Looking for a larger boat that I can trailer

[sasira]

MODERATOR EDIT: Moved this to a separate thread.

We are still looking for the next boat. We really want it to still be trailerable but are finding that to be a difficult requirement to meet. We've towed a 30' x 9' 11,000lb center console for 1200 mile trips many times with not a single problem (knock on wood!) but I am concerned about the prospects of towing something a lot bigger.

I'm wondering if it is even practical to consider towing the likes of a Fountain 33sfc, 38lx, Donzi 38zsf, Intrepid 350 wa, 377wa, etc... Length and weight do not seem to be a huge issue but width does. I never got wide load permits for our last rig but it would definitely be a necesity with any of the above listed boats and then all the wide load restrictions come with that.

We would like to be able to tow from up north to south in the winter and back up north in the spring. Additionally, we try to get up north in Michigan once a year from Ohio and would like to continue to do that trip. We usually tow over to the west coast of Michigan.

So we would not be towing that frequently but when we would be towing it would always be for at least 500 miles (sometimes 1200+).

I am extremely safety conscious and would certainly have my bases covered from that standpoint. The truck is capable, all gear is always "pre-flighted" and I plan routes accordingly, I've always weighed the boat, trailer, gear, etc at a scale, etc..I've been towing bigger boats for a while now so please don't sick the tow police on me.

After all that, my question, is this practical? Is it more trouble than it's worth? How about some real world advice, pointers, stories, or opinions regarding towing larger boats. Thanks!

 

[airshot]

Must meet height requirements for bridges and overpasses and you probably need a semi tractor to pull a 38' boat. And you cant be over 102" wide I think the max width is. Doesn't sound very practicle to me.

 

[tpenfield]

In my recent boat search, I looked at the Donzi ZSF and the Intrepids. Towing aside, The helm position is significantly far to the stern of the boat, which some folks may not like from a handling perspective around docks, etc. Since you had a center console boat, you may not mind the layout.

As for trailering . . . big boat trailering is becoming a thing vs. 10-15 years ago. The 350/3500 trucks have fairly large towing capacities. Then there is 450/4500 series trucks, but you are getting into CDL territory (26K lbs.). Most states (if not all) have online websites for oversize permits. There are also services that will get the permits for you at a greater cost.

You'll be sticking to interstate highways mostly and will want to be under the 13'6" height restriction and be under 12' wide. Often that means taking down radar units and other cabin top gear.

For traveling twice a year, it may not be a problem. . . . depends on your comfort level handling that size of a load.

 

[sasira]

In my recent boat search, I looked at the Donzi ZSF and the Intrepids. Towing aside, The helm position is significantly far to the stern of the boat, which some folks may not like from a handling perspective around docks, etc. Since you had a center console boat, you may not mind the layout.

As for trailering . . . big boat trailering is becoming a thing vs. 10-15 years ago. The 350/3500 trucks have fairly large towing capacities. Then there is 450/4500 series trucks, but you are getting into CDL territory (26K lbs.). Most states (if not all) have online websites for oversize permits. There are also services that will get the permits for you at a greater cost.

You'll be sticking to interstate highways mostly and will want to be under the 13'6" height restriction and be under 12' wide. Often that means taking down radar units and other cabin top gear.

For traveling twice a year of boat hire bali, it may not be a problem. . . . depends on your comfort level handling that size of a load.

thank you for moving the thread to the right place. and 2nd for the suggestion.