Most people trailer their cats with the bows facing forward, but some people trailer with the sterns facing forward. Does anybody know which way results in better gas mileage?

One would think that bows facing forward would be better, more streamlined. However, my experience has been that when the bows face forward, their sharp entry into the wind results in them constantly working side to side in the buffeting backwash of wind off the vehicle.

Maybe this "working" would not happen if the boat was placed sterns forward? And if the boat is in the "backdraft" of the vehicle, maybe it does not matter that the blunt ends are forward?

(Of course, if the sterns are forward, you would have to take off the rudders.)

Anyway, I just wonder whether anybody has figured out which way is more efficient for fuel savings. And maybe easier on the trailer, as well.

And what other reasons are there for trailering with sterns forward?

Mary,

My 2 cents...

I'm don't think that either way would result in significant fuel differences. I don't think the boat makes much of a clean entry through the air....wouldn't it mostly be living in the eddy of the car?

As far as buffeting, I do think that going stern first would have less working back and forth. Since the sterns are closer to the beams, it gives the airflow less leverage to work with.

Jeff.

Rush Bird tows (towed?) his 5.5 sterns-forward to keep the boat cleaner from road grim. No word on whether it buffetted more, less, or the same, or if there were a measurable effect on fuel economy.

Mary, For me the big advantage would be in stepping the mast. Where I park my trailer, the prevailing wind would be at my back instead of a headwind! But after all the work I've done on the trailer, I'm not about to reverse it!

I tow mine sterns first because it's easier to put the mast up and down by myself.

A lot of people here do it. Other than us I haven't seen anyone else do it.

Most Tornados are broken down and put un the trailer stern forward (unless the owner have an tilt trailer). I have not seen a Tornado trailered bow forward in disassembled mode yet.

Some of the pro's in the class have really large trailers that looks more like a caravan, where the whole boat goes inside. I guess that must be quite nice on the road, if you have the engine for it..

Ref: http://www.aussailing.com.au/darrenbundock/pics_trailer.html