I did some research in Florida and the rules/laws I found were this:

Overal Length must be less than 48 feet.
Width 8'6"
Height 13'6"

And any trailer over 3000 pounds in Florida must have brakes.

Not sure if anyone else has any other data. But I never saw on how to
trailer anything wider than the 8'6" rule, it just stated that was the
maximum width.

BTW - A local dealer didn't even know of the law and regularly tows a 9'
beam. But the trailer is still like 8'7" wide so maybe that is it?? not
sure.

Mark.

"Larry" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 09:18:38 -0600, Messing In Boats wrote:

I have a similar sized boast, a 26' flybridge cruiser which is 13' tall,
9'6" wide and weighs about 10,000#. I bought it in Seattle, trailered it
home to Minnesota, and this June tralered it back out to Vancouver
Island so I could go up the Inside Passage. I will be trailering it down
to Miami for a cruise in the Bahamas this March.

I was under the impression that anything wider than 8' 0" needed special
permits to go over the public highways. Is this the case, and, if it is,
how hard are they to get, what kind of restrictions, etc.?

Thanks,
--

Larry
email is rapp at lmr dot com

Almost every state prohibits trailering a load over 8'6" without a
permit. (Some states limit it to 8'0".) The permits are usually easy to
get,(except Wisconsin and Idaho, in my opinion) costing $9 to 20, in my
experience. There some marking, time, location and date restraints, but
these aren't usually much of a consideration until you get over 10'6".

I don't always get one, since no one has ever heard of my boat (a Cooper
Prowler 8M, see what I mean?) and it's likely the local or state
authorities don't know how wide it is.) Someday I will probably get
pulled over and will deal with it then.

The biggest deal is to make sure your vehicle is big enough, your brakes
work, repack wheel bearings annually, be sure the tongue weight is 7 -
10% of gross. I don't use a weight distributing hitch because they
usually interfere with the brakes and the rig tows fine without it. I
also sleep in the boat at truck stops. It saves $$, I know the boat
won't be broken into and I can cook. I'm having trouble getting the head
to work in the parking lot, though.....

The biggest disadvantage to the whole towing/trailering thing is not
being able to hop on the boat and take off for the weekend or day
without the producytion of putting it in the water. I'm able to store
the boat and trailer in a safe marina on Lake Superior for $100/month. A
slip would cost me over $2000/year. And you have to factor in the cost
of owning the SUV which gets 15mpg at best on the highway, 8mpg when
it's pulling the boat.

But I would never be able to have done Alaska and the Bahamas, so I
think it's worth it. And I'm also doing it in a boat I know, trust and
am familiar with. I have not chartered a boat as well outfitted or in as
good a condition as mine, another consideration.

Capt. Jeff

Just so you'll think about it...
I had my MaXum 2550 stored on the trailer at a "secure"
storage lot in the middle of a busy district. 8' barbed
fences and 24 hr attendant. The drive and numerous items
within the boat were stolen within 1 month.
JR

Messing In Boats wrote:

Almost every state prohibits trailering a load over 8'6" without a
permit. (Some states limit it to 8'0".) The permits are usually easy to
get,(except Wisconsin and Idaho, in my opinion) costing $9 to 20, in my
experience. There some marking, time, location and date restraints, but
these aren't usually much of a consideration until you get over 10'6".

I don't always get one, since no one has ever heard of my boat (a Cooper
Prowler 8M, see what I mean?) and it's likely the local or state
authorities don't know how wide it is.) Someday I will probably get
pulled over and will deal with it then.

The biggest deal is to make sure your vehicle is big enough, your brakes
work, repack wheel bearings annually, be sure the tongue weight is 7 -
10% of gross. I don't use a weight distributing hitch because they
usually interfere with the brakes and the rig tows fine without it. I
also sleep in the boat at truck stops. It saves $$, I know the boat
won't be broken into and I can cook. I'm having trouble getting the head
to work in the parking lot, though.....

The biggest disadvantage to the whole towing/trailering thing is not
being able to hop on the boat and take off for the weekend or day
without the producytion of putting it in the water. I'm able to store
the boat and trailer in a safe marina on Lake Superior for $100/month. A
slip would cost me over $2000/year. And you have to factor in the cost
of owning the SUV which gets 15mpg at best on the highway, 8mpg when
it's pulling the boat.

But I would never be able to have done Alaska and the Bahamas, so I
think it's worth it. And I'm also doing it in a boat I know, trust and
am familiar with. I have not chartered a boat as well outfitted or in as
good a condition as mine, another consideration.

Capt. Jeff

--
Remove X to reply

--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth

Just so you'll think about it...
I had my MaXum 2550 stored on the trailer at a "secure"
storage lot in the middle of a busy district. 8' barbed
fences and 24 hr attendant. The drive and numerous items
within the boat were stolen within 1 month.
JR

If this type of thing occurs there routinely:
Look closely at the attendant.

I wouldn't know. I hauled my boat out of there with 25 days
into my next month's rent with my middle ensign flying high
at the gaping owner.
JR

Gould 0738 wrote:

Just so you'll think about it...
I had my MaXum 2550 stored on the trailer at a "secure"
storage lot in the middle of a busy district. 8' barbed
fences and 24 hr attendant. The drive and numerous items
within the boat were stolen within 1 month.
JR

If this type of thing occurs there routinely:
Look closely at the attendant.

--
Remove X to reply

--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth