What is the biggest power boat I can legally tow.

[Scubadoo]

Sealine s24 are in there as well and quite a few for sale come with a trailer, they are cheaper than s23 / s25 will b just in 10 year old bracket 25ish foot long can't remember beam think its 7 something and a lot come with a Volvo kad32.
Hope this helps

The actual dimensions are 24.8ft long and 8.2ft beam.

 

[Scubadoo]

I guess it all depends on budget. Sealine 240, S23, S25 is a nice boat that will meet requirements at around £25K upwards for a diesel version. Just be aware though that some boats of this size have a 130hp AD31 fitted and it might be a little underpowered. KAD32 at 170hp or D3 at 160 or 190hp would be the best engine IMO.

Not sure you are correct about the engine sizes, the S24 had either the AD31 150hp or as you say KAD32 170hp. I don't think any or maybe prehaps very early ones came with 130hp rated engines (i.e no turbo). If any did come with 130hp, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't plane.

As I have a 1999 S24 with the AD31 150hp, I do agree it is border line on power and suggest the KAD32 the best option. But it really depends on weight i.e. what you want to carry and type of cruising etc.

 

[ProDave]

I tow a lot so I thought I would do a little research on the new regulations.

The maximum length of a trailer is 7m, this excludes the draw bar and a 1m rear overhang (Maximum Total length of Trailer & Towing Vehicle is 18m).

Maximum Width is now 2.55m (Up from 2.3m), you can also have an overhang of 305mm either side to a maximum width of 2.9m.

Maximum Weight is still 3500kg.

So maximum boat length 35' ? maximum width 9' 6" Maximum weight about 2600kg (allowing 900kg for trailer and gear) but to keep safe I would stay below 2400kg dry weight.

So all of the boats that I mentioned above are fully legal. Its a good job really because there are very few single engined sports cruisers that are less than 8'6". (Bayliner did make a 2651 between 1990-1991 which was 8'2" but all the 2655 and 265 since have been either 8'6" standard or 9'6" widebody)

Sources:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_192285


http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/dimensions.aspx

Useful information.

With a boat trailer, it's often hard to determine exactly where the trailer ends, and the drawbar starts. For instance my boat trailer has a rectangular frame. If you take the point where the frame ends, then I have a drawbar about 2 metres long, but the bow of the boat comes half way along the drawbar by that logic.

There also used to be an exception for an "indivisible load" which is what allows glider pilots to tow very long (but very light) trailers. Does that still apply or has that been superseeded?

And do the new rules just apply to trailers built after the changes in the law, and therefore presumably older trailers only have to comply with the law in force when they were made?

Of course you also need a 7.5 tonne licence to tow such a load, and a trailer entitlement. I pity anyone taking a driving test now, as they would have to take a further test to reach that entitlement.

 

[Cookee]

The race boat is 33'10" from the tip of the bow to the bottom of the transom - overall length with the "Bustle" is around 37'+ and the trailer made for it has an ID plate from the manufacturer so it must be legal?

By the way the beam is well within legal limits and it tows really well behind the VW.

 

[2_XS_IF]

I towed a 10ft wide Bat boat (not on a tilt trailer) this is OK if you use orange flashing lights on the widest point, you see many lorries with orange lights doing the same thing. The whole boat trailer towing is all very grey and the rules change if you tow for your own use or business.

 

[Bajansailor]

The rules here in Barbados are not quite as strict as in Britain re towing boats on public roads - I saw a classic a few days ago when I was working on our boat at the (only) haul out yard.

It was an Atlantic 34 sportsfisherman on a custom built trailer being towed out of the yard by a vehicle that looked like one of the Korean / Japanese clones of a Land Rover, and it was heading for a boatbuilder's yard about 1 mile away, up the dual carriage way to have some re-fit work carried out.

Here is a sistership to the boat being towed here, except that the boat here is the convertible (correct word?) model - http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1991/Atlantic-34-2310638/Madisonville/LA/United-States
They do not mention displacement, but I think she must be rather heavy for towing with something like a Land Rover.....

And here is a photo of her about halfway up the highway, when apparently something broke on the towing connection - its fortunate perhaps that there wasn't a hill involved, especially as the trailer is not braked.......

And here is a brief mention in our local rag http://www.nationnews.com/index.php/articles/view/grounded-vessel/ (from which I got the above photo).

I doubt that there was much clearance of the flying bridge bimini underneath the overhead power and telephone lines.......

 

[Seastoke]

Here is more info

 

[PCUK]

I'm thinking that in the past twelve years they have probably got all the info' needed, given up boating or died.

 

[Grith]

An alternative choice! Imexus 28 Powersailer.
8.5 m, (28 foot long) 180hp Yanmar turbo diesel inboard, aluminium trailer weight 620kgs, yacht on trailer with extended live onboard cruising gear but relatively empty fuel and water tanks about 3400kgs, max speed recorded in light ship mode under twin counter rotating props on leg was just on 30knots, 25 knots in loaded mode, width 2.5 metres, height when trailering with mast on top of targa bar and Bimini 3.8 metres high.
Standing headroom of over 6 foot at galley, enclosed shower toilet with hot water, twin generous permanent double berths and 1.5 single berths. Dinette for 6/8 not deconstructed for bedding.
Range unlimited due to ability to sail as well as motor, draft 30 cms (1foot) and dries out flat, can motor in under 60cms (2 foot) and sail in 1metre in gentle conditions needing 1.45metres in full sailing mode.
I cannot think of many strictly powerboats that are as accommodating or flexible for longer periods staying onboard or as versitile for everything from towing skiers, to extended cruising on inshore and inland waters whilst remaining easily trailerable and with one person launching, rigging and handling.
Only just noticed it’s a resurrected very old thread!

 

[Seastoke]

I'm thinking that in the past twelve years they have probably got all the info' needed, given up boating or died.

It was for the new poster

 

[Seastoke]

An alternative choice! Imexus 28 Powersailer.
8.5 m, (28 foot long) 180hp Yanmar turbo diesel inboard, aluminium trailer weight 620kgs, yacht on trailer with extended live onboard cruising gear but relatively empty fuel and water tanks about 3400kgs, max speed recorded in light ship mode under twin counter rotating props on leg was just on 30knots, 25 knots in loaded mode, width 2.5 metres, height when trailering with mast on top of targa bar and Bimini 3.8 metres high.
Standing headroom of over 6 foot at galley, enclosed shower toilet with hot water, twin generous permanent double berths and 1.5 single berths. Dinette for 6/8 not deconstructed for bedding.
Range unlimited due to ability to sail as well as motor, draft 30 cms (1foot) and dries out flat, can motor in under 60cms (2 foot) and sail in 1metre in gentle conditions needing 1.45metres in full sailing mode.
I cannot think of many strictly powerboats that are as accommodating or flexible for longer periods staying onboard or as versitile for everything from towing skiers, to extended cruising on inshore and inland waters whilst remaining easily trailerable and with one person launching, rigging and handling.
Only just noticed it’s a resurrected very old thread!
View attachment 169601View attachment 169602View attachment 169603

Where did you photo of the inside of my boat.

 

[Grith]

Yep it gets a bit messy after a couple of months living onboard a trailerable boat!