How far could I go?

CG1, your wind ups are great entertainment and always make me laugh /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I had a 24ft boat with a Merc 5.0EFI and B2 Duos on it. I could get about 110nm on a tank, but when at sea I always carried three full jerry cans incase!

Do not worry about the size of the boat on the trailer, when you are driving you look forward! I towed one to Menorca with no problems.

Good Luck!

Paul
 
Yeh but....No but... yeh but no...this is so not right remember this a comedy video and it says small car and you have a big one and it's bigger than mine and anyway Duncan says it's OK.

(Apologies to Vicky Pollard /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )
 
Hi,

We are taking delivery of our new 3500kg trailer in a week or so and our 25ft sealine.

I have just upgraded to a Discovery for towing with.

Having recently spent a year towing a 21footer, I am reasonably comfortable with the new outfit, but it will look HUGE on the drive while it is there temporarily.

We found launching the easy bit, it was recovering that is more difficult, especially getting the trailer set up right the first time- that is definately worth getting some help with cos that makes all the difference.

You will soon get the hang of the towing, just plan ahead and avoid small lanes!

When you plan to launch or recover somewhere it really helps your confidence if you have visited the slipway in advance.

Good luck- I recon that keeping the flexibility to tow your pride and joy to new areas will really increase your pleasure and use of the boat
 
There were two reasons we stayed with one that we could tow (just), the first was that we want to get bigger gradually, I stood at the helm of a 34ft and its scared me /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif, secondly as you say it is great to be able to move around the country and abroad /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif (as if) and see different places. I must say it has been great fun doing the shopping bit, but reality is slowly closing in at the MASSIVE size of it /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I have spoken to some emminent advisors on the forum and think I may have a plan /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I just need to con swmbo into thinking I have towed it to the Medway from Chichester and then taken it by sea to the Hamble /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I think I will enjoy my new berth down south /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now where can you buy that spray on seaweed for trailers? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Don\'t worry

Jeezzze your gonna tow that. Are you flippin' mad. I've towed some things in my time but I'd never tow THAT. FFS you've only got a mini tonka toy to play with! It'll never pass plods inspection re widths etc if you get pulled.

Have you changed the clutch in the Tonka Toy to cope? Have the rear springs been beefed up? Have you had the additional member put on the rear of the chassis? I flippin' well hope you have or your gonna be pulling away with a screaming smoking clutch leaving the rear of the Tonka Toy behind with the boat!!!!
 
Pete, you are going to have to calm down a bit. When I got my Antares 650 last year – only two feet shorter than yours – I towed it from Cheshire to Bradwell in Essex to launch it.

I have towed heavy stuff many times in the Army, but was at first worried about the boat on a four wheel trailer. Reversing is now doddle, even single handed, but I don’t care if people laugh at me when I reverse two feet, get out to have a look and then reverse another two feet, etc. It gets the job done and I don’t hit anything.

When I came to launch the boat, I was assisted by a 15 year old girl and a twelve year old lad. The only mistake we made was to put too much of the trailer into the water and as the boat floated it went sideways, pushing the trailer off the edge of the slipway. It took four of us to lift it back onto the ramp.

Anyway, we enjoyed a weeks boating and then it came time to recover the boat. It was blowing force 5 that day and there were seven of us to recover the it. Despite a thorough briefing, one of the marina lads stood INSIDE the trailer during recovery and was very lucky not to have got killed as I had to drive the boat up the trailer to counteract the wind.

Anyway, we got it on the trailer and once we got back to the car park discovered it was listing to Port on the trailer. Tough, we weren’t going to go through that again.

By now, my confidence was shattered and the boat sat on my drive from the end of August last year, still leaning slightly, until June this year when I got up the courage to do it all again in North Wales.

The boat is in the water most of the time now, but I have taken it out for engine service and anti foul. In two weeks time I am taking it out again to bring home for a month whilst I fit radio, extra grab rails and sort out my non flushing loo.

I can now park single handed, even in a gale, without drama and without the litre of water to lubricate the dry mouth.

It is all down to practice and familiarity.

When towing, remember that your four wheel trailer will try and cut the corner and you don’t want to scuff the tyres too often along the kerb. Always check everything before you set off – I have posted before about my first towing, when I drove off with the wheel clamp on. I have also driven off, after disconnecting the trailer, but forgot to undo the brake safety strap. Also remember that the overhang at the back will ‘swing’ wide. Oh yes, also measure the air draft of the boat on the trailer and put the measurement, in imperial and metric, on your dashboard and that will stop you taking out car park height barriers.

Not sure if your angst is real or not, you do do winds ups quite well, but you probably need to sort out the boarding ladder problem and if you do try to test the range of your bateau, please make sure you have sufficient bread on board to keep crew fed with fresh toast.
 
Re: Don\'t worry

Youn need your head lookin' at if your gonna tow that lump!! FFS is there not laws to protect people from themselves!!!
 
I know there is no weight in it, but my son regularly tows his University rowing 8s'

car2.jpg


which are 62' long.

Don't worry about a 24' boat /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: Don\'t worry

I wish I was mate.....whoever told you that you could tow that with ease needs a good slap! Prob some slippy boatshow salesman no doubt. What the hell do they know. half of'em could'nt even tell you what the speed limit is while towing on the road.

Get in the tonka, hit 60 and stop as quickly as poss. Now measure that distance and triple it. Thats the stopping distance with that lump on the back. Your completely raving mate. I know a good physciatic day unit that specializes in senile dementure. You want their number?
 
I think this is a time for being SERIOUS, what with Barry who knows Landrovers inside out telling me its ridiculous, it is VERY worrying. I think it will be IMPOSSIBLE to launch alone, I could be in all sorts of bother, I can imagine all kinds of things floating off and God help me if it is windy /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I have looked at all that has been posted and know that this is NOT something to take lightly, I am very safety concious but I have NEVER had so many safety concerns to consider on a boat, I am on page 8 of my risk assessment and not even GOT the boat YET /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

But thanks to everyone, IF I survive this then next summer I will ensure I put a drink on /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: Don\'t worry

Don't listen, Pete. Of course it ain't gonna stop like a mini, it won't corner like one either (thank god some might say!). You're old rig didn't either, you make allowances.

I drive 5 1/2 ton car transporter, that doesn't stop or corner like my Beemer either. You drive according to the vehicle you're controlling, that's no surprise to you I'm sure.
 
Drive it as if you are driving a big truck. Get the mindset correct and you will be okay.

You will not launch it single handed - actually you could - but you certainly will not recover it singlehanded unless you can reach the winch strap from the foredeck to clip it on. I don't recommend driving boat up trailer and leaving it with a bit of throttle on, whilst you nip off and clip it on.

If you are sh1tt1ng yourself at the the thought of towing it and sh1tt1ng yourself at the thought of launching it, what are you going to be like driving and parking it in the water? The boat, I mean.

I know this is probably a stupid question. But do you have ANY friends who could help you?
 
Pete, I am available when you are ready to launch, I am within walking distance of where you intend to launch.

No problem with driving the boat back to the Marina for you as my previous boat was 26ft.
 
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