Gene Kearns wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:48:39 -0400, Wayne.B penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:20:46 -0400, HK wrote:

My assumption was that most responsible boaters tow their boats at no
more than 60-65 mph (assuming that is allowed by the speed limit)
Your assumption is wrong, and responsibility has nothing to do with
it.

If you have an appropriate trailer and tow vehicle, and they are set
up properly, you should be able to safely tow at the legal limit. The
legal limit in many states is 70 to 75 mph. I'd agree that road
conditions and traffic sometimes dictate a slower safe speed but there
is no reason whatsoever to arbitrarily declare that no one should tow
faster than 65 mph. On many highways that I frequent, 65 mph would
create a traffic backup and lead to unsafe driving on the part of
others.

I'd be the first to agree that no one should tow at a faster speed
than they are comfortable with. If you are not comfortable towing at
the speed limit however, you should stay off of the interstates.

You may be limited more by your equipment than any road signage.....



Indeed, especially for Wayne.

Of the nearly 90 responses I got in a real boating forum on the trailer
speed question, about two thirds said they towed no faster than 65 mph,
even if the posted limit were higher. Reasons for not going faster
included consideration for others, increased braking distance at higher
speeds, harder to take evasive measures at higher speeds, more wear on
tires and bearings, higher fuel burn, et cetera.

To each his own. There are ways to slow down trailerboaters who are
towing too fast for conditions.