Thank you Phil, David T, David W and Arne.
I contacted the broker and I am trying to setup a time to see the Halman 21. I think I looked at the listing last winter. I was doubting being able to launch with a full keel like that. I will use my depth measurement brick/rope/stick and check the local boat launch out in more detail.
Before coming back here to see the discussion about the Halman 21 I had decided (again) that a monohull was the only way to go and I was back to being 90% sure that building was the way to go. I have spent a lot of time looking at this Sharpie 550 design on duckworks. The designer's calculations suggest that the boat should be self righting and the displacement is 500 kg or about 1100 lbs. This seems to be the exact opposite way to go compared to the Halman. I have no doubt I can trailer and launch a 1100 pound boat. Does anyone have any thoughts on this designer or on this design in particular?
Arne -- I am not sure how to say if the summer winds here are either predictable or moderate. The Chicago to Mackinac race seems to result in some tragic events every other year. But this race is running the longest possible distance across the entire lake. Without knowing how to quantify the idea of 'predictable and moderate' I would say off hand that the winds are forecast reasonably well for about 12 to 20 hours into the future and the range of winds in the summer goes from dead calm to B5 or B6 at the absolutely most. It is rare to see a Gale warning until October or November. The issue, in my experience, is that the wave height builds very quickly and the shape of the waves are very steep. That is -- the waves build to great height after only a few hours of the wind really blowing. There are never any long rolling waves on the lake. The length stays short but the height goes up fast. This would not be too bad except that the narrow channels back to the port are quickly filled with confused waves. I have been out several times when sailing out on the open lake was pure joy, but getting back into the harbor was terrifying. Thank you for your thoughts on the Halman 21 design.
David T -- You said you would not want to launch and recover the Halman 21 every weekend. What is the largest sailboat that you would dry sail off a trailer as far as length, draft and displacement are concerned?
Phil -- Thanks for pointing out the Halman 21 link. I am planning to take a good look at her when the broker can arrange it. It does have a lot of nice finish like the portlights and the trailer seems to be in good condition from the photos. You made the comment that it 'Doesn’t look like either boat will get you there fast'. Even if I went for a very light displacement boat around the same length I still think it would be slow going. When looking around the 21 foot range is there really that big of a difference between a fast sailboat and slow sailboat?
David W -- The Flicka, the BCC and the Dana 24 keep popping up in my searches for boats in this size range. Those are clearly the boats designed and built for passage making. The BCC displaces 14,000 lbs. Big Boat. I would love to own and sail one but it is just not practical for me. Especially considering the going price. The Dana and Flilcka are a little bit lighter but still out of my league. As far as a lifting keel goes I am definitely considering that. I would like to find an S2 6.7 or 6.9 and bring her home. This boat only draws 10 inches of water with the keel up. Definitely made to be a trailer sailer. So far I can't find one close enough and in some sort of reasonable condition.
The search continues.