Anyone towing 10' + beam boat?

[Allen]

I am considering buying a 10' 6" beam boat to be towed on every trip to the
lake. It would be 150 miles to 1000 miles depending on where we go. I would
like to know of experiences and towing requirements.

Anyone towing w/o permits?

Thanks

Allen

[Steve]

I think it is going to depend on the 'WIDE LOAD' regulation in the state or
on the highways of your state.

I'm pretty sure that anything over 10' is going to require a permit in most
states. In some instances it my even require an escort.

If you stay below 10' you can get by with just a wide load sign in the load.

Best take with a trucker or the State Trooper.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

[Frank]

Allen,

There is no state that you would not require a permit to haul a 10'6
wide boat in. Nationwide is 8'6" limit. Some states have less width
limits on their roads. Going w/0 a permit?? Not good idea. Most
tractor trailers are only 8'6" wide and look how much of the lane they
fill. You're sure to be noticed.

I'd also ask questions on how heavy your potential boat is and what do
you plan to tow it with. Boats with beams like that can easily exceed
even heavy duty pickups max tow rating. Same goes for the trailer -
most are only 8'6" wide -- lots of boat to be hanging off either side
for your kind of trip.

You can always get permits, but for that kind of width you might have
to provide trail vehicle and be forced to avoid times of heavy (even
moderate) travel of other vehicles.

E-mail me and I can provide site of company that arranges permits
nationwide. But if a big boat is your desire, I'd compare cost of
leaving it where you put it in the water.

Frank
Potomac River VA - Maxum 2300SC

In article <i%JP5.327$ND5....@news.flash.net>,

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Before you buy.

[Allen]

Frank, thanks for the reply. I keep my boat at home. I never know where it
will be launched next. Last year it was in Lake Champlain, worth a return
trip. The summer before that it was lake Powell, third but not last trip.

I need a full head and galley. That's the reason for more boat.

I tried today to get information on a permit in Oklahoma, my home. The highway
patrol gave me the first wrong number. The correct number was busy all day and
when I finally got an answer it was a recording telling me they were closed.
Typical government inefficency. Happens every time I call the state. I'll try
tomorrow.

At this point I'm not to confident of deciding for 10' plus. I'm mostly
curious to the limits. I do see wide loads go through the state w/o escorts
and a wide load sign. It's only the loads that are as wide as the lane that
have escorts.

I'll keep trying. Maybe 9'6" is a reasonable consideration.

Allen

In article <8uso0a$2vg$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>, quig...@earthlink.net says...

[David and Kim Crosley]

Been looking at a similar situation myself. Today, I saw a good detailed
graphic for all state regulations in the bookstore in the current Trailer
Boat Magazine ... I think that is the name ... anyway it's the only one at
Books A Million on boating with trailers in the magazine section. You'll
find it quite useful with stats, phone numbers, and even a section on
vehicle towing recommendations.

Hope it helps....

[Brian Starks]

Allen,

I have a friend that tows his Catalina 30' (10'10") beam from Great Salt
Lake, Utah to San Diego twice a year. He has a wide load permit in Utah,
Nevada, and California. He uses a Ford 350 diesel to pull it and claims he
averages 70 mph.

Cheers,

Brian.

[da...@clds.net]

Annual permits for wide load towing are available in most states as are
single use permits.

Here are some links I have they may help you get to the state (s) you
are interested in:

http://www.dot.state.ga.us/homeoffs/pe/index.htm

http://www.dot.state.ga.us/homeoffs/pe/facts.htm

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/onestoppermitting/

[da...@clds.net]

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/mcco/

[ICW CRUISER]

Allen, Aside from towing permits ect.. you also got to consider trailers and
the tow vehicle. To trailer around a 30ish foot boat takes a tough tow
vehicle. I have a 5200 lb (combined boat/trailer) and tow with a Ford
Expedition/Trito V-8. With all the extras I have put into the Ford, it is
still a hadful to say the least and this is just short hops.
Just food for thought !! Good luck with your selection.

Craig Stripling
Maxum SC2300 "MAX 2 SEA"

[Allen]

I've been towing 4500# plus an overhead camper. I don't need the camper with a
bigger boat as I will sleep in the boat on the road. My current total weight
is 14,350# so my estimated new weight should be 15,850#. That's with little
fuel and water. I'm towing with an F250 diesel 4X4.

Thanks for the info on the web, I'l check it out.

Allen

In article <20001116195455...@ng-fg1.aol.com>, icwcr...@aol.com
says...

[ICW CRUISER]

Yup......I think you have the "power" to tow. One day, maybe, I'll go out and
buy a diesel dually.....hey, let me check the lot, we may have one back
there..LOL

[Rusty Walther]

I've been pondering something quite similar, and after a great deal of research,
I've decided to buy one of the very nice 8'6" beam pocket cruisers around. My
short list currently consists of the following:

Maxum 2400 SCR
Regal 2660 Commodore
Mariah Z308 (Longest of the 8'6' beam "pockets")
Doral 270 SC (Current front-runner - great cabin)

They all sleep 6 comfortably, and have a great cockpit layout. I tow with a 2000
Ford Excursion that has penty of tow-ability for these boats.

I currently tow a 2000 Cobalt 246 Bowrider that has an 8'6" beam ... and it's
plenty wide for me, given the lane sizes, lake back-roads, slip widths,
toll-booth lanes, etc. I love my Cobalt and will keep it ... but I want
something for longer trips.

Seriously ... take a look at the Doral 270 and you might re-think your need for
an oversize beam.

Rusty Walther
rwal...@oni.com