the Timpenny is a fast little yacht as well , do very well in mixed fleet racing on handicap and can take a bit of shaking . !!!!!! worth a serious look if the size and price is right for you .

We had a Spacesailer 20 for a couple of years and people who knew boats used to say how much room it had for a 20 footer but i thought it was a bit on the small side for 2 adults in the cabin area but there was plenty of space in the cockpit

If i was looking for a boat where i was intending to spend a fair amount of time in the cabin i would be looking at something a bit bigger if possible

Regards Don

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Madmouse said..
You are going to end up with a Castle 650. Nice and light. Dries out, lock down keel.

Yes the castle is a great boat for all those reasons
When i bought my b20 over 9 years ago there was a waiting list not only for the new castles but the 2nd hand ones also
Oh how things have changed in the boat market over those years
It seems the trailables that have best kept their value over that time have been the ones with some National or state associations Hartleys , Ultimates , sonatas , timpenny's , noelex's , castles , farrs , rl24's and few others i am aware of .
sadly the vic b20 association wound up around 10 years ago

I suspect even many of the listed associations are finding it challenging competing for survival it just seems that organised sailing outside a few classes and yacht clubs is faltering in the modern age , when i was a kid i remember stepping over multitudes of dinghy's of all designs pulled up on camping ground beaches on the peninsula it was the thing families did .... dad would build a boat and at xmas head off camping and the family would sail and swim the endless summer .. or thats what we did
Now there are different demands on family life and things change

To me the experience remains the same i am still that kid its just the boat has changed.

Don just on the spacesailer there is a series of youtube videos by a simon carter that documents his costal passages from brisbane to the whitsundays very entertaining.

OK so add Castle 650 and Cole 23 to the list of possibles... Plenty of variety.
Users are 2 medium sized adults, tall 15yo, 11yo.
Interesting feedback @onk on the Spacesailer, thanks.
Yes interesting about the associations. The Timpenny one seems fairly active. In Victoria anyway. Haven't stumbled on much in Queensland yet, but I will chase up the Hervey Bay Yacht Club for starters and see if I can score some rides.
Talked with the owner of the Boomerang 63 today. Great guy, font of info. Ideas like large mossie nets thrown over the poptop and/or under the boom tent to keep the midges at bay at night.
1988 model. Gorgeous boat, weight is good, even on a quality refurbished tandem trailer. Just a bit on the high side of high with the price...
The learning continues.

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RigilKent said..

Users are 2 medium sized adults, tall 15yo, 11yo.

Forget any boomerangs you would end up with cabin fever real quick IMHO great solo ok with couple maybe stretched to with toddler but more than that they are too tight for camping happily ..
with the weight limit not sure which way to head...sorry
best advice is hop inside some or think about The "BA falcon tow hack" you dont have to worry if leaving at any ramps that way

They're all a lot bigger than any tent, with changing scenery. But yes - this n00b needs to get inside some. Starting this week with some local examples.

You're essentially looking for something for 4 adults. If you get something too small you risk your crews happiness. Especially if you are caravanning as well.

We have a Seaway 25 and it is just big enough for a similar family.

Claimed weights are very rubbery.... Even in the class, the layups were done by eye so variations can be found.

My solution is to get the crew involved early on with some twilight sailing or daysails with helpful skippers and then they'll realize that you all need a cheap land cruiser and increased tiw weights. easily said hey!

Once you start talking 25 foot trailer sailers then you are going to need those teenagers to launch and retrieve. The problem is windage. Hauling up the keel then maneuvering into shallow water with a strong cross wind onto ramps etc you will suddenly realize why there are all these trailer sailers parked up in storage areas with the grass growing up into them all over the country.

With respect its a common misconception. Single handedly launching\retrieving/ mast raising is'nt hard at all. There's a lot of info at the previously mentioned trailer sailer website. I do it all the time. As do many others. It's the setup and simple prep that has been mastered and is easily replicated.

End of last year I retrieved singlehandedly while my wife watched from the shade. A lady watching came over and told me she'd still be married if her husband had the boat sorted like ours. She then harrumphed and said he only had a 6m tinny.

Anyways the issue at this stage would be costs.

There has been a lot of soul searching and navel gazing in regards to the declining sport. Modern family time commitments and the instant gratification generations seems to be the consensus. In the meantime the boats and worse the trailer rots.

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madmission said..

RigilKent said..

Users are 2 medium sized adults, tall 15yo, 11yo.

Forget any boomerangs you would end up with cabin fever real quick IMHO great solo ok with couple maybe stretched to with toddler but more than that they are too tight for camping happily ..
with the weight limit not sure which way to head...sorry
best advice is hop inside some or think about The "BA falcon tow hack" you dont have to worry if leaving at any ramps that way

And this is where the Mac 26 comes in.....Hi volume, light weight. For which you compromise by spending a lot of money, and accepting the limitations that satisfying your desire, necessitate.

Or... think in terms of also buying a tent, and camping ashore for the night.

With the teenagers the Macgregor 26 would be a good choice because as well as a sail boat you could also use it in power boat mode and drag the kids around on tubes etc

For some reason some kids seem to find sailing boring and the Macgregor might keep them interested

I know that they sell for more than you wanted to spend but perhaps it might be worth having a look at one before you buy something else

There are a few for sale in southern Queensland at the moment

http://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/macgregor-26x/171983

Occasionally a cheap one comes up for sale and you never know what the owners circumstances are if you make a crazy offer

Regards Don

that one is 40 k and no trailer ! add say 10k plus for trailer = 50k then add 20k plus for a tow vehicle ...... and that is just to tow the 60hp out board !!!

say 70k, plus fuel ........ for the boat !!

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SandS said..

that one is 40 k and no trailer ! add say 10k plus for trailer = 50k then add 20k plus for a tow vehicle ...... and that is just to tow the 60hp out board !!!

say 70k, plus fuel ........ for the boat !!

Hi Sands

I just put that one on to show what they are like but occasionally you see them advertised for around 30K

Regards Don

Donk , i really thought you were joking when you suggested the mag 26 !!! ........... I was going to say ........ " don't mention the war " !!!!! but then i realized ,maybe you may be serious , and then i thought it may be the right boat for the guy ? ? ? who knows ??

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SandS said..
Donk , i really thought you were joking when you suggested the mag 26 !!! ........... I was going to say ........ " don't mention the war " !!!!! but then i realized ,maybe you may be serious , and then i thought it may be the right boat for the guy ? ? ? who knows ??

Hi Sands

When i looked at what he wanted to do with it and where he wanted to go i thought that the Mac would be a good allrounder

Regards Don

The Mac26 are the biggest selling trailer sailer in the world, So there doing something right.

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Donk107 said..

SandS said..
Donk , i really thought you were joking when you suggested the mag 26 !!! ........... I was going to say ........ " don't mention the war " !!!!! but then i realized ,maybe you may be serious , and then i thought it may be the right boat for the guy ? ? ? who knows ??

Hi Sands

When i looked at what he wanted to do with it and where he wanted to go i thought that the Mac would be a good allrounder

Regards Don

you are probably spot on Donk ...............

Rigi

Have a look at the long cabin careel 22 and the sabre 22 i think you may have room to juggle your tow weights and their swing keel set up and pop tops makes the interior much more friendly to a family on the water and on the road.

I am planning a trip north to whitsundays in june and from my research its a bit risky camping by the water on fraser island , crocs and dingoes further south apparently goannas can be pesky so sleeping aboard is preferred.

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sunycoastguy said..
The Mac26 are the biggest selling trailer sailer in the world.

Just proves my theory on humanity

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sunycoastguy said..
The Mac26 are the biggest selling trailer sailer in the world, So there doing something right.

I keep reading this, mainly here but I would be surprised if it was true. I would have thought the Catalina 22 sold here as the Boomaroo would have been the biggest seller.

find something that sails first or buy a power boat m 26 wont sail out of sight on a dark night , poorly built , ugly and doesn't make a very good speed boat as to heavy fail to see any redeeming features other than cheap per volume

Like the McGregor 26 but way outside the budget.
Yes the Careel 22 looks interesting - like the 18 but mostly extra cockpit space?
I'm wondering why nobody has mentioned the RL24? The weight is good and the prices attractive.

Crocodiles at Fraser Island?? Somebody been having a lend of you. Be on the lookout for dropbears though.
Dingos and goannas can be an issue. Dingos will even eat your sneakers they are so starving.

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RigilKent said..
Crocodiles at Fraser Island??

My reference
parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/fraser/pdf/fraser-island-map.pdf

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RigilKent said..
Like the McGregor 26 but way outside the budget.
Yes the Careel 22 looks interesting - like the 18 but mostly extra cockpit space?
I'm wondering why nobody has mentioned the RL24? The weight is good and the prices attractive.

Careel 22 LONG cabin version
RL 24 seen too many capsize (4) ..not self righting but inbuilt buoyancy

There are crocs in the Mary River and they don't mind travelling for a feed.

My anecdotal ref from a respected source
"I reported one to NP behind frazer about mary river region, it was about 4-5ft judging by the snout."

I also seem to recall that you need to be careful when wading at trailer ramps in murky water , there is a fish or something that can give you a nasty bite to the legs.

I am planning a trip up that way around june for 7 weeks or so and hope to be well informed by then.

Maybe qld should change to "dangerous one day , deadly the next"

I asked a life-long Hervey Bay resident friend, former pro fisherman and Fraser Island logger, and regularly boatie here about crocs. He said:
"Most definitely, I've never seen one in all the years I was net fishing on the West coast of Fraser, but I have heard them barking at the river mouth ?? More chance of getting stung by a stingray or winning gold lotto."

I hadn't picked up any mention about RL24s not self righting. I have since found this very informative discussion from 2009: www.rlyachts.net/forum.asp?ID=3601
Also this: www.rlyachts.net/rlstory9.asp

"I asked a life-long Hervey Bay resident friend, former pro fisherman and Fraser Island logger, and regularly boatie here about crocs. He said: "Most definitely, I've never seen one in all the years I was net fishing on the West coast of Fraser, but I have heard them barking at the river mouth ?? More chance of getting stung by a stingray or winning gold lotto."

Let me guess same guy that told you about dropbears ??

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madmission said..
"I asked a life-long Hervey Bay resident friend, former pro fisherman and Fraser Island logger, and regularly boatie here about crocs. He said: "Most definitely, I've never seen one in all the years I was net fishing on the West coast of Fraser, but I have heard them barking at the river mouth ?? More chance of getting stung by a stingray or winning gold lotto."

Let me guess same guy that told you about dropbears ??

Hello madmission

There are QNPWS signs warning people about crocs in the area at Garry's Anchorage, halfway along the Sandy Straits inside Fraser.

The crocs - like canetoads - seem to be making their way south. When I was stationed in Gladstone as a Customs Officer '96-'98, there was an occasional sighting in the very nearby Calliope River.

LOL.
But as has been said, if there are warnings, then something must have triggered them. And it will probably get worse over time with climate change... A person was stung by an irukandji jellyfish near Sandy Cape the other day. Another climate shift consequence.
It's not something I'd be particularly worried about for your trip. There are however a LOT of stingrays. I had one hooked up the other day after kayaking over to Big Woody Island and looked down to see a huge flathead right next to my feet and nothing I could do about it.
Dingos will get at anything you leave out and the warning signs say they have even figured out how to open eskies.
Biggest issue will be midges though - and they walk straight through standard flyscreen.