Towing Concern

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Samurai_Dave

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I've got a 17ft motor boat, something close to a Shetland 535 although I've yet to confirm the correct make and model. It has a 50hp Yamaha outboard and is trailered on a single axle non-braking type of trailer.

The towing limit for my car is for an unbraked trailer is 640kg. Given the size of the boat and its expected displacement, the weight of the engine and the trailer itself I suspect I'm over my towing limit so I'm concerned about the insurance aspects if I were to have any kind of accident while towing. I could take the boat to a commercial weighing station and have the exact weight confirmed but then I'd have no excuse for not taking action if over the cars limit. Can anyone recommend a course of action? Can I get an additional item added to my car insurance to cover this or would my insurers charge the earth? I've looked into changing it into a braked trailer, parts alone are more than £500. Should I be looking to change my trailer for a second hand one with brakes?

The boating season is about to kick off for me and this is really on my mind so I'm hoping someone can offer a solution. A cheap one at that!

Many thanks.
 
Thats a pretty low towing weight, I would suggest thats too much unbraked weight!! Used trailer seems wise....
 
Take it round to a nearby scrapyard and as them to put the trailer on the weighbridge for you. I've done that at my local scrappy and they were quite happy to do it for a couple of quid. Like any commercial organisation making a living from buying or selling by weight, they're legally obliged to get their weighbridges calibrated every so often.

That said, it sounds like even if you're under the limit, you'll not be that far off!
 
Maintaining a braking system on a trailer that has to submerged is a nightmare and not all cheap.

Perhaps look at a second hand vehicle that will comply actual tow.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
The sensible course of action is to weigh it ..... then you know where you stand. If its within your towing limit relax. No further action is needed.

If its outside the limit then

Remove equipment from the boat if its close

Or upgrade trailer

Or upgrade car
 
Quite. My car has a ludicrously low unbraked towing weight of 550Kgs. (it's the three door version of the mechanically identical 5 door vehicle which has a towing weight of 750 Kgs.)
I took the trailer and load to a weighbridge (if it's at a quarry or similar and you say you don't want a ticket they may do it for nothing).
The outfit was 580Kgs so I managed to trim excess from the trailer to get down to 540Kgs (commercial weighbridges seem to go up in 20Kgs increments.)

I may fit brakes to it and be well within the vehicle's limit of 1800Kg limit for braked trailers.
Your insurance company will not insure you for an overweight load.
 
Quite. My car has a ludicrously low unbraked towing weight of 550Kgs. (it's the three door version of the mechanically identical 5 door vehicle which has a towing weight of 750 Kgs.)
Click to expand...
Is the limit not half the kerb weight (up to 750kg max)
 
Nope. The limit is what the manufacturer has homologated and it appears in your V5 document. Suzuki have chosen to use this to differentiate between the 5 and 3 door Grand Vitaras and are still doing it with their current model. The kerbs weights have nothing like that disparity.
 
Lakesailor said:
Nope. The limit is what the manufacturer has homologated and it appears in your V5 document. Suzuki have chosen to use this to differentiate between the 5 and 3 door Grand Vitaras and are still doing it with their current model. The kerbs weights have nothing like that disparity.
Click to expand...
Nothing on my V5 regarding trailer weights!
 
Lucky you.

There should be a weight on your VIN plate as well, if not the the manufacturer will specify it it in the handbook.

This is the route the plod take in establishing if you are overloaded.
 
"Looking at the boat specs info. the weight of the 535 is 363Kg"
The motor is less than 100Kgs, so that gives you about 180Kgs for the trailer. Which could be in the region. Any extra gear on the boat could be a handicap.

Take it to a weighbridge. You may be close.
 
I would say either fit brakes to the trailer or get a SH trailer with brakes. Yes they do need maintenance possibly after every dunking but you will be a lot safer and legal. Around here the limit universally is 500kg for any unbraked trailer. Brakes will probably be the mechanical over ride type which work well. good luck olewill
 
By an old land rover.

I have an old Jeep 3500 Lbs. 70 down the highway even up hill. actualy hauling a trailer at 70 might not be insured ither;)
 
If your car will only tow 640 Kilos it dosent matter if the boat you are towing is on a 4 wheel braked trailer, you are still over the limit.
And I would suggest that your Shetland weighs about 800 kilos. (if my 13ft Bayliner, 25hp Outboard, 2 wheel unbraked trailer weighed 650 kilos on a weighbridge)
I would go out and buy an old cheap Discovery.
 
Samurai_Dave said:
I've got a 17ft motor boat, something close to a Shetland 535 although I've yet to confirm the correct make and model. It has a 50hp Yamaha outboard and is trailered on a single axle non-braking type of trailer.

The towing limit for my car is for an unbraked trailer is 640kg. Given the size of the boat and its expected displacement, the weight of the engine and the trailer itself I suspect I'm over my towing limit so I'm concerned about the insurance aspects if I were to have any kind of accident while towing. I could take the boat to a commercial weighing station and have the exact weight confirmed but then I'd have no excuse for not taking action if over the cars limit. Can anyone recommend a course of action? Can I get an additional item added to my car insurance to cover this or would my insurers charge the earth? I've looked into changing it into a braked trailer, parts alone are more than £500. Should I be looking to change my trailer for a second hand one with brakes?

The boating season is about to kick off for me and this is really on my mind so I'm hoping someone can offer a solution. A cheap one at that!

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Borrow (if you have any suitable friends) a 4x4 or hire one for the day - cheaper than even a 2nd hand trailer.
 
I think some of you are missing the point. The laws for unbraked trailers are different to those with brakes. 750kgs is the most you can tow unbraked regardless of what vehicle you are towing with.

First thing is to get the boat and trailer weighed so you know what you are dealing with.

If under 640kg you are fine to carry on as you are.

If more than 640 but under 750, get a different car. It doesn't have to be a big 4x4 as many normal family cars can legally tow up to 750kgs unbraked. Alternatively keep the car and get a second hand braked trailer assuming the braked towing limit for your car is higher than 640kgs.

If it's over 750kgs you are going to have to get a braked trailer, no ifs or buts.
 
Jim@sea said:
If your car will only tow 640 Kilos it dosent matter if the boat you are towing is on a 4 wheel braked trailer, you are still over the limit.
And I would suggest that your Shetland weighs about 800 kilos. (if my 13ft Bayliner, 25hp Outboard, 2 wheel unbraked trailer weighed 650 kilos on a weighbridge)
I would go out and buy an old cheap Discovery.
Click to expand...

A Shetland 535 weighs nothing like that much........ Id suggest you check the displacement on the Owners Assocaition website


You will then find it is only 363 kg although that probably does not include the weight of the engine ... another 80 Kg perhaps

Unless the trailer is exceptionally heavily built its is unlikely that boat, engine and trailer will weigh more than 640kg although it will probably be close.
 
Last edited:
Samurai_Dave said:
I've got a 17ft motor boat, something close to a Shetland 535 although I've yet to confirm the correct make and model. It has a 50hp Yamaha outboard and is trailered on a single axle non-braking type of trailer.

The towing limit for my car is for an unbraked trailer is 640kg. Given the size of the boat and its expected displacement, the weight of the engine and the trailer itself I suspect I'm over my towing limit so I'm concerned about the insurance aspects if I were to have any kind of accident while towing. I could take the boat to a commercial weighing station and have the exact weight confirmed but then I'd have no excuse for not taking action if over the cars limit. Can anyone recommend a course of action? Can I get an additional item added to my car insurance to cover this or would my insurers charge the earth? I've looked into changing it into a braked trailer, parts alone are more than £500. Should I be looking to change my trailer for a second hand one with brakes?

The boating season is about to kick off for me and this is really on my mind so I'm hoping someone can offer a solution. A cheap one at that!

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

It's not about insurance - it's about whether you legally are allowed to tow the weight. No insurer will insure you for more than the specified weight as it would be illegal.
 
VicS said:
A Shetland 535 weighs nothing like that much........ Id suggest you check the displacement on the Owners Assocaition website

You will then find it is only 363 kg although that probably does not include the weight of the engine ... another 80 Kg perhaps

Unless the trailer is exceptionally heavily built its is unlikely that boat, engine and trailer will weigh more than 640kg although it will probably be close.
Click to expand...

I tried this in post #11 but no-one reads anyone else's posts on this forum. :( Perhaps if we keep saying it.......
 
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