Trailerable Trawler

[SchoonerDreamin]

Hey Guys I am looking for a trailerable trawler or downeast cruiser style boat for a couple to cruise comfortably on for a week or two, it must have a stand up head and shower, and be able to be trailered, I like outboard power but would also look at other options.

Some boats I like that have the same charicteristics I am looking for are the C-Dory 25 and the C-Ranger 25 tug, and I also love this boat.....http://www.mjmyachts.com/deck.php and I also like this boat but I question it's ability to be trailered very easily http://www.cmdboats.com/trailertrawler28.htm?cart_id=1108b877885f385a60d6c bbcdce41f1d, I also really like the Bluejacket 24, but I dont care much for it's layout for cruising, I like the typical dinette layout.

So if you guys could help me out I would appreciate it.

Thanks, Josh

[capt jake]

http://www.boatplans-online.com/proddetail.php?prod=DE25Cabin
http://www.devlinboat.com/dcsurfscoter25.htm

Either of these?

[SchoonerDreamin]

Dont care much for the layout of the DE25 and I love the lines of the Surf Scoter but again dont like the layout of her.

[capt jake]

Layouts can be modified 'some'. I spoke with Sam regarding the layout of the SS25 and he feels that was the best use of space in that hull.

[Mike Keers]

I was interested in a trailerable sedan cruiser, and for a variety of reasons chose another of CMD's designs, the Puffin 28 Diesel Cruiser. By 'trailerable' I mean I can relocate it myself, not haul it to the local mudhole for the weekend. This boat tops out at about 6500 full displacement, but Karl told me he figgered the trailering weight would be about 5200 pounds.

http://www.cmdboats.com/puffin.htm

I see he hasn't updated the link to my building site (sorry, not updated for some time), so here's the new address:

http://www.emkaywoodcrafting.com/puffwelcome.html

[SchoonerDreamin]

I like that boat also, I think one thing I like is the trawler or tug style topside with a sedan cruiser interior.....if that makes sense

[capt jake]

http://www.johnsboatstuff.com/Boat%20Designs/Hilda%2026/hilda26.htm
Poke around this site also. http://www.gartsideboats.com/catpow.php#jennifer

[Figment]

My inlaws are searching for the same boat. For now, they've settled on a "Rosborough".

This may stretch the definition of "trailerable" a smidge, but I'm a big fan of the Logan 33 (http://www.loganboats.co.nz/)
http://www.loganboats.co.nz/Gallery_on_the_water/images/Logan-33_Inkosikazi.jpg

http://www.loganboats.co.nz/

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Figment thats NICE :)

I saw one of these 26' Nordic Tug's on the hudson the other day. NICE looking f*&%glass trawler just the correct size. Too bad you can only buy them used now cause Nordic gave up on the size. :(

http://www.maplebay.com/images/26_Nordic_Tug_1980_profile43kb.jpg

http://www.maplebay.com/images/26_Nordic_Tug_1980_dinette.jpg

http://www.classicboatshop.com/brokerage/lindasea1.jpg

Beam: 9'6" & Displacement: 7,500so I don't know exactly how trailerable it is

[SchoonerDreamin]

I could see the draft and weight of the Logan being a problem but not the length I used to tow a 32' pontoon boat to the local lake every time it got put in or out of the water...I didnt mind much. I like the layout but would question it's seaworthiness.....this boat will spend most of it's life in the water but needs to be able to be relocated to different cruising grounds if the need arises....

[htom]

http://www.kastenmarine.com/boojum_sea_trial.jpg

Designed to be trailered without a wide load permit (8'6") but maybe too heavy for you.

http://www.kastenmarine.com/boojum25.htm
http://dsl093-174-212.pdx1.dsl.speakeasy.net/Boojum/

[Figment]

I've been drooling over the Logan since I saw it at the Newport show years ago. On the farthest of back-burners is a plan to have one on a 5th-wheel trailer for exploring inland waterways once I'm too old for this sailing nonsense.

Oh, but it runs afoul of your "stand-up head" criteria. it's crouching-room-only forward of the helm.

[dredbob]

If you like the C-Dory boats, check out Dave Gerr's Offshore 28 Dory-Skiff. If you're not familiar with Dave Gerr I highly recommend his book _The Nature of Boats_, which has a chapter on the said skiff as well as many other boats, several of which might also meet your criteria.

http://www.gerrmarine.com/images/boat_images/power/gerr28skiff/gerr28skiffC.gif


Bob

[rbgarr]

a number of years ago that asked for designers submissions that pretty much met your criteria, except the boat was to be powered by a marinized Subaru engine.

This entry was my favorite: http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1673/cat/500/sort/1 It could be altered for outboard power.

The contest results were in Issue 140, p. 108.

Gartside's boats are very nice but IIRC he'd have to design you one with a stand up head and shower.

The Atkins design built by Alex Hadden (NOBLE CAB) would be a lovely choice but there no dinette and the head is pretty small. I still like it for the uses you list.

[Mike Keers]

dredbob,
The Gerr link didn't work for me, but here's a pic of the boat:
http://www.gerrmarine.com/images/boat_images/power/gerr28skiff/gerr28skiffA.JPG

[capt jake]

Here's the main page for that Gerr boat.
http://www.gerrmarine.com/power_30.html

[JimD]

An oldie but goodie, Glen-Ls Jolly Roger:

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/cruiser/cruiser-images/dsn-jrg.jpg


CharacteristicsLength overall27'-9"Length waterline25'-0"Beam10'-10"Hull draft2'-9"Displacement10,433 lbs.Hull depth8'-3"Freeboard forward5'-6"Freeboard aft2'-10"Height overall12'-2"Headroom6'-1" to 6'-5"Cockpit size5'-10" x 9'-6"Cockpit depth31"Fuel capacity190 gals.Fresh water capacity120 gals.Cruising range1000 milesSleeping accommodations4Hull type: Semi-displacement hard chine hull with practical cruising speed of 7 1/2 knots. Build in plywood or "one-off" fiberglass. Bottom features deep bulbous forefoot with reverse curve at the chine. Plywood version: double diagonal plywood planking on the bottom to a total thickness of 3/4", sheet plywood sides to 1/2". Topsides feature broad flare with raised deck forward. Fiberglass version utilizes fiberglass planking or PVC foam or balsa core sandwich construction.
Power: Single diesel engine recommended of approximately 25 continuous shaft horsepower for 7 1/2 knot cruising speed. However, a reserve of approximately 50% additional power is recommended to offset adverse wind and sea conditions. Engine weight should range between 500 and 700 lbs. Gasoline power is optional.
Can the hull be extended or shortened? Yes. Up to 10% by re-spacing the frames from the aft end of the stem to the transom a proportional amount. We do not recommend increasing the beam.

[SchoonerDreamin]

I like the Jolly Roger but it is to wide to be trailered....I really like the Gerr Skiff, as it looks a lot like a C-Dory seems to share some of the same hull charicteristics also.....anyone know of someone that built one of these

It was also my understanding the C-Dory was originally built by wood plans.....I believe the designer over at Bateau.com forum was saying that...anyone know if this is confirmed and where I could get my hands on a set of plans?

[SteveFaehnle]

My Arch Davis-designed "Jack Tar" and I went 300 miles this summer on the Texas Gulf Coast. She stays at a fresh water lake and traveled the 500 miles down to Rockport, Texas and back on her trailer. We had a great time. Steve Faehnle

[SchoonerDreamin]

So am I under the misunderstanding of trailer limits, it seems as though Jack Tar has a beam of roughly 9 some odd feet...can this still be trailered legally?

[JimD]

So am I under the misunderstanding of trailer limits, it seems as though Jack Tar has a beam of roughly 9 some odd feet...can this still be trailered legally?

Almost anything can be trailered legally if you have a wide load permit. That may or may not be easy to get. You might want to make an inquiry with your Department of Transport.

[Mike Keers]

The Federal width limit is 9'-6". Some states will issue a permanent wide load permit, some specifically for boats. Arizona has such a permit, a one-time fee for up to 9'-6" boats. A friend went to apply for one for his 9'-2" FG sailboat and he was told not to waste his money, who's gonna stop a sailboat to measure it, and how would they anyway? He's never had a problem and trailers all over the place, even out to Cali from Arizona.

I suspect some states are not as forgiving, but I own a flatbed equipment trailer that's close to 10' wide, and I've never had any problems on state or Federal roads. I've hauled it (sometimes with boats) all over the country from Maine to California and even into Mexico, and never once had it questioned. Last time was a 5.5 meter boat Mickey Lake gave me, we hauled it from Alabama to Arizona. Nobody has ever weighed or measured it.

That's why I'm building the 9'-6" wide Puffin 28, and I expect to trailer that up to the PNW at some point.

As long as we're talking trailering, I see this issue come up over and over on here about what is or isn't 'trailerable', usually related to the weight, and I've always wanted to respond but never have. I'm talking the ability to relocate or self-move a boat, not necessarily a boat you'd bring to the lake for a weekend. There may be other issues like mast stepping or the need for a crane or travel lift to launch that preclude considering a boat a 'trailer boat'. But as far as moving a boat behind your own vehicle from Point A to Point B....

I live out here in the Aridzoner desert down near the Mexican border, and any cowgirl worth her spurs is driving a big old dually PU and pulling a 40 or 45-foot stock trailer rated at 10,000-12,000 pounds all over the place. I have personally hauled my Columbia 29 which weighs 8500 pounds 325 miles into Mexico on my flatbed trailer--all up weight over 12,000 pounds on that trailer. My friend in town bought a Nordic Tug 26 (like Joe posted above) and hauled it 3200 miles from Seattle down here, rebuilt it, and hauled it back up to Seattle, then did the Inside Passage. This with a good old one-ton dually like every housewife out here owns. :D

I belong to the Tucson Sailing Club (really! And Patrick Ellam of 'Sopranino' fame is also a member, he even gave me a boat!), and we have members who regularly trailer their 25-30 foot boats weighing 6000 pounds or so back and forth to California and Mexico, where we sail.

So in my experience, I would say any boat under 9'-6" wide (or 10' if you dare) and under 10,000 pounds or so is 'trailerable'.

[Wild Dingo]

Ive often considered the Noyo Trawler from GlenL as a good option... I kinda like the old timey looks of her and the bonus is shes trailerable... not of the same style as the downeasters and Royal Lowell ones... but still salty enough to sink a battleship :D

[Whiffle English]

Gartside draws lovely boats and is a great pleasure to work with. I am mostly done building his design #143 (24' loa, 8' beam) and anticipate much good cruising in her begining next summer. As for a stand up head...It's a real problem in a small boat; they take up an ungodly amount of space and are cramped to the point of unuseability, imho. We are installing an outside shower fixture on the aft cabin bulkhead that should work out just fine. For modesty? well...I'm from Vermont so I don't worry about that!

[Wiley Baggins]

I've always found Glen-L's 24' Noyo Trawler attractive as a starting point for what I think you want.

http://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=540

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/workboat/noyo.html

It looks like that's just what Glen L did in developing the Hercules design-

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/cruiser/hercules.html

[SchoonerDreamin]

Thanks guys for all the great advice, I have been looking at Tom's Bluejacket 24 and 27 and like his design, I also really like the Gerr design above the Offshore Skiff, I really like this designs looks but would like more information, I have email the designer anyone know anymore about this boat?

[SchoonerDreamin]

So no one knows anything more about the Gerr Skiff? Ive searched and written the designer? Any opinions or similar boats? I really like the lines she has.

Also I am hoping Tom will drop in here and post some pictures of the Bluejacket 27, I am wondering if the additional 3 feet is just added cockpit room?

[Eric D]

schooner, do you or anyone have a link to Tom's plans for the blackjack? Thanks.

I love this thread, it mirrors my own quest. Thanks for all the input from all of you.

[Tom Lathrop]

I don't deal a lot with trawlers so don't have much to offer. My boats are a different breed from trawlers.

The 27 is mainly three feet more in the cockpit for fishing. The 28 is all new, larger and heavier but still a planing boat with performance numbers that mirror the 24. Can't say much more here.

Website is www.bluejacketboats.com

[RonW]

Maybe a definition as to what is and what isn't trailerable.
Here's the trailer laws.....
They didn't copy well, but you can figure them out.....
State Max.--
Towing--
Speed Max.
Trailer --
Length Max.
Trailer --
Width Max.
Trailer--
Height Max.
Overall --
Length Max. --
Wt. Req.
Trlr Brakes --
Alabama 70 mph- 40'- 8'- 13 1/2' -57' -3000 lbs
Alaska 55 mph- 40'- 8 1/2'- 14'- 75' -5000 lbs
Arizona 55 mph- 40'- 8' -13 1/2'- 65'- 3000 lbs
Arkansas 65 mph- N/A -8 1/2' -13 1/2'- N/A -3000 lbs
California 55 mph 40' 8 1/2' 14' 65' 1500 lbs
Colorado 65 mph 45' 8 1/2' 13' 70' 3000 lbs
Connecticut 65 mph 45' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 75' 3000 lbs
Delaware 55 mph 40' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 70' 4000 lbs
Dist. of Columbia 55 mph 40' 8' 13' 55' 3000 lbs
Florida 65 mph 48' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Georgia 55 mph N/A 8' 13 1/2' 55' 3000 lbs
Hawaii 55 mph 40' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Idaho 65 mph 45' 8 1/2' 14' 75' 1500 lbs
Illinois 55 mph 60' 8' 13 1/2' 60' 3000 lbs
Indiana 55 mph 40' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 60' 3000 lbs
Iowa 65 mph 48' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Kansas 55 mph 45' 8 1/2' 14' N/A N/A
Kentucky 65 mph N/A 8' 13 1/2' 65' N/A
Louisiana 70 mph 30' 8' 13 1/2' 70' 3000 lbs
Maine 55 mph 45' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Maryland 65 mph N/A 8' 13 1/2' 55' 3000 lbs
Massachusetts 65 mph 33' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 75' N/A
Michigan 55 mph 53' 8' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Minnesota 70 mph 48' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 60' 3000 lbs
Mississippi 55 mph 50' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 75' 2000 lbs
Missouri 70 mph N/A 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 60' N/A
Montana 65 mph N/A 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Nebraska 65 mph 40' 8 1/2' 14 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Nevada 65 mph N/A 8 1/2' 14' 70' 3000 lbs
New Hampshire 55 mph N/A 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 48' N/A
New Jersey 65 mph 40' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 62' N/A
New Mexico 75 mph 40' 8 1/2' 14' 65' 3000 lbs
New York 65 mph 45' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 60' 3000 lbs
No. Carolina 55 mph 48' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 60' 4000 lbs
No. Dakota 70 mph 60' 8 1/2' 14' 75' N/A
Ohio 55 mph 40' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 2000 lbs
Oklahoma 65 mph N/A 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Oregon 55 mph 40' 8 1/2' 14' 50' N/A
Pennsylvania 55 mph 53' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 60' 3000 lbs
Rhode Island 65 mph 48 1/2' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 60' 4000 lbs
So. Carolina 55 mph 53' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' N/A 3000 lbs
So. Dakota 65 mph 53' 8 1/2' 14' 80' 3000 lbs
Tennessee 70 mph 48' 8' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Texas 70 mph N/A 8 1/2' 14' 65' 4500 lbs
Utah 65 mph 48' 8 1/2' 14' 65' N/A
Vermont 65 mph 48' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 72' 3000 lbs
Virginia 55 mph N/A 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Washington 60 mph 48' 8 1/2' 14' 75' 3000 lbs
West Virginia 65 mph 48' 8' 13 1/2' 55' 3000 lbs
Wisconsin 65 mph 48' 8 1/2' 13 1/2' 65' 3000 lbs
Wyoming 65 mph 60' 8 1/2' 14' 85' N/A
This chart has been prepared with the help of the 2004 "Digest of Motor Laws" published by the American Automobile Association.

Arizona: May not travel at a speed that causes lateral sway of the trailer.
Kansas, Wyoming and Utah: Any combination of vehicles must have a brake system that will stop within 40 feet from 20 mph.

[SchoonerDreamin]

Tom, if you read the thread you see that my needs have adapted from what I thought I originally was going to compromise to, to something a lot like your boats, trailerable, planing hull at low speeds, fuel efficient, and good classic looks, something I feel your 24 does well, do you have an interior layout of the 28 hull?

[rbgarr]

I'm surprised that Michigan, the state with the most registered boats, has an 8' width limit. It's not a huge difference but maybe the state has a lot of narrow country roads?

[Tom Lathrop]

Tom, if you read the thread you see that my needs have adapted from what I thought I originally was going to compromise to, to something a lot like your boats, trailerable, planing hull at low speeds, fuel efficient, and good classic looks, something I feel your 24 does well, do you have an interior layout of the 28 hull?

Send me a email. harbinger@cconnect.net

It will be couple days before I have a reproduction available for printer scan.

[Figment]

Is anyone else amused that Arizona has found it necessary to outlaw "travel at a speed that causes lateral sway of the trailer"?

I'd always assumed that law to be enforced by Natural Selection.

[michigangeorge]

I'm surprised that Michigan, the state with the most registered boats, has an 8' width limit. It's not a huge difference but maybe the state has a lot of narrow country roads?
I wanted to tow an oversize boat from Petoskey to Detour and in researching Michigan Law found out I could purchase an oversize permit (to 10') for about $40.00 - good for one year! A very quick way to North Channel.

[SchoonerDreamin]

Anyone else with an opinion?

[MTRiverDrifter]

I did some research a couple of months ago and found that most states have reasonable permits for widths up to 11 to 12 feet (varies). After that you tend to get into pilot cars and costs the average recreational boater wouldn't want to deal with. You could push the 8'6" limit without getting a permit a foot or so and probably never get caught. However, your liability in an accident might get real scary, even if it is the other driver's fault.

I've always thought one of the masters of these was William Garden. In Yacht Designs II. he has a 30' LOA, 9'3" beam, 2'11" draft diesel cruiser that burns 1.4 GPH at just 7.75 kn. The top speed is 10 kn. The lines are sweet. It looks (to my eye) as a more nicely proportioned Black Crown. It doesn't have the design limitations of having to have developable surfaces for plywood construction.

I can scan and upload lines if anyone is interested.

[SchoonerDreamin]

Yes I am very interested to see her lines, I agree that permits are most of the time very easily obtainable most can be had online from the stated DMV site, I know a year long oversize permit here in Va is $15 and you can tow a trailer up to 12' wide with it, after that the state starts selecting your route and you have to have a pilot car.

[Tonyr]

Just looked at your building site - very nicely done, and a fine record of what is involved in a serious building project. I managed to take "only" three years (summers, actually, given our cold winters) to complete a smaller project.

One point caught my attention - you mention that Puffin will want up to about 700 pounds ballast. What are you going to use, and will it be removable? I was a bit disconcerted to find (after launching) that my 24' boat needed some 450 pounds well forward to balance the weight of the outboard and portable fuel tanks aft. I am still planning to move my 26 gallon water tank four feet forward this winter, to help some with pitch trim, but I find that the way the boat moves and heaves with ballast is so "comfortable" that I am now planning to leave perhaps 250lbs or more of it in the bilges next year. With a displacement hull, there is little performance penalty for modest additional weight.

I was thinking that as a permanent ballast solution two flexible water tanks of some 15 to 20 gallons each would let me stay light for haulout, and as heavy as needed when afloat.

What are your intentions in this area?


Tony.

[Mike Keers]

Tony,
Thanx for the comments. Building has been slow (or stopped) and website updates neglected, partly due to the lack of anything substantial to show or discuss. I'm puttering with systems stuff now, mostly fuel, altho they all get a nod when the mood hits. I'm way beyond due for some sort of update.

The designer's idea for internal ballast is lead in boxes placed in the bilge. I kicked around various ideas when I was building, like incorporating some of the anticipated ballast as a casting in the skeg, like a sailboat. That led to the idea of steel plates bolted to either side of the skeg, or even a very heavy steel grounding shoe on the bottom of the skeg. My thinking was to have the ballast low, but that comes from a lifetime of sailboat experience. After reading more on design, I realized on a powerboat that may not induce the best motion, and could in fact add to unwanted rolling. And I didn't want to burden the boat with any ballast before actually launching and seeing what was necessary for trimming to the lines. I used heavier wood below the waterline and lighter above than the designer suggested; the approximate dry weight of the boat should be the same, but overall a bit more of it will be below the waterline anyway, possibly affecting the roll moment.

All this led to my final decision to put it inside as planned. Depending on how much ballast is needed and where (I did install larger fuel tanks), I'm thinking along the lines of pouring some concrete with steel and lead added into the bilge under the pilot house sole after proper preparation of the area, which will be a sort of basic minimum ballast and create a nice flat floor in the bilge, and my flexible 36 gallon water tank (or two) and possibly a holding tank can sit on that. I might use sheet lead or cast thin plates to use in the bilges further forward where headroom is limited. I'm already walking on the wide keelson, so a half-inch or inch added there would just be a bit of extra sole to walk on, with something covering it of course. All of this stuff, if needed, would be more or less permanent (poured concrete would certainly be permanent!), and I'd still go with pigs here or there for trimming and additional ballast.

In any case, I'm not adding an ounce until the boat is launched, partly due to the desire not to burden the boat while it's still being built, and having to move it around and load it on a trailer at some point.

[MTRiverDrifter]

SchoonerDreamin:

Here are the lines I have, no body plan to post. Was my description of her about right?



http://pic30.picturetrail.com/VOL1534/6566693/12680995/187046160.jpg

[SchoonerDreamin]

MTRiverDrifter I am not sure I understnad your post have we talked about this boat before? If so i dont recall.

[John Hastie]

I have been dreaming for 20 years of building the Glen-L "Hercules".

Take a look...