Trailerable blue-ocean: exists?

[double u]

here a list of the european offerings:
Petit bateau et grandes navigations: Liste de quelques voiliers habitables transportables

[double u]

many small classics here that made noteable blue-water voyages:
Sailboat designs of PhilippeÂ*Harl? by year

[Sand crab]

Many tris have folding amas and are trailerable. Dragonfly, Corsair, Farrier and other tris fit your specs. They are much lighter but more expensive than most of the boats talked about here. And because they are actually made to be trailerable setting them up and standing the mast is actually fairly straight forward with no crane needed. Lotsa vids on this.
Good Luck

[double u]

this is a quarter ton

[Travelnik]

I will suggest looking into a Westerly Nomad.

22' long, under 8' beam, 28" draft, and 3500 lbs towing weight. It can be easily towed on a standard 2 axle flatbed trailer by a 1/2 ton truck. The deck stepped mast can be set up by 1 or 2 people.

It was built to sail in the North Sea, so it is very solid. No balsa cored decks to rot away either. Mine was originally sailed from the UK to the Caribbean, then to the US, so it will cross oceans. 28" shoal draft is good for lakes, the ICW or Bahamas cruising.

At 6' I have standing headroom in the cabin. the v-berths are 6'3", and the quarter berths are 6'8".

The outboard model has a lot of storage under the cockpit, and there are a lot of storage areas in the cabin as well.

It would be a bit cramped for 3 adults, but fine for a couple or a single hander.

Also, being a small, simple boat, repairs are minimal and parts are much cheaper. A 6 - 9 hp outboard is all the engine you need, especially if you want to use the inboard area under the cockpit for extra storage.

Now for the down sides, it won't win any races, the head is sit-down only (unless you are very short). No standing shower unless you use a pump up shower in the cockpit. It is a "big 22 footer" but still a small boat, so it could get "cozy" on long ocean passages. The stock water tank is small, so you'd need to carry extra drinking water on long passages.

All in all, it sounds like something you may want to check into. They are also much cheaper than most of the boats that have been suggested so far. They can be bought in the US for under $4,000 ready to sail, less than $2,000 for one that needs some work. A used trailer for under $1,000 and a used F-150 for under $4,000 and you're ready to go!

[sully75]

I’d definitely recommend an Alberg 30 over a Pearson Triton. The extra space will be well worth it. I lived a Aboard a Triton for 4 years and it was super small for one.

[john61ct]

I guess I could try to get away with 3" too wide a beam.

Unless there's an accident, insurance could maybe just opt out of paying since technically shoulda had a permit. . .

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Travelnik

I will suggest looking into a Westerly Nomad.

Wow sorry missed this.

Yes really hits the top priorities especially robust passage making, and a low price is always good.


But wow, 22' ?

> It is a "big 22 footer" but still a small boat, so it could get "cozy" on long ocean passages.

I don't mind camping to some extent, but would I even have room to scratch my foot living in poor weather weeks at a time?

Def worth more research though!


> it won't win any races, the head is sit-down only (unless you are very short). No standing shower unless you use a pump up shower in the cockpit.

NP at all on those


> The stock water tank is small, so you'd need to carry extra drinking water on long passages.

Planning on a watermaker of some sort anyway.

[four winds]

Then maybe a Westerly Centaur, or the fin keel version (Primrose?).


Spent some time on one. A fine stout vessel.

[Travelnik]

I like the Centaur, but at twice the weight of the Nomad, it isn't as easily trailerable. You'd need a much bigger tow vehicle than a half ton truck.

For full time living aboard, it would be great, especially for 1 or 2 people.

[john61ct]

I'm def not adding weight to the list, bring it on, especially adding strength, utility or comfort.

Assume I've got a F-350 dually if that helps.

Yes speed, easier to recover, masting etc are not nothing issues, but bottom of the list.

Love the idea of being able to beach, float off high tide. . .

[Alberg30Shill]

+1 for the Alberg 30. Plenty come up for sale in the chesapeake. How does a diesel repower and newish sails for under $10k sound? Not a bad start.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Alberg30Shill

+1 for the Alberg 30.

But it is 3" too wide on the one dealbreaker parameter.

If the beam can be reduced without damaging the boat I'm all ears.

[Ryban]

If you haven't already checked out the Atom list, it includes most of the boats mentioned so far.

Atom Voyages - Good Old Boats List

I'll throw in my vote for the following that meet your beam requirements:

- Dana 24
- Contessa 26
- Albin Vega 27
- Bristol 27
- Nor'Sea 27

The Contessa 27 and the Albin Vega might not meet your standing headroom requirement though. I'm 6', and can't stand in my Vega, but there is rarely ever a time where I really need to be standing, except in the galley, which has unlimited standing headroom because it's beneath the companion way hatch.

If I were you though, I'd go with a Dana 24. Those things are bomb-proof, roomy for their size, and just down right adorable. However, they're pretty expensive considering their size. I wasn't able to find a good example within my budget when I was looking.

[john61ct]

Great info, thanks.

Easy to say standing room isn't that critical, but when you're cooped up inside, it sure is nice to be able stretch without going out in bad weather.

Still way down the list though, and yes of course cost will become more important as (if) the ideas get closer to reifying.