Thread: Boat weight
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Don White Don White is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,995
Default Boat weight


"Canuck57" wrote in message
news%y6j.7944$iU.4558@pd7urf2no...

"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message
news
Don White wrote:
"Armybob" u39716@uwe wrote in message news:7c59f72c211c6@uwe...
I just bought a 1981 Sey Ray 245 Sedan Bridge 25' Long, 8' Wide, with a
350
V8 Engine. It sits on a EZ-Loader trailer dual axle, Now I need
something to
pull it with as I plan to go to different lakes and rivers with it. (A
friend
towed it to my house). Can anyone help me with the size truck I need to
pull
it. I have no idea what the boat with trailer weighs, And NO I can't
afford
my friends truck!!! PLEASE no math or how to figure it out just the
Approx.
weight of the boat or vehicle towing power required, 5000 lb, 7500 lb,
Etc.

Hope someone can help.
Thank you in advance


Try to convince your friend to tow the rig to a 'highway weigh scale'.
I did this in August. first we weighed the whole truck/boat/trailer
combo.. then shuttled over to the parking area to nload the boat/trailer
to weigh the truck by itself.
This would give you an accurate picture of the boat/trailer weight.
Then you can decide how capable a truck you need.
I was surprised to find out that my small cruising sailboat was 1730
lbs..rather than the 1200 listed in the manual.


Don, If the 1730 lbs was the weight of the sailboat stripped without any
of your gear or additional installed items, your fiberglass has soaked up
a lot of water. You can expect some variance from the specs, but I would
be very surprised if you would see more than 10%.

It is not unusual for boats to soak up water, but 500 lbs is a lot of
water and extra weight for a small sailboat.


Maybe not. The boat may have a motor not in the calculation, not
including the trailer, sails, added stuff including a spare tire. Gets up
there quick.


The motor, gas can and anchor were all in the truck bed.
On the boat as 'extras' were the sails, cushions, mast/boom, ladder and a
small amount of tools.
The Sandpiper is known for its flotation foam absorbing water.
http://sailquest.com/market/models/spipe.htm
The total boat/trailer combo was just over 2300 lbs...awfully close to the
2450 tow rating for my Ford Ranger with auto and 3.0 V6.