Towing a MacGregor 26 ????
David Banks
Anyone have any experience of towing a Mac 26??
I am particularly interested in anyone's experiences - Good or bad!!
I plan to tow one with a Volvo S80 (2.9 litre).
I have read in an American newsgroup of all kinds of problems with their
'small' to 'medium' size cars which seems to equate to huge to massive in
the UK. However, the reasons are not clear - they are all auto
transmission - mine is manual. They talk about RV's with a high centre of
gravity and mine has a low centre of gravity - their cars roll and wallow -
mine does not. Power doesn't seem to be an issue but there's are mostly 4 -
7 litre V8's - mine is a humble 3 litre straight 6 BUT the power output of
mine appears to be higher than theirs??
I must admit a fair degree of concern though at towing something weighing
about 2500 pounds!! particularly bringing it to a halt - the strain on the
brakes, transmission and suspension must be huge??
Any comment or advice very welcome either to the group or to me personally
at da...@banks.edi.co.uk
Thanks in anticipation.
David.
Andy G
I've had a Mac 26X for about 15 months and have towed it a few times.
At first, we used my late fathers elderly BMW 528. Hmm... not entirely
successful, though it could tow it about on main roads. I suspect that
the boat would have easily pulled the beamer into the sea if it felt
like it.
Bought a Daewoo Musso 4X4 2.3 petrol. That behaved much better and we
towed it a few times between Devon and Manchester with no problems.
I'm also happy that the Daewoo would launch and recover the boat. Never
had chance to find out though, because I always end up on the boat
during launch and recovery, so my cousin organises the vehicle and he
uses his own Range Rover. No problems there.
A word of caution regarding launch and recovery. It might look easy on
the video, but it is an absolute b*****d when there's any kind of wind.
Have you bought a 26X? Considering one? Where are you intending to use
it? etc.
Cheers
Andy G
--
Isn't it strange that the people who most want to
share their religious views with you are the same
people who least want you to share yours with them?
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Jason
rather a lot. I used to tow a Farr 727 (24') behind a Landrover discovery
2.5 Tdi and the biggest problem was the high centre of gravity of the boat
(not the car). Each time a lorry overtook me the trailer wanted to snake
away from the car and I had to fight the wheel regularly. Admittedly, the
trailer was unsuitable as it was flat as opposed to keel-stepped which added
at least 9 inches to the boats centre of gravity.
There are some great trailer manufacturers around and although pricey, if it
means keeping your boat upright between launchings then it's worth it.
Jason
David Banks <da...@banks.edi.co.uk> wrote in message
news:8o2s3j$6u0$2...@lure.pipex.net...
Guy Fawkes
<da...@banks.edi.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Anyone have any experience of towing a Mac 26??
>
>I am particularly interested in anyone's experiences - Good or bad!!
>
>I plan to tow one with a Volvo S80 (2.9 litre).
#1 check with the car manufacturer.
#2 with extreme caution and a properly set up trailer, you should be
OK on A roads and motorways, but check the highway code carefully...
#3 your car is not ideal, but for occassional use the wear and tear
and hassle should be manageable
#4 get on a damp 1 in 6 gradient slipway and you get a chance to dip
the headlights, literally.
ian.tatnell
the towing vehicle. Either get a trusty old Land rover or think about
hireing one for the times you will trail. The average person will trail
about six times during the season, hire would be around £60.00 a day, is it
worth paying for a new car?
Mark
expected to weigh much more than that - and that excludes the trailer.
Don't believe the sales brochure. Find someone who owns one and knows.
I would get that checked thoroughly before choosing a vehicle - then check
your transport regulations. My average weight 25' f/g boat, including
trailer, but with not a lot on board weighs in at over 5,000 lb - and there
is no way I'd tow it with less than a solid 3 litre vehicle. It will wreck
the vehicle - and is potentially dangerous.
McGoo
David Banks <da...@banks.edi.co.uk> wrote in message
news:8o2s3j$6u0$2...@lure.pipex.net...
>
> Anyone have any experience of towing a Mac 26??
>
> I am particularly interested in anyone's experiences - Good or bad!!
>
> I plan to tow one with a Volvo S80 (2.9 litre).
>
Andy G
McGoo
I do own one and it's true. The boat is lightly built (as it has to be
for trailering) which makes it unsuitable for serious offshore cruising
and leads to it getting some bad press on the US newsgroups.
I've towed one with a 2.3 l petrol Daewoo (= Ssang Yong) 4 x 4 with no
problems. My police sergeant mate who shares a lot of the driving and
sailing knows of no UK traffic laws that we're breaking.
David Banks
standard Ford Maverich diesel with not a hint of a problem with weight - the
sheer bulk takes some getting used to though.
I have had it on a public weighbridge and fully laden ready to sail inc a
full tank of petrol and prvivions for a weekend it weighs in at 2950 lbs inc
trailer (Ithink thats about 1350 kg).
I have since towed it with the Volvo and despite needing stiffer rear
springs it tows it effortlessly.
Would reccomend it to anyone !!
P>S> My Jag 25 which is a similar size is nearly twice that weight !!
David.
Sandy Morton
David Banks <da...@banks.edi.co.uk> wrote:
> I have had it on a public weighbridge and fully laden ready to sail inc a
> full tank of petrol and prvivions
Did you remember the medicinal alcohol:-)
> for a weekend it weighs in at 2950 lbs inc
> trailer (Ithink thats about 1350 kg).
--
sandymillport
on the bicycle island
in the global village
http://www.sandymillport.fsnet.co.uk
Graham
> > I have had it on a public weighbridge and fully laden ready to
> > sail inc a full tank of petrol and prvivions
Sandy Morton wrote:
> Did you remember the medicinal alcohol:-)
You mean the snakebite kit?
Graham
I looked at Careel's but they were far too heavy for my car...
Unlike your Camry (am I right?) I'm driving a 1990 N13 Nissan Pulsar
(front wheel drive, 1030kg, rated to tow 900kg, built in Clayton, with
the 79kw 1.8 litre GM/Opel/Vauxhall Family II motor which was
manufactured in Port Melbourne).
I tow a Dennis 500 which is nominally 365kg. One day I will start
weighing things and try to figure just what exactly that mass is
supposed to include. In practice, on it's trailer, with all rigging and
day sailing equipment it has been weighed at 660kg. For trips it is
probably about 720kg.
Like you I have override disks, cable operated. I was advised against
cable disks by various "experts" at trailer part companies, but they
work very well, provided the cable is properly adjusted. I often have a
look at other trailers at ramps and very rarely see a cable disk system
which is adjusted well enough to function at all, never mind properly.
It's not as though it is difficult either.
When I first got the boat and trailer the axle on the trailer was at
it's rearmost adjustment and the hitch load was well over 50kg. In
addition the resonant frequency of the vertical deflection of the
trailer drawbar was a really good match to my stomach resulting in
seasickness within 15km. I don't get seasick in boats btw.
Balancing the trailer correctly, with the minimum possible hitch load
for stability has worked wonders and combined with the brakes makes
towing the boat with the Pulsar a perfectly reasonable proposition. To
the guys with older 6 cylinder Holden Commodores I can gently point out
that my car produces more power than the old Holden six did at any time
after the introduction of ADR27A antipollution rules in July 1976, so
power isn't an issue either.
As I originally bought it, this boat on my car was downright dangerous.
People think they need a commodore or a falcon to tow something this
size, yet that is only because the trailer is set up so badly.
Set up correctly, it tows stably up to the legal limit of 110kph, stops
well, launches and retrieves easily.... It's been to Port Welshpool and
to the Gippsland lakes several times and to Sydney once. The viscous
coupled limited slip diff on my car certainly helps on ramps with loose
gravel etc.
As you too have found, you don't need an F150 or a Range Rover to tow a
5 to 6 metre boat unless you insist on having a really badly set up
trailer.
Graham
Melbourne
Australia
Jim Mitchell wrote:
> We tow a Careel 18 with a total weight of 2755 lbs behind a 3litre, 6
> cylinder, front wheel drive car over fairly long distances (400+kms) without
> any problems. The front wheel drive hauls out on ramps without drama.
> I have fitted torsion bars between the trailer and car to ease the load on
> the rear shock absorbers and distribute . I think this is essential for
> towing any distance.
> I have also made sure that the tyre loadings on the trailer are equal to the
> weight they are carrying. As supplied my original tyres were overloaded by
> 200kgs yet I was assured they would be OK. It isn't of course. I should
> mention that the trailer is fitted with override disc brakes.
>
> If you tow at sensible speeds and allow and adequate breaking distance by
> keeping your eye three or four cars ahead you should be ok. The main dramas
> in towing seem to come from having the wrong weight on the tow ball. From
> memory it should bet between 5 &10% of the total towed weight but I suggest
> you check this.
>
> My only other comment would be that an engine of less than 3litres could be
> underpowered for the job
>
> Good luck with your boat,
>
> Jim Mitchell sv 'Jabiru'
> --
> Jim Mitchell
> jmmit...@fulleffect.net.au
> Remove FULL to reply
> "Mark" <mc...@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
> news:3nKs5.3003$eZ8a.1...@news.xtra.co.nz...
> > Oops - I forgot about water ballast - but did check MacGregor Website:
> >
> > http://www.macgregor26.com/drawings.htm
> >
> > This states boat weight - empty (and that usually means even the dust
> > removed) 2350lb, plus Trailer weight = 710lb.
Jim Mitchell
--
Jim Mitchell
jmmit...@fulleffect.net.au
Remove FULL to reply
"Graham" <zeb...@alphalink.com.au> wrote in message
news:39B50677...@alphalink.com.au...
> Hi Jim,
> I looked at Careel's but they were far too heavy for my car...
> Unlike your Camry (am I right?)
Near, enough I drive a Mitsubishi Magna, the Camry was dearer
> Like you I have override disks, cable operated. I was advised against
> cable disks by various "experts" at trailer part companies, but they
> work very well, provided the cable is properly adjusted.
My boat trailer is fitted with the 'old' Holden pressure pads which rely on
being free to move when released. I suspect that they tend to rub if the
slide bars are dirty. Any thoughts?
> Balancing the trailer correctly, with the minimum possible hitch load
> for stability has worked wonders and combined with the brakes makes
The NRMA/RACV? put out a series of free pamphlets called "Safe Towing" ,from
memory. which bear out exactley what you say. I would think similar
publications would exist in the UK
My only other comment on towing is that you must belong to a motorist
organisation such as the NRMA or RACV. My timing belt slipped 4 notches as I
was towing the boat through Sydney. The feeling of panic beat anything I've
done on the water but the sight of the NRMA man arriving within 15 minutes
of my call was like having the Coastal Patrol pluck you out of the oggin.
Phew :-)
Happy towing and sailing,
Jim
Graham
> > Unlike your Camry (am I right?)
> Near, enough I drive a Mitsubishi Magna, the Camry was dearer
Ahh I thought the Magna only had the 3.5.....
> My boat trailer is fitted with the 'old' Holden pressure pads which
> rely on being free to move when released. I suspect that they tend
> to rub if the slide bars are dirty. Any thoughts?
Yep, I have pulled mine apart and greased them occaisionally. One pad on
one side only is rather worn, but I figure I can afford a set or pads
every three or so years.
> > Balancing the trailer correctly, with the minimum possible hitch load
> > for stability has worked wonders and combined with the brakes makes
> The NRMA/RACV? put out a series of free pamphlets called "Safe Towing"
> from memory. which bear out exactley what you say. I would think
> similar publications would exist in the UK
Vicroads also publish such a pamphlet.
My only criticism is that they tend to overemphasise the download needed
at the hitch. My trailer is quite stable with anything down to about
5kg, and becomes quite unstable very rapidly if I then move quite a
small amount of load back to the rear of the quarter berths. Methinks
they err on the side of conservative for trailers which carry varying
loads, whereas a boat on a trailer can be balanced virtually eactly the
same every time, especially if you understand why it matters......
> My only other comment on towing is that you must belong to a motorist
> organisation such as the NRMA or RACV. My timing belt slipped 4
> notches as I was towing the boat through Sydney. The feeling of panic
> beat anything I've done on the water but the sight of the NRMA man
> arriving within 15 minutes of my call was like having the Coastal
> Patrol pluck you out of the oggin.
> Phew :-)
Ahh but you'd have been in just about as much trouble even without the
boat! I carry m,y own tools and I'm a competent mechanic, having, for
eample, changed the motor in the Pulsar myself a while back. I am
intimately familiar with the process of replacing the cambelt in this
car too, having replaced it at correct mileage once, when replacing a
water pump once, and when I replaced the motor.
> Happy towing and sailing,
Soon....
The weather is looking much better each week!
Graham