Towing Boats. Need Some Advice.

[Cruiser618]

Looking at something's me this. http://springfield.craigslist.org/boa/4027931263.html

[Wanderlust]

Hmm, looks like a good deal. That may squeeze in under the height limit, but it would be close. What about legality of towing that wide? I don't know your rules, but I would hate to think of getting a permit every time you wanted to use it, or take the risk and do it illegally.

[Cruiser618]

I think our max is 8 foot 6 wide. I emailed him to see if he needed any special permits when hauling.

[NewMoon]

Our unusually heavy 26-footer weighs 12,000 lb on the trailer, and is 12'11" tall with its mini-flybridge. We've towed about 68,000 miles so far in western US and Canada, from our Utah home as far south as San Diego, north to Prince Rupert, east to Denver, and several places in between.

Tow vehicle is 1998 Dodge Ram 2500, Cummins diesel, 5-speed manual transmission, with "camper package" extra heavy rear springs. Trailer was upgraded to triple-axle since this photo was taken, as the boat turned out heavier than we estimated. Tongue weight is about 900 lb.

Traveling safely with this rig requires excellent truck and trailer maintenance, and a conservative approach to driving. The whole setup works very well, even in strong winds, but I sure wouldn't want to take on anything much heavier, not in such mountainous country anyway. Certainly not without a dually.

[Cruiser618]

On nadaguides it says the boat i posted weighs 6000k lbs probably dry of course so add another cpl thousand after water and gas fill up and cargo not counting trailer so i think something like that will be okay to tow. How bad is it unloading and loading, and nice boat by the way.

[NewMoon]

Thanks!

Launch and retrieve are no big deal if the ramp is steep enough and there's a float to launch/retrieve next to. I do both single-handed, taking it slow and easy. The truck's rear wheels go 2/3 of their height into the water, and I do have to get into the water to detach or attach the trailer winch strap - using waders in cold salt water. Well worth the trouble for a summer in BC and/or SE Alaska.

If there's no float it's a bit trickier - with a fairly deep-v hull, a crosswind can get me crooked enough to touch the forefoot on the trailer's rear crossbar if I blow it trying to drive onto the trailer.

[Cruiser618]

Alrighty thanks. Lol can't wait to get one now!!