I trust the following data will assist anyone who is considering buying a trailer sailer, but might not be sure of how big and heavy it might be, particularly with respect to whether it can be towed by the family car and parked in the driveway at home.
The following have been copied from the
Australian Trailable Yacht and Sports Boat Rule (which provides an indication of how fast the boat is) and the Austral 20 Brochures in
John Crawford's Library
| Dimension |
Value |
| Class based handicap (CBH) |
0.650 |
| Length overall (LOA) |
6.09m |
| Length of waterline (LWL) |
4.50m |
| Beam |
2.38m |
| Max draft |
1.52m |
| Min draft |
0.30m |
| Advertised displacement (compare displacement below) |
862kg |
| Jib |
8.36m2 |
| Main |
8.73m2 |
| Genoa |
14.50m2 |
| Spinnaker |
33.45m2 |
| Advertised price 1977, boat |
$6737 |
| Advertised price 1977, trailer |
$645 |
The following have been measured from my boat. The numbers for my boat may differ from yours. I've published these numbers in good faith, and accept no responsibility for what you may use them for.
| Part |
Item |
Weight (kg) |
Notes |
| Trailer |
Wheel and tyre |
21 |
Two per trailer |
| Trailer |
Tow-away trailer and frame |
376 |
Kessner single axle tilt trailer. Weighed on weigh bridge 22-06-2017 |
| Boat |
Keel |
211 |
Cast steel keel. Major dimensions = 1620 x 455 x 37mm. |
| Boat |
Mast |
31 |
Major dimension = 7710mm |
| Boat |
Mast spreaders |
Included in mast |
Major dimension = 680mm |
| Boat |
House battery |
9 |
Small battery 27AH |
| Boat |
Rudder |
9 |
Fibre-glass construction |
| Boat |
Tiller |
1 |
Solid timber |
| Boat |
Bow anchor |
6 |
Danforth galvanised steel |
| Boat |
Bow anchor chain and rode |
7 |
Galvanised steel chain and nylon rode |
| Boat |
Stern anchor |
2 |
Galvanised steel grappling anchor |
| Boat |
Outboard motor |
29 |
Yamaha 6HP 2 stroke long leg |
| Boat |
Bow mast holder |
2 |
Pine timber |
| Boat |
Stern mast holder |
2 |
Pine timber, galvanised steel and roller |
| Boat |
Genoa |
2 |
Wire luff |
| Boat |
Jib |
1 |
Dacron with wire luff |
| Boat |
Spinnaker and bag |
1 |
|
| Boat |
Storm jib |
1 |
|
| Boat |
Mainsail and boom |
10 |
Boom length = 2400mm. Roller reef and slab reef |
| Boat |
Spinnaker pole |
1 |
Aluminium tube |
| Boat |
Fenders x 4 |
3 |
|
| Boat |
Floor boards |
14 |
|
| Boat |
Interior cushions |
18 |
|
| Boat |
Big fuel bowser |
15 |
Including petrol. Connected to outboard |
| Boat |
Small fuel bowser |
5 |
Including petrol. 10 litre backup |
| Boat |
Timber step and builder's tub |
11 |
Normally left at home for engine flushing |
| Boat |
Lifejackets x 4 |
3 |
|
| Boat |
Mast support post |
4 |
|
| Boat |
Tools and first aid kit |
4 |
|
| Boat |
Miscellaneous ropes and lines |
7 |
|
| Boat |
Grab box |
2 |
|
| Boat |
Fire extinguisher |
1 |
|
| Boat |
Tie-down strap |
1 |
|
| Boat |
Hull and all fixtures |
683 |
Every 'boat' item not included above. Estimated from balance of weights |
| Boat |
Displacement (Sail-away weight) |
1095 |
Estimated from balance of weights |
| Total |
Trailer and boat tow-away weight |
1471 |
Weighed on weigh bridge 02-01-2018 |
According to the numbers, the boat appears to have taken on weight from its youth in 1977 to middle age in the present day, increasing its displacement by 233kg from 862kg (as advertised) to 1095kg. Who said that boats were not like their owners?
Hi Martin
ReplyDeleteEnjoying reading your blog. I too am from the UK and are now in SA . I have just bought an Austral 20 but am struggling to raise the mast. Any suggestions? According to your numbers it only weighs 31 kg but mine also has a furling rig attached so it is a bit heavier.
Hi Bob,
DeleteThanks for you comment. Sorry not to reply earlier. Hopefully, my latest entry will help you out. http://theboattinkerer.blogspot.com/2018/06/episode-18-pole-son-of-pole-and-twin.html
Hi both Martin and Bob. I too was born in England (I'll never say UK) and I'm in Adelaide. I have recently been possessed of an Austral 20, sail number 47.I'm having trouble finding out much about them. My club (Garden Island Yacht Club) has three Australs but one really knowledgeable owner has recently passed away and the other is owned by a newbie. Cheers Martin (yes another one)
ReplyDeleteHi Martin, one of the reasons for this blog is that I found the information is difficult to find. There are no equivalents of the "Haynes Manuals". Further, each boat is different, even if they are the same make and type. Anyway, I hope you find something useful here.
DeleteHi Martin,
ReplyDeleteI know this is an old post. However I have just bought an Austral 20, which I hope will rest next door ( small boat club).
As you know, there is little info on boats, and old boat in particular. I am aware that the old boats had a rather poor rudder action. I am not sure if mine is one of them. I am in the process of a refit, and hence have yet to trial it. Mine is a 1981 made. Do you know if this is a MK1 or Mk2. If the earlier, I will have to copy a later design, but I am jumping the gun now....
Hi Sealice
DeleteLooks like these boats are still very popular and circulating here in SA. I don't have one yet, but am considering. Do you still have yours? Would it be possible to meet up and discuss at some point?
Regards
Mike
Regards
Mike
Hi Sealice, I've had trouble posting replies to comments. We have corresponded on SeaBreeze, so I know you have answers to some of your questions. My best guess is that yours is a Mark 1. The Mark 2 has all the ballast in the keel (no fixed ballast in the hull) and the Mark 3 has a pop top.
ReplyDeleteI have just bought an Austral 20, built 1981. Very well fitted out, galley etc. I plan on racing the boat at Port MacDonnell and need to know the size of the genoa, luff, foot and leech. I do not think it has ever been raced, it has a spinnaker but very light on fittings!
ReplyDelete