7 meter trailer boat too big?

[rustybarge]

I have a Del quay dory 15' long same width as family saloon. Easy to tow and launch.

Would a 7m x 2.2m x 1.5 ton trailer boat be too big to tow on country roads? What do you think is the biggest size that will fit uk roads?

 

[landlockedpirate]

It depends on what you are going to tow it with and how much experience you have.

IMHO the biggest boat you can tow fully legal in the UK is around 8m long, 2.6m wide and 2500kg dry weight. Towing opens up loads of cruising grounds but its a lot more stressfull than leaving it in a marina.

To tow a boat of the size you describe you are going to need a full size 4x4, dont forget the trailer and gear will add at least another 1000kg to the weight.

 

[penfold]

IMHO the biggest boat you can tow fully legal in the UK is around 8m long, 2.6m wide and 2500kg dry weight. Towing opens up loads of cruising grounds but its a lot more stressfull than leaving it in a marina.

In practice there is no maximum length as indivisible loads are exempt; glider trailers are very long and enjoy the same exemption as wings work better without too many joints. The limiting factors are the 3.5t maximum tow weight and a boat width of 2.9m(you can go wider but dibble need to be informed 2 days before travel). Curiously there is little guidance about what the maximum unescorted indivisible load is; ACPO say 18.75m for boat and trailer, but that's a little beyond the limit of 3.5 tonnes all up.

Needless to say there aren't many folk trailersailing at that level. Launch and recovery of boats that size can get exciting.

 

[hlb]

AS an eX Uk Middle east owner driver, I can only say, it's whatever you feel happy with.

As Said, I drove trucks to the middle east. Mostly we had no control over the wieght, so it was some times well over a hundred tons.

Yet, driving my 22 ft X 8ft 6" boat behind my big 4x4 was a dammed sight harder. It had no air brakes.

 

[gjgm]

I have a Del quay dory 15' long same width as family saloon. Easy to tow and launch.

Would a 7m x 2.2m x 1.5 ton trailer boat be too big to tow on country roads? What do you think is the biggest size that will fit uk roads?

The laws are almost incomprehensible, but 2.2*7m looks ok. Lets say , if you are towing behind a Mini you will draw more attention than if you are towing behind a massive Merc 4*4...
You will need a BIG 4*4, -dont assume all a car range has the same towing capacity just because they are called the same.
Towing will be ok, but remember that you need to launch and recover on slipways.
Basically, you will need to own a big 4*4.

 

[savageseadog]

I came across somebody that towed a J29 around it must have been close to the limit, the boat/trailer combo looked very scary.

 

[rafiki_]

There are width restrictions, and weight. Above 3.5 tonnes GTW, I think you need an hydraulic or air brake system, and a digital tacho in the tractor unit. Below 3.5 GTW you can tow with mechanical brakes and a normal car license. Best check www.Direct.Gov for up to date info.

 

[Quest]

I have a Del quay dory 15' long same width as family saloon. Easy to tow and launch.

Would a 7m x 2.2m x 1.5 ton trailer boat be too big to tow on country roads? What do you think is the biggest size that will fit uk roads?

If it helps, up until recently I towed a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 625 on a twin axle trailer. Boat 6.25m long and all up on trailer probably weighed about 2.5 t (boat 1180kg, 2 engines, fuel, kit, trailer approx 750kg etc). It was ok with a Double cab truck with a towing limit of 3t. I wouldn't try to dissuade you from doing this with a good 4x4 tow vehicle. However, before recently changing to a 34ft Sports Cruiser I looked long and hard at the possibility and practicality of upgrading to a larger trail boat. I had in mind a Jeanneau MF 755 or Beneteau Antares 780, both over 7m long and about 8' wide. I concluded that although it might just be legal with a towing limit of 3350 kg or 3500kg it would not really be practical or comfortable, particularly around the South West where numerous launching venues are tucked into locations that can be tricky to get to. I decided that whilst in theory it could be done, it would present some challenges and obstacles that I didn't wish to take on. Launching and recovering boats of this size is relatively straightforward most of the time, but with boats of this size and weight it wouldn't take much to go wrong to leave you with a big problem and a really bad experience. It seemed to me that it was pushing the boundary a little too far and was best avoided. I will be interested to know what you decide in due course. Hope this helps, Andrew.

 

[Swordfish]

I tow this set up with no real problems, just the odd low tree. The boat and trailer weighs 3350Kg. There is plenty of power with the V8 Jeep.

 

[gjgm]

I agree. It is alot easier to launch and recover a small sportsboat than a few tonnes on a steep and slippery slipway-never mind even getting to the launch site. The latter is do-able, but you really do need a good slip with plenty of access and space. Tow vehicle and trailer starts taking up alot of space.

 

[rbcoomer]

My tuppence worth

Having recently gone through the trailering upgrade thought process prior to getting the Arrowbolt project, I set my own limit at 21'.

Various factors, but these were the most important ones:

• Ability to launch & recover single handed
• Knowledge of local slipways I'm likely to use - i.e. tidal, gradients, currents etc - and roads getting there.
• Weight when fully loaded (Land Rover Discovery as Tug so ample leeway)
• Storage space and access at home, plus ability to turn trailer in drive (9M max length for trailer with load)

I've done quite a bit of towing over many years and also driven goods vehicles of varying bulk/odd sizes etc so the towing aspect was less of a concern. I personally don't like to be on the limit however as it allows little margin for error or for equipment in the boat. I do know most of the local roads and although difficult in places, I know well enough to be comfortable I won't get stuck anywhere! When I go elsewhere, I will visit first and plan the trip if it's not somewhere I'm familiar with.

Although I'm lucky enough to live just 5 minutes from the coast, I've ruled out mooring or berthing on cost grounds for the time being and see a lot of advantages in keeping the boat at home:

• Security
• Easy to maintain/tinker etc
• Cheaper Fuel!
• No need to anti-foul (cost & performance advantages)
• Less corrosion/risks by not being in saltwater/salty air, gull c**p etc!
• Cost of berth/mooring and storage of tender for mooring
• Easier transfer of provisions to boat at home

- but above all, freedom to choose where you go!

My final consideration on size would be the distance aspect as towing a heavy trailer safely can be quite tiring - not only do you have to travel more slowly much of the time, but you concentrate much harder. If you are a long way from the coast, the difference between towing 2.5 tonnes and 3.5 tonnes can be quite noticeable - particularly if the whole package isn't well balanced or the tow vehicle isn't ideal. If you are 30 minutes from the coast then not really an issue, but if it's a 3 hour drive, it might get a bit tiresome!

It certainly wouldn't put me off if the boat was the right one.

 

[DAKA]

I tow this set up with no real problems, just the odd low tree. The boat and trailer weighs 3350Kg. There is plenty of power with the V8 Jeep.

Thats fantastic

Have you extended the hull around the outdrive to create a well ?

You do well to keep it under 3350kg.

 

[Lakesailor]

I tow this set up with no real problems, just the odd low tree. The boat and trailer weighs 3350Kg. There is plenty of power with the V8 Jeep.

Is that a pre-2007 Grand Cherokee with the higher towing weight?

 

[trying]

I tow this set up with no real problems, just the odd low tree. The boat and trailer weighs 3350Kg. There is plenty of power with the V8 Jeep.

What is the boat?

 

[TSB240]

I have a Del quay dory 15' long same width as family saloon. Easy to tow and launch.

Would a 7m x 2.2m x 1.5 ton trailer boat be too big to tow on country roads? What do you think is the biggest size that will fit uk roads?

I have towed our 2 tonne trailable yacht on all types of British and French Roads.
It is 7.3M long and 2.8M wide. This is close to the maximum load width of 2.9M. It is stress free with the right vehicle,route planning and launching sites. Very often the best launch sites involve access down narrow single track lanes. The biggest problem is your load is considerably wider than the trailer wheel base and the tow vehicle and it is easy to hit roadside objects with your pride and joy. Judging the space with oncoming traffic including trucks is a skill that has to be learnt quickly to avoid major damage. Very narrow lanes are not a major problem as oncoming traffic usually realise they have no option but to back up to the nearest overtaking spot or gateway.

Make sure your towing vehicle has electric fan cooling as ours did not like long steep gradients and the viscous coupled belt driven fan was insufficient meaning enforced stops to cool down or hot feet with the heater full on.

 

[Swordfish]

Thats fantastic

Have you extended the hull around the outdrive to create a well ?

You do well to keep it under 3350kg.

Hi DAKA,

I have done what is quite common in the USA, mainly with the larger Bayliners, is replace the standard swim platform with a hull extension to and bouyancy. This has given 350Kgs extra bouyancy to a boat that was stern heavy, the boat now performs much better.

 

[Swordfish]

Is that a pre-2007 Grand Cherokee with the higher towing weight?

Hi Lakesailor,

My Jeep is a 2000 year, the model that was updated in 1999, with the newly developed OHC V8.

 

[Swordfish]

What is the boat?

Hi Trying,

The boat is the Bayliner 2450 Command Bridge, one of the last ones made in 1986, before the Brunswick days and reduced quality. We like the great space inside the boat, with the ability to tow it.

 

[rustybarge]

Thanks for all your help.

When I was a young lad working on my Dads farm I used to move around large tracklayers on lowloaders, with a crappy old agricultural tractor. Brakes were not high on the maintenance list.

I still wake up in the middle of the night sweating profusely. The bulldozer/lowloader used to push the tractor down inclines; it was impossible to stop even if you wanted too. All you could do was to steer and pray!!!

Maybe I'll stick with the Toyoto highlux / light trailer combo.

 

[DAKA]

Hi DAKA,

I have done what is quite common in the USA, mainly with the larger Bayliners, is replace the standard swim platform with a hull extension to and bouyancy. This has given 350Kgs extra bouyancy to a boat that was stern heavy, the boat now performs much better.

Very clever , and looks great

Probably handles better in the marina too