On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 15:46:12 GMT, Ignoramus12555
wrote:

For a typical 29-30 ft powerboat on a triple axle trailer, what would
be the necessary tow vehicle capacity to tow it? My BIL suggested that
I buy a bigger boat and my wife was actually receptive to the idea.

At least a three quarter ton, if not a one ton pickup - you are
looking to tow a lot of weight.

You also have to consider towing complications like width - not many
boats in that category are slim enough to trailer without getting
special permitting every time you trailer the boat.

You can obtain trailers for boats like that - I have one to store my
Contender on. I use it to pull the boat a couple/three times a season
to wash the bottom, check things over and relaunch. I store it over
winter on the trailer at the marina. Saves me money.

That might be an option you want to consider.

Ignoramus12555 wrote:
For a typical 29-30 ft powerboat on a triple axle trailer, what would
be the necessary tow vehicle capacity to tow it? My BIL suggested that
I buy a bigger boat and my wife was actually receptive to the idea.

The only way of owning a boat, for myself, is to trailer it around. No
slips and marinas. I like to work on my boats and I do not like
spending money on mechanics, marinas etc.

i


Rear wheel drive. Frame. Full floating rear axle. HD electrical and
cooling systems, including tranny cooler. Auto trans, (or at least 8
closely-spaced ratios in a manual gearbox- so for most folks that's
back to an auto trans). Axle ratio will be very, very, important. You
will want something in the high threes, at least, and maybe even a bit
deeper.
Big brakes.Consider a diesel engine, and beware of anything with
extremely short wheelbase. That adds up to a 3/4 ton or even a 1-ton
pickup from most sources.

Figure out what your boat and trailer weigh, all fueled up and ready to
go. Add a chunk, maybe 20%, for personal gear. See the truck
specialists at your local Ford, Chevy, and Dodge dealers and ask them
what model you will need to safely tow your boat. Gross Combined
Vehicle Weight Ratings
(GCVW, not GVW) will be important clues whether you're being scammed or
not. See if you can get access to the fleet salesperson- that case of
juvenile acne and hormones that "upped" you as you got out of your car
will quickly assure you that the 1500 series, (with a big spiff on it
that particular weekend), will tow the Empire State building across the
Atlantic Ocean if that's what you think you need to do- and if you're
ready to "buy now". :-)

I watched a guy in a pickup haul a big Grady White, with a stainless
"tower" up I-5 yesterday. If he could see, from the cab, what I saw
from the lane next to his as he blew past me (going way, way, too fast)
he'd park that toy truck at the next exit and get something serious
enough to be safely adequate for the job. Talk about the tail wagging
the dog.....wow! Maybe it's my "liberal" bent, but there ought to be
some sort of highway safety laws that prohibit stupid towing choices.
When that boat trailer finally breaks loose from the undersprung little
SWB "tow vehicle" and starts flipping sideways down the freeway, it
could take out a lot of innocent bystanders.

On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 16:29:52 GMT, Ignoramus12555
wrote:

On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 16:07:09 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 15:46:12 GMT, Ignoramus12555
wrote:

For a typical 29-30 ft powerboat on a triple axle trailer, what would
be the necessary tow vehicle capacity to tow it? My BIL suggested that
I buy a bigger boat and my wife was actually receptive to the idea.

At least a three quarter ton, if not a one ton pickup - you are
looking to tow a lot of weight.

Makes sense... I own a measly half ton truck.

You also have to consider towing complications like width - not many
boats in that category are slim enough to trailer without getting
special permitting every time you trailer the boat.

I am not sure if that is indeed the case, actually.

Indeed it is.

Here's a few popular samples of boats you are considering based on
what you said.

http://www.bostonwhaler.com/Rec/defa...&type=Conquest

http://www.bostonwhaler.com/Rec/defa...&type=Conquest

http://www.searay.com/online_brochur...=1, 9,15,19,5

http://www.searay.com/online_brochur...=1, 9,15,19,5.

http://www.trophyfishing.com/walkaro...?modelid=44157

http://www.seaswirl.com/Boats/Boats_Detail.asp?bid=301

And so on and so on...

States are getting really picky about over width trailers up here in
the Great Northeast.

You can obtain trailers for boats like that - I have one to store my
Contender on. I use it to pull the boat a couple/three times a season
to wash the bottom, check things over and relaunch. I store it over
winter on the trailer at the marina. Saves me money.

That might be an option you want to consider.

All I want to say for not is that I will think about all that. The
most likely outcome is that I will keep my current boat.

Have fun.

"Ignoramus12555" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 16:07:09 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote:
On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 15:46:12 GMT, Ignoramus12555
wrote:

For a typical 29-30 ft powerboat on a triple axle trailer, what would
be the necessary tow vehicle capacity to tow it? My BIL suggested that
I buy a bigger boat and my wife was actually receptive to the idea.

At least a three quarter ton, if not a one ton pickup - you are
looking to tow a lot of weight.

Makes sense... I own a measly half ton truck.

Many people around here have bought beat up old suburbanswith the huge
engines specifically to trailer their boats to and from the ramps.

You also have to consider towing complications like width - not many
boats in that category are slim enough to trailer without getting
special permitting every time you trailer the boat.

I am not sure if that is indeed the case, actually.

Depends on the state. Here the limit is 8'6 without a permit.


You can obtain trailers for boats like that - I have one to store my
Contender on. I use it to pull the boat a couple/three times a season
to wash the bottom, check things over and relaunch. I store it over
winter on the trailer at the marina. Saves me money.

That might be an option you want to consider.


All I want to say for not is that I will think about all that. The
most likely outcome is that I will keep my current boat.

i

As for permits...states have different rules. In some, the permit is more of
a fee: pay once for a period of time (maybe once a year). In others, you
need a permit for each trip.


wrote in message
oups.com...


Ignoramus12555 wrote:
For a typical 29-30 ft powerboat on a triple axle trailer, what would
be the necessary tow vehicle capacity to tow it? My BIL suggested that
I buy a bigger boat and my wife was actually receptive to the idea.

The only way of owning a boat, for myself, is to trailer it around. No
slips and marinas. I like to work on my boats and I do not like
spending money on mechanics, marinas etc.

i


Rear wheel drive. Frame. Full floating rear axle. HD electrical and
cooling systems, including tranny cooler. Auto trans, (or at least 8
closely-spaced ratios in a manual gearbox- so for most folks that's
back to an auto trans). Axle ratio will be very, very, important. You
will want something in the high threes, at least, and maybe even a bit
deeper.
Big brakes.Consider a diesel engine, and beware of anything with
extremely short wheelbase. That adds up to a 3/4 ton or even a 1-ton
pickup from most sources.

Figure out what your boat and trailer weigh, all fueled up and ready to
go. Add a chunk, maybe 20%, for personal gear. See the truck
specialists at your local Ford, Chevy, and Dodge dealers and ask them
what model you will need to safely tow your boat. Gross Combined
Vehicle Weight Ratings
(GCVW, not GVW) will be important clues whether you're being scammed or
not. See if you can get access to the fleet salesperson- that case of
juvenile acne and hormones that "upped" you as you got out of your car
will quickly assure you that the 1500 series, (with a big spiff on it
that particular weekend), will tow the Empire State building across the
Atlantic Ocean if that's what you think you need to do- and if you're
ready to "buy now". :-)

I watched a guy in a pickup haul a big Grady White, with a stainless
"tower" up I-5 yesterday. If he could see, from the cab, what I saw
from the lane next to his as he blew past me (going way, way, too fast)
he'd park that toy truck at the next exit and get something serious
enough to be safely adequate for the job. Talk about the tail wagging
the dog.....wow! Maybe it's my "liberal" bent, but there ought to be
some sort of highway safety laws that prohibit stupid towing choices.
When that boat trailer finally breaks loose from the undersprung little
SWB "tow vehicle" and starts flipping sideways down the freeway, it
could take out a lot of innocent bystanders.

"Ignoramus12555" wrote in

For a typical 29-30 ft powerboat on a triple axle trailer, what would
be the necessary tow vehicle capacity to tow it?

Don't forget legal issues. Over 24-26 ft in length, beam rapidly becomes an
issue for towing. Max width limit is 8-1/2 ft in most locales, 8ft in
others.

On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 18:02:06 GMT, Ignoramus12555
wrote:


Is 10 feet the magic cutoff point?

9 feet total - boat and trailer. Under normal circumstances, that
leaves about 8'7" as a practical limit on the beam of the boat.

Thanks for the links. Ifound an interesting trailering guide.

Just pointing out that finding a 30 foot boat with 8'6" beam is, while
impossible, a hunt. There are a few manufacturers who make a
production boat with that length and width, but they are pricey and
usually not cabin type boats.

On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 19:26:52 GMT, Ignoramus12555
wrote:

boat beam width limit

I have a question. What do people with wide boats do, in your state?
Do you they get an extra permit that is valid for a period of time, or
do they need to hire a specual permitted hauler, or what?

It depends. Normally, most will adhere to the 9 foot total limit so
that isn't a usual problem - as long as it's 9 feet or less.

As to bigger boats, it varies. In CT (and RI/MA I believe), anything
over 9 feet is subject to special permitting.

I believe that you can heavy haul (like an excavator for instance)
during certain hours (three hours window in the morning and three in
the afternoon) and that limit is 10 feet period. It requires special
marking and markers. There is a fellow here in town who hauls a
rather big Downeaster in the Spring and Fall and he runs under the
Heavy Hauler rules. You also see some tractor hauling as we have a
truck farm grower in town and those big bailers, pickers, threshers,
etc are really wide.

Anything over ten feet wide and eleven feet tall is subject to escort
and you have to use a professional hauler.

You can't have anything hanging off the side of the trailer without
special permitting and escort.

There are a ton of rules concerning weights, lengths, widths and stuff
like that which is why the general rule is 9 feet.

Ignoramus12555 wrote:
On 6 Jul 2005 09:17:31 -0700, wrote:


Ignoramus12555 wrote:

For a typical 29-30 ft powerboat on a triple axle trailer, what would
be the necessary tow vehicle capacity to tow it? My BIL suggested that
I buy a bigger boat and my wife was actually receptive to the idea.

The only way of owning a boat, for myself, is to trailer it around. No
slips and marinas. I like to work on my boats and I do not like
spending money on mechanics, marinas etc.

i


Rear wheel drive. Frame. Full floating rear axle. HD electrical and
cooling systems, including tranny cooler. Auto trans, (or at least 8
closely-spaced ratios in a manual gearbox- so for most folks that's
back to an auto trans). Axle ratio will be very, very, important. You
will want something in the high threes, at least, and maybe even a bit
deeper.
Big brakes.Consider a diesel engine, and beware of anything with
extremely short wheelbase. That adds up to a 3/4 ton or even a 1-ton
pickup from most sources.

Figure out what your boat and trailer weigh, all fueled up and ready to
go. Add a chunk, maybe 20%, for personal gear. See the truck
specialists at your local Ford, Chevy, and Dodge dealers and ask them
what model you will need to safely tow your boat. Gross Combined
Vehicle Weight Ratings
(GCVW, not GVW) will be important clues whether you're being scammed or
not. See if you can get access to the fleet salesperson- that case of
juvenile acne and hormones that "upped" you as you got out of your car
will quickly assure you that the 1500 series, (with a big spiff on it
that particular weekend), will tow the Empire State building across the
Atlantic Ocean if that's what you think you need to do- and if you're
ready to "buy now". :-)

I watched a guy in a pickup haul a big Grady White, with a stainless
"tower" up I-5 yesterday. If he could see, from the cab, what I saw
from the lane next to his as he blew past me (going way, way, too fast)
he'd park that toy truck at the next exit and get something serious
enough to be safely adequate for the job. Talk about the tail wagging
the dog.....wow! Maybe it's my "liberal" bent, but there ought to be
some sort of highway safety laws that prohibit stupid towing choices.
When that boat trailer finally breaks loose from the undersprung little
SWB "tow vehicle" and starts flipping sideways down the freeway, it
could take out a lot of innocent bystanders.



Thanks... this seems to be a much bigger project than what I am
willing to handle...

i

I say...keep it minimal unless you plan to do long cruises. (more than a
wwekend) I have an 18.5 foot sailboat that I trailer. It's fine for
daysails, overnighters and the occasional weekender. (two people &
maybe a rugrat or two)

Igor,
rec.boats.marketplace still is not working. You may want to try to make a
post and see if it works for you. If you are not able to keep up with it,
you may want to see if someone else wants to assume the job of moderating
the group.





"Ignoramus12555" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 16:07:09 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote:
On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 15:46:12 GMT, Ignoramus12555
wrote:

For a typical 29-30 ft powerboat on a triple axle trailer, what would
be the necessary tow vehicle capacity to tow it? My BIL suggested that
I buy a bigger boat and my wife was actually receptive to the idea.

At least a three quarter ton, if not a one ton pickup - you are
looking to tow a lot of weight.

Makes sense... I own a measly half ton truck.

You also have to consider towing complications like width - not many
boats in that category are slim enough to trailer without getting
special permitting every time you trailer the boat.

I am not sure if that is indeed the case, actually.

You can obtain trailers for boats like that - I have one to store my
Contender on. I use it to pull the boat a couple/three times a season
to wash the bottom, check things over and relaunch. I store it over
winter on the trailer at the marina. Saves me money.

That might be an option you want to consider.


All I want to say for not is that I will think about all that. The
most likely outcome is that I will keep my current boat.

i