Tongue Weight for my new Double Eagle

[Oysterr51]

Today I am taking delivery of a new 16 foot Double Eagle and will have a 65 Johnson, up to 15 gallons of gas, and a kicker mounted on the back. The boat weighs 1150, and the motor, fuel, and kicker about 450. It's all on a new EasyLoader 2100 on rollers with swing tongue.What should I have for a tongue weight? Last night I told the dealer I needed more, as almost empty with only the 65 mounted and about two gallons of fuel, the tongue only weighed about 90 pounds.They also told me my RPM with one operator, and rigged as above, almost empty, was 5800. Do you think with more weight, fishing gear, and my partner, the RPM would be significantly over 5500 as it's supposed to be?Thanks for the response,Mike

[Silvertip]

10% of the total trailer weight should be on the tongue so you are a little light. Two ways to adjust. Move the bow stop forward but you should only do that if the stern is farther back than the last roller or end of the bunks. If that's set up correctly, move the axle back slightly. (They are adjustable.) Adding more weight to the boat makes RPM go down, not up. Therefore if its propped at 5800 RPM light, it will likely be around 5500 or so heavy. You should prop for what your normal load will be. You can always throttle back if you prop heavy and the engine tends to over rev when light. But you'll kill the engine by lugging it all the time if you prop light and run heavy most of the time.

[496 Cubic Inches]

My Ez Loader specs 5-7% for tongue weight. If your boat is truly 1600lbs 5% gives you 80lbs,6% is 96lbs and 7% is 112. I'd say you're right in the ballpark.I'll bet that you lose at least 300 rpms when you get loaded. The only way to find out is to run her,and then start tinkering.

[Silvertip]

I've never liked that 5-7% specification -- its simply too light and I suspect it might be because they feel people load up the front of their boats with the heavy stuff which will put that at 10%. Regardless, 5% definitely is not enough and 10% is what many trailer manufactures indicate is a minimum. Yes, you can go too heavy but in this case a little more is better than not enough. I'm a "duffer" who's been towing heavy stuff all my life so what the heck do I know! :-)

[Bond-o]

Originally posted by Upinsmoke: I've never liked that 5-7% specification -- its simply too light and I suspect it might be because they feel people load up the front of their boats with the heavy stuff which will put that at 10%. Regardless, 5% definitely is not enough and 10% is what many trailer manufactures indicate is a minimum. Yes, you can go too heavy but in this case a little more is better than not enough. I'm a "duffer" who's been towing heavy stuff all my life so what the heck do I know! :-)

Same Here,..........Atleast a Million Miles hauling a Wagon under My butt..............It's My Belief that a trailer is Safest,+ Handles the Best at 10% to 15% on the tongue.................... And Heavier is Better til you approach 20% to 25%,...... Then it gets Down Right Dangerous..............Been there,...... Done that............The Tail wants to Wag the Dog..................

[Texasmark]

Agree. On a boat that light, I'd load the heck out of the tongue 15% is great.If you ever saw an *** end heavy trailer jacknife on coming down a hill, on a bridge, no less; one can't imagine how that trailer can move 180 degrees back and forth so fast and wipe out both rear fenders on your truck in the process......not to mention the car next to you.Not worth it. Seen it happen and it didn't have to happen.Mark

[Oysterr51]

Thanks everyone. Today I picked up the package, and the dealer had moved the axle back as far as it would go. It's a big trailer for the boat, but a wide boat too, and the smallest trailer that would comfortably fit the boat. The axle is now about 3 feet in front of the back of the boat, but the tongue weighs as much as it can.I appreciate the response.Mike

[Texasmark]

10-4 from all of us.Mark