Conference unifix::sailing

	I can't come up with any suggestion, but as a point of reference the 
trailer for my 22' S2, trailer alone, weighs about 800 lbs. My boat without 
gear is about 2200lbs, so I tow about 3000 lbs and load another few hundred 
pounds of stuff into my truck. When I hear cruiser I think space and comforts
which equal weight. When I think light weight I think either racers or a few 
particular trimarans. You could propaply get into an F24 for about 45-50 K bucks
and have a bout that weighed less tha 2 K lbs. 
	Consider that if you stick to monohulls, which is a lot cheaper than 
getting in to multis, you are compelled to have Ballast. When I was looking 
several years ago I found a Holder 20 that came in around 1200lbs, I don't 
recall exactly. I think that boat would be even more cramped than my 22. 
	My economical solution, or as close as I get to it, is renting a 
mooring and driving my scirocco to get to it. 

	Maybe others here have other experience.

	Good luck
	Geoff

    What do you want to do with it? 
    Fresh water or salt? 
    Daysail or overnight? 
    How many people?
    
    Bill
    

    Sail magazine did a test last fall on a hunter, a Benneatau and 1
    other brand. There is and excellant book on trailer sailing in the US with
    lots of tips in it.
    
    With beach cats (400 lbs + tailer and gear) I have seen Chevettes
    getting the job done. As .1 says, you are close to 1,000 lbs just 
    with trailer and gear (clothes, cushions, lifejackets, cooler etc).
    
    I used to pull with a small Toyota pickup and moved up to a Jeep
    mainly because it was more comfortable to drive or sleep in on those
    nasty raining nights. I know a guy who pulls with a Mercedes SL450
    convertible with no problems.
    
    The nicest boat I've seen is the Corsair F-31. Lots of room below
    and not too hard to rig. I'd love one of these , but the wife likes
    the slow speed of a monohull. Steep initial cost, but you get
    to skip the privledge of mooring fees/yard storage.
    
    john

    Novice sailor. Solo sailing vast majority of the time.
    Occasional double - my wife/kids aren't particularly
    interested. Occasional weekend (protected waters- fresh, bays)
    
    

    A COM-PAC 16 has a displacement of 1100 lbs. I bought a used one last
    weekend and plan to haul it around using the family mini-van. It has a
    beam of 6 ft, LWL-14ft, draft-18in.,ballast-450lbs and sail area of
    120sq ft. It isn't the fastest thing on the water but I figure it will
    be safe enough for me and the kids. This will also make the wife happy.
    I plan to do most of my sailing in the Chesapeake Bay area.
    
    I just sold a Tanzer 16 that was under 1000 lbs. but it was not as stable
    as the COM-PAC.
    
    -alw
    
    P.S. - The COM-PAC also has a small cuddy for short overnighters.

	I'd consider this more a daysailer/open dinghy. I did this with my 470 
for several years, boat & trailer weighed about 500lbs. When I bought it, the 
folks I did so from had a phot of them with the boat behind a VW Bug. In today's 
market, I'd look at a laser for only one all the time, a Laser II for the family.
Lots of one design classes would probably suit your needs. Flying Scot might do
it, but maybe a little heavy. A beach cat is certainly agood dircetion to look. 
Probably anything in a decent monhull under 17' could suit the situation. 

	Geoff


But, you'll get hooked and need on of these bigger boatsand all associated 
expenses befor you know it ;^).

    Congratulations, awilliams. I would have suggested a Com-Pac 16, but we
    are talking close to 1500#. I had a Com_Pac 16 in 84 & 85 and have had
    a Com-Pac 19-II from '85-present. The trailer for the 19 goes about
    400#, so I would guess the trailer for the 16 is around 250#
    Enjoy the Chesapeake. I hope to get my 19-II down there from N.H. /
    Maine one of these seasons.
    
    Bill
    

    I was so excited about the boat that I forgot about the trailer and the
    4hp Evinrude.
    
    -alw

I also own a Com-Pac 16 which we've had since 1985 (boat has 1100 lb
displacement).  We've successfully towed it with a couple of older Toyota
Corolla wagons (1.6-1.8 liter engines) from Mass. to Mt. Desert Island, ME. 
Great sailing around Bass Harbor, Blue Hill Bay, Southwest Harbor, Somes
Sound, Frenchman's Bay, Swans Island, an overnight stay at Little Cranberry
Island.  Another year we did Boothbay Harbor area.

Although technically overweight and very slooooooow up some of the
loooong hills we had no problems.  The wagon probably has a bit heavier
suspension than the sedans.  Just make sure to do a test drive
for proper weight distribution.  With the motor mounted (probably not a
good idea anyway) the load was not balanced and would easily get
a lot of side-to-side swaying motion which could be dangerous at high
speeds.  So put the motor in the car truck or cabin.  Also be sure
to use a good cinch strap to keep the boat and trailer together.

I'm fixing up the trailer this year and may head "Escargo" up to Casco Bay
when not at Fernald's on the Parker River (Plum Island Sound) if I can
convince my eight year old to go sailing....sigh.  He seemed to perk up when I
showed him a pirate flag in a boat catalog last night!

As mentioned the Com-Pac is perfect for this type of sailing since
it is very stable and can handle inshore ocean sailing safely.


Larry