Trailer sailers – our favorite small sailboats from the Annapolis boat show
Trailer sailers are some of the most affordable, versatile, and adventure-ready sailboats on the market. It’s no wonder they have an almost cult following. Not only can they save hundreds of dollars a month in moorage, they also allow their owners to venture beyond local waters. I once met some adventurous souls who trailed their MacGregor all the way to Mexico and camped in their boat on the side of the highway. With many trailer sailers selling new in the $20 to 30K range, it’s a great option for first-time boat buyers who don’t have the time to maintain an older boat or the budget for monthly moorage fees. At the most recent Annapolis boat show we had the opportunity to get a close-up look at some of the latest sailer-trailer options.
Malbec 18
Fun sailing on the Malbec 18. Photo credit: Ventura Sport Boats
Nominated best boat for 2018 by SAIL Magazine, the Malbec 18 proves that good things come in small packages. This lightweight and beachable pocket cruiser can sleep a family of four and fits six around the cockpit table – just enough for a pocket-sized party. It has a semi-planing hull, swing centreboard, and adjustable backstays for performance tuning.
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- Ken Lange, President of Ventura Sport Boats, has built the tiniest trailer sailer ever!
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- Inviting cockpit on the Malbec 18
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- Sleek lines on the Malbec 18
Malbec 18 specs
LOA 18’
LWL 16’
Beam 7’2”
Draft 10” to 3’6”
Boat Weight 1500 lbs
Ballast 450 lbs
Sail Area 157 sq.ft.
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Com-Pac Eclipse 20
Com-Pac Eclipse
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- Cozy cabin on the Com-Pac Eclipse
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- BIG sailing on a small sailboat. Photo credit: Com-Pac Yachts
This trailer sailer is big on styling and comfort (well as comfortable as you can be in a small boat!). Modern lines and a plum shallow entry bow give her a streamlined look (unlike many trailerable boats that can look a tad stubby). She features an easy-to-rig mast, and a centreboard that reduces to 1’6”. Living amenities include four bunks, a galley with a one-burner stove and sink, and even a compartment for a portable toilet.
Com-Pac’s fantastic one-man mast-step system
Eclipse 20 specs
LOA 20’10”
LWL 18’1”
Beam 7’4”
Draft 18” to 62”
Displacement 2200 lbs
Ballast 700 lbs
Sail Area 200 sq.ft.
[maxbutton id=”3″ url=”https://www.com-pacyachts.com/trailerable-sloops/compac-eclipse.html” text=”READ MORE ABOUT THE ECLIPSE 20″ ]
Sage 15 or SageCat
Photo credit: Sage Marine
This micro-cruiser packs a lot into 15 feet. Little sister to the Sage 17, a SAIL Magazine’s best boat award winner, the Sage 15 has a cute little cuddy-cabin with an 85” v-berth, making her ideal for anyone who loves cruiser-camping or daysailing. She has an optional cat rig, a single sail instead of a jib and a main, a great set up for new sailors. It’s no surprise that this compact little wonder was made by a folding knives designer, Spyderco.
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- The swiss-army knife of trailer sailers
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- Manufactured by the owners of Spyderco rust-proof knives
Sage 15 specs
LOA 15’2”
LWL 14’6”
Beam 6’5”
Draft 6” to 3’
Displacement 800 lbs
Ballast 220 lbs
Sail Area 128 sq.ft.
[maxbutton id=”3″ url=”http://www.sagemarine.com/product/sagecat/” text=”READ MORE ABOUT THE SAGE 15″ ]
Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.