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How to Launch a Sailboat from a Trailer

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There have been a few threads asking about trailer launching small sailboats. I decided to put together a short demonstration video to walk the sailor with out a lot of trailering experience through some of the steps involved in launching a small sailboat. The video does not cover all situations or all types of sailing craft, but gives an overview of some of the steps involved.

Ya, it would be interesting to see a few different vids on how people launch. I see lots of questions on the subject.

At my sailing club we launch J24's from a VERY deep ramp. These boats are dry sailed and kept on trailers. You should see some of the tongue extensions these guys have. They basically sink the entire trailer to get the boat on. It's actually not that difficult once you understand how to do it. I'll try to get a video next time I'm up there. I'll also take a video of me launching my 19 footer if I have time. Basically same system as Arcb, just a little deeper in the water.

SailingUphill said: Not new for me... I had a 4 foot draft Capri 25. Now is when I mention I hauled the boat myself 3 times. Stepped the mast solo, and unstepped solo as well. Click to expand...

Strap launch was OK on our ramp, with dual axle trailer, I have a single axle now not sure I'd want to try it with strap launch ( may tilt the wrong way and turn into a dump trailer).

If you would flip the stinger over on your hitch you would have a lot more ground clearance for you safety chains and light harness. Just reverse the side the ball is mounted on.

I was hoping more folks would share their trailering vids. Here I am again, loading the boat onto the trailer in 30-40 knots of cross wind solo. Just take it nice and slow. Make a plan, and follow it, change the plan as required. Easy does it.

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How to Launch a Sailboat with a Fixed Keel: A Step by Step Guide

Every sailboat has a keel. Whether yours is stationary (fixed) or flexible (moveable) depends on the model of your sailboat. If your boat has a fixed keel, you may struggle to launch the vessel into the water. You want to get better at this, but you’re not sure where to start. How do you launch a sailboat with a fixed keel?

To successfully launch a fixed keel sailboat into the water, follow these steps:

Make sure you’re driving a heavy vehicle, such as a pickup truck or mid-sized SUV that doesn’t have front-wheel drive
Reverse your vehicle so the trailer is near the water’s edge
Put wheel chocks on your trailer
Unhook the trailer from your towing truck
Drive the vehicle away from the edge of the water so the attached rope becomes tight
Take the chocks out from the trailer wheels
Begin backing up until your sailboat is in the water

Admittedly, launching your fixed keel sailboat isn’t the easiest nor the quickest process. Therefore, in this article, we’ll explore the above steps in much more detail. We’ll also tell you everything you need to know about a fixed keel so you can better understand your sailboat.

What Is a Fixed Keel?

Okay, so your sailboat has a fixed keel rather than a moveable one. What does that even mean?

Well, first, let’s just make sure we’re on the same page about what a keel is. Your sailboat’s keel is the lowest element and the most longitudinal. Keels are made for counterbalancing and hydrodynamics in most sailboats, but they don’t do this for all.

If your keel is more hydrodynamic, then it’s supposed to go partially in the water. Fixed keels can be hydrodynamic, and if they are, then they’re strong enough to hold up the weight of your sailboat if necessary.

Okay, let’s talk more about fixed keels now. As we said in the intro, a fixed keel is stationary, meaning it will never move. Thanks to your sailboat’s fixed keel, you don’t have to worry about your boat blowing sideways in windy conditions.

Your fixed keel also distributes the center of gravity of your sailboat when in the water, moving this gravity under the waterline. Now, if your boat were to capsize from strong waves or the wind, it would pop right back upright again.

Not all fixed keels are the same. Your sailboat may be outfitted with one of two types: a full keel or a fin keel.

Full keels, despite their name, are not as long as the hull. They’re actually half the length. The design of a full keel is such that the aft edge is attached to a rudder while the forward edge has a vertical curve.

The stability a full keel lends you is advantageous. You can also rely on a full keel for grounding safely on your sailboat every time.

A fin keel has a broader shape, as its bottom cuts off at an angle. This type of fixed keel is often made of metal or wood. If you’re using a sailboat, a racing yacht, or any other shallow vessel on the water, the fin keel adds lateral resistance with its downward projection. That will make steering easier as well as help you keep the boat steadier.

Do Fixed Keel Sailboats Have Any Benefits?

You may have bought your sailboat without knowing some keels could move and others couldn’t. Through the luck of the draw, you ended up with a boat installed with a fixed keel.

Is your boat at an advantage or a disadvantage with a fixed keel? The answer is both. Let’s start with the benefits of a fixed keel sailboat.

Centerboard-free: The first main perk of a fixed keel is that your sailboat foregoes a centerboard. If you’re not familiar, a centerboard is a type of keel that can retract. It fits in a sailboat’s hull via a slot. The centerboard pivots due to this setup. In shallower waters, the centerboard will lift so your center of lateral resistance is better.

Centerboards can come in handy, but due to their construction, there’s a good chance yours will jam up eventually, if not snap off entirely. A fixed keel won’t do that. It’s built into the boat and doesn’t bob and move with changing water levels. That increases the keel’s durability by a good margin.

More freedom among your crew: With some other keel setups, if your crew doesn’t distribute their weight evenly, your risk of capsizing is higher. That’s not the case with a fixed keel sailboat. Move about as you will. Your boat will stay upright.
Less sideways motion: If your sailboat experiences a lot of leeway or sideways motion in the water, a fixed keel will change that. The keel positioning lends the boat more stability.
Great for capsizing prevention: As you’ve read on this blog, sailboats are incredibly prone to capsizing. It’s practically unavoidable. That said, with a fixed keel on your sailboat, the ballast of the keel may reduce your instances of capsizing. Also, as we mentioned before, the center of gravity distribution from the fixed keel makes it easier for your boat to come back up after capsizing. This can save lives in some instances.

In the interest of full disclosure, we should talk about the downsides to a fixed keel sailboat, as there are several of these.

Trailering difficulties: This admittedly depends on the size of your keel and how deep it is. The deeper the fixed keel, the harder it is for trailering. Should your fixed keel sailboat exceed 25 feet, then you can’t trailer it at all. You’d need to keep it in a boatyard and launch it from there. This can be expensive and inconvenient.
Weighty boat: Another problem with fixed keel sailboats is the keel adds extra weight to the boat. If you’re trailering, which we’ll explain more in the next section, that weight does add up.
Shallow water troubles: Deeper keels have yet a second problem you should be aware of. That is, the displacement of these keels may make them unable to handle shallow waters without the keel scraping along and sustaining damage.

For more detailed information on keels, their types and effects on your vessels please read our last article here .

Launching a Sailboat with a Fixed Keel? Follow These Steps

You will indeed have your work cut out for you when trailering and launching a fixed keel sailboat, but it’s by no means impossible to do.

Here’s what you must have handy for the job:

A trailer that fits your fixed keel sailboat
High-quality wheel chocks
Durable, fresh rope

You’ll then want to follow along with these steps to successfully send your boat into the water.

Step 1: Make Sure You Have the Right Vehicle

Not every vehicle is made for trailering and launching fixed keel sailboats. Ideally, you should drive a pickup truck or a mid-sized SUV. The heavier, the better here. After all, since the fixed keel sailboat can weigh more itself, you need a towing vehicle that can handle the extra weight.

Besides the weight of the vehicle, you should also make sure it has the right drive type. Front-wheel drive is not recommended. When you launch a fixed keel sailboat using a truck with front-wheel drive, the trailer weight will come down on the back of your truck. This causes traction instability to your front tires, which is not good.

Two-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and manual four-wheel drive are all better options than standard four-wheel drive.

Step 2: Position Your Vehicle

Put your sailboat on the trailer and drive to the water where you want to launch the boat. When you get there, switch into reverse so you can align your truck or SUV until the trailer is right at the water’s edge.

At that point, the other crewmembers you brought with you (no, you can’t do this by yourself) need to set up the wheel chocks. These should go behind each of your trailer wheels.

Step 3: Separate the Tow Vehicle and the Trailer

With the wheel chocks secure, your crew should next remove the trailer so it’s no longer attached to your truck or SUV. At this point, the spare tire that comes with your trailer should be at its front. Otherwise, the tongue of the trailer won’t stay up, which can prevent the easy rolling you’re going to need for your sailboat.

Step 4: Attach the Rope and Pull It

You don’t want your towing vehicle and the trailer completely removed from one another yet. Take your rope and connect the two vehicles now. Then, drive your truck or SUV in very small increments until the rope is pulled nice and tight. It should not be strained to the point where it will break, but it should feel taut.

Step 5: Remove the Trailer Wheel Chocks and Move the Boat in the Water

You’re almost done at this point, but not entirely. Next, you want your crew to take the wheel chocks off all four wheels of your trailer. Now you want to reverse your truck or SUV yet again, going until your sailboat and the trailer are in the water. Neither should be barely in, but submerged.

Step 6: Let the Boat Float into the Water

Gravity should do its thing and your sailboat should naturally take to the water without you having to back in any deeper.

Step 7: Drive Forward and Re-Chock the Wheels of Your Trailer

Instead, you want to switch your truck or SUV into drive and get your trailer out of the water. When you’re safely out, your crew can reapply the wheel chocks on the trailer.

Step 8: Reattach the Trailer to Your Vehicle

The crew will also reconnect the trailer to your towing vehicle so you can drive it back home. You’re all done from there!

Now, the above eight steps anticipate that the conditions are ideal. In some bodies of water, you may run into shallow sandbars that make launching a fixed keel sailboat even more difficult. You don’t want your keel scraping along or even going through the sandbar, as that could hurt it. You could also end up ruining your boat that way if you’re not careful.

You’d want to use a boat ramp for launching your sailboat over a sandbar safely. Alternately, a courtesy dock near the boat ramp works just as well. Your crew will need to be with you to make a launch happen in these conditions.

They’ll attach the dock line to the courtesy dock to send your fixed keel sailboat with the trailer into the water deep enough for the launch.

More Tips for Sailing with a Fixed Keel

You now know how to launch your fixed keel sailboat in the water, but what do you do once you’re in there? We’ve compiled some handy tips for successful sailing with an immovable keel.

Research Where You’ll Sail Before You Go

The above sandbar situation is for the most part avoidable with a bit of research. Plan for where you sail and know which bodies of water have sandbars. Sometimes, water level and weather shifts can cause sandbars to appear where there had been none. Once you have a few preferred places to sail though, you can get a feel for which bodies of water may be most likely to have sandbars and then avoid those if riding in your fixed keel sailboat.

Gauge Water Depth Before Launch

Besides the level of the ground beneath the water, you also have to watch out for the depth of the water. Other sailboat keels can accommodate for shallower or deeper waters, but not a fixed keel. The keel length stays the same no matter how much (or little) water you’re sailing in.

The lower the water levels, the greater the chances of your fixed keel colliding with all that lies on the water’s floor. These could be sandbars, yes, but also damaging debris like seaweed or chunky rocks and stones.

If you’re sailing in the ocean especially, avoid venturing out during low tide when launching at the shoreline. There are far too many risks for your fixed keel sailboat.

Know What to Do If Your Keel Is Aground

Let’s say the worst did happen and your fixed keel ended up firmly lodged in a sandbar. You’d want to try to navigate your sailboat away if you can, getting your boat over or behind the sandbar.

Then it’d be a good idea to pull off to a dock as soon as you can and assess the damage. If your keel is just a little scraped up, then you should be able to keep sailing. For more serious harm, you’ll probably have to get your boat repaired.

In the future, avoid shallow conditions or waters with high floors, as they don’t do any favors for a sailboat with a permanently fixed keel.

Conclusion

A fixed keel on a sailboat cannot move, which means it has no freedom to retract in shallower conditions. These keels can reduce sideways motion and may even make it easier to recover after capsizing. That said, because the keel can be weighty and hard to work with, launching a fixed keel sailboat into the water is a whole complicated process.

The steps and guidance provided in this article should help you with a successful launch. Happy sailing!

I am the owner of sailoradvice. I live in Birmingham, UK and love to sail with my wife and three boys throughout the year.

Trailer launching with extension

Thread starter Submarine
Start date Aug 19, 2017
Forums for All Owners
Trailer Sailors

I've never done it or seen it in play but probably youtube videos on how others do it. I envision backing the trailer down to close to the water's edge on the ramp and then blocking the wheels and unhitching from the tow vehicle. Pull it forward and attach the tongue extension. Then pull ahead just enough to get rid of the blocking and then backing the boat down into the water. You would never be pushing the trailer while it is attached, just letting it go backwards with gravity on your side or forwards when you retrieve. I would do more research for sure but this is how I would envision doing it. A number of ramps I've been to would not be long enough to do the above. The trailer would drop off the end of the ramp into a hole. I'd make sure the ramps you want to use are long enough, Sumner =========================================================== 1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac... Endeavour 37 Mods... MacGregor 26-S Mods... Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

Yeah they should be long enough, as both lakes I expect to go to are used regularly by sailboats and both had their dams raised by 80 feet or so which meant the ramps had to be extended. What concerns me about doing the block method is the ramps tend to be really slippery at the waters edge to about 15 feet or so up. It's that heavily channeled concrete, where the channels are about an inch and a half wide by one inch deep. In Mexico I'll just pay to have them launch it as they have special built tractors with the engine about 10 feet in the air. The guy I bought it from included some heavy rope that was double braided into a chain of sorts and said he used that!

vhoisington

I had a hunter 25 (older version with a full keel). The extension might work but most likely only the steepest ramps can use it. As mentioned back down to waters edge, block the trailer and then pull up to use the extension. On the other hand, I ignored the extension with my boats and used the strap method, two lengths of 30' 30lb nylon strap linked to trailer and truck. Plenty of room to ensure the trailer is in and the truck always stays dry. We launch boats up to a Catalina 30 at our club with this method and have for the last 20 or so years. Works great and isn't hard to learn to maneuver the trailer with the strap. Good luck

Mine is aluminium tube so the trailer is limited to straight line only. It's a small price to pay for the weight savings, and it requires diligence at the ramp.

These are used in ramps that are long with a shallow slope to permit floating the boat without having to submerge the tow vehicles wheels. Yes you have to unhitch the trailer, hitch the extension bar to the trailer and then hitch the assembly back to the tow vehicle. Most of the time it is just easier to find a ramp with a deep slope but on occasions you may find yourself with a shallow ramp being the only alternative. Always consult with local knowledge about where is what lies beyond the end of the ramp, a smooth bottom or a large drop off.

There are lots of gray threads on how to use extensions for launching. Here are a couple that helped me. https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/trailer-toungue-extension.181585/ https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/a-question-of-balance.184405/ What others have said about the end of the ramp is absolutely true. I was at a lake in WI this summer and was loading the boat with the extension when I needed to walk back to the axel to adjust something. I fell off the ramp into likely 8 feet of water where the sand was blown out from under the ramp from the power boats launching. When I stood back up on the ramp my tires had less than 6 inches before they would have fallen off likely damaging the axel and trailer. Once you learn your local ramps though it's no big deal to launch with the extension or strap method I do it every time I launch. If your extension mounts to the trailer firmly then you can extend it before approaching the ramp so long as you don't make to many tight turns but if you have to leave your wheel jack down for support then you want to be lined up before you install it. Try hooking it up in your drive way to get the feel for how it works and if you can post some pictures of it deployed likely someone here can help with more advice on how to make it as efficient as possible at the ramp. And what every you do do not pin the extension directly into the hitch after removing the ball portion. The load forces will tear your mounted hitch right off your truck with that much leverage.

waterpirate

I made my trailer extension permanent. It solved the problem of beach launching, and shallow long ramps. It made driving to the launch site only slightly more difficult than when the trailer was shorter. I also cut the ball receiver off and opted for a pintle ring. I have no faith or patience for a ball coupling. YMMV Eric

Submarine said: So I'm getting close to being able to launch this Hunter 25.5. It has a 20ft long extension bar included with the trailer that attaches to the truck receiver with a tongue and the trailer with a ball mount as pictured. I'm wondering if anyone does it this way and how it works vs. taking off the tongue and removing the receiver from my truck and pinning it through there. The lakes I will be sailing at have rather long launch ramps so I'm thinking the extra pivot point will be problematic like when I back up tandem trailers at work. Thoughts? Yes, the extra pivot point could be problematic. I used a similar setup as your recently and I addressed the situation at the opposite end that you are thinking of. I fastened the extension firmly to the trailer tongue so it couldn't pivot there. I used trailer axle style U bolts to hold things together. Click to expand

Thanks for your input everyone, I think I will modify the trailer side so it doesn't pivot at the trailer connection. Luckily I have a welder and haven't had anything I've welded break so this shouldn't be difficult

Crazy Dave Condon

@Submarine As a dealer, several of my trailers had long extensions. There is a lot of information but would take too long to write. Be glad to discuss my technigques and I was use to off loading up to the Hunter 340 with a tandem axle with long extension and retrieve it. The first thing I can tell you is that attachment chains are needed regardless. As suggested you need to know the ramps and check with the locals as they will know more than the far away week end warriors. Feel free to contact me. Even launched from bulkheads and over bridges. Crazy Dave Condon

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How to Launch a Boat From a Trailer? – 5 Steps with Videos

Written by J. Harvey / Fact checked by S. Numbers

Believe it or not, “How to launch a boat from a trailer?” is one of the most common questions asked by people who are interested in owning boats. It’s actually good that most people are inclined to ask it.

Once you learn how to launch vessels, it becomes relatively easy to do every time. On the other hand, not knowing how only means you’re risking damaging your prized possession.

Fret not, this guide ensures that you’ll always belong to the former group. It explains every essential step and anticipates different scenarios such as no-dock launching and solo launching.

Table of Contents

What to Prepare

Step 1: keep the boat balanced on the trailer, then position your trailer for backing., step 2: connect the launch cord to the trailer., step 3: pull the launch cord back to its maximum length then start coiling it up., step 4: time to launch, step 5: pull the trailer slowly back up, then release the rope’s end connected to the boat and round it up., assisted launching and loading are always preferred, tips to launch a boat from a trailer, ways to launch a boat by yourself, what should you not do when launching a boat.

Boat launch rope

To make your own boat launch rope, have the following:

Marine-grade rope (at least 6’ longer than your vessel’s length)
Bungee cord (the longer and stronger, the better)
Carabiner hook

Regarding the launch cord, I often use a rope that I made from scratch by myself. If you have the time, I suggest you create one yourself.

It’s cheaper and doesn’t really take long to make. Here’s how:

Tie a figure-8 knot on one end of the rope.
Do the same for the bungee cord, but you need to tie its knotted end to the rope’s other end (not the figure-8 end) as you do so.
Once you’ve connected the two, tie a figure-8 knot on the bungee cord’s other end then attach the carabiner hook to it.

Otherwise, you can just buy a finished one such as the Z-Launch rope available on Amazon.

With that out of the way, let’s begin discussing the actual launching from trailer steps. Overall, these steps work for launching without a dock, keep you dry, and are highly recommended knowledge for beginners.

Steps to Launch a Boat From a Trailer

Even before you start backing down your trailer, make sure your boat is balanced and centered while seated on it. It’s best to ensure that it’s positioned correctly after you’re done loading a boat on a trailer (i.e. the moment you have secured the vessel in preparation for your trip).

Having it seated properly only makes sure that it will smoothly slide and stay straight as you launch or pull it out the next time you decide to go boating.

Once that’s done, you can now start getting ready to launch your boat. Position the trailer so that you’ll be able to back it down toward the water’s edge easily.

Before doing the next step, take the time to uncoil the launch rope and check for unwanted kinks and knots that might tighten up the moment pulling force is applied to it. Also, check out the first safety tip when launching a boat I shared below, and keep it in mind every time you’re tying the cord.

After that’s done, grab the end of the marine-grade rope with the figure-8 knot, then connect it to the trailer’s winch strap. Then, take the end of the bungee rope with the carabiner clip and hook it onto the D-rings.

We need to coil the rope neatly, so it won’t get caught on something as we’re putting boat in the water.

Almost all trailers have spare tires at the front. You can place the bundled rope on top of your own spare tire.

Take note that this step and the one above apply to the Z-launch rope you can buy. If you decide to go that route, I can confirm that you can perform the same steps.

Now, you can start to back boat trailer into the water.

Launching a sailboat from a trailer can be done smoothly even if you’re alone, as long as you know the forces involved. In this case, it’s simply allowing the boat to slide by itself with the pushing force that the car applies as you back the trailer down.

The moment you back down the trailer, the boat should slide right off and start floating on the water.

Don’t pull up yet! Maintain a view of the rope; once it has extended to its maximum length, that’s the time to start pulling.

Now, I’ve heard a number of stories from folks asking me for advice on how to launch a boat properly. They said that their car or truck actually slid along with the boat onto the water!

For this, I suggest using a brake pedal depressor. It’s a tool you put on the pedal, and when you press it, it will lock all four wheels while you’re backing down the trailer.

This final step should be self-explanatory. You’ll only have to pull the trailer and the boat along with it so that the latter will gently rest on the shore.

Just drive your truck up enough for the boat to reach the shore, not hit the trailer! Afterward, you can now untie the rope from the boat.

For now, you can secure the boat with an anchor, so you can park your trailer at the designated spot. And, with that, you’re done!

Having someone to aid you will always be a good thing but not really necessary. Even so, I would never pass on having a helper every time. Assistance from others can go a long way, even if you’re no longer launching for the first time, and here’s why:

If the dock is packed with people, there’s a risk that your boat may drift toward another vessel or float too far that it becomes hard to handle.

The same can be said if the launching space you’re working with is relatively small. Your boat may end up hitting the dock, for example, if it’s windy.

How will you be able to react quickly if you’re still in your car after backing the trailer?

Every time you launch a boat by yourself, your attention will be divided. You may leave your car’s door open as you hurry to correct your boat on the dock.

The opposite is just as risky, as you can never say for certain that no one will come out of nowhere and ride your boat.

I can say the same when loading large boat on trailer. You don’t really need to take extra steps such as tying the boat to the dock.

You just need to drive it up to the trailer, and assuming it’s configured correctly, the boat should self-center by itself. Having someone to secure it immediately with the winch strap is a god-send as shown in this video:

Ultimately, this is why I always appreciate a good deckhand, pro or casual, since he or she always allows me to easily launch and retrieve a boat. It just means encountering far fewer problems.

Keep the winch in a forward position. I’ve lost count of times when I didn’t do this and the winch ends up releasing the boat prematurely.
As you’re backing down your trailer, especially once it reaches the farthest point of submersion, I recommend you engage the hand brake or parking brake for added security.
When backing down the ramp, you have to master using your side mirrors and knowing how and when your trailer has aligned with your boat.
As part of boating etiquette, remember never to let your boat or trailer sit for a long time blocking the ramp. The problem is, in most launching sites, priority will always be placed on the trailer that’s on the ramp.

This is why it’s recommended to have a partner who will fetch your trailer, once you’re ready to load or launch the boat.

If you have the privilege of having a dock, you can just use a marine-grade rope to launch your boat. Just tie one end on a cleat on the bow then the other end on a post on the trailer.

I can’t recommend a better video for this than this one:

Most of the steps are similar to the ones above. The only difference is that it’s a launch done on a dock, which is arguably easier.

Not being aware of what’s going on in your surroundings. Be sure to keep a steady watch over your car and boat, especially if you’re alone.
Not taking the time to learn boating etiquette.
Not preparing beforehand and wasting other people’s time at the dock or ramp.

Based on my and other boaters’ experience, there’s more than one method on how to launch a boat from a trailer. To me, the one above takes the least amount of time.

If you’re in an area that gets plenty of traffic, people will always appreciate you for launching quickly, efficiently, and safely every time. Overall, these methods work like a charm, especially if you invest time in practicing them.

“My intention from the first day establishing Boating Basics Online is to provide as much help as possible for boaters who want to experience a first safe and convenient trip. So feel free to join us and share your beautiful journeys to the sea!”

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Four Trailer-Sailers And the Keel/Launch Problem

The paceship 23, american 26, yankee pacific dolphin 24, and aquarius 23 represent different solutions to the problem of easy launching.

In the early 1970s, when the fiberglass sailboat revolution was in full swing, so were the so-called swing keels. Three years after Richard Nixon was elected president, partly on the promise of ending the Vietnam War, U.S. planes still were bombing Cambodia, hippies and peaceniks were marching and both were flashing the V sign. In 1971 Sylvia Plath published “The Bell Jar,” Louis Armstrong died, the crews of Apollo 14 and 15 landed on the moon, cigarette advertisements were banned from television, and Joe Frazier outpointed Muhammad Ali to retain his world heavyweight boxing title.

On the domestic level, Americans were taking their leisure time more seriously than ever, taking to the highways in RVs and to the waterways in all sorts of new fiberglass boats. Magazines devoted exclusively to sailing began to appear. One of the most popular type of boats was the “trailersailer,” relatively light-displacement sloops with centerboards and swing keels, that could be stored in the backyard or driveway, towed behind the family station wagon and launched in about 45 minutes. Trailer-sailers promised yacht-style accommodations at an affordable price-in terms of both initial investment and annual upkeep.

Trailer-sailers never really disappeared from the sailing scene, but they haven’t been exactly an exploding market force either. But becuase we see indications that trailer-sailers are showing signs of increased interest from boat buyers, we thought we’d take a look at four early-and mid-19702 designs.

The Ballast Problem

For stability, a sailboat must have an underwater appendage such as a keel or centerboard, and ballast. Both are at odds with the concept of an easily trailerable boat that can be launched at most ramps. A deep fixed keel is untenable. One solution is to design a long, shallow keel, as seen on many Com-Pac boats, and older models such as the O’Day22. Unfortunately, windward performance suffers because there is little leading edge and foil shape to provide lift.

During the last few years, several builders have experimented with water ballast in the hull and centerboards for lift. Notable designs include the MacGregor 26, Hunter 23.5 and 26, and the new Catalina 25. The idea is to dump the ballast on haul-out to minimize trailering weight, especially important given the small size of the average car these days. The drawback, as we see it, is that the water ballast works best when it is well outboard, which is the case on race boats with port and starboard ballast tanks. Trailer-sailers with shallow ballast tanks on centerline can’t obtain the same righting moments because of the short righting arm. Plus, saltwater is not very dense, just 64 pounds per cubic foot (62.4 lbs. for fresh), compared to lead at about 708 lbs. While waterballast may be a viable option for lake and protected-water sailors, we don’t think it’s the best solution.

Looking back at the Paceship PY 23, American 26, Yankee Dolphin24, and Aquarius 23-we can examine several other approaches to the same problem.

Paceship Yachts was originally a Canadian builder, located in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia (it was later bought by AMF of Waterbury, Connecticut). One of its first boats was the popular East Wind 24, introduced in 1963. The PY 23, designed by John Deknatel of C. Raymond Hunt Associates, was developed in 1974 in response to the trailer-sailer boom.

An early brochure describes the PY 23 as “a second generation refinement of the trailerable concept which eliminates the awkwardness in handling and sailing often present in the early trailerables.” Indeed, the boat was rated 18.0 for IOR Quarter Ton and 16. 9 under the MORC rule. Modern looks were derived largely from the flat sheer and reverse transom.

Instead of the more common swing keel, in which all of the boat’s ballast hangs on a single pivot pin, Deknatel gave the PY 23 a 40-pound centerboard that retracts into a 900-pound “shallow draft lineal keel.” This arrangement eliminates a trunk intruding into the cabin space, and places the majority of ballast a bit lower (it draws 1′ 9″ board up) than in boats, such as the Aquarius 23, in which the ballast is simply located under the cabin sole. The downside is a bit more draft, which means you need to get the trailer that much deeper to float the boat on and off. (We once owned a Catalina 22, which draws 2′ 0″ keel up, and often had to use a trailer tongue extension-built in-to launch and haul out.) Based on our experience, any draft under 2 feet should be relatively easy to trailer and launch. Difficulties seem to mount exponentially with every inch of added draft.

Like most trailer-sailers, the PY 23 has an outboard rudder that kicks up for beaching.

Recognizing that trailer-sailers are not built for rugged conditions, and that by necessity they are not big boats, we herewith list some of the more common owner complaints: no backrests in cabin, barnacles in centerboard well, not enough room in head, not an easily trailerable boat, rudder rot, and poor ventilation in forepeak.

On the plus side, owners say the boat is quick, well built, balances well, has good-quality mast and rigging, a comfortable cockpit, and a livable interior.

In all, we think this is a good example of the trailer-sailer. We like the keel/centerboard arrangement, even though it adds a few precious inches to board-up draft. It sold in 1974 for $8,150 base. Today, it would sell for about $5,100. A superior choice in our book.

Yankee Pacific Dolphin 24

Yankee Yachts of Santa Ana, California, was a major builder during the 1970s, known mostly for its IOR boats. The Pacific Dolphin 24, designed by Sparkman & Stephens, is a classiclooking boat, not unlike the more familiar S&S-designed Tartan 2 7. It was built between about 1969 and 1971, when it was replaced by the Seahorse 24, designed by Robert Finch, who helped design the immensely successful Catalina 27.

The reason, we surmise, was that the Dolphin has a long keel drawing 2′ 10″, and though the company initially thought it would appeal to trailersailers, it’s draft, plus 4,250-pound displacement, made it difficult to launch and retrieve. In contrast, the Seahorse drew 1′ 8″, displaced 2,800 pounds, and has a scabbard-type removable rudder.

The Dolphin has 1,750 pounds of ballast, all in the keel. The attached rudder makes this boat a bit more rugged than most trailer-sailers, and its overall quality, including extensive teak joinerwork below, places it in a different category.

Owners report very few problems with the Dolphin other than a comparatively large turning radius, and cramped living quarters; most have only good things to say. An Oregon owner said, “Using a 3/4-ton pickup with a 390 engine we go uphill at 30 mph and down at 55. It takes us a couple of hours to rig and get underway, but it sure beats paying slip fees.” He also cites the Dolphin’s speed, saying he keeps pace with a Cal34, trounces a Balboa 26 and Catalina 27, and has only “lost” to a San Juan 21 going upwind. A Washington owner says she is very seakindly, with just the right amount of helm, though a bit tender due to narrow beam. Most owners use a 6-hp. outboard in the well, though one said he opted for a 15-hp. outboard for better performance, and because it can charge the batteries. Construction is reported as heavy.

In 1971 the boat sold new for $5,995.Prices now are around $7,500, which for an original owner would have made it the best investment of these four boats. While we have always liked the Dolphin, we don’t view it as suitable for regular trailering. More likely, you’d keep it at a slip during the sailing season, parking it at home on its trailer after haul-out.

American 26

Costa Mesa, California was the epicenter of 1970s boatbuilding. American Mariner Industries is one company, however, better forgotten. It was in business from about 1974 to 1983. Its American 26 was a 25 first. A 1974 brochure says, “This 25-footer so completely justified our judgment as to the efficacy of our unique stabilizer keel and hull . . . that we have moved on to provide the trail-and-sail cruising enthusiast with a choice of two versions-the American 23 and the American 26.” This seems to imply that the same hull mold was used.

In any case, what is unique about this line of boats is the wide, partly hollow keel that makes a sort of trough in the cabin sole to provide standing headroom. It is not wide, but does run nearly the length of the main cabin. Ballast is 900 pounds of lead laid in the bottom of the keel. Draft is 2′ 4″ for trailerability, but there is no centerboard, and due to the keel’s extreme width, you can imagine that windward performance is poor. Unfortunately, we have no owner feedback on this boat to corroborate our assessment.

The boat sold new in 1974 for $8,995 base. The BUC Research Used Boat Price Guide says today it’s worth about $6,000. Frankly, this design, which severely compromises sailing performance for standing headroom, seems ill-conceived. One can only guess at how many people have cracked their skulls stepping up out of the trough.

Aquarius 23

Coastal Recreation, Inc., also of Costa Mesa, was around from about 1969 to 1983. It acquired the Balboa line of trailer-sailers, and for a time built the LaPaz 25 motorsailer.

The Aquarius 23, and its smaller sistership the Aquarius 21, were designed by Peter Barrett, a Webb Institute graduate and national champion in Finns and 4 70s. The Aquarius 23 is not much prettier to look at than the American 26, though it sails surprisingly well. Because highway trailering laws restrict the beam to 8 feet, the Aquarius 23 comes in just under at 7′ 11″ and relies on it for stability. ” Most of the 815 pounds of ballast is in the hull. A large center- board retracts fully into a trunk, which is more or less concealed in the cabin as a foundation for the drop-leaf table. A peculiarity is that persons sitting at the table are all on the starboard side, and the forward person is forward of the main bulkhead, essentially in the head, though there is a fore-andaft bulkhead making the toilet reasonably private (another important issue for trailersailers).

Like the Paceship PY 23 and many other trailer-sailers, the Aquarius 23 has a pop-top to provide additional headroom. We think this is more sensible than the American’s keel trough, but we do caution that pop tops can leak and aren’t designed for offshore use.

Another unusual feature of the Aquarius is the absence of a backstay and spreaders. To support the mast, the shrouds are led aft, reflecting, we suppose, Barrett’s one-design background. If not suited for wild and woolly sailing conditions, it is at least simple to set up, and that, after all, is the goal of most trailer-sailers.

Friends of ours bought an Aquarius 23 in 1970, and we spent a good deal of time sailing with them, including several overnight crossings of Lake Michigan. The boat handled well, was reasonably quick on a reach, and had more interior room than most 23-footers. Still, we were never enamored of its looks.

Complaints from owners include lost centerboards and rudder repairs (like the Yankee Seahorse, it is an inside, removable type), poor ventilation, poor windward performance when overloaded, tubby appearance, and lack of a mainsheet traveler. Many owners say they bought the boat for its shoal draft and large interior, but that cheap construction caused numerous problems.

The Aquarius 23, in the early 1970s, sold for $6,195; today it sells for about $4,000. Though our memories of sailing this boat are all rosy, we think there are better boats available.

Our preferred solution to the keel/ ballast problem in trailer-sailers is the traditional keel/centerboard as found on the PY 23, Tanzer22 andO’Day23, all of which we recommend. The keel/ centerboard configuration eliminates the trunk in the cabin, places ballast below the hull, and does not concentrate all of the ballast weight on a pivot pin, as is the case with swing-keel designs.

We do not care for the American 26’s hollow keel, believing that if you want standing headroom, either go outside or buy a bigger boat. Nor do we care particularly for narrow shoal keels without centerboards, because windward performance suffers, or boards that leave all the ballast in the hull-whether lead, iron or water-as ultimate stability is compromised.

How one solves the choice between interior space and sailing performance is a personal decision. We, too, appreciate spaciousness down below, but at the same time have always chosen boats that looked and sailed decently, willing to give up a few inches of elbow room for a boat we could feel proud of when rowing away in the dinghy.

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7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Is a Trailerable Sailboat, Exactly?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trailerable sailboats are usually limited to the best paved ramps

7 Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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What Do You Want Your Trailer Sailer To Do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What size sailboat is trailerable?

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

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

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

Is a Hunter 27 trailerable?

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

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

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

Is a Catalina 22 trailerable?

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

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

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

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

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

MacGregor put pop tops on many of its trailerables

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How to launch a boat from a trailer

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Keen to take the stress out of slipway work? Boating instructor Jon Mendez shares his essential guide on how to launch a boat from a trailer...

For many of us, our introduction to boating would have been a small trailer-launched boat that we towed to the water whenever we fancied getting afloat. If it was a launching site that was unfamiliar, there was always that moment of trepidation when you first saw the slipway and discovered how usable (or unusable) it was.

Google Maps and Street View have helped remove some of that trepidation but you still need to carry out a basic survey before launching your boat. How steep is it? Is there a drop-off at the end? Is it clear or covered in weed and slime? Is there a fee to launch? Where do you park to get set up and what about the trailer after you’ve launched?

Having arrived, I like to park well away from the slipway while I get ready to launch a boat. My task list usually follows a pattern. Remove all the boat items from the car and place them in the boat. Turn the boat batteries on, check the trim is working, remove the trailer board and then tie the boat to the trailer on a bow line that I can release from on board.

Then remove all the tie-down straps, except the winch strap. Crucially, make sure that the stern bung is in place and that, if you have them, the stern drains or elephant trunk drains are up and secured.

The exact order of the boat launch depends on how steep the slipway is. But a key point is never to allow anyone to walk behind the boat and trailer, as that can be highly dangerous. In this instance, we used a trailer with launching wheels holding the boat’s weight.

Article continues below…

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In contrast to bunk-style trailers, that means you don’t have to go too deep into the water to launch. Position the boat at the top of the slipway and trim the engine down slightly. Now gently drive backwards so that the trailer wheels are just at the water’s edge.

I now release the winch strap so just the bow line is holding the boat’s weight before climbing aboard. Now I ask the car driver to reverse 2m, so that the car wheels are just at the water’s edge. I use a system of two fingers for 2m, one finger for 1m and a clenched fist for stop.

I can now lower the engine, just until the water intakes are covered. Go and have a look if you are at all unsure. But if it’s deep enough, then start the engine and let it idle for a few moments while looking for the cooling tell-tale. Then lower it a touch further.

At this point, I go to the bow and release my bow line that was holding the boat onto the trailer. Now get back to the helm, make sure the wheel is straight, put the kill-cord on, and engage astern, just at tick-over to start with. Having the engine still trimmed up is helpful as it slightly lifts the stern off the trailer while also pulling backwards.

Depending on your trailer setup, you may need a few extra revs to get the boat moving astern, or you may need to drop the trailer deeper into the water. As soon as the boat starts moving off the trailer, drop the revs or even go into neutral to prevent things happening too quickly.

When off and clear, move to deeper water, fully trim down and, if practical, go and moor up so you can help park the trailer and collect the rest of your group.

First published in the June 2023 issue of MBY.

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9 Best Trailerable Sailboats

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Sailing is an excellent activity for the weekends, especially in remote mountain lakes or sheltered waterways. The United States is full of small isolated waterways, inland lakes, and rivers—which make the perfect environment for an adventure in a small sailboat .

Unfortunately, many people are put off by the idea of owning a sailboat due to the associated docking and maintenance fees. Weekend sailors often don’t want to pay for a long-term slip, and there’s no question that the added expense can be a pain.

Luckily, you don’t have to permanently dock a sailboat to enjoy this great pastime.

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. Trailer sailors are some of the most popular boats in the country, and they’re not limited to light winds and calm seas. Many trailerable sailboats have made some impressive passages both offshore and coastal. In this article, we’ll go over some of the top new and used trailerable sailboats that you can purchase today.

Table of contents

Best Trailerable Sailboats

1) west wight potter 15.

The West Wight Potter 15 is perhaps one of the most capable 15-foot sailboats around. This neat little vessel is as seaworthy as it is easy to handle, and it’s a great choice for all kinds of cruising adventures.

The West Wight Potter 15 is a 15-foot sloop with an aluminum mast and tiller. This tiny boat also features a small cabin, which has ideal sleeping accommodations for a cruising couple. The cabin itself is spartan compared to its larger relatives, but it’s the perfect design for the minimalist cruiser.

This small sailboat is easily trailerable and can be stored in some garages with relative ease. The West Wight Potter 15 is ideal for inland and coastal waters and sets up (and takes down) fast with minimal fuss. Don’t let the small design fool you—this craft is surprisingly seaworthy.

The West Wight Potter 15 has an impressive cruising record, including a trip from England to Sweden in the brutal North Atlantic. The West Wight Potter 15 can be purchased new from International Marine, and thousands of craft are in circulation already.

2) West Wight Potter 19

We thought it fitting to include the Potter 15’s big brother, the West Wight Potter 19, on this list of the best trailerable sailboats . West Wight Potter boats are well known for their robust design and easy handling, and the Potter 19 is no exception.

The West Wight Potter 19 boasts the seaworthiness and ease-of-handling offered by its little brother, with the benefit of greater sailing comfort and cabin accommodations. This 19-foot sailboat is constructed of fiberglass. The hull contains a liberal amount of positive flotation, which makes the boat practically unsinkable.

The cabin features generous accommodations for a boat of its size, featuring space for a vee-berth, a small stove, a sink, and a portable head. Additionally, the West Wight Potter 19’s cabin can be wired for electricity from the factory, further increasing the level of comfort in this capable trailer sailor.

Like its smaller alternative, the West Wight Potter 19 has a history of some impressive cruises. An individual sailed this craft thousands of nautical miles from California to Hawaii —a single-handed voyage usually reserved for boats twice its size.

That’s not to say that the Potter 19 is a purpose-built long-haul sailboat. This design is ideal for larger lakes, rivers, and coastal cruising. However, the design has demonstrated toughness and seaworthiness rarely found in smaller boats.

The Potter 19, like the Potter 15, is a centerboard craft. This sailboat is available new from International Marine and offers a wide range of options packages and upgrades.

3) Newport 27

The Newport 27 is a massive step-up in size and amenities compared to the other boats on this list so far. This comfortable trailerable sailboat originated in 1971—at the height of the fiberglass boat boom. The Newport 27 measures 27-feet in length and feature a flush-deck design similar to the famous Cal 20.

This sailboat, despite its trailerable size and weight, features surprisingly good handling characteristics and generous accommodations. A full 6-feet of standing headroom is available in the cabin, making this boat exceedingly comfortable for longer journeys.

This sailboat is an excellent choice for the trailer sailing sailor who dreams of longer journeys but spends much of the time just hopping around local ports.

Despite its modest size and weight, the design of this small sailboat is proven. Many people sail them long distances and enjoy the quick handling characteristics of its design.

The Newport 27 is a true pocket cruiser, if not slightly larger than most. The Newport 27 isn’t produced anymore, but there is a healthy second-hand market for the boat.

4) Cape Dory 28

The Cape Dory 28 is a legendary Carl Alberg design known for its commodious living spaces and well-rounded performance both offshore and inland. This spacious little cruiser has the styling and capability of many larger boats, featuring traditional styling and generous amounts of varnished teak and brass. This cozy boat is a great choice for traditionalist sailors.

The Cape Dory 28 features a proven, simple, and robust rig, and it functions gracefully in a variety of conditions. While a 28’ sailboat is hardly considered trailerable by many, it can certainly be hauled-out and transported with relative ease. This is the kind of sailboat that’s just as happy in the boatyard or a permanent mooring.

The Cape Dory 28 offers attractive features for long-haul voyages, plus ease-of-handling and quickness that is necessary for tighter coastal waters. The Cape Dory 28 is ideal for salt-water cruising, though it’s a bit large for small lakes and narrow rivers.

This is certainly not a shoal-draft cruiser—with a draft of 4-feet, it's primarily at home in the water.

5) Islander 24

The Islander 24 is a common fiberglass classic that makes an ideal trailer sailing setup. This 24-foot fiberglass boat features a robust design and ease-of-maintenance rarely found on boats with similar capabilities.

The design has been around for over 40 years, and it’s served weekender and cruising sailor alike. The Islander 24 is a well-rounded cruising vessel with a spacious cabin for two (or more). The cabin features a forward vee berth, space for a head, and tables for a sink, stove, or navigation.

The boat is single-handed with ease, and the rig is simple enough to be stowed without too much hassle. The Islander 24 is a relatively common trailer sailor, though many owners leave it in the water.

A vessel of this size is ideal for cruising coastal waters, though some sailors have attempted longer voyages in this vessel. The Islander 24 is available on the used market all over the country.

6) Contessa 26

The Contessa 26 is an excellent classic trailerable sailboat. Don’t let its modest size fool you—this cruising craft has a long-standing reputation for seaworthiness. The Contessa 26 is a fiberglass boat that debuted in 1965 and has since earned a bit of a cult following.

These rather innocuous looking crafts are as fun and capable as they are easy to handle. The boat features a spacious cabin, comfortable cockpit, and plenty of available cruising upgrades. The rig is well-built and resembles the rig of a much larger boat.

The Contessa 26 is an ideal pocket cruising setup for a moderately experienced sailor. The vessel has a narrow beam, which contributes to heeling. The boat is known to heel rather violently, but it stiffens up shortly after and becomes a joy to sail.

A boat like this knows its capabilities and is sure to impress anyone. The Contessa 26 is a safe, hardy, and comfortable cruising boat for minimalists, and one of the best tailorable sailboats in the mid to large-size category.

This boat is a little harder to come by than many other vessels on this list, as around 300 were built. However, if you’re lucky enough to locate one on the used market, it’s definitely worth considering. Contessa built a fine boat, and the Contessa 26 meets the standard with confidence.

7) Hunter 27

If you’ve made it this far down the list, you’re probably surprised that the Hunter 27 hasn’t come up yet. This famous little boat has quite a reputation and happens to be one of the most popular modern trailerable cruisers available.

The Hunter 27 isn’t a traditionalist’s dream, but it offers the modern amenities and capabilities you’d expect from Hunter. 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 amazing durability, and the design is sound from keel to masthead. Now, let’s get into some of the features that make the Hunter 27 a very attractive option. The Hunter 27 is a purpose-built small cruising vessel, but the accommodations appear to be a shrunken version of a boat 10 feet longer.

Down below, the Hunter 27 features a full galley, head, a full standing shower, berths, and generous storage space. The Hunter 27 is a truly livable trailer sailor, featuring accommodations that make it suitable for extended cruising or even living aboard. The salon features over 6 feet of standing headroom, with plenty of seating and counter space throughout.

The rig is sturdy and easy to handle. And remember, the Hunter 27 is still a trailer sailor. The boat features a shoal draft of under 4-feet and a displacement of less than 8,000 pounds. The Hunter 27 is available used, and this boat is still produced and available brand-new by Marlow-Hunter.

How could we forget the little Cal 20? We didn’t—and it’s certainly worth including the famous Trans-Pac underdog on this list. The Cal 20 is reminiscent of the glory days of fiberglass sailing in the 1960s and 1970s.

This flush-deck racer is a fantastic trailer cruiser for anyone wanting big-boat handling and speed in a compact package. The accommodations on this boat leave something to be desired, but many people find them cozy and acceptable.

The cabin features sitting headroom and a berth, along with small tables for a stove or sink. The Cal 20 has a history of impressive voyages and was a popular choice for daring sailors on long offshore journeys. However, the boat is designed to be quick, safe, and fun on inland passages and coastal cruises.

The Cal 20 is common on the used market and makes a great entry-level cabin sailboat. The Cal 20 features an enormous cockpit, making it ideal for a day on the bay with friends or family.

The boat is easy to handle, and upgrades abound. The Cal 20 is a great little sailboat with a fun history and a massive fan base. This stout little yacht makes an excellent weekender too, and the cabin makes overnighting comfortable.

9) Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

One of the most legendary small trailerable cruisers is the full-keel Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20. A limited number of these boats were produced by Pacific Seacraft during the 20th century, and they have a reputation for incredible seaworthiness and long-range voyaging.

These sailboats have the hull shape of boats twice their size, with a long, deep, full keel running the length of the hull. The boat can handle some serious offshore cruising and features the capabilities of other full-keel sailboats.

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 is an amazing find on the used market, as owners tend to cling to them due to their incredible characteristics. There aren’t many trailerable offshore cruisers available, which is because it’s not easy to design a small boat with offshore capabilities.

However, Pacific Seacraft did just that and built one incredible trailer sailor. This vessel is not really designed for shallow lakes and rivers.

The Flicka 20 is known to be a truly seaworthy ocean-going sailboat, which happens to be small enough to fit on an average-sized boat trailer.

Wherever you choose to sail, a trailerable sailboat is often a great choice. The boats listed here are by no means the only options—in fact, there are dozens of excellent trailerable sailboat models on the market. If you enjoy sailing but want to avoid the hassle of a permanent mooring, or if you travel to sail, a trailer sailor is a great choice.

Many sailors pick trailerable sailboats to sail multiple oceans. Many people would agree that it’s a lot more practical to haul your boat from the Pacific to the Atlantic, especially when the alternative option is the Panama Canal .

A trailerable sailboat can give you access to a multitude of sailing adventures—the lake one weekend, the coast the next, and perhaps an offshore voyage or island hopping in the delta.

And with this list of the best trailerable sailboats, you can find the boat that fits your needs (and your budget) and hit the water in no time.

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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How to build a sailboat trailer extension

This is the remarkable true story about how I built a sturdy trailer extension and got 27 stitches in the process. I recommend the former, though I included instructions on how I got the latter just in case you’re interested.

The previous owner of my Catalina 270 took her in and out of the water with a crane. Unfortunately on my lake, there are no cranes, so we have to launch the boat by backing the trailer into the lake. When the lake is low or the ramps shallow, it is necessary to extend the trailer out further into the water than the tow vehicle can go. One way to accomplish this task is by building an extension to go between the trailer and tow vehicle, which allows the trailer to be let down further out into the water.

On my prior boat, I used a strap and rolling wheel on the front of the trailer to lower the boat in. The problem with the strap (or rope, or cable) method is that you can’t push the trailer further into the water. Often times there are large ruts or pits in the dirt beneath the ramp caused by power boaters gunning their engines to push boats on and off trailers. To pass over these ruts using a strap, you have to let the boat back quickly down the ramp to build up enough momentum to roll through the ruts, and I always worried that a deep rut on one side or the other would tip the trailer to the side. It never did, but I always imagined it happening.

So this time I wanted more control over the boat, and decided to build a solid bar extension. I looked at several designs on various websites and decided I wanted one that was heavy duty enough to support the weight without needing a dolly wheel under the front of the trailer. I wanted about 15 feet of extension, and it needed to be easily installed, removed, and stowed on the trailer.

First, off to the local metal shop, where I purchased 15 feet of galvanized steel, in the same dimension as the steel on the trailer’s tongue (3″x5″). I think it’s possible to go with something smaller, but not knowing how it would handle the load I decided to stay with the original dimensions.

Next, I ordered a 2-5/8″ hitch coupler from Amazon on the front of the hitch extension, which would connect to the tow vehicle’s ball without having to switch ball sizes.

Then, I had the terrible idea of simply bolting the hitch extension alongside the trailer’s tongue. Two large bolts, spaced about 2 feet apart, seemed like they would do the trick. However, the weight of the trailer bent the bolts and the extension sagged to about 2 inches off the ground. It was enough to launch it the first year, but I knew I’d need a sturdier connection between extension bar and trailer by the time we hauled out in fall.

I ordered a 2- 5/8″ trailer ball to mount on the top of the extension bar. This ball would lock into the trailer hitch. At the back end of the bar, I planned to have two bars welded on that would hug the sides of the trailer tongue and be secured on top with a hitch pin.

The bars I chose were half inch thick steel. This is how I ended up with 27 stitches. My battery powered drill would never make it through, so I ran to the hardware store to pick up a corded drill. The drill I’d planned to buy was good, but when I got there I found a higher amperage drill on sale for less. More power for less money? Yes, please. So I walked out of the store with a 9 amp Hitachi drill.

I lifted my 25 lbs vice off the workbench and set it on the garage floor for safety. I locked the steel in the vice and started drilling, stopping every 30 seconds or so to add some oil into the hole. The whole operation felt pretty safe until the drillbit punched through the back side of the steel. That’s when the full fury of all 9 amps was unleashed. That monster drill grabbed the steel bar and 25 pound vice and spun them in circles so fast that by the time I let go of the trigger it had spun around 2 full times. I felt something had hit the back of my leg, and glancing down, realized I was in trouble. The half inch bar traveling at 9 amps had laid open the back of my calf. It was going to need stitches. And not a few, because as it turns out, half inch steel is not a very precise cutting implement.

On the drive over to the hospital, I used Intermountain Healthcare’s “ConnectCare” telehealth app on my phone. It was amazing, I could actually show the doctor a video of the wound from the car so she could tell me if I needed to go straight to the emergency department, or just a clinic. One emergency department visit and 27 stitches later, I was good to go. And I only had one more bar to drill through. It took me two weeks to get the courage to do it.

But the end result was a great trailer extension. It’s very sturdy, able to hold the front of the trailer at the same height over the full length of the bar. It also has enough ground clearance that I can attach it on flat pavement and drive it over the edge of the road onto the ramp without bottoming out. This makes work on the ramp much safer, because the trailer is never unhitched from the tow vehicle while on the incline. I also have an impressive scar on the back of my leg which I refer to proudly as “a sailing injury.”

13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels

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

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

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

Catalina 22 Sport

Com Pac Eclipse

Flying Scot

Islander 24

MacGregor 26

Montgomery 17, norseboat 17.5.

Seaward 26 RK
West Wight Potter 15/19

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

13 Biggest Trailerable Sailboats: Cheap But Good

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

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

Find the specs here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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If you need to know what a swing keel is, like me, this article is for you. I'm trying to decide what keel type is right for me, so I dove into the swing keel.

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Trailering a Boat: Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents

Tow Tow Tow Your Boat…

A trailer helps you get the most out of your boating experience. With a boat and trailer in tow, you can put your adventure on the road and explore just about any lake, river, bay, or inlet. Towing a boat is not difficult, but safety should always be a number-one concern. Follow these basic boat-towing tips to get started trailer-boating.

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Tow vehicles

Driving tips

Launching and retrieving.

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Rent, Charter, Share— Only at Boatsetter

Your tow vehicle

A safe towing experience begins with the tow vehicle. Even a small boat and trailer can significantly impact vehicle handling and performance.

GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight) is critical. You can find this rating in your vehicle owner’s manual. The GCVW is the weight of the vehicle, its passengers, and its fuel and gear PLUS the weight of your boat (including fuel, water, and gear) on its trailer.

Pro Tip: Not every boat company publishes the combined weight of its boat and trailer combinations. The best way to accurately check GCVW is on a public scale at a truck stop or municipal facility.

Ensure your vehicle is equipped with a hitch rated for the weight of your boat and trailer.
Check tire pressure before every outing.

Your trailer

Basic trailer checks and maintenance will help ensure a safe tow down the road.

Towing at speed with low trailer tire pressure can cause a tire to overheat and delaminate. Always check trailer tire pressure.

Pro Tip: Correct pressure can be found on a sticker or tag on the trailer frame. It will usually be much higher than your vehicle tire pressure.

Check your trailer lights before every departure and at every stop along the way.
Pressurized hubs protect trailer wheel bearings. Consult the trailer owner’s manual and add grease as required.
Trailer brakes require periodic maintenance, which will be described in the trailer owner’s manual.
Ensure your trailer coupler completely covers the ball of the hitch and is snapped shut and secured with a pin.

NEWS: JP Mancini II brings in $38,000 monthly renting out boats on Boatsetter

When towing a boat, your vehicle is heavier and longer than usual. You’ll need to adjust your driving dynamics.

Your stopping distance will increase, so maintain a greater distance than normal when following other vehicles and begin slowing for turns and stops sooner.
Pace your speed. Trying to tow at high freeway speeds may tax your tow vehicle, give you less time to react in an emergency, and increase your stopping distance.
Swing wider in turns to keep your trailer from clipping curbs or obstacles close to the road or a driveway.
Add wide-angle side mirrors to better view the trailer in turns and when backing and to cover your longer blind spots.
Think ahead to avoid situations that will require you to back up. When pulling into a gas station or parking lot have an easy exit route in mind.

Time to put your boat in the water and start having fun. A good boat owner takes pride in appearing ship-shape at the ramp and contributing to efficiency.

Park in a designated staging area or out of the way of traffic to prepare your boat.

Visit the pay station and take care of a launching fee if one is required.
Install the boat drain plug.
Check that the key is in the ignition. This would be a good time to bump the key into the “start” position to ensure you don’t have a dead battery.
Load all your gear into the boat – fishing tackle, coolers, tubes, skis, etc.
Attach fenders to the dock side of the boat.
Remove the transom tie-down straps and the outboard motor brace if you use one.
Attach dock lines to the bow and stern cleats.

Now you are ready to back down the ramp and launch.

If someone is available to drive the boat off the trailer, that person can put on a PFD, get into the boat, and be ready to start the engine and pull away.
Back down the ramp until the stern of the boat just begins to float off the trailer.
Start the engine before releasing the boat from the trailer. This way, if your engine does not start, you can simply drive back up the ramp to troubleshoot.
Either use dock lines to walk the boat down a dock and away from the launching area or have your driver move the boat out of the way. They may wait on the water while you park and pick you up from the end of the dock or move the boat away from the launch area and tie up.
Drive up the ramp and park your vehicle and trailer. Time to go boating!

Reloading the boat on the trailer is simply the reverse of launching.

Drop the vehicle driver and passengers off on a dock. If there’s a courtesy dock or dock away from the launch area, it’s OK to tie up while you wait for the trailer. If not, move the boat away from the ramp area and wait for the trailer to be backed down.
If there is a line , the driver gets the vehicle in line to take a turn backing down the ramp.
The boat driver needs to pay attention and be in a position to approach the ramp when the trailer is in the water.
Load the boat on the trailer. Secure the winch at the bow and secure the safety chain. The boat driver can stay in the boat while you pull up the ramp.
Drive to the staging area, or away from traffic, to unload coolers and gear from the boat, secure transom straps, check trailer lights, and get ready to hit the road.

Last Pro Tip

Put your boat to good use by listing it on Boatsetter , the #1 boat rental company. Boat owners on the platform earn an average of $20,000 annually by renting out their boats for half-day or full-day trips to qualified renters looking for a nice day out on the water.

Boat owners 700+ globally have been the backbone of this boat-sharing platform which carries 50,000 boats and 20,000 makes and models. Owners love Boatsetter. Renters love Boatsetter. Join the boat-sharing fab now and get in on this 21st-century opportunity!

About Boatsetter

Boatsetter is a unique boat-sharing platform that gives everyone — whether you own a boat or you’re just renting — the chance to experience life on the water. You can list a boat , book a boat , or make money as a captain .

List. Rent. Earn— Only at Boatsetter

Charles Plueddeman is a self-employed writer and photographer based in Wisconsin. A staff editor and contributor to Boating Magazine since 1986, he is the author of its “Off My Dock” column. In the marine realm he specializes in engine technology and trailerable boats. His editorial work has appeared in many national publications, including Popular Mechanics, Men’s Journal, Playboy, Popular Science, Cycle World, and Harley-Davidson Enthuisast .

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Launching Your Boat From a Trailer – Boat Launching Process

Written by Anthony Roberts / Fact checked by Jonathan Larson

Launching your boat from a trailer might seem daunting at first. However, it’s worth pointing out that setting off and retrieving your vessel are two of the most vital skills any boater must learn and master.

The process might seem intimidating for beginners. However, practice and the guidance of a seasoned boater can make this task become second nature.

We prepared this post to deepen and widen your understanding of watercraft launching from a trailer. Simply put, you’ll need to carefully back up the vehicle until the winch nearly touches the water, secure the boat with the launch cord, then back up the car again so the boat can float off the trailer.

Let’s start.

Table of Contents

Pre-launch Preparation

Step-by-step guide to launching a boat from a trailer, tips for a successful launch and retrieval, choosing the right boat trailer, boat launching process.

Launching a watercraft by yourself shouldn’t be more challenging than learning how to ride a bike. We outlined some critical steps to make the process less stressful so you can feel more confident about the experience.

Unloading boat from trailer requires several preliminary activities to ensure the task proceeds as smoothly and safely as possible.

Determine what you want to bring on your boating trip (i.e., fishing gear, coolers, baits, entertainment devices, and extra clothes). Load these items into the boat to avoid entering the water once launched.
Check your boat trailer whether its lights are waterproof or submersible. If not, disconnect the fixtures from the tow vehicle to avoid short circuits.
Gauge the fuel tank to make sure it’s full.
Check the boat’s drain plug, ensuring it’s tight in the hole. Otherwise, you risk flooding the watercraft’s interior even before you start cruising.
Look for mechanisms (i.e., tie-down straps, ropes, and winches) securing the vessel to the trailer. Remove or unfasten these cords, except the boat trailer winch line.
Prepare a boat launch rope to help you put a boat in the water as safely as possible. You can make this item using a marine-grade rope that is 6 feet longer than your vessel, a carabiner hook, and a heavy-duty bungee cord. Alternatively, you can buy a launch rope from e-commerce sites.
If you have an outboard motor, raise the engine to the highest possible angle before you back a boat into the water. Neglecting this precautionary measure might damage the propeller.

Note that these preparation steps should be done while you’re away from the ramp. Otherwise, you may get in the way of other boaters trying to launch their vessels as well.

Here are the steps for ensuring a successful and worry-free boat launching activity.

Step 1. Assess the boat launching area.

Please don’t neglect this step, especially if this is your first time launching a watercraft. We recommend assessing the boat ramp for steepness or grade, including the boundaries of the concrete ramp. Are there obstacles or objects you must be wary of? Is the ramp slippery? How about the wind and water currents?

The boat ramp’s characteristics and prevailing water conditions will determine how far you can back up the boat trailer without undermining the watercraft and towing vehicle’s safety.

Step 2. Position your vehicle and boat trailer.

Drive your towing vehicle and position it perpendicular to the shore. You can ask an assistant to ensure the boat trailer and towing vehicle are in a straight line. This maneuver will ensure you launch a pontoon boat or any watercraft into the water with ease.

Step 3. Back up the boat trailer into the water, but only before submerging the winch.

Engage the towing vehicle’s gear to reverse and slowly back up toward the boat ramp landing. Please don’t rush to avoid turning the boat trailer needlessly. An assistant can issue commands or directions as you ease the car or truck into the ramp.

Ask your assistant to watch the trailer tongue and winch and tell you to stop reversing before these components touch the water. Apply the brakes, engage the parking brake, and shift the gear lever into “Park.” Position a wheel chock under the tire to keep the vehicle in place.

In case you don’t have an assistant, you can rely on your side and rear mirrors instead.

Step 4. Secure the boat with the launch cord.

Get off your vehicle and tie the launch cord to a sturdy component on the boat. Secure the rope’s other end to the boat trailer’s winch strap. You can also ask your assistant to perform these steps while waiting behind the wheel.

If you’re launching a watercraft alone, you can secure the launch rope to a cleat on the dock. Please don’t forget this step to avoid letting the boat drift once launched.

Unfasten the boat trailer winch strap and hook to take a boat off a trailer easier.

Step 5. Continue backing up until the watercraft floats.

Return to the towing vehicle, shift the gear to Reverse, and disengage the parking brake and wheel chock. Gently ease the boat trailer into the water. Ask the assistant to watch the watercraft’s rear end and tell when it starts to float. Apply the brakes once the vessel’s stern is floating on the water.

Shift the lever into Park and activate the towing vehicle’s parking or emergency brake.

Step 6. Let the boat float or drive it in reverse.

You have two options for this step.

First, you can back up the towing vehicle deeper into the water without undermining its integrity to let the boat float (from bow to stern). This maneuver is ideal for a boat ramp with a gentle incline. Grab the boat launch cord and guide the watercraft out of the trailer. Secure the rope on a dock cleat.

Your second option is to have an assistant jump into the boat, crank the engine, and put the gear into Reverse. This technique eliminates the launch cord requirement, although you can still keep it to secure the boat to a cleat for anchoring post.

Step 7. Drive the towing vehicle straight and park.

With the boat safely in the water, you can engage the gear lever to Drive and disengage the emergency brake. Maneuver your towing vehicle up the ramp and park it in a safe location (preferably a designated parking area).

You’re ready to put this boat trailer launch guide to the test.

tips-for-a-successful-launch-and-retrieval

Here are several boat launch tips to ensure your activity proceeds safely and smoothly.

Boat trailer missing the ramp – Having a skilled assistant to guide you helps, allowing you to decide what should you do immediately.
Unplugged drain – We mentioned this step is crucial before you drive the boat to the marina. Seasoned boaters always plug the watercraft drain before they roll out from their homes.
Trailer alignment – As noted above, the boat and trailer and towing vehicle must be in a straight line. Otherwise, it’ll be next to impossible to properly launch the boat.
Always set up the trailer on firm and level ground.
Ensure the back keel roller is lower by about 25 millimeters than the front keel roller.
Assess the watercraft if its keel sits squarely in the middle of the boat trailer.
Adjust the supporting side bunks to stabilize the boat on the trailer.
Observe the correct maintenance schedules for boat trailer components (i.e., tire pressure, brake system, and connections).

The best trailer allows you to launch and retrieve a boat safely and confidently. Here’s how to pick the right trailer for your boat:

Measure the watercraft’s length from the drain plug/transom to the bow eye, including bow pulpits and swim platforms, to get the right boat trailer.
Check the boat’s “wet” weight (not its dry weight) to determine the trailer weight capacity.
Choose between a bunk and a roller trailer. Although bunk trailers are vulnerable to saltwater damage, they are affordable and easy to maintain. Meanwhile, roller trailers are ideal for low shallow boat ramps.
Decide between galvanized steel and aluminum trailer frame. The former is heavy but effective in protecting lighting cables. Aluminum is lightweight and corrosion-resistant.

Launching your boat from a trailer shouldn’t be challenging or nerve-wracking, even for greenhorn boaters. Preliminary activities are essential in putting the watercraft into the water as safely and smoothly as possible.

Like any skill, practicing the different steps for launching vessels into bodies of water can build confidence while sharpening competencies. As for retrieving the boat from the water, you could always reverse the steps to bring home the watercraft.

Ten years of enjoying countless trips on boats never made me love them any less! So I am here to put all those experiences into good use for other boaters who want to have a safe and fun trip with their friends and families.

Zack Snyder’s ‘Rebel Moon Part Two’ Trailer Brings the War Home | Video

The sequel to last year’s sci-fi extravaganza hits Netflix in April

“Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” is nearly here. And a new trailer, which you can watch above, showcases what we can expect from the anticipated follow-up.

If you missed the first “Rebel Moon,” subtitled “A Child of Fire,” then you missed Sofia Boutella as Kora, a young woman who has put her warrior ways behind her but is forced to fight when an evil galactic empire threatens her small backwater planet.

Kora travels around the cosmos in an attempt to recruit fighters. There’s Djimon Hounsou as a down-on-his-luck gladiator, Doona Bae as a cyborg with a sword, Staz Nair as a guy who has a special bond with animals, etc. Once she gets everybody together, they think they have thwarted the sinister forces of darkness … but as the movie ends and she returns to her peaceful valley it is made clear that not only is the villainous Atticus Noble (Ed Skrein) still alive, but they’re coming for Kora and her people next.

This new trailer does seem to deliver on the promise of the first film. Kora and the crew will pull together and train the peaceful people of her planet, and there will be a ton of action. Even Jimmy, the robot voiced by Anthony Hopkins, will put his peaceful ways behind him to kill a bunch of baddies.

Alongside “Rebel Moon — Part Two,” Snyder is also prepping an extended director’s cuts of both films, which Snyder says will total around six hours. (Of course, these will be released after the PG-13 versions.) There are also planned sequels and spin-offs, although we haven’t heard much about those so they might have fallen by the wayside. (Former Netflix exec Scott Stuber was a huge champion and it’s unclear if his exit will jeopardize the streamer’s relationship with Snyder.)

“Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” will hit Netflix on April 19.

Sofia Boutella stars in Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon'

Deep Sky Trailer 04/19/2024

Posted: March 18, 2024 | Last updated: March 18, 2024

IMAX Expectacular Deep Sky (IMAX Entertainment) Starring:Michelle Williams (Narration By)Deep Sky brings the awe-inspiring images captured by NASA’s Webb Telescope to IMAX® — taking audiences on a journey to the beginning of time and space, to never-before-seen cosmic landscapes, and to recently discovered exoplanets, planets around other stars. Directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn (My Architect) and narrated by Oscar®-nominated actress Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans), Deep Sky follows the high-stakes global mission to build the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and to launch it into orbit a million miles from Earth, in an attempt to answer questions that have haunted us since the beginning of time: Where did we come from? How did the universe begin? Are we alone? 13 billion years in the making, Deep Sky reveals the universe as we have never seen it before, immersing audiences in the stunning pictures beamed back to earth by NASA’s new telescope — and capturing their vast beauty at a scale that can only be experienced on the giant IMAX screen. An IMAX Original Documentary, IMAX Entertainment presents Deep Sky, a Crazy Boat Pictures Production of a Nathaniel Kahn Film. Deep Sky is narrated by Michelle Williams. It is written and directed by Nathaniel Kahn, and produced by Bonnie Hlinomaz and Nathaniel Kahn. The executive producers are John Turner, Matt Mountain, Sandra Evers-Manly, and Gerry Ohrstrom. Music by Paul Leonard-Morgan. Cinematography by Robert Richman. Edited by Brian Johnson, a.c.e., and Jay Keuper.Directed By Nathaniel KahnProduced By Nathaniel Kahn, Bonnie HlinomazExecutive Produced By John Turner, Matt Mountain, Sandra Evers-Manly, Gerry Ohrstrom

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Delaware Surplus Services is auctioning off kitchen equipment, minivans, boats and more

In need of new landscaping equipment, a boat or a pickup truck? There are a few state auctions happening in March that can help you out with that.

Delaware Surplus Services sells heavy equipment, vehicles and miscellaneous items online all year long, with auctions typically taking place at Delaware Surplus Services in Smyrna, the Department of Transportation Complex in Dover or Delaware State Police Headquarters in Dover.

Auctions are routinely held for anyone who is interested in checking out and bidding on the latest fleet of goods up for grabs, and this month, three auctions are being held for Delawareans to take their pick of forgotten and unwanted items.

The first auction , which opened on March 12 at 9 a.m., runs through March 21 at 7 p.m. Fleet and school district vehicles, including minivans, pickups and sedans are available.

Inspection will be on March 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Delaware Surplus Services at 5408 Dupont Parkway in Smyrna.

The second auction is for miscellaneous equipment like utility vehicles , canoes, tools, kitchen equipment and landscaping equipment. The auction opens on March 19 at 9 a.m. and runs through March 28 at 7 p.m.

Previous auctions: Need a bus, kayak or file cabinet? Delaware surplus property has plenty at its new site

Inspection will be on March 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Delaware Surplus Services at 5408 Dupont Parkway in Smyrna.

The third action this month runs from March 19 at 9 a.m. to March 28 at 8 p.m. and features boats, trailers, school buses, shipping containers and paratransit buses.

Online auctions are offered through the state’s contracted vendor, Auction Liquidation Services, at the following websites:

Auction List Services
US Gov Bid
America's Best Bus Deals

For more information or to bid on any of the auctions, visit gss.omb.delaware.gov/surplus/auction.shtml or contact Matthew Gabriellini or Steven Scaffedi at (302) 836-7640.

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at [email protected] .

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection Launch Is a Disaster

I find your lack of servers disturbing..

Update 03/15/2024: Following a full day of backlash, Aspyr has issued a statement on Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection's disastrous launch that has been plagued with server issues, bugs, and more.

The publisher released a statement on its support page saying it "experienced critical errors with [its] network infrastructure" as an explanation for why, for example, the PC version launched with just three 64-player servers for the 9,232 fans who logged in upon release.

"Since launch, we’ve been working to address these issues and increase network stability, and we will continue our efforts until our network infrastructure is stabilized to prevent further outages," the statement said.

Original Story 03/14/2024: Aspyr is under fire over the disastrous launch of the highly anticipated Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection , which is plagued with server issues, bugs, and more.

Launching today, March 14, the $34.99 Classic Collection — which includes the original two Star Wars: Battlefront games — currently has a "mostly negative" rating on Steam with just 21% of reviews being positive. Headlining most complaints are connectivity issues, with myriad Steam and social media users claiming just three 64-player servers were available at launch for the 9,232 players who logged in on Steam alone.

Aspyr seemingly added more servers within a few hours of launch but problems were rampant. "Was only able to join one Heroes versus Villains match and the Heroes' side was completely broken," said Kamaji on Steam. "No one could join the Heroes team which resulted in no one to fight against. I figured this may have been just a Battlefront 2 issue so I hopped on over to play Battlefront 1 multiplayer. There's zero servers up for Battlefield 1. Wow."

-10,000 people playing on launch night. -Only has 3 servers that have 64 slots for a total of ~200 players. -Multiplayer doesn't work otherwise. -Price Tag of 35 USD Jesus Christ I am so disappointed this is robbery, don't buy Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection pic.twitter.com/JB7oCTHzgh — seb 🦝📕 (@sebbaku) March 14, 2024

"As of right now the multiplayer (otherwise known as the only reason to buy this product if you already own the original games) is entirely unplayable, making this game a waste of money until that issue is fixed," said KitsuneKami.

"Currently, game is totally unplayable. Even if you manage to get into a server, players cannot spawn. Not sure if it's a cheater or denial thing, bugged gameplay, or both," said nightnight.

Server issues appear just one part of the problem, however. Aiming has been flagged as a major issue, including on PC with mouse sensitivity and on consoles with traditional controller support.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection Reveal Trailer Stills

"Aim controls make it unplayable in multiplayer," said Slyder768 on Reddit. "The complete lack of aim assist (there is one in solo) make it awful. It’s been designed for controllers of the original Xbox era but the price point is high and nothing has been touched on this front."

Slyder768 also noted a game breaking bug where the respawn timer gets stuck on one, saying it happened on three of their fives games with only a full relaunch serving as a "fix". They also report missing cutscenes in the campaign, split screen being limited to two players instead of four, flight controls being inverted with no option to change, sound issues where it spikes then mutes, and more.

LightbringerOG began a bug report on Reddit, where users reported the Xbox Series S version doesn't work if two controllers are connected upon launch, instant crashes when searching for a Conquest game, bugged hit boxes, and more.

"I loved the originals," said IAmNotOnRedditAtWork . "This re-release (so far) is hands down the worst video game I have ever paid money for."

Aspyr isn't particularly popular with Star Wars fans following a handful of similar situations. It canceled downloadable content for its Nintendo Switch port of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 , and its full remake of the same game has also been stuck in development hell for years, but is reportedly still alive .

This isn't the first time the Classic Collection has proved controversial either, despite being announced just a few weeks ago on February 21 and launching today. Eagle-eyed fans spotted Aspyr accidentally used footage of a Star Wars mod for its trailer instead of its own gameplay.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

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3 dead as Ohio tornadoes prompt mass casualty response in Logan County

Gov. mike dewine: 'the indian lake community will come back'.

At least three people are dead as a result of a series of severe storms that ravaged Ohio on Thursday night, spawning a series of 20 tornado warnings across the state and knocking out power to thousands.For the second time in as many weeks , storms and likely tornadoes tore through Ohio.

Authorities in Logan County are dealing with a mass casualty incident where at least three people died in tornado that struck a trailer park near Indian Lake , located about 70 miles northwest of Columbus. The National Weather Service confirmed as of 2 p.m. Friday that at least four tornadoes touched down across Ohio.

Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds said the number of deaths could increase as rescue efforts continue.

"It's one hell of a mess up there," Dodds said. "It looks like a war zone."

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: 'There's an awful lot of damage'

Dodds said there were areas where first responders could not search overnight because of debris and downed power lines that made it unsafe. He said there is anticipation that there may be more people found dead during searches that will continue Friday morning.

Dodds said there are areas where a single home may have remained untouched while everything around it has been leveled.

"The power of this thing is just amazing. It hopped around but when you look at it, it's just amazing."

Officials including Gov. DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Senate President Matt Huffman and others held a news conference at around 3:30 Friday to give an update on the recovery.

DeWine drove through the Indian Lake area before the press conference to talk with home owners and those impacted by the storms.

"There's an awful lot of damage," he said.

DeWine said the Indian Lake community will rebound from the tragedy.

"The Indian Lake community will come back. That's the message I got from everybody," DeWine said at Indian Lake High School.

State Rep. Jon Cross, R-Findlay, who represents part of the area, said lawmakers have to work with the governor to get the community back open.

"This is a community that relies on tourism," Cross said. "We have devastated businesses that lost everything. We need to get these businesses back open.

Ohio's emergency operations center activated Thursday night during the severe weather and continues to coordinate damage assessment and clean-up efforts with local, state and federal agencies.

“Fran and I are deeply saddened by those impacted by the tornadoes and severe storms,” DeWine said in a statement issued shortly before noon. “We share the grief of the families who lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. Ohioans will come together as they always do with resilience and compassion as we support and rebuild our communities.”

Indian Lake residents assess Ohio tornado damage

Indian Lake resident Blaine Schmitt was working outside his home last night when his wife called him.

She warned him about the tornado and told him to get into the bathtub. He gathered his dog and friend, Greg McDougle, and hunkered down in the bathroom.

Over the next few minutes, the tornado swept through Schmitt's home, shredding the front wall and scattering debris in his yard.

"It sounded like a freight train literally went through the living room," Schmitt said.

Luckily, Schmitt and McDougle managed to get through the storm unscathed.

"I thank God that I'm alive and that my kids weren't here. It was very emotional when I first got here, and it's been emotional ever since then. But I pray every day and it paid off," Schmitt said.

McDougle used to live next door with his father. He sold the home two years ago, and it was being renovated when the storm hit. Now, all that remains is scattered debris, a single flattened wall, and the foundation.

"This is what's left. No one was living here, and thank God for that," McDougle said.

Logan County resident describes tornadoes: 'It's a noise you'll never forget'

As storms approached Logan County late Thursday, Loretta Kinney told her goddaughter Lucy there was nothing to be afraid of.

Kinney and her brother walked Lucy home and by the time they returned to their own house, Kinney said she realized just how wrong she was. The two headed down to the basement and waited out a storm and likely tornadoes that rolled across the Midwest and the Indian Lake region about 70 miles northwest of Columbus.

By the time they'd emerge, Kinney would come to find out that at least three people had died and homes and businesses around the county had been ripped apart.

"Just the noise. When they say you hear a train, it's a noise you'll never forget," Kinney said. "Then to come up and see it, it is so surreal. Even though I'm standing here and looking at everything it doesn't seem real."

Shelter opens for Indian Lake storm victims

The Logan County Emergency Management Agency said it's opened a shelter for victims of Thursday night's storm at the Church of God located at 1000 E Brown Ave.

The United Way of Logan County also established a relief fund where monetary donations can be made to assist residents who have been impacted by the storms.

Donations can be made online to the Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund at www.uwlogan.org and 100% of donations will go to help community members recover in both the short and long-term from the storms.

Possible tornado strikes Lakeview, Indian Lake: 'People's homes are destroyed'

Columbus Dispatch Photographer Doral Chenoweth arrived in the area before midnight and reported finding extensive damage, including a destroyed trailer park with tractor trailers and RVs overturned and large trees uprooted. In Lakeview, the library and a government building were damaged.

"Every building in Lakeview and every building here has some form of damage," he said, from a spot near Lakeview. "People's homes are destroyed."

The Logan EMA confirmed for The Dispatch that a trailer park in the Indian Lake area just north of Lakeview was struck by a tornado or at least very high winds that have caused extensive damage. The community also reported having a shortage of ambulances.

An NWS spokesman said he couldn't confirm that a tornado struck the community but said there was "reports of a lot of damage there." The NWS will send investigators out Friday to confirm the tornadoes as it did last month when nine were confirmed across Ohio .

Thursday's Ohio storms were part of a larger system that pushed through the Midwest beginning in the afternoon and into the evening.

The Indiana State Police said there are “many significant injuries” after a tornado tore through the community of Winchester, AP reported.

“There have been many, many significant injuries, but I don’t know the number. I don’t know where they are. I don’t know what those injuries are,” Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter told reporters just before midnight Thursday. “There’s a lot that we don’t know yet.”

The National Weather Service in Wilmington and Cleveland issued 20 tornado warnings based on a review of social media posts. That does not include multiple thunderstorms and other alerts.

Indian Lake volunteers continue search for people impacted by storms

Emergency personnel conducted "grid searches" Friday morning in the impacted areas where the storm struck, the sheriff said.

Grid searches are methodical searches using a grid pattern to ensure that all areas can be checked without duplicating efforts and minimizing the risk of missing an area.

The sheriff said there are areas that first responders are able to access during the daylight that were not accessible Thursday night because of downed power lines and concerns about gas leaks. Those areas are now being searched. Crews are also researching areas that were searched Thursday night to ensure that no one who needed medical assistance was missed.

While there has been a "plethora" of volunteers who have arrived on the scene, Dodds said volunteers are more likely to be necessary as the searches conclude and the clean-up effort begins.

The Central Ohio Strike Team mobilized Friday morning to go to the Indian Lake area to help with the ongoing emergency response. The strike team, one of five regional teams across the state that are specially trained to respond when there are large-scale disasters, includes firefighters from every agency in Franklin County.

The members of the strike team receive special training on how to do search and rescue operations in the event of structure collapses, as well as how to do rescue operations in confined spaces and machinery extractions.

AEP transmission towers toppled in Delaware County

AEP Ohio confirmed that the storms toppled six transmission towers near Olentangy Berlin High School. As of 9:15 a.m. Friday, the number of customers without power had risen to more than 13,000.

Photos posted by the utility company on social media show the tower on its side. The tower fell into other power lines in the area.

AEP issued a statement Friday afternoon saying more than 30 power lines came down in the storm, as well as six transmission towers in Delaware County.

The utility company said the goal is to have power restored to as many customers as possible on Friday, however, some customers who get their power from the high-voltage transmission towers could face a potential multi-day outage. AEP said as more information is gathered throughout Friday afternoon, those affected customers will receive an automated phone call.

Specks and tatters of insulation lined sidewalks and the sides of houses at the Pine of Berlin Station, a subdivision near Berlin Middle School. Debris from inside houses — books, crayons, a broken pair of child’s glasses — were scattered in the grass.

“Someone else’s roof is in my kitchen,” said Katie Sprinkle, who weathered the storm with her husband and two kids, ages 9 and 11. The storm terrified her 9-year-old daughter.

“Pray loud, mom,” she said her daughter told her.

The kids wore bike helmets to protect themselves from falling debris, and her husband placed an overturned canoe over them. The family could hear windows breaking in the wind. It sounded like an explosion, Sprinkle said.

Delaware County road closures due to Thursday's storms

Several major traffic routes in Delaware County remained closed as of 7 a.m. Friday because of debris in the roadway. Ohio 315, closed between Hyatts Road and U.S. 23, is expected to remain closed at least through morning rush hour.

The Delaware County Sheriff's office is asking that people avoid the area where the aftermath of the storms are and avoid sightseeing. There are continued concerns about live wires and large trees in the roads.

In a post on Facebook Friday morning, the Delaware County Sheriff's office said crews have been working throughout the night to try and clear roadways but there are areas where debris continues to block roads.

The sheriff's office asked for additional travel time and patience from drivers, as well as willingness to take alternate routes.

The sheriff's office said that as of 5 a.m. Friday, a number of roads remained impassable. Those roads included:

Portions of Berlin Station Road near Glenn Parkway, between Kingsbury and Braumiller, between Piatt and Dale Ford
Portions of Bunty Station east of Liberty Road
Africa Road north of Cheshire
Portions of Rome Corners
Portions of Walnut Road and Piatt Road
Portions of Ohio 3

Tornado warnings from Thursday night's deadly tornadoes

Storms hit indiana, kentucky and northern, central and southern ohio.

At least three confirmed tornadoes touched down Thursday afternoon in southern Indiana and north-central Kentucky Thursday, leaving dozens of structures damaged or destroyed, The Louisville Courier-Journal reported .

Tornadoes were confirmed near Hanover and Marion in Indiana and near Milton in Kentucky. As for Ohio, officials have said it's too early to say just how widespread the storms were, or whether any confirmed tornadoes touched down.

Meteorologist Steve Harbenach of the National Weather Service in Wilmington said there have been several radar confirmations of possible tornadoes across Ohio, but added "we really have no idea right now how many tornadoes we had."

"There have been numerous areas where we've had reports of damage," he added. "It's going to take a while for us to sort through that. it's going to take multiple days for us to sort through this to see what happened."

An X user who was driving from Lima and passing through Logan took pictures of the extensive damage. In the post on X, he said authorities told him that he had missed a tornado "by about 2 minutes." He could not confirm if there were any casualties but said that a large section of U.S. Route 33 northwest of Marysville would remain closed as authorities assessed the damage.

Tornado watches remained in effect until midnight in dozens of Ohio counties, including Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, Union, Ross, Butler, Clinton, Hamilton, Warren, Champaign, Clark, Drake, Greene, Logan, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby.

Severe thunderstorm warnings remained in effect for Franklin and Madison counties until 11 p.m. Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Taiwan, China launch rescue bid after boat capsizes near sensitive islands

Taiwan's coast guard works during a rescue operation after a Chinese fishing boat capsized near Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands

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IMAGES

How to Launch a Sailboat from a Trailer
LAUNCHING OUR RED FOX TRAILER SAILER
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BUILDING THE ULTIMATE SAILBOAT LAUNCH TRAILER! Sailing Meraki
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COMMENTS

How to Launch a Sailboat from a Trailer
There have been a few threads asking about trailer launching small sailboats. I decided to put together a short demonstration video to walk the sailor with out a lot of trailering experience through some of the steps involved in launching a small sailboat. The video does not cover all situations or all types of sailing craft, but gives an ...
How to Launch a Sailboat with a Fixed Keel: A Step by Step Guide
Unhook the trailer from your towing truck. Drive the vehicle away from the edge of the water so the attached rope becomes tight. Take the chocks out from the trailer wheels. Begin backing up until your sailboat is in the water. Admittedly, launching your fixed keel sailboat isn't the easiest nor the quickest process.
How to Launch a Sailboat from a Trailer
Video demonstration of launching my 21 foot sailboat from a trailer single handed.
The Working Man's Guide to Trailer Sailing
Trailer sailers can be a challenge to launch and retrieve much like any boat, but with trailer sailers there is the question of the mast. The mast on pretty much all trailer sailers can be raised and lowered on the ramp or at the dock, and that makes it way cheaper and easier than having the raise and lower the mast with yacht club crain or pay ...
Trailer launching with extension
Unknown snipe delaware bay. Aug 20, 2017. #8. I made my trailer extension permanent. It solved the problem of beach launching, and shallow long ramps. It made driving to the launch site only slightly more difficult than when the trailer was shorter. I also cut the ball receiver off and opted for a pintle ring.
How To Launch a Boat Solo
Taking your trailer boat out solo? BoatUS Magazine senior editor Rich Armstrong shows you how to easily and safely launch a boat by yourself without help. He...
How to Launch a Boat From a Trailer?
What to Prepare. Steps to Launch a Boat From a Trailer. Step 1: Keep the boat balanced on the trailer, then position your trailer for backing. Step 2: Connect the launch cord to the trailer. Step 3: Pull the launch cord back to its maximum length then start coiling it up. Step 4: Time to launch!
How to Launch a Trailer Sailer
This video demonstrates how to launch a trailer sailer keeled boat even on shallow ramps using a towing strap.
Four Trailer-Sailers And the Keel/Launch Problem
Four Trailer-Sailers And the Keel/Launch Problem The Paceship 23, American 26, Yankee Pacific Dolphin 24, and Aquarius 23 represent different solutions to the problem of easy launching ... One of the most popular type of boats was the "trailersailer," relatively light-displacement sloops with centerboards and swing keels, that could be ...
The Zen of Trailer-Sailing
Trailer-sailors enjoy small sailboats. Some are open cockpit daysailers. Some are small live-aboard cabin cruisers. All are easy to rig, launch and retrieve and fun to sail.Every trailer-sailing family with a sailboat loves the idea that they can cruise their dreamboat to windward at 55mph in any direction they wish. Most of these boats can be stored in the family garage.
Trailer launching sailboat
Join Date: Jan 2012. Location: Lake Ontario. Boat: Ontario 38 / Douglas 32 Mk II. Posts: 3,250. Re: Trailer launching sailboat. Quote: Originally Posted by GreatLakeSailor. I am not sure this is the right forum, but I didn't see a section for trailering sailboats so I figured that "auxiliary equipment" would be close.
How to Launch a Boat From a Trailer
The Hitch Type: Most boat trailers feature a ball hitch, while some may have a pintle hitch. Hitch Height: This details the height of the hitch's mounting point on the vehicle. Trailer Length and Wheel Placement: Longer trailers are considerably harder to reverse, whereas those with wheels toward the back have a much tighter turn radius.
7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising
Quick Setup Time. Towing Weight. 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.
How to launch a boat from a trailer
Remove all the boat items from the car and place them in the boat. Turn the boat batteries on, check the trim is working, remove the trailer board and then tie the boat to the trailer on a bow line that I can release from on board. Then remove all the tie-down straps, except the winch strap. Crucially, make sure that the stern bung is in place ...
9 Best Trailerable Sailboats
2) West Wight Potter 19. jacqeast. We thought it fitting to include the Potter 15's big brother, the West Wight Potter 19, on this list of the best trailerable sailboats. West Wight Potter boats are well known for their robust design and easy handling, and the Potter 19 is no exception.
How to build a sailboat trailer extension
However, the weight of the trailer bent the bolts and the extension sagged to about 2 inches off the ground. It was enough to launch it the first year, but I knew I'd need a sturdier connection between extension bar and trailer by the time we hauled out in fall. Plan B. I ordered a 2- 5/8″ trailer ball to mount on the top of the extension bar.
13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels
One of the larger boats on this list, the Seaward 26 RK, is still easy to move over land with a trailered weight under 6,000 pounds. The boat alone displaces 3,800 pounds, with 1,200 lbs. of that in retractable ballast with a bulb on the bottom. The keel lifts with an electric motor and is simple to operate.
Trailering a Boat: Step-by-Step Guide
Load the boat on the trailer. Secure the winch at the bow and secure the safety chain. The boat driver can stay in the boat while you pull up the ramp. Drive to the staging area, or away from traffic, to unload coolers and gear from the boat, secure transom straps, check trailer lights, and get ready to hit the road.
Launching Your Boat From a Trailer
Step 2. Position your vehicle and boat trailer. Drive your towing vehicle and position it perpendicular to the shore. You can ask an assistant to ensure the boat trailer and towing vehicle are in a straight line. This maneuver will ensure you launch a pontoon boat or any watercraft into the water with ease. Step 3.
Rebel Moon Part Two Gets New Trailer Ahead of Netflix Launch
Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon Part Two' Trailer Brings the War Home | Video. The sequel to last year's sci-fi extravaganza hits Netflix in April. Drew Taylor. March 18, 2024 @ 9:38 AM.
Watch the Trailer for 'Ronja the Robber's Daughter'
March 12, 2024 - Today, Netflix debuted the trailer for Ronja the Robber's Daughter, the world-famous fantasy tale by Astrid Lindgren.The series is written by Hans Rosenfeldt and will launch on Netflix on March 28th. In an expansive yet faithful reimaging of the classic tale, members are re-introduced to one of the most beloved stories in Sweden.
HOW TO LAUNCH A TRAILER SAILER SOLO! Sailing Meraki
How to launch Meraki my trailer sailer solo! Setting Meraki up solo was easier then I thought but that was mostly down to trial and error from the times befo...
Deep Sky Trailer 04/19/2024
IMAX Expectacular Deep Sky (IMAX Entertainment) Starring:Michelle Williams (Narration By)Deep Sky brings the awe-inspiring images captured by NASA's Webb Telescope to IMAX® — taking audiences ...
MLB The Show 24
MLB The Show 24 is the latest installment in the legendary baseball simulation game developed by Sony San Diego. Take a look at the latest trailer featuring "The Captain" Derek Jeter as well ...
Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush is an action hack-and-slash rhythm game developed by Tango Gameworks. Players will embody Chai and his ragtag team to fight against an evil megacorp in a world that syncs with the music ...
Delaware surplus auctions in March include boats, vehicles and tools
The third action this month runs from March 19 at 9 a.m. to March 28 at 8 p.m. and features boats, trailers, school buses, shipping containers and paratransit buses.
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Launching today, March 14, the $34.99 Classic Collection — which includes the original two Star Wars: Battlefront games — currently has a "mostly negative" rating on Steam with just 21% of ...
How to Launch a Boat yourself
How to Launch a Boat yourself Launch and Retrieve Putting your boat onto a trailer Boat LaunchFor more info and more boating tips check out our youtube chann...
Ohio tornadoes cause mass casualty incident in Logan County; 3 dead
Authorities in Logan County are dealing with a mass casualty incident where at least three people died in tornado that struck a trailer park near Indian Lake, located about 70 miles northwest of ...
Taiwan, China launch rescue bid after boat capsizes near sensitive
Taiwan dispatched coast guard boats on Thursday to join a rescue mission at China's request after a fishing vessel capsized near the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, amid heightened tension in ...

How to Launch a Sailboat from a Trailer

Top Contributors this Month

How to Launch a Sailboat with a Fixed Keel: A Step by Step Guide

What Is a Fixed Keel?

Do Fixed Keel Sailboats Have Any Benefits?

Launching a Sailboat with a Fixed Keel? Follow These Steps

Step 1: Make Sure You Have the Right Vehicle

Step 2: Position Your Vehicle

Step 3: Separate the Tow Vehicle and the Trailer

Step 4: Attach the Rope and Pull It

Step 5: Remove the Trailer Wheel Chocks and Move the Boat in the Water

Step 6: Let the Boat Float into the Water

Step 7: Drive Forward and Re-Chock the Wheels of Your Trailer

Step 8: Reattach the Trailer to Your Vehicle

More Tips for Sailing with a Fixed Keel

Research Where You’ll Sail Before You Go

Gauge Water Depth Before Launch

Know What to Do If Your Keel Is Aground

Conclusion

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7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising

Table of Contents

What Is a Trailerable Sailboat, Exactly?

7 Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats

What Do You Want Your Trailer Sailer To Do?

What size sailboat is trailerable?

Is a Hunter 27 trailerable?

Is a Catalina 22 trailerable?

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