Given a truck big enough, what is the largest boat to trailer reasonably? - The Hull Truth

rsieminski · 08-25-2005, 09:37 PM

I would like to get a bigger boat in the future, and would like something in the 29-33' size, and would need to trailer it. Maybe they are just too big to trailer any distance??

What Fish · 08-25-2005, 09:45 PM

Since you said 'reasonably', I'd say 26-28.

COOL BREEZE · 08-25-2005, 10:04 PM

If you can find a 30' +- boat on a trailer take a look at what it is. Do you know enough about trailering to feel confidant? How big a boy are ya

You'll need a trailer that is rated @ 12,000lbs +- have fun looking.

Dae · 08-25-2005, 10:05 PM

I'd say pretty much any boat that does not exceed the 8'6' width limit. Beyond that, you're talking about having to get wide load permits.

- Dae

08-25-2005, 10:07 PM

Reasonably? Id have to agree with What Fish. Yea sure you can trailer a 32, maybe even a 35 footer, but at that point, its very tough to meneuver the trailer/truck and it becomes almost a hazard on narrow or congested roadways.

fisherofmen · 08-25-2005, 10:30 PM

I tow a 27 Shamrock diesel with a 9.5 foot beam, towed weight is 13k. No problem but I have brakes on two axles, and use a diesel excursion and pay attention to what I'm doing.

Rick

Bama Blue · 08-25-2005, 10:33 PM

Do you have to have a wide load permit and if so what is involved with obtaining it

Undaunted · 08-25-2005, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Bama Blue - 8/25/2005 10:33 PM

Do you have to have a wide load permit and if so what is involved with obtaining it

check with your states DOT website it varies from state to state you plan on towing

-typically what you can expect is 8'6" to 9"11 you just need a standard oversized permit
-10' to 11'11" you need a pilot car
-restrictions on roads, time of day, and day of week you can pull

Coconuts · 08-25-2005, 11:07 PM

The Boat US website has a list of all the states basic trailer laws and numbers to get wide load permits. I am having a heck of a time finding rules and limitations for wide loads on the web.

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/laws.asp

slickster · 08-25-2005, 11:24 PM

It's not the length that makes things difficult, it's the gross weight and beam....there's a guy in La that pulls a 32 twin vee around on a trailer, 11 1/2 beam.....tons of SKA guys tow all over the place, typically 28-36 footers....not real beamy boats but long.....question is, what do you want to do with your boat and where...as for permits for wide loads, very sketchy info out there...unless you are pulling a monster, most just hook up and go.....happy boating/trailering...Mick

billnuts · 08-26-2005, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Bama Blue - 8/25/2005 10:33 PM

Do you have to have a wide load permit and if so what is involved with obtaining it

First you have to get a RING Usually a Diamond...

then a Licence...

then wait about 5 years

PSW · 08-26-2005, 01:27 AM

It is not that big a deal. Most make it a bigger deal than it really is. You just have to do the right things and getting the right trailer is job 1.

Scrambler1 · 08-26-2005, 04:10 AM

Just need to be thinking when you're towing big and pay attention. Obviously a trailer with brakes on at least two axles, a truck that is meant for the weight (I think some states require duallys for a wide permit), and some experience. I tow a 30' trailer with around 13,000 lbs on it at least once a month. Weight around there doesn't bother me and the length doesn't bother me in the least. If you're not good at towing a trailer, stay away from anything that would require a permit b/c of width. SKA guys with 36' CC boats tow theirs around and they have around a 10' beam. What are you personally comfortable with???

Tedj101 · 08-26-2005, 07:05 AM

Quote:

rsieminski - 8/26/2005 1:37 AM

I would like to get a bigger boat in the future, and would like something in the 29-33' size, and would need to trailer it. Maybe they are just too big to trailer any distance??

I think one of the problems with this question (and some of the answers) is that the term "trailer" means a lot of different things in different contexts.

For example, (1) some people keep their boat on a trailer next to their house and "trailer" the boat to the water each time they use it. Others (2) keep their boat on a trailer at a waterside location and launch it each time they use it (sort of like a do it yourself in out service). Others (3) keep their boat in the water but trail to other locations several times a season. Still others (4) keep their boat in the water and only put it on the trailer for offseason storage.

All of these uses are "trailering" in some sense of the word, but most people will have different comfort levels with different sized boats in each context.

I am comfortable up to about 26' and 9' beam in example 1 -- though I would also qualify that with a weight restriction as well. A 26' Regulator, for example, is much heavier than a 25' Contender, for example. I would have no trouble with the Contender for use (1), but I probably would not buy a Regulator for that use.

Use 2 opens up a lot more boat. I think you can handle up to 31-32' in this use reasonably comfortably -- but I wouldn't want to launch such a monster every time I was to use it. The inconvenience factor is too high.

Use (3) (which is how I use my boat), is good up to about 29' depending on weight and width. Much over 9' is a pain to tow and the restrictions on overwide towing can really cut into your use. You can't go over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on the weekend with an overwide load, for example. Thus, if you keep your overwide boat around the Potomac, it is one heck of a long haul to get to the ocean legally. Of course, you may not have such restrictions in your area so that might not be a consideration at all. In other words, it all depends.

Finally, use (4) will accomodate anything that can be used in use (2) absent some odd restriction on overwide loads in your area.

I hope this helps

!

TED

Doug in Bermuda · 08-26-2005, 07:38 AM

How much experience &/or confidence do you have in yourself? Some people think nothing of dragging a 12,000# boat around. Look how many grey hairs are on the highway dragging 16,000# 35' RVs around. These things have far more weight & windage than a boat.

If you have the equipment, the permits & the skills to handle it your your biggest limitation will be bridge height.

okletsfish · 08-26-2005, 07:57 AM

Before I retired I work in a big city mass transit operation,which required me to carry a class A CDL.Most busses are 102" wide which eliminated the wide load problem.Over the years I did lots of towing due to wrecks,brake downs ect. In my opinion the most important thing to concider is stopping
I don`t care how big a trailer you are going to pull,you have to have a tow vehicle big enough ,with a braking system on the trailer to stop it.

reelapeelin · 08-26-2005, 08:25 AM

okletsfish hit the nail on the head in what's MOST important aspect of towing...gettin' her goin' is easy...STOPPING is the part you better be READY for...and as mentioned above, there's towing and then there's TOWING...2 miles of flat terrain or 300 miles of hill and dale?...

Good friend has 28' cat w/twin 200s on a tri-axle trailer...tows nicely w/a Ford F-250 Deisle...he's sensible and holds his speed to reasonable pace...big concern w/ his is HIEGHT...13.5' to top of T-Top, or actually the radome...

...

rwidman · 08-26-2005, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Dae - 8/25/2005 10:05 PM

I'd say pretty much any boat that does not exceed the 8'6' width limit. Beyond that, you're talking about having to get wide load permits.

- Dae

Agreed. That puts you at about 27' for most boats.

rwidman · 08-26-2005, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Coconuts - 8/25/2005 11:07 PM

The Boat US website has a list of all the states basic trailer laws and numbers to get wide load permits. I am having a heck of a time finding rules and limitations for wide loads on the web.

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/laws.asp

Many of these listings are incomplete or incorrect. For example, some states require brakes on all axles of trailers over a certain weight. The last time I looked at the BoatUS site, this information was missing. Also, different websites list different speed limits for trailers, some as low as 55mph. I don't think you'll find the tractor trailers doing 55 mph on the Interstate, neither do you see the police ticketing them for going over 55mph.

It is very difficult to find accurate information on trailering.

autobaun70 · 08-26-2005, 09:13 AM

A friend of mine regularly tows a 1977 Berthram 27' back and forth from the middle part of SC to the coast, probably 10 times a season or so. Pulls it behind a fully outfitted dodge dually on a custom built trailer with brakes on all axels. I'm not sure of the exact weight, but I do know that he has to have the fuel tanks below half full to be legal. Trailering it isn't something they take lightly, however it doesn't keep them from going fishing.