Ericson 32

[Eric]

I'm thinking of either buying an older 27 or 32 and wanted to know how many people trailer their 32? I'll use the boat primarily for lake sailing, but may want to trailer it once or twice a year and do some sailing in the Gulf of Mexico. I'm only four hours from the coast.

Also, any thoughts as to the pros/cons of a 27 vs a 32?

Thanks in advance.

Eric
outside Austin, TX near Lake Travis

 

[Mark Hadrick]

trailer Ericson 27

Eric, did you ever trailer a 27, how did you set up your trailer, what to watch for, bunks or rollers, ???????????

 

[Eric]

trailer Ericson 27/32

Mark,

That was quite some time ago! No, we ended up not purchasing and trailering a 27 or 32. It wasn't the setup or the boat, just the timing of the purchase. However, I'd still be interested in hearing if and how others have done it with a 27 or 32.

Eric

 

[Jim Baldwin]

no no no

The E27 and the E32 are way to big and heavy to think about casually moving around on a trailer. You need a specially built low trailer and full cradel support. These boats don't really rest easy on pad supports. Their hulls can develope depressions and dents if the pads are not placed just right. With 9 foot beam and wider, you're definatley a wide load. The masts are stepped in a fixed tabernackle and require a crane.

Why not just look for a trailerable sailboat, (preferably already on a trailer?) The E27 and E32 both do best with liquid under their keels.

(My 2 cents)

PS: You can't compare the 27 and the 32. The 32 is twice the boat in many ways. Most people can be completely satisfied in 32 feet but 27 footers often look for the chance to move up. (I have the 27 and my friend has the 32). What more can I tell you?

 

[Eric]

...a bit eccentric...

Jim,

You're probably right. Trying to trailer these guys is a bit eccentric

Perhaps something much smaller that's already trailered is the key as you mentioned. One of these days I'll live closer to the coast, even better on some tropical island...

What kind of cruising do you and your friend do on your Ericsons?

Eric

 

[Jim Baldwin]

bla bla bla

Hi Eric: I sail out of Long Beach CA. The main thing here is Catalina Island about 20 miles offshore. The crossing can be slow and boring, (motoring all the way) or it can be really scary with high winds and heavy swell. Most of the time it's just about perfect and all year long. If you don't like the open sea you can get lost inside LA Harbor, which is huge.

Anyway...I started sailing years ago in a small trailerable sailboat. Many of my best memories come from those good old days. Some of those mid-70's trailer boats can now be scooped up for a few hundred dollars. With their shoal-draft or retractable keels they are great for lakes. Self-righting and positive foam flotation makes them safe on the ocean as well. The old MacGregors (with their planning type hulls) were fast, manuverable and easy to sail. (They'll give you a real pounding though in a chop).

I have sailed to more places, both lakes and oceans in a trailerable sailboat, then I will ever get to from the slip. It is a lot of work though... When you get to the end of the day, your real work is just starting.

 

[Eric]

Jim,

Thanks for the info and advice. I think when the time is appropriate that I'll shoot for a cheap older trailer sailboat. I've got an old 4 cylinder pickup which won't pull much, so it'll have to be pretty light. I knew someone who had an old '66 22 foot Santana, which took a lot of time to launch, step the mast, etc. My old truck certainly couldn't pull it! It'd be nice to have something smaller which doesn't take much effort to launch.

Eric