When Dolphin Spirit (formerly Sea Shanty then African Moon) was commissioned, Clyde and Niki Butcher, the original owners trailered their custom built Flicka from California to Florida. The Butcher's cruised to the Bahama islands and back to Florida where the boat was loaded on her trailer and placed in storage. When the second owner purchased this lovely Flicka, he opted not to take the trailer, which was in a state of disrepair. After the current owners purchased her, the boat was loaded in a cradle on a low flat bed trailer and towed from Hudson, Florida to Houston, Texas with a diesel powered passenger van.

When the boat was recommissioned after being completely refurbished, she was towed to Seabrook Shipyard in Clear Lake, Texas where she was launched by a travel lift and the mast stepped with the aid of a crane.

Can one trailer a Flicka? Boats such as the Flicka, Falmouth Cutter 22 and Nor'Sea 27 are advertised as trailerable boats. The respective displacements (empty) are 6,000-6,500 lb., 7,400 lb. and 8,100 lb. Trailering one of these boat requires at least a 3/4 ton vehicle and planning when off-loading the boat. Although some owners ramp launch these boats, many opt to launch the boat with a travel lift. The same approach can be used to step the mast - self stepped or crane stepped.

The former owners (1989-2000), who restored Dolphin Spirit, were never interested in trailering Dolphin Spirit, hence a trailer was never purchased. In addition, they always opted to have a shipyard help launch the boat and step the mast.

Rod Bruckdorfer
©: copyright 1999 Rod Bruckdorfer