogany cockpit.

Seaworthiness is often an issue with these small boats since they are designed mostly for one-day coastal cruises. Not so Django 670. If you want to race it across the Atlantic, it will suffice. Both in its seaworthiness, and speed.

It is a pureblood racer but has comfort in mind too. From the saloon, you will get a panoramic view, which is something you usually find in much larger boat designs.

All that while still belonging on this list - that is being a boat that is easy to trailer, or beach. The keel up will get you to a draft of just below 2 ft, while 5.2 ft is what you get if you drop the keel down.

Now, this is a bit of a weird one. A divisive project, for sure. Nuva MS6 didn't want to decide to be a sailing yacht or a motor one. So it became both - a small, motoryacht-looking project with sails.

Of course, it has a fully retractable keel and is easy to pop on a trailer and take back to your garage. But what is the most curious about this boat, aside from its ambiguity, is that it can change shape.

Once you anchor somewhere, you can, with a push of a button, literally widen the cockpit area so that more people can enjoy the space than you would normally fit on a boat 19 ft long.

It has gained quite a lot of hate in the sailing community, because of its design ambiguity, but it definitely has a target audience.

Since the dawn of sailing, many things have changed as far as designs go. These days, the need for boats that can sail properly but fit on a trailer is there, so this list could be easily three times as long and one still would only touch the surface of the pool. So if you are in the market for one, you are in luck.

Leave a comment

You may also like, sailboat keel types: illustrated guide (bilge, fin, full).

The keel type is one of the most important features of your boat. But the different designs can be confusing, so I've set out to create a very clear guide that will …

What Is a Sailboat Keel and How Does it Work?

Fin Keel vs Full Keel: Pros and Cons & When to Choose Which

What's the Largest Sailboat You Can Trailer?

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Largest boat you can practically trailer?

• Thread starter Dawg'sLife93
• Start date May 30, 2013

Dawg'sLife93

Petty officer 1st class.

• May 30, 2013

I need a little advice on a big boat. What do ya'll think is the largest boat you can practically trailer around? I know anything can be trailer with enough truck and permits. My Wife is already hitting the point of wanting a larger boat with a larger "Basement" cuddy or cabin and I haven't even got my 223 into the water yet. LOL. Truck size isn't a problem. I got a 4wd K1500 Chevy, 3/4 ton K20 Chevy 4wd and a Dodge 3500 CTD 4wd dually. Edit: Please post a few year, make, models in the size ya'll recommend, I need research material. Thanks! Y'all are some of the most helpful bunch of people!  

Seaman Apprentice

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer? I've got a 26' Wellcraft Antigua that I've pulled with my Ram1500. Doesn't require any permits as the beam is 8'3" but it's BIG, and my wife any I are just about to get ourselves a slip. Both for convienience and for sanity. A 26'er can be trailered - but it is work. (and I like you - haven't even gotten it in the water yet since purchasing her last month).  

Senior Chief Petty Officer

Dawg'sLife93 said: Truck size isn't a problem. I got a 4wd K1500 Chevy, 3/4 ton K20 Chevy 4wd and a Dodge 3500 CTD 4wd dually. Click to expand...

Fleet Admiral

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer? We trailer our 270 sundancer and it is 31 foot overall and 10 foot on the beam. We get a over width permit by the month for $30. NOW, with just the wife and me, this is a beast and before we even attempt to launch or load it we take alot of time to pick the right place to do it as water levels change and become to shallow, or current could be to fast, ramp to steep ETC. So the best advise I can give you if the wife can't drive/back the truck and trailer, or proficiantly drive the boat, dont go big, what a PITA!!  

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer? ... how far you're trailering comes into play too. A few mile drive is not gonna' be as big a deal on a weekend as a 2 1/2 hour haul draggin' a sea monster.  

smokeonthewater

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer? I trailer my 28' welly all the time by myself... it's no more difficult that launching my 10'er EXCEPT for climbing over the nose.... If I was feeble I couldn't do it. My boat has a 10'3" beam. You don't need permits unless you have to travel a state highway.... county roads and city streets (unless they are on a state route) don't need permits... That said I've made 3 2000 mile round trips with this boat, a sister, and a 12' wide regal on the return trips and my 108" wide trailer empty on the way up and never bought a single permit.... Not to say you couldn't get a ticket but if your trip to the ramp is short then it's unlikely. I barely even feel the boat behind my dually and 70 mph cruise is easy and relaxing. Obviously not everyone's driving skills are up to towing at all much less at a 20,000+ lb gross but I have no issue with it at all and it saves me $200-$300 / month plus $1-$2 / gallon of gas. Towing big you HAVE to be in the group of people that look a bit further than the hood going down the road... don't even think about pulling into a gas station or anywhere else till you know how you will turn around and get back out. Width can be an issue but usually height will be a problem first. 13'6" is legal height in most states and going over DOES require permits... specified routs and possibly escort cars with feeler poles BUT anything over 12' and sometimes 10' will often put you into trees... light limbs don't hurt a semi but can be hell on antennas biminis (rolled of course) and etc plus fill the boat with leaves..... dodging trees and oncoming traffic requires a special breed of driver.  

a2dubnut said: I've got a 26' Wellcraft Antigua that I've pulled with my Ram1500. Doesn't require any permits as the beam is 8'3" but it's BIG, and my wife any I are just about to get ourselves a slip. Both for convienience and for sanity. A 26'er can be trailered - but it is work. (and I like you - haven't even gotten it in the water yet since purchasing her last month). Click to expand...

Thalasso said: Usually you will be to big once you get to 28ft. At that point you could be getting to wide depending on the manufacture. Some will be 8.6 wide,some wider.The widest allowed on the highway without permits is 8ft 6in (102wide).Beyond 28 ft you will most likely be to wide. Length will not be a issue.For practicality 26 ft would be the limit.Also you will need to watch the height if it has a radar arch. I trailer this (30ft) and it can be a handful Click to expand...

bekosh said: I tow my 92 Cruisers 2870 Rogue occasionally. She's 32' OAL x 9.5' Beam and 12.5' high on the trailer. Fully loaded with fuel & water she's about 12,500lb on the trailer. If she's empty she'd be closer to 11,500lb. My truck is a 94 Ford F250 with a 460ci gas motor so she's quite the beast to trailer around. Your Dodge 3500 would be a much better choice. Much easier to keep her in a slip and let the marina handle haulout and storage. Click to expand...

emilsr said: Believe it or not, your truck (and your budget of course) will limit the size of the boat. I know a few people towing boats that you couldn't safely tow with a 1 ton dually; one in particular is towing a 50' Wellcraft Meteor (behind a cabover Kenworth). "Practical to tow" really depends on the person and where you boat. Click to expand...

rbh said: We trailer our 270 sundancer and it is 31 foot overall and 10 foot on the beam. We get a over width permit by the month for $30. NOW, with just the wife and me, this is a beast and before we even attempt to launch or load it we take alot of time to pick the right place to do it as water levels change and become to shallow, or current could be to fast, ramp to steep ETC. So the best advise I can give you if the wife can't drive/back the truck and trailer, or proficiantly drive the boat, dont go big, what a PITA!! Click to expand...

southkogs said: ... how far you're trailering comes into play too. A few mile drive is not gonna' be as big a deal on a weekend as a 2 1/2 hour haul draggin' a sea monster. Click to expand...

smokeonthewater said: I trailer my 28' welly all the time by myself... it's no more difficult that launching my 10'er EXCEPT for climbing over the nose.... If I was feeble I couldn't do it. My boat has a 10'3" beam. You don't need permits unless you have to travel a state highway.... county roads and city streets (unless they are on a state route) don't need permits... That said I've made 3 2000 mile round trips with this boat, a sister, and a 12' wide regal on the return trips and my 108" wide trailer empty on the way up and never bought a single permit.... Not to say you couldn't get a ticket but if your trip to the ramp is short then it's unlikely. I barely even feel the boat behind my dually and 70 mph cruise is easy and relaxing. Obviously not everyone's driving skills are up to towing at all much less at a 20,000+ lb gross but I have no issue with it at all and it saves me $200-$300 / month plus $1-$2 / gallon of gas. Towing big you HAVE to be in the group of people that look a bit further than the hood going down the road... don't even think about pulling into a gas station or anywhere else till you know how you will turn around and get back out. Width can be an issue but usually height will be a problem first. 13'6" is legal height in most states and going over DOES require permits... specified routs and possibly escort cars with feeler poles BUT anything over 12' and sometimes 10' will often put you into trees... light limbs don't hurt a semi but can be hell on antennas biminis (rolled of course) and etc plus fill the boat with leaves..... dodging trees and oncoming traffic requires a special breed of driver. Click to expand...

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer? btw... the rig in my sig is the one I'm talking about If you intend to stay under 102" I wouldn't get a cruiser any bigger than 25-26' or a cig boat any bigger than about 28' as for permits check with the permit offices in the states in which you plan to tow. Some have exemptions for rec boats and many have cheap annual permits for rec boats.  

Dawg'sLife93 said: If I have to pull out the 379 Pete with the ISX Cummins, I don't need a boat that big! LOL. Click to expand...

Attachments

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer? I tow my Bayliner 255 around with a 2500 Diesel. Pulling it is not a problem. Putting it in and out every weekend can get a bit old esp when the ramps are busy. I wish I got the 28 footer but I think that would be as big as I would want to go with.  

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer? Also check your local laws about permits. I know in NC personal boats are exluded from the8''6" limit.  

emilsr said: Of course you don't NEED a boat that big, but the question is do you WANT a boat that big? Again, it's a personal decision, but I feel comfortable with this setup. Wife drives the boat (unless we're fighting wind and/or current), I drive the truck, and it's pretty easy for us to get around. Boat is 26' (28 1/2' overall). The cuddy is just big enough to nap (or use the porta potti)....wifey wanted a trailerable cruiser but I wasn't on board with that (and I write the checks). It was a good compromise for us. Click to expand...

Dawg'sLife93 said: I have basicly the same as you now, but the wife wants something larger that we can weekend on. Click to expand...

Home Cookin'

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer? I'd say 23'; anything bigger goes in a slip. I can't imagine it would be pleasurable to deal with hooking up, driving, launching, parking, hauling out, driving and parking something that big just for a boat ride, and every time at that. but that's just a coastal perspective  

An up-close look at Vineyard Wind, the nation's largest offshore wind project

The nation’s largest offshore wind energy project is not easy to get a good look at. Vineyard Wind is 15 miles off Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The project is still under construction, but began delivering power in January.

GBH’s Craig LeMoult managed to get on a boat and see the project up close on Monday, and joined All Things Considered guest host Judie Yuill to describe what he saw. What follows is a lightly edited transcript.

Judie Yuill: First of all, how is it that you made it out to the Vineyard Wind site yesterday?

Craig LeMoult: I was one of about 15 journalists from public media stations that got to be on a boat that was chartered by a partnership the stations are involved in called the New England News Collaborative . There were also several experts on board to offer their insights on what we were seeing. We left from Falmouth yesterday morning and it took about 2 hours to motor out to the Vineyard Wind project, which is 35 miles off the mainland.

Yuill: And you were able to get up close to the turbines?

LeMoult: Yeah, the boat was able to go in between the turbines, some of which are done, some are still under construction. When it’s all done, this project will have 62 turbines, and the foundations have all been put in, but about half of them are completed at this point.

Yuill: So what was it like?

LeMoult: The thing that’s really just striking is the size of these things. One of the experts on board was Sanjay Arwade , who teaches about wind turbines like this as a Civil Engineering professor at UMass Amherst’s Wind Energy Center. But he’d never seen a project like this in person until yesterday.

Sanjay Arwade [prerecorded]: “So, I mean, by far the word that is in my mind is scale. It just — it’s just so giant.”

LeMoult: The turbines are 853 feet tall, nearly 3 Statues of Liberty. And that’s just what you see above the water. Of course they continue underwater and are hammered down into the sea bed below. And the three blades are over 350 feet long. They’re arranged neatly in rows, with about a nautical mile between them. When you’re out there on the water, a mile doesn’t actually feel all that far.

Yuill: And this is the project where a turbine blade collapsed in July.

LeMoult: That’s right, one of those huge blades failed, sending debris washing ashore on Nantucket and the Cape. The blades are made by the company GE Vernova and the cause of the incident is being investigated. They’ve resumed some construction of turbines, but for now, they’ve suspended power generation at the project, which means the turbines weren’t spinning when we were out there yesterday.

Yuill: Despite that setback, there’s a lot of hope about the promise of this project, right?

LeMoult: For sure. One of the experts on the boat yesterday was Amber Hewett , who is senior director for offshore wind energy at the National Wildlife Federation. She was seeing the turbines for the first time, too, and said she was emotional.

Amber Hewett [prerecorded]: I’m from Massachusetts, so I think that’s probably where the emotion comes from. A little bit of pride, a little bit of 'finally.’ Massachusetts has been trying to make offshore wind happen for over 20 years. We’ve endured setback after setback after setback. The developers of this project had to persist through the Trump administration, through almost not getting their federal permits, and really just stuck to it relentlessly, until we could be here in this moment.

Yuill: At the same time, there are some real concerns about the potential environmental impacts of projects like this, right?

LeMoult: That’s true. One concern is whether there could be an impact on species like the North Atlantic Right Whale . There are only about 360 known right whales still alive, so any impact on them could be significant. One of the people on board yesterday was Michael Moore of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, who’s a real expert on right whales. He said one thing they don’t know is to what extent harvesting energy from the wind might change conditions in the water for copepods - which are the tiny crustaceans that right whales feed on.

Michael Moore [prerecorded]: We don’t know. But the suspicion is that the changes that it could be bringing about are of a much smaller scale than the current dynamic changes that are going on through climate change. And so every year these systems look differently. And in so doing, it’s hard to get a sense of how that could be an impact.

LeMoult: Moore said a bigger concern than the operation of wind farms is the impact of their construction - especially the vessel traffic and the sound of driving those pylons into the sea floor. He said there are precautions being taken to do that kind of work when right whales are not believed to be nearby. But he acknowledged there are a lot of open questions.

Yuill: This is just one wind farm. What’s the expectation looking into the future about how much more we can expect offshore?

LeMoult: Yeah, the expectation is this is really just the beginning. You know, Amber Hewett noted earlier that Vineyard Wind persisted through the Trump presidency and Trump has been famously hostile to wind energy. So the outcome of the current presidential election could dictate the pace at which wind power moves forward. But the UMass civil engineer, Sanjay Arwade seemed confident wind power will continue to progress, regardless of that election’s outcome. At one point, he offered his vision of what he expects to see by 2050.

Arwade: What I would expect to see at that point is dozens of individual projects, dozens of wind farms and thousands of individual turbines along the coast, let’s say from Virginia to Maine, all of which are generating power and sending it to the onshore grid and powering homes with no emissions.

LeMoult: Just yesterday, the federal department of the interior announced it will hold an offshore wind energy lease sale in October for eight areas on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Maine, including off Massachusetts.

And it’s going to be interesting to see if this burgeoning industry grows the economy here in the state. Last month , there was a groundbreaking in Salem for a new offshore wind terminal . Notably, that new terminal will be at former the site of the Brayton Point coal-fired power plant.

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