Big boat / Bigger boat.-- Towing / launching limitations

We are still looking for our replacement boat and trying to sell wellcrafty our 20.7 ft cuddy, don't be to hard on your self towing large boats is fine just takes time and patience. We're going up to a cruiser like the sealine 220-230-s23-s24 perfect size for us and for towing and width is perfect at 2.5m, weight is good on these boats as there all around the 1.7t to 2t. Torquay slip is perfect for these sizes, but I would say portishead slip in harbour is not good unless your tractor it down.
 
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Just to echo what JTB says, you really need to check your exact vehicle, not just the model as there is using a large variation in the permitted towing weights within a model name.
I used to tow 24ft with a big Jeeps.. with twin axle trailer and clobber, even with those cars I wouldnt say it was more than ok to handle. You also need to think about launch and recovery. It is alot of weight to shift about on a slimy slippery slipway. It also was about £500 a year in trailer repairs (whatever I tried).
All do-able, and experience helps, but my observation is that a bit more boat length does make the whole trailer-sailor side of it alot less simple.
 
Right finalised the weight issue... I rang Nissan and you are right the weight limit for towing is 2600kg for my model. Really appreciate peoples thoughts...it is helping the process
 
I used to tow a 25ft sports cruiser behind a Discovery v8. It was not the most pleasant of experiences, and other road users used to get very impatient. It was a big rig, max for the legal limit. So we moored her, which was much better.
As others have said, when you are launching into salt water, this takes a real toll on brakes and bearings, which need constant maintenance, which is not easy with a 2.5 tonne boat on top.
For me, for regular towing, I would look at something about 20ft and 1.5 tonnes max.
 
rafiki_ said:
I used to tow a 25ft sports cruiser behind a Discovery v8. It was not the most pleasant of experiences, and other road users used to get very impatient. It was a big rig, max for the legal limit. So we moored her, which was much better.
As others have said, when you are launching into salt water, this takes a real toll on brakes and bearings, which need constant maintenance, which is not easy with a 2.5 tonne boat on top.
For me, for regular towing, I would look at something about 20ft and 1.5 tonnes max.
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I did meet an oil lorry in a small Devon street, and then my trailer wheel backed into a stone bollard, so I couldnt move. I think we were there for 30 mins with the whole town out to watch. I think I reversed over someone's front garden lawn in the end; the dahlias probably never recovered. All very good natured those small villages !
The kids thought it huge fun;the wife freaked out.
 
gjgm said:
I did meet an oil lorry in a small Devon street, and then my trailer wheel backed into a stone bollard, so I couldnt move. I think we were there for 30 mins with the whole town out to watch. I think I reversed over someone's front garden lawn in the end; the dahlias probably never recovered. All very good natured those small villages !
The kids thought it huge fun;the wife freaked out.
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Yep, Devon and Cornwall roads are really tight.
 
Thanks again. I have looked at the issues highlighted and decided to tow for a trail period and if it is not working out will take up a mooring. So I am going to go to the limits and I am looking for a boat of around 24' x 8' weighing approx 2 tonne to allow for trailer and fluids.

of the adverts I have found ....I have a short list with.......Bayliner 2455, Bayliner 2355, Rinker 240, Fiesta Vee and MONTEREY 262. None come with a trailer so that is more research!
 
mansellmansion said:
Thanks again. I have looked at the issues highlighted and decided to tow for a trail period and if it is not working out will take up a mooring. So I am going to go to the limits and I am looking for a boat of around 24' x 8' weighing approx 2 tonne to allow for trailer and fluids.

of the adverts I have found ....I have a short list with.......Bayliner 2455, Bayliner 2355, Rinker 240, Fiesta Vee and MONTEREY 262. None come with a trailer so that is more research!
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Sorry to disappoint, but they are all far too heavy for you to legally tow.

Your max tow weight is 2600kg, lightest trailer for that capacity will be 550kg (i.e. SBS R4/2600B), that leaves you a max boat weight of 2050kg. Even if you keep no personal effects on the boat at all you will still need minimum of 100kg for fixed equipment that's not included in the 'dry' weight quoted by the manufacturer (anchor, fluids and even the weight of the trailer straps ! ). That leaves you with a max boat weight of 1950kg.

Even the lightest boat on your list is 2-300kg over that. A lot of us on here have towed oversized boats, but these days I just don't think its worth it. The moment you have an accident the Police will cart the boat off to be weighed and even if you don't have an accident the chances of getting stopped are high. Your chances of getting stopped are even higher since most Navara's around are commercial and if being used for business must have a tacho fitted and the Police love to check !

Sorry, but you are going to have to look significantly smaller to stay legal. The only inboard engine pocket cruisers of that weight that I can think of are the older Sealine 215, Bayliner 2155 or Maxim 2155. The other option is to go for an outboard powered boat such as a Shetland.
 
Don't forget the angling boats: MF 645, Antares 6.8, Orkney pilot 21 etc.......
I decided on a cheetah cat 7.6 that weighs less than 1.5 tons with 90hp engine, beam 2.34 (23' by 7'8")
 
landlockedpirate said:
Sorry to disappoint, but they are all far too heavy for you to legally tow.

Your max tow weight is 2600kg, lightest trailer for that capacity will be 550kg (i.e. SBS R4/2600B), that leaves you a max boat weight of 2050kg. Even if you keep no personal effects on the boat at all you will still need minimum of 100kg for fixed equipment that's not included in the 'dry' weight quoted by the manufacturer (anchor, fluids and even the weight of the trailer straps ! ). That leaves you with a max boat weight of 1950kg.
landlockedpirate said:
Agree 100% with that comment, our landy is 3.5t max the trailer is twin axles 2600kg, 600kg for the trailer and 2000kg/2t left for boat, boat is 1.1t dry weight, with the full tank and extras it now about 1.3t this leaves me a with 0.7t left. there is no way i will max out my towing capacity so i will leave 500kg spare.

This is a smallish cuddy boat at 20.7ft, the sealine we have looked at is 1900kg dry weight at 24ft, a twin axled trailer would be around the 2800kg, so 800kg for trailer , 1.9t for boat leaves 100kg for equipment.

I would check and check again, to clarify you towing weight issue. its better to have a loaded vehicle and a lighter rig, and the end of the day max out your towing vehcle leaves no room for loading up 4x4 due to axle weight.
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As others have suggested, check your vehicle paperwork and chassis plate rather than referring websites for towing weights. ie you want to be sure of what your own vehicle is actually rated to tow.

The older (D22) Navara (4x4) was rated to tow 3,000kg (3 tonne) braked.... I have one and use it infrequently to tow my Bayliner 2455 (measured overall length of boat 8m) and it is just ok on weight but I have to make sure tanks are near empty as full water, waste and fuel adds a lot of weight! Its a big lump but tows well (I regularly tow large heavy trailers) but I would echo the concerns of others on slipways, you would only want to try to use a good slipway with good access.

note: check but I am pretty sure the later Navara (D40) has a max towing weight of 2.6 tonne. edit: Apologies just seen you've checked that.
 
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PirateMark said:
We are still looking for our replacement boat and trying to sell wellcrafty our 20.7 ft cuddy, don't be to hard on your self towing large boats is fine just takes time and patience. We're going up to a cruiser like the sealine 220-230-s23-s24 perfect size for us and for towing and width is perfect at 2.5m, weight is good on these boats as there all around the 1.7t to 2t. Torquay slip is perfect for these sizes, but I would say portishead slip in harbour is not good unless your tractor it down.
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Be very wary of using the manufacturers displacement figures as a guide for the weight, these are often just dry on theoretical design figures and are not realistic to the actual finshed wieght with different engine options, batteries etc... I would be gob-smacked if a Sealine S23 weighed under 2t it will easily be 2.5t if not more with the diesel option. I used to tow a petrol engined Cruisers 224, quoted displacement 1795kg, actual weigh bridge weight minus a 525kg trailer was 2475kg. If you are seriously considering a certain boat which you intend to tow, I would get it weighed before parting with any money, it will be heavier than you think!
 
Thanks Mark I didnt think about trailer weight properly. I did see the Rinker 240 was 2100 kg but that is cutting it fine still. back to researching.... a smaller boat on trailer vs mooring with desired boat...
 
mansellmansion said:
Thanks Mark I didnt think about trailer weight properly. I did see the Rinker 240 was 2100 kg but that is cutting it fine still. back to researching.... a smaller boat on trailer vs mooring with desired boat...
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There is an in between possibility. Although you cant legally tow a 3500kg boat, the Navara is physically capable of moving and launching it. Why not find somewhere that you can store the boat on the hard on its trailer and launch yourself on the marinas slip, as long as you are on private property its not n issue.

When you want to change locations hire a full size 4x4 for the day, or buy a 3rd car just to tow the boat.
 
My boat on a trailer is for sale. Its a 7m Skibsplast (on ebay) on a trailer. (Diesel Yanmar) I pay £20 a week to have it stored undercover at a Boatyard where there is a good slipway.
When I bought the boat I went round the local farms and found parking at £7 a week. And when I want to use it I arrange for a couple of nights on a "Visitors Mooring" for me this is the cheapest way with a small boat.
My boat weighs 1600 kilos and if the trailer weighs 900 you have reached your 2500 kilo towing weight.

I made a mistake with the trailer I bought with my last boat. (in France) The boatyard I was buying the boat from underestimated the weight of the boat I was buying from them, I bought a new trailer thay they recommended, consequently when the boat was on the new trailer, the trailer was overloaded as the "Gross Weight" exceeded what the trailer was legally allowed to tow by 300 kilos.

I noticed that the tyres were bulging a bit and took the boat to a weighbridge and weighed it, thats how I know it was 300 kilos over.
Obviously I drove very carefully as had I had an Accident and an Insurance Loss Assessor spotted the overweight combination (or the bulging tyres) my Insurance would have been Invalid. (and the tyres were rubbish, 4 ply Car Tyres, "low noise" Who cares how much noise a trailer tyre makes when its behind you.
 
look at the car vin plate it tells what weight can be towed also the combined weight of car and trailer so don't tow max weight and load car up you may be over the weight limit.
 
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