Options for boats to fit in 25' garage
 

I'm in the early stages of looking for a small powerboat, probably to be purchased sometime early next year (unless a great deal comes up before then). In order for this to work, I'm going to need to keep it in my garage (25' long, door is 106" wide (8'10") x 82" (6'10") high. SO the on-trailer dimensions need to stay within that range.

I was hoping to get a Baja 20' Outlaw in there, but there's conflicting reports of whether or not I need more than the extra 5 feet when the tongue and outdrive are taken into account.

Someone out there must have a similar-sized garage with a >18' boat in it... let's hear what you have! Thanks!

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A Stingray 195 will run right with a 20' Baja but do it on V6 power. It should fit in your garage with a standard trailer but would certainly fit with a swing-away tongue. Measure from the back wall to the inside of your garage door cross-braces to get a real working dimension. You might be able to fit something bigger if you drop the nose of the trailer all the way down so you can tuck the drive all the way in. That can save you almost a foot in some cases. That is how I fit a 23 footer (Stingray) in a 26 1/2 foot garage on a standard trailer. Good Luck!

I'm just waiting for one of thse "how about a 27 fountain" comments........

Yep, that's the way I measured it, taking into account the garage door bracing. Overall outside dimensions of that section of the house is 26', a full 1' more than the usable space. When you refer to dropping the nose of the trailer down -- I'm not seeing how that's going to allow the drive to tuck in... ?

I've never heard much about Stingray boats -- have they not been around very long? Good boats, in general?

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On my trailer the skeg hits the floor when the trailer is level. Dropping the tongue all the way down pivots the back end up at the axles just enough so I can tuck the drive all the way in (down) and that makes just enough difference to allow me to close the door. I back the trailer in until the drive is a foot away from the back wall, unhook, drop the nose, tuck the drive in and push the whole thing back by hand that last foot until the drive just touches the back wall. It's inconvenient but sure beats having her sit out in the weather all year. As for Stingrays, they have been around since the early 80's, at least. The company is owned by Al Fink and is based in South Carolina. At the risk of starting a war here, I will say that they have the most efficient V-hull on the water, at least in this size bracket. Foot for foot and engine for engine, a Stingray will outrun anything else. They are one of the few manufacturers that actually publishes what their boats will do, and give you data to back it up. Check out their website at www.stingrayboats.com and no, I am not a dealer. Just a VERY satisfied owner. The 698 that I have is no longer built but that same hull got a restyled deck structure the next year and is now called the 230SX. Happy Hunting!

Thanks for the info!

A 20 foot Donzi Minx on the trailer will not fit in a 28 foot long garage.

A 22 Daytona takes every bit of 30' in my garage. I wish I had the folding neck on the trailer.

My 18' Donzi on a single axle loadrite trailer is 24'3" LOA.
Off the trailer, it's a much bigger blast.

How about a bigger garage!

I built a 50 x 50 garage for my 33 scarab. Im going to need a bigger boat.

What type of boat are you looking for?

hmmm well the list is short for highpowered micro's under 20'
here's all I can think of:
donzi 16
donzi 18
pachanga 19
checkmate (older senator, pusare, etc.)
baja 18 or 19 islander
scarab sprint

The tonge on my 21 folded up to the same length as the sponsons. Fit fine in my garage.
Folding tongues on cat trailers..........great idea!

Easiest thing to take care of trailer tongue is to lower it to the floor, twist as far to the side as possible and cut the lower door panel for the tongue to hang outside. The lower panel is fairley cheap considering the expense of boat interiors and getting gel coat cleaned ud. Just my 2 censt, I had to do this to fit my Formula 34' into my 38' garage worked like a charm, just covered the tongue with a white tarp to help it blend, and the new panel to replace the old was $200 when I Sold the boat.

I would most likely cut the lower panel and put a planter in front of it when closed. I have a boat door behind my house so it is easy for me to say, but I think it would be your best option to get a larger boat. The notch I cut and reinforsed was about 8 or 9" high. The cut will weaken the door. I did it and it was $90 for a insulated aluminum replacement panel. Also looked into modifying the trailer and I believe it was $400 or $500. I had a Donzi 28ZX and a Pantera 28 in a 29' space. Just measure everything before you buy! Good luck, Greg

Oh, of the boats you mentioned I would go for the stretch and make a 22 Donzi Classic fit. Also trailer tounges will vary a fair amount in length on different trailers.
Greg

Thanks for all of the replies! Good things to consider. I will save the cutting of the bottom panel of the garage door as a last resort, seeing as I'm in hurricane country :D I think, with the right trailer, I might be able to get a Scarab 22' in there.

Don't forget about the back wall of the garage. Depending on what is behind it, and what the exterier wall is made from, you may be able to put a "bump out" in the wall to fit an outdrive or the entire stern of a boat.