My first boat - buying tomorrow fingers crossed (advice pls)

[Bigplumbs]

No you don’t need that battery bank. There is limited space in a boat that size especially if you will have the whole family with you. Me thinks you are getting over excited and getting the terrible spending urge

also the boat has a battery on board that is being charged.

Also ban the little ones from taking IPads on the boat I say they should look up and out and enjoy the ride

 

[TonyBerkshire]

For Craftinsure insurance to cover it, you have to have a wheel clamp and I have a hitchlock too, not that they really deter a thief. Just slow them down or put off the opportunist. You need to confirm the wheel size from the seller, and get a lock ready for them. Maybe leave with a neighbour.

My best defense is my tracker. I'm alerted if it vibrates, or moves out of the Geofence and I can go straight to it and get it back. Also great for tracing your journey on days out.
View attachment 128843
DB2 Self-Install

Thanks and have requested wheel size. Any chance I can buy a tracker today or tomorrow from somewhere... and how long does it take to fit (unless needs to be done professionally?)

 

[TonyBerkshire]

I think all you can do is make it as difficult as possible for the opportunist. You can insert a locking toe ball into the hitch and get them to put the key through your door. Also a clamp on the trailer wheel maybe.

I know some people remove the nuts on the wheels or three of them but not convinced that’s wise.

You can also get one of those apple tags or other tracking type device that you can fit to the boat, it relies of other phones about and they’re not too expensive, better than nothing.

Any links to those items? Need to buy today or tomorrow if feasible.

 

[TonyBerkshire]

Make sure the seller includes the lighting board. When collecting mine I took my LED board from the RIB I had but couldn't use it because the cable length was too short and the new trailer was much wider. First thing I did was to get a 13pin plug on it and upgrade it to LED clusters.

When you get it home you can buy it some nice stainless ratchet straps. You also need a prop cover by law to tow it.

We are advised everything in the photos is included but shall double check everything Saturday... shall make a checklist. Assuming the delivery company will adhere to all road laws and regulations. (I shall check with them though)

 

[TonyBerkshire]

You have probably covered this somewhere but why aren’t you towing it yourself behind your muscle car? It’s not hard.
Perhaps it’s a low loader delivery which makes perfect sense since you don’t know the reliability of the trailer.

It doesn't have a tow bar / hitch ... I have to order one from the states ?? so 1) won't get here in time and 2) not sure if will satisfy uk regs

 

[TonyBerkshire]

No you don’t need that battery bank. There is limited space in a boat that size especially if you will have the whole family with you. Me thinks you are getting over excited and getting the terrible spending urge

also the boat has a battery on board that is being charged.

Also ban the little ones from taking IPads on the boat I say they should look up and out and enjoy the ride

Not me... went to look for a keel guard and amazon said I needed the battery bank instead ??‍

Agree with that rule for the girls ?

 

[Nito]

Tony, here is the link to the Apple tag;
AirTag
have a read of it though, nice thing is there is no on cost but unlike the trackers and the like, it relies on bouncing it's signal from nearby phones, so if anyone has a phone nearby it will ping its signal. I don't know how well they work in practice, clearly not as robust as a proper tracker signal but they can be pricey and come with an annual charge. I was considering an Apple tag for my motorbikes but I don't have any direct experience with them. If the boat ends up in the middle of nowhere it won't be any use. If the thieves nearby have their phones on, then it should work,

For locking tow ball there are loads if you google it, others here may have direct experience of a good one, same for clamps.

As far as devices go, sigh, not as easy as it sounds, but I have to say the kids have enjoyed being on board, we didn't take their devices, not least because they take lots of pics and videos, they can also stream their music through the stereo. We also don't rope them into too much of the maintenance because we want them to enjoy the whole experience and not force it on them.

Edit...ignore the apple tag, looks like they have introduced a new feature to prevent people from tracking you, apparently thieves were fitting things like this to motorbikes at shows etc and then tracking them to their home so now it alerts the person who is nearby!! Nevermind!

 

[limecc]

just take one wheel off the trailer and put that side on an axel stand. Put the wheel in the boot of your car or some other place. And or park a car in front of the boat. Hitch lock can also be a deterrent as can a wheel clamp device

4" PCD wheels are quite common, a thief will bring his own and besides, insurance mandates a wheel clamp.

Thanks and have requested wheel size. Any chance I can buy a tracker today or tomorrow from somewhere... and how long does it take to fit (unless needs to be done professionally?)

Rewire Securities website, get a DB2 which has only two wires to connect, you can hide it away somewhere. They do next day shipping.

Rewire works across all phone networks using the strongest signal without needing a SIM. Staggering variety of alarms can be set, mine tells me if I need to charge the battery during winter. It has it's own on-board battery as backup and is waterproof. Pay as you go. If you wanted you needn't subscribe, except when you want to recover it.

There's also a rival to Rewire called Trutrak. Check out the similarity.

DB2 Self-Install
TruTrak FMT100 PAYG | TruTrak

Here's some screenshots:

 

[Bigplumbs]

4" PCD wheels are quite common, a thief will bring his own and besides, insurance mandates a wheel clamp.


Rewire Securities website, get a DB2 which has only two wires to connect, you can hide it away somewhere. They do next day shipping and the link is in post 356.

Rewire works across all phone networks using the strongest signal without needing a SIM.

Yup I mentioned a wheel clamp as well. Did you read that bit

 

[DavidJ]

Tony, here is the link to the Apple tag;
AirTag
Edit...ignore the apple tag, looks like they have introduced a new feature to prevent people from tracking you, apparently thieves were fitting things like this to motorbikes at shows etc and then tracking them to their home so now it alerts the person who is nearby!! Nevermind!
View attachment 128845

Thanks Nito for your edit
I had a set of 4 for Christmas and was thinking for the cars and boat. But it sounds like the potential thieves will plant their own and get a signal showing there is another one (mine) close, then go searching……….Hmmmm that was a short lived idea!

 

[limecc]

Yup I mentioned a wheel clamp as well. Did you read that bit

No
I also use a 5m long one of these:

To secure the empty trailer to an alloy wheel of my car or some immovable object.

 

[chillee]

Just checked out their Facebook and website pages. That looks pretty good. No mention of a price anywhere... assuming a few hundred a month?

yes somewhere around that depending what package you go for.
My 25footer is a bit more than that a month
It's not a fancy place, but the guys who run it are excellent and very helpful, and it was the cheapest drystack I could find in the area.
If you decide to explore it, just give them a call to discuss or drop in for a chat. You might have to go find them in the yard.
Travel time is about 25 mins to SOuthampton Water at 6kts, you can then open her up and head down to the Solent. Also have the Cruise ships docked as you come into Southampton Water, whoch look pretty impressive from the water.

 

[chillee]

Not me... went to look for a keel guard and amazon said I needed the battery bank instead ??‍

Agree with that rule for the girls ?

Once you get up to speed on Southampton water or the Solent, they won't be able to read their ipads anyway. I will be too bouncy

 

[limecc]

There's also a dry stack at Lymington. Arguably a better place for boating and definitely one to visit. Still got the Solent, Beaulieu etc, but now easy to reach Yarmouth, Mudeford, Poole, River Frome/Wareham, Swanage etc. Easy access to the sea, it's not going to take 1/2 hour like for Southampton. All tides ramp and reasonable harbour fees. When not on the water you've got the New Forest to enjoy.

Lymington ramp @ 2.4m LAT:

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Drystack also available at Swanwick and Universal (Premier) and HYS aka Ancasta. All on the Hamble.

 

[TonyBerkshire]

4" PCD wheels are quite common, a thief will bring his own and besides, insurance mandates a wheel clamp.


Rewire Securities website, get a DB2 which has only two wires to connect, you can hide it away somewhere. They do next day shipping.

Rewire works across all phone networks using the strongest signal without needing a SIM. Staggering variety of alarms can be set, mine tells me if I need to charge the battery during winter. It has it's own on-board battery as backup and is waterproof. Pay as you go. If you wanted you needn't subscribe, except when you want to recover it.

There's also a rival to Rewire called Trutrak. Check out the similarity.

DB2 Self-Install
TruTrak FMT100 PAYG | TruTrak

Here's some screenshots:
View attachment 128846View attachment 128847View attachment 128849

this looks great... all battery powered?

 

[TonyBerkshire]

There's also a dry stack at Lymington. Arguably a better place for boating and definitely one to visit. Still got the Solent, Beaulieu etc, but now easy to reach Yarmouth, Mudeford, Poole, River Frome/Wareham, Swanage etc. Easy access to the sea, it's not going to take 1/2 hour like for Southampton. All tides ramp and reasonable harbour fees. When not on the water you've got the New Forest to enjoy.View attachment 128857

really enjoying seeing photos like this

 

[TonyBerkshire]

No
I also use a 5m long one of these:

To secure the empty trailer to an alloy wheel of my car or some immovable object.

may get this... but not sure if I have an immovable object on my driveway yet... I will be out with my car and not bought another car for towing yet.

I don't know the wheel size yet but with this it does not matter... but what about the insurance being void if no wheel clamp?

 

[limecc]

really enjoying seeing photos like this

Mudeford is great fun because of the tidal flow. Can be up on the plane while barely breaking the 4kn speed limit.

this looks great... all battery powered?

Charges from main battery, just two wires to connect. Other models with immobilizer available.

 

[limecc]

may get this... but not sure if I have an immovable object on my driveway yet... I will be out with my car and not bought another car for towing yet.

I don't know the wheel size yet but with this it does not matter... but what about the insurance being void if no wheel clamp?

Look on Facebook marketplace for one in your area. More than likely will be a 10" wheel so a TrailClamp or get one where it pinces the rim and size won't matter. Need locking wheelnuts in that case.