launching a large boat with a tractor?

westernman said:
I don't think horsepower will be a concern. Even a small tractor has enough very low range gears to pull a considerable load even if the engine is not very powerful.
He does not need to reach 50mph up a 10% incline.
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Thats reasuring to know, as I thought I would need a minimum of something like the below. Do you think the below would be overkill then?
1995 VALMET 8100 For Sale in Chippenham, England

As for route to the harbour, its a clear route, as there are no powerlines etc. So theoretically I could leave the mast up. I actually live in the far North of Scotland and don't think police are an issue either. If you call the police in an emergency, you wait about 3 hours!

As for the tractor, my only concern is the slip is very steep and not in excellent condition, however there are some large fishing boats that they seem to take in and out. I suppose my main goal would be to get a tractor that would be up to the task with a boat, but also useful on my land. I am also open to other boat choices that may be more practical for regular slip launching, but I definitly want something I can grow into and suitable for eventually taking away for a few weeks at a time on adventures.
 
tommy2 said:
Thats reasuring to know, as I thought I would need a minimum of something like the below. Do you think the below would be overkill then?
1995 VALMET 8100 For Sale in Chippenham, England

As for route to the harbour, its a clear route, as there are no powerlines etc. So theoretically I could leave the mast up. I actually live in the far North of Scotland and don't think police are an issue either. If you call the police in an emergency, you wait about 3 hours!

As for the tractor, my only concern is the slip is very steep and not in excellent condition, however there are some large fishing boats that they seem to take in and out. I suppose my main goal would be to get a tractor that would be up to the task with a boat, but also useful on my land. I am also open to other boat choices that may be more practical for regular slip launching, but I definitly want something I can grow into and suitable for eventually taking away for a few weeks at a time on adventures.
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Pretty sure that trailing with the mast up is a big no no, though of course ypu have to be caught before you have to worry! The slipway, if steep, is going to be a serious issue with a boat of that weight, though if anything can do it, that tractor would be it. It may well have a power take off winch, or if it hasn’t, maybe it could. That would do the job, 100%. But the issues with the boat type are still there. Until you’ve tried launching a big boat off a trailer, it’s easy to make light of it. Even my 6.5 metre RIB, about 750kg, needs forethought and care.
 
tommy2 said:
Thats reasuring to know, as I thought I would need a minimum of something like the below. Do you think the below would be overkill then?
1995 VALMET 8100 For Sale in Chippenham, England

As for route to the harbour, its a clear route, as there are no powerlines etc. So theoretically I could leave the mast up. I actually live in the far North of Scotland and don't think police are an issue either. If you call the police in an emergency, you wait about 3 hours!

As for the tractor, my only concern is the slip is very steep and not in excellent condition, however there are some large fishing boats that they seem to take in and out. I suppose my main goal would be to get a tractor that would be up to the task with a boat, but also useful on my land. I am also open to other boat choices that may be more practical for regular slip launching, but I definitly want something I can grow into and suitable for eventually taking away for a few weeks at a time on adventures.
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I think you need to spend some time with both local fishermen and farmers.

The fishermen will be able to tell you about when and how they use the slip, and whether your idea is even possible.

Your choice of tractor up there should be determined by what your local tractor mechanic recommends and is happy to work on - have a look round your neighbours, see what they're running. You don't need anything remotely that big for either task in my experience, it's all about gearing.

That said, my first visit would be to the harbourmaster to chat about finding you a spot where you can keep the boat in the water - just bringing it home for the winter. You'll get a lot more sailing done.
 
Is there room to leave the yacht afloat in your chosen harbour.Maybe travel a few miles to bigger harbour and have mooring space.There are pleanty of trainable yachts but better that they are shallow drought with a lifting keel
 
Unless the slipway is on your land, or in your back garden I think the simple answer is no. It's not just faff of the launch, to take it on the road you are going to have to step and unstep the mast each time.
 
As an alternative perspective - My uncle kept an iroquois catamaran on the north norfolk coast for many years and would occasionally take it back to his farm to work on using a tractor. An Iroquois is probably more trouble to "trailer sail" than a Vega so it could be done IF the OP is only thinking about an annual; trip back home and then back to the harbour - probably more convenient than laying up in a boatyard. I would forget any ideas of genuine trailer sailing with anything that large
 
tommy2 said:
Thats reasuring to know, as I thought I would need a minimum of something like the below. Do you think the below would be overkill then?
1995 VALMET 8100 For Sale in Chippenham, England

As for route to the harbour, its a clear route, as there are no powerlines etc. So theoretically I could leave the mast up. I actually live in the far North of Scotland and don't think police are an issue either. If you call the police in an emergency, you wait about 3 hours!

As for the tractor, my only concern is the slip is very steep and not in excellent condition, however there are some large fishing boats that they seem to take in and out. I suppose my main goal would be to get a tractor that would be up to the task with a boat, but also useful on my land. I am also open to other boat choices that may be more practical for regular slip launching, but I definitly want something I can grow into and suitable for eventually taking away for a few weeks at a time on adventures.
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The Vega would be a good choice for your location, but kept on a mooring and hauled out every winter with your tractor. However it is the slip and tidal range that is far more important than the tractor. Many clubs and small yards use tractors for launching boats and moving them round yards. Does not need to be big or sophisticated. Our club used a basic small Ford tractor for years with a dedicated hydraulic lifting trailer to move boats up to 38' - but we have a properly designed slipway with 2.5m of water at the bottom at springs.

You do not need a road trailer - in fact that is a disadvantage as for that kind of boat it will be too high and you will need well over 2m of water to float, plus dunking a road trailer will ruin it. So a dedicated low trolley with built in guidance and support arms would be the way to go. travelling a mile with the mast up would be quite possible if the surface is good and no restrictive turns.

As already mentioned, regular trailer/sailing with that size boat is not on. You will find launching and recover challenging, particularly if there is no wall to the slip. A 3 ton boat has a mind of its own once it floats off the trolley, particularly if there is any wind and you need to work out how to control it and get it secured safely once afloat. Various ways of doing this depending on the specific of the site and how many people you have. Our sip has a wall then a pontoon so it is easy and 2 people have no difficulty handling even the biggest boats. Another slip in the harbour without a pontoon uses the yard launch to take control once the boat is floating. I have also seen having someone on board who can start the engine and drive the boat off - but don't think I would like to try that with an wayward beast like a Vega!

So get a tractor that suits your land based needs. 30hp and above would be fine. Even an old Fergie which you can get for a couple of grand would pull and launch the boat but obviously modern tractors are much better and more versatile. As suggested talk to the local tractor guys for advice.
 
Tractor choice, Depends a little on what you want or, can do with your 20 Acres.
Get used to your new situation, and use other folk and their gear to try out various options. You will be lucky or very skilled to get it right first time.
 
I've been popping my Sadler 32 in and out of the water for the last 12 years with a 2wd, 50 years old International tractor bought for £850.
You'll need a substantial trailer and make sure there is little tide running when landing the boat on it.
I have 6 shore ropes to help me locate the boat correctly.
It only happens once a year - boat normally kept on a mooring.
 
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I kept two boats in Stonehaven Harbour over a period of about 20 years, the first was a Jaguar 21, the second a Parker 275, both with lifting keels and a mast in a tabernacle.
The Jaguar 21 was launched and recovered spring and autumn, and recovered to be taken on Holiday to the West Coast, once a year.
I can fully recommend a lifting keel, for many reason, including that it makes launch and recovery much easier. Minimum draft, you don't need such along rope, and with the Jaguar 21 and a break back trailer, I didn't need to get the trailer wheels in the water. However, keeping the boat lined up as you start pulling up the slip, isn't easy, any cross wing or tide and you need people and lots of mooring lines.
When I moved up to the Parker, I had a 4 wheeled yard trailer The front 2 wheels where steerable. Technically not road legal, but early on a Sunday morning, not a problem. I hired a Land Rover for a day to move the boat, perhaps surprisingly, the biggest problem was sand on the slipway. The trailer wheels sunk into it, and the dry sand under the tyres of the Land Rover, acted like ball bearing, causing the wheels to spin, even with 4 wheel drive.
I wouldn't under estimate the problem of getting the mast up and down.
The solution was a block on the apex of the boat shed, about 9m up, this gave a much better angle. I used the jib halyard and a winch on he coach roof, but it still need 3 fit people, to feel marginally safe.
We just moved the Parker out of the water for the winter, the boat was capable enough to sail where we wanted to go on holiday in the summer, Orkney and the West Coast of Scotland.
Good luck with a fin keeled boat, it can be done, but why make life difficult?
And, I don't think you need a tractor, but if you have one for other reasons, then using it with certainly help.
 
As you can see from the picture and my title, I'm a working farmer. As it happens, one who has been launching boats with a tractor for years. I use an old Leyland 270 (70hp) 2WD to launch a 1.5t sports boat on a fairly steep shingle beach. I wouldn't want to use anything smaller.
Regarding the tractor; it really depends what your budget is. if it was just for your 20 acres a 50-60 hp old school Leyland, Case, Ford, MF. Preferrable 4x4, and a front end loader is a massive boon.
For towing your boat you would want at least that size as much as anything to be able to handle the weight on the back. It's one thing to edge around a flat yard at low speed, but quite another to manoeurvre on a slope or a slipway. Tractor tyres are made for gripping in soil not on sloping slippery concrete so a bit of size and weight would be a benefit. Four wheel drive comes to the fore then too.
Fuel is the next thing - if there is a chance that you will be checked by the police or HMRC then run it on white diesel or you could be fined and the tractor confiscated. The amount you would burn in a year wouldn't add much cost to running it with the dearer fuel

.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304806264862?hash=item46f7de801e:g:ntkAAOSwj3pj7LTF

FORD 5610 4WD Y REG V5 GOOD TINWORK NO ROT SLIGHTLY USED FRONT TYRES BUBBLE CAB | eBay

Just a couple for an idea. Watch ebay though as there have been quite a lot of scammers selling tractors in the lower price range. Go and see it if you can.
 
You should make sure any tractor you choose has good brakes and a good handbrake. Harder to find than you think!!.
A good draw bar too. A Ford 5610 would be a safe size to use on a slipway but not too big for topping grass. A standard tractor will provide weight making it safer to use on a slipway and tow on the road.

steveeasy
 
I cannot see why anyone thinks this a practical thing to do. I'm assuming you are talking about multiple launches per season, and trailing a boat any size with the mast up, even if stropped down well is risky. I would be interested as to what insurance cover you could get.
 
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Weed and slime on slip ways in the summer is a real issue here in the NW Scotland. Rust is also a real issue. I’m not sure I’d want to submerge anything other than the tyres of a tractor and the trailer would need regular attention. But depending on where you are in N Scotland, I can see why you might want to launch and recover rather than leave afloat
 
Refueler said:
Tractors ? They used to have a 5mile allowance for travel from field to field .. and TBH - Police had no interest in Tractors unless unsafe operation. Long time since I drove Tractors in UK ... so maybe that's no longer ??

If the guy has slip and field close to each other - surely none of those issues apply ?
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Agricultural tractors can travel between fields, and use red diesel, but a farmer here got nicked towing a boat up the road to his field, for the red diesel, (and I think there may have been a tax and insurance issue).
Alothough this was a registered fishing boat and able to use red itself, the tractor was being used for haulage.
Used to be that a farmer could use a Land Rover between fields, up to six miles, from memory.
Looks like 1.5km now, see here:
Agricultural vehicle licences, tax information and fuel
 
ChromeDome said:
The Vega needs at least 1,3 m depth to float.

Will that work at all at the mentioned slip with the tractor connected to the trailer?
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That'll be plus the trailer structure.
Whatever happens don't take the tractor for a swim, esp if FWD.
They all look expensive to me, but if you can use it on the land it might pay off.
 
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