Biggest towable boat

[gjgm]

FWIW I agree with those who've said that whilst you CAN tow a boat this big, it's very tiring and stressful towing something that big....

In my opinion, the max you'd want to tow for long distances or often is 20-22 ft and about 2000kg ish - any bigger than that, towing it a couple of times a year to the marina and back, or away on a weeks holiday for example, that's fine - but towing it every weekend - not sure I'd fancy that even with a Rangie or similar.

Remember too that a 2800kg boat, will need a 700kg trailer - the guy who said he towed a 3000 kg boat must have been well over 3500 with the trailer, kit, inevitable fuel/water etc.

It's not about what you can legally tow, but about what's comfy to tow a long distance.

I used to tow 24 ft Regal on twin axle.. 50mph was the most it was stable at, but it was pretty relaxing driving IMHO.
To OP, remember that advertised weights are likely to be without fuel,water and all that boating clobber.
While you might not get Plod stopping you, you can expect nothing from your ins co., if you are over the legal weight, so that could mean nothing for the car and nothing for the boat, which might be a very expensive accident.

 

[mateyboy]

mmmm, I'm glad I aired this there's a few things I overlooked, towing probs, insurance companies will do anything these days to wriggle out of paying so not to be overlooked I guess. It just looks like remaining a non starter for me this boating lark at this stage i don't want to pressure myself with costs that spiral out of control. If the boat was free it would be a big annual expense, this fence is getting a tad uncomfy mind!

 

[landlockedpirate]

Lots of negativity about towing, so here a few positive points for balance.

It is a cheaper way to get on the water, fixed costs for a 24ft sports cruiser on a trailer are about 25% of moored costs.

Maintenance is significantly cheaper (No crane cost etc)

Fantastic cruising grounds, we regularly cover Scotland, Wales and England in a season and Europe is a cheap and easy 2hr ferry ride.

I agree, taking a big boat out for the day on a trailer is a lot of hassle, but we do still do it occasionally. But with accomodation on board weekends are easy.

Towing with the Rangie is easy, I towed with a 4litre Disco and did have an oil cooler fitted to the autobox as suggested, but in England it really wasnt needed (35+ Degress in Menorca it really was). With a well balanced rig, and a decent trailer it will tow safely and comfortably at 60mph, just dont let it 'run' down hills. Lots of comments about weight, stick with a maximum of 2500kg dry weight and even with the trailer and kit you will stay legal. (My downfall was carrying 2 dingies, lots of water toys, 3 outboards etc.)

Running costs are cheaper too, fill up at Tesco's for much cheaper petrol.

My advice, give it a go, as long as you buy a decent boat at the right price, you will always be able to sell with little loss if you dont like it.

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

Lots of negativity about towing, so here a few positive points for balance.

It is a cheaper way to get on the water, fixed costs for a 24ft sports cruiser on a trailer are about 25% of moored costs.

Maintenance is significantly cheaper (No crane cost etc)

Fantastic cruising grounds, we regularly cover Scotland, Wales and England in a season and Europe is a cheap and easy 2hr ferry ride.

I agree, taking a big boat out for the day on a trailer is a lot of hassle, but we do still do it occasionally. But with accomodation on board weekends are easy.

Towing with the Rangie is easy, I towed with a 4litre Disco and did have an oil cooler fitted to the autobox as suggested, but in England it really wasnt needed (35+ Degress in Menorca it really was). With a well balanced rig, and a decent trailer it will tow safely and comfortably at 60mph, just dont let it 'run' down hills. Lots of comments about weight, stick with a maximum of 2500kg dry weight and even with the trailer and kit you will stay legal. (My downfall was carrying 2 dingies, lots of water toys, 3 outboards etc.)

Running costs are cheaper too, fill up at Tesco's for much cheaper petrol.

My advice, give it a go, as long as you buy a decent boat at the right price, you will always be able to sell with little loss if you dont like it.

Well said LLP..Ive been towing mine for 10yrs..i except i have the advantage of 35 yrs of 40ton artics but most of the problems are easily overcome by comonsence..the only thing i would disagree with you over, is the gearbox.. i will only EVER tow with a manual..you have much more control over the speed etc BUT THATS MY OPINION

 

[Kawasaki]

Well said LLP..Ive been towing mine for 10yrs..i except i have the advantage of 35 yrs of 40ton artics but most of the problems are easily overcome by comonsence..the only thing i would disagree with you over, is the gearbox.. i will only EVER tow with a manual..you have much more control over the speed etc BUT THATS MY OPINION

Yes, I agree with you for the most part Steve and bow to your years of tonnage!
I am of the opinion that having a vessel that can be moved for various advantages can overweigh (excuse pun ) the stress/ aggro of being a 'Gypo' boater!
Shortly, with luck I have sold my 30 footer and will be downsizing to a trailable vessel.
My needs and wants have changed as it appens so there yer go.

A 'boat to tow', yep, lets just go.
Lakes, Scotland Ireland, even the Broads and maybe the Thames, cripes even somewhere where theyhave language is a prob like Llanfairwllgwygyll,llantisiliog go go goch

Hactually, don't come here, there's too many peeps anyway and we don't like visitors so feck off before yer start

Yep, yer can mend it at home, store it cheap like and still enjoy
As long as yer don't wanna weekend Cottage, in my eyes that's the way forward

 

[Kawasaki]

Well said LLP..Ive been towing mine for 10yrs..i except i have the advantage of 35 yrs of 40ton artics but most of the problems are easily overcome by comonsence..the only thing i would disagree with you over, is the gearbox.. i will only EVER tow with a manual..you have much more control over the speed etc BUT THATS MY OPINION

Oh yeh, the Auto bit
Not done Wagons Mate but done lots of 4 wheel drive an towin stuff.
The Probs with inexperienced towers (and 4 wheel drive novices) is gear selection etc , the auto job is easier for lots of peeps
I qualify this cos I have done a bit of off road stuff and teachy stuff and all that there and taught peeps about trailers and all the rest of it.
Autos can make sense sometimes!

 

[gjgm]

mmmm, I'm glad I aired this there's a few things I overlooked, towing probs, insurance companies will do anything these days to wriggle out of paying so not to be overlooked I guess. It just looks like remaining a non starter for me this boating lark at this stage i don't want to pressure myself with costs that spiral out of control. If the boat was free it would be a big annual expense, this fence is getting a tad uncomfy mind!

My opinion is that it is the idea of overnight onboard that kills it. Find a good sea boat that you can trail wouldnt be too much trouble, and then stay in B+B/motels etc. Much bigger bathroom, you get breakfast served to you, and you dont lose half the boat to sleeping.
At 24ft or so though, you do need good slipways, and know what you are doing launch and recover. Perfectly do-able, but its simpler with 21ft for sure !

 

[Nautorius]

Well,

I towed various boats for several years (sometimes in convoy with LandLocked Pirate). What I have to say is that you can save a lot of money....but have more hassle and grief. However, it allows you to go all over! One week on Windermere, the next in the SoF, then Barcelona and even Menorca. To be fair I never used the correct Tow car....a 21ft Maxum with a Saab 9-5 seemed fine to me, but it was fun.

However you do need to plan where to launch, secure storage, route planning etc. I remember heading to Barcelona towing a Chaparral 240 Signature with a Nissan Terrano 2.7TD Auto. Climbing over the mountains from France to Spain we were down to 7mph and the Auto box was cooking my leg! Of course we would have had a nice LandRover to shadow us but it had broken down...and i later found out Max Tow weight was only 2800KG which was why I cooked the gearbox, engine, brakes and had to punt the car on afterwards.

The best Tow car I had was a LandRover Defender 300TDI. Did exactly what it said on the box. Ironically i used it to tow the lightest boat.

So yes you can do it, yes it can work but if I were you I would keep under 24ft and keep to a lighter boat!

Good luck

Paul

 

[mateyboy]

Here is a list of possibles that meet your criteria. Beware I bought a new boat in 2000 (Four Winns 268) that was technically legal, but 2 years later I had added nearly 600kg of additional kit and it was well over 4000kg.

Bayliner 245 (Or 2455)
Four Winns 248
Sealine S24
Maxum 2400 SCR (Or SE)
Chaparral 240
Regal 2465
Searay 240
Larson 240
Crownline 242
Glastron 249
Rinker 250
Doral 250 (Diesel is too heavy)
Monterey 242

I'm sure I will have missed a few as well.Diesel will be at the top end of your price range, petrol should be cheaper. I dont want to start the usual Petrol V Diesel argument but its really important to check the performance of the oil burners, at this age and size the only engine available was usually the KAD32. This just didnt (IMHO) give enough performance for a Sportscruiser loaded with kit and people.

Which is 'best' - no idea ! They have 2 basic layouts, cabin door port or cental, similar cockpits and the same engines and drives. My advice is go and see as many as you can, you should find the one you prefer.

Hi LLP,

Your Four Winns 268, what happened to it? too big? was it any good for towing, weight, sleeping on board? performance? fuel? water sports? anything really!
cheers,
Martyn
(ps any pics?)

 

[landlockedpirate]

Hi LLP,

Your Four Winns 268, what happened to it? too big? was it any good for towing, weight, sleeping on board? performance? fuel? water sports? anything really!
cheers,
Martyn
(ps any pics?)

The boat was great, excellent double midships berth and a small but usable head. When I bought the boat I new it was very close to being illegal on the trailer (from memory I only had about 75kg of spare capacity), however I used to keep it almost empty and load the tow car. After a few years the amount of gear on board increased and I got lazy about loading the car. On a return trip to Menorca I realised the weight was over 4000kg, my new Discovery broke down and even the tow truck had trouble moving it !

The boat had a 5.7Gsi with Duoprop, WOT was about 40kts and cruising (24kts) it did 2.2mpg. We dis some serious cruises in it including the Balaerics, Channel Islands, France, Spain and most of England and Scotland. Longest open water crossing was Barcelona to Cuitadella at about 150 miles, and we still had about 10 gallons left in the tank (& spare jerry cans).

Even at its heaviest it still towed well,I attached a double stabiliser intended for horseboxes and only towed at 50mph max. Mine is the back boat in the picture and the front one was Nautorious's Chapperal 240.

I sold the boat when I realised it was just too illegal to keep towing it. I have replaced it with a Maxum 24SE, its about 400kg lighter and is fully legal. Despite being only slightly smaller I find it much easier to tow, even with a girly Lexus as a tow car

 

[mateyboy]

Cheers mate you've whetted my appetite even further, it never ceases to amaze me how much bigger boats look on a trailer, I saw a 45'er on a low loader heading M1north through Notts on a low loader just before Christmas, it looked huge on the lorry.

 

[PaulGooch]

Cheers mate you've whetted my appetite even further, it never ceases to amaze me how much bigger boats look on a trailer, I saw a 45'er on a low loader heading M1north through Notts on a low loader just before Christmas, it looked huge on the lorry.

Boats don't look bigger out of the water, they look smaller in the water

 

[mateyboy]

Cheers guys for advice & pics on trailering boats. Having looked at various options, I'm starting to think about the 'faff factor' and wondering if trailer boating is going to be for me. As said in the similar thread to this one, do I want to be trailering, queing at the slipway, getting my boxer shorts in a twist launching/recovering, finding a parking spot ('excuse me mate I was here an hour ago, just dropping the boat in' scenario) and then after all that struggling for space & capacity with the 2 tonnes of cr4p/shoes/bags/coats/food/ale/wine etc that we have to take along. That's excluding fuel issues, weight on the trailer, jerry cans(aargh!) all causing me grief that would more than likely spoil the fun.
I have been looking at cutting costs by trailering, having a 6 monthly berth, but again as somebody mentioned along the lines of 'if you want to cut costs, sell the damn boat and relinquish the berth that should save a few bob'.

So, it's back to plan F and thoughts of a 30-35' flybridge are in the mix, but that brings along another problem.

 

[mil1194]

Boats don't look bigger out of the water, they look smaller in the water

NEVER thought of it that way around!!

 

[davedpc]

Used to tow a Sealine205 with a Landcruiser...no problem, but i think i can remember a little sticker under the sun visor that stated that if the tow vehical plus the towed trailer exceeded 7.5T it woulld be necessary to use a tacograph

 

[trooper]

Love to see you towing this on the average English road

Me too!!

 

[2_rollocks]

My opinion is that it is the idea of overnight onboard that kills it. Find a good sea boat that you can trail wouldnt be too much trouble, and then stay in B+B/motels etc. Much bigger bathroom, you get breakfast served to you, and you dont lose half the boat to sleeping.
At 24ft or so though, you do need good slipways, and know what you are doing launch and recover. Perfectly do-able, but its simpler with 21ft for sure !

I can reiterate this. Currently have a fairline 21 with a 200hp Volvo penta diesel. The trailability of the boat opens up so many options. Having said that I did however revert to keeping her on a swinging mooring this season just gone due to the effort of launching and recovering and lack of time to use her! Quite good fun once we're out there with a top speed of 36 kts and a cruising speed of 25. Any decisions been made yet or sways in a certain direction?

 

[Solitaire]

I trailed a friend's boat from Hamble down to Dorset last weekend. Boat was a 27ft Bavaria fitted with KAD 44 engine. It towed OK, but wouldn't want to take it too far.

 

[lanason]

Kelisha was a 24 foot Fairline Holiday and I towed with a 3.0 TD Landcruiser.
= piece of cake - keeping speed down was the hardest thing.

Trailer was the proverbial "outhouse" - made by Beeline in Pembroke - absolutely brilliant.

The hardest thing is recovery - you cant man handle a boat this size. Need 2 good stern ropes to either side to make it easy(er).

 

[mateyboy]

I trailed a friend's boat from Hamble down to Dorset last weekend. Boat was a 27ft Bavaria fitted with KAD 44 engine. It towed OK, but wouldn't want to take it too far.

Great pic, and a decent size boat.