Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

[davidhusker]

Obviously cars aren't made for towing boats, but sometimes we find ourselves working with what we have. Most cars are rated for 1000lbs TW towing. This is mainly due to transmission problems and can harm the frame, etc.

So if I am using a Sedan (V6 engine) to pull a boat/trailer/motor what are my options?

I think the most logical is a jon boat. Light, small engines, small trailers.

Besides that, does anyone have any suggestions of other boat types out there that would be in the tow range of 1500lbs or lower? I would even say up to 1800 lbs is okay. I would only be using a few times a month and the tow range is just 5 miles, some ramps i might use are about 25 miles away. I am wanting something with a console and maybe something that i could use just for the enjoyment of boating out on the water. Looking for something at 14ft or 15ft in length.

Just looking for some help or anyones experience. Maybe you own or have owned a lightweight boat that might fit my needs. I have seen a boat called a scout boat which trailers with motor around 1600lbs that is right up my alley.

Thanks.

 

[Cincyrunner]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

Funny you mentioned this, but when I was a kid growing up in the late 60s and early 70s, our family had an 18' runabout with an 80 hp Evenrude motor. We routinely towed this boat with whatever sedan my father had...Buick, Oldsmobile, etc. Of course cars like the Delta 88 were built like a tank. My father is still alive and I asked him recently what the boat weighed....he thinks it was somewhere around 2200 lbs, including the trailer. This may be pretty accurrate as I do remember helping fold up the front jack and laying the tongue on the garage floor....that's how we stored it so it would fit. Back in that time, no one cared about towing capacity and we towed boats with whatever sedan or station wagon we had. Never had a problem, either. We towed that boat from OH all the way down to Florida one summer vacation...and no problems whatsoever. We towed it to Lake Michigan, Lake Cumberland KY, Lake Erie....you name it. Never had a problem towing or launching or recovering. Ever. Now adays, people wouldn't touch a 2000 lbs load without a 3/4 ton pickup with 4WD that has a towing capacity of 10000 lbs.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

Never had a problem towing or launching or recovering. Ever. Now adays, people wouldn't touch a 2000 lbs load without a 3/4 ton pickup with 4WD that has a towing capacity of 10000 lbs.

Two things... Those cars were built big and heavy compared to today's unibodies, and your average modern driver is afraid to tow with anything but a 3/4 ton for a jon boat. I grew up towing pretty much everything, with pretty much any vehicle you could bolt a hitch to. Experience and ability are 99% of the towing equation, vehicle is 1%.

Anyway, to the OP... There are lots of sedans that have a 2000 pound weight limit for towing, some might even be a little higher. Just have to dig around some.

 

[the vision]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

You could probably go with a allumicraft,xpress, excel. Something along those lines with up to a 60hp on it.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

My original sedan was a "real" car. Bought new with a 6.5 liter V-8 and a factory tow package, we hauled a 5000 # boat and didn't even know it was back there. The second towcar was only a 5.0 liter and even without the factory package it hauled 3000 # with no effort. Our current 4.9 liter economy 2 bbl with the low rear end is rated at 4500 # with a factory packge and it is also an effortless towcar. Just too bad they don't make them like they used to? Glad I had room to keep her all these years!

 

[Titanium48]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

I towed a 14.5 foot closed bow fiberglass boat with a 70 hp outboard (about 1500 lb empty) with a Saturn SL2. Worked great provided there was a decent (meaning paved) ramp to launch from. If you can't keep the front wheels on a solid surface they will spin and you won't go anywhere. The 1000 lb towing limit on most cars is usually very conservative, but I would install trailer brakes if you plan to exceed it.

 

[cribber]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

Stay within the recommended tow rating for your car (check KBB or one of the other car sites for towing specs) and stay within that range and you're golden. Post your tow rating and boat type preference and you should get quiet a lot of feedback on what you can haul down to the water.

 

[64osby]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

I don't know your tow vehicle but if you are looking at an all around boat that would be easy to tow. I would look at Starcraft Aluminum boats or simular, Blue Fin, Lone Star, ....

I have a 21' Starcraft and the boat weighs 900 lbs empty, with trailer, motors and stuff I'm about 2000 total, I tow with a 1992 caprice wagon.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

I tow my 13 foot whaler +40hp with a car. Have done it for years with no problems.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

you can tow a jon boat (12-14') with anything.

you can tow almost any boat 5 miles with almost anything.

You can tow a 14-15' boat with almost any car, mid-size and up.

Scouts are great boats and tend to be light, probably can be towed with almost anything. Stick to a single axle. I have a 17' key west 70 hp which is similar and it tows easy. My dad used to tow it with a maxima, a small buick wagon, and a buick sedan.

Jus tbe careful and be smart. As someone else said, it's more about your skills than the equipment. Also assuming you aren't in extreme conditions (gravel mountain roads, etc.)

 

[davidhusker]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

Thanks for all the replies. I was expecting a little criticism, but you all have given great options.

The car is a 3.6L Front Wheel Drive. The tow rating is 1000lbs however it does have an upgraded braking system. Personally I've driven trailers. Used to drive a truck hauling a race car trailer, sometimes go kart trailer, even a few times hauled horses. Given that, and the short driving distances, im not worried about hauling a trailer, given that its within handling range of my car.

I am looking for a fishing boat + a cruising boat and prefer some sort of console. It has to be around 14-16' as it is going to be mainly garaged. So a boat that is easy to load/unload off a trailer is also very key. Sort of like a weekend getaway boat, only it's not in a slip or docked, I would have to haul it back home. However I assume with a lighter boat that launching or recovering wouldnt be tough.

Is aluminum or fiberglass the way to go (weight wise & maintence wise).

 

[roscoe]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

Aluminum all the way.
I had a 15' Lund with 3 bench seats and a small console, 30 hp. Total weight was under 1000.

 

[64osby]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

I have had FG and now have an Aluminum. Aluminum is lighter, and if any major work needs to be done they are less expensive, minor work is aslo easier in my opinion.

I would look for a Starcraft 16' SS / Super Sport or one like it. I don't know where you are located but they can be hard to find in some areas of the country.

http://southbend.craigslist.org/boa/2583715924.html

http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/boa/2480959576.html

 

[alexr254]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

This is not me!! I just found this pic,, This is a prius towing a small inflatable...

This is just for some humor

 

[Volphin]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

OMG those pics are funny! My dad has a Prius, and has always wanted a small boat. Uh oh.

V

 

[davidhusker]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

I was thinking Aluminum would be lighter but was unsure. It does limit the "number" of available options, but I think there are still some good options out there. I live in Maryland on the water so used boats are everywhere online and driving around even.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

David, look at Carolina Skiff. Very light, holds a ton, great for Maryland waters--handles shallow and rough. runs great on a small motor. Bay Runner and Skimmer are similar. Palm beach is another option.
Are you seaside, bayside or up river?

 

[davidhusker]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

David, look at Carolina Skiff. Very light, holds a ton, great for Maryland waters--handles shallow and rough. runs great on a small motor. Bay Runner and Skimmer are similar. Palm beach is another option.
Are you seaside, bayside or up river?

Im technically up river and bayside. Im at the head of the Bay near the susquehanna and elk neck river, sasafras, etc. Mainly be boating up in this area. Nothing too rough but when it is windy the chop can be quite bad.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

get on the forums of Tidalfish.com for good local info. They may have boat classifieds, too, up there.

walk around the marinas and look at what the serious boaters use, look at what's tied to the piers of those who live there. It's a blend of watermen and urban dwellers there; you want the former's preference!

 

[Sylvester]

Re: Towing with a sedan - What are my boat options?

Ah the good ole days when cars were build the way god intended, body on frame rwd with heavy metal bumpers !