Hi, I have been interested in buying a cheap trailable sailboat for use on the Murray River. Needs to be trailable as I dont have a mooring, The reason I am thinking a sailboat, is, there seem to be a lot cheaper and a lot more for sale than a small houseboat. I would need the sailing rig. My main want is for like river camping, so a functional saloon and small outboard for easy maintence seems to make sense to me.

I am also strugging to find who works on boats, who would fix the fibreglass hull if it hit a snag and breached, who could make modifcations inside, or add solar, or a toilet? Are there one stop shop boating businesses that provide these type of services? As you can see I do not have much experience with these type of boats. Any comments or help we be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

The trailersailerplace .com.au forum will be able to guide you regarding a suitable ts. It will be handy to mention here and on that forum where along the Murray and what $ you are looking to spend. With a ts you have the beauty of working on the boat at home so for example rigging up solar on a ts is easy stuff provided you work out what you want to charge and buy the right gear . A toilet (' head ' on a boat) is usually a porta potti and most likely will come with the boat. I recommend you look inside a ts of various lengths to confirm thats what your wanting before anything else.

a lot cheaper and a lot more for sale than a small houseboat.

A LOT smaller too.
Sitting headroom with poptop up and not a lot of privacy for the loo.
That said. On trailersailorplace you will find a blog of a couple of blokes who traveled almost the length of the Murray.

Check it out.

gary

Done rivering/lakeing on Myall Lakes .
Don't go too big,as mast/motor becomes a hassle . Best 18-20 foot with low freeboard = easy access. ( Had a DeHavilland Rambler - original trailer sailer - which was ideal )
Have outboard on transom,not bracket,for best control .
+ pivoting centreboard so ride over snags !
Realise only a tent with a lid !
Mason

Why would you want to keep the sails?
Specially if the wind is blowing from the wrong direction,

I've read about a couple of trailer sailer trips along the Murray in Victoria and they removed the masts.

Select to expand quote

tired said..
Why would you want to keep the sails?
Specially if the wind is blowing from the wrong direction,

I've read about a couple of trailer sailer trips along the Murray in Victoria and they removed the masts.

I have "sailed" significant parts of The Murray. The tranquility of sailing, not disturbing the shoreside wildlife or birdlife, fuel saving, challenge, sense of adventure and so many other reasons why keeping your mast and using sails when appropriate is very desirable. I would say we managed to sail over 50 percent of the time often just under roller furling Genoa making it easy to transition to outboard when the wind direction became incorrect or it died.
I calculated we covered around 1/3 of the total distance under sail and these times were by far the most enjoyable.

have you motor sailed in the narrow sections in Victoria...actually called the Narrows..full of stumps, logs and snags.
The SA section is very wide in those pics

Select to expand quote

tired said..
have you motor sailed in the narrow sections in Victoria...actually called the Narrows..full of stumps, logs and snags.
The SA section is very wide in those pics

No not to date (but have kayaked there and intend too)and now have an extra electric auxiliary mounted again for tranquility ( and fuel saving) and can sail downwind in 40 cms of water with a mostly retracted swing keel that just retracts into the hull if it strikes anything. Anywhere I can motor I can sail/motor with the wind. :)
I have previously sailed a Jarcat 6 ( with electric trolling motor assist ) up the Blackwood river in WA that makes even the narrower sections of The Murray seem wide!:)

Plenty of small trailerable cruisers around if you look.
I went with this one found on Riverland cruising club site
About 16 feet long and draws 16 inches with yanmar SB8 inboard
full length skeg
single axle trailer
More room than equipment trailer sailer and very capable sea boat

A few years ago I did one of those hire cruises on the Murray with the family. It was one of those paddle boats powered by a Holden red motor with a Trimatic gear box. We just pulled into the bank every night. At the time I thought I would like to do the trip from the border to the sea in a trailer sailer. I was thinking a Careel 18 would be ideal boat at the time. Same routine. Pull into the bank at night and just use the boat for the bunks.

Thanks so much everyone, very interesting and helpful. Tired, I actually meant to say I wouldn't need the mast, sails etc, though I was really interested in what Grith said about sailing on the river, it sounded fantastic, I suspect as I have no sailing experience, maintaining it and operating sail equipment might be a bit much for me. I was also interested in what Lydia said about river cruisers, I just haven't been able to find any and am worried about maintenance with an inboard.

Select to expand quote

Theaviator said..
Thanks so much everyone, very interesting and helpful. Tired, I actually meant to say I wouldn't need the mast, sails etc, though I was really interested in what Grith said about sailing on the river, it sounded fantastic, I suspect as I have no sailing experience, maintaining it and operating sail equipment might be a bit much for me. I was also interested in what Lydia said about river cruisers, I just haven't been able to find any and am worried about maintenance with an inboard.

Much less than an outboard.

there are 2 River Guide books
neither that great but helpful
real issue for those from the sea is working out datum

that has been fun as much of river is quite shallow

youtube is quiet helpful for planning btw

Select to expand quote

Theaviator said..
Thanks so much everyone, very interesting and helpful. Tired, I actually meant to say I wouldn't need the mast, sails etc, though I was really interested in what Grith said about sailing on the river, it sounded fantastic, I suspect as I have no sailing experience, maintaining it and operating sail equipment might be a bit much for me. I was also interested in what Lydia said about river cruisers, I just haven't been able to find any and am worried about maintenance with an inboard.

I was originally searching for a Robert longboat 21 but could find a good one
there is a good YouTube video of 2 blokes travelling in one or those
if you going east of the border it can be a long way between fuel stops about 120km

two things that have driven me made in planning
1. guides and distance markers are in statute miles or km
2. It is impossible to calculate good datum

Used Kingston 580 for Sale | Boats For Sale | Yachthub
Bit of a clean up and all good.
Trailer will be about $8.5k new