Largest boat you can practically trailer?

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

I'd say 23'; anything bigger goes in a slip. I can't imagine it would be pleasurable to deal with hooking up, driving, launching, parking, hauling out, driving and parking something that big just for a boat ride, and every time at that.

but that's just a coastal perspective

I'm at 23ft now. I think we are going to look at 25-28's. I've got a lot of research, budget planning and looking to do. We're not going to do anything till Dec or Jan, figure I can get more boat for the money.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

I'd say 23'; anything bigger goes in a slip. I can't imagine it would be pleasurable to deal with hooking up, driving, launching, parking, hauling out, driving and parking something that big just for a boat ride, and every time at that.

but that's just a coastal perspective

My perspective, too. I felt my 24' express (total weight on the trailer was well over 7000 lbs) was a real PITA. Towing wasn't terrible, but I wasn't going very far. Launch and retrieving was exhausting. I bought my 27' knowing that from that point on it'd be slipped, hauled and stored at the marina. Some of you guys don't seem to have any issue, but I can't imagine towing hundreds of miles, launching and retrieving on a regular basis. Doesn't sound like fun to me.

My .02

 

[agallant80]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

I'd say 23'; anything bigger goes in a slip. I can't imagine it would be pleasurable to deal with hooking up, driving, launching, parking, hauling out, driving and parking something that big just for a boat ride, and every time at that.

but that's just a coastal perspective

I have a 25 cruiser. The thing is huge on the trailer. We have taking on and off the trailer down to an art. It helps when you develope a system and don't vary from it. Yes I do feel my 21 foot bow rider was easier to manage on the trailer than the 25 foot cruiser but now that I have done it with the larger boat its not as bad as I thought it would have been.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

Yes I do feel my 21 foot bow rider was easier to manage on the trailer than the 25 foot cruiser but now that I have done it with the larger boat its not as bad as I thought it would have been.

That's the thing; the fear of the unknown is WAY worse than actually doing it. Once you get used to launching/recovering the bigger boat it isn't THAT big of a deal.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

My perspective, too. .... Some of you guys don't seem to have any issue, but I can't imagine towing hundreds of miles, launching and retrieving on a regular basis. Doesn't sound like fun to me.

My .02

Looks like another coastal boatnig/lake boating difference.

Country mouse/city mouse

The question is purely subjective so it an't really be answered, but that doesn't slow down a discussion!

 

[southkogs]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

I'll be traveling anywhere from N.GA to NickerJack to Guntersville,AL to Decatur,AL. So, anywhere from 15 mins to 4 hours.

I can't speak to GA or 'Bama, but here in TN (Nickajack) there are a few different kinds of ramp I run into: 1.) big, long and easy - should be no problem to launch a 28'. 2.) Crazy steep - might be easy going, might be a tractor pull gettin' it out, or 3.) tight. Several of these launches wouldn't have room to maneuver a 28' on a trailer with a dually (easily anyway) - and I'm not bashful with a trailer.

Might wanna' do a bit of scoutin' on some of the lakes just to see. We have huge boats on these lakes in TN, so SOMEBODY must put 'em in and take 'em out

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

For 2 summers I pulled a 38' Donzi 97 miles to Lake Erie and back. It had a beam of just over 9' and luckily never had a ticket. That was an animal only because she was heavy. No more problem launching or retrieving than the 26'er that replaced her. I was much-- MUCH younger then.
You said PRACTICAL,, and that was NOT practical. 28' is pushing it,, 26 is just as easy as 21'.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

I'm sort of wanting to get a trailer for my 33 footer . . .

Wouldn't want to take it far though . . . just down to the ramp for launch and to be able to pull it for any on-season maintenance and hurricanes or something like that.

If you get a Go-fast boat, they are typically within the standard beam/width limits, so you could easily trailer something into the 30+ foot range . . . not sure it would be Admiral approved though . . . :noidea:

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

I'm sort of wanting to get a trailer for my 33 footer . . .

Wouldn't want to take it far though . . . just down to the ramp for launch and to be able to pull it for any on-season maintenance and hurricanes or something like that.

If you get a Go-fast boat, they are typically within the standard beam/width limits, so you could easily trailer something into the 30+ foot range . . . not sure it would be Admiral approved though . . . :noidea:

Your boat is easy to tow, I've towed 3 of them before. Not bad at all. My boat is the closest to Go Fast as she wants. I can buy Grandpa's Scarab 400 for 15k. She said no. LOL She sent me some links to 270 Sundancers and 260 Mariah(SP?). Up note, I get to keep the Cobalt.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

The permits will be a PITA, I'll be towing in 4 states. To much hassle.

My wife can drive. LOL She pulled her drag car with her 4500 Kodiak and her 28ft enclosed all by herself.

Get in touch with Mercury Permit Service. 1-855-683-7749. This is were i get my permits when needed. It doesn't get any eaiser then this. They do all the paper work answer any question you might have and are pretty reasonable in price. They will e-mail you the permits

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

Also check your local laws about permits. I know in NC personal boats are exluded from the8''6" limit.

Am mended in 2008
They went to 120inches.After that you need permits

[PDF]
Towing of Recreational Boats/Exemption. - North Carolina General ...
www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/PDF/H2167v8.pdf‎

SECTION 1. G.S. 20-116 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"? 20-116. Size of vehicles and loads.
…
(m) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a boat or boat trailer with an
outside width of less than 120 inches may be towed without a permit. The towing of a
boat or boat trailer 102 inches to 114 inches in width may take place on any day of the
week, including weekends and holidays, and may take place at night. The towing of a
boat or boat trailer 114 inches to 120 inches in width may take place on any day of the
week, including weekends and holidays from sun up to sun down. A boat or boat trailer
in excess of 102 inches but less than 120 inches must be equipped with a minimum of
two operable amber lamps on the widest point of the boat and the boat trailer such that
the dimensions of the boat and the boat trailer are clearly marked and visible."







N

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

Get in touch with Mercury Permit Service. 1-855-683-7749. This is were i get my permits when needed. It doesn't get any eaiser then this. They do all the paper work answer any question you might have and are pretty reasonable in price. They will e-mail you the permits

Am mended in 2008
They went to 120inches.After that you need permits

[PDF]
Towing of Recreational Boats/Exemption. - North Carolina General ...
www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/PDF/H2167v8.pdf‎

SECTION 1. G.S. 20-116 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"? 20-116. Size of vehicles and loads.
…
(m) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a boat or boat trailer with an
outside width of less than 120 inches may be towed without a permit. The towing of a
boat or boat trailer 102 inches to 114 inches in width may take place on any day of the
week, including weekends and holidays, and may take place at night. The towing of a
boat or boat trailer 114 inches to 120 inches in width may take place on any day of the
week, including weekends and holidays from sun up to sun down. A boat or boat trailer
in excess of 102 inches but less than 120 inches must be equipped with a minimum of
two operable amber lamps on the widest point of the boat and the boat trailer such that
the dimensions of the boat and the boat trailer are clearly marked and visible."







N

Thank you for the info!

 

[popo4fun]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

I have a 1993 Rinker 260 vee. The total length is 28'1. It's not too bad to trailer with my dodge 1500 but i would imagine it would be pretty easy with a 3500. With that being said I have done seasons that i used my trailer and others that i slipped my boat. The seasons we slipped it were sooooo much more enjoyable. I am actually putting mine into its new slip/home this weekend. Its just a PITA when compared to walking down the dock, turning the key and going. I boat to enjoy myself not argue with the wife the whole way there, and worry about the semi truck and the stupid passenger cars that cut you off not even considering that you cant stop on a dime. I say all of this to say given the option i would pick the body of water you enjoy most and slip your vessel.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

Be carefull once you get off the Federal highways. Fed states that 8'6" is OK without permists, but some states say over 8' 0" require a permit on non-fed roads, making permits required once you get off the fed roads and exceed a specified distance from the feds.

I keep my boat on a trailer and towing / launching / retrieving my 2550 SX Sport is not a problem at all. Except on some local waters where access ramps are small and cramped by docked boats where the ramps are rarely used by boats that exceed 21'. Just need to be mindful ramp facilities available.

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

Be carefull once you get off the Federal highways. Fed states that 8'6" is OK without permists, but some states say over 8' 0" require a permit on non-fed roads, making permits required once you get off the fed roads and exceed a specified distance from the feds.

I keep my boat on a trailer and towing / launching / retrieving my 2550 SX Sport is not a problem at all. Except on some local waters where access ramps are small and cramped by docked boats where the ramps are rarely used by boats that exceed 21'. Just need to be mindful ramp facilities available.

Thanks for the heads up. If that is correct,where I tow, I'm illegal already. My Cobalt is 8'5".




To sum up things, If I can launch my current boat(23ft w/ 8'5" beam), I shouldn't have trouble with a 26-28 footer.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

I pretty much agree with the above posters. 28' is about where it becomes impractical for me, as you start running into 9'+ beams, overload permits, and issues with maneuvering long trailers in tight quarters. There are some exceptions, like with the Formula 330 above and other go-fasts, where it's not as bulky as many cruisers. As long as you have the vehicle to adequately move and STOP the boat in question, that's what is going to make the trips safer and less of a hassle. Nothing like towing a 28' cruiser with a half ton loaded to it's max capacity to make someone dread taking it anywhere. I've found that bigger boats aren't usually any harder to load than smaller boats, it just takes a different approach. Small boats get blown around/drift more than larger boats, but you can hand-load and "muscle" them into place if need be. Larger boats are more predictable in path to the trailer, but you aren't muscling a 10K lbs cruiser, lol.

If I'm within 5 miles of the lake, I'm going to have it in a slip because I'm more likely to use it frequently-enough that trailering it would get cumbersome. If I'm an hour out, I'm probably only using the boat every couple of weekends, so hitching it up isn't as much of a task. The other side to trailering boats is convenience of security and maintenance. It's much easier to ensure no one is stealing your batteries or other gear when the boat is at home. I can also clean and maintain the boat much better when it's on a trailer at home than when it's sitting in a slip.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

that adds another aspect to the decision to have a larger boat as a "trailer only" boat--land storage.

If you "store" the boat in the water, size is not that great a factor. But size can be a huge factor if storing at home, from simple space, to parking configuration (including driveway design), overhead limitations (trees, wires or buildings), appearance and most important, legal restrictions. And there is something to be said for not keeping a big hulking boat loomnig over your neighbor's side even if it is legal. And on land, you often need more or better cover than in a slip due to trees, and a big blue flapping tarp is a nuisance that may not be as bad on a smaller boat.

Or if you rent a storage space, there's increased cost as well as in/out issues that can be compounded with a larger boat. I can live with an empty trailer in a lot on a busy city street but would not want to deal with the traffic and tight turns with a big boat every time I used it. So evaluate your local driving issues as much, or more, than long-distance.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

^Agreed. The main reason it doesn't bother me is that I have the boat in an enclosed shop on a few acres, so no neighbors to annoy, and no congested streets to contend with. Lots of factors that go into whether or not to trailer a boat for sure, and the importance of each one of those factors will vary for every person.

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

Storage isn't a problem. I got 5 acres with a 150x100 building being built. I can store a pretty dang big boat and anything else I want.

I think a 25-28 footer should be nice size, as long as it doesn't have a huge beam.

 

[pullin]

Re: Largest boat you can practically trailer?

Another consideration is the launch ramps you'll be using. I tow a 23 ft Sea Ray (it lives on the trailer). Here in drought country I find I can't use some ramps because the trailer is a little too long for the ramp. I'd also mention that it can be difficult to launch and retrieve a larger boat by yourself (if you boat solo).

I've welded steps onto the front winch post of the trailer, and installed a 5000 lb winch in the pickup bed. Now I can climb up or down from the bow, and I don't need help to winch it onto the trailer. Without these, it's almost impossible to use at a steep ramp (by myself).