Return Of The Trailer Sailer?
It has always been an niche market that cyclically rises and falls in popularity. Arguably trailer sailing hit its heyday with the Drascombes when literally ‘running ashore for a picnic’ had an appeal. However, family cruising on a towable, sleep aboard yacht could soon be fashionable with the Viva Range from Poland. Alistair Vallance appraises its surprisingly high spec. AT PRESTON Marina they are plentiful and on Windermere they are well on their way to forming a fleet – such is the growing popularity of Viva Yachts’ trailer sailing 600 and 700 models. The Polish built pocket cruisers, brought to Britain by Preston based Shockwave, have now broken the ‘over 20’ sales mark and importer Steve Miller is confident that numbers will double in double quick time thanks to his unusual marketing scheme. ‘I realised very quickly that my early customers speedily became enthusiasts for this up market trailer sailing concept and were soon recommending the Viva to their sailing friends. Knock on sales soon followed and I was perfectly happy to part with a modest commission to recompense their endeavours,’ explains Steve. Sounds like the essential ingredients for a boat sales success story. But what of the product itself? I have to say the 24ft LOA 700 sure packs in a hefty spec, similar in fact to a sophisticated fixed keel cruiser in the 26ft bracket. Incredibly you can sleep six aboard (700/B layout), but the ‘A’ plan with its four berths – two adults and two kids - offers real interior space below, complete with a separate heads, fold-up dining table and a small but adequate galley with a two burner gas hob. Topsides, there’s plenty of room to move round the deck thanks to the inboard shroud placement. The cockpit is roomy and all sheets are to hand for single-handed sailing. With the swing centre plate fully down and the 700’s ballast ratio of 33.3%, the owner is provided with that added security which will justify his or her decision to sail a substantial distance away from the parked trailer. Power is by outboard or inboard (8hp longshaft, or 13hp max respectively) but the former must surely have the greater appeal and there is plenty of cockpit locker room on starboard to store the motor when its not on the transom bracket. The Viva has the cruising yacht look and Steve Miller assures us, the yacht feel too. Also, a look at the optional extras listings would do justice to a 30 footer: lazyjacks, gennaker, single line reefing, sprayhood and an endless list of electronic additives. The basic rig is 7/8 with fully battened main and standard rigid kicker, and with the swing centre plate retracted, both the 600 and 700 models will take a drying out anchorage. Back to options, if you are a true single-handed trailer sailer exponent, there’s a mast raising device with blocks and pulleys that does the business in remarkably quick time; from trailer to sailer in about an hour. Below decks there are surprisingly large storage areas relaxing interior lighting, electrically pumped water tap in both the galley and the heads and there is the option of Webasto heating, shore power and an entertainment system. Viva has a CE certification, category C, thanks to its modern GRP construction methods which in turn means an overall towing weight including trailer and equipment, even on the 24ft Viva 700, of around 1,800kg – well within the towing capacity of most family cars, so there is no need for a big 4x4. With the endless number of bays and anchorages on the Clyde and the Forth, coupled with numerous launching slips, Steve Miller is convinced his Viva 600 and 700 trailer sailers will soon be popular north of the border. He confirmed the pricing package for both boats as follows: ‘The Viva 600 has a standard, VAT inclusive boat price of £15,999 with sails, but customers typically go for a package of trailer, engine, furling jibs, mast raising kit and lazyjacks for around £19,999.’ ‘A Viva 700 has a price tag of £19,999 with sails, but again with a package similar to above plus a sprayhood the final price is likely to be around £25,999.’ • All prices include delivery to and commissioning at Preston Marina.