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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.

trailerable sailboat

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 .

Trailerable sailboats are usually limited to the best paved ramps

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!

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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. 

Trailer sailer adventures

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. 

trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

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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Better Sailing

Best Small and Trailerable Sailboats

Best Small and Trailerable Sailboats

Cruising with a trailerable sailboat means that you can voyage in a small and comfy sailboat with the advantage of saving some serious costs. Having a trailerable sailboat saves you money for storage fees, boatyard haulout, and boat insurance, among others. There are two main categories of trailerable sailboats; performance-oriented boats and all-round pocket cruisers.   So, if you’re a part-time sailor but still want to experience the joys of sailing continue reading this article so as to find out which are the best small and trailerable sailboats on today’s market. Know that there are many decent trailerable sailboats that managed both offshore and coastal cruising. So, keep reading and find the one that suits you best!

Catalina 22 Sport – The Best Trailerable Sailboat

Catalina brand is one of the most constructed sailboats in the US and has manufactured a great deal of capable and robust sailboats. The Catalina 22 Sport is one of the most preferred pocket and race cruisers since 2004. The model pioneers for the one-piece hull liner that has become standard in most high volume small boats. Furthermore, it has enough trim along with a well-proportioned rig and a hand-laid fiberglass hull construction. Other great features include a retractable lead keel, a roomy cabin, a spacious cockpit, and a fractional rig with a mainsail and a roller-furling jib. You can get a used Catalina 22 for as low as $5,000 and a brand spanking new one for around $40,000.

Catalina 22 Sport - The Best Trailerable Sailboat

>>Also Read: Beneteau vs. Catalina: Which Is a Better Sailboat?

West Wight Potter 15

The West Wight Potter 15 is one of the best small trailerable and seaworthy 15-foot sailboats of all time. It’s easy to handle and great for both coastal and offshore cruising. She has an aluminum mast and tiller, a small cabin that comfortably sleeps a couple and also we can’t miss referring to her elegant design. Furthermore, it can be easily stored, it’s relatively cheap to buy and can be purchased both as a new or used boat, as many sailors prefer it for stepping up from a dinghy to a pocket cruiser.

West Wight Potter 15 on a Trailer

>>Also Read: Best Pocket Cruisers Under 20 Feet

This small trailerable boat features a modern design and can be a top choice for many sailors, both for beginners or even for experienced ones. She surprisingly manages well in different weather conditions and she’s also relatively easy to handle. As a result, she has earned by right the title of a truly seaworthy small cruising vessel. Moreover, her robust design from the masthead to keel design is proven to be highly durable and comes with a mainsail and 110% genoa. A great feature of this model is the comfy and interior layout that offers a great amount of space for her size.

And that’s why the Hunter 27 is a great liveable sailboat having enough storage space, 6ft of standing headroom, berths, as well as plenty of counter space and seatings. Lastly, as a true trailer sailor, she has a shoal draft of under 4ft and a displacement of less than 8,000lbs. You can find her in today’s market as a used or brand-new model with a price ranging from $20,000 to $45,000.

Hunter 27 Sailboat Trailer

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats Under 100k

BayRaider 

The BayRaider from UK’s Swallow boats is a somehow newcomer to the small trailerable boat market in the US. She features a large and open cockpit, is ketch-rigged, and has a gunter-style mainmast. As for the topmast and mizzen, they’re both carbon-fiber; you can also apply this to the mainmast. This model can be sailed with a dry hull in lighter weather conditions or if you want to maximize its stability you can do so by removing the 300lbs of water ballast. The water ballast offers great performance in light to medium winds and makes the boat suitable for different sailing or weather conditions and levels of experience. Lastly, as she has the centerboard and hinged rudder raised she can be maneuvered even in the thinnest water. She has a self-tacking rig and is easy to trailer; all these features make her a great choice for novices.

bayraider Trailerable sailboat

>>Also Read: Most Popular Sailboats

Contessa 26

The Contessa 26 is an all-time-classic and small trailerable sailboat. Even if this vessel is quite small she has proven her seaworthiness and is still preferred as an ideal pocket cruiser. She has a roomy cabin and comfortable cockpit, so there’s no need to worry about below deck space. As for the rigging, it’s quite easy to handle and is rigged as a masthead sloop. Also, her construction comprises of a deep keel and hull-mounted rudder; and that’s why she was also used as a racer. The main downside is her narrow beam which contributes to heeling although she stiffens up quickly and becomes easy to sail. In any case, there are many who admit that she’s one of the most reliable sailboats in the mid-size category.

The Hunter 22 is a great daysailer and features an open-transom cockpit and sloop rig, making her the ideal choice for friends and family outings. Moreover, the considerable amount of below-deck space has twin bunks, a roomy cabin, and a portable toilet. Rigging also includes an asymmetric spinnaker and a mainsheet traveler in case you’re keen on racing. Her construction is made out of laminated fiberglass hull and deck, molded-in nonskid, and a hydraulic lifting centerboard. Last but not least, she’s fast, stable, responsive, and is, therefore, an ideal starter-boat for novices.

Hunter 22 Small Sailboat on a Trailer

Islander 24

The 24-foot Islander is a classic choice in the small trailerable sailboat market. This fiberglass model features a sturdy design and has proven her seaworthiness for coastal and family-day cruising. This model was first built in 1961 but is still available on the used market. She has a masthead sloop rig, simple overall rigging, and is appropriate for single-handing. As for below-deck space, she has a spacious cabin for two with a V-berth, and space for a head. Last but not least, many sailors admit that she’s a lot more capable than many of the later model boats in this size range.

>>Also Read: Best Sailboats Under 30 Feet

Macgregor 25

This trailerable cruising sloop is a safe, easy-handling, and robust sailboat for 2 persons; perfectly suitable for coastal cruising. The boat has a spacious cabin and great safety features like foam flotation as well as the ability to self-right. Its innovative design features a retracting keel, pop-up rudder, and an easy mast-stepping system that enhances its cruising performance. Moreover, it has a large foredeck and cockpit and its lifelines and shrouds are equipped with handholds. You can easily find a Macgregor 25 on the used market with just $9,500.

macgregor 25 sailboat

>>Also Read: Best Small Sailboats To Sail Around The World

Cape Dory 28

The Cape Dory 28 is a popular trailerable sailboat known for its great performance both offshore and inland. Even though it has a small size it offers comfortable living spaces below the deck. In addition, she has proven to be more capable than other larger sailboats. It’s designed with a well-balanced deck arrangement along with a full-length keel with an attached rudder, a low freeboard, and a well-proportioned traditional trunk cabin. These sailboats were originally rigged as sloops with self-tending and club-footed jibs. This sail plan is really great for stiff weather conditions. Lastly, it can be easily hauled-out and transported regardless of its 28ft size. Ideal for salt-water cruising and for tighter coastal waters you can find a used model for $12,900.

>>Also Read: How Much Do Sailboats Weigh?

The Newport 27 is an all-time-classic that was first built in 1971 and is still considered a common choice for small sailboats amongst sailors. Although it has a small size it doesn’t lack interior space. The standing headroom is just over 6ft, there’s a V-berth, a head, and a hanging locker forward of the bulkhead. Also, settees measure 6ft in length and extend to either side of the saloon. Some variations include a fixed dinette with raised seating fore and aft, a starboard quarter berth, and an aft-placed head. You can find them on the used market from $10,000 to $18,000, depending on their condition and any possible upgrades. Even though it’s not a really robust offshore cruiser, the Newport 27 is still a capable trailerable sailboat and if upgraded and equipped accordingly it can definitely offer decent coastal cruising to a singlehander or a couple.

>>Also Read: What Are The Best Beginner Sailboats?

Trailerable sailboats are a great choice for beginner sailors as well as for couple and family outings. Keep in mind that the aforementioned boats are not the only options on today’s market. I recommend these boats because they’re easy to handle, small but roomy, easy to trailer, and have an overall robust design. Generally, a trailer sailor will save you costs for purchasing but also for marina fees. Keep in mind that many sailors choose to sail overseas with a trailerable sailboat, so there are suitable models for a long-passage voyage. Lastly, small sailboats can offer different kinds of sailing adventures; weekend cruising, coastal cruising, island hopping, and sometimes an offshore voyage. I hope that you enjoyed reading this article and that it will help you out in order to pick the right trailerable sailboat for your needs.

Peter

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

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The CP 23 Pilothouse

The true delight of this boat is the brightness and view while in the pilothouse..

ComPac 23 Pilothouse trailerable cruiser

  • See video of the Com-Pac 23/IV
  • See our Photo Gallery of the CP 23 Pilothouse
  • Download a brochure (.pdf format)

The brand-new trailerable cruiser CP 23 Pilothouse offers a revolutionary combination of trailerability, cruisability, and livability. The CP 23 Pilothouse is designed with numerous well-thought-out features and Com-Pac's legendary attention to detail:

  • Steering from inside the pilothouse during inclement weather, in addition to tiller steering in the aft cockpit
  • Excellent natural light and visibility from inside the pilot house while under way or at anchor
  • Abundant storage space, including 2 hanging lockers
  • Draft of only 2'3"
  • Twin cylinder freshwater-cooled diesel engine
  • Dinette that converts to a berth
  • Roomy v-berth
  • Galley and enclosed head
  • Mast is mounted in a tabernacle that allows it to be folded down for trailering
  • Stainless steel handrails on deck (optional teak handrails available)

13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels

Trailerable boats come in a wide range of styles, sizes and capabilities. Dinghies and small sport boats are easy to trailer and even car top, but what if you're looking for something you can take some place, and maybe spend a weekend on board?

One good way to open a lot of shallow cruising grounds and gunkholes and to make your trailering life easier is to add a lifting or swing keel to the boat. With drafts under a foot on some models, these boats will give you a lot less trouble with overpasses, wires and launching.

While this isn't an exhaustive list, these thirteen popular boats will give you an idea of the range of trailerable boats with lifting keels you can find on the market. Some are older and no longer built, and you can find some of them at the boat shows and ready for purchase new today. Whether you're looking for a day sailer or a weekender for a couple to gunkhole along the coast, here are some great boats to consider.

Catalina 22 Sport

  • Com Pac Eclipse

Flying Scot

  • Islander 24

MacGregor 26

Montgomery 17, norseboat 17.5.

  • Seaward 26 RK
  • West Wight Potter 15/19

Most of these builders have several boat models, and several them have specialized in pocket cruisers, trailerable boats, and smaller hulls. Remember the specific model listed may be a good sample of their work, but check their entire lineup for something closest to what you want.

trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

13 Biggest Trailerable Sailboats: Cheap But Good

Also - not all these boats are still in production, though they you can find them for sail used. Links are to the builder where possible, or to information pages to learn more if the builder is no longer around. Because we're looking at smaller boats, they won't likely be listed on brokerage sites, so you'll need to search for them on places like Craigslist, class association sites, and smaller regional boat sales sites and for sale boards.

trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

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Com-pac eclipse, seaward 26rk, west wight potter (15 and 19), finding your boat.

First introduced in 1970, the Catalina 22 has been one of the most popular trailerable boats since its inception, though the Mk II update added a few inches of beam and couldn't race the Mk1 boats under one design class rules. The 22 Sport updates the classic original, while returning to the specifications for class legal racing out of the box with the original 22. It has a retractable lead keel, or an fixed keel option, and has berths below for up to four people. It's an easy weekender to launch and sail, with ready made fleets for fun, competitive racing.

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Com-Pac specializes in small, compact trailerable sailboats. The Eclipse is a solid example of their sloop-rigged boats. With a 21 foot overall length, 7'4" beam, and a 2,200 lbs displacement, it will tow easily with a modest vehicle. Down below, you'll find a double v-berth and space for cooking and food preparation. This converts to sleeping space with two additional quarter berths.

When looking for a trailerable pocket cruiser, look at the entire Com-Pac line.

Over five hundred CS 22 hulls were built in their production run in the early 70s, and this sturdy little cruiser is still a popular boat if you can find one on the used market. They conceived it as a lightweight, trailerable cruiser. It has a stubby externally ballasted keel with centerboard for added stability and pointing.

Though small, the interior has sleeping accommodations for four, a small galley, and a space for a portable toilet, making it a suitable choice for short expeditions and weekending. Though scarce today, the CS 22 is a good example of compact design that helped set the standard for later pocket cruisers.

The Flying Scot is a day sailer, and a popular design with over a hundred racing fleets around the U.S. It's an older design, having been in production for over fifty years, but this 19 foot sloop will still get a small group out on the water for a day of sailing and fun. Although it doesn't have an interior, clever and adventurous sailors have rigged up boom tents and other means to spend the night on their boats. Options on new boats include space for motor mounts, swim platforms, and higher end racing packages, and there is a strong market for parts and equipment.

The Hunter 22 is an updated replacement for the retired Hunter 216, another popular trailerable boat. The boat can be configured in a cruising setup with a V-berth and portable toilet, or a performance package with a sprit and asymmetrical spinnaker. For the size, it's a good value mini-cruiser with good performance and enough comfort to keep a small crew for a weekend. Depending how you configure your Hunter 22, it can run the gamut from comfy pocket cruiser to sporty day sailer.

Note: Hunter Marine changed names to Marlow-Hunter, though there is an enormous base of used boats with the Hunter brand.

There are several varieties of the MacGregor 26 beyond the base boat, including the 26D (1986-89), 26S (1990-95), 26X (1995-2003) and 26M (2002-2013). MacGregor boats have proven very popular trailerable boats, selling over 38,000 boats during the company's lifetime.

The Mac 26 differs from many small sailboats by two things - water ballast for stability, and the ability to take what is, by small sailboat standards, a massive outboard engine. A seventy horsepower engine on a 26' sailboat can make it hit planing speeds under power. This popular boat is a compromise - the water ballast, hull design, and smallish rig make it a somewhat underpowered sailboat, but it will sail. But if there is no wind, the Mac owners will still beat everyone back to the bar even while towing a water skier.

Their blend of form, function and design have made them controversial boats with experienced sailors, but there is no doubt the MacGregor 26 has gotten thousands of new boats on the water and built a loyal following for one of the most popular trailerable boats ever sold.

After the closure of MacGregor yachts, the Tattoo 26 was developed from the Mac 26 and is almost identical in performance capabilities and design.

Built at first with a fixed keel with an optional centerboard, orders for the keel/centerboard version outstripped the original and more centerboard versions were built. If you're looking for one, make sure it's the right version.

Lyle Hess and Jerry Montgomery designed the Montgomery 17 as a cruising capable, trailerable boat. The lapstrake fiberglass hull deflects spray and chop, and the 1,550 lb boat gives a stiff, dry sail. The cuddy cabin below has comfortable space for two adults, space for a portable toilet, and ample storage for gear and supplies. A four-part tackle rig makes raising the deck stepped a snap.

NorseBoats specializes in lighter day sailers and trailerable boats with a classic look but modern build and design concepts. Marketed as the "Swiss army knife" of boats, any of their offerings meet the criteria for an easy to trailer and handle boat with a shallow draft. The 17.5 can take a small outboard, has two rowing stations, and comes with a carbon fiber, rotating mast for easy setup and break down and solid performance under sail.

The larger NorseBoat 21.5 has an optional cabin version, with more sheltered space for sleeping and living than the open version.

The venture is a sixteen foot day sailer, and a modern design which can be sailed by up to eight people. The Venture has options for fixed keel, a centerboard, or a ballasted centerboard. As a forgiving design, it's a popular boat for inexperienced sailors and sail training, but still has enough power to be interesting and fun for skilled sailors as well. The RS Venture Connect features a lifting keel.

RS Sailing develops and sells many performance oriented small dinghies and day sailors aimed at a range of sailing skill and applications, from sail training dinghies to high performance racing skiffs.

Hand built with carbon fiber and vinylester resin over balsa core, this little boat is lighter than expected, but still sails well with options for a fixed keel or centerboard. At 16'10" overall, a 6'9" beam, and 1,300 lbs it's an easy boat to handle. But down below it's got a V-berth sized for adults and seating for two down below. The lapstrake designed hull deflects water and spray for a drier, more comfortable ride.

The smaller Sage 15 is another option for a lightweight boat using the same modern materials and techniques in a classically styled package.

The Seaward 26RK is the successor to Nick Hakes’ Seaward 25, with an edge to more comfort and better performance in a similar price to the last generation yacht. The result is the 26RK with more waterline, more buoyancy aft, and a lifting keel.

One of the larger boats on this list, the Seaward 26 RK, is still easy to move over land with a trailered weight under 6,000 pounds. The boat alone displaces 3,800 pounds, with 1,200 lbs. of that in retractable ballast with a bulb on the bottom. The keel lifts with an electric motor and is simple to operate. The cockpit is comfortable for four and has options for wheel or tiller steering.

Down below you'll find four six-foot berths and seating for four. Interior configurations include options for an enclosed head and v-berth, and a two-burner stove in a small galley.

Seaward Sailboats began sharing construction facilities with Island Packet Yachts and are sold through the same dealer network.

For over fifty years, the West Wight Potter has been a compact, trailerable option for a weekender and vacation boat. The fifteen and nineteen foot models have been fixtures at boat shows and in harbors, and sailors have even crossed oceans in these doughty little boats. The fifteen displaces only 475 pounds, with 165 pounds of ballast in the lifting keel. It's self righting and self bailing, with added foam for stability and floatation. The 19 is heavier at 1,225 pounds with 370 pounds of ballast, but the extra volume adds two more quarter berths, more headroom, space below, and more waterline.

With a kick up rudder and retracting keel, these little cruisers can be beached or taken in shallow waters. They designed the hull for stability and reduce spray for a dry and comfortable sail. Factory options include several creature comforts, sail options, and even trailers. With over 2,600 West Wight Potter 15s built and 1600 of the nineteen footer, there's a ready market of these pocket cruisers for sale.

While the big boats get the glory and high profile spots at the shows, smaller trailerable boats are what most people can buy. The corners of the shows where you see the West Wight Potters and Com-pacs to be just as exciting to me as the main docks filled with forty and fifty footers, because these smaller boats invoke a different adventure. An attainable adventure, for so many more people.

There's an array of smaller boats you can store in your garage or backyard and take out for everything from a casual day sail to a long summer vacation. This list gives you a flavor of what's out there in the trailerable boat market, but it's up to you to decide where you want to go and how you want to get here.

The article is headed by a photo of a S2 7.9 but that boat did not make your list. IMO the best trailer boat .

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First 27 SE brings high-tech performance, events and community know-how from the cutting edge of racing sports into recreational sailors' hands. She delivers extraordinary sailing experiences that were once reserved for professional racers. Sailors can challenge themselves on One Design long-distance races or enjoy fast adventure cruises in the best sailing spots, as she is also wholly trailable.

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First 27 SE is a real high-performance planing sailboat, easily achieving thrilling double-digit speeds and delivering an incomparable sailing experience, resulting from modern design and building technologies.

Her superb seaworthiness, which crowned the boat with the B category, results from exceptional boat design, cutting-edge building technology and many safety features: three separate unsinkable chambers, a swinging keel system in case of grounding and increased bow volume with crash box.

The One Design racing calendar is comprised of fully crewed windward-leeward races and adventurous long-distance double-handed or solo challenges. Whichever you choose, you can count on the friendly community that will give you a proper challenge.

Sitting low on the trailer due to her hydraulically operated swinging keel, light structure, beam just below the width limit and light carbon mast, she is wholly trailable to different locations, for racing or cruising purposes. 

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Planing at double-digit speeds is easier than ever. The First 27 SE promises a thrilling and pure sailing experience. Her performance is rooted in her modern hull design and light but stiff vacuum-infused hull construction. She has a hull with very high initial stability, a deep lead-bulb keel, and an easily handled carbon rig with a large square-top mainsail without a backstay or runners. All this power is nothing if you can't manage it, so she's been designed with well-thought cockpit ergonomics and a balanced twin-rudder steering system. No matter if you're sailing solo, double-handed or fully crewed, First 27 SE will reward you with an astonishing sailing experience and pure joy under sail. 

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The First 27 SE is the only B category, trailerable 8m boat on the market with a fully functional interior. While it may look minimalistic, her extremely weight-sensitive interior is outfitted with components that also function as part of the boat's structure. She can accommodate up to 6 adults, two in a separate bow cabin and 4 in the saloon. Thanks to innovative magnetic doors, the mid-section of the boat can be converted to a proper marine toilet, front cabin extension, or "wet-room" for sail-changes. The interior also offers crew bags for personal belongings, a fridge, foldable table and sail-locker. Combined with other practicalities, these make her the ultimate adventure cruiser for sailing connoisseurs. The entire interior is modular, so you can quickly empty it and reduce weight for racing needs.

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Is this possible? Standing headroom, trailerable, AND seaworthy?

  • Thread starter Kelpie
  • Start date 12 Sep 2009
  • 12 Sep 2009

Kelpie

Well-known member

I'm eyeing up the eventual boat upgrade options and my yachty friends are all moaning about crane and hardstanding costs. As a dinghy sailer I can feel very smug about this, until it rains and they all dissappear below decks, of course. So I'm wondering how feasible it is to find something in the 'sweet spot' where it retains the ability to be trailed on the road (as in end-of-season, not on a daily basis) but has sufficient headroom in the cabin to stand up, even if it's only in one spot. I wouldn't really consider this possible unless I was the size I am- less than 5'6 tall. Seems like this could be of some use to me for once. After a little research it seems possible to find some yachts which feature the following: - headroom of at least 5'8 in at least one part of the sabin - a separate heads, or at least a forecabin with heads - 'trailerable' for end of season transport and storage at home, saving crane hire etc. Perhaps my favourite so far is the Offshore 8m. But there must be many more. So any suggestions which boats can fit within these quite narrow criteria?  

WindermereColvic

WindermereColvic

Robwhelton said: sabin Click to expand...
  • PetiteFleur

My previous boat, a fin keeled Jaguar 27 I trailed home each winter. I had a single axle trailer which I made into a twin axle which easily took the weight. A friend used his Landrover to tow it but it was on the limit, and he got rid of the LR I had to get someone to tow it with a tractor. You can get bilge keeled Jaguar 27's which would be easier to trail. Good headroom and an excellent seaboat.  

bilbobaggins

bilbobaggins

Active member.

Have a look at www.varne.co.uk . The Varne 27 is a strong and seaworthy 1970s design, weighing in at 2812kgs, she can just go on a trailer behind a 4x4. Fin keeled performance and a lovely motion, particularly in a chop. Various layouts with 4 - 6 berths, standing headroom and separate heads. OK, I admit I'm biased - I have a Weston 8500, the last derivative of the design. Rob.  

richardabeattie

27 ft with a mast to match does not sound like a trailer sailer to me! Major operation to move it aand to launch and recover.  

I'm getting fed up with posts from people who want standing room in small boats, what are you planning to do down there, make speeches? How much time do you actually spend standing? not a lot I'l venture. Even on a non stander its not rocket science to build a tent over the sliding hatch cover and create standing room. I say..get yourself a boat that looks the dogs danglies that you drool over every time you see it, and make yourself fit it. Otherwise get a caravan. Seriously though, some of the boats suggested might take a small army to launch. If you want the nicest little 20ft Trailer Sailer that is beautifully made, has loads of room and is a doddle to trail and launch and rig, look up the Pippin 20. Its a Tucker design and is made five miles down the road from me (assuming and hoping they havn't gone under like everbody else seems to be doing) There must be ten at Rutland Water and they are perfectly good coastal yachts. As the oldest is only about eight years old you may not find any 'cheap' ones yet, but it is the roomiest 20 footer you will find that can still sail upwind respectably well. http://www.pippin-yachts.com/ Tim  

Alfie168 said: I'm getting fed up with posts from people who want standing room in small boats, what are you planning to do down there, make speeches? How much time do you actually spend standing? not a lot I'l venture. Even on a non stander its not rocket science to build a tent over the sliding hatch cover and create standing room. Click to expand...
  • 13 Sep 2009

short-handed

Hello frm Ausralia. This is my first post on this forum, though I've been looking for some time. It is evident that the sailing conditions in the UK are signifcantly different to those Down Under. I think you're going to have to modify some of your selection criteria. Standing headroom is important but the question is how important. Get a yacht with a pop-top that had a tent around it. That's an easy compromise. Most times you would be standing up to get dressed etc is when moored - I assume. You will need to go to a 25 foot boat as a minimum to get a boat with a closed head. This, in my view, would be a higher criteria than standing headroom. Particularly if you are fortunate to have a partner who likes to go sailing with you. I would be looking for a trailable with a swing keel or a drop keel. These boats could be towed by a ute with a 3 tonne towing capacity. For the record, I have a Catalina 22. I think it's called a Jaguar in the UK but may be wrong (wouldn't be the first time!!). I'm 193cm tall (6 feet 3inches) and cope! My next boat will have a closed head. It just makes it that little bit more pleasant (for us both) when sailing with my wife. I'm not sailing on coastal waters in my 22 footer and certainly would prefer not to be sailing in what appears, from the stories I've read and pictures I've seen, to be rather cold weather. Roll on summer. All the best with your search, Robert  

fergie_mac66

fergie_mac66

Westerly 22 Probably a bit old fashioned for you. We have a 49 year old Gunter rigged Westerly 22 Bilge keel we have a trailer for it Only trailed it a few times. but not difficult. mast can be dropped in 10 mins. We have 5 foot 8 inches in cabin Due to a mod.Floor in cabin Removed many years ago .Most of the westerly are open plan but ours has a separate forpk with heads in front.There are a few about  

Trailer Sailer The whole question is a lot of variables. Firstly a light boat easy for towing is going to have a very lively motion in open rough water. It would be a limiting factor in "seaworthiness". ie safe enough at sea but not comfortable to the point that discomfort is unsafe. Lift keel TS can be self righting with balast under the poor mine is by frequent testing it is fairly tender but then needs less sail to make it go. Any forepeak can be made into a heads area of some sort (you might be able to use the forehatch to get headroom). or better still an area near the main entrance hatch but then in a small boat you squander the best place for sitting/sleeping to a heads enclosure. Headroom can be achieved by the pop top where an area of cabin roof can be raised up another foot or so. They are only usable at anchor but give a lovely breeze through the cabin. (hot weather) Ultimately any reasonable sized boat is trailerable. Size simply increases the difficulty.(and cost of trailer)Around here at least an over width or over length permit is not so hard to get. You are limited to daylight hours and must carry a sign front and back. That is up to 10ft width then you need an escort vehicle or really wide a police escort. And of course you need to be able to borrow or rent a suitable towing vehicle. Fin keel boats are manageable providing you have a suitable steep ramp. You will need to lower the jinker down the ramp on a rope to the towing vehicle until it floats off (or on). Yesterday I helped a friend to (re) launch his fin keel 21fter about 1.6 tonnes, yes a bit tedious but doable each season. He used a 6cyl van to tow it. (a few Kms). Trailer sailers here in Oz go up to 8.5 metres (Magnum) that is very comfortable. It is designed for launch each time you use it but you need a 4X4 while only 2.5 metrs beam it is enormous on the road. Mast management is also a compromise. A big boat needs a big mast and takes a bit to get it into place on the tabernacle (or mast base) but actual raising is not difficult. (you usually transport the boat with mast base at the pulpit or even further forward and the whole mast must be slid backwards till the base is in place. By comparison my 21fter is light at less than 1 tonne does not have standing room or a separate heads compartment, has a mast that is easily manageable. (I have raised it alone but 2 people is best). It launches retrieves easily on a roll on trailer. It stay home for the winter but recently I took it the water for a winter race. I timed it as 1 hr from finish of the race to boat home. It sails fast in flat water but struggles to windward against rough water ie 20knots of wind. Yet I am sure the boat is seaworthy I am just not sure about the skipper and crew. so good luck anything is possible olewill  

grumpy_o_g

http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/ocean-760/ocean-760.htm http://www.haberyachts.com/ Are two that fit your bill.  

Trailer Yacht Have a look at a Hurley 24. Mine has good standing headroom throughout the main cabin and I'm 5'10". Also separate heads. Draft is 4'2" though for bilge and fin versions so launching and recovery would not be easy.  

jason -and the arguenauts

Need to be carefull about "seaworthyness". This is primarily related to size - in other words a 40ft bav will be safer in bad weather than (say) a 27ft Vancouver assuming competent crew and that no equipment fails. So even if you can find a 20 footer to suit your requirements, you will still need to treat it like a big dinghy from the safety point of view.  

"in other words a 40ft bav will be safer in bad weather than (say) a 27ft Vancouver " Ever thought of changing your handle to Jason and the ARGUMENTS  

It's always a compromise... Thanks again for the suggestions. Hurley 24/70 was a potential candidate, possibly on the big side. Do many of these come with trailers? It's actually got more headroom than I strictly need, but I know a lot of people respect them as seaboats. 'Seaworthiness' for me means both ruggedness (no pop tops!) and ability to right itself and make headway in big seas. Where I live, gales can spring up from nowhere, so I would not consider a boat that wasn't going to get me through at least a F8 without making it into an emergency situation. Anyway, things seem to be pointing towards something with the following characteristics: - about 2t displacement - no more than 26ft LOA - not too beamy ANd now to fly in the face of this... anybody got any love for the Leisure 23SL? Does it stand for 'slightly luxurious'? Is it just a floating caravan?  

Canopy Locked

Canopy Locked

Have you considered the MacGregor 26 (or is that McGregor 26?) A friend has one at the harbour. Standing headroom in cabin, seperate heads, a cooker. Floats off and on a trailer, not too beamy. Downside... 1- would it be a "proper" sailing boat? some purists reckon it's neither a sailer or motor boat.. but I've been out on it. It sails quite nicely and when your're done fire up the 50hp O/B and whizz home. 2- It's built to a price Just an idea  

Searush

There are dozens of boats out there that will do you. Someone mentioed a Westerly 22, I had the W25 - the "cruiser/racer" version. Very pretty boat, not a lot of room, but easy standing headroom for you under hatch, 4x qtr berths, sep loo, big cockpit, designed for end of season trailing etc etc, Macwester Rowan is another, the later Leisures, Jaguars, Etap23, Jeneau 23 even a Sadler 26. thebigger ones are quite heavy for launch/ recovery, but I managed my W25 OK with just my family & a 4x4. My pal used to tow his 19' Leisure to a yard & get it craned onto a slipway, or directly in/out the water for each holiday. Cost was much less than chartering or even cottage rent. And completely hassle free. Get your self a copy of "Bristows Book of Yachts" from the local library (or Amazon) preferably one for the 70's or 80's editions if you are looking for a cheaper used boat. Shortlist a few dozen then research the brokers on the net. That will allow you to narrow down you search to half a dozen to go & see. One final piece of advice NEVER go out to buy a specific design of boat. Keep an open mind & check out any interesting wild cards you come across. One may surprise you - and you are less likely to pay over the odds for a "must have design" only to find it doesn't actually meet your expectations. Oh, and do consider some of the "dinghies with lids on" if you might want weekend traiability rather than bring it home at the end of the season.  

I have spoken to many trailer sailer owners who said in the end they never trailed and sailed much because of all the hassle of doing it. Much more important than standing headroom is the size of the berths. My little Fantasie 19 was a great triple keeler, but I could never get a decent nights sleep as the berths were too narrow. I sailed an Achilles 24, great sailer, like a big dinghy, but try getting into waterproofs down below in a blow, when the outboard is also stored down there. Maybe OK at 21 but not at 40+. The Varne is a great boat and fast, but take note of the very cambered decks.. OK when well heeled, but a bit tricky when not. I wouldn't let the costs of craning etc deter you..join a sailing club, get a swinging mooring. At my club, soon to have a huge number of new deep water moorings, we, like many other clubs, hire in a crane for the day, costs about £40 for a lift,each way.  

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Trailerable pocket cruiser with standing headroom...

eMKay

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By "trailerable" I don't mean like my Siren which I tow to the launch, rig, and launch every weekend with very little fuss. I mean something that can be put in the water in the spring by me, and removed a couple times a year for trips elsewhere, say to Florida, my grandmother has a condo in St. Augustine, and one in Turtle Cay, I would like to be able to sail between these two points, and anywhere on Lake Erie and Ontario. So I guess I'm looking for something with a decent keel but not a deep one, standing headroom, 25-27 feet, and under 8000lbs. Cape Dory 25D? Any similar to that? MUST have standing headroom (I'm 5'11) My budget will not be much, say $10,000 and under. Not buying right now, just trying to narrow down the choices for my 2nd boat. Maybe as soon as next year, maybe a few years from now. I'm 33 years old and we are just now trying to start a family, so a safe roomy boat that doesn't cost a lot is a priority. A fixer-upper is ok, I'm a mechanic so if it's broke, I can fix it.  

Check out the US Yachts 27 - for a 27 it has great interior room, sails quite well too...6000lb, Made in early 80s, Mine is constructed suprisingly well...you should be able to find one for under 10k - probably under 8k...  

Oh, yeah... forgot to mention, 6ft headroom  

There is one at RCR yachts here in Buffalo, I was just there an hour ago but that was before reading your post. It has a really deep draft though 5' 2". (edit) Oh, wait, I see they make 2 versions, one with a 3'6" shoal keel. That might work, I think I'll go poke around that one near me. It's only 3 miles away.  

Trekka

many of the smaller westerly designs would fit the bill...but aren't particularly trailerable imho.  

I think the Pageant and Nomad are very trailerable. (The fin keel models like the Cirrus would be problematic.)  

Mike- A Pearson 27 isn't really a trailerable boat IMHO. The boat could be stored on a trailer, but it would require a travellift or crane to launch it or haul it out of the water.  

That's what I mean by "trailerable", something I can tow home and store in my backyard off-season (3 miles). And I can easily launch this boat at the ramp I launch at, it only draws 3'4". Our ramp is nice and steep and deep.  

oday s are good trailer boats  

my o-day 25 we stay over the weekend its draft is 2'6" - 6' swing keel pricees go from 2500 up google oday 25 to look at some for sail  

As stated in my first post, standing headroom is a must, the O'day 25 has 5'6" of headroom and I am 5'11" tall.  

Older Catalina 27 or 25 Catalina 27 About the same size as the Pearson 27 with 6' headroom. Draft is 4'. Displacement is about 6000 lb. The 25 is is smaller and has less draft and has 6' 6" headroom in a pop-up companion way. 25 would be trailerable (4500 lbs) easily with a normal truck. The Pearson and Catalina 27 would require extra lifting stuff and a BIGGER truck. DrB  

I like the Catalina 27's a lot, and have not been able to poke around in a 25. One thing that shocked me is how BIG a 27' boat is in person, a 25 might work.  

ceol

Ted Brewer designed Nimble Artic or Kodiak, both are trailerable and the same hull shape, the Kodiak has a bigger pilothouse. 6'7" headroom in the Kodiak PH. Trailerable by a larger size suv, truck. My yawl version runs somewhere around 6000#, 18 hp diesel and a shoal draft keel of 2'4" draft and 1300# of lead in the keel. Lots of windage, points like a barndoor but sails like a banshee on a reach, likes 10-15 kts wind and sails best with a good 10-15 degree heel to minimize pounding into headseas. Sharpie hulled double ender. She is truly a coastal boat with a tabernackle for droping the mast that I wound NOT take offshore. I've been there and done that and REALLY this is not the boat to be stuck in out there but for inshore gunkholing and coastal cruising I think it shines. Robust construction and used the best of materials in the build, solid glass decks, all bronze hardware and through-hulls. It's a kinda boxy trailerable-trawler-motorsailer combination, you either think it's great or hate it - lol. Unfortunately these were expensive builds and Nimble Boat Works went out of business with the untimely death of it's founder. Not sure how many were made but seems few are for sale and those that are for sale are in the 30-40K range used. Mine is in Havre de Grace, Md -- head of the Chesapeake Bay where shoal draft makes a huge difference in cruising grounds. Karlheinz  

Don't know anything about the Seafarers but looking at the pics I don't think that it is very strongly built....  

sidiag

sidiag said: You might check out the Grampian 26. (Not that I am biased or anything ) There are usually quite a few for sale in the area of the North American Inland Seas (Grt Lakes to those who do not respect them) Click to expand...

I saw a Macgregor the other day that might fit the bill, not beautiful to look at. Looks like a cabin cruiser with a mast stuck on it, but it sailed well vs our 35' Ericcson and seems to be pretty well thought out, guy had a 90 horse outboard on it and when he was done for the day, he fired it up and ran away at about 20 knots. It's trailerable and seaworthy and if you're sitting in it you don't realize how ugly it is. Lot's of headroom and below deck space, large cockpit. GG.  

How 'bout a Flicka?  

A Flicka in my price range would likely need more work than the price of the boat.  

seafarer Check out the seafarer u liked. At 5200 pounds it's not lightly built and it's only a dollar a pound. Cheaper than hamburger.  

jgmartis

Perfect boat The needs you describe are all met by the Chrysler 26 designed by Herreshoff. Most come with a trailer. Google Chrysler Sailing Association for specs. You will also need a boat with a mast raising system. Jim  

CaptKermie

Sidiad Wrote: "I'll disagree with that though. Mine lives on a trailer. Her 8'4" beam is legal anywhere in the lower 48." I agree to disagree with you - 8' max in the empire state, as well as a few other lower 48s. The MacGregor has allways been under 8' in order to conform with all continental US states and sell in all as well. A little research will show that 8'6" is not country wide and that there are some jurisdictions that have an 8' limit, New York being the most nortorious. Had look at your Grampian 26, then did a google on a few more, not the prettiest boat but they would certainly fit my bill, very practical, seaworthy, & roomy for a trailerable and a great alternative to the MacGregor and other trailierables. Too bad they don't make them anymore, it would be nice to try one out here on the west coast.  

What is a ballpark price for a Pearson 27 with trailer?  

surftom

Along the lines of a Grampian... Just bought an '80 Nash 26 - standing headroom throughout - Not too many for sale. Most owners tend to like theirs. A little less boxy (but not much) than a Grampian. Company was started by a former Grampian guy. Prices start at 5K and go up from there - there's 3 on yachtworld right now. The only downside is the OMC saildrive engine - they don't make it anymore. Tom  

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20 Best Small Sailboats for the Weekender

  • By Mark Pillsbury
  • Updated: August 4, 2021

In order to go cruising, most of us require a sailboat with a head, a galley, and bunks. The boat, likely a 30-footer and more often a 40-footer, will have electronics for navigation and entertainment, refrigeration if the trip is longer than a coastal hop, an engine for light wind, and, depending on our appetites for food and fun, perhaps a genset to power our toys and appliances.

To go sailing , however, all we really need is a hull, mast, rudder, and sail. To experience the pure joy of sheeting in and scooting off across a lake, bay, or even the open ocean, there’s nothing better than a small sailboat – we’re talking sailboats under 25 feet. You can literally reach out and touch the water as it flows past. You instantly feel every puff of breeze and sense every change in trim.

Some of the boats in this list are new designs, others are time-tested models from small sailboat manufacturers, but every one is easy to rig, simple to sail, and looks like a whole lot of fun either for a solo outing on a breezy afternoon or to keep family and friends entertained throughout your entire sailing season. This list is made up of all types of sailboats , and if you’re looking for a list of some of the best small sailboats for beginners, you’ll find exactly that here.

Any one of these popular boats could be labeled as a trailerable sailboat, daysailer, or even a weekender sailboat. And while most would be labeled as a one or two person sailboat, some could comfortably fit three or even four people.

Marblehead 22 Daysailer

Marblehead 22 Daysailer

If you have an eye for elegant lines and your heart goes pitter-patter over just the right amount of overhang beneath a counter transom, the Marblehead 22 daysailer, designed by Doug Zurn and built by Samoset Boatworks in Boothbay, Maine, will definitely raise your pulse. Traditional-looking above the waterline and modern beneath, the cold-molded hull sports a deep bulb keel and a Hall Spars carbon-fiber mast with a wishbone rig and square-top main. The 11-foot-9-inch cockpit can seat a crowd, and a small cuddy forward will let you stow your friends’ gear for the day. samosetboatworks.com

Catalina 22 Sport

Catalina 22 Sport

Many a harbor plays host to an active fleet of Catalina 22s, one of the most popular small sailboats over the years, given its basic amenities and retractable keel, which allows it to be easily trailered. Recently, the company introduced the Catalina 22 Sport, an updated design that can compete with the older 22s. The boat features a retractable lead keel; a cabin that can sleep four, with a forward hatch for ventilation; and a fractional rig with a mainsail and a roller-furling jib. Lifelines, a swim ladder, and an engine are options, as are cloth cushions; vinyl cushions are standard. The large cockpit will seat a crowd or let a mom-and-pop crew stretch out and enjoy their sail. It’s clear why the Catalina 22 is one of the best sailboats under 25 feet. catalinayachts.com

Hunter 22

With its large, open-transom cockpit and sloop rig, the Hunter 22 makes a comfortable daysailer for family and friends. But with its cuddy cabin, twin bunks, optional electrical system, opening screened ports, and portable toilet, a parent and child or a couple could comfortably slip away for an overnight or weekend. Add in the optional performance package, which includes an asymmetric spinnaker, a pole, and a mainsheet traveler, and you could be off to the races. The boat features a laminated fiberglass hull and deck, molded-in nonskid, and a hydraulic lifting centerboard. Mount a small outboard on the stern bracket, and you’re set to go. marlow-hunter.com

the Daysailer

Not sure whether you want to race, cruise or just go out for an afternoon sail? Since 1958, sailors have been having a ball aboard the Uffa Fox/George O’Day-designed Daysailer. Fox, who in the 1950s was on the cutting edge of planning-dinghy design, collaborated with Fall River, Massachusetts boatbuilder O’Day Corp. to build the 16-foot Daysailer, a boat that features a slippery hull and a small cuddy cabin that covers the boat roughly from the mast forward. Thousands of Daysailers were built by various builders, and they can be found used for quite affordable prices. There are active racing fleets around the US, and new Daysailers are still in production today, built by Cape Cod Ship Building. capecodshipbuilding.com

BayRaider from Swallow Boats

BayRaider from Swallow Boats

Easy to rig and trailer, the BayRaider from England’s Swallow Yachts is a relative newcomer to the small-boat market in the United States. Nearly all of its 19 feet 9 inches is open cockpit, though a spray hood can be added to keep the forward sections dry. The BayRaider is ketch-rigged with a gunter-style mainmast. The topmast and mizzen are both carbon-fiber, which is an option for the mainmast as well. The BayRaider can be sailed with a dry hull in lighter conditions or with 300 pounds of water ballast to increase its stability. With the centerboard and hinged rudder raised, the boat can maneuver in even the thinnest water.

$28,900, (904) 234-8779, swallowyachts.com

12 1/2 foot Beetle Cat

Big fun can come in small packages, especially if your vessel of choice happens to be the 12 ½-foot Beetle Cat. Designed by John Beetle and first built in 1921, the wooden shallow draft sailboat is still in production today in Wareham, Massachusetts at the Beetle Boat Shop. With a draft of just 2 feet, the boat is well-suited for shallow bays, but equally at home in open coastal waters. The single gaff-rigged sail provides plenty of power in light air and can be quickly reefed down to handle a blow. In a word, sailing a Beetle Cat is fun. beetlecat.com

West Wight Potter P 19

West Wight Potter P 19

With berths for four and a workable galley featuring a cooler, a sink, and a stove, West Wight Potter has packed a lot into its 19-foot-long P 19. First launched in 1971, this is a line of boats that’s attracted a true following among trailer-sailors. The P 19′s fully retractable keel means that you can pull up just about anywhere and go exploring. Closed-cell foam fore and aft makes the boat unsinkable, and thanks to its hard chine, the boat is reportedly quite stable under way. westwightpotter.com

NorseBoat 17.5

NorseBoat 17.5

Designed for rowing and sailing (a motor mount is optional), the Canadian-built NorseBoat 17.5—one of which was spotted by a CW editor making its way through the Northwest Passage with a two-man crew—features an open cockpit, a carbon-fiber mast, and a curved-gaff rig, with an optional furling headsail set on a sprit. The lapstrake hull is fiberglass; the interior is ply and epoxy. The boat comes standard with two rowing stations and one set of 9-foot oars. The boat is designed with positive flotation and offers good load-carrying capacity, which you could put to use if you added the available canvas work and camping tent. NorseBoats offers a smaller sibling, the 12.5, as well; both are available in kit form.

$19,000, (902) 659-2790, norseboat.com

Montgomery 17

Montgomery 17

Billed as a trailerable pocket cruiser, the Montgomery 17 is a stout-looking sloop designed by Lyle Hess and built out of fiberglass in Ontario, California, by Montgomery Boats. With a keel and centerboard, the boat draws just under 2 feet with the board up and can be easily beached when you’re gunkholing. In the cuddy cabin you’ll find sitting headroom, a pair of bunks, a portable toilet, optional shore and DC power, and an impressive amount of storage space. The deck-stepped mast can be easily raised using a four-part tackle. The builder reports taking his own boat on trips across the Golfo de California and on visits to California’s coastal islands. Montgomery makes 15-foot and 23-foot models, as well. If you’re in search of a small sailboat with a cabin, the Montgomery 17 has to be on your wish list.

CW Hood 32 Daysailer small sailboat

With long overhangs and shiny brightwork, the CW Hood 32 is on the larger end of the daysailer spectrum. Designers Chris Hood and Ben Stoddard made a conscious decision to forego a cabin and head in favor of an open cockpit big enough to bring 4 or 5 friends or family out for an afternoon on the water. The CW Hood 32 is sleek and graceful through the water and quick enough to do some racing, but keeps things simple with a self-tacking jib and controls that can be lead back to a single-handed skipper. A top-furling asymmetrical, electric sail drive and Torqeedo outboard are all optional. The CW Hood 32 makes for a great small family sailboat.  cwhoodyachts.com

Sun Cat from Com-Pac

Sun Cat from Com-Pac

Shallow U.S. East Coast bays and rock-strewn coasts have long been graced by cat boats, whose large, gaff-rigged mainsails proved simple and powerful both on the wind and, better yet, when reaching and running. The 17-foot-4-inch Sun Cat, built by Com-Pac Yachts, updates the classic wooden cat with its fiberglass hull and deck and the easy-to-step Mastender Rigging System, which incorporates a hinged tabernacle to make stepping the mast a one-person job. If you want a personal sailboat ideal for solo sailing, the Sun Can is a great choice. Belowdecks, the twin 6-foot-5-inch berths and many other features and amenities make this cat a willing weekender.

$19,800, (727) 443-4408, com-pacyachts.com

Catalina 16.5

Catalina 16.5

The Catalina 16.5 sits right in the middle of Catalina Yachts’ line of small sailboats, which range from the 12.5 to the 22 Capri and Sport, and it comes in both an easy-to-trailer centerboard model and a shoal-draft fixed-keel configuration. With the fiberglass board up, the 17-foot-2-inch boat draws just 5 inches of water; with the board down, the 4-foot-5-inch draft suggests good windward performance. Hull and deck are hand-laminated fiberglass. The roomy cockpit is self-bailing, and the bow harbors a good-sized storage area with a waterproof hatch. catalinayachts.com

Hobie 16

No roundup of best small sailboats (trailerable and fun too) would be complete without a mention of the venerable Hobie 16, which made its debut in Southern California way back in 1969. The company has introduced many other multihulls since, but more than 100,000 of the 16s have been launched, a remarkable figure. The Hobie’s asymmetric fiberglass-and-foam hulls eliminate the need for daggerboards, and with its kick-up rudders, the 16 can be sailed right up to the beach. Its large trampoline offers lots of space to move about or a good place to plant one’s feet when hanging off the double trapezes with a hull flying. The boat comes with a main and a jib; a spinnaker, douse kit, trailer, and beach dolly are optional features. hobiecat.com

Hunter 15

Novice sailors or old salts looking for simplicity could both enjoy sailing the Hunter 15. With a fiberglass hull and deck and foam flotation, the boat is sturdily built. The ample freeboard and wide beam provide stability under way, and the heavy-duty rubrail and kick-up rudder mean that you won’t have to worry when the dock looms or the going grows shallow. Both the 15 and its slightly larger 18-foot sibling come standard with roller-furling jibs.

$6,900/$9,500 (boat-show prices for the 15 and 18 includes trailers), (386) 462-3077, marlow-hunter.com

Super Snark

Super Snark

Under various owners, the Snark brand of sailboats, now built by Meyers Boat Co., has been around since the early 1970s. The Super Snark, at 11 feet, is a simple, easily car-topped daysailer that’s fit out with a lateen rig and sail. Billed as unsinkable, the five boats in the company’s line are built with E.P.S. foam, with the external hull and deck vacuum-formed to the core using an A.B.S. polymer. The Super Snark weighs in at 50 pounds, and with a payload capacity of 310 pounds, the boat can carry two.

$970, (800) 247-6275, meyersboat.com

Norseboat 21.5

Norseboat 21.5

Built in Canada, the NorseBoat 21.5 is a rugged looking craft that comes in a couple of configurations: one with an open cockpit and small doghouse, and another with a smaller cockpit and cabin that houses a double berth for two adults and optional quarter berths for the kids. Both carry NorseBoat’s distinctive looking carbon fiber gaff-rigged mast with main and jib (a sprit-set drifter is optional), and come with a ballasted stub keel and centerboard. Because of its lightweight design, the boat can be rowed and is easily trailered.

$36,000 (starting), 902-659-2790, norseboat.com

Flying Scot

Flying Scot

Talk about time-tested, the 19-foot Flying Scot has been in production since 1957 and remains a popular design today. Sloop rigged, with a conventional spinnaker for downwind work, the boat is an easily sailed family boat as well as a competitive racer, with over 130 racing fleets across the U.S. Its roomy cockpit can seat six to eight, though the boat is often sailed by a pair or solo. Hull and deck are a fiberglass and balsa core sandwich. With the centerboard up, the boat draws only eight inches. Though intended to be a daysailer, owners have rigged boom tents and berths for overnight trips, and one adventurous Scot sailor cruised his along inland waterways from Philadelphia to New Orleans.

RS Venture

Known primarily for its line of racing dinghys, RS Sailing also builds the 16-foot, 4-inch Venture, which it describes as a cruising and training dinghy. The Venture features a large, self-draining cockpit that will accommodate a family or pack of kids. A furling jib and mainsail with slab reefing come standard with the boat; a gennaker and trapeze kit are options, as is an outboard motor mount and transom swim ladder. The deck and hull are laid up in a fiberglass and Coremat sandwich. The Venture’s designed to be both a good performer under sail, but also stable, making it a good boat for those learning the sport.

$14,900, 203-259-7808, rssailing.com

Topaz Taz

Topper makes a range of mono- and multihull rotomolded boats, but the model that caught one editor’s eye at Strictly Sail Chicago was the Topaz Taz. At 9 feet, 8 inches LOA and weighing in at 88 pounds, the Taz is not going to take the whole crowd out for the day. But, with the optional mainsail and jib package (main alone is for a single child), the Taz can carry two or three kids or an adult and one child, and would make a fun escape pod when tied behind the big boat and towed to some scenic harbor. The hull features Topper’s Trilam construction, a plastic and foam sandwich that creates a boat that’s stiff, light, and durable, and shouldn’t mind being dragged up on the beach when it’s time for a break.

$2,900 (includes main and jib), 410-286-1960, topazsailboats.com

WindRider WRTango

WindRider WRTango

WRTango, a fast, sturdy, 10-foot trimaran that’s easy to sail, is the newest portable craft from WindRider International. It joins a line that includes the WR16 and WR17 trimarans. The Tango features forward-facing seating, foot-pedal steering, and a low center of gravity that mimics the sensation of sitting in a kayak. It weighs 125 pounds (including the outriggers and carbon-fiber mast), is extremely stable, and has single-sheet sail control. The six-inch draft and kick-up rudder make it great for beaching, while the hull and outriggers are made of rotomolded polyethylene, so it can withstand running into docks and being dragged over rocks.

$3,000, 612-338-2170, windrider.com

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The Catalina 25

Like most catalinas, the 25 represents good value for the money, but sailing performance and construction quality are average at best..

[Updated December 6, 2018]

catalina 25 specs

The Catalina 25 is not exceptionally fast, stylish, or spacious compared to newer widebody models, and while the construction and workmanship are adequate, they too are not exceptional. But because of the builders strict adherence to a philosophy of offering a relatively spacious design, relatively well made, at a reasonable price, and backing up the product with generally good customer service, the Catalina 25 has turned out to be one of the most successful small cruising sailboats ever built, with 5,332 boats sold between 1976 and 1990, when the company ceased producing the model as demand tailed off.

The Catalina 25 Design

During those 14 years of production, the design went through a complete metamorphosis, starting out as a very simple and inexpensive trailerable swing-keel design, and ending as a relatively sophisticated minicruiser. As vice-president and chief designer Gerry Douglas says, The last boats we built had diesel inboards, hot and cold pressure water systems, and extremely complex electrical systems. They were like little Catalina 34s. It was what people wanted in the late 1980s.

If you consider all model years, you can find Catalina 25s with five different keel configurations: cast iron swing-keel, cast iron fixed keel, cast lead wing keel, cast lead fin keel without glass jacket, and in later boats, a lead keel encased in fiberglass. In the later boats there was a choice of fin keel, wing keel, or swing keel, and standard rig or tall rig. However, the swing-keel model, with a board-up draft of 2′ 8″, accounted for well over half of total production. Most Catalina buyers over the years have been cruisers rather than performance-oriented racers, and for many cruisers, the attractiveness of a boat suitable for shoal waters and trailering is undeniable. Relatively few Catalina buyers are avid racers, it seems. If the hundred or so owners who answered our survey request are an indicator, only a small percentage rate as important either the fin keels much more efficient foil shape and lower turbulence, or the greater light-air efficiency of a two-foot longer tall rig mast that increases sail area by almost 10 percent.

As the design developed over time, features changed enough so that in a number of respects the early boats are very different than 1987 and later model years. As a consequence, its imperative for prospective buyers to know what model year theyre looking at when shopping for used boats. Prices can vary from less than $5,000 to more than $16,000, not only dependent on condition, but also model year and features.

catalina 25 hull

For example, at various times there was a choice of two different interiors: a dinette arrangement, and opposing settees. A flip-top (Catalinas version of the pop-top), which provided standing headroom, was a popular feature that was optional until 1987, at which time it became standard. In fact, in 1987 the entire boat underwent a major design change, yielding among other things a more contemporary deck and a more refined interior, with less teak and more fiberglass.

Performance and Handling of the Catalina 25

The Catalina 25, with a PHRF rating of around 228 for the standard rig or 222 for the tall rig, is not especially fast for its size. In fact, the swing-keel version, which is noticeably slower upwind than the fin-keel version, probably deserves an even higher time allowance than its been given. The fin keel is generally acknowledged to sail close to its rating, at least once the breeze pipes up to 10 knots or so. The swing keel is not as hydrodynamically sleek, and the keel lifting cable is out in the open where it causes extra drag, intensified if seaweed gets hung up on it.

The boat (especially the keel version) balances relatively well, tracks satisfactorily, and is quite maneuverable if sails are properly trimmed; it can be unforgiving if they are not. Several owners com plained to us of a heavy weather helm in a breeze.

The tall rig is a bit more tender than the standard rig, but definitely adds speed in light air. One just reefs a little earlier to maintain helm balance. But despite its virtues, the tall rig has a drawback mentioned by several owners: Unless you have a sailmaker chop off the bottom 12″ of the sail, the boom swings too low over the cockpit. This, however, may be the fault of some sailmakers; the consensus is that Catalina-supplied sails were not as well-made or well-shaped as those obtained from other sailmakers.

Under power, the Catalina 25 will make about 5- 1/2 knots with a 6-hp. outboard, and you can coax an extra 1/2 to 3/4 knot or so out of the boat with an 8- hp. or 9.9-hp. engine. (Theoretical maximum hull speed in ideal conditions is around 6.3 knots.)

The outboard is mounted on a fold-up transom bracket mounted off center to accommodate the outboard rudder. Some owners complained that the motor is difficult to raise and lower. Others observed that, in rough seas, when the boat pitches, an ordinary 20″ shaft outboard prop has a tendency to ventilate, particularly if the auxiliary is used under sail and the boat heels away from the side on which the engine is mounted. The owner consensus is that a 25″ extra long shaft largely solves that problem.

An inboard diesel engine would also solve the problem, but is not recommended; an owner of a 1986 model equipped with a 10-hp. Universal engine reports his boat is very slow under power, at least with the two-blade prop hes currently using. A three-blade prop might help, but would also significantly increase drag under sail.

Another disadvantage of the transom-mounted outboard is that its difficult for the helmsman to control. One owner who told us hed rigged remote engine controls in the cockpit said, Its the best thing weve done.

The boat needs to be reefed in 15 knots of wind (a jiffy reefing main was standard in later boats, though a roller furler for the jib was not). Above 15 knots, weather helm becomes very heavy if the main is left unreefed; one owner observed that she tends to round up in strong winds, or if heeled more than 15 degrees.

A short traveler is integrated into the stern pulpit, and although this works well while cruising, and

permits use of a bimini to protect crew from too much sun, mid-boom sheeting and a mid-cockpit traveler work better for single-handed daysailing and racing. Consequently, many owners have added the inboard traveler, some with a snap-on mainsheet block so they can switch back and forth.

A peculiarity of the design is that the distribution of the boats components evidently caused listing, in some boats to starboard, in others to port. For example, in the 1981 dinette model, owners complained that the dinette, engine, fuel tank, galley, and head were all on the port side, causing the boat to list noticeably to port. Catalina evidently took these complaints to heart, but the results were not totally effective; an owner of a 1982 model complained that batteries, holding tank, and outboard on the starboard side produced a list in that direction.

Other owner responses to our questionnaire included the following:

The absence of a bridge deck is a possible safety hazard when sailing offshore in a big following sea.

Narrow (7″ wide) sidedecks make going forward somewhat difficult. So do the 22″ high stanchions when the boat is heeled, impeding passage forward on the high side; shorter stanchions would help, but wouldnt be as safe.

The lifelines don’t lead to the top of the bow pulpit, but instead run to the deck at the bow to provide a slot for a deck-sweeping genoa. This can make the foredeck area insecure in adverse weather conditions. Bails on the top of the pulpit and pelican hooks on the lifelines would be an improvement, since it would then be possible to raise the lifelines in heavy weather or when a high-clew jib is being used.

Catalina 25 Interior

Compared to other boats available in the 1970s an early 1980s, the Catalina 25 is relatively spacious below, though some readers complained that the aft double is really only a single quarter berth and that the port side settee berth is not long enough for an adult. Newer beamier designs, of course, have the advantage of more elbow room below.

At least one owner improved sleeping accommodations by building a plywood platform which fits between the table on the port side and the settee on the starboard. The aft berth cushion, under the cockpit sole, was shortened slightly to fit on this platform. When in place, the platform results in an athwartships berth about 6′ 4″ long and 5′ 1″ wide, big enough for a double sleeping bag. When not in use, the plywood platform stows on the aft berth.

catalina 25 specs

Light and ventilation below is very adequate, as long as theres a breeze from forward. Because the forward hatch slopes down the forward edge of the cabin trunk, when open it becomes a very effective windscoop. Boats with pop-tops have additional ventilation.

The pop-top was an extra-cost option, and a very popular one. Reader praise of the pop-top is almost universal, with comments from Buyer interest is much higher on boats with pop-tops to Contrary to what some folks say, this pop-top does not leak in the rain or spray. Headroom is 6′ 4″ with the pop-top raised.

Until the 1983 model year, when the company redesigned the icebox so it would, as one owner reported, keep block ice for three days, the icebox was severely under-insulated; many owners reported that it would only hold ice for less than a day. Another complaint was that the icebox drains directly overboard, and as a consequence, if the drain is left open when the boat heels, water enters the icebox. One reader killed two birds with one stone: We keep our trash in the built-in cooler where it is out of sight, and use an Igloo cooler which is bigger and works better.

Construction of the Catalina 25

The Catalina 25 has a full fiberglass hull liner, which makes it easier to keep the boat clean but at the same time can make repairs and adding owner-installed custom components more difficult.

Several owners judged that Florida-built Catalina 25 hulls, though adequate in strength, are not as well finished as the California-built boats. And several others commented on gel coat chipping and cracking, voids, pits, and crazing, particularly in stressed areas such as at sharp changes of direction in the cockpit, and corners of hatch covers, though these problems didnt seem to be a function of builder location.

Bottom blistering seems to have been a fairly common problem on Catalina 25s when an epoxy bottom coat had not been applied under the antifouling paint to prevent water incursion. Catalina now has a 10-year no-blister warranty, but during the era of the Catalina 25, the company had a five-year warranty with gradually diminishing payments during the period. Judging from reader response to our questionnaire, some owners were not entirely satisfied with that arrangement.

In the swing-keel version, Catalina used an ordinary galvanized steel trailer winch to hoist the keel, and although there are no doubt some 20-year-old boats that still have the original winch, many owners have had to repair or replace some or all of it, particularly when the boat is sailed in saltwater.

Another problem with early swing keel models involved breaking the pennant. At the lifting point on the trailing edge of the swing-keel there is a tapped hole on a flat area into which screws a stainless steel eye. A swaged fork fits over the eye and pivots on it as the keel swings up or down. The factory fixed the eye in place with Loctite, but over the years the eye could rotate, so that the clevis pin became parallel to the keel instead of perpendicular to it. Then it would bind, and eventually end up bending and then breaking the wire at the joint of the wire and the swaged fitting. To solve the problem, Catalina came up with a device to keep the eye from rotating, but some older boats may not be retrofitted. Owners and prospective buyers of older boats should examine the swing keel to be sure the eye is solidly fixed in place.

Several owners complained that there is no mechanical lock to stop movement of the swing keel,

which even at anchor can move laterally in its trunk, banging, thumping, and making it, according to one owner, hard to sleep through the night. Catalina offers a retrofit kit to alleviate the problem, composed of nylon or neoprene washers -but according to some owners, this cure is only partially effective.

The surface of the cast iron swing keel was said by some of the performance-oriented owners to be comparatively rough as it came from the factory. They advise filling and sanding fair and smooth for better sailing speed. We would add that the keel should be checked regularly for corrosion, and an epoxy barrier coat should be maintained on the surface to prevent excessive rusting and deterioration.

Deck and cabin hardware, while generally adequate, is considered sub-par by some owners, particularly on the early models. For example, the type of closed-barrel turnbuckles Catalina used are hard to inspect without disassembly, and as a result tend to corrode internally, sometimes freezing or completely failing. Later models have the open-barrel type, which is preferable.

The forward hatch for several model years was attached with self-tapping screws rather than throughbolted, causing the hatch to become loose in some cases. By 1983, bolts had replaced the screws. Other relatively common complaints include rusty screws on deck fittings, broken boom goosenecks, insufficient bow eye backing plates, tillers splitting (on one boat the tiller split twice), and problems with rudders delaminating and splitting along the edge.

A particularly common problem noted is that rudder gudgeons and pintles break or come adrift

from the transom. The repair involves installing a handhole inspection port on the inside of the transom to gain access to the fastening bolts. One reader said his lower pintle had broken under racing conditions, but that he had cured the problem by adding a third pintle and gudgeon halfway between the top and bottom fittings.

Several other readers reported that their boats had loose gudgeon bolts, stress cracks in the transom at the gudgeon attachment points, and transom leaks. One owner reported the transom cracked below the motor bracket because of lack of reinforcement behind the bracket.

The hull-deck joint on some models used selftapping screws rather than through-bolts. Several readers experienced rain and spray leaks along the rail. Portlights also have been a source of leakage problems, as have cockpit scuppers, rudder gudgeons, and various pieces of dealer-installed deck hardware, mostly due, we guess, to inadequate bedding procedures and backup plates.

Trailering the Catalina 25

Despite the fact that a bare Catalina 25 weighs approximately 4,150 lbs., the boat plus trailer, loaded for a weeks cruise, can easily weigh over 6,000 pounds. That means its necessary to tow with a big pickup or van equipped with a towing package, and virtually eliminates prospective trailer-sailors who only have access to an ordinary passenger vehicle, no matter how powerful. (An exception: Big cars built before the advent of downsizing and integral frames. For example, one reader says he pulls his 6,000-lb. rig successfully with a 1973 Olds 98).

The Catalina 25s mast is deck-stepped on a hinge, but several readers complained that no factory method is offered to make mast-raising safer and easier. Still, some owners have devised their own systems, with which they seem to be satisfied. One who made extensive modifications figures it takes him a mere 45 to 60 minutes from the time he pulls into the parking lot at the launching ramp until hes sailing away-and only a little longer than that to reverse the procedure.

One reader pointed out that with the swing keel model the rudder is deeper than the retracted keel (unless its a folding rudder, which Catalina offered as an option in some model years), which can produce problems at the launching ramp under some conditions. Another owner feels that his fin-keel is as easy to ramp-launch as a swing keel, provided an extra-long trailer tongue extension is used. We think that might be true on some ramps, but not on others.

If youre shopping for a Catalina 25 already equipped with a trailer, check the GVWR (Gross

Vehicle Weight Rating) decal before you buy. It indicates the loaded weight of the trailer in pounds, i.e. the sum of the carrying capacity of the trailer plus the weight of the trailer itself. One reader ordered (from a Florida dealer) and paid for a trailer with a 7,000 lb. capacity rating. What he got was one rated for only 5,000 lbs. He was prompted to check the decal because, he says, The trailer looked skimpy. He weighed the combination with the boat stripped and it came to 5,620 lbs. The dealer claimed it was the same trailer they always use for this boat an the dealer passed me off to the Florida plant, who passed me off to the trailer manufacturer, who finally made good after Frank Butler got into the act-after seven months of hassling.

New or unseasoned sailors making their first or second foray into the boat-buying game may find that the Catalina 25 is an attractive choice. The boat is relatively easy to handle, can be single-handed without too much trouble, and while not fast in the racing sense, is fast enough to satisfy many cruisers. The interior is big enough for two to cruise in relative comfort, while the overall size of the boat is not daunting to most newcomers to the sport. Other advantages for new sailors are that Catalina, in most cases, does a good job with customer service, and theres a quarterly 100-page glossy publication for all Catalina owners (from 8′ Sabots to all the way to Catalina 42s) called Mainsheet which offers support and helps to keep communications open between owners.

Asking prices on used Catalina 25s range from around $4,000 for older (late 1970s) models that probably need some work, to around $16,000 for newish (late 1980s) models fully equipped and in like-new condition, probably with an inboard engine and a trailer included. A price of $7,000 to

$8,000 is typical for early to mid-1980s boats, though we noticed a wide range, presumably based on condition and accessories.

Prospective buyers should check for bottom blisters (which can be expensive to repair), evidence of problems around the keel bolts or pivot on the swing keel, rudder connection problems, cracks in turnbuckles or rigging terminals, leaks around windows and hull-deck connection, and other common (and correctable) flaws.

Also check for which of the many extra-cost options have been installed-options which many experienced sailors would say should have been standard: boom vang, genoa winches, pop-top with canvas enclosure (originally two separate options), basic electrical system with running lights and cabin lights, galley equipment, head, lifelines and stanchions, and sails. Check especially the brand of sails; many readers report that they have been dissatisfied with Catalinas own brand of sails.

Overall, we think the Catalina 25 is not fancy or fast, but is economical, a fair sailer, and roomy for its size-a good boat for non-racers who don’t have a big budget and for relatively new sailors who want to get their feet wet in the sport.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

12 comments.

Mr Nicholson,

Thank you for the report on the Catalina “25” I’ve Been searching for an older (less expensive) under 30’ single handed sailboat for the past several months and finally today someone posted a Catalina 25’ on buy, sell, or trade in the Destin Florida area. The elder gentleman wanted to restore it but a bad hip has preventing that, so he sold it to me. I started sailing about 20 years ago with a Balboa 27’ with a swing keel (what a life saver). Lost it in the divorce. There are many sand banks and shoals here in Choctawhatchee Bay and a swing keel is what a newbie needs. I don’t think this Catalina has a swing keel, at least I don’t see the crank in the cabin. The ships dimensions in your report help immensely. I have not done an inventory yet on board (they left a lot of stuff) I hoping the main is useable and I have already inspected and cleaned the storm jib, I don’t see a Genoa (Bimini) or any other jib sail hidden away. Anyways, thanks for your report I look forward to getting it under sail.

We’ve had a 1985 Catalina 25 swing keel since 2006. I’ve sailed a lot of different boats over more than fifty years. This boat has been a good investment for fun and reliability. I’ve never reefed in the near fifteen years sailing it on the Monterey Bay. We’ve burried the rails on more than one occasion and while it does weather helm in heavy winds, it’s easily managed and I’ve never been worried about a knockdown.

Have 1985 Catalina 25 swing keel, #K4978. I don’t know if it’s the standard or tall rig. Can I tell from the HIN#?

i am new owner of a 25ft 1981 catalina and i need 1 simple measurement .. height of wing keel from the bottom of keel to the bottom of the boat as i am building a trailer to get it home with..

sorry fin keel

I am looking to buy a fixed keel Catalina 25. The keel seems short ar 4 ft when I would have expected 5 ft for a boat this size. My question is does this make the boat more tender with ballast less lower in the keel. And how does this affect performance say against the swing keel model

Did you get to sail ‘er this summer? We have a 1980 fin keel and as long as your co-captain doesn’t mind 10 to 15 degree heel, you’re not afraid to reef the main in a blow and you’re not sailing in a hurricane, you’ll find that 4 feet of keel is plenty.

Hi Peter, We’ve had our 1986 C25 SR SK for four years now. Our mooring mates have an 81 TR FK and we oftentimes run them together. While the Tall Rig makes theirs a little tender, proper trim seems to mitigate most puffs. As for our Swing Keel, typically deployed fully, we notice we cannot point as high but routinely we are keeping up around 6kts. I do notice in the SK, with the other owners aboard, that we have gain positive comments for our sails so I guess that is where you have a tough time making scientific comparisons, lots of variables. We have an even less fair comparison, a C25 Capri who has newer nicer sails and a seasoned skipper who wins most regattas and that fin easily allows him to point with a larger sail plan. The more I write, the less I think this will help you; however, for a swing keel, we’re plenty happy from a non-competitive perspective and don’t have envy/regrets when looking on those with fixed.

We have a Catalina 25 from 1983. We are in a humid area. We love the boat! Our son wants to add an air conditioner of some form to make it more tolerable to sleep on hot nights. I do not want to overwhelm the interior where I sit at the table to prepare meals and do artwork. What suggestions might you have for our situation? Thank you!

Pardon it is an 89 not an 83 Catalina !

I have a 1985 22ft and the cable for the keel broke can this be loaded onto a trailer?

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What is a good Trailer Sailboat?

  • Thread starter ShalomOrchard
  • Start date Dec 15, 2022
  • Forums for All Owners
  • Trailer Sailors

ShalomOrchard

What is a Good Trailer Sailboat? My Criteria? Smaller then 30 ft. Can be ?easily? launched from a trailer on a ramp... Is livable for a week long trip or so. Older / Classic Sailboat that can bought inexpensively Decent Headroom? Can be sailed Single handed. A Cabin with at least a couple decent sized windows, instead of small portholes. I'm considering downsizing from a Pearson 30, to something that can be trailered, not daily or per sail, as it would be on a mooring during the season, or can be trailered elsewhere to sail. Many Thanks, Jim.  

Leeward Rail

Leeward Rail

ShalomOrchard said: Is livable for a week long trip or so. Click to expand
ShalomOrchard said: A Cabin with at least a couple decent sized windows, instead of small portholes Click to expand
ShalomOrchard said: Older / Classic Sailboat that can bought inexpensively Click to expand

BarryL

Hi, Unfortunately the sailboat you are looking does not exist (as far as I know). Once the boat gets bigger than 22' or so, launching and retrieving becomes very difficult. My first boat was a Catalina 22. A nice, fun, easy to sail boat. I trailer sailed it for one year. Even after lots of practice it took at least one hour to launch and another hour to recover. While that boat was relatively easy to sail and had a small cabin, I would state it was livable for a week. The Catalina 25 can be trailered, but it's a lot of work and very difficult to raise the mast, launch, recover, etc. I have HEARD of someone trailering a Catalina 27, but that seems crazy to me. Good luck, Barry  

Will Gilmore

Will Gilmore

ComPac 23. Comes also in a pilot house version. -Will  

"Liveable is totally subjective. Some people think a Catalina 22 is liveable for a week... Others would say nothing under 30ft need apply." Since it is subjective, I would depend on other people's description of the boat.... I could then decide if it met my standards. "On a boat under 30 feet that is unlikely." I swear I've seen I boat like that. I can't recall what it was, but I think It may have been some variety of Pearson. The aft end of the cabin was a bit higher then usual, and had two decent sized windows with a dinette on one side and the galley on the other. "Define inexpensive.. That term is also subjective. What price range ?" Let's say an older boat under $10,000. I bought my P30 for $4k. If I can only find a suitable boat for more money, I'll have to figure something out. "What are you using for trailering ? SUV ? 1 ton pickup ?" I doubt that will be an issue. I expect other factors will be a problem before the tow vehicle becomes a problem. As of now, I have a E450SD Shuttlebus to pull my P30. But I just use it to pull it from the boatyard to home and vice versa once a year. "Seawards are nice" I looked at them, they seemed quite nice, but I imagine very expensive. Thanks for responding!  

Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

By two previous boats were both trailer-sailed and over 25'. My first was a Clipper Marine 26 swing keel and the second was a Catalina C25 swing keel. I could step the mast on both with one helper. They had a tabernacle mast base that allowed the mast to rotate at the base. I carried the mast on deck with the head towards the stern. I would rig a gin-pole that held the jib halyard up about 8' above the deck to the tabernacle mast base with lateral support lines. Raising the mast was a matter of walking the mast back to connect the base, attaching the aft lower, uppers and aftstay than cranking on the jib halyard to raise the mast. It took about an hour to rig and launch. Of the two, the Clipper was lighter and easier to to tow. The Catalina was more comfortable.  

"ComPac 23. Comes also in a pilot house version." VERY Interesting. How does the "hideaway" galley work?  

dmax

9 Best Trailerable Sailboats | Life of Sailing

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Will Gilmore said: ComPac 23. Comes also in a pilot house version. Click to expand

rgranger

I’ve owned two macgregor 21 sailboats, A McGregor 22, Coronado 23, Coronado 25, a Balboa 26, A Rhodes 22, and a Hunter 26. of those boats the roads 22 and the hunter 26 are the only two that I would consider comfortable to stay on for a week or more that are also easy to launch and easy to retrieve. The Balboa 26 is a very spacious boat but it is a beast to launch. The Coronado 25 is not trailerable  

Crazy Dave Condon

@rgranger Sent the poster a pm if he wants to talk with a former dealer  

ShalomOrchard said: "Seawards are nice" I looked at them, they seemed quite nice, but I imagine very expensive. Click to expand

Used sailboats, sailboats for sale

sbo.sailboatowners.com

“Man is that pilothouse version ugly !” oh come on, it’s not THAT Bad…. For my taste they could have raised the cabintop half as high and cut the window in almost to the deck. Just as big a window, half as high.  

shemandr

Leeward Rail said: Man is that pilothouse version ugly !...Looks like someone glued a shed on a boat... Click to expand

2024 Com-Pac Pilothouse Cruiser for sale - YachtWorld

www.yachtworld.com

ShalomOrchard said: For my taste they could have raised the cabintop half as high and cut the window in almost to the deck. Click to expand

1671520559561.png

SailingLoto

I like my c25. Trailerable with a half to truck. 2 people can step the mast relatively easily. It's reasonably roomy. I trailer mine like you stated. It's slipped spring-fall and trailers out in the winter. This year it has stayed in the water this far, but due to working on it through most of the summer, it's only been in the water since August.  

patbratton

I think that it would be hard to beat a Hunter 260 or a 26. I settled on a Hunter 240 but she is a little small for a week on the water unless you are by yourself. She is easy to pull though, even with my six cylinder Mountaineer. Also I don't know of any boats with an easier mast raising system.  

One thing that I've noticed during my searching is that not all manufacturers put adequate thought/provisioning towards mast raising on a trailer sailor. My current Hunter 23.5 actually has a fairly elegant and simple solution. I've seen a few others that were not as well thought out. As for headroom, that's gonna be difficult. Not impossible, but add week long + 6' headroom + easily launchable and you are very quickly going to exceed $10K budget. There is a couple at my marina that have a Seaward 26 that would fit the bill, but you won't find one of those anywhere close to $10K. Any Mac26 (M or X) that I've found is minimum $13K, and most are over $20K if well equipped. One thing you didn't mention is how many people you plan to have aboard for that week long trip? I would have loved to find a Hunter 26 or 260, as they have a fair amount more room below. But, I bought my 23.5 for less than half of what I could find for ANY 260, and it was almost local. Anything else was at least 18hrs of drive time away. One thing I would suggest in your search is to plan on spending a LOT of time aboard potential boats, and take notes of what you like and don't like. We found that very useful. No boat has everything we would want, but the 23.5 does check most of the boxes for us.  

"One thing that I've noticed during my searching is that not all manufacturers put adequate thought/provisioning towards mast raising on a trailer sailor. My current Hunter 23.5 actually has a fairly elegant and simple solution. I've seen a few others that were not as well thought out." Good to Know "As for headroom, that's gonna be difficult. Not impossible, but add week long + 6' headroom + easily launchable and you are very quickly going to exceed $10K budget. There is a couple at my marina that have a Seaward 26 that would fit the bill, but you won't find one of those anywhere close to $10K. Any Mac26 (M or X) that I've found is minimum $13K, and most are over $20K if well equipped." Yeah, headroom is actually a little lower on the priority then price, trailer ability, and ramp launch, self mast raising. I have a Pearson 30, but I'm trying to downsize to something trailerable. Also high on my priorities is having a couple decent sized ports to be able to sit and look out, instead of feeling like you're in a hole. "One thing you didn't mention is how many people you plan to have aboard for that week long trip?" Well, conceivably it would be just me most of the time. I hope to convince my wife to come along some of the time. Her mobility is limited, so she can't be counted as crew. The biggest problem is the border collie and Australian Shepherd she will want to bring along. "I would have loved to find a Hunter 26 or 260, as they have a fair amount more room below. But, I bought my 23.5 for less than half of what I could find for ANY 260, and it was almost local. Anything else was at least 18hrs of drive time away." "One thing I would suggest in your search is to plan on spending a LOT of time aboard potential boats, and take notes of what you like and don't like. We found that very useful. No boat has everything we would want, but the 23.5 does check most of the boxes for us." Yes, I will be spending at least a year looking until I find something to replace the Pearson 30 with. It's very hard to sail by myself, and expensive to have a yard step the mast, launch, and then lower the mast and pull out each year. Plus a mooring. Thankfully I have a trailer, so I don't have to pay them to store it.  

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Biggest Trailerable Sailboats

Biggest Trailerable Sailboats | Life of Sailing

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

Many sailboats up to about 27 feet in length can be trailered safely on American roads. These vessels are limited by weight, beam, and overall height.

In this article, we'll go over ten of the best large trailerable sailboats on the market. These vessels feature comfortable cabins, excellent sailing characteristics, and they all meet the requirements for towing on U.S. highways.

The best and largest trailerable sailboats are the Cal 20, the Catalina 22, the O'Day 240, The Islander 24, the Moore 24, the Cal 25, the Helms 25, the MacGregor 26, and the Nor'Sea 27. Most of these vessels can be towed behind a well-equipped truck or SUV.

We sourced information and vessel specifications for this article from sailboat manufacturers and record books. We also considered the opinions of sailors who own these vessels and sail them regularly.

Table of contents

What Makes a Sailboat Trailerable?

Trailerable sailboats must meet certain requirements in order to operate on American roads. The primary limitations are width (beam), as the vessel and its trailer must fit in regular traffic lanes and through tunnels. Another consideration is weight, as the vessel should be light enough to be towed by a 3/4 ton or 1-ton pickup truck.

Generally speaking, there's not a specific limit to boat weight in order to be towed. That said, most single and tandem-axle trailers can't exceed about 3,300 pounds per axle. With that in mind, the upper limit for a trailerable sailboat is around 7,000 to 8,000 pounds.

Keel type is an important factor to consider, as it determines how high off the ground the boat has to ride on the trailer. The majority of trailerable sailboats have a centerboard or swing keel that retracts for towing and beaching. Some vessels have shorter displacement keels or fin keels.

The maximum allowable for a trailerable sailboat is 8 ft 6 in. This is because these dimensions are the maximum limit for standard trailers on American roads. A larger boat can be transported on the road, but only as an oversize load.

In practice, very few trailerable sailboats have a beam of exactly 8 ft 6 in. The majority of large trailerable sailboats have a beam of between 7 1/2 ft and 8 ft 3 in. This makes it easier to negotiate tunnels and tighter traffic lanes.

Overall Length

The maximum trailer length for standard trailers is 65 ft, but it's nearly impossible for a trailerable sailboat of this length to meet the width requirements. In practice, the longest trailerable sailboats are around 30 ft in length or shorter. The average is about 20 to 25 ft.

In most states, the maximum height for a trailer load is 14 ft. This necessitates that the mast folds down and that the keel and vessel height combined doesn't exceed 14 ft. You must also take into account the height of the trailer, as a tall boat may not be able to clear highway overpasses.

10 Largest Trailerable Sailboats

Trailerable sailboats come in all shapes and sizes, including some large and roomy configurations. The vessels we chose range in length from 19 ft to 27 ft, and they offer the best accommodations on the market. Here are ten of the best large trailerable sailboats.

1. West Wight Potter 19

It's impossible to write an article about trailerable sailboats without mentioning the West Wight Potter 19. This vessel is perhaps the best and most capable in its class, and it offers surprisingly comfortable accommodations for a lightweight trailerable sailboat.

The West Wight Potter 19 is easy to sail fast and features a roomy cabin with a sink and space for a head. It's considered a pocket Cruiser, and it is very popular in coastal areas. Due to its lightweight construction, this fiberglass sailboat is trailerable behind an SUV or half-ton pickup.

The West Wight Potter 19 has positive buoyancy material throughout the whole, making it effectively unsinkable. Additionally, the mast and rigging collapse and set up in minutes. These vessels were produced up until recently, so they're common on the used market.

  • Lightweight
  • Rigs up fast
  • Roomy cabin
  • Relatively slow

The Cal 20 has been around for decades, and this capable racing boat is ideal the coastal cruising and sailing in semi-protected waters. That said, it's also quite seaworthy, as several have participated in TransPac races between San Francisco and Hawaii.

The Cal 20 is known for its low-profile cabin and easy trailering. At 20 ft in length overall, the Cal 20 is well within limits for trailering on American roads. While not the lightest trailerable sailboat on the list, a well-equipped pickup truck should tow it without issues.

The Cal 20 isn't the boat to choose if you're looking for the most spacious accommodations. That said, the cabin is functional, and the boat excels in handling. It's fast, safe, and agile, thanks to its long and thin profile. It's also a joy to sail in all kinds of weather conditions.

  • Easy to sail
  • Stable in high winds
  • Spartan cabin
  • Deep draft from the fixed keel

3. Catalina 22

The Catalina 22 is one of the most famous large trailerable sailboats ever built. It's one of Catalina's most popular models, and it was a big hit in the 1970s and 1980s. The Catalina 22 has a spacious and thoughtfully designed cabin with a wide companionway and a comfortable V-berth.

The Catalina 22 is a centerboard boat. This means that the keel retracts into the hull for trailering and lowers down easily using a system block-and-tackle or a crank. The vessel is 7.67 feet wide, making it easy to tow on typical American highways.

The vessel is still produced today, and over 15,000 have been built since 1969. This makes it one of the most popular sailboats ever, and hundreds are available on the used market for reasonable prices. Thanks to its superior handling and excellent design, the Catalina 22 is one of the best large trailerable sailboats available.

  • Well-designed cabin
  • Affordable iconic sailboat
  • Minimal headroom
  • Finicky companionway hatch

4. O'Day 240

The O'Day 240 is one of the more seagoing trailerable sailboats on our list. It's beamy and stable, and it handles well in rougher weather conditions. It has a surprisingly comfortable cabin for its size and measures just 24 feet in length overall.

The vessel's wide beam contributes to its stability. However, with a width of 8 ft 3 in, the O'Day 240 approaches the upper limit of trailerable dimensions. The vessel weighs more than comparably sized boats, so you'll need a more powerful vehicle to tow it.

The cabin of the O'Day 240 stands out. It features a V-berth, berthing aft, a galley, and space for a head. There's ample headroom throughout the cabin, which makes the O'Day 240 ideal for extended coastal cruising.

  • Stable Spacious cabin
  • May be too wide for comfortable trailering
  • Unusual cabin design

5. Islander 24

Islander is known for its larger sailboats (28 feet and larger), though it has produced a few excellent trailerable models. We chose the trailerable Islander 24, as it's known in the sailing community for its speed, comfort, and easy handling.

The phrase "they don't build them like they used to" applies to the Islander 24. When this vessel was designed in the early 1960s, boat manufacturers used more fiberglass and produced thicker hulls. This practice is costlier and made the boat weigh more. But it produced stronger vessels that last much longer than their flimsier contemporaries.

This fiberglass sailboat is thoughtfully designed and is well-suited for coastal cruising in the 21st century. It features stronger construction than similar models, and its keel design encourages stable and comfortable sailing.

  • Strong hull and deck
  • Stiff sailing
  • Great windward performance
  • Small cabin
  • Heavy trailer weight

6. Moore 24

The Moore 24 was the first in a new class of vessels called the ultralight displacement sailboat. It has the handling characteristics have a large keelboat but the dimensions of a coastal cruising trailer-sailer.

From the outside, the flush deck of the Moore 24 looks like it couldn't possibly accommodate a cabin. Closer inspection reveals that the vessel has a roomy cabin that resembles that of much larger boats. It features a galley, a head, a V-berth upfront, and attractive paneling throughout.

The Moore 24 is a pocket cruiser by all definitions. It's

an excellent choice for those looking for a trailerable and seaworthy sailboat. Though a bit taller than some other models, the vessel is still well within limits for on-road transportation.

  • Excellent handling
  • Large cabin
  • Heavier than many other 24-foot sailboats

The Cal 25 is essentially a stretched version of the Cal 20. It features the same basic hull design with the iconic flush deck and streamlined cabin. However, it's faster, offers superior accommodations, and it's more seaworthy.

The Cal 25 is known for its stiff handling characteristics in high winds. This is primarily due to its 1,700-pound lead keel, which keeps it upright and tracking straight. However, this does increase the overall weight of the vessel, which is an even 4,000 pounds dry. Thankfully, this is within the towing capacity of most standard pickup trucks.

The interior of the Cal 25 resembles the cabins of larger boats. In other words, it doesn't feel cramped. There's a large sitting area across from the galley and partitions separating the V-berth from the rest of the cabin. Overall, the Cal 25 is an excellent compact sailboat for racing or cruising.

  • Good accommodations
  • Marginal headroom in some areas

8. Helms 25

The Helms 25 is a compact vessel with a true swing keel. Unlike a centerboard, which descends through the hull straight down, a swing keel swings down on the hinge and occupies less space inside of the vessel. With the removal of the centerboard trunk, the Helms 25 retains its trailerable properties while freeing up living space in the cabin.

The Helms 25 is long and fast but not particularly tall. It fits well on a trailer, and its rounded hull doesn't pound in choppy water. The cabin is comfortable and features a small but usable galley, a table with two seating areas, a V-berth, and additional berthing aft.

Some versions of the Helms 25 also feature a separate head area between the V-berth and the central living spaces. The Helms 25 strikes the perfect balance between comfort, seaworthiness, and trailerability. It's safe and fun to sail and sells on the used market for affordable prices.

  • Spacious cabin
  • Long, narrow, and shallow
  • Not ideal for offshore sailing
  • Too long for some trailers

9. MacGregor 26

The MacGregor 26 is larger and more modern than most of the sailboats on our list. As a result, it takes advantage of recent design developments that make it an excellent large trailer-sailer. At 26 ft overall, the MacGregor 26 is also one of the fastest vessels on our list.

At first glance, the dimensions of the MacGregor 26 seem unusual. The hull shape resembles a bathtub, and the vessel's high profile is notable. These characteristics make it stable and easy to handle, and they also give it exceptional headroom in the cabin.

The McGregor 26 came in numerous configurations, which are designated with letters such as '26D' and '26M.' These include various cabin window orientations, colors, accessories, and interior layouts. Some versions of the MacGregor 26 came with a dual rudder setup, which is uncommon in its size range.

  • Modern design
  • Excellent headroom
  • Unusual shape

10. Nor'Sea 27

The final trailerable sailboat on our list is also the most capable. The Nor'Sea 27 is a true offshore sailboat with accommodations that rival any mid-size cruising sailboat. the Nor'Sea 27 is a full-keel displacement sailboat that's designed for stability and motion comfort. It's one of the beefiest sailboats that still fits on a trailer.

The Nor'Sea 27 features standing headroom throughout the cabin. It has a head, galley, and berthing area forward that converts into a table. The cabin is lined with attractive wood paneling, and the entire vessel has a very high level of fit and finish.

The Nor'Sea 27 is built for cruising, and it's ideal for longer voyages and offshore passages. If you're looking for a true cruising sailboat that stores well on a trailer, you can't go wrong with the NorSea 27. Due to its size and capabilities, you'll need a larger vehicle to trailer this vessel safely.

  • Biggest cabin
  • Full-size accommodations
  • Offshore capable
  • Too large for SUV towing
  • Slow to rig and disassemble

largest-trailerable-sailboats-infographic

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IMAGES

  1. 13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels

    trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

  2. Best Small and Trailerable Sailboats

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  3. The prototype powered easily and smoothly, and handled under power like

    trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

  4. Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

    trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

  5. 9 Best Trailerable Sailboats

    trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

  6. Best Small and Trailerable Sailboats

    trailerable sailboat with standing headroom

VIDEO

  1. From regular boat 2 cabin cruiser

  2. Rolling my homebuilt 32ft sailboat hull (part two)

  3. Boat Day

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  5. Boat compartment. #short

  6. Coastal Cruiser Sailboat Sailing

COMMENTS

  1. 7 Trailerable Sailboats That Have Standing Headroom

    Grampian 26. The Canadian-built Grampian 26 was built from the late sixties through the late seventies, and many of the almost 1,000 boats that were built are still around. It has six feet of headroom inside, an enclosed head, and a galley. It's an ideal weekender for a couple, or even a couple with a small child.

  2. Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

    Some examples of small sailboats with standing headroom include the Catalina 25, Grampian 26, and the Beneteau First 27. Keep in mind that some of these might be older boats and are considered trailerable sailboats. Not all small trailerable sailboat brands will have great headroom. Based on previous experience, there are plenty of family ...

  3. 7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising

    The best trailerable sailboats: 1. Catalina 22/25 "Pop-Top" 2. Com-Pac Horizon Cat 3. Marshall Sanderling 4. West Wight Potter 19 5. Seaward 26RK 6. Corsair F-24 Trimaran ... Standing headroom when pop-top extended; Feels much larger than it is; Allows freedom of movement for cooking, changing, etc:

  4. 9 Best Trailerable Sailboats

    Instead of docking a large boat, you can purchase a small trailerable sailboat. A trailerable sailboat is a perfect option for part-time sailors and people with busy lives. ... Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Popular Posts.

  5. 13 Biggest Trailerable Sailboats: Cheap But Good

    The biggest trailerable sailboats that are cost-effective and good are: MacGregor 26; Catalina 22; Hunter 23; San Juan 21; Precision 21; Com-Pac Horizon Cat; O'Day 240; Seaward 26RK; Beneteau First 235; ... MacGregor 26 is one of the 7 trailerable sailboats that have standing headroom.

  6. Best Small and Trailerable Sailboats

    Cruising with a trailerable sailboat means that you can voyage in a small and comfy sailboat with the advantage of saving some serious costs. Having a trailerable sailboat saves you money for storage fees, boatyard haulout, and boat insurance, among others. ... The standing headroom is just over 6ft, there's a V-berth, a head, and a hanging ...

  7. Rhodes 22

    Unlike most trailerable sailboats sold today, the Rhodes 22 uses neither a swing keel nor water ballast. Instead, there's a shoal keel with a centerboard built in. With the board up, the boat draws 20″; 48″ with the board down. ... It converts the cockpit to a standing-headroom second cabin with a padded floor, and provides luxurious camp ...

  8. Trailerable Sailboats Comparison

    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. ... The cabins usually feature a full galley, standing headroom, ahead with a shower, a V ...

  9. CP 23 Pilothouse, A Trailerable Cruising Sailboat from Com-Pac Yachts

    1195 Kapp Dr., Clearwater, Florida 33765 USA. Call Us: 727-443-4408. E-mail Us: [email protected]. 104.156.48.242. With abundant storage, standing headroom, and excellent light and ventilation, the CP 23 Pilothouse is a great trailerable cruiser.

  10. Trailerable Boats with Comfort and Speed

    Farrier, who passed away in 2017, created the F-22 as a kind of culmination of all he'd continued to learn about small, trailerable multihulls in the years since he penned the F-27 trimaran, a true trail-blazer and now part of the "Sailboat Hall of Fame.". Another F-22 sidles up alongside a pier in Malta with amas folded in.

  11. Best Pocket Cruiser Sailboats, Small Cruising Sailboats

    It's a small trailerable sailboat, typically under 30 feet in length, that's ideal for cruising big lakes, bays, coastal ocean waters, and occasionally bluewater cruising. ... the local racing scene. For a modest 27-footer, the Newport 27 has an unusually spacious interrior with over 6 feet of standing headroom. With 4 berths, a table, nav ...

  12. 13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels

    MacGregor 26. There are several varieties of the MacGregor 26 beyond the base boat, including the 26D (1986-89), 26S (1990-95), 26X (1995-2003) and 26M (2002-2013). MacGregor boats have proven very popular trailerable boats, selling over 38,000 boats during the company's lifetime.

  13. Trailerable Sailboat Reviews: Small Boats, Big Adventures

    Launched in 1985, the speedy Corsair F-27 ­delivers double-digit boat speeds. Courtesy The Manufacturer. 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.

  14. Catalina 250 Sailboat Review

    Catalina 250. The Catalina 250 is a flooding-water-ballast trailerable boat. There is no fixed. ballast, and for tracking the boat relies on an unweighted centerboard. Righting. moment comes from a flooding system that permits the double bottom of the boat. to be filled with seawater, which is emptied when it comes time to leave the.

  15. BENETEAU First 27 SE

    LIVING ONBOARD. The First 27 SE is the only B category, trailerable 8m boat on the market with a fully functional interior. While it may look minimalistic, her extremely weight-sensitive interior is outfitted with components that also function as part of the boat's structure. She can accommodate up to 6 adults, two in a separate bow cabin and 4 ...

  16. Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30 Feet

    Trailerable sailboats are the perfect solution for weekend or day cruisers. They're easy to store, transport, and set up, which gets you on the water fast. ... Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Popular Posts.

  17. Is this possible? Standing headroom, trailerable, AND seaworthy?

    Seems like this could be of some use to me for once. After a little research it seems possible to find some yachts which feature the following: - headroom of at least 5'8 in at least one part of the sabin. - a separate heads, or at least a forecabin with heads. - 'trailerable' for end of season transport and storage at home, saving crane hire etc.

  18. Trailerable pocket cruiser with standing headroom

    Older Catalina 27 or 25. Catalina 27 About the same size as the Pearson 27 with 6' headroom. Draft is 4'. Displacement is about 6000 lb. The 25 is is smaller and has less draft and has 6' 6" headroom in a pop-up companion way. 25 would be trailerable (4500 lbs) easily with a normal truck.

  19. Best Small Sailboats, Beginner and Trailerable Sailboats

    The boat is designed with positive flotation and offers good load-carrying capacity, which you could put to use if you added the available canvas work and camping tent. NorseBoats offers a smaller sibling, the 12.5, as well; both are available in kit form. $19,000, (902) 659-2790, norseboat.com.

  20. The Working Man's Guide to Trailer Sailing

    Let me introduce you to the Trailer Sailer. A trailerable sailboat is in many ways better than a keel boat or a dinghy. You can get a trailer down a boat ramp, it stores for free in your backyard, and it has many of the benefits of a keel boat or dinghy, with fewer drawbacks. Some might argue that the perfect sailboat is the trailer sailer.

  21. The Catalina 25

    A flip-top (Catalinas version of the pop-top), which provided standing headroom, was a popular feature that was optional until 1987, at which time it became standard. In fact, in 1987 the entire boat underwent a major design change, yielding among other things a more contemporary deck and a more refined interior, with less teak and more fiberglass.

  22. What is a good Trailer Sailboat?

    7 Trailerable Sailboats That Have Standing Headroom Trailering your boat is a great way to sail in a lot of different places while keeping your boat budget in control. You can take a smaller boat a long way to launch it somewhere new, and you don't get saddled with a lot of mooring and dockage fees while your boat sits around unused.

  23. Biggest Trailerable Sailboats

    The best and largest trailerable sailboats are the Cal 20, the Catalina 22, the O'Day 240, The Islander 24, the Moore 24, the Cal 25, the Helms 25, the MacGregor 26, and the Nor'Sea 27. ... Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Popular Posts.