Sailabilty vs. Trailerabilty
The trailerability of a blue water pocket cruiser is different than the sailability of one for three main reasons:
- The design of your boat’s hull
- The boat’s displacement
- The type of keel
It is simply easier to launch and retrieve with a smaller or retractable keel. Without a large keel, you can afford a shallower entry. The spar also would not be as heavy, robust or have the extra stamp of weight. In addition, the trailer is a lot lighter.
No doubt this is easier and quicker to handle and set up, so the overall trailerability is better. However, this design, according to the naval architects, tends to have slack bilges. This means that if water gets in, there is not much area to go before it is over the cabin’s sole. It also lacks the stoage ability under the sole that so often holds spare anchors and other equipment important if one is voyaging.
The hull design with a retractable keel also leads to a lighter boat of this size in the 4,000 pound range. In 15 knot to 20 knots breezes, this tends to be a less comfortable motion, more of a snap and a wilder sail. Depending on the angle of sailing with less keel, or a retractable dagger keel, it becomes harder to keep on course, takes more work, and is just not as comfortable.
The smaller keel or retractable one has real advantages as noted in getting in and out, but may become a significant problem in offshore cruising. Even around the Bahamas, 20 to 30 knots are common. If something is hit with a retractable dagger keel and it becomes damaged, it could become a real problem.
Remember the problems of day sail boats with centerboards (that are sometimes lost), and even the larger keel boats with centerboards that have problems.
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