Anyone able to tow a boat

[Captain Coochie]

Are there any forumites that are able to tow a Kestrel 22 from Woodbridge in Suffolk to Hanworth in W.London . The trailer is in Spalding Lincs ( T25 is donating the trailer on behalf of Sailroom so i can try and save Flare , no 1 of her class ) There is a crane to load the boat at Woodbridge . The trailer is unbraked and the trailing weight with standard equipment is 19 cwt , as you can see there is no equipment /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I'm trying to get Flare back to my place for a much needed rebuild .

 

[Lakesailor]

Technically illegal. Unbraked trailers are limited to 750kg all-up (including trailer) Whether the plod would spot that as an issue probably depends on what is being used to tow with. A stout 4x4 with a Maximum Towing weight of 2500-3500KGs would look like a capable outfit and plod may not even think about trailer brakes, as long as things like mudguards, lights, correct plates and visible safety cable are all present. Oh, and plenty of proper, hefty ratchet straps. Even a quick coat of Hammerite on the wheels gives that "looked after" look, as long as you don't overpaint the tyres as well.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Oh /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I'm not very good at this , i have no idea what she weighs now . She is a shell of a boat that has been out of the water for a very long time .

 

[Lakesailor]

Like I say, if the outfit looks capable you probably wouldn't get stopped. Of course if there was an accident things could go tits-up. Insurance for starters.

 

[Keith 66]

Even as a bare shell a kestrel has to weigh one ton with ballast and centreplate.
How good is the trailer its tyres and bearings? you will be looking at a serious nicking for the driver of the towing vehicle are you willing to pay his fines?

 

[Captain Coochie]

[ QUOTE ]
trailing weight with standard equipment is 19 cwt

[/ QUOTE ] I am told that is just under a ton . There is nothing on board so that makes it even less . The reason i was asking was because i do not know anything about trailing a boat otherwise i would hook it up to my own crappy van and do it myself . I wasnt asking for people to break the law for me i was asking for someone that knows what they are doing to do a job for me .

 

[VicS]

I am very surprised it is not a lot heavier than 19cwt but it seems that's right Kestrel 22.com. The trailer is going to weigh a fair bit and that has to be added on. So you will be substantially over the 750kg limit for an unbraked trailer.

You will find all you need to know about the law relating to towing a trailer on the NTTA website

Normally the maximum recommended trailer weight is 80% of the kerb weight of the towing vehicle but in any case the limits on the VIN plate must not be exceeded.

Note Flare is specifically mentioned on the "Kestrel 22 Class" page of the website!

And loads more HERE

 

[Blueboatman]

Plan B.
Undo the keelbolts and chuck(haha)the keel in the back of the towing truck/another tandem vehicle.
You may want to replace the keelbolts anyway and at least 'draw' one to inspect it..
Plan c, rent a double axle braked trailer,even a car type flatty would do.

 

[Searush]

How about asking if anyone has a flatbed truck going your way empty? Means you will also need a crane at the receiving end & you may also need to pay something towards costs.

 

[Dipper]

Or put the boat on its trailer and winch the boat and trailer onto a flat bed truck or onto another (legal) trailer?

 

[Lakesailor]

If you can find a car trailer wide enough to put the existing trailer on that is a plan. You'll need a Landrover or Landcruiser for that kind of tow (3500kg capacity) cos the rental firm won't do it otherwise.
The flatbed idea is good.
Our butcher got a dinghy on trailer delivered from the South Coast to the Lakes for £100 on a wagon. He couldn't have done it for less behind his butcher's van, including overnights.

(Does the Seedhouse have any options? eek!)

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Tow the boat out of the yard, and break the trailer, call your breakdown cover and get them to take it to your home on the low-loader.

ooer.

problem solved pay me 1x /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[William_H]

The boat obviously has a swing centre plate and probably internal balast. Both of these will probably have to be removed during the rebuild so why not before towing. So if you really want the boat moved do it yourself. Yes I know it may be illegal but then again the laws for trailers are to enable people to safely drive at the speed limit under worse conditions. ie to suit the idiots. I am sure you can be far more carefull to allow for the over weight.
good luck olewill

 

[bendyone]

You could have a problem with the overhang of the boat winching up onto a recovery truck. As it goes up the ramp the stern may hit the ground. Need a truck suitable fro caravans.

 

[Norman_E]

The 80% recommendation only applies to braked trailers. An unbraked trailer is limited by law to 750KG or 50% of the gross weight of the towing vehicle, whichever is lower. The proposed tow is risking overloading the trailer's tyres, will be illegal, and in addition to fines, there may be several offences possible under the construction and use regulations, with the possibility of adding up several sets of penalty points.

 

[Gunfleet]

I used to have a Kestrel. It was driven very easily by a 6HP Suzuki I had. Could you not launch it, let it take up, bung fenders all round and use the boat as its own transport? If you went via the Wallet, Crouch & Roach to the Thames you'd be in sheltered waters all the time. Or is it too far gone?

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
I used to have a Kestrel. It was driven very easily by a 6HP Suzuki I had. Could you not launch it, let it take up, bung fenders all round and use the boat as its own transport? If you went via the Wallet, Crouch & Roach to the Thames you'd be in sheltered waters all the time. Or is it too far gone?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it may be too far gone, but if that were possible I would gladly go along on the trip with another boat as a backup.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Nice idea but i think she is too far gone and i still need to get her back to my place so she is near the workshop . Once she is here the rest is easy /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Cuchilo Solves Problem