Towing a boat

[GC1]

Well I recovered my boat from Chichester this evening with the kind help of KevB, all went like clockwork, and now at the dealers for anti foul and some snags to be sorted /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

BUT, I must say that towing it is quite daunting, it is within the weight limit for the Land Rover and within the size limits, but the volume of the load as can be seen from below is interesting to put it mildly and makes my Defender look like a toy car. My Sat Nav tested my bottle this evening when it started taking me down farm size lanes to the dealers, I stayed very alert hoping that I didn't meet anything coming the other way /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Well this is a picture of the boat after it was recovered in Chichester this evening, swmbo came along side so that I could check my tyre pressures on the trailer with my portable 12v compressor, couldn't afford to take any chances /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Well what a fantastic weekend, can't wait for next weekend and my permanent berth at Chatham, what a luxury to just be able to step on and off, this towing lark is an absolute nightmare /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[BrendanS]

stop farting around and get a nice military hummer - not one of the civvy based imitations

 

[Lakesailor]

It certainly does look big. But there's probably a lot of air inside it like.........erm, well, like........you know. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Kawasaki]

When you say"interesting" what problem are you encountering? Do you mean it just feels a little daunting cos it,s a new expierience or is the rig feeling unsafe or "wrong" somehow ? On the subject of SaT Navigation. Locally there is a fairly well used By Road which has a ford that get,s pretty deep after a decent downpour, which is quite often hereabouts. Because tourists,which are quite plentifull hereabouts have dialled their route into a Sat Nav have breen obliviousley driving strait into it cos "Thats where the Sat Nav told me to go!" Pulled 2 out last Month and when questioned "What the feck where you thinking of you bird brained tourist you?" That was the reply! So maybe, just like on the water get your Chart(map) out first, do the"Passage plan" to avoid sgwiggly roads(like overfalls on a chart) and use the Sat Nav as backup. Like all electronical aids nothing beats the old Greymatter. Isn,t the best toast you ever tasted is when it,s been done on an open fire( or maybe you,ve never done that)these chrome slotty things are OK but nothing beats the Real Thing! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gifMust admit The Landy does look a bit puny with Larson up it,s chuffer. Towing boats is a different ball game to Caravans etc, cos you,ve got all the engine and propulsion bits at the a**se end(that,s aft by the way) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gifso it,s more difficult to balance the rig. Other solution find a dealer closer to the Main Drag, not one of these "back street" guys, you know it,s false ecconomy in the end! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TigaWave]

so you have the same problems as us Kawa! theres a road close to here with a real hairpin, most average cars will only get around on hard lock and will clip both sides of the road. Some delivery lorries with sat nav have recently been getting completely stuck half way, and needing another heavy lift truck to get them back out, even though there is a new sign saying not suitable for vehicles!

I towed a yacht once, 30' 5500Kg with a Range Rover to Italy, we nearly got stuck in the toll booth at just over 10' wide and the mast was overhanging the front bumper at 60' long. What was scary was when you looked in the morror you could only see this slim keel as the boat was above roof height for the Landy, so you could almost forget it was there.

 

[gjgm]

Hi Pete
couple of thoughts.. take the bimini down.. I found towing with mine up didnt do the mountings much good; and secondly some of these petrol stations have roofs that are much lower than you might think with signs/lighting etc. nearly lost mine once, and the attendent said, yep, someone ripped theirs off the other week.
If you look at the bottom of the tubing on the jockey wheel, it usually has a inch or two cut out of it half way round the circumference. Make sure when you wind the wheel its sits up into that slot, and then make sure when you pull the jockey wheel up and tighten it, the wheel is firm against the trailer itself.Otherwise the wheel can slowly spin round, and it winds itself back down onto the road. Not much left of it after that!
Also take a strap from the bow eye backwards and fix it further back a couple of metres onto the trailer; if you crash, you ll need something stronger than the winch post to stop a few tons of boat sliding up the trailer into your car boot/or roof. So the strap on the stern stops the boat sliding backwards, and then you need the mirror image on the bow, to stop it moving forwards.
On the slipways, dont rely on the winch alone,add another strap or rope onto the trailer, not the winchpost... if your winch gives way on the slip, your boat is going to be in pieces.. and I have seen it happen.
On the roads.. well just command plenty of space.. most people in the cars arent going to want to to see who comes off second!

 

[mjkinch1]

we towed our old 21 sports boat around, and the same comments as gjgm really, taking the bimini down as you would be surprised how many low trees there are. Also I had a great big orange bag on my prop, I am not sure if that is a legal requirement, but it makes it bleeding obvious to people behind you.

When we towed into a petrol station once, a guy had opened his boot (which went upwards on his estate) and of course the top of the boat is wider than the trailer, and I came within a cm of pulling his door off! Anyway missed it so all was well in the end.

Happy towing until you get it in the water.

Martyn

 

[GC1]

Thanks for the replies guys, I do have a very strong strap at the front if you can see it, don't fancy leaving that lot in the slow lane of the M25 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I have also got prop guards, plastic covers that cover the props, they are orange with reflective circles on and go over each blade.

As for the bimini, I will certainly look into thta, I see it has a quick release system at the base, don't know how it would fold though /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif The system is very stable, my Land Rover takes up to 150kg at the hitch, I have had it set at 90kg so I can always add to it if I need to, just daunting to lok in the rear view mirror and see that, luckily the Landy has great mirrors that swing out for towing /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Cheers,

 

[GC1]

Cheeky monkey, I will post a picture of a Hummer that was in a little crash this evening, they are all posy panels with no strength. My Landy has been well atruly prepared for the job with some serious tuning and pimping to cope easily with it's 3,500kg pulling load.

What a palava trailering is, not only the messing about and not being able to go to a McDonalds drive through on the way home, but the expense, £4,200 for a trailer, £25k for a suitable vehicle and the slipway fees, that is a good few years mooring fee's and the odd transportation to different parts if required, worse still I also have a permanent berth at chatham!

I Think I made a slight boob there, could have spent the money on a decent D6 engine for it instead of the small D4 260hp

I'm looking at the new Sessa 42 hard top, won't need a trailer for that

 

[AdeOlly]

Good so hear you had a good weekend with the new boat and that you've finally got some use out of the Landy. Wasn't able to stop by as our new arrival has been settling in at home.

Are you still tempted by a Sessa then? Was the one we looked at too small for you?

 

[KREW2]

Hi Pete,
You forgot to put your fenders out /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[stephenmartin]

I think you might need an orange cover on the prop too...or is that only for a RHIB...either way..the cops will be only too glad to tell you

 

[GC1]

These are what I talked about in a few posts up and use on my props :-

 

[GC1]

Yeh! I needed you a couple of times over the weekend, I wondered what was wrong with my auto fender and warp controller /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Wiggo]

only needed if they extend behind the trailer board...

 

[davedpc]

I might be misguided but I think if you tow with a Hummer as indeed with a Landcruiser the all up weight will exceed 7.5 tons and will require a tacho. recording disc and other restrictions. Dave.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

Those are pefectly acceptable, but easily nicked whilst you are filling your face in a McDonalds eating emporium.

I got picked on by a plod in a motorway services last year because the aux engine prop was not wearing day glo condom. He had to make a call to head plod before he would accept my plea that prop was behind lighting board. The main prop was, of course, fully suited up.

 

[WorkerBee]

nice looking rig ! Nice looking combination.

I'm wondering, are there regulations for trailer brakes on trailers, ... whether boat trailers or any trailer for that matter.?
And i would guess once you get 2000+ pounds of combined weight a lot of trailers are coming with brakes, is 2 wheel disk common, or 4 wheel disk brake? What kind of trailer brakes, surge or electric from the tow vehicle?

And while I'm at it, ... criss-crossing safety chains? and all trailers come with hookups for tail and brake-lites ... does everyone then wire your tow vehicles with a 7 wire plug as well?

i'm interested in your towing habits and regs.
You don't have as far to tow to get to the ocean, but it looks like you have some narrow roads here and there.
thanks,
Mike

 

[Lakesailor]

Feast yourself here National Trailer and Towing Association. Tells you everthing you need to know about towing in the UK.

 

[hlb]

Nope. Less they've changed things. You can drive an Artic if you want, on private car reg. Long as it's only for pleasure.

Theres an art in driving big long motors. Without being agresive, you have to control the road. Folk behind can not see round you. So drive in the middle of road, so they cant pass untill safe and your ready, else you finnish up stopped behind parked cars. Take up both lanes at roundabouts, or some pillock will try to go round on the inside and get squashed.

If you have to turn round, go to opposite side of road and always back round on the drivers side. Else you wont be able to see a thing. Try to drive at the same speed as the rest of the traffic, indicate soon and move to take control when you need to. Cant do it if going to slow. Look well ahead, see trouble spots before they occure and act accordingly. Be prepaired to stop. In the middle of road if necesary, get out and go and look down narrow enterances to make sure you can get in, or maybe out. If you cant turn round at tuther end, concider backing in. Keep a note of your hight. Most filling stations and all bridges have a hight sign. Forget that you are a car and park in the truck area at services.