Sail Far Live Free

Sail Far Live Free

Camping on a keel - trailer sailers for cruisers.

Here's a throwback to , our Helms 25 and very first boat
The end!

Great compendium Kevin. Also a sensible choice for those who've done the conventional cruising and are looking at phase 2 options. All the best.

While I'm not sure how old this post is, Ill add another boat to consider using your criteria above. We have a S2 7.9 Gran Slam which we cruise locally in Milwaukee and also take a few weeks out of the summer and trailer to better cruising grounds. We pull it with a Chevy Suburban and are quite please with having a performance boat that is straight forward to launch and rig. The beam is actually over legal limit at 9', but these boats have been trailered extensively to one design regattas over many years and I have never heard of anyone being stopped by the hi way revenuers.

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7 Trailerable Sailboats That Have Standing Headroom

Trailering your boat is a great way to sail in a lot of different places while keeping your boat budget in control. You can take a smaller boat a long way to launch it somewhere new, and you don't get saddled with a lot of mooring and dockage fees while your boat sits around unused.

That sounds great, but one key word in about trailerable sailboats is small . To move a boat on a street legal trailer without special permits and problems, it has to stay within certain size limits.

You may struggle to find a trailer sailer with head room when you're down below. But there are some out there that an average person doesn't have to sit to work in the galley, and we've put together a list of seven great pocket cruisers you can stand up in (if you're not too tall!).

trailerable liveaboard sailboat

On this page:

Standing headroom and trailering, westerly pageant, catalina 25, grampian 26, beneteau first 27, macgregor 26m / tattoo 26, corsair 760.

Our list includes some old classics dating back to the 70s, new boats in production today, and even a high performance multihull. The range of trailer sailers to pick from is enormous, but if you want something you can stand up in, here's a good place to start.

  • Catalina 25 (poptop)
  • MacGregor 26

The terms "trailerable" and "standing headroom" are both a little vague. Many boats can be moved by trailer, but you wouldn't want to move them that way every weekend. Bigger boats require heavier trucks and trailers, and once they get past eight feet of beam, you may need permits, special routing, and commercial equipment. Just because you can get it on a trailer doesn't mean it's "trailerable" in this context.

And standing headroom means something very different to different people. It's not just tall and short people who need different space, but what space in the boat you can stand in. Most people can stand up inside a small boat with the companionway open, but can you cook standing up with your head out in the cockpit? Or stand and stretch on a rainy day?

For our purposes, we're going to use the following definitions:

A trailerable boat is one you can launched, rig, and recover with the crew which sails it, an move on normal roads with no special permits or commercial tow vehicles. Many boats will fit on a trailer, but to be "trailerable" it needs to be reasonable to use for a trip on a long weekend, starting from and ending on a trailer. Most roads in North America have a vehicle width limit of a little over eight feet without special permits. This eliminates any boat with a beam much over eight and a half feet.

Standing headroom for this discussion means a person of average height (5'10" or 178 cm for men) can stand inside the main saloon, out of the elements. It doesn't mean you can stand everywhere down below, but you should be able to stand and move around a bit, get dressed and undressed without doing calisthenics, and hopefully work in the galley if there is one. "Headroom" on a boat is a very fuzzy measurement, and is distorted by marketing hype and wishful thinking. There isn't a standardized measurement for it, so we'll work with our own.

Within these parameters, there are many boats. If you can deal with some inconvenience in your trailering, or you only plan to move your boat by trailer once or twice a season, you can get more boat and still get the headroom you want. But that's not what's on our list.

Built by Westerly Marine in the 1970s, the Pageant is a 23' bilge keeled cruiser with full standing headroom in the saloon. At 4,300 pounds, it's heavy for its size and is known more for comfort than speed. The bilge keels may make getting onto a trailer interesting and require modifications to accommodate its under water layout.

There is a fin keeled version marketed as the Kendal 23/24, with a four-foot draft and two hundred pounds less displacement. They built only a few, so they're difficult to find.

Hull Type: Twin Keel
LOA: 23.00 ft / 7.01 m LWL: 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
Beam: 8.00 ft / 2.44 m Draft (max): 2.83 ft / 0.86 m
Displacement: 4,300 lb / 1,950 kg Ballast: 2,094 lb / 950 kg

The Catalina 25 is one of the most popular pocket cruisers built, with almost 6,000 hulls built between 1978 and 1994. A variety of keel styles and rigs were built, including a fin keel, swing keel, winged keel, and a tall rig. But the most distinctive feature of these boats is the "pop top" over the companionway, which enabled the entire area in the saloon under the companionway to lift for standing headroom. Some owners built covers and sides, enclosing this area into a true part of the belowdecks space.

The pop top was an option prior to 1987, but became standard after that through the end of the production run. It's important to know the build year for any Catalina 25 you consider, since the features varied considerably. Always check pictures for the pop top!

Hull Type: Fin w/transom hung rudder
LOA: 25.00 ft / 7.62 m LWL: 22.17 ft / 6.76 m
Beam: 8.00 ft / 2.44 m Draft (max): 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement: 4,550 lb / 2,064 kg Ballast: 1,900 lb / 862 kg

This trimaran is fast, but still has six feet of headroom. With the amas folded, the boat is narrow enough to trailer and with a 3,000 displacement is light and easy to move. While you won't have the interior beam of an eight-foot wide monohull in the living space, you will have quite a comfortable space with room to stand. But unlike most of the shallow draft, trailerable monohulls on this list, this one can hit fifteen knots under sail.

Hull Type: Trimaran w/ centerboard Rig Type: Fractional Sloop
LOA: 27.49 ft / 8.38 m LWL: 26.51 ft / 8.08 m
Beam: 18.01 ft / 5.49 m (8.6' folded amas) Displacement: 3,000 lb / 1,361 kg
Draft (max): 4.27 ft / 1.30 m Draft (min): 0.98 ft / 0.30 m

The Canadian-built Grampian 26 was built from the late sixties through the late seventies, and many of the almost 1,000 boats that were built are still around. It has six feet of headroom inside, an enclosed head, and a galley. It's an ideal weekender for a couple, or even a couple with a small child. Some boats had inboard engines, others had outboards. Additional options were for a keel or a centerboard model; with 4'3" of draft, the keel model is still easy to trailer.

Hull Type: Fin w/spade rudder Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop
LOA: 26.00 ft / 7.92 m LWL: 21.75 ft / 6.63 m
Beam: 8.33 ft / 2.54 m Draft (max): 4.25 ft / 1.30 m
Displacement: 5,600 lb / 2,540 kg Ballast: 2,600 lb / 1,179 kg

One of the few new and in production boats in this list, the Beneteau First 27 is a fraction of an inch under our 5'10" qualifier (technically 5′9 5/16"), but it's such a roomy and quick boat that it seems appropriate to waive a few millimeters. This lightweight boat has sleeping space for up to six, and has a galley, fridge, and a proper marine head.

Don't confuse this boat with the earlier First 27 from 1978 or the First 27 SE (for "Seascape"), sold as the First 27 from 2018 to 2020 after Beneteau acquired Seascape. Those were quite different boats, though they had their own merits and strengths. They didn't have quite the headroom or interior volume as the newest model, and the earlier boat had too much beam for easy trailering.

Finds specs here

Hull Type: Fin w/bulb & dual rudders Rigging Type: Fractional Sloop
LOA: 26.21 ft / 7.99 m
Beam: 8.33 ft / 2.54 m Draft (max): 5.58 ft / 1.70 m
Displacement: 3,902 lb / 1,770 kg Ballast: 1,345 lb / 610 kg

The MacGregor 26 series of boats is the most popular trailer sailor ever built. The first "Mac 26" was built in 1986, and went through several design upgrades and enhancements, including the 25D (dagger board), 26S (centerboard), 26X (dual rudder, motor sailing) culminating in the 26M (motorsailor with a rotating spar) built from 2002 though 2013. Earlier models have less headroom, but all are water ballasted, lightweight trailerable boats. The later 26X and 26M models can be equipped with rather large outboards (for sailboats) which could hit almost 20 knots under power.

Though the rigs on these boats are undersized and they're lightly built, they're spacious near shore and inland cruisers you can easily rig and de-rig for a weekend of sailing.

The founder of MacGregor Boats, Roger MacGregor, retired in 2013, and his daughter Laura founded Tattoo Yachts and bought the tooling for the 26M. Tattoo continues to build the Tattoo 26, which is a Macgregor 26M with a few modernizations and enhancements.

Hull Type: Daggerboard Rigging Type: Frac. Sloop (Rotating Spar)
LOA: 25.83 ft / 7.87 m LWL: 23.17 ft / 7.06 m
Beam: 7.75 ft / 2.36 m Sail Area (reported): 300.00 ft2 / 27.87 m2
Draft (max): 5.75 ft / 1.75 m Draft (min): 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
Displacement: 4,000 lb / 1,814 kg Ballast: 1,450 lb / 658 kg

Corsair Trimarans offers several trailerable tris which meet the headroom test. The Corsair 760 is the smallest current production model, and like the Catalina 25, this 24' trimaran uses a clever pop-top over the companionway to get more headroom. It's sleeps two in the default configuration, though a foldable table can convert to sleep four.

Corsair designs their trimarans for easy setup and breakdown of the amas, and can be setup and launched in under an hour. The very shallow draft allows for anchoring in areas many boats can not, and even beaching.

The larger Corsair 970 is also trailerable with standing headroom, as is the older F-31.

Hull Type: Trimaran Daggerboard. Rigging Type: Frac. Sloop (Rotating Spar)
LOA: 24.25 ft / 7.39 m Beam: 17.91 ft / 5.46 m
S.A. (reported): 410.10 ft2 / 38.10 m2 Beam (folded): 8.17 ft / 2.5 m
Draft (max): 5.25 ft / 1.60 m Draft (min): 0.98 ft / 0.30 m
Displacement: 2,094 lb / 950 kg

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Trailerable Sailboat Reviews: Small Boats, Big Adventures

  • By Herb McCormick
  • Updated: May 24, 2024

NorseBoat 17.5 Classic

We were approaching the trickiest, most hazardous stretch of the Northwest Passage , high in the Canadian Arctic, when we happened upon a sight more wondrous in its own way than all the ice, polar bears and other assorted wildlife that preceded it. Tucked up against a barren shoreline, its anchor embedded in a handy ice floe, was a nifty little trailer-sailer, what we soon discovered was a NorseBoat 17.5 Classic. 

Hopping in the dinghy from our rather cushy 64-foot steel cutter, we pulled alongside and were greeted by a pair of strapping Royal Marines named Kevin Oliver and Tony Lancaster. They were on military leave for a busman’s holiday of sorts: sailing, rowing and occasionally dragging their open boat, with a simple cuddy for accommodations, through the notoriously challenging high northern latitudes. One thing was clear: If these dudes were running the British Empire, there’d still be one.

Those chaps, and that boat, captured my imagination. I thought about them again late last fall on a road trip from New England to Florida with my daughter as we passed one compact camper after another. We both love camping, and we were debating the merits of one mini Gulf Stream to another tiny Winnebago when she said something profound: “Why not have a trailerable sailboat as your RV? You could sleep in it while traveling, then when you reached your destination, you could go sailing.” Why not indeed?

I’ve owned many fully found, systems-rich cruising boats but have always been enamored with the simplicity and versatility of something small and trailerable that you could tow and launch from just about anywhere: the Florida Keys, the coast of Maine, the Sea of Cortez, the Pacific Northwest. (The closest I’ve personally come is a J/24, which can be trailered anywhere, but which is more of a dedicated racer than a pocket cruiser.) There’s something seriously appealing about the idea. Which is why, over the years, I’ve kept a short list of the boats I think could fill the bill, having sailed them to test their potential. What follows are a few of my favorites. 

– TOW LIKE A PRO – Remember to leave extra stopping room when trailering your boat. At the ramp, be considerate of others but take the time you need to launch and recover your boat safely. Always check tie-downs, safety chains, lights – and the drain plug. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

For the Hearty at Heart 

I’ll always relate to those ­hardened Brit lads in the Arctic when I think of the NorseBoat 17.5 Classic. (Perhaps to underscore their no-nonsense attitude, they co-authored a book about their adventure entitled—what else?— Blokes Up North. ) The boat’s Canadian builder has an appropriate nickname for its vessels, which include 12.5 and 21.5 models: the “Swiss Army knife of boats.” The 17.5 Classic is one salty-looking craft, with a pronounced bow, sweeping sheerline, lapstrake fiberglass hull, pivoting carbon-fiber gaff-rigged spar, fully battened mainsail, kick-up rudder, and a pair of rowing stations with a set of 9-foot oars. Options include a full-size tent that encapsulates the entire open boat, though the cuddy works well for most outings, and motor mounts for a 2 or 4 hp outboard. Talk about distinctive. NorseBoat says that the boat can be towed by a midsize car, fits in a standard garage, and is ideal for “cruising sailors who want to downsize, sea kayakers who are moving up, and daysailors who want a high-performance boat with lovely traditional lines.” I agree with that assessment. It will also work, ahem, for grizzled soldiers looking for a “relaxing” break from the front lines. norseboat.com

The Trailerable “Legend”

Catalina 22

My lasting memory of the Catalina 22 is a visit I paid to the Southern California plant where they were built some four decades ago. From a balcony overlooking the factory floor, I saw four production lines knocking out the classic little 22-footer, each line producing a boat per day (another facility on the East Coast also churned out one daily). It was the Golden Age of American boatbuilding, and I’ve always considered this compact craft to be the gold standard of trailerables (longtime Catalina designer Gerry Douglas prefers to call it “the Miller Genuine Draft of sailboats: cheap and cheerful”). Seeing that almost 16,000 have been launched over the years, “ubiquitous” also works. The early models were bare bones: no winches, lifelines, nothing. But over the years, Douglas says, “the options grew, and it morphed into a cruiser,” with galleys, heads, holding tanks and other accoutrements. The trouble with all the stuff was that many sailors liked racing their 22s, and the extra gear made the boats heavier and noncompetitive. Douglas eventually went back to the drawing board and designed a lighter version, the Catalina 22 Sport. It was competitive with the older, original boats—and is still produced today. “If you opened up a dictionary with a picture of a sailboat, it would be the Catalina 22,” Douglas says. “I think it has a place in the history of our sport. It was simple, with no bad habits. It introduced a lot of people to sailing and provided a lot of pleasure over the years.” And continues to do so. I’ll take one anytime. catalinayachts.com

Fast and Fun

Beneteau First 24 SE

My first exposure to the Seascape line of quick and trim racers/cruisers—a brand built and launched from Slovenia, which is a rather sailing-crazed nation—came from my colleagues at our sister publication Sailing World , a dedicated racing magazine. They raved about the quality of construction and sailing experience. Then, in 2018, Seascape was acquired by Groupe Beneteau, and all previous Seascape models were integrated into the Beneteau First product range. It provided the line with the sort of widespread, mainstream marketing punch that it deserved. I’ve since sailed a pair of larger models produced by their collaborative effort, but if I were inclined to go the trailer-sailer route, my choice would definitely be the Beneteau First 24 SE (the SE standing for Seascape Edition). It’s a high-tech version of the previous First 24 with a serious boost in performance. The SE line’s sweet spot, in the company’s own assessment, is as a dual-threat boat aimed at competitive one-design racing and adventure sailing. I reckon that 24 feet is an ideal size for both, and the 24SE delivers on the promise with a carbon rig; swing keel with lead bulb; laminate sails; and light, high-tech, infused-­vinylester construction. With ­removable crew bags and modular components that can also be stored ashore when racing, the 24 SE can be set up quickly and easily for cruising or competition. beneteau.com  

– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

One Sharp Sharpie

Presto; Newport to Bermuda Race 2010

The late Rodger Martin was a South Africa-born naval architect who is probably best known for the robust ­round-the-world racers he conceived for solo legend Mike Plant, which is when I first met him. Tellingly, ­however, when it came to ­designing his own personal boat, he produced the very cool Presto 30. The 30-­footer was an offshoot of the Outward Bound Hurricane Island 30 that he designed for the wilderness program based in Maine, but that was a hybrid sailing/rowing boat. To upgrade it for cruising, Martin basically designed a sharpie, based on the straight-sided 18th-­century fishing boats with a hard chine, flat bottom and centerboard for access to shallow water. With a beam of 8 feet, 6 inches, the boat is eminently trailerable, and Martin regularly towed it south from New England in the wintertime for cruising forays across the Gulf Stream and into the Bahamas. Due to that shallow draft and minimal freeboard, the rig required a low center of effort, which Martin addressed with a simple cat-ketch rig. With the addition of a slightly raised cabin top, he was able to insert basic interior accommodations (which were also somewhat compromised by the centerboard trunk). For a couple who can embrace camper-style cruising, ­however, it fit the bill. In recent years, a couple of Presto fans have tried to put the boat back into production, which has yet to happen. But if you can find a used one, you’ll have a boat with a fine and unusual pedigree. ­ rodgermartindesign.com

An Upgraded Ensign

Tartan 245

A couple of years ago, I got myself a 1963 Pearson Ensign, a venerable daysailer designed by the great Carl Alberg that measures in at a smidgen under 23 feet with a full keel and a spacious cockpit. I quite enjoy my Ensign, but designer Tim Jackett has taken some of the ancient classic’s best features and incorporated them into a thoroughly modern upgrade: the Tartan 245. Conceived as an ideal tool for teaching sailing, the 245 replaces that massive keel with a lifting one that has 900 pounds of ballast, which makes it just as stiff as the old-timer. With the board down, it draws 4 feet, 6 inches, but once raised, the draft is just 1 foot, 8 inches—and with its kick-up rudder, you can nudge into the shallows that the Ensign could only dream about. Like the full-size members of the Tartan clan, the 245 has a carbon-fiber spar that’s stepped on deck and is easily raised and lowered. A retractable bowsprit is ideal for flying off-wind reachers; for working sail, there’s a choice of an overlapping headsail or a self-tacking jib. The little cuddy space forward is another feature reminiscent of the Ensign; it can be employed, along with the handy tiller, for camper-style cruising. You may be able to have more kicks on a little sailboat, but I’m not sure how. tartanyachts.com

– LOWER YOUR RATES – Taking a boating safety course won’t just make you a better skipper. It could also help you save big on insurance. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Happy Little Girl

Pacific Seacraft Flicka

And now for something completely different: the Pacific Seacraft Flicka (Swedish for “happy little girl”). It’s a 20-foot, heavy-displacement, full-keel pocket cruiser that, yes, you can pop on a trailer and wheel to destinations of your heart’s content. Designed by Bruce Bingham—an illustrator and sailor who, for many years, penned this magazine’s Workbench column—the boat was originally offered in kit form, and then bounced around to a couple of builders before finding a permanent home at Pacific Seacraft, which produced the grand majority of them (reportedly, roughly 400 Flickas were ultimately produced). Bingham loved his, sailing his pretty Sabrina all over creation, which is when I became enamored with the boat. The Flicka certainly fits the definition of a cult boat, and these days, if you look hard enough, you can find one in almost any configuration: sloop, cutter, yawl, schooner, even gaff-rigged. With a startlingly roomy interior, the Flicka is cozy but certainly not the fastest 20-footer you can find. You might not get where you’re going quickly, but you will get there. flicka20.com

To the Third Power

Corsair F-27 multihull

Talk about a boat that was ahead of its time. Any list of good trailerable boats has to include a multihull, and few have reached the overall popularity of the Corsair F-27, the prototype for which was originally launched way back in 1985. It’s designed by Kiwi Ian Farrier, based on another little trimaran he’d created a decade earlier. The signature feature of the three-hulled 27-footer is the folding outrigger system—better known as the Farrier Folding System—which reduces the beam from a significant 19 feet to a mere 8 feet, 2 inches, which makes it eminently trailerable. You can still see (and find) F-27s just about everywhere. They have active one-design racing fleets all over the place, and they make for tidy pocket cruisers when they’re not zipping around the racecourse. From a pure sailing point of view, there’s nothing more enjoyable than finding yourself perched out on an ama of an F-27, coursing along at double-digit boatspeeds, with a light touch on a long tiller extension. We’re talking joy, cubed. corsairmarine.com  

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

17 Best Sailboats to Live On + What You Should Know First

Many dream of living aboard a sailboat, but finding the right one can be daunting. There are many different types, and countless manufacturers have come and gone over the years. 

Here’s a list of 17 options – a sailboat for every sailor on every kind of budget. 

Best Sailboats To Live On

Table of Contents

17 best sailboats to live on, pros of living aboard a sailboat, cons of boat life.

  • Find Your Type of Boat 

Set Your Boat Budget

What size boat to pick, best liveaboard sailboats under 35 feet (< 35 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 40 feet (35–40 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 45 feet (40–45 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 50 feet (45–50 feet), best liveaboard sailboats under 60 feet (50–60 feet), want to live on a sailboat, best sailboats to live on faqs.

  • Catalina 34/35
  • Panda/Baba 35, Tashiba 36a
  • Gemini 105MC
  • Islander Freeport 36
  • Passport 40
  • Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS
  • Leopard 42/43
  • Beneteau Oceanis 473
  • Hallberg Rassy 46/48
  • Leopard 46/Moorings
  • Amel Super Maramu 2000
  • Privilege 585

What to Know First

So, boat shopping is a challenge, to say the least. Understanding where to start and what to look for comes down to understanding what you want to do with your boat.

Here’s a look at some pros and cons of living aboard to get you started.

  • Seaside living at a fraction of the cost of a waterfront home
  • Ability to travel anywhere by water
  • Ability to move anytime—not tied to one location/town
  • Different liveaboard lifestyle options to choose from: at a dock, mooring, anchoring, cruising (traveling)—tired of one, mix it up for a different experience
  • Small living space lacks storage and privacy
  • Limited resources: you must meter your fuel, water, and electricity use when not at a dock
  • More exposed to the elements and more affected by weather events
  • Seating and furnishings are less comfortable than in a house
  • Constant maintenance to keep the boat seaworthy and clean

How to Find the Best Boat to Live on Year Round

At first, you might think boat shopping is like looking for a new car. But when shopping for a car, you have a small pool of manufacturers and models to choose from. In the end, you might have five choices and already have an opinion about each maker’s quality and reputation.

Boats are different. We’re usually shopping for boats that are a decade or more old. The manufacturers may have gone out of business years ago. When you total up all the possible makes and models of each type of boat, you might have dozens of choices with brands you’ve never heard of. Yikes!

Find Your Type of Boat

There are dozens of types of boats you could live on, depending on where you want to live and where you want to take it. Most people shopping for a sailboat will choose between coastal cruisers, bluewater boats, and sailing catamarans.

Here are some of the pros and cons of these sailboat types. 

The Coastal Cruiser

  • Inexpensive compared to bluewater and catamarans
  • Perfect for dock living or near-shore hops
  • With modifications and the right outfitting, many have island-hopped the Caribbean
  • Many to choose from, and often they are lightly used
  • Designs are often race-inspired and faster than typical heavy bluewater boats
  • Newer, bigger boat for your money
  • Often production boats have low-quality, lightweight builds

Related: Best Trailerable Sailboats

The Bluewater Sailboat

  • The best bluewater cruising sailboats are capable of going anywhere
  • Built to last and take anything
  • Give the most comfortable ride in rough conditions
  • Newer examples are expensive
  • Good ones sell quickly
  • Older vessels may be tired and in need of an extensive refit
  • Often lack the living space that coastal cruisers have—narrower beams and transoms

The Catamaran

  • Cruising cats have the maximum living space, especially cockpit dining and upper salon
  • Light-filled with plenty of airflow, perfect for the tropics and living at anchor
  • Larger models (40+ feet) are bluewater boats capable of going nearly anywhere
  • A shallower draft than most monohulls allows for more cruising and anchoring choices
  • More expensive to purchase, keep, and maintain than similar-sized monohulls  
  • The most in-demand vessels, prices are high and good ones sell fast 
  • Sometimes hard or expensive to find dock space and boatyards that can haul it out for maintenance

Still unsure which side of the monohull vs. catamaran debate you’re on? Try to get aboard some boats and experience the living space first-hand.

17 Best Sailboats To Live On + What You Should Know First

Everyone has a budget when going boat shopping, even if you’re Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. Establishing how much you can spend on your boat is the biggest factor that will affect your decision, and it’s the backbone for all other decisions. 

You must understand just how much boat costs increase as the size of boat increases. Boats are already expensive, and the average cost of owning and buying a liveaboard sailboat varies dramatically. But when the boat gets bigger, it needs bigger hardware, lines, rigging, sails, motors…everything. And bigger means more expensive, so these costs add up fast.

And then there are your storage and boat maintenance costs, all of which are charged per foot. The marina might charge you $15 per foot/per month for a dock slip, and the boatyard will similarly charge you per foot to haul and store the boat. Divers charge per foot for bottom cleaning, as do detailers for annual compounding and waxing of the hull.

When it comes to budgeting, there are two rules of thumb. 

  • Always pick the smallest boat you can comfortably live on.
  • If you have an amount budgeted for your boat purchase, spend half on the boat and save the other half for outfitting and maintenance.

As you’ll see below, boats can be grouped by price and size. When you go up in size, you go up in price—often by a lot.

The size of the boat is a factor of your budget, but also of how big a boat you can handle. Most people believe this means driving it and maneuvering it, which is true to some extent. But a good training captain can teach you what you need to know to drive any size boat in just a few sessions. 

No, the size of the boat you can manage refers more to how much maintenance you want to do. The bigger the boat, the more complex and plentiful its systems. There’s more to break on a bigger boat, and more things broken means more time fixing things.

Catamarans compound this by doubling a lot of the systems. Two engines, two saildrives, two hulls to wax, two hulls to bottom paint—you get the idea.

Another factor you should consider early on is getting insurance. Yacht insurance has gotten harder and harder to get in recent years. If you’ve never owned a boat and have no experience, you might be forced to get something small (think an under 30-foot daysailor) to get some experience on before you move up. It’s also difficult because many underwriters won’t write policies for liveaboards. 

As a general rule of thumb, most people will find boats under 35 feet too small to live on full-time. Most of these vessels don’t even have standing headroom. There is often only a “wet head,” one where you take showers while sitting on the toilet.

Boats 35 to 40 feet are good for solo travelers or couples who don’t mind living in small quarters. The beds will be small and accessed only from one side, as in a v-berth or a Pullman-style berth. If there is one, the second bunk is likely only for the occasional guest. 

You’ll get better accommodations when you move up to 40 to 45 footers. The second bunk may be in its own stateroom. The main suite will have an island-style berth that can be accessed from both sides—a huge upgrade for most couples. The head will likely have a separate, enclosed shower. This size sailing yacht makes a good liveaboard sailboat for most boaters.

Boats bigger than 45 feet are best for bigger families. If you often travel with kids or guests, these are the boats for you. They’re extremely spacious and make boat living easy, but the extra maintenance and cost may not be worth it.

The List — Best Sailboats to Live Aboard

All lists, whether found in internet blogs or international sailing magazines, have issues. There’s no one list to rule them all because there are simply too many different boats out there. And everyone uses their boat differently, so the “best” for you might be a terrible choice for me. Different boats for different folks, so to say.

So, what’s the deal with this list? It’s made from personal experience of having seen a lot of boats out cruising. And it’s a list that tries to put aside the fantasies—Oysters and Gunboats are pretty in magazines, but like Ferraris, not many of us will ever own one. So let’s look at some practical boats that fill each size category. 

For every boat on this list, a dozen or more could’ve been included. Use these models to research brands and see which sizes suit your needs.

Boats under 35 feet tend to be best suited for solo travelers or couples comfortable living in small spaces. As always, coastal cruisers in this class have much more space than bluewater boats do. Catamarans in this class are also coastal cruisers—you need more length and volume to get real bluewater performance out of a cat. No matter which type of boat you’re looking at here, storage space on this size of liveaboard boat will be limited.

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Coastal Cruiser Under 35 — Catalina 34/35

If you want to move aboard, you’re on a budget, and you want the most space you can get, it’s really hard to beat an older Catalina. Starting with the Catalina 30, these beamy boats have a surprising interior volume. They make great first liveaboards.

Bluewater Sailor Under 35 — Panda/Baba 35, Tashiba 36

The famous yacht designer Bob Perry drew these Taiwanese-built boats, all tracing their lineage to the older Tayana 37 . They’re updated slightly and built by different yards, but all full keels with cutaways and built for bluewater cruising. They all have gorgeous teak joinery and are comfortable and forgiving at sea. 

Catamaran Under 35 — Gemini 105MC

The Gemini 105M and 105MC were arguably the most popular cat models ever. They’re American-built, with a single diesel engine and a narrow beam that allows them to be parked in a standard boat slip. In the US, this means many more marina choices if that’s how you roll. The boat has centerboards and kick-up rudders, so the board-up draft is a scant 18 inches—gunkholing perfection. 

While some Geminis have crossed oceans, they aren’t made for it. They have average (sometimes below-average) build quality and fiberglass work. However, they’re perfect coastal cruisers and capable of heading into The Bahamas.

The Gemini should be on your shortlist if you’re looking for a cheap catamaran .

Runner Up: PDQ 32

Are you looking for a small cat with better build quality? They didn’t make many of them, but the PDQ 32 is what you seek. It’s an attractive small catamaran with a wider beam. It came with twin outboards in wells, but the LRC (long-range cruiser) option had inboard diesels.

best liveaboard sailboats under 40 feet

Forty feet is the sweet spot for most cruising couples—big enough to be comfortable and carry enough provisions but small enough that handling and maintenance are manageable. This class of boat has a lot of excellent choices in both coastal cruiser and bluewater boats, making it a good size range to find the perfect affordable liveaboard sailboat.

The catamaran group from 35 to 40 feet has a few very popular choices, but they are right on the edge of being too small for most cruisers. Counterintuitively, these cats are perfect for couples who don’t mind downsizing and traveling lightly. These shorter cats are prone to hobby horsing and don’t provide as comfortable a ride in bluewater as slightly longer cats do. 

Coastal Cruiser Under 40 — Islander Freeport 36

The Islander brand is no longer around, but these California-built production boats from the 1970s and 80s were well-built and well-liked. The I32 and I36 were very popular cruising boats designed by Bob Perry. The Freeport 36 is a before-its-time European deck salon with enormous windows. The swing-down swim platform is another bonus for a boat from this era, as are the Pullman-style berth and forepeak-located head (some layouts). If you can find one in good condition, these boats make excellent liveaboards. 

Bluewater Sailor Under 40 — Passport 40

Yet another boat from the desk of Bob Perry, the Passport 40, is a sharp-looking aft-cockpit bluewater cruiser from one of the best yards in Taiwan. They feature a long fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder. Everything about this sloop is just right for long-term cruising.

Catamaran Under 40 — Prout 38

The Prout 38 traces its heritage back to the earlier Prout Snowgoose. The boat is still being made, now under the Broadblue brand. It’s a sturdy British-built cat made for serious offshoring. While it lacks some of the open feeling that newer charter boats have, it more than makes up for it with its robust and high-quality build.

Runner Up: Leopard 40 (2005-2009)

This early L40 (don’t get confused with the newer ones built around 2020) was designed by famous multihull designers Morelli and Melvin. It’s got more of the things you might expect from your typical charter cat: a sliding salon door, galley-up layout, and a huge walk-through cockpit.

While this seems a small step up from the size of boats above, prices increase rapidly above the 40-foot mark. At this point, the boat’s gear needs to be bigger and heavier, from all the lines and rigging to each block and winch. Engines are now larger four-cylinder diesels, and there’s much more hull area to clean and paint. 

A 45-foot coastal cruiser has enough space to keep a small family happy for short trips or a couple happy for any length of time. These boats usually have island berths in a spacious master bedroom, so no more crawling over each other just to go to the bathroom! Bluewater boats in this class are a little smaller inside, making them just right for most couples doing a long-term cruise.

As far as catamarans go, the 40 to 45-foot range is the perfect sweet spot for most cruising couples. A spacious interior plus excellent seakeeping abilities make these top picks. There are tons of boat choices out there, and most of the best cruising catamarans come from this size group.

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Coastal Cruiser Under 45 — Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS

Jeanneau is part of Groupe Beneteau , but their boats often have a more refined finish than Beneteaus. The DS stands for “deck salon.” They feature larger windows that let in more light and have better visibility than a standard cruiser. This is especially welcome if you’re attracted to the living space in a catamaran but need something smaller and more affordable. 

The 42DS also has an enormous island berth, plus a huge twin-helm cockpit with lots of space for entertaining.

Bluewater Sailor Under 45 — Hylas 44

The Hylass 44 is regularly picked as one of the best offshore cruising boats. It’s a center cockpit boat designed by German Frers.  It has a wonderful layout with tons of living space and a large, usable galley. The aft cabin has a large island berth with an en suite head. 

Catamaran Under 45 — Leopard 42/43 (2001-2006)

These early Leopard charter cats are highly sought after on the used market. Like all charter cats, the best finds are the “owners versions” with one hull dedicated to the master stateroom with en suite head and shower. The Leopard 42, which came out in 2002, had a soft canvas cover over the cockpit and was updated to the Leopard 43 with a hardtop. 

Above 45 feet is another big price jump. For beginners, these big boats will require some training and experience before you head out on your own. 

Related: Best Boat for Beginners

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leopard 46 "Shanties" (@leopard46shanties)

Coastal Cruiser Under 50 — Beneteau Oceanis 473

This big Beneteau came with either 2, 3, or 4 staterooms. Finding the right layout is as important as finding the right boat. The two-stateroom version has enormous berths and lots of storage, perfect for couples with occasional guests or families of three. Most have the standard keel with less than a six-foot draft, making this fin keel/spade rudder boat a rare find. They were built from 2000 to 2005.

Bluewater Sailor Under 50 — Hallberg Rassy 46/48

Hallberg Rassys are well-regarded boats built in Sweden, mostly designed by German Frers. These are high-end boats of the best quality, so don’t expect to find one available cheaply. They’re gorgeous, however, and make wonderful world cruisers.

Catamaran Under 50 — Leopard 46/Moorings 4600 (2006)

If you want a big catamaran, it’s hard to go wrong with the 2006 Leopard 46. Where modern Lagoon and Leopards have tall profiles with tons of windage, this is one of the newest, largest boats that still have single-level living. It has distinctive hull chines that increase living space without increasing wetted surface and plenty of sail area for good performance. In true Leopard fashion, all lines are led to the helm for easy short-handed cruising despite the boat’s large size.

best liveaboard sailboats under 60 feet

Boats in this class are borderline yachts based on their sheer size. If you were to charter these boats, they’d usually come with a crew. That size means they’re more expensive and more of a handful to manage daily. 

Coastal Cruiser Under 60 — Irwin 54

The Irwin brand is long gone, but many examples are available on the used market. They were known especially for their large center cockpit ketches, like this 54-footer. This is a spacious, big water boat that certainly meets the qualifications of most bluewater boats. They can go anywhere, but they may need maintenance and refit given their ages. 

Don’t get to lured by the low prices of these boats. You’ll have to lay out some serious cash to get one ready to cruise long-range. But if you aren’t opposed to some hard work and projecting, the Irwin can get you a lot of boat for not much money.

Bluewater Sailor Under 60 — Amel Super Maramu 2000 (53′)

Made famous by the Delos YouTube channel, the Amel is a French-built brand of high-quality bluewater boats. Today, this brand’s new models look like many others—wide sterned, flat-bottomed sloops. But the Maramus that made them famous were unique—ketch rigged and ruggedly built, designed to take a cruising couple anywhere. Electric winches were standard on everything to keep such a large boat easy to operate.

Catamaran Under 60 — Privilege 585

Privilege is the French-made catamaran that you don’t hear enough about. Unlike Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot, these are beefy cruising boats ready to take you anywhere. Their construction and fit-and-finish are first-rate, as is the joinery down below. 

Living on a sailboat is an adventure—it’s not for everyone. Finding the right boat is an important part of doing it successfully, but it’s not the only step in preparing for the lifestyle.

You should also consider checking my post on liveaboard catamaran options, to make sure you research thoroughly enough!

What makes a great liveaboard sailboat?

Everyone’s priorities for a liveaboard sailboat are different—a bluewater cruiser looking to sail around the world might pick a very different boat from someone who lives full-time dock life. In general terms, you need to find a boat that is safely capable of taking you where you want to go and has enough living space to be comfortable while doing it. 

Sailing catamarans are some of the most popular liveaboard sailboats because their living space is unmatched. Most are also bluewater-capable cruisers that can go pretty much anywhere. 

What is the best size sailboat to live on?

The size of the boat you’ll be comfortable on long term is a personal choice that depends on your personality and the number of people you’ll be traveling with. Solo travelers may be content with a sailboat around 30 feet, while most couples are comfortable on something around 40 feet. Forty-five to fifty feet is more realistic if you often have guests or kind on board. 

With all of this in mind, however, it’s really important to remember that the costs of buying and maintaining a sailboat increase exponentially with length. Getting the smallest boat you are comfortable living on is always better because that will be easier to manage and keep in the long run.

What are the negatives of living on a sailboat?

People live on their sailboats differently, so it’s difficult to narrow down the biggest negatives. Everyone struggles with the small living space that a boat affords. You’ll have to downsize your possessions to the absolute minimum you need. And getting personal space away from your spouse or family is pretty much impossible on a small boat. 

Why are sailboats so expensive?

New boats require a massive investment in time and resources to produce. The nicer the boat, the more time and skill it takes to build, which makes costs soar. Some production companies, like Beneteau, have found ways to reduce production costs and keep the price of new boats more reasonable. But these boats pale compared to other yachts in terms of overall quality. 

Older used boats can be found pretty cheaply. In fact, it’s often possible to find free or nearly-free boats that are on their way to the junkyard or dumpster. The key is understanding how much work and money it will take to get these boats ready to go again. 

Is it a good idea to live on a sailboat?

Living on a boat is an amazing way to experience seaside living or traveling the world by water. But it’s also a unique, out-of-the-ordinary lifestyle choice that’s not without challenges. 

Before you move onto a sailboat, you’ll want to research the topic carefully and talk to some folks who already to it. Many people start with occasional boating, spending a week or more onboard to try it out. With a little experience, it’s easy to see if it’s something you could do for the long term or if it’s best to keep a land house and enjoy the water occasionally.

Can you live comfortably on a sailboat?

Many people live comfortably on sailboats, but a lot depends on the size of the sailboat and your tolerance for living in a small space. Even the largest sailboats can feel cramped, while some folks love the cozy feeling of living on the tiniest boats. 

trailerable liveaboard sailboat

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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trailerable liveaboard sailboat

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trailerable liveaboard?

  • Thread starter Gary
  • Start date Aug 19, 2003
  • Forums for All Owners
  • Ask All Sailors

I am trying to find information on trailerable sailboats that can be lived aboard and coastal cruised. Any info will be appreciated.  

Phil Herring

Phil Herring

Anything can be a 'liveaboard' ...if you're willing to make do with the create comforts that the boat can offer. In my estimation, you need a good shower, head, shore power, stove, refrig or ice box, good storage and ventilation, at minimum. from there, it's whatever you can live with. Literally. As far as coastal cruising goes, not all trailerables are created equal. Others on this board can probably point you in the right direction as to which brands/models are more capable of handling big seas. Good luck! On any vessel it's a great lifestyle!  

I have seen the following big boats on trailers Hunter 28, Hunter 27, Hunter 270, Hunter 280, Catalina 270 and Catalina 28 MK II. You need a big truck to pull them and because of the beam permits depending on state. These are all major trailing effects... ie stepping the mast and getting the boat in the water. You may want to look at the Hunter 260.  

T J Furstenau

My 26 Experience I probably shouldn't be considered a true liveaboard, as I'm not staying on the boat 7 days a week. But I live about 80 miles from my boat, which is conveniently about 3 blocks from my current client. Rather than driving back and forth every day, I spend several nights a week on the boat. Marina has good shower facilities, a deli, and there are several decent restaurants in walking distance. Eating out of a cooler has its disadvantages, but not enough to push me to get a small mini-fridge. Shore power helps run gadgets, mainly my laptop. Could I stay on the boat for longer stretches, certainly by myself. Could I spend a summer trailering up the coast, living aboard, you bet. But when company shows up, it gets crowded quickly. Not sure if this helps or not, just my 2cents. T J  

-21 a bit small I live aboard for two weeks at a time on my Aquarius 21 but I wouldn't recommend it for longer stretches. It's a good coastal cruiser, they're even used to cruise the Carib. but they are just too small for most of the "comforts of home" that most liveaboards want.  

Bob Davidson

Any boat can be a live aboard I have a Catalina c22 that has never been wired for A/C current. I would like to spend the weekends on her but the cabin is too hot. I was thinking about installing a 5000 BTU Maytag in the wall air conditioner but I am not sure how to install a 30 amp twist and lock shore power system on the boat,help?  

Any boat can be a live aboard I have a Catalina c22 that has never been wired for A/C current. I would like to spend the weekends on her but the cabin is too hot. I was thinking about installing a 5000 BTU Maytag in the wall air conditioner but I am not sure how to install a 30 amp twist and lock shore power system on the boat,What about grounding,what about a power buss, help?  

More Info Needed What do you want to spend? How many living on board? Towing capacity of vehicle? How much cruising versus living at the slip? Inboard or outboard? Comfort level needed? How well does it need to sail? Enclosed head? Answer these questions and you will be able to narrow down the boat you think you will want. Then test drive a few and get out your checkbook. Happy hunting! p.s. Look at the Pacific Seacraft Flicka or Dana. May not go to windward as well as some but will take you anyplace you want to go.  

New 2003 H260 Hunter I live aboard my H260 and love it. I have it a great marina with all the facilities I need (showers, store, etc.) I am on Lake Conroe which is a great lake to sail on (if you watch the powerboaters). It has the biggest cabin of all the trailerable sailboats that I looked at and is quiet comfortable, but I had to run 110V with surge protectors to plug my 5000btu carry-on air conditioner, coffee pot, etc. and it does not have pressurized hot & cold water. So it is kinda ruffing it, but you will be amazed at what you can live without. I work for the local school district so have alot of time off and enjoy trailering it down to Galveston. It sails great in the bay and the gulf. I don't get very far out but have no problems. I plan to keep her for a couple of years, then move up to Hunter's new 306.  

H260 I agree on the Hunter. It is a sweet little boat that I believe still comes with an option for a trailerable with a lead keel. I was lucky enough to be the first to sail Hull #1 of this design in 97 or 98 (I am old and the memory is fading) at the Annapolis boat show. Great boat with a real lead keel and shoal draft. Roomy to live-aboard...I LOVED the huge aft birth. Live your dream! Griffin.  

Dana,C&C 30' Mega 1978-1980

30' trailersailer that will launch at a ramp They built 175+ of them in two types,lift keel and a fixed keel. You'd need to build your own insides to your needs as I have done! But I love the way it sails and the room,plus befor you fill it up with your crap,it's only 45oolb. for the lift keel model(2'up/5'down)  

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Live aboard or sleep aboard Some are describing tied to a marina, using the marina's facilities and eating at restaurants as living aboard. To me living aboard would mean spending a lot of time at anchor. needing water, a way to cook and store food. Something to do with poop etc. Porta potties fill up too quickly!!!! If you are looking for a place to sleep at a marina anything with a comfortable place to sleep will work. We used to spend a week at a time on our Macgregor 26. It towed well and could be launched from almost any ramp. but even a catalina 22 with a fixed keel can be hard to launch. The ramp has to have the perfect slope. Too steep You can't reload it easily as it can be hard to line up the boat and trailer. Too gradual your tow vehicle gets very wet before the boat floats. Salt water isn't great for tow vehicles especially things like wheel bearings. Lots of ramps have drop offs at the end where trailer wheels like to get stuck. Did I mention a line of fishermen wanting you to get the hell out of their way. My experience with trailering a sailboat is don't do it regularly!!! We loved taking the Mac on trips a couple times a year and towed it over 700 miles several times. but on a weekly basis it was too much work and we kept the boat at a slip on the lake taking it out for trips and to redo the bottom etc.  

David Walters

Nimble wanderer It't not the fastest monoslug on the water, but it really has all the amenities of home and can be trailered (big pickup needed). Follow the bouncing ball on the link for more info.  

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trailerable liveaboard

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hi, i am looking for a sailboat to liveaboard while going to school. it needs to be trailerable, shallower draft, have a head and shower, and a decent sized galley. it would be great to find a quality built boat that won't break my bank in the process. i've looked into seaward 25's, norsea 27, catalina 27...any other ideas as to what other boats would fit my needs? thanks in advance! joel  

trailerable liveaboard sailboat

Let's see... you want a boat that is: Trailerable shallow draft have a head have a shower have a decent size galley fairly decent quality and won't break your bank... It would help if you said what your bank/budget was... Generally, liveaboards have to be slight roomier boats than weekend boats or daysailers. However, most trailerable boats are either weekend boats or daysailers. Also, most boats that have a shower, are generally larger than a trailerable boat will be. A decent size galley on a trailerable boat is a contradiction. Given your criteria...you're going to have to prioritize them and decide what you really need. A decent, reasonably priced liveaboard would be something like an Alberg 30. This is large enough that it is a liveable boat. Anything smaller than 25' is going to be more like camping on the water. An Alberg 30 is not really a trailerable boat...and it doesn't have a shower generally...and the galley is fairly small. A Norsea 27 or Seaward 25 would probably be a pretty tight fit, and last I checked, neither had a decent size galley or a shower. The Catalina 27 is a lot roomier in many ways, but IIRC, doesn't have a shower or a decent size galley, and I don't believe it is a trailerable boat. I believe the only "trailerable" Catalinas are the 22 and 25/250. Some of the characteristics you are looking for are somewhat difficult to get in a single boat. Trailerable and shallower draft work fine together, since most trailerable boats are shallower draft by their nature. Many trailerable boats will fail both the decent size galley or shower tests. A decent size galley or a quality boat will tend to be more expensive. One boat that is trailerable, has a shallower draft, a head and galley, and could be fitted with a shower is a MacGregor 26. However, they're somewhat less than stellar in terms of sailing performance... and the quality is only mediocre at best. There are several multihulls that might fit your requirements, especially the shallower draft and trailerable, but they're probably more expensive than what you can afford. It might also help if you said what waters you're planning on sailing this boat in. If you're not going to be sailing it, get a power boat... they're often a lot bigger in terms of the room they can provide, given the same LOA.  

my highest budget would be around $30,000. it would be great if i could find something in the 15 to 20 range, though. i've found seawards to have showers. same with the other two. nothing fancy is needed, just a handheld. as far as the galley, an oven would be my idea of a decent sized galley. sorry about the confusion. i can always outfit the boat to fit my needs. i would mainly be on smaller lakes. i hate to admit but i have been looking at houseboats, and for some reason i feel like i would favor the cramped conditions on a 27 foot sailboat. the size/trailerability is an issue, that is my biggest problem. i am just trying to get other ideas as to what other boats may be similar to those i listed before i start looking into barges. i would rather live on a sailboat anyday. i just can't justify spending $1000 on lift fees. thanks for the reply! joel  

If you do get a boat with a shower, make sure that the shower has its own sump, rather than draining into the bilge, which will lead to problems and seriously nasty smelling bilge in short order. The Catalina 25 might be a good choice, a bit smaller than the 27 footers you've been looking at, but trailerable, and definitely in your price range.  

jte, Kind of a contradiction ....most any decent size houseboat is rather heavy for trailer. What vehicle are you planning to pull whatever boat you end up with? Where are you planning the liveaboard? Marina or on the trailer? Better check on the liveaboard marinas for prices, facilities, and seasonality. If you are in a marina with facilities you will most likely never use the shower in a boat. It is much like taking a shower sitting on a stool in a closet and then drying out the closet after you are done. I have a 34 and just can't bring myself to use that shower. I swim or use marina facilites, but I don't live aboard except on trips. Lots of difference between camping in Florida or S. Texas than planning on camping in upstate NY or Michigan. Trust me, whatever trailerable boat you will living on WILL BE camping.  

trailerable liveaboard sailboat

Each individual is different. I know for me persoanlly, I could not live on a 25' trailerable boat. You as a young student might be able to make it work. My wife and I have been thinking about this for the past couple of months. We too envision ourselves living aboard a boat in the not so distant future. For us and our needs and what we think we would be comfortable with, we are looking in the 45' range. But hey thats just us. Like Dog has said, trailerable boats don't usually have all of the anemities which you are looking for. In fact a lot of them don't even have standing head room. You might only have a cooler and a small sink for your galley. But, You can always add a camping type Coleman stove to cook on. Along with the Catalina's already mentioned, Hunter also makes a range of trailerables which you might want to look into. Good luck with the search and the dream.  

sailortjk1 said: Like Dog has said, trailerable boats don't usually have all of the anemities which you are looking for. In fact a lot of them don't even have standing head room. You might only have a cooler and a small sink for your galley. But, You can always add a camping type Coleman stove to cook on. Along with the Catalina's already mentioned, Hunter also makes a range of trailerables which you might want to look into. Good luck with the search and the dream. Click to expand...

there are already houseboats available on the lake within my price range. however the marinas do not have a lift. as long as i am able to launch and retrieve it bymyself. a 30 foot cat could be possible. yes it is wide, and hauling it down the road would take a few permits, but with it's shallow draft i can launch and pull it up on a fabricated trailer. a 30 foot monohull with a deep fin keel would be quite difficult, and the marina is not very deep (6 foot max). as far as accomodations, i'm used to a 23 foot monohull, so i can improvise pretty well. thanks again.  

i have actually just started looking at the catalac and iroquois. they are wide but at least i could pull it out on a tweaked flatbed. i am going ot look into the dragonfly. and yes, majority of the corsairs are out of the price range and may not have quite as much room that i have been looking into. thanks for the reply!  

Typically, when a catamaran is to be moved overland, it is put on a modified cradle that sits the boat tilted over about 40˚ or so to reduce the effective beam. However, doing this requires a large flatbed and a crane at both ends of the journey.  

trailerable liveaboard sailboat

The problem with going with an Alberg 30, which is one of my favorite boats, is that he is trying to avoid needing a crane... which an Alberg 30 would certainly require.  

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12-03-2019, 22:52  
, Farrier, contour, Dragonfly, etc. for light weight with fairly large accommodation.
12-03-2019, 23:17  
Boat: SY Wake: 53' Amel Super Maramu
and around the with my first wife. It was amazing, and SUPER COZY , I don't see why not, as long as you keep a hard eye on the ? We got three adults and three cats in this , so we needed/wanted something bigger afloat, but I could totally see taking something micro and making it adorable and fully functional. Much like bus life, tho, you gotta love things being SUPER COZY or you'll go crazy
13-03-2019, 00:35  
Boat: Imexus 28
before she was born in something just a bit newer and bigger than your combi, a cross between German and Italian being a small Knaus A class on a Fiat Ducato base in 2002. Have fun ladies and cats. My First mate daughter and I are cat people as well but you will know all too well that have owners and cats have servants! Kind Regards Graeme and Annabel.
13-03-2019, 04:30  
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
that breaks down. One you can remove the connectives from and not worry about the beam restriction of 8.5ft
13-03-2019, 05:38  
Boat: Imexus 28
. I owned and extensively multi week cruised on a trailable Catamaran being a Jarcat 6 for many years. I wouldn’t live on one of these however for more than that as it was just too small and cramped. I have seen some mechano set breakapart transportable cruising cats but wouldn’t call them trailable just transportable as the setup and launch times ran into hours.
Some of the big trailable fold out trimarans get there like the Dragonfly28 and big Farriers but have yet to see a big cat that folds up adequately easily to be really called trailable that also had adequate accommadation to live on for months on end. I have seen many designs and some in the flesh that in practice where almost never folded or deconstructed for trailering. These I would call transportable yachts rather than sailers.
Regards Graeme
Jarcat 6 camper Sailer out in the desert followed by Imexus 28 trailable cruiser out in the desert. Think I must have a problem as often find myself with my yachts a long way from . LOL    

13-03-2019, 05:52  
Boat: Retired from CF
or travelling may be important for some.

Probably not those that can afford a multi though.
13-03-2019, 06:44  
Boat: Imexus 28
into their motorhomes or caravans from downsizing their large homes to smaller and less well located ones and spending the rest on their travelling home. I have done similar with my choice. One of the main advantages of my trailable yacht is then having as comfortable a package as possible both on land but more importantly on water and avoiding constant campground or by living on free waterways and beautiful bays that would cost millions to own a house on. I seriously considered forking out about $150,000 US for a Dragonfly 28 despite being financially constrained myself by further downsizing and doing exactly that. I purchased my very unusual Powersailer for around $50,000 US virtually new instead and kept my riverfront country home which I will holiday rent out in my absence supplying me with some . Friends on a much more modest have done this for thirty years on their 25 foot trailer sailer and are amongst the most highly regarded trailer sailers in Aus doing huge long term wilderness adventures every year on a tiny pension and out their modest home whilst away and are now in their eighties. Regards Graeme
Just couldn’t bring myself to make the next step and downsize again from this newly purchased house on a small canoeing only river.  
13-03-2019, 10:53  
Boat: Retired from CF
14-03-2019, 07:32  
Boat: Custom 36' folding sailing cat
on Pacific til May or so...
14-03-2019, 09:30  
transport company do the switcheroo twice a year?
14-03-2019, 09:36  
to FL drive really is a long trip, so appreciate the idea of two boats. Also, with lots of experience, am also considering S. AZ, but am feeling need to store boat in US. Thanks again for all your suggestions. I’ve looked up all of the boats recommended. Am experiencing flashbacks of my time on the 27 when our motley crew took on the Schwenks and Wild Rumpus each Wednesday in the Anacortes regatta!
-Doc
 
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Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30 Feet

Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30 Feet | Life of Sailing

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Trailerable sailboats are the perfect solution for weekend or day cruisers. They're easy to store, transport, and set up, which gets you on the water fast.

Trailerable sailboats come in many different shapes and sizes. Many trailerable sailboats even have retractable keels, which not only comes in handy for towing, but also for sailing around shallower waters. Depending on how you plan on sailing, there's sure to be a trailerable sailboat that suits you and your family.

Below are the best trailerable sailboats under 20 feet, separated into their best use: day sailing and cruising.

Table of contents

Best Sailboats Under 30' for Day Sailing

Small, trailerable sailboats are great for daily use because they're easy to set up, and you can take them anywhere within driving distance and explore new areas.

This category of sailboat won't have a cabin, instead, these sailboats have plenty of room on deck for the whole family to enjoy a sailing adventure together. Many of these sailboats are faster and have less amenities than a cruising boat, which makes them easy to set up for a day use and offer a fun, sporty day activity.

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-15"}}

The Hunter 15 is designed for safety and versatility. Without a cabin, it can fit up to four people on its benches. The Hunter 15' features high sides and a self-bailing cockpit, which makes it a great option for novices and kids.

The sailboat tows at 750 lbs, which means most vehicles can tow it. The retractable keel makes it so even lower vehicles can tow the boat.

The retractable keel also makes it so you can beach the sailboat, something you can't do with a bigger sailboat. That makes sailing the Hunter 15 around coves and islands even more enjoyable. Explore hidden beaches by yourself or with friends and family. 

{{boat-info="/boats/laserperformance-laser-13"}}

The Laser sailboat has been a favorite among dinghy racers for years. That's because it's super lightweight, really fast, and fun.

Not only is the laser a fun craft, but it's also very easy to use and transport. Its lightweight is due to the fiberglass hull construction and lack of a keel. You can either tow the Laser, or you can even strap it to the top of a vehicle.

While going fast is fun, you don't have to race the Laser to have fun. The Laser is great for leisure sailing. Thankfully, since it is so light, you don't need much wind to have a great sailing day.

Since it is so small, it fits one to two people in its cockpit. Also, it's lack of keel means it is very easy to tip over . But, it's also very easy to flip back. If you're someone who doesn't want to get soaked, the Laser might not be for you.

But if you're looking for a way to get on the water without much fuss and special towing equipment, the Laser is perfect for you.

Catalina 16.5

{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-16-5"}}

Catalina has been a popular sailboat brand for decades, and there's no question that their larger crafts are some of the most common sailboats you see at any marina.

They're popular for good reason. Catalina sailboats are made with lightweight fiberglass and include standard, good quality rigging. They're affordable sailboats to buy new and easy to find used.

The Catalina 16.5 came into existence in 1994 and has remained on the market ever since. It comes in at under 500 lbs, which makes it easy to tow with just about any vehicle, so don't worry about adding a massive truck to your purchase.

This trailerable sailboat has a storage compartment in the front (great for packing a picnic and extra supplies) and can accommodate up to four adults. If you're looking for a boat you can spend all day sailing comfortably and not break the bank to purchase, the Catalina 16.5 might be the one for you.

{{boat-info="/boats/hobie-16"}}

Chances are, you've seen a Hobbie 16 on a beach somewhere. They're popular anywhere there's a body of water because they're fast and easy to operate. They're one of the most popular small crafts for youth sailing and racing. They're so popular that they were recently inducted into the Sailing Hall of Fame.

Hobbie 16s are recognizable because of their "banana-shaped" hulls and often colorful sails. Unlike the previously listed sailboats, these are catamarans. So, you get two hulls and a trampoline in between them. They also hold 1-4 people in their cockpits.

As a trailerable catamaran, you can't get much better. It's super lightweight, it has no keel, and it's easy to set up. Because of the catamaran style, you'll often see people having fun on these ocean beaches.

The two-hull design makes it less likely to capsize, and it's sturdy enough that you can take on bigger waves and stronger winds than some other trailerable sailboats .

Norseman 17.5

{{boat-info="/boats/norseboat-17-5"}}

The Norseman 17.5 is one of the more attractive boats on this list. It's not a racing boat-in fact, it's an ideal day cruiser.

It's a handcrafted cruiser, and it's designers nicknamed it the swiss army knife of sailboats because it's a sailboat and a rowboat all in one.

If you want something that looks and feels seaworthy but is still trailerable, the Norseman 17.5 hits the spot. It's low maintenance and expertly designed to be as efficient as possible. Because it's designed to mimic a more traditional, larger sailboat, it does have a fixed keel. But, that doesn't mean you can't trailer it still.

The dual purpose of the Norseman 17.5 is appealing because no matter what setting you're in, the Norseman 17.5 can perform, not unlike a swiss army knife. First and foremost, this boat is for sailing, and it gives a great sailing experience, not unlike any larger sailboat.

Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30' for Cruising

Sailboats for camping come with a few more amenities. Many people prefer this kind of sailboat because it offers more freedom to stay overnight on the boat and make longer trips. Most of the time, they come equipped with a cabin for sleeping and cabin lights for a comfortable sleeping experience.

Most trailerable sailboats for cruising and camping are over 20' and cost more than a daysailer. They also typically weigh more and require a towing vehicle and special trailer because of their larger cabin space and equipment. Many people opt to put a trolling motor on the back of their pocket cruiser for getting in and out of slips and docks.

Even though they're tiny, many people spend their entire weekends or days on a small cruiser. Since they're more equipped for extended trips, you can sail along the coasts comfortably.

Catalina 22 Sport

{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-22-sport"}}

The Catalina 22 is one of the most popular sailboats in the United States. No matter where you are, you'll find a fleet of Catalina 22s at just about any marina. After they stopped making the original Catalina 22, the only way to find one (if you wanted to join a racing fleet) was to buy one used.

After years of demand, the sailboat manufacturer finally came out with the 22' Sport. It's just about the same as the original 22, so much so that you can join a Catalina 22 fleet among the original sailboats.

Catalina 22 Sport is a racing boat and a pocket cruiser. It's easy to trailer, easy to rig, and a great family sailboat.

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-22"}}

Like its smaller relative, the Hunter 22 is known for being safe and sturdy, ready for adventure. It makes for an ideal daysailer or weekend tripper. Even though it's family-friendly, it's still capable of going fast. You can enter in a race or beach hop.

The Hunter 22 features a small cabin that's very comfortable for camping. It comes with a small stove, cooler, and toilet. There's a small dinette that converts to a bed, so you can go from breakfast to bed easily within the boat cabin.

The original Hunter 22 stopped production in 1985, but Hunter has since recently started making a new Hunter 22 that's even better than the original. Still, you'll find plenty of used Hunter 22s.

{{boat-info="/boats/sage-marine-sage-15"}}

The Sage 15' is a good looking compact, abstract-style sailboat. It's almost identical to its bigger counterpart, the Sage 17, but this model has a retractable keel.

On the water, you wouldn't guess the Sage 15 was a trailer sailer . It's got all the charm of a classic sailboat, with many of the amenities desirable in a pocket cruiser.

One thing to note is the mast and its rigging only weighs 20 pounds, which makes it easy to raise and lower by yourself. When you're towing to and from your location, you want the set up to be as easy as possible, so this is a huge plus.

This boat has room for two people on the deck and in the cockpit. It's perfect for people who enjoy a solo voyage here and there or for couples looking to have a day on the water every once in a while.

West Wight Potter 19

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-19"}}

According to the West Wight Potter website, it only takes 45 minutes to rig a simple setup and get on the water. As far as trailerable sailboats go, the Potter 19' has all the amenities you could want for comfortable weekend getaways on the water.

Like almost all the boats on this list, the Potter 19 has a retractable keel and a self-bailing cockpit. It's stable and very unlikely to heel over too far. The Potter 19 is one of the most responsive sailboats in its class.

What makes the Potter 19 a great trailerable sailboat for camping is the spacious cabin. The cabin features two berths that can sleep four and seating for up to five people. The cabin also comes with a burner stove and a cooler. Depending on what your plans are, you can get the boat customized to your needs.

The West Wight Potter 19 makes the most out of its compact space, which makes it versatile. Also, with the trailer, the Potter 19 fits inside the standard garage. So, don't worry about paying marina fees when you can store your boat right in your garage.

{{boat-info="/boats/moore-24"}}

The last boat on this list is a trailerable sailboat that's proven seaworthy. The Moor 24 was famously sailed from Santa Cruz, California to Honolulu, Hawaii in 17 days. Not only is it seaworthy, but it's fast. The Moor 24 is a prime racing boat, and it's won many Cups.

The Moor 24 sailboat is not only a performance vessel. It also offers comfortable cruising with a cushioned v-berth for overnight or weekend trips. The Moore 24 is easy to handle and one of the smoothest sails. Experienced sailors will appreciate how it sails, and novice sailors will appreciate how easy it is to master.

It's such a gem of a sailboat, it's hard to believe it fits on a trailer.

Which Sailboat is Right for You?

Choosing to buy a trailerable sailboat is a good choice for people who don't want to break the bank or worry about marina fees and docking fees. For people who want to go on the occasional weekend sailing trip or day trip, there is no more affordable option.

To choose the right trailerable sailboat, consider what kind of sailing you want to do. A day sailor offers you a smaller boat that's easy to tow and that's more affordable. These boats are great for training kids to sail or learning how to sail yourself.

But, likely, you'll eventually want to graduate to a slightly more capable sailboat. That's because a trailerable cruising sailboat gives more of a traditional sailing experience, including overnight trips and more seaworthiness.

Thankfully, sailboats are easy to find used and cheaper than brand new. Trailer sailors especially are easy to come by and get a good deal on. Whether you're just starting out or just looking for some fun on the weekends, finding the right trailerable sailboat under 30 feet is a breeze.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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  2. TThe Great Harbour TT35 is a new breed of power cruiser, combining the

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  3. 7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising

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  4. Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30 Feet

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  5. Surtees Multihull Designs

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  6. West Wight Potter 15

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  3. 24' Trailer Sailer, what 30k (ish) buys you. #Sedna #polishboats

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  5. Is it Safe to cross from Florida to the Bahamas in the WINTER in a Small Boat?

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COMMENTS

  1. 9 Best Trailerable Sailboats

    Instead of docking a large boat, you can purchase a small trailerable sailboat. A trailerable sailboat is a perfect option for part-time sailors and people with busy lives. ... Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Can a Novice Sail Around the World? Elizabeth O'Malley. June 15, 2022. 4 Best Electric Outboard ...

  2. Trailerable Liveaboard

    Boat: Retired from CF. Posts: 13,317. Re: Trailerable Liveaboard - Possible? Soon as you get past a beam of 8.5' you need to get special trip permits for each state (varies by state, a few require it even for that width). Few sailboats over 28' are that narrow, usually 60-70's classic plastic folkboat style.

  3. 6 Pocket Cruisers Ready to Hit the Road

    Its new 26-foot Legacy has twin 250-hp Yamaha engines, or an optional 270- to 440-hp Volvo Penta diesel. The planing hull reportedly cruises at 28 to 50 knots. Designed for fishing and built by Nordic Tugs, the fiberglass boats are sold by Island Marine Center on Lopez Island in Washington state's San Juan Islands.

  4. Biggest Trailerable Sailboats

    The best and largest trailerable sailboats are the Cal 20, the Catalina 22, the O'Day 240, The Islander 24, the Moore 24, the Cal 25, the Helms 25, the MacGregor 26, and the Nor'Sea 27. ... Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Can a Novice Sail Around the World? Elizabeth O'Malley. June 15, 2022. 4 Best Electric ...

  5. 7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising

    Quick Setup Time. Towing Weight. 7 Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats. Catalina 22/25 "Pop-Top". Com-Pac Horizon Cat for Classic Coastal Cruising. Marshall Sanderling — Small, Portable, Classy. West Wight Potter 19 — The Tiny Go-Anywhere Sailboat. Seaward 26RK with Retractable Lead Keel.

  6. Trailerable Sailboats Comparison

    The most common types of trailerable sailboats include dinghies, racers, open-top cruising sailboats, pocket cruisers, coastal cruisers, and compact offshore sailboats. ... Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats. Daniel Wade. December 28, 2023. Can a Novice Sail Around the World? Elizabeth O'Malley. June 15, 2022. 4 Best Electric Outboard Motors.

  7. Great Harbour TT35. Americas most versatile cruising boat

    A new breed of power cruiser is born. Great Harbour's Trailerable Trawler combines the comforts of a full-featured liveaboard vessel with the operational simplicity, economy and versatility of an outboard-powered craft that can be ramp-launched, stored dry and moved overland by trailer.

  8. Great Harbour Trawlers: America's go-anyhere liveaboards

    Great Harbour Builds the World's Most Versatile Liveaboard Cruisers, Designed To Go Off the Grid; Stable and Unsinkable Too Handcrafted by Mirage Manufacturing in Gainesville, Florida, Great Harbour Trawlers are designed for cruisers with a sense of adventure and a desire to live off the grid...part-time or as long as they want. Our fuel-efficient, twin-engine trawlers feature robust ...

  9. 13 Biggest Trailerable Sailboats: Cheap But Good

    Among the list, Cape Dory 28 is the largest, widest, and heaviest trailerable sailboat. Most of these sailboats can accommodate 4 to 6 people onboard. The not-so-cheap item on the list, the Seaward 26RK, costs between $30,000 and $50,000.

  10. Trailerable Boats with Comfort and Speed

    Farrier, who passed away in 2017, created the F-22 as a kind of culmination of all he'd continued to learn about small, trailerable multihulls in the years since he penned the F-27 trimaran, a true trail-blazer and now part of the "Sailboat Hall of Fame.". Another F-22 sidles up alongside a pier in Malta with amas folded in.

  11. Camping on a Keel

    Camping on a Keel - Trailer Sailers for Cruisers. When I think of the cruising lifestyle, I generally picture a sturdy 35'+ sailboat capable of serving as a liveaboard and hopping among idyllic anchorages sprinkled with a few marina days in between to recharge and restock. But my myopic view neglects a whole other niche of cruisers who can load ...

  12. 7 Trailerable Sailboats That Have Standing Headroom

    Westerly Pageant. Built by Westerly Marine in the 1970s, the Pageant is a 23' bilge keeled cruiser with full standing headroom in the saloon. At 4,300 pounds, it's heavy for its size and is known more for comfort than speed. The bilge keels may make getting onto a trailer interesting and require modifications to accommodate its under water layout.

  13. Trailerable liveaboard?

    There's nothing difficult about floating a boat off a trailer. A deck stepped mast can be raised alone with the aid of an A-frame and a mast-up. Most sailboat manufacturers claim their 20-25' boats can sleep 4-6 people. Flicka is designed to accommodate two adults.

  14. Road Trip: A Trailerable Trawlers Round-Up

    2. Gallery. 2 Images. C-Dory 25 Classic Cruisers ROSBOROUGH RF-246 Digby ROSBOROUGH Atlas Acadia 25 Eastern Boats PARKER 2530 XLD Sport Cabin EASTERN BOATS 248 C-Dory RANGER TUG R-23 Parker Trailerable Trawlers Ranger Tugs. Outboard-powered trailerable cruisers give owners the freedom to pick up and go from coast to coast.

  15. Trailerable Sailboat Reviews: Small Boats, Big Adventures

    Launched in 1985, the speedy Corsair F-27 ­delivers double-digit boat speeds. Courtesy The Manufacturer. Talk about a boat that was ahead of its time. Any list of good trailerable boats has to include a multihull, and few have reached the overall popularity of the Corsair F-27, the prototype for which was originally launched way back in 1985.

  16. The Working Man's Guide to Trailer Sailing

    Let me introduce you to the Trailer Sailer. A trailerable sailboat is in many ways better than a keel boat or a dinghy. You can get a trailer down a boat ramp, it stores for free in your backyard, and it has many of the benefits of a keel boat or dinghy, with fewer drawbacks. Some might argue that the perfect sailboat is the trailer sailer.

  17. 17 Best Sailboats to Live On + What You Should Know First

    Coastal Cruiser Under 35 — Catalina 34/35. If you want to move aboard, you're on a budget, and you want the most space you can get, it's really hard to beat an older Catalina. Starting with the Catalina 30, these beamy boats have a surprising interior volume. They make great first liveaboards.

  18. trailerable liveaboard?

    It is a sweet little boat that I believe still comes with an option for a trailerable with a lead keel. I was lucky enough to be the first to sail Hull #1 of this design in 97 or 98 (I am old and the memory is fading) at the Annapolis boat show. Great boat with a real lead keel and shoal draft. Roomy to live-aboard...I LOVED the huge aft birth.

  19. Trailerable Liveaboard

    Hi I have a liveaboard trailable and have a number of friends that also have large livaboard Trailer Sailers. The usual large trailables here in Australia that are capable of performing in this role are yachts like RL28's, Mach 28's, Court 750's, Beale 850's etc. I own an unusual Imexus 28 which along with its slightly smaller sibling the Odin 820 are available in the US.

  20. trailerable liveaboard

    Generally, liveaboards have to be slight roomier boats than weekend boats or daysailers. However, most trailerable boats are either weekend boats or daysailers. Also, most boats that have a shower, are generally larger than a trailerable boat will be. A decent size galley on a trailerable boat is a contradiction.

  21. Trailerable Liveaboard

    Regards Graeme Jarcat 6 camper Sailer out in the desert followed by Imexus 28 live aboard trailable cruiser out in the desert. ... Trailerable Sailboat or Not?.... KidTwist: General Sailing Forum: 10: 01-06-2008 09:01: Trailerable boat: goodtimes: General Sailing Forum: 26: 26-03-2007 19:25:

  22. Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30 Feet

    Like almost all the boats on this list, the Potter 19 has a retractable keel and a self-bailing cockpit. It's stable and very unlikely to heel over too far. The Potter 19 is one of the most responsive sailboats in its class. What makes the Potter 19 a great trailerable sailboat for camping is the spacious cabin.

  23. A Trailerable Outboard Boat With a Trawler Look (BLOG)

    These motors are spaced as far from the centerline as possible, making for superb maneuverability in close quarters. She also boasts go-anywhere 15-inch draft. What Mirage Manufacturing has also achieved, as well as anyone, is a trailerable boat with a trawler look. The design looks like a skinny version of Fickett's N37 slow trawler.