Boat to heavy?

1979 Quartermasters

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 30, 2009
Messages
505
I have a 1995 Sea Ray signiture 200, 5.7 sitting on a single axle trailer rated for 3100lbs with surge brakes. Is this enough trailer for this boat? I have no idea what this boat weighs. Thanks for your ideas, Ken
 

Marada92

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
223
Re: Boat to heavy?

There is a site somewhere that's like carfax but it's for boats. You put in the hull ID number and it'll give you all the info on the boat including the weight of the boat. My 18' with a 4.3l is in the mid 2000lbs range completely dry. Tack on another two feet and two more cylinders I'm willing to bet your pushing the limits on that 3100 rating. I may be wrong though but I'd defiantly check into it!
 

90stingray

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Oct 26, 2010
Messages
1,162
Re: Boat to heavy?

I looked a a 20 foot Mariah w/ 350... she was riding on a single axle too. I thought it should have a tandem as soon as it went to v8. It did have 15" wheels and brakes... but prolly was too small once loaded.
Have you ever had any issues?
 

1979 Quartermasters

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 30, 2009
Messages
505
Re: Boat to heavy?

I haven't had issues, but the trailer frame is sagging from the axle back. I just bought the boat and the original owner bought a brand new E-Z loader trailer raited for 3100 lbs and said the boat only weighed 2100 lbs. I was standing back from the boat and trailer listing to it idle and I noticed it sagging. I'm hoping the OO will arange for a trailer swap plus differnce as he has connections. I only paid cost on that trailer. We will see what happens. Ken
 

gtochris

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 4, 2010
Messages
742
Re: Boat to heavy?

I dont think it is all that uncommon for a 20ft boat to be on a single axle, some of them are rated up to near 4,000lbs or more I believe. What is sagging? because the frame running back should be one piece of steel and unable to sag really. Origional owner may have also lived very close to the water and the trailer was just a storage piece, it's very common in lake communities.
 

1979 Quartermasters

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 30, 2009
Messages
505
Re: Boat to heavy?

This trailer is brand new. I went and looked at the GVW sticker and its rated for 3800 lbs, load 3100 lbs. I put it on the scale at work and it weighed 1900kg(4100lbs) full off fuel. Do you guys think 300 over is some thing to worry about. I spoke to the marina that sold me the trailer and he said that was lots of trailer for the boat. I took some pictures. I don't know if they will show the sag.View attachment 109564View attachment 109565
 

EddiePetty

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
1,008
Re: Boat to heavy?

This trailer is brand new. I went and looked at the GVW sticker and its rated for 3800 lbs, load 3100 lbs. I put it on the scale at work and it weighed 1900kg(4100lbs) full off fuel. Do you guys think 300 over is some thing to worry about. I spoke to the marina that sold me the trailer and he said that was lots of trailer for the boat. I took some pictures. I don't know if they will show the sag.View attachment 109564View attachment 109565

If you believe what a salesman tells ya', boy have I got a few deals for you !!!!!!:)

Statically the overweight probably would be of little concern. However, dynamically the overweight is gonna cause problems, especially if the D.O.T. weight guy spots you or, pray tell, you're ever involved in an insurance settlement.

For peace of mind, safety (yours and mine) and reduction of liability, get a heavier/tantem axle trailer, please.
 

NathanY

Commander
Joined
Mar 16, 2002
Messages
2,408
Re: Boat to heavy?

That trailer is too small for that trailer. Ideally you want 75-80% capacity. In other words just for mathematical ease if your trailer is rated for 5000lbs, then you dont want to load it more than 3750-4000lbs. That's ideal, that way if you need to carry extra stuff, you are good to go. You really need a 4500lb trailer for that boat. From the picture it looks like that trailer is warped. I use to pull trailers for a living, both big and small.
 

patbalmos

Seaman
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
59
Re: Boat to heavy?

You definately need a bigger trailer for that boat. I can see the sag in the the trailer from your pics and it is bad. Just think about when you pull the boat down the road and you hit a low spot or pot hole, your whole load is bouncing up and down on the frame creating an even larger load. You don't want to get stuck on the side of the road before you even get to the ramp. Do yourself a favor and take the trailer back and get a larger one. The frame should not bend like that its a recipe for disaster down the road.
 

Knightrider2

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 10, 2011
Messages
90
Re: Boat to heavy?

You definitely need a tandem axle trailer because your boat weights at least 3500 pounds.
 

drrpm

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
707
Re: Boat to heavy?

You need a heavier duty trailer, but it doesn't need to be a dual axle one. I have a single axle trailer rated for 5,000 lbs and that's worked fine for hauling my 20 ft bowrider.
 

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: Boat to heavy?

My 18 footer with just a v6 would be right at the edge for your trailer sitting dry. Add gas, battery, gear, extra prop, etc and it's a no go. Mine sits on a single axle that is rated pretty high (can't recall exactly now) but is almost the same weight on the scale as yours. My point is there are single axles out there that will work. A single axle lets you manually maneuver it in your garage (very slowly with a lot of effort) while that is not the same with two axles. My search shows your dry weight at a minimum of 3150 with a smaller engine. If I am doing the math correctly based on your responses you are overweight.
 
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