Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

[erikgreen]

Folks -

I'm hauling home a big parts/project boat today from a marine repair shop about 15 miles from my home. Unfortunately that's 15 urban miles, so I'm going to be on Minneapolis highways all the way. I'm avoiding downtown, and circling most of the major metro areas.

The boat is 28 feet long with a 10 foot beam, weight about 6000 lbs. It's "empty" with no fuel, water, or gear on board, so that should be the weight, I think (per NADA).

I'll be driving slowly (about 45 or less most of the way) in the slow lane and not charging stop signs, obviously. I'm pretty used to towing my old 21 foot boat so I have practice with a heavy tow. My trailer has electric brakes, so I should be good there. The trailer is an old, heavy steel 1970s dual axle that's been reinforced and extended. The axles are 3500 lbs capacity each with 245/75 trailer tires.

My towing vehicle is undersized, it's only a half ton, so I'm going to be 1000 lbs over capacity. I'm sure the trailer and hitch can take the weight, and I'm not going to haul this boat with this trailer again, just this once.

Any advice for me on what to do or not to do would be appreciated. Believe me, I'd rather use a 1 ton truck to haul this thing, but that's not possible. :\

Erik

 

[rbh]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

I am not going to touch the tow vehicle issue.
But if the boat is ten foot on the beam I would look into the laws of your state as you are possibly overwidth.
You will need a permit, as well you will need to mount red flags at the rear sides of the boat for daylight travel, (lights for night).
And the only thing else I can think of is to take your corners really wide.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Do you have the proper permits to tow an overwidth load? If not, and if you are stopped, being over the GCWR (or GVWR) will get you a very hefty fine not to mention what would happen should you be in a personal injury accident. The maximum width without permits is 102 inches or 8-1/2 feet. GCWR is gross "combined" weight rating. GVWR is the gross vehicle weight rating.

 

[JB]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

In most places you would need an oversize load permit and escort vehicles for any load over 8' wide.

Anyplace you will need a tow vehicle rated for the load and brakes on the trailer.

I don't recall MN LEOs being lackadaisical about that sort of thing.

You seem to be willing to take a lot of risk. . .risk I wouldn't take.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Hm, okay... after some research, it seems I need:

A) Flags on the aft corners
B) A wide load permit

The laws I read don't say anything about escort vehicles, maybe that's federal?

I'm not over the weight ratings for either the tow or combined weight, although the axle group laws are hard to understand.. I think those are mostly for commercial vehicles though.

Now I need to see if I can get a permit quick, I guess.

Erik

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

I will add that I have a friend who tows his boat with his pickup on an even larger trailer a lot.. it's a 30 footer with a 12 foot beam, he's never been stopped, never uses flags. Maybe he's just lucky?

Erik

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Hm, okay... after some research, it seems I need:

A) Flags on the aft corners
B) A wide load permit

The laws I read don't say anything about escort vehicles, maybe that's federal?

I'm not over the weight ratings for either the tow or combined weight, although the axle group laws are hard to understand.. I think those are mostly for commercial vehicles though.

Now I need to see if I can get a permit quick, I guess.

Erik

What all is required comes in steps based on the width.
Over 8.5' to 10 feet is what you found.
10.1' to 12' requires same plus one escort front (or maybe it is back).
12.1' to 14' reguires same plus escort front and back.
14.1' and above requires above and only during non rush hour daylight moves, restricted to certain routes etc.
These might not be exact and not the same in every state.
Some states exempt boats to some extent in the over width department also.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

You might want to read this:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/cvo/oversize/permitscomparison.pdf
From March of 2010
It appears that there is no limit on width for a non-commercial boat owner single trip.
Per page five.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Yep, looks like that's the case. So, permit and flags and I should be ok as far as legal stuff goes. If the trailer holds up ok and I'm careful this should work out..

Thanks for the info,
Erik

 

[dlngr]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Try to finish the tow around the time of DOT shift change!!

 

[woolznaz]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Let us know how it goes. Best of luck with it. What kind of boat and what are the plans?

 

[asm_]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

I will add that I have a friend who tows his boat with his pickup on an even larger trailer a lot.. it's a 30 footer with a 12 foot beam, he's never been stopped, never uses flags. Maybe he's just lucky?

Erik

It's only illegal when you get caught!! or that's when you find out it's illegal.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Um, yeah... "officer, I didn't know I needed a permit!"


It went well... although the trailer was obviously not enough for this boat. I suspect some water soakage somewhere in the hull, although it may just be a bigger boat than I'm used to.

I drove 25 miles (took the long way) at about 35-40 mph, mostly with my four ways on. No problems at all, boat was stable once I got it securely on the trailer and adjusted it. Trailer tracked well, brakes worked, basically an easier trip than I was worried about.

It's a 28 foot bayliner contessa that I bought for parts salvage. I wanted the dual prop volvo drive and some engine parts, and the controls maybe too.

But, if I let it sit in the driveway a few months I'm sure I'll be thinking of repairing it for sale.... I'd make a good profit considering what I paid for it, and it's actually in pretty good shape inside. We'll see, I guess.

It's still on the trailer until at least tomorrow, but the trailer frame is supported with blocks... I think I heard a sigh of relief when I put them under it

Thanks again for the help guys,

Erik

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Glad you made it okay, even though I had my doubts

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Hauling 10 foot beam boat today - advice?

Here's a link to my thread with a pic, plus a link to the photobucket folder for the boat pics.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2891616

I'm still not sure on parts/scrap or pull some parts then resto... dunno if it's worth it.

Erik