Thread: What was the first Trailer Sailer?

http://www.westwightpotter.com/

More info and a better pic of the boats.

I would suspect that some of the larger Canoe Yawls of the Humber Yawl club in the UK would be very close to fitting the definition. Many of them had accommodation and were designed to be lugged on a cart and have the right dimensions to fit in a railway guard van. A number of the English boats commuted around England or over to the continent.

This was one of the smaller ones. Ethel. Some had pop up decks with camping accom under.

Dragging a small boat to the water's edge by cart, ox, slaves, etc. has been done for considerably longer then the 1950's. I remember seeing an old issue of Rudder Magazine, dating in the 20's that had home made boat trailer plans in it. I'm fairly sure some old Egyptian leaders were carried to their after life, in a boat born by a trailer of sorts (okay maybe more like a cradle) by their ever willing slaves.

Colin Brookes of Hartley NZ has sent this info:

Exactly as stated on our website...hartley's were the first to coin the phrase 'Trailer Sailer'.
We have made no other claim.
I would also make a further claim now that there have probably been more Hartley trailer sailers built than all other trailer sailer designers added together.
Swing keel boats have been around since at least the end of the 19th Century, so I would forget the 'West Wight Potter' which incidentally was designed by Stanley Smith in the USA in 1960. So don't know who fabricated the idea that it was of 1949 vintage.
The 'West Wight Potter' was originally exported to the UK specifically for use in the North Sea coastal estuary areas by HMS Marine Inc at a cost of $1650 US.
The West Wight 'C' Class soon followed (also designed by Stanley Smith). Both were marketed and distributed in the UK by Ring Marine of Freshwater I.O.W. and sold for around 450 pounds.
Hope this helps.
regards
Colin BrookesmSNAME.
Hartley & Brookes Associates

Howdy ... sorry ... the ... Humber Canoe Yawls were around 1880 and took off after people read about the various trips by John MacGregor in his canoe "Rob Roy"

here is is canoe sailing trip
http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/jm/TM.HTM

The Canoe Yawls were a step up to a more powerful rough-water capable boat.

MIK