Big Boat and Trailer

[Greendboating]

Hey, so I'm looking into a new truck and boat and boat trailer. I'm looking at a nice new Chriscraft Catalina 34, and as far as trailers go I don't know where to start, it confuses me when I'm at a yard and it seems to me almost every trailer has a different sticker, so what do I have to do as far as getting everything set up? As far as the truck, I'm going to be getting a 2017 Ford F-450 Pickup, gonna put kelderman 4-corner air suspension, because I realize this boat's gonna be HEAVY. Where do I go from here?

 

[alldodge]

Hey, so I'm looking into a new truck and boat and boat trailer. I'm looking at a nice new Chriscraft Catalina 34, and as far as trailers go I don't know where to start, it confuses me when I'm at a yard and it seems to me almost every trailer has a different sticker, so what do I have to do as far as getting everything set up? As far as the truck, I'm going to be getting a 2017 Ford F-450 Pickup, gonna put kelderman 4-corner air suspension, because I realize this boat's gonna be HEAVY. Where do I go from here?

Howdy
Specifications

Overall Length	34'	10.4 m
Beam	10'10"	3.3 m
Hull Draft	26'	7.9 m
Displacement	~12,500 lbs	5669.9 kg
Fuel Capacity	322 gal	1218.9 l
Water Capacity	40 gal	151.4 l
Deadrise	21?
Holding Tank	27 gal	102.2 l
Maximum HP	900
Standard Twin Mercury Verado (350 PSHP x2) 4-Stroke - DTS

Probably going to gross in the area of 15 to 16K and the F450 should pull it just fine, could probably also use a 350 without issues. The beam is going to put you in the wide load permit arena.

If your doing salt water then I would suggest either aluminum or galvanized 5th wheel trailer, triple axle, with disc brakes and an electric over hydraulic controller.

Just call some of the name brand trailer manufactures and get a price from them for prices, and give the dealer an opportunity to bid

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... It's also alittle over 2' to wide to run down most hi-ways, legally, without a permit, signage, etc...

How far, 'n where ya plan on haulin' it,..??

I built a wagon for my 34' x 12' houseboat, but it only moves a couple hundred yards a season,....

 

[smokeonthewater]

1 ton dually would handle that boat just fine.. Air assist bags would be nice but not needed..
The air ride conversion would have nothing to do with the weight of the boat AND would do nothing to increase the load capacity of the truck...

You'll need wide load permits to be legal on state highways.

 

[smokeonthewater]

You also need to consider the height of the boat... Most boats that length can't be trailered without some disassembly.

 

[Greendboating]

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... It's also alittle over 2' to wide to run down most hi-ways, legally, without a permit, signage, etc...

How far, 'n where ya plan on haulin' it,..??

I built a wagon for my 34' x 12' houseboat, but it only moves a couple hundred yards a season,....

It'd stay in the state of Delaware, and the permits and signage, flags, xanax, etc. would run me about 300 bucks the first time but the permit would be 30 after that, and unless there's a hurricane or some reason I have to get the boat out of Bethany quickly, I won't need pilot cars, if there's a chriscraft dealer in Delaware. I'd be hauling it between the top and the bottom, about 120 miles, that's about how long Delaware is corner to corner, lol.

 

[Greendboating]

1 ton dually would handle that boat just fine.. Air assist bags would be nice but not needed..
The air ride conversion would have nothing to do with the weight of the boat AND would do nothing to increase the load capacity of the truck...

You'll need wide load permits to be legal on state highways.

Right, honestly the only reason I put it out there is because I asked about the truck on a trailering forum and got torn a new one about how I "need air bags" or "need a 550 or a 650 for a boat (trailer) that big" and didn't want to get the same here, I also just prefer the ride on airbags in my trucks, I got addicted to it. I got scared for what I was gonna need because I do know I'm gonna need permits to go on 1, 95, 202, 141, and 48/41, but luckily it's only 30 bucks for the permit, which I was hype about
https://www.deldot.gov/osow/policy.pdf
:joyous::victorious::whoo:

 

[Greendboating]

You also need to consider the height of the boat... Most boats that length can't be trailered without some disassembly.

I think the boat if I remember what my buddy told me is around 11'1" and I don't know what that would make it on the trailer

 

[erie_guy]

Hi Green and Boating,

I have a Chris Craft 32 Crowne that has very similar specs to the Catalina you are considering. It has a 11'10" beam, is 32+' long, and weighs in at 12,000 pounds. We purchased from a dealer in Houston Texas and had it delivered to our marina in Port Clinton, Ohio. Delivery was done by a contractor using a single-axle Dodge pickup w/diesel engine and a three-axle aluminum trailer. He arranged for all necessary wide-load permits for the delivery and said the trip was routine. The driver admitted he ran at speed limits between Houston and Port Clinton, without escort vehicles, and was not stopped by any Highway Patrols. It took him two days with an overnight stop. Upon delivery the boat was lifted off the trailer using a sling hoist and placed in the water at Lake Erie. It cost about $2,500 for the delivery and this was in 2003 - so costs would probably be higher today.

Each winter we store the boat on a three-axle aluminum E-Z Load trailer. We move the boat/trailer around the marina yard using the marina's farm tractor with hydraulic towball lift. The tongue weight is a bit less than 800 pounds. The trailer is rated at 15,000 pounds, has hydraulic surge brakes on all wheels, and a water wash on all brakes and axle ends (in case we take it to salt water. However, we always launch and recover the boat using the sling hoist and the trailer never gets wet. Sling operations are ~$100. each way.

We have moved the rig around the Port Clinton area using a P/U truck and a Lincoln town car with an escort car. - and have moved the trailer alone with a Lincoln town car, a Chrysler Sebring convertible, and a VW Jetta (diesel) without any difficulty. We have never licensed or had plates on the trailer because it is only used for winter storage but is "street legal". I would recommend you consider electric brakes on the trailer if you are going to trailer extensively. Our marina most often uses a sling lift to handle boats that are this size, but I have witnessed them trailer launching boats in the 32'-34' range with their yard truck. I am not sure if they have attempted to recover a boat this size using the trailer and truck - that would be a major stretch for the truck they use.

Enjoy your new boat !!

erie_guy (Steinway II)
Port Clinton, OH

 

[Greendboating]

Howdy
Specifications

Overall Length	34'	10.4 m
Beam	10'10"	3.3 m
Hull Draft	26'	7.9 m
Displacement	~12,500 lbs	5669.9 kg
Fuel Capacity	322 gal	1218.9 l
Water Capacity	40 gal	151.4 l
Deadrise	21?
Holding Tank	27 gal	102.2 l
Maximum HP	900
Standard Twin Mercury Verado (350 PSHP x2) 4-Stroke - DTS

Probably going to gross in the area of 15 to 16K and the F450 should pull it just fine, could probably also use a 350 without issues. The beam is going to put you in the wide load permit arena.

If your doing salt water then I would suggest either aluminum or galvanized 5th wheel trailer, triple axle, with disc brakes and an electric over hydraulic controller.

Just call some of the name brand trailer manufactures and get a price from them for prices, and give the dealer an opportunity to bid

Who are some of the "name brand" boat trailer manufacturers that could do it? And yeah also as someone else pointed out, the height is gonna really suck if I have to bring it north in a hurry, because in Delaware, if you need to get it out ahead of a hurricane, or some other "calamity, existing or imminent, man-made or natural causes, or other situations which requires immediate remedial action to protect life or property... Since the Department may not be consulted in advance concerning the route, I accept all responsibility for any accidents, damage, or other claims of any type or nature whatsoever" so yeah I'm a LITTLE worried about that, but not too terribly stressed out haha

 

[alldodge]

Who are some of the "name brand" boat trailer manufacturers that could do it?

There are many but here is a few

Loadmaster out of FL (not same co as below)
Loadmaster out of Port Clinton OH
Broward trailer
EZ Load
Heritage IL

 

[jbcurt00]

Really outside my experience, but if you're buying a new boat, regardless of size, the boat dealer can't assist you in finding a trailer that will haul that big ole' boat?

 

[Scott Danforth]

You also need to consider the height of the boat... Most boats that length can't be trailered without some disassembly.

Kevin, it's a self clearing issue of your going 60 when you hit the overpass

 

[smokeonthewater]

True dat!

 

[tpenfield]

Hey, so I'm looking into a new truck and boat and boat trailer. I'm looking at a nice new Chriscraft Catalina 34, and as far as trailers go I don't know where to start, it confuses me when I'm at a yard and it seems to me almost every trailer has a different sticker, so what do I have to do as far as getting everything set up? As far as the truck, I'm going to be getting a 2017 Ford F-450 Pickup, gonna put kelderman 4-corner air suspension, because I realize this boat's gonna be HEAVY. Where do I go from here?

Just wondering about your prior boating and trailer hauling experience.

I have a 33 foot boat, but have a boat hauler to move it around at the beginning and end of the season. I hope to someday get a trailer . . . been spec'ing out a Venture VATB-12625 trailer, since my boat is fairly light for its size. (9,000 lbs dry).

I believe Venture also makes a 15,000 capacity trailer, which may be a decent match for the 34 footer. F-450 should be fine for towing.

How often do you plan on towing? Usually the bigger the boat, the less it is moved around.

 

[Quick3201]

Might be easier and cheaper to hire the trip from dealer to marina and store boat there. A boat that large is limited as to where it can be launched and reteieved.

 

[Greendboating]

Just wondering about your prior boating and trailer hauling experience.

I have a 33 foot boat, but have a boat hauler to move it around at the beginning and end of the season. I hope to someday get a trailer . . . been spec'ing out a Venture VATB-12625 trailer, since my boat is fairly light for its size. (9,000 lbs dry).

I believe Venture also makes a 15,000 capacity trailer, which may be a decent match for the 34 footer. F-450 should be fine for towing.

How often do you plan on towing? Usually the bigger the boat, the less it is moved around.

Trailering, I've done it all from a little 5 x 8 cargo trailer up to a big semi, and a lot of stuff in between. Boating I've done some canoeing, little 14 foot John boats, and the 60 foot racing shells, along with some yachts helping buddies move and stuff. I'd also be moving it at the beginning and end of the season, unless an emergency makes me have to get it out in a hurry (hurricane, train derailment, earthquake, etc...) but trailering it wouldn't be a problem for me

 

[Greendboating]

Might be easier and cheaper to hire the trip from dealer to marina and store boat there. A boat that large is limited as to where it can be launched and reteieved.

Might be a good idea, but I still like the ability to be able to get it out in a hurry if I need to, and during the off season to have it in my garage. Yeah and I'm still seeing where in Delaware I'll be able to put in at