Max size for trailing

[gandy]

Hi,

Well, we didn't make it to the Secondhand Boat Show after all, but went up to Inverness instead. We saw some boats but not exactly what we're after yet.

Now we're wondering whether we should be looking for something a bit bigger. Maybe 26ft instead of 23. I had hoped we would have something that could be trailed occasionally, to avoid paying transport costs and allow storage at home over winter or during maintenance. I don't mean a trailer-sailer, it would normally live on a mooring.

Does anyone know what the upper limit is for trailing? We'd be towing with a Landrover or Range Rover, rated for 3.5 tons, but isn't there a limit on max width?

Thanks,

Tony S

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[aran01]

Hi Tony,
Head over to www.f-boat.com , they build foldable tri's up to max legal trailing, might get some info there.
Cheers,
M

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[Mudplugger]

For normal purposes I believe that the max legal width is 8'2.5", in old money & max length around 57', however not to long ago, towed recent purchase 45miles along A12, with declared width of 12'11", and just under 52'. Had it not been at 05.30 on a Sunday would have rquired Poice Escort! (Costs!).Suggest you contact local nick and ask, if you are up front they do tend to be helpful IMHO. regards Tony W.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony W.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi Tony

I have towed my Vega a few times and I know a few that trail across Europe. The Vega is 27 feet, 8 Feet wide and wighs about 2.5 ton. Trailer about 3/4 ton so within limits. Good sea boat and many have circumnavigated. Have a look at www.albinvega.co.uk

Cheers Steve Birch

<hr width=100% size=1>Albin Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

 

[gwennols]

I found the police did not know the correct information regarding trailing
the dept of transport have it . i down loaded the information and carry it with me when i trail my bruce roberts 24
have towed it around britian and this year towed it to croatia

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[gandy]

Found it, thanks, on www.dft.gov.uk

"Dimensions. If the towing vehicle has a permissible gross weight in excess of 3.5 tonnes the maximum width and length of the trailer are 2.55 metres and 12 metres respectively. If however the gross weight of the towing vehicle is 3.5 tonnes or less then the maximum permissible width and length are 2.3 metres and 7 metres respectively. In both cases the overall length of the towing vehicle and trailer must not exceed either 18m or 18.75m depending on the type of towing vehicle."

I don't think a Landrover is over 3500kg gross, so I think a Centaur would exceed the max 2.3m width, and even a 22 footer is going to exceed 7m length once it's on the trailer. So it looks like these could only be towed by a larger vehicle.

Tony S

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[jamesjermain]

Unless you are only planning to trail the boat to and from winter quarters at the begining and end of the season, it is convenience and safety during launch and recovery that are, in my experience, the deciding factors.

I would not want to launch and recover regularly any boat of more than 22ft and even one this size should have a fully retracting keel and be on a piggy-back trailer/trolley combo.

Stepping a mast on a 22 footer can be a dance of death without an A-frame and/or a strong tabernacle.

Recovering a boat this size in a strong cross tide and wind is also a nightmare which leaves Dads wet and exhausted and the rest of the family wet, exhausted, bored and fed-up with the whole process.

As you may gather from the above I spent some formative family years struggling with 22ft trailer-sailers and do not wish to repeat the experience.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ

 

[gandy]

To and from winter storage is all I was intending. Probably launch and recover either by floating onto/off trailer at highist tide, or by craning onto the trailer.

I do want to be able to raise/lower mast myself, and I've seen a couple of suggestions for lifting frames etc to suit up to Centaur size.

Tony S

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[gandy]

Vega looks a nice boat, but I'll probably need either bilge or lifting keel, to suit drying mooring. Vega seems to only be single keel.

Tony S

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[misterg]

>I think a Centaur would exceed the max 2.3m width, and even a 22 footer is
>going to exceed 7m length once it's on the trailer

I believe that the "load" is allowed to overhang the width dimension (by 6" or so each side??). I also believe that the length excludes the tow-bar of the trailer (not sure how this is defined), and maybe that an overhang at the rear is allowed, too.

Looked into it before towing our 22' Venturer, and satisfied myself that it was OK, but can't remember the specifics. Aren't 26' McG****rs "trailable?"

Very convenient to have the boat at home for the winter.

Andy

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[gandy]

Aren't 26' McG****rs "trailable?"

They're american boats, though. May be made to fit within their limits, but that doesn't mean they'll comply with ours. (Did I say I was UK based). They're also quite narrow for 26'er, under 8ft.

Tony S

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[misterg]

Apologies - I'm also UK based - although not definitive, <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.towsure.com/home/ntta/law/law/dimensions.asp>This</A> mentions the 'draw-bar and coupling' being excluded, a maximum overhang of 305mm each side, up to 2.9m maximum width, and the possibility of an overhang at the rear. I believe this applies to both of the categories at the top of the page, but the site isn't explicit. I'm pretty sure that an 8m long boat can be towed in the UK with a <3500kg vehicle.

When trying to find this information for myself, last year, I did eventually get to a definitive statement which I used to satisfy myself that what I was proposing to tow was legal, promptly forgot the details, and can't for the life of me remember where I found them!

I'm not bothered if anyone's right or wrong about this, just if you were put off by the restrictions you found, it may be worth doing some more digging, as there may be a wider choice than you think.


Andy

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[gandy]

It's a bag of worms, isn't it. If "overhang" refers to the overhang from the trailer, then my Wayfarer overhangs by just under 3m - I had thought of the overhang as just being the length that the mast sticks out behind the lighting board.

Anyway, adding these overhangs on makes 7m length into 10m, and 2.3m width becomes 2.9m. Quite a difference in the types of boats permissible.

I might try asking the AA.

Cheers, Tony S

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