seaworthy trailerable sailboat

Some boats seem to be more seaworthy than others. They survive storms unscathed where others get into serious trouble. Is this just luck? No, it's work.

Every boat has an invisible black box that stores good-luck points. You earn a point every time you check the rigging before setting sail. You earn points for taking a shore bearing after you've anchored. Points pile up when you change the engine oil on time and buy new batteries for the GPS. In short, every seamanlike precaution you take, every little bit of maintenance or checking you do, especially on dark rainy nights when you'd rather be in your bunk, every bit of pre-planning on the chart, earns another point.

In times of stress, when you're caught in a storm and you've done all you physically can, the points are cashed in as protection. You can't control their withdrawal. They withdraw themselves as needed.

Boats that have no points in the black box will later be described as "unlucky" and 'unfortunate.' But those with points to expend will survive the same conditions. The black box will take care of you. All you need to do is keep it topped up. JV

Seaworthiness is notoriously difficult to define, but we can reasonably expect the following characteristics in a seaworthy trailerable sailboat being operated in conditions for which she was designed:

There are a number of variables in our seaworthiness test, but here is an example of how three small boats with seaworthy reputations might score. For the sake of comparison, we've given each boat full credit for safety gear and reefing options and assumed their skippers were thoroughly experienced. Put your boat to the test and see how it compares. Eds

13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels

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

13 popular sailboats with lifting keels that can be trailered

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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What's the Largest Sailboat You Can Trailer?

• Articles and Guides

Best Trailerable Sailboat Brands to Cruise or Race

18th dec 2023 by samantha wilson.

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

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

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

Corsair Marine photo. 

What Is the Biggest Sailboat I Can Trailer?

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

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

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

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

The Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats

The best trailerable cruising sailboat brands.

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

Beneteau First 27SE. Beneteau photo. 

The Best Trailerable Sport Sailboats

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

The Best Trailerable Sport Sailboat Brands

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

Melges 24. Melges photo. 

The Best Trailerable Youth Sailboats

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

The Best Trailerable Youth Sailboat Brands

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

Laser sailboats. Laser Performance photo. 

The Best Small Trailerable Sailboats

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

The Best Small Trailerable Sailboats Brands

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

NorseBoat 17.5. NorseBoat photo. 

The Best Trailerable Catamaran and Trimaran Sailboats

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

The Best Trailerable Catamaran and Trimaran Sailboat Brands

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

Dragonfly 28.1. Dragonfly photo. 

Written By: Samantha Wilson

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

More from: Samantha Wilson

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Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Best trailer sailboats: Our trailer sailing expert offers his recommendations

• Colin Haines
• March 28, 2022

PBO reader Paul Adamson wants to know what are the best trailer sailboats. Our trailer sailing expert Colin Haines has this advice…

Paul Adamson wonders if a Beneteau First 21.7 like this is the ideal trailer-sailer for him. Photo: David Harding

Paul Adamson from the Isle of Man, writes: “My wife and I are looking to buy a trailer sailboat, mainly for coastal cruising with an overnight before returning to berth.

“We have room to store over winter and so are looking forward to all those upsides that trailer sailing offers.

“My research so far is leading me to a Beneteau First 21.7. Is there anything else out there that I should also seriously consider as a trailer sailboat?”

PBO trailer sailing expert Colin Haines replies: “These days the limitations of getting a boat to the water are clearly defined.

“Obviously, your driving licence defines your limits with regards to weight you’re allowed to be in control of.

“The maximum weight of trailer that a car can pull is defined by the car’s VIN plate and the maximum allowable weight on a single axle is 1,800kg.

“Double axle trailers can carry more weight but are effectively impossible to turn round by muscle power alone when manoeuvring. The 3,500kg limit of combined car and trailer weight may also apply.

Article continues below…

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What is a lugger? And why they make great trailer-sailers – answered!

Compulsive boat owner Clive Marsh explains why little luggers make perfect trailer-sailers

“The internet tells me the official weight of a Beneteau First 21.7 is 1,245 kg, but this will be the minimum. Reality may well see the boat weighing more.

“Steel-built trailers typically weigh about 40% of the weight of the boat they carry, suggesting you’re looking at towing something like 1,750kg, perilously close to the 1,800kg limit for a single axle trailer.

“However, having personally towed a similar weight for many thousands of miles, provided your rig is well set up and you take your time it presents little to worry about if the trailer’s brakes are better than adequate.

“Launching and recovering a heavy boat depends on the trailer’s design. Submersion launching will lead to problems with rusting trailer wheel bearings. Sealed bearings keep grease in but won’t keep water out – they can rust after a single submersion.

Quite large yachts can be successfully trailed and sailed with the right tow vehicle and trailer combination. This is a Swallow Yachts Bay Cruiser 26

“One solution is to carry the boat on a launching trolley resting on the trailer, adding weight to be towed down the road. The other is some form of break-back trailer that pivots in the middle.

“Getting the trailer’s wheels wet to allow the boat to be launched into deeper water is not a problem provided the water level does not reach the bearings.

“Trailer brakes do not prevent the trailer from running backwards down a slipway, so the tow vehicle needs a very effective handbrake.

“The Beneteau First 21.7 is ‘unsinkable’ but everything has a price. In this case, being unsinkable the boat is effectively two boats, one inside the other with foam in between.

“The inner ‘boat’ is therefore smaller and there’ll be a lack of stowing spaces compared with similar sized single-skin boats. This I know because much of my trail-sailing was done with an unsinkable Etap 22i .

“The adverts don’t mention thermal insulation, but it is an important consideration. One Easter on the Norfolk Broads we were warm enough in the cabin when we woke up to be surprised to see an inch or so of snow on the decks.

“I wouldn’t limit your search to a single trailer sailboat at this stage. Instead, I suggest you prepare a list of desirable features and then look for the best trailer sailboats that tick as many boxes as possible.

“There may be some mileage in the idea of buying your first trailer sailboat knowing that it’s not perfect, and with the full intention of sailing it for two years and then selling it.

“By then, you may have the same tick-list, but the priorities for you and your wife will be very, very, different. What you actually end up buying will then depend on what is for sale at the time. As ever, the final choice will be a compromise.

“The benefit of a trailer sailboat, of course, is that it opens up a whole new world of cruising grounds. A Spring Bank Holiday on Scotland ’s west coast can be followed by a summer holiday cruise of Brittany’s Gulf of Morbihan. I’ve done that, and during the same year spent Easter on the Norfolk Broads.

“If you choose a trailer sailboat that’s easy to launch and rig the mast, then when fair winds coincide with a weekend, the whim to spend a night anchored somewhere sheltered can be turned into a reality.”

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• Sailboat Reviews

Seaward 26 RK

By no means just a stretch version of hake yachts' 25-footer, this new craft features a retractable keel and sensible pricing options..

When Nick Hake, a graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, decided that he’d had enough midwestern winters, he moved to Florida. Despite his epicurean proclivities, he decided that he liked building boats more than being the head chef at an upscale restaurant in Coconut Grove.

“I always wanted to be self-employed,” he recalled.

Between 1974 and 1982, Hake built roughly 2,000 dinghies before introducing a 17-footer called the ‘Slipper,’ which ultimately became an 18-footer that was marketed as the Fox. With the introduction of a 22-footer in 1979, he formed Seaward Yachts, but now markets Seaward models under the Hake Yachts brand.

In 1984 he introduced a 24-footer that eventually became the Seaward 25 (see PS February 1, 2003), but in 1993 he sold the company to a group of Philadelphia-based investors. However, after two years, the romance of the boatbuilding business wore thin with the hobbyist owners, and they sold the business back to Hake. He now focuses solely on production of the newly designed Seaward 26RK, and the Eagle, a shallow-water 32-footer.

Though the company enjoys a reputation for building solid boats, it was during Hake’s hiatus that lax construction methods and poor quality control resulted in a number of poorly constructed boats leaving the factory.

Since Hake’s return, boat construction and quality control have returned to prior levels. In fact, the production floor is now adorned by a bulletin board—visible to both customers and employees—that itemizes the most recent “mistakes worth mentioning,” along with the appropriate corrective measures.

“We see it, and our customers see it,” Hake said.

Design Hake designs the boats his company manufactures. His latest, the Seaward 26RK, bears a striking resemblance to her 25-foot predecessor. The first impression when viewed abeam is that her profile is traditional, accented by a tall bow and upward-sloping cabintop highlighted by four ports, and downward sloping sheerline leading to a cockpit surrounded by a stainless steel stern rail housing two seats.

“We designed new molds for the boat, and took a new approach to pricing at the same time,” Hake said. Compared to the 25-footer, the new model has 18″ more waterline length, and a more user-friendly cockpit since “most of the additional space is aft of the wheel.” The additional waterline length also contributes to improved performance.

Of the modifications, Hake says that he also “wanted to increase the designed waterline for the purpose of increasing buoyancy in the stern when she’s loaded with several adults. The 25-footer tended to drag her stern a bit when overloaded, which affects performance, so we solved that problem.”

A roomy cockpit—even on a boat this size—is an important feature as that’s where the majority of time on board will be spent. Measuring 8′ 4″ long by 5′ 2″ wide, with seats that are 16″ wide, this cockpit will comfortably seat four, allowing the helmsman adequate space to steer and the crew sufficient room to trim sails.

The 26RK also has a transom gate that eases entry from the stern.

We were befuddled to learn that most purchasers opt for a boat equipped with a wheel (a $2,150 option), since she carries a light helm and the tiller can be moved out of the way when dockside.

Hake calls his hull shape a “spherical tumblehome,” defining that as “a concentric shape at the waterline from the bow to amidships with soft bilges.” When overpowered, a soft bilge produces tippyness, but Hake explained: “she’ll make way best when heeled 10 degrees, and owners begin shortening sail when the wind pipes up to around 15 or 17 knots. Though she has a plumb bow, she also has a rounded entry that prevents broaches by eliminating the tendency of the nose to bite into the sea and skid.

“We were primarily looking for a boat that would do the best job of sailing in the waters of the East coast, particularly Florida, where we have tons of quiet and unspoiled waters that are very shallow, but also to be able to cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas and do some island hopping…Performance-wise, we wanted a boat that would sail with a sport-boat feel but could be easily handled by one person and comfortable for a family. We kept the rig uncomplicated, the underbody clean, and went with vertically retracting foils to take care of performance, stability, and shallow water issues.”

Hake scored points on those criteria, having produced a sail area/displacement ratio of 18.4, and displacement/length ratio of 113.2, both of which are considered on the fast side. In comparison, the Catalina 250 (wing-keel version) displaces 4,200 lbs. with 200 fewer pounds of ballast, to produce a SA/D ratio of 16.29 and a D/L ratio of 195. On paper, the Seaward has the speed edge.

The 26RK displaces 3,800 lbs., only 200 lbs. more than her predecessor. Weight, Hake said, is distributed throughout the boat and that doesn’t affect performance or balance.

The retractable keel is a NACA-designed, high-aspect, 8′-long section with 26″ wings attached to a bulb. It draws 6′ when fully deployed and only 2′ (the depth of the bulb) when raised. Its thin shape—the chord is only 15.5″—and low center of gravity, are nearly identical to longer, fixed-keel boats, so it produces excellent tacking ability, as we learned during our test sail.

“We chose a torpedo bulb on the keel to keep displacement low without compromising stability, and produced a lower center of gravity and improved stability. We also felt the bulb was necessary to keep stability high when the boat was sailed in shallow-water situations with the keel only partially extended,” Hake explained. This is another good change since, in shallow water with a typical dagger elevated, wind and surf might produce an unpleasant ride.

Lowering and retracting the 1,200-lb. keel is a simple matter of pulling one of two lines located on the cabintop near the cockpit. The lines are attached to a switch on a Rule Industries 20SS electrical motor with a 2,000-lb. lift capacity, all housed in a fiberglass box just beneath the mast. Rule’s standard product is equipped with a spring that could allow the keel to fall freely, but Hake’s employees modify the motor to prevent such an occurrence. Should the motor fail, Hake has devised two back-up plans for retracting or lowering the keel, one involving the use of a cordless drill to turn the winch motor.

We initially thought this arrangement of pulling lines to control an electrical switch was an antiquated, potentially faulty approach. However, like much of Hake’s thinking, it represents the utmost in simplicity. It’s a lot like the old system of pulling a string to switch on a light. Sure, a dedicated switch mounted near the cockpit and wired to the motor would be more tidy and convenient, but it would also invite the possibility of a future wiring failure. Hake’s solution may seem crude, but it’s effective.

The 26RK’s rudder continues that trend of functional simplicity. The stern-hung appendage can be adjusted up and down within its sheath. The leading edge of the rudder is a combination of carbon fiber and fiberglass. At the head of the rudder is a pin that prevents it from lifting out of the sheath in a following sea.

A byproduct of these retracting foils and subsequent shallow draft is the ease with which this boat can be launched at shallow ramps.

Deck Layout Excepting the keel motor box, deck clutter is limited to two sheets, two blocks, and three winches, with all lines led aft. Stainless steel ports that were fixtures on older boats have been replaced by plastic ports, a $1,250 cost saving. The shrouds extend to the cabintop, producing tighter sheeting angles as well as easier movement forward and aft. Stainless-steel handrails set on the cabintop fore and aft of the shroud bases, and double lifelines contribute to the safety element.

The mainsheet is led from the end of the boom to an athwartships track at the base of the companionway, rather than on the cabintop. This produces good sheeting angles, but it’s a stretch for the helmsperson to reach with the traveler eased. The Andersen headsail winches—set midway along the cockpit coaming, are closer by. The halyards are led on the cabintop to Ronstan rope clutches that sit forward of an Andersen winch.

In the cockpit, the starboard locker is 28″ deep, 34″ wide, and more than 6′ long, adequate for storing miscellaneous gear and a spinnaker. And Hake allowed space for a 6-gallon fuel tank under the starboard cockpit seat; it is easily removable when the time comes to fill ‘er up.

The sail plan on the 26RK is supported by an uncomplicated, deck-stepped, fractional rig with single spreaders that is designed to be easily raised for sailing away. As Hake says, “We build our boats for mature owners who want to step aboard and go sailing without worrying about the technical stuff.” We didn’t step or unstep the spar during our test, but in our review of the Seaward 25, we did question that the backstay is attached to just one side of the transom. “The boat will sail well without a backstay, anyway,” Hake told us, adding that the mast is so stiff that bending it is not an option. Regarding the strength issue, he provided photos of a 26RK suspended aloft from a crane with lines attached to bow and stern pulpits.

Accommodations A fully equipped version of this 26-footer offers seating/dining space for four adults, a galley, and modest head, and berths for four that are more than 6 feet long. Headroom is approximately 5′ 10″ throughout the interior.

“Belowdecks, we wanted creature comforts for a couple, or a young family,” said Hake. “We try to use every inch of space and design the interior so everything can fit. Everything can be removed and the interior hosed out for cleaning.”

Hake frees space in the main cabin by hanging the dining table on the bulkhead. It’s not an original idea, however, having to work around the keel trunk, which sits center stage, was a challenge. He cleverly attached the forward end of the table to a stainless steel rod affixed to the bulkhead. The 34″-long table is lowered and then rotated amidships to create dining space on both sides of the cabin. It works well, and spans much of the 5′ space amidships between the settee backs.

Counter space in the galley is 48″ long if the sink cover and oven top are used as working surfaces; additionally, the ice box top doubles as a cutting board. Opposite the galley, the head compartment measures 32″ wide x 40″ long; not spacious, but appropriate for a boat this size.

Getting this boat fully equipped, however, comes at a price. Since the company is attempting to broaden its market to include first-time buyers and the less affluent, living spaces are offered a la carte. In lieu of a privacy curtain, a teak door and bulkhead that enclose the forward berth will add $1,000 to the base price; a privacy door on the head adds $200, and a portable marine head $375. Additionally, an Origo single-burner stove will increase the cost of the galley by $300, and the stainless steel ports are a $1,250 option.

This boat does suffer a paucity of bulk storage space (unless the aft quarterberth is used for that purpose).

Construction With minor exceptions, Hake’s construction methods remain unchanged since our review of the Seaward 25. The lamination schedule for the hull includes a vinylester gelcoat, 1.5-oz. chop-strand mat and isophthalic polyester resin applied with a chopper gun. “I know some people don’t like that, but it’s an effective way of assuring that there’s resin on both sides of the strands,” says Hake. “The second step introduces 40-oz. triaxial cloth. While we use Coremat in the flat runs of the hull to provide stiffness, most of the hull is solid glass.”

The interior pan is a solid fiberglass structural member that is vacuum-bonded to the deck. Extra laminations are added in potentially high-stress areas where the hull and keel trunk meet, and where the hull and deck meet.

The hull-to-deck joint—shaped like an inverted “J”—is chemically and mechanically fastened using stainless machine screws every six inches and a proprietary putty. “It doesn’t leak because of the accuracy of our tooling and the bonding materials,” Hake said.

The deck, which is cored with Divinycell foam, follows a similar schedule. Deck hardware is tapped into 1/8″ aluminum plates bedded into the fiberglass lamination, a strong method that is becoming more standard in the industry. Chainplates are mechanically and chemically fastened as well. A 3″-wide stainless steel strap penetrates the coachroof and is carried down to the hull, where it is attached to a stainless rod.

The fiberglass outer skin of the keel contains a core of resin and 1,000 lbs. of lead, which is poured in place.

Performance We sailed the 26RK in 10 to 15 knots of wind on the Chesapeake Bay. In the process, we also introduced a total neophyte to sailing and reaffirmed that, at its elemental level, sailing is relatively uncomplicated.

The cockpit proved to be large enough for four adults, with sail controls located so that the boat could be singlehanded if necessary. Though we found steering while seated on the stern-rail seats comfortable, it puts the helmsperson at too great a distance from the sail controls.

With approximately 10 knots of wind, and a full main and 110% headsail deployed, the boat easily sailed through the short chop on the bay, and pointed to within 40 degrees of the apparent wind. Our handheld GPS registered boat speeds between 4.5 and 5.5. knots over the ground. Easing sheets, the speed increased to the mid-6 range, and we registered a 7-knot run for several minutes.

When the wind increased to 14 knots, we tucked a reef in the main, which reduced heel and increased comfort while maintaining the same speed.

As advertised, one advantage of sailing a trailerable boat is the ability to maneuver in shoal waters. This became clear when we ran aground. Floating the boat was a simple matter of pulling a string in the cockpit, which raised the keel. When operating in shallow water, raising the rudder is also simple; you remove a pin, lift the foil to the proper depth, and replace the pin.

Finally, to confirm her maneuverability, we eased sheets completely, pulled the tiller hard over, and she spun on her keel, sailing in circles the diameter of her own length.

Our principal criticisms pertain to the size of the mainsail, and the headsail furling system. Light-air performance aboard the 26RK would improve with additional area in the mainsail, and that could easily be achieved if the tack were lowered or more roach area was added. Hake Yachts’ Sales Manager Dave Brady told us that most owners are content to sacrifice light-air performance for the ability to defer reefing when the wind really pipes up, but he also mentioned that custom sails remain an option.

The Schaefer headsail furler elevates the tack of the jib at least 12″ off the deck. That’s good for visibility from the helm, but it also sacrifices sail area, keeping the boat from reaching its full potential when going to weather. Hake attributes the use of that brand of furler to the fact that the unit is mounted on a levered tang that eases hoisting the mast. At this writing, he is considering the use of a CDI furler as an alternative. We’d also want to add a vang to get better mainsail shape off the wind.

The standard sails are manufactured by Super Sails, a Florida loft that Hake has used for 20 years. “They know our boats so well,” said Hake, “that the sails come out exactly to the specified dimensions.”

Pricing The base price of the boat is $29,950, including mainsail and 110-percent jib, standing and running rigging, bowsprit, and anchor roller. Surprisingly, this price is $5,000 less than the company charged for its 25-footer. Hake explained: “Price-wise, we wanted the boat to be competitive with the mix of entry level boats currently on the market, without compromising our hard-earned reputation for quality. To that end, we decided to offer the boat with a low (for us) base price so that a young family just starting out could have a Seaward now, and perhaps add some of the bells and whistles later, as their bank account grew.”

Interestingly, that approach differs from many manufacturers, who are adding to their bottom line by including many high-margin options in their base boats. A Seaward 26RK equipped with a Yanmar diesel ($7,500), rather than an outboard, galvanized tandem-axle steel trailer with surge brakes ($3,800), wheel steering, instruments, portable head, Origo stove, and a CDI furler, would list for almost $50,000.

We think Hake’s pricing strategy makes sense in this market since it allows the neophyte or budget-conscious sailor to manage the size of the expenditure, while affluent sailors can add all of the amenities they like. A small company like this, making just three models, does well to utilize that kind of flexibility.

Conclusions This is the second PS review of a Seaward sailboat; we think the 26RK is a much better buy than the earlier 25-foot model, especially since the company has managed to maintain essentially the same price for more boat.

This boat reflects a thoughtful approach to design that increases user comfort, though its sail plan may disappoint more performance-minded sailors. The additional space in the cockpit and waterline length are a plus, especially since they add only 200 lbs. to the displacement. And we think owners of the 26RK will be pleased at the boat’s ability to gunkhole in bodies of water where deeper draft vessels would be restricted.

Hake has succeeded in cramming reasonable creature comforts into a small area, so crew can sit comfortably when at anchor.

And he has come to grips with construction quality issues by publicly giving employees demerits for poor workmanship, and by using conventional construction methods to produce solid structures.

We also see the use of a la carte pricing as a plus. Since engine beds are part of the mold, a diesel could replace an outboard; and other retrofits could be accomplished just as easily. Plus, given the choice between spending more money on options or taking a credit for the sail inventory in order to buy a bigger mainsail, for example, offers additional flexibility for the prospective buyer.

True, the current glut of used 25- to 30-foot boats on the market provides buyers the opportunity to achieve the goal of boat ownership for significantly fewer dollars than Hake is charging for the 26RK. But considering the quality of this boat and its potential for high resale value, we’d recommend that buyers in the market for a trailerable cruiser seriously check it out.

Contact – Hake Yachts, 772-287-3200, www.seawardyachts.com .

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I really appreciate the no nonsense approach in your evaluation and testing of sailboats and gear. I’m planning to purchase a pocket cruiser in the near future (my last sailboat was a 1987 Pearson 27 – a fine boat!) and look forward to future reviews as I narrow down my choices.

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20 Best Small Sailboats for the Weekender

• By Mark Pillsbury
• Updated: May 24, 2024

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.

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

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

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

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.

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

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

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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Biggest Trailerable Sailboats

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

Related Articles

Daniel Wade

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

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Sail Far Live Free

Camping on a keel - trailer sailers for cruisers.

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

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

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Popular posts from this blog, top 10 favorite affordable bluewater sailboats, go small and go now 5 pocket cruisers to take you anywhere.

Escape to the Sea: How to get from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean

Home » Blog » Buy a boat » 5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat  you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ). 

• Hull Type: Long fin keel
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
• Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
• Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
• Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
• Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
• Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
• Designer:Per Brohall
• Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
• Year First Built:1965
• Year Last Built:1979
• Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD) 

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

• Hull Type: Full Keel
• Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
• Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
• Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
• Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
• Displacement/Length Ratio:49
• Designer: Carl Alberg
• Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
• Year First Built:1974
• Year Last Built:1988
• Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

• Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
• Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
• Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
• Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
• Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
• Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
• Designer:Michael Dufour
• Builder:Dufour (France)
• Year First Built:1975
• Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

• Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
• Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
• Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
• Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
• Rig Type: Cutter rig
• Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
• Designer: Robert B Harris
• Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
• Year First Built:1986
• Last Year Built: 2007
• Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

• Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
• Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
• Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
• Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
• Designer: Herb David
• Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
• Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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most seaworthy trailer sailboat?

Discussion in ' Sailboats ' started by mr curious , Oct 15, 2008 .

mr curious gunkholer supreme

well? is there such a thing? :?: cheers  

PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

Flica on the small end of the scale, with several at the large end (30'). No, there isn't any such thing, just some that are better then others and personal preferences.  

alan white Senior Member

How about a St Pierre dory? 27 feet and very trailerable. Some say that there is no record of lives lost due to any design fault. It's probably an exaggeration, but such dories and smaller ones have gone transatlantic over 100 years ago. From all I've heard, the high ends and angled sides contribute to a boat that refuses to be tripped by waves. A reasonably well ballasted banks type dory could probably go anywhere, especially if the cockpit is self-baling and the cabin is low. The downside is that dories with slab sides make slow sailers. I've often wondered if an additional chine or two (like Swampscott dories) would improve the sailing qualities while maintaining the survivability of the original type.  

fcfc Senior Member

Perhaps look at minitransat style boats : http://www.pogostructures.com/?m=2&s=1&l= They are the smallest offshore racing boats. They can go in any direction in a 40 knot wind 13 ft waves, including upwind with an acceptable speed. Thats about the upper limit, though. Above that, weakest crew/boats begin to have problems. They also regulary cross Atlantic. Being the cheapest offshore boat, they are numerous enough to make reasonable statistics. Trailerability is possible, but borderline. 22 ft lengh and 2000 lbs displacement do it. 10 ft beam is more complex. Either use an overwidth permit, or use a special slanted trailer, to make the whole width within 8'2". Draft is another issue 5'5". Some have removable keel, something between liftable keel and fixed keel. Definitely not able to use ramps. NB to go upwind in 40 kt wind, you need significant draft and significant ballast well down.  

Petros Senior Member

I do not exactly know what you mean by "most seaworthy" but these guys make a high performance folding trimarans up to 44 ft long that can be trailered. They look like hot designs: http://www.f-boat.com/pages/trimarans/index.html And this outfit makes a large trailerable catamaran 36 ft long x 24 ft beam, that folds to 8' 6" wide: http://www.cat2fold.com/  

Hansen Aerosprt Junior Member

Ocean Voyager 26 - Great little full keel double-ender and a true cruiser. Shallow draft and easily trailerable. Check it out here or do an internet search. << http://www.sailingtexas.com/svoyager26a.html >>  

schakel environmental project Msc

beautiful Hansen Aerosprt said: ↑ Ocean Voyager 26 - Great little full keel double-ender and a true cruiser. Shallow draft and easily trailerable. Check it out here or do an internet search. << http://www.sailingtexas.com/svoyager26a.html >> Click to expand...

K4s Junior Member

Allan Wright designed the TASMAN 20 for a bloke who wanted a 20 foot trailer boat he could sail from NZ to Fiji safely(relative I guess). Hundreds of them sailing around NZ and quite a few for sale on Trade me down this way.  

blackdaisies Senior Member

http://www.selway-fisher.com/PCup16.htm http://www.selway-fisher.com/PC1620.htm These look like some nice affordable build it yourself boats. You can always get someone to build it for you or buy one used. Good luck.  

Steam Flyer Junior Member

mr curious said: ↑ well? is there such a thing? :?: cheers Click to expand...

zambant New Member

Take your pick But you could do a lot worse than a Jaguar 22 .... the old ones were built like tanks, sailed well, trailerable, displacement about 1200kg and can be picked up for relatively little money.. My 10p worth John  

bistros Previous Member

alan white said: ↑ How about a St Pierre dory? 27 feet and very trailerable. Some say that there is no record of lives lost due to any design fault. It's probably an exaggeration, but such dories and smaller ones have gone transatlantic over 100 years ago. From all I've heard, the high ends and angled sides contribute to a boat that refuses to be tripped by waves. Click to expand...

thanks for the feedback guys, very interesting.  

mattotoole Senior Member

Some other boats like the ones mentioned: Nor'sea 27 Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 and Dana 24 Folkboat and Contessa 26 Cape Dories less than 28' Chuck Paine's Frances But while these have trailerable dimensions (length by width by height), they're all pretty heavy, and would need a monster truck to pull them. They're not really ramp-launchable either. For a more normal tow vehicle and ramp, you might check out the S2 7.9, a Great Lakes favorite. In the same vein, but bigger, the new Andrews 28 looks great.  

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Chickadee Junior Member

what is your program ? 26's Contessa and Ocean Voyager are really big looking like the real - but tiny - classic cruiser ! On the other side, the Pogo is a big boat too, maybe be more seaworthy - do you discuss it ? - and it goes so well! but it's not trailerable, you'd need to ask for a special permit as even with a special slanted trailer it would be more than 2,5 meters I believe. or unmount, then remount the keel, 430 kg ?! Older minitransat have circumnavigated and are trailerable, with big cars only Muscadet Serpentaire So a true trailerable sailboat is a day cruising, lighter boat, no need for a lifting crane. Plenty of nice, day cruising, old looking boats in the previous posts ! Or look at the Microcup for somethin more modern and performant. Cute isn't it ? Or multihulls, people have crossed the atlantic on hobby-cat...  

I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this odd boat forsale near me is seaworthy

seaworthy, bigger i-550... suggestions?

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Trailerable canal sailboat?

Largest realistic trailer sailor, what is she ~ vintage trailerable twin keeler with arched companionway..

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> > Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. 06-05-2009, 19:09   in the 25' foot range that I can reasonably easy. I would like to sail around the keys and the for a week or 2, so I don't think a trailer/sailor would be a good choice from what I gather. (macgregor, , ect...) Does anyone know of a fairly names with shallower that can be put on a at a standard ? Weight really is not an issue, i have a 3/4 ton truck. One example I have found is a 25, which I like a lot. I am just looking for other options. I am open to other ideas as well if anyone has any. Thanks! 06-05-2009, 19:26   Boat: Gozzard 36 are great day sailors. It means you can drive there, sail there, and be home by dark. You can travel across great distances by road to reach places you can sail. Trying to skip across the isn't so "as designed". You could on a perfect day go across. The next part is on a schedule could you get back? Possible is not assured to be most fun you ever had. Trailerable are great, but don't try to make them into a long distance cruiser. Your car won't take the passages. They don't carry enough crap that you need and in heavy could be your worst nightmare or your last nightmare. Practical and possible are pretty far away. Sailing is mostly about showing up. The more you do the more fun you get. It's not about pushing the limits but instead about doing it more often. The 26 seems to have a lot of crusing ability due to it's size, bit it's not up to open ocean sailing yacht. In a perfect world everything is possible, but don't bet your life on a perfect world. If a trailerable boat gets you on the then by all means do it! A whole lot of people do. It is all supposed to be fun and having more is the goal. If you're sailing you're already there. 06-05-2009, 19:38   Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now. and back. I'm sure though that it was anything but comfortable. They are raced on the frequently in 35 knots of . Boats that on the Bay have to be built better than your typical lake sailboats. As far a durability goes, I would stay away from McGregor boats or any such cheaply made boats. They just wont last in high winds and steep chop. 06-05-2009, 19:39   Boat: PETERSON 44 or f-28 big and trailers light. Not much else compares if it fits on a trailer. Im biased 06-05-2009, 20:24   (24' with bowsprit), and the 27 (31' with bowsprit). Both are trailerable, and both have completed circumnavigations. Here's a link to the Flicka site: And here's a link to 27: TaoJones 06-05-2009, 20:49   Boat: Nomoboat -- yay Gustav ;) (you can usually pick one up for less than three grand). I had one once and it was a good boat. I only owned it for a couple of months because I could never get over the ice chest/coffin feel of the interior! 06-05-2009, 21:00   boat that normal sized people could live on for an extended period of time. OTOH, I don't think you need a boat for one or two weeks in the Keys or . And, for those of you with three hands: No one (with the possible exception of residents who can go frequently) to the Bahamas for only one or two weeks. 06-05-2009, 21:22   Boat: Farrier f27 which I believe is on the other end of the spectrum which is fine, but you can see there have been a lot of suggestions of functional boats so you need to decide what you want in a boat. My choice would be the tri, Express 27 or Moore 24. The tri is relatively pricey, the Express a little more than the Moore. 06-05-2009, 21:27   Boat: Jutson 50 that was 50% of the weight of the boat, but was pretty quick and pointed well. In 40kts (bay sailing so smallish waves) we'd put hand over to George and warm up making coffee inside. I think as boats get smaller the stress and strain goes down exponentially. Its quite possible to have a tough trailerable boat that sails well in heavy conditions. As the length increases the weight/strength compromise that building a boat to go on a trailer requires starts to against the overall seaworthyness. Perhaps something small and tough could be the answer. cheers James 07-05-2009, 04:07   Boat: B24 07-05-2009, 05:05   Boat: Lindenberg 26 & Aloha 8.2 parker dawson 26,they are a well built boat with a heavy cast iron ,the aft is very roomy for a .One of these raced in a the OSTAR back in the early 70s with no drama in a very stormy race so ,yes,they are .There are always plenty online and inexpensive.A friend bought one with a and nice tandem trailer for $3500. PHRF about 219 so not too slow. Steve. 07-05-2009, 06:03   . A Cape Dory 25D(diesel) fits the bill, somewhat. The somewhat referes to all up weight plus trailer around 8k lbs. Needs a good size truck, which you have. But, other than that, it draws 3.5 feet and can be launched and retrieved and sailed across oceans, as it's much more seaworthy than a 25 with and no standing . good luck with your search 07-05-2009, 06:24   Boat: Beneteau 32.5 , and and Corsair trimarans (not water ballast). Most of these have swing keels and other features making them quick to launch at most ramps. At the other extreme there are boats that were really built for open water sailing which are small enough they can be trailered. Typically these much more solid boats with fixed keels that were not designed to be trailered, but someone built a trailer for. They usually take longer to rig and launch off a trailer and you may be more limited in the ramps that are suitable to launch these boats. (deep enough, long enough, etc.) In addition to the Norsea and Flika mentioned by Tao, I'd add the Contessa 26 also known as the Taylor 26, maybe the Dana, Westerly Pageant, Westerly Centaur, Cape Dory and a number of folkboats. I owned a Centaur which I sailed across Michigan and Superior in and did several trips of a couple months to the Bahamas in. I purchased it specifically so I could have a boat, I could sail locally, but then tow down to and use for Bahamas trips. I really liked that it was of the few 26-foot boats with standing room. A few have circumnavigated. There are a couple famous stories of Contessa solo circumnavigations and I don't think anyone would question the capabilities of the boats or Norsea 27 . My Centaur with a trailer weighed in at about 10,000 lbs, so even with a 3/4 ton truck, towing it was no leisurely Sunday drive. Towing a boat like this is nothing like towing a light weight 17-foot sailboat or 6-canoe trailer. I've seen people in the Bahamas in boats like MacGregors, but I've seen many of these also feel they were pushing their limits and turn around early. Personally, I would not want to cross with a light weight trailer sailor. Cruising the Keys is something all together different. I've done that in a Catalina 22. Although, I owned a boat that was trailerable and capable, I largely agree with Paul above. Trailerablity comes with some big limitations and costs. You are limited to a fairly and for the costs of and maintaining a trailer, tow vehicle and of towing there may be other options to consider. You could probably a few times for the of a trailer and tow. I'm not trying to talk you out of a trailerable boat - just pointing out some of the trade-offs to consider. 07-05-2009, 06:35   Boat: Boatless to was 4hrs 10 mins with 2 in the main...but that was my F31 Corsair which cost $100,000 second hand... 07-05-2009, 08:52   Boat: Dufour Arpege 30 , and the . It's a great boat. Easy to trailor and sails well. I've had her out in 15 foot seas with no problems. On my last sail to the Bahamas we had 12 foot seas coming back to even though the forcest was for 3 to 5 diminishing to 1 to 3. We never felt like we were in any though it make for a long day. Best of luck, Tim Thread Tools Rate This Thread : Posting Rules post new threads post replies post attachments edit your posts is are code is are are are Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post Boulter Monohull Sailboats 78 06-05-2016 16:26 Daniel J. Construction, Maintenance & Refit 21 08-09-2012 09:45 newbiesailor General Sailing Forum 0 19-07-2011 16:41 sailorchic34 Our Community 15 02-07-2011 11:17 - - - - - - - Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time. 344 IMAGES Interesting Sailboats: SARCH S8, THE FIRST TRAILERABLE CLASS A Sailboat 7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising 9 Best Trailerable Sailboats Best Small and Trailerable Sailboats Trailerable Cruisers Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30 Feet VIDEO NorseBoat 17.5 Rower, Victoria-By-The-Sea, PEI Ep. 8 Why My Sailboat Isn't Seaworthy BUY this for 30K? 24 foot Sailboat Why trailer sailors should have Synthetic Rigging Trailer sailing Priest Lake Shanty Boat in Rough Water! COMMENTS 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. ... This capable little sailboat has the handling characteristics of a truly seaworthy boat and manages well in all kinds of conditions. The Hunter 27 has a reputation for ... 7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising 7 Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats. 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. 13 Biggest Trailerable Sailboats: Cheap But Good These vessels provide the perfect balance between portability and performance if you want the flexibility to explore various destinations without the hassle of marina storage fees or dependence on docking facilities. The biggest trailerable sailboats that are cost-effective and good are: MacGregor 26. Catalina 22. Hunter 23. Best Small and Trailerable Sailboats 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. Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30 Feet The last boat on this list is a trailerable sailboat that's proven seaworthy. The Moor 24 was famously sailed from Santa Cruz, California to Honolulu, Hawaii in 17 days. Not only is it seaworthy, but it's fast. The Moor 24 is a prime racing boat, and it's won many Cups. The Moor 24 sailboat is not only a performance vessel. 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. ... When the Contessa 26 was released in 1965, it immediately proved itself to be a strong, seaworthy vessel. The Contessa has continued to prove itself throughout its ... Trailerable Sailboats Comparison The most common types of trailerable sailboats include dinghies, racers, open-top cruising sailboats, pocket cruisers, coastal cruisers, and compact offshore sailboats. These vessels differ by size, rig type, hull type, and weight. ... However, these seaworthy craft are more than capable of coastal cruising in a variety of conditions. Many of ... 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. Small Craft Advisor The quiz (click image at left) will give you an indication of the seaworthiness of your trailerable sailboat of not more than 3,500 pounds displacement, used in areas and weather conditions for which it was designed. In general, that means the conditions found in the protected and semi-protected waters typically frequented by trailersailors. 15' Micro cruiser RoG was voted 2021 Trailerable sailboat of the year by Voile Magazine. Hull. A given was that this would be chinned hull, built of developable panels. I spent a lot of time comparing various iterations and there is no way around the fact that bringing down that chine close to the waterline increases stability significantly, hence the slab sides. 13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels For those unfamiliar with European geography, Poland borders the mighty Baltic Sea - so just as Scandinavian boats, their projects are properly seaworthy. The N Fun 30 is a trailerable, lifting keel little vessel, in fact, the only model the company makes, but it is unlike any other boat in its class. Best Trailerable Sailboat Brands to Cruise or Race The Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboat Brands. Catalina Yachts: As one of North America's best-known sailboat brands of sailboats, Catalina has a long history of building trailerable models. Their entire Sport line cruising boats—except for the 275—can easily be trailered, and the 22 and 22 Sport, in particular, make for a great step up ... 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. Best trailer sailboats: Our trailer sailing expert offers his Reality may well see the boat weighing more. "Steel-built trailers typically weigh about 40% of the weight of the boat they carry, suggesting you're looking at towing something like 1,750kg, perilously close to the 1,800kg limit for a single axle trailer. "However, having personally towed a similar weight for many thousands of miles ... Seaward 26 RK On paper, the Seaward has the speed edge. The 26RK displaces 3,800 lbs., only 200 lbs. more than her predecessor. Weight, Hake said, is distributed throughout the boat and that doesn't affect performance or balance. The retractable keel is a NACA-designed, high-aspect, 8′-long section with 26″ wings attached to a bulb. 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. 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. ... 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 ... 6 Pocket Cruisers Ready to Hit the Road Its new 26-foot Legacy has twin 250-hp Yamaha engines, or an optional 270- to 440-hp Volvo Penta diesel. The planing hull reportedly cruises at 28 to 50 knots. Designed for fishing and built by Nordic Tugs, the fiberglass boats are sold by Island Marine Center on Lopez Island in Washington state's San Juan Islands. Camping on a Keel First, let's consider what makes a sailboat trailerable in the first place: Keel design: ... If you're looking for a small, dry and seaworthy trailer sailer, the Montgomery 17 should be on your list. More info here: MontgomeryBoats.com MacGregor 26 (25'10" LOA, 7'9" beam, 12" board up/5'9" board down draft, 2550 lbs.): I'll ... 5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world Vancouver 28. Photo credit: YachtFathom.co.uk. A sensible small boat with a "go-anywhere" attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package. Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder. Trailerable Cruisers Com-Pac's range of trailer sailers with accommodations starts with the 16-feet 6-inch Legacy, an entry-level trailer sailer that can sleep a couple plus a small child or two, but is otherwise devoid of amenities, and moves up through the 21-feet Eclipse, the CP23 Pilothouse and the 23/IV. Aside from their well-thought-out rig-raising systems ... most seaworthy trailer sailboat? A long history of seaworthy boats there, and no reason it wouldn't be trailerable. Another similar is Bolger's Micro, a bit small at 16' so you could do the Big Micro 19'. ... So a true trailerable sailboat is a day cruising, lighter boat, no need for a lifting crane. Plenty of nice, day cruising, old looking boats in the previous posts ! Trailerable Seaworthy Boats ? Images: 15. Trailerable boats are great day sailors. It means you can drive there, sail there, and be home by dark. You can travel across great distances by road to reach places you can sail. Trying to skip across the Gulf Stream isn't so "as designed". You could on a perfect day go across. catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht