Towing

[dog]

Hi all, I have just returned from a holiday on the west coast of scotland and its got me thinking. I have a 21' Fairline with a diesel sterndrive and a half decent Land Rover to tow it, the question is how viable/scary is it? Does anyone else regularly tow a boat of this size any distance? and if so I would be gratefull of some feedback. I am based on the East Coast (Crouch).

I would also like some pointers for a good trailer manufactuer that doesnt cost the earth!!

I look forward to any comment...

B

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[BarryH]

Dunno if its applicable, but I tow a 21 Tremlett on a regular basis. Got fed up with cleaning the bottom all the time. I use an ageing Range Rover as a tug. Not really had any probs with it. Its towed it all over the place, Italy once, Ireland and places that I've forgoten.

Keep the wieght in the tow car, balance the trailer correctly and you should have no probs. Might be worth getting breakdown cover for the trailer. Normal RAC/AA recovery wont touch anything too big. What model Landrover is it. I used to use a SWB series 3, Got pushed about all over the place, wheel base was too short see.

If your going up to jockland, bank on the journey taking twice as long with the boat in tow. You'll have no real problems is you plan it. Do it on a regular basis and you'll get to see a lot more cruising grounds.

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[BarryH]

Oh yeah, trailers sorry. Give Parrymore in staines a ring, they'll do you one for your boat around the 2k mark or just under. As with anything, you could go other places and spend loads more or a bit less.

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[dog]

Excellent, just the sort of info I was after. Its a 90tdi so a bit longer than the old 88'' S3 you had. Perhaps it may be too short for the job?

I had thought about replacing the boat with a bigger model, but like you say there are some great cruising grounds to be had by trailering, and a trailer is a lot cheaper than a new boat!!!

Thanks

B

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[BarryH]

The 90 should be OK, better suspension than my old series. Have a look at Parrymores site <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.parrymoretrailers.co.uk>http://www.parrymoretrailers.co.uk</A>. Get one that keeps the boat low. Better handleing and easier launching on shallow slips. Strap it on with plenty of straps and it'll go nowhere. I don't like Roller coaster type trailers personally. Yes, easy launch and recovery, but I don't think they give the support where its needed. Along the length of the keel. If you do get one. go get a gallon drum of waxoyl and treat the inside of the chassis. They rot from inside out. Also take a couple of sets of spare wheel bearing, grease, and a jack that will lift it with the boat on it. Oh and a spare wheel or two, well maybe one will do. Oh and a whell clamp as well. They tend to go walkies when your out on the boat if you don't lock the things. Dunno what else really, If I think of anything I'll let you know or someone else will jump in!

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[Jim44]

I keep my boat on windermere and the marine use a TD5 90 to tow all the boats about, upto about 26ft I think, I also own a TD5 90 and am sure they are the best tow car on the road. Although not much room inside. ( I will be towing my 18ft speed boat with it this year)

I used to tow my 21ft Wellcraft with a P38 Range Rover, with air suspension, the only thing I was warned about was when the car drops into Motorway mode you have to be carful with twin wheel trailers and make sure it level when in motorway mode. (I think the same applies to the TD5 Discovery)

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[Planty]

Disco TD5 towed my previous boat, Searay 225WE (2 tonne approx) all the way to Barcelona no problem at all. Managed a good average mpg too. Only problem was that I hired a trailer for the trip which was nothing short of useless. Twin Axle, 3 tonne rated, but with absolutely kn*****ed. tyres and a bow winch that broke!! Two blowouts, which the Disco handled brilliantly and only one spare wheel meant spending a fortnight attempting to find 8ply rated tyres in Spain. No chance, the RAC's advice, "Go to Barcelona airport with rim, get on EasyJet, fly to Stansted, get new tyre fitted, fly back!" No way Jose. Ended up driving back through the night to keep temperatures down on what was virtually something just above a Ford Focus tyre. Made it, though very slowly. Makes you think what on earth they have on their small vans, doesn't it.
Only advice I would offer is ensure tyres, bearings brakes etc are always brilliantly well maintained and serviced, and ensure that the Bow is well secured to the Bow Strut on the trailer. Any movement here lets the boat set up a motion somewhat akin to being in a Force 5! We experienced this when the weld holding the bow winch to the trailer decided to slowly part company!

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[Nautorius]

Hi There,

I towed a 24ft 2850KG Chaparral to Menorca via Barcelona and back last year with a Nissan Terrano TDI. Technically the weight was too great but you just have to compensate for this. Ensure the trailer bearings are good, the brakes are working well and take regular breaks about every two hours. I have happily towed for six years with only one slight problem. Just remember that you know how hard it is too stop but others don't. If in doubt back off. I used a de-Graff trailer and was very impressed!

Good luck

<hr width=100% size=1>Will I ever find the perfect boat?

 

[dog]

Thanks for the tips. I would probably opt for a new trailer anyway, so it seems that it is not an unreasonable idea to tow long distance. I would probably tow through the night, that way less traffic in the southern regions at the start of the journey.

How hard is launching and recovering a boat of that size? I have only ever had experience of little 17 foot fletcher types which are easliy manhandled into place.

thanks again

Brian.

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[lanason]

Well I tow a 23 foot Fairline holiday with a Land Crusier - see pics below. No problems.

With regards to trailers try -
Beeline Trailers
Unit 37, Honeyborough Industrial Estate, Neyland, Pembrokeshire, SA73 1SE
Telephone & Fax: (01646) 601999
or <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.pembrokeshire.co.uk/beeline/>http://www.pembrokeshire.co.uk/beeline/</A> they made mine

Scared the s**t out of the broker who sold me the boat - he used his landy to put the boat in the water the first time for us and as it went over the top of the slipway it lifted the back of the Landy off the ground !!! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>More Pics of Kelisha</A> /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[AJW]

I've towed 21 and 25ft RIBs - 1400-200kg. The smaller boat went behind a V6 Mundano mostly but for the larger I used a Disco or Trooper. Your neck of the woods to Oban took me 10 hrs or so with the 21fter. For a relaxed journey I'd probably allow a day and a half depending on where you want to go. Oban "Gateway to the Isles" is a good base (Dunstaffange marina has a good slip) but is a three hour drag from Glasgow up and down some pretty small roads. (If you've 21ft of boat on a trailer behind you!). A useful alternative if you want to cruise the Firth of Clyde is Kip marina at Inverkip. Close to the motorways and good slip access. Helpful management team as well.

Launching a larger boat is all about preplanning, a finding decent slip with the right gradient and plenty of water. A good trailer helps too. I've used an SBS trailer which I thought was excellent but do get mixed reviews and a West Mersea Trailers one which was definately at the budget end in build quality. It is really worth spending to get a decent trailer if you are serious about trailboating. The best I've seen are built by RIBA in Belgium http:// www.riba.be. They even come with disc brakes!

Trailboating has its limitations but it doesnt half open your horizons!

HTH,
AJ


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[dog]

Hi, just a quick thanks to all who posted. I now have a greater idea of what to expect and where to go for trailers!

B

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