Good intentions, bad idea? opinions.

[mattou73]

First time poster, long time lurker.

Looking for opinions on a boat purchase and our plans on how we use the boat.

We are looking at a '05 -'08 Chap 256ssi. This year/model is in our budget and we have a large family. We don't plan to keep the boat on a specific lake where the boat can call home but instead pulling it to various lakes and lake houses we plan on renting on VRBO. I was wondering if its too large of a boat to be pulling 600 miles round trip on weekends when we do this.

My worries elevated when a boat we were looking at included a narrative by the salesperson. In it, as he is walking around the boat he mentions how large the boat is and it even comes with a trailer although most people don't prefer to trailer boats around this size. I drive a 2010 tundra 5.7L, that has the standard 10,000lb towing capacity, this model/year boat is approx 5000 lbs.

thanks for any opinions,

 

[tpenfield]

Welcome to iBoats. Easy peasy. . . . no problem with the towing. Sales person is merely an opinion. 600 miles is a bit of a haul, but if you are going for a week or two, then probably worth it. The tow vehicle mentioned is more than capable

 

[bruceb58]

We used to tow a bigger boat than that every year 1000 miles one way to Canada. Not a problem.

 

[UncleWillie]

.... I was wondering if its too large of a boat to be pulling 600 miles round trip on weekends when we do this...

The size of the boat is not the real issue.
300 miles each way, towing the boat, is going to be 6 hour trip each way. Don't plan on averaging 75 MPH on the road.
A 12 hour round trip for just a weekend is going to get very old, very fast.
Most people are not willing to tow for much more than an hour if they are only going to stay one day.

 

[kjsAZ]

the only draw back I can see with towing 600mi round trip for a weekend is the time it will take you to get to and from the water. But that has nothing to do with the size of the boat but will get old very quick. Gas milage will suck even if the boat is a bit smaller.You will have to spend more time on maintenance for the wheel bearings no matter what size boat you tow. Plus make sure your roadside assistance covers your trailer too! Not all of them cover it!!!!

 

[midcarolina]

Here's the thing......Some would think towing any boat 300 miles one way is unfathomable, Others will say it's just a stroll down the road.

Do you have a buddy that has a boat or rv about that weight you could haul around and see if you can avoid being overly stressed on a trip?

Only then will you know which camp you are in.

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard.

you have a great rig to tow the boat. As others mentioned, the issue would be the time. 300 miles is a bit of a hike for a 2 day weekend. I woulds suggest to make it a 3 day weekend

 

[redneck joe]

if you are going back to the same place, tow and leave it for the week.

 

[dan02gt]

I don't think you will have a problem towing it, but that boat has a package weight of way more than 5000 lbs. Heck the package weight on my little 19' Stingray is around 4500 lbs once you consider the trailer weight, fuel, and gear.

 

[Brian 26]

Are you saying you will tow it 600 miles every weekend? Or the one or two times a year you rent?

I have a 23' boat and a Toyota 4runner. We go to the lake 5 miles away every weekend and a big trip to northern MN once or twice a year. Once you get on the highway towing is a breeze but backing into the garage (mine fits in my garage barley), stopping for food and bathroom breaks etc is a different deal.

We know a lot of people that live the cabin lifestyle, driving 200+ miles each way every weekend, none of them bring their boat back and forth they just leave it up there. Here's another thing to consider, if you're pulling it 600 miles every weekend, at an estimated 10 mpg that is 60 gallons. X 4 weekends per month = 240 gallons X $3.50 per gallon = $840 per month of fuel

 

[mattou73]

Thanks for all the responses. You all definitely have brought up a few points we haven't considered and ideas as well.

 

[drrpm]

The convenient the trip is, the more likely you'll go. Hauling a big boat 300 miles routinely will probably get old fast. It will take a lot of gas and put a lot of wear and tear on the tow vehicle as well. I'd wager that boat is well over 5,000 lbs too.

 

[greenbush future]

Your plan is very do-able, but the shear cost of all the additional tires brakes, gas, wear and tear will eventually just eat you up.Your time has to be worth something too, and hauling a boat that far on any regular basis will get old really quick, not to mention the cost. You could almost rent a slip for the season based on that routine, or just park your trailered boat there and commute w/o dragging that boat all over. Just because you can do it physically, doesn't mean you should do it. Boating is very expensive even if you don't have the travel time, when ya throw your situation into the mix, it just gets really expensive.
I'll bet after a couple round trips doing this, you will seek other ways to make this happen.
Have fun and good luck!!

 

[agallant80]

No Title

I just signed a storage contract and left my boat down at the coast because I was sick of towing it 150 miles. 3 hours and a tank of gas each way. I just went down there on Friday it took me one tank of gas to get there and back (still has 1/4 tank when I got home) and only took two hours to drive. I would find a location that you can keep the boat at. As others have said it gets old towing it back and forth.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Your plan is very do-able, but the shear cost of all the additional tires brakes, gas, wear and tear will eventually just eat you up.Your time has to be worth something too, and hauling a boat that far on any regular basis will get old really quick, not to mention the cost. You could almost rent a slip for the season based on that routine, or just park your trailered boat there and commute w/o dragging that boat all over. Just because you can do it physically, doesn't mean you should do it. Boating is very expensive even if you don't have the travel time, when ya throw your situation into the mix, it just gets really expensive.
I'll bet after a couple round trips doing this, you will seek other ways to make this happen.
Have fun and good luck!!

I think the points about the hassle factor and (even more importantly) gas prices are something to consider, but seriously -- the costs in brakes, tires, and other wear and tear? These latter expenses are going to be pretty minimal. Trailers haul stuff all the time, and for trips much longer than 600 miles on weekends in the summer. At that rate, you'll be replacing tires because of dry rot long before they lose enough tread.

Trailering a boat as the OP describes would be a hassle and the gas costs might be painful, but if that sort of use results in significant trailer maintenance cost, you'd have to be pulling a pretty crummy trailer...

 

[BRICH1260]

My boat is similar in size and weight that you are considering. It can be done with the truck you have, although you will know it is back there. We tow our boat for several out of state trips several times a year. Dont forget to factor in the trailer weight, liquids and gear, it will add up. I pulled with a half ton for several years, then upgraded to a diesel, it made a world of difference. You can do it if you want to.

 

[BRICH1260]

My boat is similar in size and weight that you are considering. It can be done with the truck you have, although you will know it is back there. We tow our boat for several out of state trips several times a year. Dont forget to factor in the trailer weight, liquids and gear, it will add up. I pulled with a half ton for several years, then upgraded to a diesel, it made a world of difference. You can do it if you want to.