Re: [bolger] Trailering a Micro?
Paul:
I have to go with Peter and Don on this one. I think there are lots of
better trailer sailers that the micro. Don't get me wrong, the micro is a
great boat, but she would be best kept in a slip or mooring, or at least
launched from a known ramp. If you want to drive to various places to
launch, I would suggest something a little lighter and shallower.
Try this page:
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/boatindex/trailer-sailing-cruisers.htm
for about 130 trailerable cruisers. Micro is here for sure, but so are a
lot of other great boats.
Chuck Leinweber
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com
I have to go with Peter and Don on this one. I think there are lots of
better trailer sailers that the micro. Don't get me wrong, the micro is a
great boat, but she would be best kept in a slip or mooring, or at least
launched from a known ramp. If you want to drive to various places to
launch, I would suggest something a little lighter and shallower.
Try this page:
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/boatindex/trailer-sailing-cruisers.htm
for about 130 trailerable cruisers. Micro is here for sure, but so are a
lot of other great boats.
Chuck Leinweber
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com
> Hi, new to the group; based on exchanges I've seen here and elsewhere
> on the web, and reading and re-reading 'Boats with an Open mind' over
> the past several years, I've become very interested in the Micro
> design and am seriously thinking of building one, perhaps with the
> Micro-Navigator Chinese gaff rig but a regular cabin. I'm wondering
> if this boat is suited to use primarily as a trailer-sailor - How
> easy would it be to launch and retrieve using a 6-cylinder FWD
> minivan? Is a special trailer needed, cradle, etc? Steep ramps only?
> How hard to set up and knock down the rig each time? My use would
> primarily be weekend day-trips and overnighters beach camp-cruising
> the bays of Cape Cod, and I do not want the complications and
> investment a mooring implies, - theft problems, dinghy, bottom paint,
> ground tackle, fees, etc. However I don't want taking the boat out to
> be a big production from the trailer either. As a long-time cartopper
> now living 1 mile from a boatramp, I'd like to take a step up to
> something I can sleep aboard. If Micro is not well-suited to a
> trailering lifestyle, can anyone recommend another Bolger boat with
> similar qualities of accomodations, seaworthiness, etc. that wouldn't
> cost substantially more to build?
>
> thanks,
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Best friends, most artistic, class clown Find 'em here:
>http://click.egroups.com/1/4054/10/_/3457/_/959272473/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
I'll probably stir up a lot of Bolgeristas, Potter-sailers, and other
trailer-sailers, but the only practical trailerable sailboat I have sailed
is the Sea Pearl 21, a water-ballasted longboat style daysailer which is
really like a big canoe. It can be outfitted with a folding cuddy for
camp-cruising.
I know this boat does not meet your criteria (especially price!), but the
reason I mention it is the extremely simple rig which allows you to be
sailing in 10 minutes from arriving at the launch ramp (this is a strong
claim but absolutely true). It is an unstayed cat-ketch with rotating masts
which furl the sails by rolling them around the masts. Whatever boat you
build or buy, find a Sea Pearl and look at the rig details - it is the way
to go if speedy rigging is important. I think you can buy the rig
separately from the builder.
There is a Sea Pearl listserv atseapearl@egroups.com. Lots of traffic but
you could log in and see a few pictures if interested. I also have some
pictures on the website in my sig - look for the "Cedar Key" links.
Don Hodges
dhodges@...
http://www.ecoastlife.com
Your Cyber-Vacation - Loafing on the Emerald Coast
Small Boats, Building, Fishing, Paddling, Rowing, Sailing
trailer-sailers, but the only practical trailerable sailboat I have sailed
is the Sea Pearl 21, a water-ballasted longboat style daysailer which is
really like a big canoe. It can be outfitted with a folding cuddy for
camp-cruising.
I know this boat does not meet your criteria (especially price!), but the
reason I mention it is the extremely simple rig which allows you to be
sailing in 10 minutes from arriving at the launch ramp (this is a strong
claim but absolutely true). It is an unstayed cat-ketch with rotating masts
which furl the sails by rolling them around the masts. Whatever boat you
build or buy, find a Sea Pearl and look at the rig details - it is the way
to go if speedy rigging is important. I think you can buy the rig
separately from the builder.
There is a Sea Pearl listserv atseapearl@egroups.com. Lots of traffic but
you could log in and see a few pictures if interested. I also have some
pictures on the website in my sig - look for the "Cedar Key" links.
Don Hodges
dhodges@...
http://www.ecoastlife.com
Your Cyber-Vacation - Loafing on the Emerald Coast
Small Boats, Building, Fishing, Paddling, Rowing, Sailing
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Lefebvre <paul@...>
To: <bolger@egroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 11:33 AM
Subject: [bolger] Trailering a Micro?
> Hi, new to the group; based on exchanges I've seen here and elsewhere
> on the web, and reading and re-reading 'Boats with an Open mind' over
> the past several years, I've become very interested in the Micro
> design and am seriously thinking of building one, perhaps with the
> Micro-Navigator Chinese gaff rig but a regular cabin. I'm wondering
> if this boat is suited to use primarily as a trailer-sailor - How
> easy would it be to launch and retrieve using a 6-cylinder FWD
> minivan? Is a special trailer needed, cradle, etc? Steep ramps only?
> How hard to set up and knock down the rig each time? My use would
> primarily be weekend day-trips and overnighters beach camp-cruising
> the bays of Cape Cod, and I do not want the complications and
> investment a mooring implies, - theft problems, dinghy, bottom paint,
> ground tackle, fees, etc. However I don't want taking the boat out to
> be a big production from the trailer either. As a long-time cartopper
> now living 1 mile from a boatramp, I'd like to take a step up to
> something I can sleep aboard. If Micro is not well-suited to a
> trailering lifestyle, can anyone recommend another Bolger boat with
> similar qualities of accomodations, seaworthiness, etc. that wouldn't
> cost substantially more to build?
>
> thanks,
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Best friends, most artistic, class clown Find 'em here:
>http://click.egroups.com/1/4054/10/_/3457/_/959272473/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
I wouldn't try to talk anyone out of a Micro; the people who have
them like them too much. But let me offer some comments based on non-
Micro experience.
1) Your van is ablsolutely fine. I have experience with a 1300lb
Rhodes Mariner with a 4-cyl Voyager van. The weight is no problem.
You always want to make sure the ramp is suitable, no matter what the
tow vehicle.
2) When you choose your trailer, try to make sure that the tongue is
fairly long so you can get the boat down near the water while the van
is high and dry. The Micro is so compact that getting a too-short
trailer is a temptation.
3) I trailered a Cynthia J. for a few years. See the material in the
vault for a discussion of all the changes I made to make it quicker
to rig and unrig. With the CJ, the mast had to be lifted vertically
in and out of the mast step which was a worry but not really
difficult. That's why the Micro has a mast slot.
4) Be prepared to give the storage and trailering arrangements
serious thought. I'm sure you can work out methods that allow less
than 15 minutes from trailer to water, and water to trailer. Maybe
less. (listen here for the voices of experienced Micro owners...) But
if you just try to do it haphazardly, it could take you an hour -
looking for parts, tying knots, etc.
As for alternative designs, that could be a whole thread in itself.
Maybe I will look through the books and make up a list, but
meanwhile, re-read the first sentence.
Peter
them like them too much. But let me offer some comments based on non-
Micro experience.
1) Your van is ablsolutely fine. I have experience with a 1300lb
Rhodes Mariner with a 4-cyl Voyager van. The weight is no problem.
You always want to make sure the ramp is suitable, no matter what the
tow vehicle.
2) When you choose your trailer, try to make sure that the tongue is
fairly long so you can get the boat down near the water while the van
is high and dry. The Micro is so compact that getting a too-short
trailer is a temptation.
3) I trailered a Cynthia J. for a few years. See the material in the
vault for a discussion of all the changes I made to make it quicker
to rig and unrig. With the CJ, the mast had to be lifted vertically
in and out of the mast step which was a worry but not really
difficult. That's why the Micro has a mast slot.
4) Be prepared to give the storage and trailering arrangements
serious thought. I'm sure you can work out methods that allow less
than 15 minutes from trailer to water, and water to trailer. Maybe
less. (listen here for the voices of experienced Micro owners...) But
if you just try to do it haphazardly, it could take you an hour -
looking for parts, tying knots, etc.
As for alternative designs, that could be a whole thread in itself.
Maybe I will look through the books and make up a list, but
meanwhile, re-read the first sentence.
Peter
Paul,
Greg is absolutely on target. My Micro, "Firefly", should be
prying the waters off Harwichport about the beginning of August. I
will use a flatbed trailer which a friend of mine has and a cradle
since the boat will be living primarily on its mooring in Allen
Harbor.
I have built the masts and the balance of these allows one person
to step and unstep them since most of the weight is in the bottom of
the stick. Just plop it in place and walk it up. I think that the
biggest problem is that the rig will need to be struck and unstruck
each time. With the boat on a mooring, you just put the sail covers
on. I am using sail track on both the mizzen and main to make the
job
a little easier than tying knots and lacings.
David Jost
"Hoping my Micro gets to its three dimensional state by June 1st.
Look for pictures at www.ultranet.com/~djost"
Greg is absolutely on target. My Micro, "Firefly", should be
prying the waters off Harwichport about the beginning of August. I
will use a flatbed trailer which a friend of mine has and a cradle
since the boat will be living primarily on its mooring in Allen
Harbor.
I have built the masts and the balance of these allows one person
to step and unstep them since most of the weight is in the bottom of
the stick. Just plop it in place and walk it up. I think that the
biggest problem is that the rig will need to be struck and unstruck
each time. With the boat on a mooring, you just put the sail covers
on. I am using sail track on both the mizzen and main to make the
job
a little easier than tying knots and lacings.
David Jost
"Hoping my Micro gets to its three dimensional state by June 1st.
Look for pictures at www.ultranet.com/~djost"
The Micro is exceptionally easy to trailer - with only a few inches of
draft, you can launch in puddle. As with any boat, you'll have to set the
bunks accordingly. Special trailer? - no - although you could probably use
a flat bed and a short cradle if you couldn't dedicate a trailer to it.
Regards,
Gregg Carlson
At 04:33 PM 5/25/2000 -0000, you wrote:
draft, you can launch in puddle. As with any boat, you'll have to set the
bunks accordingly. Special trailer? - no - although you could probably use
a flat bed and a short cradle if you couldn't dedicate a trailer to it.
Regards,
Gregg Carlson
At 04:33 PM 5/25/2000 -0000, you wrote:
>Hi, new to the group; based on exchanges I've seen here and elsewhere
>on the web, and reading and re-reading 'Boats with an Open mind' over
>the past several years, I've become very interested in the Micro
>design and am seriously thinking of building one, perhaps with the
>Micro-Navigator Chinese gaff rig but a regular cabin. I'm wondering
>if this boat is suited to use primarily as a trailer-sailor - How
>easy would it be to launch and retrieve using a 6-cylinder FWD
>minivan? Is a special trailer needed, cradle, etc? Steep ramps only?
>How hard to set up and knock down the rig each time? My use would
>primarily be weekend day-trips and overnighters beach camp-cruising
>the bays of Cape Cod, and I do not want the complications and
>investment a mooring implies, - theft problems, dinghy, bottom paint,
>ground tackle, fees, etc. However I don't want taking the boat out to
>be a big production from the trailer either. As a long-time cartopper
>now living 1 mile from a boatramp, I'd like to take a step up to
>something I can sleep aboard. If Micro is not well-suited to a
>trailering lifestyle, can anyone recommend another Bolger boat with
>similar qualities of accomodations, seaworthiness, etc. that wouldn't
>cost substantially more to build?
>
>thanks,
>
>Paul
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Best friends, most artistic, class clown Find 'em here:
>http://click.egroups.com/1/4054/10/_/3457/_/959272473/
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
Hi, new to the group; based on exchanges I've seen here and elsewhere
on the web, and reading and re-reading 'Boats with an Open mind' over
the past several years, I've become very interested in the Micro
design and am seriously thinking of building one, perhaps with the
Micro-Navigator Chinese gaff rig but a regular cabin. I'm wondering
if this boat is suited to use primarily as a trailer-sailor - How
easy would it be to launch and retrieve using a 6-cylinder FWD
minivan? Is a special trailer needed, cradle, etc? Steep ramps only?
How hard to set up and knock down the rig each time? My use would
primarily be weekend day-trips and overnighters beach camp-cruising
the bays of Cape Cod, and I do not want the complications and
investment a mooring implies, - theft problems, dinghy, bottom paint,
ground tackle, fees, etc. However I don't want taking the boat out to
be a big production from the trailer either. As a long-time cartopper
now living 1 mile from a boatramp, I'd like to take a step up to
something I can sleep aboard. If Micro is not well-suited to a
trailering lifestyle, can anyone recommend another Bolger boat with
similar qualities of accomodations, seaworthiness, etc. that wouldn't
cost substantially more to build?
thanks,
Paul
on the web, and reading and re-reading 'Boats with an Open mind' over
the past several years, I've become very interested in the Micro
design and am seriously thinking of building one, perhaps with the
Micro-Navigator Chinese gaff rig but a regular cabin. I'm wondering
if this boat is suited to use primarily as a trailer-sailor - How
easy would it be to launch and retrieve using a 6-cylinder FWD
minivan? Is a special trailer needed, cradle, etc? Steep ramps only?
How hard to set up and knock down the rig each time? My use would
primarily be weekend day-trips and overnighters beach camp-cruising
the bays of Cape Cod, and I do not want the complications and
investment a mooring implies, - theft problems, dinghy, bottom paint,
ground tackle, fees, etc. However I don't want taking the boat out to
be a big production from the trailer either. As a long-time cartopper
now living 1 mile from a boatramp, I'd like to take a step up to
something I can sleep aboard. If Micro is not well-suited to a
trailering lifestyle, can anyone recommend another Bolger boat with
similar qualities of accomodations, seaworthiness, etc. that wouldn't
cost substantially more to build?
thanks,
Paul