A question about boat weight and displacement
 

writes:
Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

Yes, I can see that adding a trailer will add some weight.
I was just hoping to get some idea of how much, in addition
to determining the weight of the boat as well.


Go to http://www.loadrite.com
then click on BOAT TRAILERS
then click on ROLLER TRAILERS
then click on "Click here to see our Roller Trailers"
then scroll down to trailers for a 28' boat

You will need a Tandem Axle maybe a Tri-Axle Trailer.
It will weigh at least 2,000 lbs.

Does that help?

Yes and no. It helps in that I have now decided that I cannot
acquire this or any other vessel which suits what I wish to do.
It helps that I now have learned that a boat big enough for how
I wish to use it is being demonstrated to be a boat I cannot use.

It does not help, in that I now apparently will not be able to
become a boater. This is most disappointing to me, as I now do
not know what to do about this. I would like to get a boat that
I can use on the river and lakes in the area, and one that I can
stay on for up to a week at a time. It seems now as if these two
things are totally incompatible to each other.

Perhaps I should now start looking at a small motor home...

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream
for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not see how I can
do with it what I wish to do.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

writes:
Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

Yes, I can see that adding a trailer will add some weight.
I was just hoping to get some idea of how much, in addition
to determining the weight of the boat as well.


Go to http://www.loadrite.com
then click on BOAT TRAILERS
then click on ROLLER TRAILERS
then click on "Click here to see our Roller Trailers"
then scroll down to trailers for a 28' boat

You will need a Tandem Axle maybe a Tri-Axle Trailer.
It will weigh at least 2,000 lbs.

Does that help?

Yes and no. It helps in that I have now decided that I cannot
acquire this or any other vessel which suits what I wish to do.
It helps that I now have learned that a boat big enough for how
I wish to use it is being demonstrated to be a boat I cannot use.

It does not help, in that I now apparently will not be able to
become a boater. This is most disappointing to me, as I now do
not know what to do about this. I would like to get a boat that
I can use on the river and lakes in the area, and one that I can
stay on for up to a week at a time. It seems now as if these two
things are totally incompatible to each other.

Perhaps I should now start looking at a small motor home...

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream
for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not see how I can
do with it what I wish to do.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

It does not help, in that I now apparently will not be able to
become a boater. This is most disappointing to me, as I now do
not know what to do about this. I would like to get a boat that
I can use on the river and lakes in the area, and one that I can
stay on for up to a week at a time. It seems now as if these two
things are totally incompatible to each other.

Perhaps I should now start looking at a small motor home...

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream
for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not see how I can
do with it what I wish to do.


There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

You might find it interesting/educational to attend a large boat
show or two. You'll be able to inspect many different kinds of
trailer-able boats and get a much better idea of the features and
specs you will need. You'll be able to get information about
proper tow vehicles and various state requirements. It sounds
like new boats are out of your price range, but you can take the
information you gain out into the used boat market and shop with
more confidence.

Cindy


--
the return email is a spam trap
send legit emails to cindy_at_ballreich_dot_net

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

It does not help, in that I now apparently will not be able to
become a boater. This is most disappointing to me, as I now do
not know what to do about this. I would like to get a boat that
I can use on the river and lakes in the area, and one that I can
stay on for up to a week at a time. It seems now as if these two
things are totally incompatible to each other.

Perhaps I should now start looking at a small motor home...

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream
for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not see how I can
do with it what I wish to do.


There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

You might find it interesting/educational to attend a large boat
show or two. You'll be able to inspect many different kinds of
trailer-able boats and get a much better idea of the features and
specs you will need. You'll be able to get information about
proper tow vehicles and various state requirements. It sounds
like new boats are out of your price range, but you can take the
information you gain out into the used boat market and shop with
more confidence.

Cindy


--
the return email is a spam trap
send legit emails to cindy_at_ballreich_dot_net

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream

Never give up on your dreams :)

Perhaps I should now start looking at a small motor home...

I have a better solution for you... get both! :) Get a sailboat (like
you planned all along) and get a trailer... Here's the magic: when you
put the boat on the trailer you have magically transformed your boat
into a motorhome :-) I know somebody who trailered a 27 foot boat from
Montana to California and back. They camped in parks along the way and
slept on the boat! They had the most interesting RV at any National
Park! Was a hit with all the kids!

I would like to get a boat that I can use on the river and lakes
in the area, and one that I can stay on for up to a week at a time.
It seems now as if these two things are totally incompatible to each
other.

Not really... It depends on the boat as mentioned by another post.
There are many boats that match your criteria... and I will mention
one that I am very familiar with: a Cal-25. This boat was designed to
be trailerable, having an 8 foot beam and 4000 lb displacement. I'm
not saying it's easy to trailer (no boat that size is)... But it's
certainly possible. Unfortunately you are talking about long-ish
distances, so it's not something that you will be able to do spur of
the moment for an afternoon sail... but it is certainly possible.

As mentioned by other posts, you need to make sure the ramp at your
destination can handle the boat. With boats this size, you can not
"back up" your car until the boat floats. Instead, you need to launch
in several steps. First you back up the tow vehicle until it can't go
any further. At this point your trailer is mostly under water (but the
water is probably just barely touching the stern of the boat). Then
you attach a long (strong) rope to the trailer and to your tow
vehicle. Then you lift the ball off the hitch, and you let the trailer
keep on rolling down the ramp... the trailer will move rather slowly
because it started out partially submerged... Eventually the trailer
will be completely submerged, and the boat will float off... then you
pull the trailer out of the water with the rope. It is not uncommon to
need about 30 feet of rope to get the boat to float off. Needless to
say, you need to make sure the ramp is long enough for this maneuver.

I'll continue my pitch for the Cal-25 since I'm fond of this little
boat, but like I said earlier, there's probably lots of other
trailerable sailboats that would work just fine for you. For example,
people trailer J-24's all the time (but the interior of the J24 is
very small compared to the Cal-25).

One interesting fact about the Cal-25 is that this boat has
circumnavigated the world! A fellow by the name of Dave Martin started
out of Seattle, went through the Panama Canal, up the East Coast, back
to the Caribbean, got married along the way, and had several kids
enroute as they circumnavigated the world! Whew! If the boat is big
enough for a family of 4, then it's probably big enough for your
dreams. Now, before you start dreaming of circumnavigation, be advised
that the Cal-25 is a great little coastal cruiser, but you wouldn't
want to stray too far offshore with it unless you have made
modifications to prevent getting swamped (the companionway is too big
and the lazarette lockers lead directly into the cabin).

Check out this site for plenty of pictures of Cal-25's. Somewhere in
there you will find a link talking about Dave and Jaja Martin:

http://www.cal25.com

Another great thing about Cal-25's is that there were tons of them
built, and they are old, and they are relatively inexpensive (I know
of at least two that have been given away for FREE). Of course,
nothing is free in life... if the boat is being given away for free,
expect to put a lot of elbow grease and $$ to bring it back to life.
If there is water damage to the bulkheads, you may need to completely
tear them apart and rebuild the interior yourself. But if you do this,
you end up with a brand new interior you can be proud of, and it will
be exactly the way YOU like it. But, of course, you definitely need to
enjoy woodworking and craftmanship in order to acquire a project
boat... It's not for the faint of heart. If it's something you enjoy,
go for it!

Another caveat about trailering is that you'll have to deal with
raising and lowering the mast everytime you want to trailer the boat
(and this is no small feat). Raising the mast on a Hobie 16 catamaran
is easy, but it starts getting tricky and dangerous as you move up to
larger boats. Stepping the mast can be easy if you are a member of a
Yacht Club with a crane, but you will have to be resourceful if you
are not (or if your destination does not have a crane). Someone I know
modified a Cal-25 mast by adding his own pivot (hinge) at the base,
allowing him to raise and lower the mast single-handed while motoring
from his slip to where he sails (he has to go under a couple of low
bridges). Definitely get good advise and experience before attempting
this yourself :) Do not try this at home :)

That's my two cent's worth... I'm not saying that you should
definitely get a Cal-25... If I talked your ear off about Cal-25's in
this post is because I have lots of experience with one and love it...
The main reason for bending your ear off was to fuel your dreams and
to convince you that you can follow your dreams with the right boat.
So the short answer is YES: you can get a boat that is legal to
trailer without permits and that is big enough to live on board for a
week (or more).

Don't lose your dreams!

Bob Whitaker
"Free Spirit"




Ante Topic Mimara ] wrote in message news:OU0BPNBY38079.4440625@anonymous...
writes:
Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

Yes, I can see that adding a trailer will add some weight.
I was just hoping to get some idea of how much, in addition
to determining the weight of the boat as well.


Go to http://www.loadrite.com
then click on BOAT TRAILERS
then click on ROLLER TRAILERS
then click on "Click here to see our Roller Trailers"
then scroll down to trailers for a 28' boat

You will need a Tandem Axle maybe a Tri-Axle Trailer.
It will weigh at least 2,000 lbs.

Does that help?

Yes and no. It helps in that I have now decided that I cannot
acquire this or any other vessel which suits what I wish to do.
It helps that I now have learned that a boat big enough for how
I wish to use it is being demonstrated to be a boat I cannot use.

It does not help, in that I now apparently will not be able to
become a boater. This is most disappointing to me, as I now do
not know what to do about this. I would like to get a boat that
I can use on the river and lakes in the area, and one that I can
stay on for up to a week at a time. It seems now as if these two
things are totally incompatible to each other.

Perhaps I should now start looking at a small motor home...

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream
for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not see how I can
do with it what I wish to do.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream

Never give up on your dreams :)

Perhaps I should now start looking at a small motor home...

I have a better solution for you... get both! :) Get a sailboat (like
you planned all along) and get a trailer... Here's the magic: when you
put the boat on the trailer you have magically transformed your boat
into a motorhome :-) I know somebody who trailered a 27 foot boat from
Montana to California and back. They camped in parks along the way and
slept on the boat! They had the most interesting RV at any National
Park! Was a hit with all the kids!

I would like to get a boat that I can use on the river and lakes
in the area, and one that I can stay on for up to a week at a time.
It seems now as if these two things are totally incompatible to each
other.

Not really... It depends on the boat as mentioned by another post.
There are many boats that match your criteria... and I will mention
one that I am very familiar with: a Cal-25. This boat was designed to
be trailerable, having an 8 foot beam and 4000 lb displacement. I'm
not saying it's easy to trailer (no boat that size is)... But it's
certainly possible. Unfortunately you are talking about long-ish
distances, so it's not something that you will be able to do spur of
the moment for an afternoon sail... but it is certainly possible.

As mentioned by other posts, you need to make sure the ramp at your
destination can handle the boat. With boats this size, you can not
"back up" your car until the boat floats. Instead, you need to launch
in several steps. First you back up the tow vehicle until it can't go
any further. At this point your trailer is mostly under water (but the
water is probably just barely touching the stern of the boat). Then
you attach a long (strong) rope to the trailer and to your tow
vehicle. Then you lift the ball off the hitch, and you let the trailer
keep on rolling down the ramp... the trailer will move rather slowly
because it started out partially submerged... Eventually the trailer
will be completely submerged, and the boat will float off... then you
pull the trailer out of the water with the rope. It is not uncommon to
need about 30 feet of rope to get the boat to float off. Needless to
say, you need to make sure the ramp is long enough for this maneuver.

I'll continue my pitch for the Cal-25 since I'm fond of this little
boat, but like I said earlier, there's probably lots of other
trailerable sailboats that would work just fine for you. For example,
people trailer J-24's all the time (but the interior of the J24 is
very small compared to the Cal-25).

One interesting fact about the Cal-25 is that this boat has
circumnavigated the world! A fellow by the name of Dave Martin started
out of Seattle, went through the Panama Canal, up the East Coast, back
to the Caribbean, got married along the way, and had several kids
enroute as they circumnavigated the world! Whew! If the boat is big
enough for a family of 4, then it's probably big enough for your
dreams. Now, before you start dreaming of circumnavigation, be advised
that the Cal-25 is a great little coastal cruiser, but you wouldn't
want to stray too far offshore with it unless you have made
modifications to prevent getting swamped (the companionway is too big
and the lazarette lockers lead directly into the cabin).

Check out this site for plenty of pictures of Cal-25's. Somewhere in
there you will find a link talking about Dave and Jaja Martin:

http://www.cal25.com

Another great thing about Cal-25's is that there were tons of them
built, and they are old, and they are relatively inexpensive (I know
of at least two that have been given away for FREE). Of course,
nothing is free in life... if the boat is being given away for free,
expect to put a lot of elbow grease and $$ to bring it back to life.
If there is water damage to the bulkheads, you may need to completely
tear them apart and rebuild the interior yourself. But if you do this,
you end up with a brand new interior you can be proud of, and it will
be exactly the way YOU like it. But, of course, you definitely need to
enjoy woodworking and craftmanship in order to acquire a project
boat... It's not for the faint of heart. If it's something you enjoy,
go for it!

Another caveat about trailering is that you'll have to deal with
raising and lowering the mast everytime you want to trailer the boat
(and this is no small feat). Raising the mast on a Hobie 16 catamaran
is easy, but it starts getting tricky and dangerous as you move up to
larger boats. Stepping the mast can be easy if you are a member of a
Yacht Club with a crane, but you will have to be resourceful if you
are not (or if your destination does not have a crane). Someone I know
modified a Cal-25 mast by adding his own pivot (hinge) at the base,
allowing him to raise and lower the mast single-handed while motoring
from his slip to where he sails (he has to go under a couple of low
bridges). Definitely get good advise and experience before attempting
this yourself :) Do not try this at home :)

That's my two cent's worth... I'm not saying that you should
definitely get a Cal-25... If I talked your ear off about Cal-25's in
this post is because I have lots of experience with one and love it...
The main reason for bending your ear off was to fuel your dreams and
to convince you that you can follow your dreams with the right boat.
So the short answer is YES: you can get a boat that is legal to
trailer without permits and that is big enough to live on board for a
week (or more).

Don't lose your dreams!

Bob Whitaker
"Free Spirit"




Ante Topic Mimara ] wrote in message news:OU0BPNBY38079.4440625@anonymous...
writes:
Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

Yes, I can see that adding a trailer will add some weight.
I was just hoping to get some idea of how much, in addition
to determining the weight of the boat as well.


Go to http://www.loadrite.com
then click on BOAT TRAILERS
then click on ROLLER TRAILERS
then click on "Click here to see our Roller Trailers"
then scroll down to trailers for a 28' boat

You will need a Tandem Axle maybe a Tri-Axle Trailer.
It will weigh at least 2,000 lbs.

Does that help?

Yes and no. It helps in that I have now decided that I cannot
acquire this or any other vessel which suits what I wish to do.
It helps that I now have learned that a boat big enough for how
I wish to use it is being demonstrated to be a boat I cannot use.

It does not help, in that I now apparently will not be able to
become a boater. This is most disappointing to me, as I now do
not know what to do about this. I would like to get a boat that
I can use on the river and lakes in the area, and one that I can
stay on for up to a week at a time. It seems now as if these two
things are totally incompatible to each other.

Perhaps I should now start looking at a small motor home...

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream
for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not see how I can
do with it what I wish to do.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Bob Whitaker writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream

Never give up on your dreams :)

Oh, I am a troll (according to some people) and as we all know,
trolls live under bridges, and do not have the right to learn
how to cruise on a boat. Trolls are all fake, nasty, and should
be shunned.

Of course, I am not really a troll, it is that some people have
to feel better about themselves by standing on top of people like
me, so I get slammed because I cannot defend myself against people
like that.

And one thing you wrote, I am not looking at a sailboat, and I
never was. I was looking for a motor cruiser, but since I cannot
use it the way I wish to, I will have to give up, because everyone
here (except for a few nice people, thank you) seems to want to
keep everyone new like me out of their precious little hobby.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Bob Whitaker writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream

Never give up on your dreams :)

Oh, I am a troll (according to some people) and as we all know,
trolls live under bridges, and do not have the right to learn
how to cruise on a boat. Trolls are all fake, nasty, and should
be shunned.

Of course, I am not really a troll, it is that some people have
to feel better about themselves by standing on top of people like
me, so I get slammed because I cannot defend myself against people
like that.

And one thing you wrote, I am not looking at a sailboat, and I
never was. I was looking for a motor cruiser, but since I cannot
use it the way I wish to, I will have to give up, because everyone
here (except for a few nice people, thank you) seems to want to
keep everyone new like me out of their precious little hobby.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Cindy Ballreich writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long
dream for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not
see how I can do with it what I wish to do.


There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.


You might find it interesting/educational to attend a large
boat show or two. You'll be able to inspect many different
kinds of trailer-able boats and get a much better idea of the
features and specs you will need. You'll be able to get
information about proper tow vehicles and various state
requirements. It sounds like new boats are out of your price
range, but you can take the information you gain out into the
used boat market and shop with more confidence.

Thank you for this most excellent advice. I am still thinking
that I am going to give this dream up, as I do not think I will
ever find what it is that I looking for, and have had too many
people I have never seen give good advice, decide to call me a
troll. If they are what most boater-people are like, they can
have it.

I would hope that you are what most boater-people are like, since
you have given me good information, but I have seen too many people
be suspicious and hateful.

There are some big boat shows in this part of the country over the
summer, I think. I will do a search on the internet to find out some
more details, and then go and see what they have there.

Thank you again for your good helpful advice. I will take it.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Cindy Ballreich writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long
dream for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not
see how I can do with it what I wish to do.


There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.


You might find it interesting/educational to attend a large
boat show or two. You'll be able to inspect many different
kinds of trailer-able boats and get a much better idea of the
features and specs you will need. You'll be able to get
information about proper tow vehicles and various state
requirements. It sounds like new boats are out of your price
range, but you can take the information you gain out into the
used boat market and shop with more confidence.

Thank you for this most excellent advice. I am still thinking
that I am going to give this dream up, as I do not think I will
ever find what it is that I looking for, and have had too many
people I have never seen give good advice, decide to call me a
troll. If they are what most boater-people are like, they can
have it.

I would hope that you are what most boater-people are like, since
you have given me good information, but I have seen too many people
be suspicious and hateful.

There are some big boat shows in this part of the country over the
summer, I think. I will do a search on the internet to find out some
more details, and then go and see what they have there.

Thank you again for your good helpful advice. I will take it.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

WaIIy writes:

Scott Vernon wrote:

Depending on the state (which for some suspicious reason
he is hiding)

Why must you assume some nefarious or suspicious reason for
my desire to remain anonymous? Do you get spam? I do not.

When you begin to attack people, because you do not like
what they have to say, you prove my point for wishing to
remain secure.

a permit can be as little as $10. But that is each trip.
Some states require special insurance.

Still more reasons why this vessel is not suitable to me.

This mimara guy is a known troll.

How do you arrive at this? I am not a troll. I am merely
asking questions because I wish to learn. I cannot be
responsible if you do not like what I ask, or how I ask it.

Remember a while back when he was pretending to be some
foreign guy?

You show me one post where I ever claimed to be from anywhere.
You show me one post I made, that states where I am from.
What happened was, someone looked up my screen name, which I
took from a book I read 20 years ago because I liked how it
sounds, and decided that I was trying to impersonate someone.

I write how I write, and I do not see you jumping all over people
who spell badly, or who use poor grammar.

I have never claimed to be anyone other than me. It is people
like YOU who have bad attitudes and are hateful to people who
only want to learn new things.

He's not a bad troll, but a troll, nonetheless.

Why must everyone assume that I am a troll, when all I have
done is to ask questions, and then ask for explanation of
answers that I did not understand? I have always asked on
topic questions, I have never advertised for any product, and
I have never made threads disruptive by name-calling. Show me
how that is being a troll.

Do all of you people remember what it was like to be new to
something? You were not born with full knowledge, you had to
start somewhere.

This is what I mean by people like you trying to keep new people
out of this type of activity. You should be ashamed of yourself.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

WaIIy writes:

Scott Vernon wrote:

Depending on the state (which for some suspicious reason
he is hiding)

Why must you assume some nefarious or suspicious reason for
my desire to remain anonymous? Do you get spam? I do not.

When you begin to attack people, because you do not like
what they have to say, you prove my point for wishing to
remain secure.

a permit can be as little as $10. But that is each trip.
Some states require special insurance.

Still more reasons why this vessel is not suitable to me.

This mimara guy is a known troll.

How do you arrive at this? I am not a troll. I am merely
asking questions because I wish to learn. I cannot be
responsible if you do not like what I ask, or how I ask it.

Remember a while back when he was pretending to be some
foreign guy?

You show me one post where I ever claimed to be from anywhere.
You show me one post I made, that states where I am from.
What happened was, someone looked up my screen name, which I
took from a book I read 20 years ago because I liked how it
sounds, and decided that I was trying to impersonate someone.

I write how I write, and I do not see you jumping all over people
who spell badly, or who use poor grammar.

I have never claimed to be anyone other than me. It is people
like YOU who have bad attitudes and are hateful to people who
only want to learn new things.

He's not a bad troll, but a troll, nonetheless.

Why must everyone assume that I am a troll, when all I have
done is to ask questions, and then ask for explanation of
answers that I did not understand? I have always asked on
topic questions, I have never advertised for any product, and
I have never made threads disruptive by name-calling. Show me
how that is being a troll.

Do all of you people remember what it was like to be new to
something? You were not born with full knowledge, you had to
start somewhere.

This is what I mean by people like you trying to keep new people
out of this type of activity. You should be ashamed of yourself.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Ante Topic Mimara ] wrote in message

I plan on buying a modest mini-cruising sailboat which I'll probably use as
a camper on occasion.
My theory is to buy the minimal needed.
This would keep the weight down and enable me to use my current tow vehicle.
My total boat/trailer weight will be about 1800 lbs.
One important consideration I have to make is buying a new galvanized
trailer with surge type disc brakes. This will add to the expense but if it
prevents one bang up...I'm ahead.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Ante Topic Mimara ] wrote in message

I plan on buying a modest mini-cruising sailboat which I'll probably use as
a camper on occasion.
My theory is to buy the minimal needed.
This would keep the weight down and enable me to use my current tow vehicle.
My total boat/trailer weight will be about 1800 lbs.
One important consideration I have to make is buying a new galvanized
trailer with surge type disc brakes. This will add to the expense but if it
prevents one bang up...I'm ahead.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

OK, I'll bite...

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:
I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream

I was looking for a motor cruiser, but since I cannot
use it the way I wish to, I will have to give up, because everyone
here (except for a few nice people, thank you) seems to want to
keep everyone new like me out of their precious little hobby.

Boating, cruising, whatever, can be complex, dangerous, difficult,
expensive.... Or it can be simple, safe, easy and cheap. Your questions
are reasonable, but indicate to me that your experience in boats is minimal.

If you buy a boat that meets ALL of your criteria, you are very likely to
have a negative experience. You will spend tens of thousands of dollars
(yes, I know the "price" is far less...) you will experience difficulty and
frustration, both on land and on the water, and you will be at some physical
risk, as you learn.

May I suggest you buy (or borrow/rent) a small skiff or outboard for your
first season; if you want to travel, a hotel will be cheap compared to a
boat with even minimal accommodations (and you'll have a hot shower!).
With minimal outlay of cash, you can learn the basics of this "precious
little hobby". If you like messing around on the water, next year get a
different, larger, or 'better' boat. And the money spent will not go to
waste; with a used boat and motor, further depreciation will be negligible
(or you can hold onto the skiff forever - if you end up with a 28 footer,
you will DEFINITELY need a little boat, too.)

Personally, I prefer little boats, and rather than put a couple hundred
grand into a decent "Motor Cruiser", bought a nice home on the water - with
a dock for my outboards, sailboats, kayaks, and other toys.

Good luck!
Sal's Dad (referring, of course, to McCloskey's "One Morning in Maine" and
other books

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

OK, I'll bite...

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:
I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long dream

I was looking for a motor cruiser, but since I cannot
use it the way I wish to, I will have to give up, because everyone
here (except for a few nice people, thank you) seems to want to
keep everyone new like me out of their precious little hobby.

Boating, cruising, whatever, can be complex, dangerous, difficult,
expensive.... Or it can be simple, safe, easy and cheap. Your questions
are reasonable, but indicate to me that your experience in boats is minimal.

If you buy a boat that meets ALL of your criteria, you are very likely to
have a negative experience. You will spend tens of thousands of dollars
(yes, I know the "price" is far less...) you will experience difficulty and
frustration, both on land and on the water, and you will be at some physical
risk, as you learn.

May I suggest you buy (or borrow/rent) a small skiff or outboard for your
first season; if you want to travel, a hotel will be cheap compared to a
boat with even minimal accommodations (and you'll have a hot shower!).
With minimal outlay of cash, you can learn the basics of this "precious
little hobby". If you like messing around on the water, next year get a
different, larger, or 'better' boat. And the money spent will not go to
waste; with a used boat and motor, further depreciation will be negligible
(or you can hold onto the skiff forever - if you end up with a 28 footer,
you will DEFINITELY need a little boat, too.)

Personally, I prefer little boats, and rather than put a couple hundred
grand into a decent "Motor Cruiser", bought a nice home on the water - with
a dock for my outboards, sailboats, kayaks, and other toys.

Good luck!
Sal's Dad (referring, of course, to McCloskey's "One Morning in Maine" and
other books

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Don White writes:


Ante Topic Mimara ]
wrote in message

I plan on buying a modest mini-cruising sailboat which I'll
probably use as a camper on occasion.
My theory is to buy the minimal needed.
This would keep the weight down and enable me to use my
current tow vehicle. My total boat/trailer weight will be
about 1800 lbs. One important consideration I have to make
is buying a new galvanized trailer with surge type disc
brakes. This will add to the expense but if it prevents
one bang up...I'm ahead.

I have never written this. I have never written anything like this.

Ever.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Don White writes:


Ante Topic Mimara ]
wrote in message

I plan on buying a modest mini-cruising sailboat which I'll
probably use as a camper on occasion.
My theory is to buy the minimal needed.
This would keep the weight down and enable me to use my
current tow vehicle. My total boat/trailer weight will be
about 1800 lbs. One important consideration I have to make
is buying a new galvanized trailer with surge type disc
brakes. This will add to the expense but if it prevents
one bang up...I'm ahead.

I have never written this. I have never written anything like this.

Ever.

---
-
Topic-Mimara
Unique in the World!
---


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Ante Topic Mimara ] wrote in message
I have never written this. I have never written anything like this.

Ever.

---

ooops .... I meant to include some of your post.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Ante Topic Mimara ] wrote in message
I have never written this. I have never written anything like this.

Ever.

---

ooops .... I meant to include some of your post.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Comments below:
"Ante Topic Mimara" ] wrote in message
news:KMYSIKXQ38080.3344444444@anonymous...
Cindy Ballreich writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long
dream for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not
see how I can do with it what I wish to do.


There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.

I have friends who used to own a 22 or 23' power boat with what was
called a Cuddy Cabin. I believe they are quite common. This cabin was down
below, forward of the cockpit, taking up perhaps the full forward half of
the boat. It had a Vee shaped birth that slept two comfortably, a sink, and
a dedicated space for a Port-a-potty (toilet). You could not stand in this
cabin but there was sufficient headroom for those sitting on the beds or
toilet. It had a door that closed it off from the cockpit for privacy and
an over head opening hatch plus windows (ports) on either side. Their
cockpit was open but they had a full canopy/dodger with side curtains that
ran from the windshield to the stern with standing headroom inside. On nice
evenings they would sleep in the cockpit on the main seats which folded down
into beds. They did their cooking in the main cockpit on a bar-b-que. This
all fit on a single axle trailer and they pulled with a Ford F150 (commonly
called a 1/2 ton) pickup truck They kept the boat on its trailer in their
driveway during the week and towed it where ever they wanted to go on
evenings or weekends. The boat had an inboard/outboard drive arrangement
with a V-6 engine.
Would something like this be enough to get you started into boating? It
doesn't meet all you expressed needs but is a good start perhaps. You could
move up to a bigger boat as your experience and preferences develop.
--
Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
Cape Breton Island, Canada
kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Comments below:
"Ante Topic Mimara" ] wrote in message
news:KMYSIKXQ38080.3344444444@anonymous...
Cindy Ballreich writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long
dream for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not
see how I can do with it what I wish to do.


There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.

I have friends who used to own a 22 or 23' power boat with what was
called a Cuddy Cabin. I believe they are quite common. This cabin was down
below, forward of the cockpit, taking up perhaps the full forward half of
the boat. It had a Vee shaped birth that slept two comfortably, a sink, and
a dedicated space for a Port-a-potty (toilet). You could not stand in this
cabin but there was sufficient headroom for those sitting on the beds or
toilet. It had a door that closed it off from the cockpit for privacy and
an over head opening hatch plus windows (ports) on either side. Their
cockpit was open but they had a full canopy/dodger with side curtains that
ran from the windshield to the stern with standing headroom inside. On nice
evenings they would sleep in the cockpit on the main seats which folded down
into beds. They did their cooking in the main cockpit on a bar-b-que. This
all fit on a single axle trailer and they pulled with a Ford F150 (commonly
called a 1/2 ton) pickup truck They kept the boat on its trailer in their
driveway during the week and towed it where ever they wanted to go on
evenings or weekends. The boat had an inboard/outboard drive arrangement
with a V-6 engine.
Would something like this be enough to get you started into boating? It
doesn't meet all you expressed needs but is a good start perhaps. You could
move up to a bigger boat as your experience and preferences develop.
--
Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
Cape Breton Island, Canada
kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

My impression on boats is that it's always a compromise.
What do you want
what do you need
what's most practical for local conditions
what can you afford
etc.
If a person can't work their way through above..best to stay away from
boats.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

My impression on boats is that it's always a compromise.
What do you want
what do you need
what's most practical for local conditions
what can you afford
etc.
If a person can't work their way through above..best to stay away from
boats.

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

x-no-archive:yes


Ante Topic Mimara ] wrote:

Cindy Ballreich writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long
dream for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not
see how I can do with it what I wish to do.

There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.

My SIL has a 26.5 foot catamaran motor boat with two outboards and it
trailers and also has a very shallow draft which is really good for
the south FL area. It has places to sleep, and they have a portapot
and cook on a grill.

There are tons of sailboats that have more facilities than that (he
also had a Catalina sailboat for awhile which he got at a sheriff's
auction for about $250 but he then had to buy a trailer for it to get
it home). It had a deck stepped mast so that he and my husband could
raise the mast before they launched it.

You might find it interesting/educational to attend a large
boat show or two. You'll be able to inspect many different
kinds of trailer-able boats and get a much better idea of the
features and specs you will need. You'll be able to get
information about proper tow vehicles and various state
requirements. It sounds like new boats are out of your price
range, but you can take the information you gain out into the
used boat market and shop with more confidence.

Thank you for this most excellent advice. I am still thinking
that I am going to give this dream up, as I do not think I will
ever find what it is that I looking for, and have had too many
people I have never seen give good advice, decide to call me a
troll. If they are what most boater-people are like, they can
have it.

I would hope that you are what most boater-people are like, since
you have given me good information, but I have seen too many people
be suspicious and hateful.

There are some big boat shows in this part of the country over the
summer, I think. I will do a search on the internet to find out some
more details, and then go and see what they have there.

Thank you again for your good helpful advice. I will take it.

Why not also go to yachtworld.com and do a search on power boats that
meet your specifications? I would be surprised if you don't find a
whole bunch.

grandma Rosalie

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

x-no-archive:yes


Ante Topic Mimara ] wrote:

Cindy Ballreich writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long
dream for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not
see how I can do with it what I wish to do.

There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.

My SIL has a 26.5 foot catamaran motor boat with two outboards and it
trailers and also has a very shallow draft which is really good for
the south FL area. It has places to sleep, and they have a portapot
and cook on a grill.

There are tons of sailboats that have more facilities than that (he
also had a Catalina sailboat for awhile which he got at a sheriff's
auction for about $250 but he then had to buy a trailer for it to get
it home). It had a deck stepped mast so that he and my husband could
raise the mast before they launched it.

You might find it interesting/educational to attend a large
boat show or two. You'll be able to inspect many different
kinds of trailer-able boats and get a much better idea of the
features and specs you will need. You'll be able to get
information about proper tow vehicles and various state
requirements. It sounds like new boats are out of your price
range, but you can take the information you gain out into the
used boat market and shop with more confidence.

Thank you for this most excellent advice. I am still thinking
that I am going to give this dream up, as I do not think I will
ever find what it is that I looking for, and have had too many
people I have never seen give good advice, decide to call me a
troll. If they are what most boater-people are like, they can
have it.

I would hope that you are what most boater-people are like, since
you have given me good information, but I have seen too many people
be suspicious and hateful.

There are some big boat shows in this part of the country over the
summer, I think. I will do a search on the internet to find out some
more details, and then go and see what they have there.

Thank you again for your good helpful advice. I will take it.

Why not also go to yachtworld.com and do a search on power boats that
meet your specifications? I would be surprised if you don't find a
whole bunch.

grandma Rosalie

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Sandy wrote:

How do you get the boat back on the trailer and
then get the trailer back on the hitch ball?

You basically reverse the process... The trick is that the trailer
needs to be designed with this use in mind. It also helps if the ramp
flattens out at the top so you don't have to block the trailer wheels
while on the ramp. To retrieve the boat, you launch the empty trailer
attached to the rope, until it sinks out of sight (as when you lauched
the boat)... ideally you have attached some floats that rise and serve
as a guide, letting you know where the trailer is when you inch the
boat forward. Some trailers have a tall (8 ft) step ladder close to
the hitch, and this portion projects out of the water. Also, all
trailers will need two guide rails to help center the keel onto the
cradle. Once the boat is centered over the trailer, you attach a rope
to the bow and attach it to your towing rope. You don't attach the bow
rope to the towing vehicle because you want some play as the bow will
tend to rise as the keel settles on the cradle when you pull the boat
out. You therefore have two ropes, one attached from the towing
vehicle to the trailer and a second rope attached from the bow of the
boat to the trailer towing rope at about the 3/4 point. You then tow
the ensemble up the ramp and onto the flat portion at the top of the
ramp. At this point you are free to block the wheels, remove the
ropes, and attach the trailer back on the ball. One of the things that
makes this whole operation work is having a third wheel at the hitch
end of the trailer. The cheap hard plastic (small diameter) wheels
work OK for very light boats, but for heavier keel boats you will want
a real inflatable (large diameter) tire which you can raise and rotate
out of the way when the hitch is back on the ball.

Bob Whitaker
"Free Spirit"



On 2 Apr 2004 22:32:12 -0800, (Bob Whitaker) wrote:
[snip]

As mentioned by other posts, you need to make sure the ramp at your
destination can handle the boat. With boats this size, you can not
"back up" your car until the boat floats. Instead, you need to launch
in several steps. First you back up the tow vehicle until it can't go
any further. At this point your trailer is mostly under water (but
the
water is probably just barely touching the stern of the boat). Then
you attach a long (strong) rope to the trailer and to your tow
vehicle. Then you lift the ball off the hitch, and you let the
trailer
keep on rolling down the ramp... the trailer will move rather slowly
because it started out partially submerged... Eventually the trailer
will be completely submerged, and the boat will float off... then you
pull the trailer out of the water with the rope. It is not uncommon
to
need about 30 feet of rope to get the boat to float off. Needless to
say, you need to make sure the ramp is long enough for this maneuver.

[snip]

How do you get the boat back on the trailer and then get the trailer
back on
the hitch ball?

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

Sandy wrote:

How do you get the boat back on the trailer and
then get the trailer back on the hitch ball?

You basically reverse the process... The trick is that the trailer
needs to be designed with this use in mind. It also helps if the ramp
flattens out at the top so you don't have to block the trailer wheels
while on the ramp. To retrieve the boat, you launch the empty trailer
attached to the rope, until it sinks out of sight (as when you lauched
the boat)... ideally you have attached some floats that rise and serve
as a guide, letting you know where the trailer is when you inch the
boat forward. Some trailers have a tall (8 ft) step ladder close to
the hitch, and this portion projects out of the water. Also, all
trailers will need two guide rails to help center the keel onto the
cradle. Once the boat is centered over the trailer, you attach a rope
to the bow and attach it to your towing rope. You don't attach the bow
rope to the towing vehicle because you want some play as the bow will
tend to rise as the keel settles on the cradle when you pull the boat
out. You therefore have two ropes, one attached from the towing
vehicle to the trailer and a second rope attached from the bow of the
boat to the trailer towing rope at about the 3/4 point. You then tow
the ensemble up the ramp and onto the flat portion at the top of the
ramp. At this point you are free to block the wheels, remove the
ropes, and attach the trailer back on the ball. One of the things that
makes this whole operation work is having a third wheel at the hitch
end of the trailer. The cheap hard plastic (small diameter) wheels
work OK for very light boats, but for heavier keel boats you will want
a real inflatable (large diameter) tire which you can raise and rotate
out of the way when the hitch is back on the ball.

Bob Whitaker
"Free Spirit"



On 2 Apr 2004 22:32:12 -0800, (Bob Whitaker) wrote:
[snip]

As mentioned by other posts, you need to make sure the ramp at your
destination can handle the boat. With boats this size, you can not
"back up" your car until the boat floats. Instead, you need to launch
in several steps. First you back up the tow vehicle until it can't go
any further. At this point your trailer is mostly under water (but
the
water is probably just barely touching the stern of the boat). Then
you attach a long (strong) rope to the trailer and to your tow
vehicle. Then you lift the ball off the hitch, and you let the
trailer
keep on rolling down the ramp... the trailer will move rather slowly
because it started out partially submerged... Eventually the trailer
will be completely submerged, and the boat will float off... then you
pull the trailer out of the water with the rope. It is not uncommon
to
need about 30 feet of rope to get the boat to float off. Needless to
say, you need to make sure the ramp is long enough for this maneuver.

[snip]

How do you get the boat back on the trailer and then get the trailer
back on
the hitch ball?

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

"Ante Topic Mimara" ] wrote in message
news:KMYSIKXQ38080.3344444444@anonymous...



I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.


There are a number of boats available that are trailerable and have the
features that you say. For example, Bayliner has a "245" model that is 24
feet long, 8-1/2 feet wide (legal limit for towing) and weighs in at about
7000 pounds.

You would need to have a pretty big truck to tow this thing around, but you
could. The cabin is going to be fairly small, but you can sleep in it.

I have seen other boats of similar size. Like someone else suggested, a
boat show would be a good place to look.

If you need to be able to tow this rig yourself you are not going to be able
to go much larger than this. You can move just about anything down the road
if you get the right permits. The larger it is, the more restrictions you
will have.

Last summer I had a houseboat moved from Arizona to Stockton California.
The boat was 16 feet wide and sitting on the trailer it was 15'-4" tall
(that is after I removed the radar arch, bimini, etc.) The hardest part of
the whole process was getting the boat from the water onto the trailer and
then back into the water. As for the permits, the transportation department
of each state ("CalTrans in California, not sure what Arizona calls theirs)
issues the permits, which the truck driver picked up at the point of entry.

For loads that are just slightly over the legal limit the requirement is
just a sign that says "Oversize load". A little bit larger and you need to
get an escort vehicle that follows along behind and carries a sign
"oversized load ahead". Bigger still and you need an escort vehicle up
front. Bigger still and you need police escort.

For my rig, I needed the two escort vehicles. IF we had to venture off the
interstate in California I would have needed two CHP (California Highway
Patrol) vehicles as escorts. When the permits were applied for the width
and height had to be specified, as well as the origin and destination. The
actual route that was allowed was determined by the state. In my case, it
was south to Phoenix, west on I-10 to Los Angeles, north on I-5 to Stockton.
There were portions of the route that could not be traveled after 7 PM due
to construction. The section through Los Angeles could not be traveled
during commute hours. There were two bridges that were under construction
and the truck had to exit the freeway and then get right back on because the
bridge didn't have enough clearance.

Moving my boat was a bitch and I hope I don't have to do that again! I know
people who race hydroplane boats that are wider than 8-1/2 feet and they tow
them all over the place. I assume that they have permits that are good for
long periods of time (my permits were good for 5 days) or they are really
good at filing for permits!

If you don't think that you can be happy on a ~25 foot boat with an 8 foot
beam then my suggestion to you is to buy a boat that you think you will like
on a body of water that you think you would like to spend some time on. If
you get tired of that body of water either sell the boat and buy another or
pay to have the boat moved. A ten foot beam shouldn't be that bad to move.


Rod

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

"Ante Topic Mimara" ] wrote in message
news:KMYSIKXQ38080.3344444444@anonymous...



I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.


There are a number of boats available that are trailerable and have the
features that you say. For example, Bayliner has a "245" model that is 24
feet long, 8-1/2 feet wide (legal limit for towing) and weighs in at about
7000 pounds.

You would need to have a pretty big truck to tow this thing around, but you
could. The cabin is going to be fairly small, but you can sleep in it.

I have seen other boats of similar size. Like someone else suggested, a
boat show would be a good place to look.

If you need to be able to tow this rig yourself you are not going to be able
to go much larger than this. You can move just about anything down the road
if you get the right permits. The larger it is, the more restrictions you
will have.

Last summer I had a houseboat moved from Arizona to Stockton California.
The boat was 16 feet wide and sitting on the trailer it was 15'-4" tall
(that is after I removed the radar arch, bimini, etc.) The hardest part of
the whole process was getting the boat from the water onto the trailer and
then back into the water. As for the permits, the transportation department
of each state ("CalTrans in California, not sure what Arizona calls theirs)
issues the permits, which the truck driver picked up at the point of entry.

For loads that are just slightly over the legal limit the requirement is
just a sign that says "Oversize load". A little bit larger and you need to
get an escort vehicle that follows along behind and carries a sign
"oversized load ahead". Bigger still and you need an escort vehicle up
front. Bigger still and you need police escort.

For my rig, I needed the two escort vehicles. IF we had to venture off the
interstate in California I would have needed two CHP (California Highway
Patrol) vehicles as escorts. When the permits were applied for the width
and height had to be specified, as well as the origin and destination. The
actual route that was allowed was determined by the state. In my case, it
was south to Phoenix, west on I-10 to Los Angeles, north on I-5 to Stockton.
There were portions of the route that could not be traveled after 7 PM due
to construction. The section through Los Angeles could not be traveled
during commute hours. There were two bridges that were under construction
and the truck had to exit the freeway and then get right back on because the
bridge didn't have enough clearance.

Moving my boat was a bitch and I hope I don't have to do that again! I know
people who race hydroplane boats that are wider than 8-1/2 feet and they tow
them all over the place. I assume that they have permits that are good for
long periods of time (my permits were good for 5 days) or they are really
good at filing for permits!

If you don't think that you can be happy on a ~25 foot boat with an 8 foot
beam then my suggestion to you is to buy a boat that you think you will like
on a body of water that you think you would like to spend some time on. If
you get tired of that body of water either sell the boat and buy another or
pay to have the boat moved. A ten foot beam shouldn't be that bad to move.


Rod

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

"Bob Whitaker" wrote in message
om...
Sandy wrote:

How do you get the boat back on the trailer and
then get the trailer back on the hitch ball?

You basically reverse the process... The trick is that the trailer
needs to be designed with this use in mind. It also helps if the ramp
flattens out at the top so you don't have to block the trailer wheels
while on the ramp. To retrieve the boat, you launch the empty trailer
attached to the rope, until it sinks out of sight (as when you lauched
the boat)...



I would advise extreme caution when using this technique!

You will be backing the trailer a LOT farther down the ramp than most boats
would need to go. I would make sure that the ramp extends that far before
you attempted this. If your trailer reaches the end of the ramp and the
wheels fall off the pavement you may not be able to pull the trailer back
up!

I would also advise using either chain, large nylon tow strap or a very
large rope for this process. It could be disastrous if the rope broke while
you were trying to pull the boat up the ramp.

I witnessed such an operation one time at a reservoir (Lake Havasu). A boat
had launched without first putting in the drain plug. By the time the owner
realized his mistake the boat had considerable amount of water in it. He
was able to get the plug in and keep the boat from sinking, but apparently
didn't have a bilge pump. Rather than bail he decided to put the boat back
on the trailer to drain the water out.

With the boat so heavily loaded with water he was not able to back the
trailer far enough into the water to float the boat on. The solution was to
disconnect the trailer from the tow vehicle and lower it deeper into the
water with a rope. They used ski line, which was a very bad idea. The
backing of the trailer into the water went okay. When they started to pull
the boat out of the water things went bad very fast. The excessive weight
of the boat, trailer and water caused the rope to break about the time they
had managed to get the rig just a few feet clear of the water. Now
unrestricted on its decent to the water it hit with considerable force, and
angle, which caused the water to surge up over the stern, sinking it
completely.

Now they had a sunken boat on a trailer on a paved ramp that extended a LONG
ways (this was in spring, when the water level is high, and the ramp extends
very deep to accommodate the fall when the water level can be very low).
The end result was that the submerged rig rolled past the end of the ramp
and off into the middle of the lake, requiring specialized diving equipment
(because of the depth) to retrieve it.

Rod

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

"Bob Whitaker" wrote in message
om...
Sandy wrote:

How do you get the boat back on the trailer and
then get the trailer back on the hitch ball?

You basically reverse the process... The trick is that the trailer
needs to be designed with this use in mind. It also helps if the ramp
flattens out at the top so you don't have to block the trailer wheels
while on the ramp. To retrieve the boat, you launch the empty trailer
attached to the rope, until it sinks out of sight (as when you lauched
the boat)...



I would advise extreme caution when using this technique!

You will be backing the trailer a LOT farther down the ramp than most boats
would need to go. I would make sure that the ramp extends that far before
you attempted this. If your trailer reaches the end of the ramp and the
wheels fall off the pavement you may not be able to pull the trailer back
up!

I would also advise using either chain, large nylon tow strap or a very
large rope for this process. It could be disastrous if the rope broke while
you were trying to pull the boat up the ramp.

I witnessed such an operation one time at a reservoir (Lake Havasu). A boat
had launched without first putting in the drain plug. By the time the owner
realized his mistake the boat had considerable amount of water in it. He
was able to get the plug in and keep the boat from sinking, but apparently
didn't have a bilge pump. Rather than bail he decided to put the boat back
on the trailer to drain the water out.

With the boat so heavily loaded with water he was not able to back the
trailer far enough into the water to float the boat on. The solution was to
disconnect the trailer from the tow vehicle and lower it deeper into the
water with a rope. They used ski line, which was a very bad idea. The
backing of the trailer into the water went okay. When they started to pull
the boat out of the water things went bad very fast. The excessive weight
of the boat, trailer and water caused the rope to break about the time they
had managed to get the rig just a few feet clear of the water. Now
unrestricted on its decent to the water it hit with considerable force, and
angle, which caused the water to surge up over the stern, sinking it
completely.

Now they had a sunken boat on a trailer on a paved ramp that extended a LONG
ways (this was in spring, when the water level is high, and the ramp extends
very deep to accommodate the fall when the water level can be very low).
The end result was that the submerged rig rolled past the end of the ramp
and off into the middle of the lake, requiring specialized diving equipment
(because of the depth) to retrieve it.

Rod

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 13:01:36 +0000, Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

Cindy Ballreich writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long
dream for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not
see how I can do with it what I wish to do.


There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.



Well, either you have "large" requirements or you haven't looked hard
enough:
http://www.bayliner.com/index.asp?di...d=34894&tab=1&
http://www.searay.com/index.asp?disp...id=34827&tab=5
http://www.boats.com/listing/boat_de..._ srclnk_name
http://www.devlinboat.com/dcsurfscoter.htm
http://www.catalinayachts.com/yachts...ct=model&id=16 (OK, this is a
sailboat...but the water ballast means she doesn't have much of a keel and
is designed for trailering. Just don't raise the mast!)

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

A question about boat weight and displacement
 

On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 13:01:36 +0000, Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

Cindy Ballreich writes:

Ante Topic Mimara wrote:

I do not like to give this up, as it has been a life long
dream for me to have a small boat like this, but I do not
see how I can do with it what I wish to do.


There are smaller boats that would probably meet your needs.

I have looked at several web sites that sell boats, and I have
not seen anything much under 27 or 28 feet that looks like what
I was wanting. Almost all of these boats that are smaller than
this, are all open, and do not have anything inside to sleep
on, or eat, or have heads, or anything. If I could find something
like this, I would be happy, but I have not.



Well, either you have "large" requirements or you haven't looked hard
enough:
http://www.bayliner.com/index.asp?di...d=34894&tab=1&
http://www.searay.com/index.asp?disp...id=34827&tab=5
http://www.boats.com/listing/boat_de..._ srclnk_name
http://www.devlinboat.com/dcsurfscoter.htm
http://www.catalinayachts.com/yachts...ct=model&id=16 (OK, this is a
sailboat...but the water ballast means she doesn't have much of a keel and
is designed for trailering. Just don't raise the mast!)

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36