Re: Dry Weight?
Here on Iboats and on Wellcraft's website it lists the weight of my boat at 2900 lbs. The boat has a 350 c.i.d merc with an Alpha 1 outdrive. Does that 2900lbs dry weight include the weight of the engine and outdrive?
This is my first boat and I bought the boat used at the lake I keep it at and now I have to start thinking about trailering it home and I am concerned about the trailer, more specifically the trailer's tires. It is a single axle galvanized trailer and the tires tires I think are p205/75B15. I know the size is correct and they are "B15's". The 'P' designation has me concerned. My experience with this boat suggests this dude wasnt exactly a 'by the book' type and I was a newbie and didn't know better on a few things to check.
The look to be in good shape, but I am concerned about there weight rating versus the weight of the boat.
I think you're wise to be concerned. On a single axel trailer with a boat of that size, there is no margin for error. You either have the right tires or you don't. If you don't, you'd better make darn sure you get the right ones on there!
A blowout on a single axel trailer with a 1.5+ ton boat is no laughing matter and the consequences could get very ugly. Don't want to scare you, but the bottom line is that you need to to get some expert advice from a tire shop that knows trailer tires and can make sure you get the correct tires.
The "P" designation indicates the tire is a p-metric size primarily designed for passenger vehicles. This may or may not be a problem, but right away it has me wondering: "Did Mr. Generic Mechanic, the previous owner, just go and buy el cheapo passenger car tires as cheap replacements? Not good.
The main thing that raises an eyebrow with me is the "B" code that indicates belted construction that is (as I understand it) almost extinct on tires over 12 inches. To me, this would be worth checking out. It may or may be an issue, but this has me wondering just how old these tires are? You don't state the age of the boat or trailer, but is it possible these tires are 10 or more years old and date back to a time when this tire construction was more common?
Almost all trailer tires now (that are 13 inches and greater) are radial tires, so they carry an R designation like this: P225/75R15
But what you REALLY need to know is the load index/rating which will appear as a seperate number on the tire, something like this (I put it in bold): P195/60R15
87S .
The 87 indicates a load rating of 1201 pounds (if the tire is in good condition and inflated to spec). Here's a complete table so you can read the load rating numbers:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=35
Now as to what the load rating SHOULD be, you need to consult a tire specialist. This is a tricky situation, because IMO most boats in 3000+ range ride on dual axle trailers so obviously you can get away with a lower weight rating when you have 4 tires on the road insted of 2. With 2 tires, I would want overkill on the weight rating because as I said, if a tire blows apart, things could get ugly fast.
Grouse
