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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/02/2009 : 01:12:57

As most of you know I need to drive 1.5 hours from my house to get to my slip. Since my family doesn't find my C250WB comfortable enough to spend nights on it, I'm thinking of buying a new Travel Trailer and park it 1 mile near the slip. This way we can drive up on Friday after work and drive back Sunday afternoon. I could then sail 2 full days instead of just half of Saturday. I would also spend Wednesday night on it (racing evening).

Been to an RV show this weekend and saw an R-Vision SuperSport SS-26BHS. I was wondering if any of you might have an opinion on this manufactuer. I know nothing about travel trailers.

You can have a better view here:
http://www.rvwholesalers.com/design/SuperSport/SuperSport.php?floorplan=SS-26BHS

Steve Blackburn, Calgary, AB
C250WB - 1999 - Hull 396

Edited by - on

Windhover
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 04:42:59

Steve, my parents have a 2 year old Sunseeker Class C RV, purchased new, also from Forest River. I am very impressed with the quality of interior and construction that went into the unit for the amount paid. Forest River has only been in business since '96, looks like they are achieving providing a decent product at a fair price. Also, the few minor warranty issues with the coach were handled swiflty by the dealer. We've had three class C RV's over the years, and this Sunseeker really impresses me.

Edited by - on

Windhover
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 04:54:51

Oops, my mistake Steve... confused the R-vision with the Rockwood product, my apologies!!!

Edited by - on

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 05:19:07

Great idea... in CAN $ the price looks very attractive.

We purchased a similar 25 ft unit and lived in it for over 5 months while building a house for the kids up north (Telkwa, BC) last spring/ summer. We loved it.

Basic criteria for us was: 1) separate sleeping area, 2) dinette large enough to slide easily in/out. 3) trailer rather than a 5th wheel in order to take a small boat. 4) Trailer to be used for kids/family holidays and in combination with us sailing in the area

Trailers, like other things, are a liability when not in use. The way you envision it, including other outdoor activities, you'll get a lot of pleasure out of the unit and will enjoy the boat even more.

Camping at a wonderful trout lake in northern BC (spring 2008) with our kids and grand kids.

Edited by - on

RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 10:45:49

Steve,

The wife and I just bought a 2009 Forest River Sandstorm 29' Toy Hauler. We enjoy riding our ATV's here in Nevada as well as Utah and California. The thing we looked at was a separate bedroom for us. The bathroom had to be separate as well, not in the master bedroom. Just keep in mind that you want to take your family to the RV and sit in the seats, open all the doors, even sit on the toilet. I tried on and my knees hit the door. Make sure if fits your needs. We looked at a lot of units but we finally found one that fits us. We plan on taking it to Lake Mead and parking it at the RV Park for the weekend and after a long day of sailing we can go back to the RV and enjoy it as well. The wife likes the AC in the hot summer months. We stay on the boat in the spring but in the summer it is over a 100 degrees at night, need the ac. Good luck.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 15:53:46

You are getting lots of good advice. We have a 38' Montana 5th wheel that we stay in for weeks at a time. There are lots of similarities between boats and RVs...where will you store it, maintenance and up keep costs and problems, insurance costs, tow vehicle large enough to haul it (my RV takes a diesel dually), there will be many things you'll need to buy that are not one a new unit, etc. If you have any friends that are RV enthusiasts, take them along when you go back for another look...they will note things that might not have occurred to you.

As one of my old friends likes to say..."boats, RVs and airplanes have one thing in common...if they haven't broken yet, they are getting ready to break." Be prepared.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 16:42:25

I don't know Jack about travel trailers but it seems that you could buy a fairly decent used one for pennies on the dollar compared to new.
Am I wrong?

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 16:46:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">There are lots of similarities between boats and RVs...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Which brings up a good point, trailer supply stores are a great source for purchasing items that are common to RV's and boats. The local store here in Escondido has a much smaller markup than a marine supply store. Toilet chemicals, non-slip tread, rubber seals to name a few. They also carry some marine supplies as well.

Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 02/02/2009 16:47:42

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 17:22:35

I'm kind've letting go the idea of R-Vision, kind of afraid of the quality. Funny that you mentioned Forest River since I am currently looking at 2 of these and they look/feel much better.

I started calculating yearly costs of my sailing addiction:
- Trailer paiments: $2700
- Season camping lot: $2500
- Boat slip & club fee: $1100
- Boat upgrades: $1000 (very conservative).
------
$7300

Now imagine if I would live on the coast with a 35 footer with no need for:
- Boat Trailer
- Pickup truck
- Travel trailer
- Camping lot.

Would basically cost me the slip fees (maybe $3500 /year). Trailor sailor is not neccessarily the cheap alternative to sailing, well certainly not in my case.

I don't think I can afford all of this. :-( You guys are going to have to buy LOTS of books from me. :-)

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 18:48:23

I am not a fan of Bunk house models.

But I am big fan of walk around queens. We went with a used 22' with a larger bathroom than the R-Vision above. This is a Keystone-Springdale 26'er I would like.

Edited by - pastmember on 02/02/2009 18:59:44

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 01:02:07

Well, we did the travel trailer for years for winter travel cruising and asked the kids when they got their homes they might have a parking place for us. It worked for a while but wanting to share with the 25 foot trailer with growing kids we now have a used motor home. All that practice of keeping the C25 and the travel trailer maintained made it possible to do the RV. No payments, low insurance (Camping World) and license under a $100. Had a few maintenance problems but didn't need a tow and made the fixes. Ready to roll as we have put the rig near our lake and most of the family now comes. Everyone has to really evaluate the need and how much you will use each of the choices available. I lucked out with this latest change and I get to sail more and the family comes too.

Edited by - on

cat30
1st Mate

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73 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 08:30:40

Maybe i missed something- any reason why you cant stay on the boat for the weekend?

Edited by - on

Cloudveil
1st Mate

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USA
60 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 10:02:21

Steve - We have an R-vision Trail-lite 28' travel trailer (2001),
and we love it. Been to Baja (Bay of Conception) two times, and
it has held up well, even with the Baja poor roads. It trails
nice,(especially compared to towing the C25WK!) It has a side
slide-out, and we use it at home for a bunkhouse for the grandkids
when they visit.
JWood - Cloudveil

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 10:28:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cat30
 Maybe i missed something- any reason why you cant stay on the boat for the weekend?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I for one have spent a lot of weekends on what I considered the most comfortable C25 afloat, it was OK for one person; I missed my wife. My wife is thrilled about our new travel trailer, as are my friends who expect better food now.

Edited by - on

SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 10:51:52

I've been using RV.net to research truck campers and there's some really good info there.

Here's the TT forum:
http://rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/26.cfm

Jim

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 11:02:27

Steve,
Your numbers: annual cost for trailer payments and season camping lot = $5,200. How often do you and the family go sailing each year? Also, if a modest hotel/motel or B&B is reasonably close to your marina, how many nights will $5K buy? If you find one you and the family like, maybe they will work out a frequent guest deal with you.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 11:13:48

For the cost of a trailer, you likely could buy a larger boat, e.g. Catalina 30, that they would find comfortable enough to sleep on.

A quick search on Yachtworld yielded [url="http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1985/Catalina-Sloop-1999455/Sidney/Canada"]this one[/url]. I know it isn't that close to Calgary (<700miles) but, even with shipping, I think you'd still be ahead.

Edited by - on

RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 19:28:45

Steve, I was able to combine a few things I love. Riding ATV's and sailing. We will use the TT at the lake mainly for the AC (over 100 degrees in the summer) It gets a little hot down below in the boat. I also will use it to go ride ATV in Utah at San Hollow which is a RV Park on a small lake. You can ride ATV's and I can sail my Hobie Adventure Island. You can do lot more with the TT than what you are planning. Next month I am going to the Grand Canyon for a few days. Lots of posibilites.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 21:08:28

Don't know about the Great North but here in the States the RV industry has been devastated and used RVs are abundant and cheap. I think this is just like boats, buy used ones that have been well cared for.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2009 : 01:44:51

So much food for thought! The main reason why not to sleep in the C250 is that I have, wife, daughter (10), Son (14), Yorkshire terrier (14 lbs) and myself (180 lbs). :-) They are used to comfortable living (I was an army grunt a while back, so I don`t mind it too much). You guys all know how much I love my C250, but to be brutaly honest my idea that I could use it for sleeping wasn't so good considering the 4.5 of us. Also understand that I have a WB with 8" inches less headroom than your WK guys. It's good that we are from Quebec originaly becuase the "Cirque du Soleil" genes need to kick in when it's time to sleep in the aft bunk. That's 4.5 little mouths breathing away and creating humidty and condensation. Another of my considerations was what can I do to make it more comfortable? Was thinking of:

- Real mattresses (or better ones).
- Fans/heater (we have desert like nights, gets cold).
- TV with DVD player.

But you see even with all of that we would still be cramped. Our lake is about 10 X 2 miles. There are a couple of 32-35 footers but they kinda stick out. My sailing club docks changed their policy to no more than 27 footers. I think if we could at least stand in it that would be fine and feel less cramped.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2009 : 08:43:05

Steve:

Are you on the reservoir there (I think in the SW quadrant of th ecity) where they play pond hockey in the winter? Your problem does sound likt th eboat is about 5 - 10 feet too short, but I can't see something that big being practical in Alberta - I'm betting that some of the allure of the 250 was that it is trailerable.

Have you conssidered a cockpit tent? Seems to me that then for cruising purposes you could put a mattress in the cockpit and sleep 2 comfortably there. On Raceday, leave the cockpit tent and mattress ashore in your vehicle.

we have 2 adults, an 11 year old who thinks she's an adult, and a baby who brings more gear aboard than an adult on our 25. Now having the fin keel means we have more headroom than you, and the pop-top is usually up when we are aboard and in port, but we also feel cramped. Starting this summer, the baby will be "stowed" in a playpen between the settees (good thing we don't have a swing keel). We can still fit him in an umbrella stroller, and we have a lot of really compact gear from canoeing, but I am totally with you on the moisture issues in the boat.

Our sleeping arrangements last year were Momma in the quarterberth, Daughter in the Vee berth, Dad on starboard settee, baby on a timeshare between the carseat and latched to Mom. About halfway through th eseason we got smart and kicked the kid out of the Vee berth and took it over as the paents space. Daughter didn't think much of this arrangement, so we hung a drape over the end of the quarterberth so it would muffle the complaining a little.

Once the baby is around 5-7 years old we will be reconsidering our choice of boats/hobbies and either moving up or moving out.

I've heard that the Hinterhoellers cruised the north channel in a shark (24 feet) until thier kids were in their teens. Not sure how they pulled that off.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2009 : 09:20:13

Here ya go Steve, I found yo ua land Yacht that *should* be able to tow the catalina, and provide a second home...

http://www.certifiedsales.com/listings/YS090014.html

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2009 : 00:45:30

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the Land Yacht link. Like it`s going to make my life simpler! :-)

I keep the boat at Sylvan Lake near Red Deer halfway between Calgary and Edmonton. People here think I`m nuts to drive there twice a week.

Edited by - on

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