Trailer for Merry Fisher 805

[chamac]

Hi Folks
Maybe some of you can help.
I am getting a Merry Fisher 805 pre purchase surveyed.
She is in mainland EU and I intend towing her back to Ireland if shes good.
She would be just within the EU weight and width for towing without a permit.
I can see why the trailer would need some mods due to the odd keel shape so
I was wondering if any of you have the same boat on a trailer
and could advise me as to how yours is done?
I have been told a modified bunk trailer would work and I can see those online
https://indespension.co.uk/big-dipper-4
Any ideas would be great.
Charlie

 

[stelican]

Also speak with Andy Wyre SBS trailers as they most likely built trailers to suit.
Same quality as Indespension

 

[Hunterlees]

Nicholson trailers are worth a call too. I have a Nicholson roller coaster, and it is well made and easy to use.
Nicholson Boat Trailers of one the largest uk trailers manufacturer

 

[DTIM]

Also speak with Andy Wyre SBS trailers as they most likely built trailers to suit.
Same quality as Indespension

SBS only ones producing fully welded chassis. Call me (or Andy) in the office on 01902754133 for spec and price

 

[stelican]

Interesting to see they supply ropes? www. grandprixmarine.co.uk

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Be careful re weight. My Antares 760 is supposed to be towable at 2600kg. In reality it’s more like 3500kg with oil in the engine, gearbox, some water and fuel, calorifier etc. Your boat is slightly bigger so even more marginal on weight.

 

[chamac]

Thanks folks.
I will try SBS and Nicholsons on Monday. Hopefully no brexit vat issues.
I hear you Jamie. I suppose its hard for manufacturers to get them all alike.

 

[ChromeDome]

The width limit in EU is 2,55m
The MF 805 is 2,94 ?

Trailer GW limit is 3500 kg total. With a boat weight of 2600 (dry, ex. equipment) you'd need a 3500 kg trailer, a tow car and drivers license to match.

Fuel (presumably a lot when pulling 3½ tonne and the car) and other cost for the trip, there and back, should be compared to having it transported.

VAT will be as per the legislation, I'm afraid.

 

[DTIM]

Interesting to see they supply ropes? www. grandprixmarine.co.uk

Grand Prix Marine supply a range of marine products including trailers, mainly through the retail on line presence. The phone number is SBS where I work and I would be happy to discuss trailer specs etc with the OP

 

[chamac]

Chrome
My question was in relation to a suitable trailer but,
It is my understanding that I can pay a small fee and go to 3 meters legally.
I have twenty years internalional trucking experience proper rated licence, vehicle and the money to fill the tank
I am travelling inter EU with € VAT paid boat so no such worries there.
Transport would cost roughly the same as the trailer and I enjoy little adventures.

 

[ChromeDome]

Sorry if stating the obvious, was not aware of your experience and just wanted to mention the limit etc., to set the scene for your preparations

 

[Jamie Dundee]

There is a guy in South Wales who has a specially adapted trailer for moving Antares 760s, apparently he had the contract for shipping them over new from Beneteau. Not sure if he’d rent out the trailer or whether it would be adaptable for the MF805 but I think I have his phone number if you’re interested.

 

[chamac]

Thanks again Folks for your inputs.
Thanks Jamie. I will keep this in mind if I decide to get her transported.
Hull configurations are very similar.
Owning a trailer would be my first preference so I could move her around here and winter her privately.
Charlie

 

[TheMerryFisher]

Chrome
My question was in relation to a suitable trailer but,
It is my understanding that I can pay a small fee and go to 3 meters legally.
I have twenty years internalional trucking experience proper rated licence, vehicle and the money to fill the tank
I am travelling inter EU with € VAT paid boat so no such worries there.
Transport would cost roughly the same as the trailer and I enjoy little adventures.

irrespective of experience, the MF805 is wider than legally towable in the UK?
Dry weight she is 3380Kg and 4800kg with everything onboard.
let me know how you get on as I have a MF805 and would love to tow her around!

 

[freddyuk]

I did a lot of heavy trailering whilst moving cars and boats over to Ireland from Kent and pushing the weight limit is not something I would want to do again without a Defender + sized vehicle. The M4 is notorious for diversions and getting put onto a tiny Welsh back lane for several miles with an on the limit (or just over) trailer was a complete nightmare. I could not get off a hill start at a T junction as the clutch would not take it so had to back up juggernauts backed up behind me so I could take a run up and get over the "hump". Never , ever again. I would not trailer my MF805 at all without a very big towing vehicle - I just couldn't take the stress. Best of luck and maybe see you sometime in Ireland.

 

[Seastoke]

The op should , do a report on what he did being people spent time helping.

 

[chamac]

Hi Seastrokes and contributors,
I will post up a report here as soon as I complete the run. Hopefully it will help folks in the future.
Ordered a new trailer from SBS. I have a 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 217hp auto that is rated to pull 3500kgs so should be up to the task and no clutch to worry about..
The seller is draining the diesel. I will ditch the batteries and move some weight to the vehicle, anchor, chain etc. Maybe the crane will have a weight cell.
I have registered the journey with the relevant departments in France. No escort needed up to 3 meters.

 

[Jim@sea]

When I lived in France I was often on the ferry coming back to the UK and would often look at boats on trailers being towed back.
On one journey I saw a 26ft boat on a trailer being towed back to the UK on a trailer.
I had seen one of these at the Boat Show and knew how much they weighed without fuel, pots & Pans, ropes, outboards etc etc and knew that the combined weight of boat and trailer would be well over the 3500 k permitted weight.
I saw the driver of the tow vehicle at the bar and got into a conversation,
It appears that they always come back to the UK on a Saturday Night ferry as when the ferry docks on a Sunday morning there are no Weighbridges open on a Sunday should they be asked to go to one to check the weight.

 

[Jim@sea]

Hi Seastrokes and contributors,
I will post up a report here as soon as I complete the run. Hopefully it will help folks in the future.
Ordered a new trailer from SBS. I have a 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 217hp auto that is rated to pull 3500kgs so should be up to the task and no clutch to worry about..
The seller is draining the diesel. I will ditch the batteries and move some weight to the vehicle, anchor, chain etc. Maybe the crane will have a weight cell.
I have registered the journey with the relevant departments in France. No escort needed up to 3 meters.

I had a Garage for many years did gearbox repairs including automatics and they were known to overheat. Then for 10 years with another business would tow trailers carrying around 3500 kilos and did it with Nissan Patrols.
When I was looking at getting another boat I looked again at Nissan Patrol's and came across an Automatic. On checking I found that the Automatic had been downrated for towing purposes and would only tow 2500k instead of 3500. I understand that the Automatic Gearbox oil would over heat (some people fit oil coolers) With you having a New Auto I would check what the permitted tow weight is in case you had to make a guarantee claim (sorry to be so negative)

As it happens while I lived in France I bought a French Boat which the broker said weighed 2000 kilos and sold me a French Sattelite Trailer to match it.
On buying it on the way back I thought that the tyres bulged a bit so I took it to a weighbridge and the combined weight was 300 kilos over the maximum weight that the trailer was supposed to carry. The boat yard had underestimated the weight of the boat.

 

[Mark x]

Charlie
How did you get on with the boat transport I'm in the same situation as you try to get a 805 back to ireland from brittany can you give up date
Thanks