The Trailer Sailing Alternative

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

RE: The Trailer Sailing Alternative

KevinJ · Senior Member

86GTS wrote:
I'd rather have a top of the line Whittley Cruiser, I wouldn't have to wait for the wind to blow.
Total luxury & just turn the ignition key.
On its trailer, an absolutely great home away from home.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 05:48:11 PM

Sounds like you have never sailed before.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Generally most powerboats are day boats because they cannot carry enough fuel for anything more than a day or overnight trip. Our hybrid yacht/powerboat can do days using almost no fuel whilst carrying 140 litres in its main tank and 45 liters in portable reserve tanks. This combined with its water and provisions carrying capacity means at least weeks if not months living on board is feasible. No trailable powerboat is even close to capable of that in my knowledge.

86GTS · Guru

KevinJ wrote:
86GTS wrote:
I'd rather have a top of the line Whittley Cruiser, I wouldn't have to wait for the wind to blow.
Total luxury & just turn the ignition key.
On its trailer, an absolutely great home away from home.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 05:48:11 PM
Sounds like you have never sailed before.

Power boated for many years, trailer sailors are damn pests hogging boat ramps as they spend hours rigging up, raising masts, sails & rigging etc. etc.

Modern power boats slide straight off their trailer ready to go.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 07:46:34 PM

86GTS · Guru

Trailer Sailer wrote:
Generally most powerboats are day boats because they cannot carry enough fuel for anything more than a day or overnight trip. Our hybrid yacht/powerboat can do days using almost no fuel whilst carrying 140 litres in its main tank and 45 liters in portable reserve tanks. This combined with its water and provisions carrying capacity means at least weeks if not months living on board is feasible. No trailable powerboat is even close to capable of that in my knowledge.

Looks a bit cramped, dark & cluttered compared to a modern motor yacht.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Nope my bad photography at night selected quickly. Check these better shots out! Does this look like waiting for the wind?

Lets see some layouts, internal shots and costs on a comparable sized Whittley Cruiser. Mine was well under $100,000 last year when all the prices went crazy with 120 hours on it, stored all of its life undercover looking like an almost new Yacht. It was also on a top quality alloy transtyle alloy trailer roller trailer with stainless hydro electric braking system. I dont think you could have ever enjoyed significant time on the water without the racket of an engine running. Its as serene as free camping in the wild but you get constantly changing scenery as well.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 08:27:33 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 08:28:02 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 08:46:00 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 08:51:22 PM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Sunday 3rd of July 2022 08:52:07 PM

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Further to the comments about hogging ramps. In 50 years of trailer sailing I have barely seen a trailer sailer rig in the way of other ramp users or take any longer to launch or retrieve after they are ready than the average powerboat. I have however rescued on several occasions (including actually today on The Murray River) broken down or out of fuel drifting powerboats.
Other than the odd rank beginner yachting is generally carried out by a far more skilled group of boaters than the average power boater. Each to their own as previously stated but I will take trailer sailing over trailer power boating for camping and or cruising any day.

KevinJ · Senior Member

As I said, sounds like you have never sailed before. We always rigged our trailer sailer before we launched and then it just rolled off. We also owned a powerboat with an inboard engine. It was a float on float off which took more ramp time than the sailer.

86GTS · Guru

KevinJ wrote:
As I said, sounds like you have never sailed before. We always rigged our trailer sailer before we launched and then it just rolled off. We also owned a powerboat with an inboard engine. It was a float on float off which took more ramp time than the sailer.

I've lived adjacent to Port Phillip Bay, right near a boat ramp for 45 years. Trailer sailors spend more time mucking around with their rigs than any other users.

When other boaters including myself are waiting to launch, they're a PITA.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Monday 4th of July 2022 09:02:17 AM

KevinJ · Senior Member

I can see I won't win this so lets leave it there. I can only assume you have had a bad trot with trailer sailers. Ether way, I'd rather be in a yacht in a blow than a powerboat.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

I've had the same experience as KevinJ and Sailer Trailer. I rigged my O'day Sailer before getting onto the ramp and it just floated off.

I also used to launch a 14' tinny at about the same speed when I was younger. The rigging might take a bit longer than setting up the outboard motor but the feeling of moving under sail is well worth the tiny little bit extra time. It's a wonderful feeling to sail by the wind.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

86GTS wrote:
KevinJ wrote:
As I said, sounds like you have never sailed before. We always rigged our trailer sailer before we launched and then it just rolled off. We also owned a powerboat with an inboard engine. It was a float on float off which took more ramp time than the sailer.
I've lived adjacent to Port Phillip Bay, right near a boat ramp for 45 years. Trailer sailors spend more time mucking around with their rigs than any other users.
When other boaters including myself are waiting to launch, they're a PITA.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Monday 4th of July 2022 09:02:17 AM

Lets just face some facts an understand there often is a very different view point between yachties generally and some types of stinkboaters! As an owner of a hybrid crossover craft I have copped **** from both sides but see myself firmly as a sailer despite the 115 Hp outboard hanging on the back of my current yacht. ( and previously 180hp diesel inboard on my other Imexus about to go up for sale).PS that one can do 30knots with the mast up putting lots of power boats to shame.
Great boat but its easier to service an outboard and means I only need to carry one kind of fuel for dingy, generator and main engine for really remote expeditions. Buying and fitting a new one or carrying out extensive repairs in remote locations also way easier. As previous stated many times, whatever floats your boat.

PS So far in 11 days sailing up the Murray the only time I have needed that big engine was rescuing a powerboat in distress and towing it and have fun at the petrol bowser with a big engined powerboat and v8 car in the current climate.I dare to think what our current navigable length of the Murray trip would cost in fuel in a decent sized powerboat.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Monday 4th of July 2022 01:53:58 PM

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

We have been 15 day on the Murray in our two yachts sailing in company. The river is exceptionally quiet and very beautiful. The ever changing scenery often gliding by whilst we gently sail or under a barely turning over outboard is a magnificent way to see the river.
This is precisely the type of trip I was saying I was promoting as a possible alternative to travelling by road with motorhome, caravan or tent. No packing up to move on, all your facilities from cooking to seats, dining table, toilet and including bed for partners naps all on hand and legally usable at all times. Plenty of storage for food and wine, books and the like. A few nights ago we were treated to a roast dinner on our friends boat and last night we had movie night with our tv/dvd whilst lounging around our table.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

We have been 15 day on the Murray in our two yachts sailing in company. The river is exceptionally quiet and very beautiful. The ever changing scenery often gliding by whilst we gently sail or under a barely turning over outboard is a magnificent way to see the river.
This is precisely the type of trip I was saying I was promoting as a possible alternative to travelling by road with motorhome, caravan or tent. No packing up to move on, all your facilities from cooking to seats, dining table, toilet and including bed for partners naps all on hand and legally usable at all times. Plenty of storage for food and wine, books and the like. A few nights ago we were treated to a roast dinner on our friends boat and last night we had movie night with our tv/dvd whilst lounging around our table.

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Trailer Sailer wrote:
We have been 15 days on the Murray in our two yachts sailing in company. The river is exceptionally quiet and very beautiful. The ever changing scenery often gliding by whilst we gently sail or under a barely turning over outboard is a magnificent way to see the river.
This is precisely the type of trip I was saying I was promoting as a possible alternative to travelling by road with motorhome, caravan or tent. No packing up to move on, all your facilities from cooking to seats, dining table, toilet and including bed for partners naps all on hand and legally usable at all times. Plenty of storage for food and wine, books and the like. A few nights ago we were treated to a roast dinner on our friends boat and last night we had movie night with our tv/dvd whilst lounging around our table.

Bobdown · Guru

Trailer Sailer wrote:
Trailer Sailer wrote:
We have been 15 days on the Murray in our two yachts sailing in company. The river is exceptionally quiet and very beautiful. The ever changing scenery often gliding by whilst we gently sail or under a barely turning over outboard is a magnificent way to see the river.
This is precisely the type of trip I was saying I was promoting as a possible alternative to travelling by road with motorhome, caravan or tent. No packing up to move on, all your facilities from cooking to seats, dining table, toilet and including bed for partners naps all on hand and legally usable at all times. Plenty of storage for food and wine, books and the like. A few nights ago we were treated to a roast dinner on our friends boat and last night we had movie night with our tv/dvd whilst lounging around our table.

Plenty of time on your hands too Graeme, especially to write that post out 3 times.......... smile smile smile

Cheers Bob

Mike Harding · Guru

Eeeerrrrrr... when you buy one of these boats does the blond come with it? :)

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Bobdown wrote:
Trailer Sailer wrote:
Trailer Sailer wrote:
We have been 15 days on the Murray in our two yachts sailing in company. The river is exceptionally quiet and very beautiful. The ever changing scenery often gliding by whilst we gently sail or under a barely turning over outboard is a magnificent way to see the river.
This is precisely the type of trip I was saying I was promoting as a possible alternative to travelling by road with motorhome, caravan or tent. No packing up to move on, all your facilities from cooking to seats, dining table, toilet and including bed for partners naps all on hand and legally usable at all times. Plenty of storage for food and wine, books and the like. A few nights ago we were treated to a roast dinner on our friends boat and last night we had movie night with our tv/dvd whilst lounging around our table.

Plenty of time on your hands too Graeme, especially to write that post out 3 times..........
Cheers Bob

Lousy service area wouldnt post it then wouldnt delete the multiple posts when they finally went though. Sorry! Yes cruising under sail means plenty of time to post with no chance of mobile phone camera fines or crashing. yep just tried again and despite a delete post option the additional posts still wont delete.:(

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Wednesday 6th of July 2022 07:40:10 PM

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Mike Harding wrote:
Eeeerrrrrr... when you buy one of these boats does the blond come with it? :)
I am sure one is available as an optional extra but dont think you would want to pay the price!

yobarr · Guru

Deleted

-- Edited by yobarr on Wednesday 6th of July 2022 08:31:50 PM

Rusty W · Veteran Member

Did the Murray in feb/march this year in my Boat a home. Trailered down from qld to Gol Gol near Mildura, 750 k to Manum where strong winds caused us to pull the boat out and caravaned to Victor Harbour and out to Broken Hill and then back home. Free camped all the way except down at Victor.

We just nose up to a bank in the towns, throw a rope around a tree and walk off the boat, best camping spot in town. Being a cat we also just nose up to sand banks along the river and park for the night, light a fire and kick back. Used a bit more fuel than a trailer sailor like 3km to the litre going with the currant. A great trip, done it twice now.

regards Russell

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Rusty Yes your craft is just about a perfect option for the Murray. Probably wise to pull there or Murray Bridge as I think Lake Alexandrina and any decent wind would be challenging for your craft to bash into and hamdle the short sharp waves it can throw up on the shallow lake.
We draw about the same depth at 30 cms so can access all the same spots although have to be mindful of overhanging trees when bank mooring.
Whilst a bit less spacious than your trailable houseboat the call of the Kimberleys and love of the Whitsundays had me choose to go trailer sailer over the more caravan like trailable houseboat. Big advantages and some some compromises make them both a worthwhile choice I feel.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Thursday 7th of July 2022 08:32:28 AM

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Thursday 7th of July 2022 08:33:03 AM

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Hi Yobarr I am sure you will be pleased to note that my 3.1-3.4 ton yacht is now being generally towed by a 4-4.2 ton truck and slide on package but having done so for thousands of kilometres now I can confidently say towing it with my 2016 V6 VW Touareg still feels safer and in more control than the much heavier Isuzu NLS. I have now back to back towed with both vehicles and can give this fair comparison between new technology with towing dynamics assistance built in versus old school truck dynamics relying on just its weight advantage. It was GCM limits and now heavier compliance activities by various police forces that contributed to the change as fully loaded for cruising and with a car full of supplies and three people I was sometimes just breaching the Touaregs 6380kg GCM on occasions despite not carrying a full load of fuel and water in the yacht.

-- Edited by Trailer Sailer on Thursday 7th of July 2022 09:44:53 AM

86GTS · Guru

After watching lots of oldies having trouble manoeuvring their caravans, God help them trying to reverse down a launching ramp to attempt to launch a boat. If something is going to go wrong it will happen at the boat ramp
That comes from someone with 25 years boating experience, me.

yobarr · Guru

Trailer Sailer wrote:
Hi Yobarr I am sure you will be pleased to note that my 3.1-3.4 ton yacht is now being generally towed by a 4-4.2 ton truck and slide on package but having done so for thousands of kilometres now I can confidently say towing it with my 2016 V6 VW Touareg still feels safer and in more control than the much heavier Isuzu NLS. I have now back to back towed with both vehicles and can give this fair comparison between new technology with towing dynamics assistance built in versus old school truck dynamics relying on just its weight advantage. It was GCM limits and now heavier compliance activities by various police forces that contributed to the change as fully loaded for cruising and with a car full of supplies and three people I was sometimes just breaching the Touaregs 6380kg GCM on occasions despite not carrying a full load of fuel and water in the yacht.

Hi Graeme. Not much interested in trying to change your thinking as you seem adamant that your 3100-3400kg boat "feels safer" behind your VW than it does behind your 4 ton truck. "Feels safer" does NOT mean "is safer". However, I will point out the indesputable truth that no matter how sophisticated is the "new technology" you will NEVER change the laws of physics. Having a 3000kg GTM load behind a 2700kg car (You will NEVER reach your GVM of 2860kg) was asking for trouble, with the "tail wagging the Dog", although your situation is nowhere near as silly as people towing 3500kg ATM with their lightweight twin-cab utes. However, you certainly are to be applauded for taking the responsible action of towing with your truck. Well done, and may there be many thousands of SAFE kilometres ahead of you!

-- Edited by yobarr on Thursday 7th of July 2022 06:39:44 PM

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

My friends accompanying us are in their mid eighties and mid seventies respectively and make backing look ridiculously easy. I am in my early sixties and have competed successfully in SES manoeuvring comps. Not all oldies are doddering old farts you know. Some of us have that commodity that comes with age called experience! My friend was one of Australias early off-road heavy haulage drivers (have you seen some of the you tube backing semis videos?) and I am an ex motor racing and autokhana driver who can still turn a steering wheel with some authority.

I agree some first time Caravaners could do with some professional backing and trailering lessons but that is of any age not just the oldies. I reckon both my friend and I are likely to have towed way more distance than most and quite possibly you.

86GTS · Guru

Trailer Sailer wrote:
My friends accompanying us are in their mid eighties and mid seventies respectively and make backing look ridiculously easy. I am in my early sixties and have competed successfully in SES manoeuvring comps. Not all oldies are doddering old farts you know. Some of us have that commodity that comes with age called experience! My friend was one of Australias early off-road heavy haulage drivers (have you seen some of the you tube backing semis videos?) and I am an ex motor racing and autokhana driver who can still turn a steering wheel with some authority.
I agree some first time Caravaners could do with some professional backing and trailering lessons but that is of any age not just the oldies. I reckon both my friend and I are likely to have towed way more distance than most and quite possibly you.

I've enjoyed well over 120,000kms of trouble free travel with my caravan

A rough guess of kms travelled towing my boat would amount to possibly 50,000kms.

Add to that a further 50,000kms towing an off road camper trailer in more remote locations.

You & your friend may be all round clever dicks.

Unfortunately not everyone is that gifted.

As I said before, I live very close to a Port Phillip Bay boat launching ramp.

Trailer Sailers are the main offenders as far as ramp hold ups are concerned.

Thank goodness they are in the minority.

Trailer sailing is a niche activity, why bother posting on an RV forum, there are plenty of boating forums to post with your on water experiences?

-- Edited by 86GTS on Thursday 7th of July 2022 06:53:05 PM

Trailer Sailer · Senior Member

Its a grey nomad forum not a caravan forum from my looking at it. Some grey nomads like cruising, houseboats, tents, cycling, motorbikes as well as caravans, motorhomes and slide ons. Many love their fishing. I have done all of the above except cruise boats and motorcycle touring. After gently refraining from calling you out I will say here you strike me as a rude arrogant person with a dose of self opinionated importance and general intolerance.
I now live in a canal development 110 meters across the water and overlooking a public boat ramp and I can assure you that comedy hour at the ramp, as we call it, involves far more powerboaters and jetskis than it ever involves trailer sailers.
Trailersailers can make effective on land caravans whilst travelling between sailing destinations. Fishing whilst on your travels takes on a whole new meaning when you catch, cook and eat all on one platform complete with a wine or beer then crawl straight into bed afterwards!
There are many very unique destinations around Australia only accessible by boat and quite a few of these are out of range of trailable powerboats fuel tanks. Regardless there is a very limited range of trailable powerboats designed for extended liveaboard trips whilst this is the goal of many larger cruising trailer sailers. How about just pulling your head in with the negativity.

Are We Lost · Guru

86GTS wrote:
<snip>
Trailer sailing is a niche activity, why bother posting on an RV forum, there are plenty of boating forums to post with your on water experiences?
<snip>

I for one appreciate the posts. It most definitely does belong here.

As for taking up room on the ramps, in most cases the preparation for launch is done near the ramp but not on it. I have trailed several sizes and types of boats from tinnies, half cabins and cruisers down to Hobies and even a plywood Quickcat. In every case, it's prepare for launch and then reverse onto the ramp.

86GTS · Guru

Trailer Sailer wrote: After gently refraining from calling you out I will say here you strike me as a rude arrogant person with a dose of self opinionated importance and general intolerance.

Apologies for having slightly different OPINIONS to yourself.
You've got yours, I've got mine.
This is an open forum & forums are for expressing ones opinions.
There's no need to get testy if an individual doesn't agree with you.