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OT - Boats
mad4x4 - 17/1/13 at 09:24 PM

Anyone ?

Looking at a 21ft Bilge Keel that is on a trailer ( for sale) , think it is a Débutante class wonder to myself how do I get that in the water? Can a boat that big be launched down a slip or is it a crane job ?


HowardB - 17/1/13 at 09:33 PM

I have seen this done with very big boats 40'+,... trailer onto the slipway and tie of to the adjacent jetty,.. sit on the boat and wait for the tide to rise. Requires a long slipway, an adjacent jetty and patience,..


thunderace - 17/1/13 at 09:37 PM

lower it on a rope abot 50 foot long down the slip
then tow out the trailer


emwmarine - 17/1/13 at 10:48 PM

Debutante is a fairly shallow keeled bilge keeler. Quite heavy to tow, must be 1500 - 2000 kg with the trailer.

Not really a dedicated designed trailer sailer so the technique above would be safest. Drive down slipway and wait for the tide.

Trailer sailers that size it's best, imho, just to trail them down to your mooring at beginning of season and retrieve at the end. Not much use for a weekend as you'll spend a couple of hours rigging and the hassle will put you off.


designer - 18/1/13 at 02:54 PM

Not really a trailer boat, you will need a big car.