Searching for the right pocket cruiser

[bern74]

Hello all!
I am looking for advise on type and brand of boat to be looking at......
We used to have a truck and camper and we towed our boat to various locations for a bit of camping and fishing...We have sold the truck and camper and are looking for a boat that will combine the best of both setups.....something we can tow with just the truck and still use like a floating camper....I prefer no longer than 26 ft. but maybe consider a 28. Must have cabin heat, electric windless, head with hot water shower, room for 2 adults and 2 kids and trailerable.......so far it seems Bayliner provides almost everything Im looking for but I keep hearing about quality issues........are there other more high end boats out there I should be looking for??
I am in the very early stages of looking so Im not aware of all makes out there...Thanks!!

[Adelie]

Welcome.

Generally, the folks here take cruising to be offshore or at least longer coastal passages. So most of the folks here are sailors (ie sailboat) and those that go power tend to be trawlers.
It's not that there aren't folks here that can't help, but other forums might have a larger group that have or are aware of the type of boat you want.

[Island Time O25]

Look at Albin 27FC version. It has two berths at the main salon and a separate head with a small galley across and two berths at aft of cockpit with a separate entry. Really tight for fam of 4 for any longish cruising but definitely ok for weekend camp style outings.

Most came with a 60-80HP diesels and some with 100-120HP+. You can find a solid 1980s turn key specimen for around $20-25K, less if you're lucky.

[Singularity]

Originally Posted by bern74

...so far it seems Bayliner provides almost everything Im looking for but I keep hearing about quality issues........are there other more high end boats out there I should be looking for??
I am in the very early stages of looking so Im not aware of all makes out there...Thanks!!

It's an older boat, but check out the Swedish Albin 25. I don't know if there's a more seaworthy low-cost pocket cruiser. Diesel engine with reasonable tankage and an aft cabin for the kids. You can spend more, but for the length, I don't know that you get more (unless you want a ski boat).

Albin 25 History - Albineers of BC
Why the Albin 25 is a "Goldilocks" boat. -
https://moreboats.com/boats/albin/25-deluxe/309735

Edit: Looks like OT beat me to it, though over 25' the width is getting proud for towing.

[bern74]

Thanks! No, not looking to water ski, way to old for that. Just looking to be aboard a couple weeks at a time fishing in the Lynn canal and maybe even anchoring out for a streatch too

[mvweebles]

https://www.passagemaker.com/cruiser...wlers-round-up

[dadster3]

If you are interested in/open to a sailboat, this is worth considering. It is not, imo, a pretty boat, but it is very unique. They don't come on the market often, especially ones in as good a condition as this one seems to be. Besides the boat I bought, it is one of the few others I would have considered seriously. Parker-Dawsons have made Atlantic crossings.



https://annapolis.craigslist.org/boa...175764354.html

[bern74]

Thanks for this! Interesting boat but I have had a trailer sailor in the past and it's just not what I'm looking to do........

[Alan j]

I remember those Parker Dawson Sailboats. They sailed one across the Atlantic when they were first introduced to promote the class.

[NewMoon]

Lynn Canal in SE AK?

Take a look at the Sea Sport 24, 26, or 28-footers. Or the C-Dory 25 or 26.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by bern74

• something we can tow with just the truck and still use like a floating camper
  
• no longer than 26 ft. but maybe consider a 28.
  
• cabin heat
  
• electric windless
  
• head with hot water shower
  
• room for 2 adults and 2 kids
  
• trailerable

Just about any express cruiser will fit this list (Bayliner, Searay, Maxum, Cruisers, Doral, Four Winns, Regal, Rinker).

If you start getting into boats that double as fishing boats, such as walk arounds, you loose a lot of cabin space in exchange for cockpit fishing space (Albin, Grady White, etc).

Having "Sleeps 4" and "Trailerable" together in the list is going to be your biggest limiting factor. Unfortunately campers are rectangular, while boats are, obviously, not. A 26ft camper is massive as compared to a 26 foot boat.

[waterman46]

Originally Posted by dadster3

If you are interested in/open to a sailboat, this is worth considering. It is not, imo, a pretty boat, but it is very unique. They don't come on the market often, especially ones in as good a condition as this one seems to be. Besides the boat I bought, it is one of the few others I would have considered seriously. Parker-Dawsons have made Atlantic crossings.



https://annapolis.craigslist.org/boa...175764354.html

Worth the price of the electronics alone.

[rsn48]

There are trailerables with everything you want, one example is Cutwater, or the Tug lines, Nordic and Ranger. It helps to list where you are or where you are going to be cruising, I vary my answers to regions.

[fish53]

If you can find one an Allweather 26 was designed for just the type and location of cruising you mentioned, they will be slow so you need to be happy getting around at 6 kts but you'll use very little fuel and have a very seaworthy vessel for the size.

[gulfcoastsailor]

Have you considered a trawler?