Need a little guidance

[gfh110]

Hey all,

I've been dealing with small boats my whole life. Strapping down my 14-footer and dragging it all around creation isn't a problem. However, I just made a massive upgrade and I'm finding the task of getting this thing home a little bit daunting. I have a trailer on the way, getting brakes installed and all the good stuff, but I'm at a loss as to how to actually keep it on the trailer.

This is the boat, it's 26' long, a little under 10' wide. I have no idea how much it weighs and neither does the previous owner or anyone at the marina where it's been stored.

Are a bunch of simple ratchet-style straps going to be enough for this thing or am I missing some big secret for moving larger vessels? Any advice is appreciated.

-Jerry

 

[DJ]

Re: Need a little guidance

Questions:

1. What are you planning to drag it with? That's more important than the cover.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need a little guidance

4 inch rachet strap. have you checked if you need a special tow permit, due to the width of the boat, i think 8' 6" is max without wide load permit. which get 's into chase cars, etc.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need a little guidance

This is what happens if it is not tied down securely -- and I do mean securely. A simple winch post is not going to help if that much weight is not kept from moving forward. Remember, the bow of a boat is curved and it will climb the winch post in a heartbeat and land on the tow vehicle. As you were taught in Physics, "an object in motion tends to stay in motion!" Straps from side to side do nothing to prevent forward motion. You need very heafty stern eyes and tie downs.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Need a little guidance

I would certainly get a real weight on it before I bought the wrong trailer.
The yard will either sling it to put on your trailer or forklift it.
Either way, the marina should have the means to give you a real weight via the operations above and a drive on scale or hanging scale.
Are you gonna be trailering everytime you use it or is it a twice per season trailer or just to get it to your marina?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Need a little guidance

102 inches wide for your trailer is max without a permit.
Are you getting a 3 axle trailer?

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Need a little guidance

I regularly tow boats in the 26'-30' range over long distances and have seen other, larger powerboats towed. You need a couple of good transom tie downs and a good bow strap (to hold the bow down and keep it from climbing the winch) and I would not hesitate to use a safety chain or cable on the bow as well. That should pretty well do the job. That boat looks like it will be in the 5500-8000 lbs range (depending on how badly water logged it is) and is well within the range of a dual axle trailer with good brakes on it.
--
Stan

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Need a little guidance

Congrats on the purchase. I don't think chains would be out of the question. When you rent a car hauler for a vehicle well under that weight they give you chains. How to attach them in a way that will anchor it properly is another question. Also "how to keep it on the trailer" is a relative question. Beyond resisting movement due to max braking forces, I don't think there's much chance of keeping a boat that size from running over the tow vehicle during a collision or similar deceleration experience.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Need a little guidance

This is aimed more to the heavy boats as compared to the small light ones that already have good tie down points put on them from the factory.

I've always had a giggle over the "boat over riding the trailer" problems. All that is needed to stop the boat from going forward is bunker boards placed at the front of the bow, higher up so they would support it if the keel were on a razor blade. Then the only way the boat could go forward is if it climbed up over the boards. Prevent the climbing by using strong (6K or stronger) straps or chains over the bow from the trailer frame to the trailer frame. Add another strap over the stern and you are finished. Pad the straps of course to prevent wear on the hull. It is that simple. No need to modify the boat. It is not unsightly on the trailier. The combination will be secure for all but the most severe motoring excursions.

The down side is that the resale value of the trailer for some other boat may be lower, but this is not a likely scenerio.

I agree that massive frontal impact will frequently cause a load to seperate from the vehicle, but as you will be the first on the scene of the accident, you probably won't notice.