CD for trailering questions

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

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Art Saftlas

CD for trailering questions

Post by Art Saftlas »

Interested in buying a CD for trailering. Never done this before, always sailed larger keel boats here on SF Bay. Want a go anywhere coastal cruiser I can trailer other places. Want opinions of the seaworthyness of samll Cape Dorys and how easy it is to trailer the different models. Thanks alot.



art@2b-One.com
Robert

Re: CD for trailering questions

Post by Robert »

Art, We recently purchased a Typhoon Weekender with the same question about the ease of trailering, launch and recovery. With a tongue extension, launch and recovery are painless. As for towing make sure you find a quality bulit trailer. Oh yes, the boat handles like a dream. Cheers, Robert



rjohn12@midsouth.rr.com
sloopjohnl

Re: CD for trailering questions

Post by sloopjohnl »

art,
make sure the trailer you buy has a good solid keel support for the bottom of the keel. this will reduce pressure on the hull by either rollers or pads as the other support members. an 8 foot step ladder makes rigging and loading a lot easier also.
Robert wrote: Art, We recently purchased a Typhoon Weekender with the same question about the ease of trailering, launch and recovery. With a tongue extension, launch and recovery are painless. As for towing make sure you find a quality bulit trailer. Oh yes, the boat handles like a dream. Cheers, Robert
art saftlas

Re: CD for trailering questions

Post by art saftlas »

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Anyone out there trailer a CD 25? Would the 25 be harder to trailer compared to the 22? Many more built and available plus it seems more room in the cabin. Which sails better? Thanks.



art@2b-One.com
Kit

Re: CD for trailering questions

Post by Kit »

art saftlas wrote: Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Anyone out there trailer a CD 25? Would the 25 be harder to trailer compared to the 22? Many more built and available plus it seems more room in the cabin. Which sails better? Thanks.

Just got back from Houston, TX. Picked up a CD 27. Trailered it back
to Taos NM (900 miles) without any problems. I have a Ford 250 Deisel and the trailer is rated for 10400 lb. I had to get a receiver hitch and ball that was rated for 10000. The boat and trailer weight was 9200 lb. The trailer is made by Sailor. If you get a used trailer make sure the tires do not have dry rot. I had to replace all the tires (the tires were 7 years old) When they put the boat on the trailer three of the four wheels went flat. Better then then when we were on the road. I havn't sailed her yet so I can't tell you anything about that.
Good luck, Kit



kit@newmex.com
Keith

Re: CD for trailering questions

Post by Keith »

Kit wrote:
art saftlas wrote: Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Anyone out there trailer a CD 25? Would the 25 be harder to trailer compared to the 22? Many more built and available plus it seems more room in the cabin. Which sails better? Thanks.

Just got back from Houston, TX. Picked up a CD 27. Trailered it back
to Taos NM (900 miles) without any problems. I have a Ford 250 Deisel and the trailer is rated for 10400 lb. I had to get a receiver hitch and ball that was rated for 10000. The boat and trailer weight was 9200 lb. The trailer is made by Sailor. If you get a used trailer make sure the tires do not have dry rot. I had to replace all the tires (the tires were 7 years old) When they put the boat on the trailer three of the four wheels went flat. Better then then when we were on the road. I havn't sailed her yet so I can't tell you anything about that.
Good luck, Kit
I bought my 25-D in Michigan and trailered her home, 835 miles. After doing bottom job I trailered her 105 miles to launch. I had a custom built trailer rated at 10K #. Towed with 1/2 ton p.u. with towing package, wouldn't do that again - underpowered. A 3/4 ton would be better, and 1 ton would be ideal. Fortunately I had a 5 speed manual transmission. She rode on the trailer just fine. I launched her from a ramp into fresh water. If launching into salt water I would have her lifted off and on. Haven't retrieved her onto the trailer yet.



kwoodlaw@arkansas.net
Paul

Re: CD for trailering questions

Post by Paul »

Art

My wife and I routinely trailer our CD27. I made a custom galvanized trailer for it along with a mast raising system.

Comments on the boat - Look around the site, everything said is positive. But you can't go wrong with any CD that you are contemplating.

Trailering - I say routinely. For us it is worth the trouble of launching/retrieving if we can use the boat for at least a week (helps justify longer vacations). It takes about 1.5 hrs to launch and 3.5 hrs to retrieve at a good ramp. We use a Dodge 3500 4x4/cummins to pull and it works very nicely. I once used a Chevy 2500 4x4 w/350 engine and it was quite a strain. Our CD27 and trailer tip the scales at about 11,000lbs loaded w/gear so you need something serious to pull it.

For me the decision was this. Do I want to sail lots of different places for short periods of times (small CD)? Or do I want to go a few places each year for a longer (more comfortable) time?

Hope this helps

Paul
CD27 ESCAPADE #224



mrisnow@iname.com
Don Kinley

Re: CD for trailering questions

Post by Don Kinley »

Art Saftlas wrote: Interested in buying a CD for trailering. Never done this before, always sailed larger keel boats here on SF Bay. Want a go anywhere coastal cruiser I can trailer other places. Want opinions of the seaworthyness of samll Cape Dorys and how easy it is to trailer the different models. Thanks alot.
I recently purchased a CD25 and towed it about 80miles home on a borrowed trailer with a Range Rover.. (178h.p and aouto trans) She displaces 4000lbs empty and with accessories and trailer I guestimated 6500-7000lbs. The Rover did well on the interstate, but no great acceleration. She was easy to launch. A friend helped and the 2 of us launched it in 2 hours on a decent ramp with no prior experience and no tricks. Get a good folding ladder. She is moored on an inland lake, and I plan to build a trailer and take her to the coast once a year. I love this boat.



Don.Kinley@us.bosch.com
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