too big!

[jeffbwl]

How big of a boat would you consider to be too big to tow to and from the lake? Basicly I want to know at what size of boat would someone consider to just dock it instead of tow it.Looking to buy a 24' searay any help would be appreciated.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: too big!

Eh, 24' is CERTAINLY no where near too big to trailer as long as you have a proper vehicle to tow it with.... I trailer my 28'er with twin V8's pictured below with no issues at all and would have no problem going a bit bigger.

 

[jeffbwl]

Re: too big!

Well I have a 3/4 ton van so I should be alright towing it to and from, Thank you for your reply.

 

[Philster]

Re: too big!

26' and 27' performance boats get hauled around like toys in my neck of the woods. Cabin cruisers and express cruisers not so much.

At 24', it's nothin', unless you have a three story 24' express cruiser!

Typical 24' runabout = go for it. Probably weighs in at 6000-6300 lbs loaded up.

My old boat was 27 and I towed it everywhere just about every weekend.
Current boat is 24 and will be towed everywhere just about every weekend.

Launching and retrieving aren't even very hard, thanks to buoyancy. Pretty unspectacular events.

 

[VegasNordie]

My friend tows his 38' scarab to the lake almost every weekend.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S 4G

 

[jkust]

Re: too big!

Length and weight to me are easy to handle with the right tow vehicle. I just hate when the trailer tires are as wide as the lane. Some of the older sections of 65mph highway up north are nearly the same width as just my sig boat from tire edge to tire edge. It must be a bear to tow a 24 footer on some of the roads I encounter. The odds of picking up some debris over the shoulder paint line are really good.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: too big!

Actually, the length of the boat isn't what really determines what is "tow friendly", it's the beam. A 28-30 footer is about max if you don't want to buy permits and hang over-wide banners every time you want to splash. There isn't anything under a 30 footer that a 1 ton dually can't handle safely, assuming it's set up correctly and has a knowledgeable driver. Heck, before I was into boating, I was an RV'er and would routinely pull a 40 foot tri-axle fifth wheel trailer between campgrounds. I guess it's really all about what you are used to, and what your level of pucker factor is.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: too big!

All depends on what you're used to. If it's your first time towing anything, 24' will make you think - but not too hard. If you are used to towing, 24' should be easy.

Launching (again if it's your first time) may be a different story - but you'll soon get the hang of it.


As for whether to dock or tow - I don't generally think size of the boat determines it so much as what is your budget, do you want to be limited to one lake, do you want the convenience of being able to walk to the boat, start it up, and take off - etc.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: too big!

How big of a boat would you consider to be too big to tow to and from the lake? Basicly I want to know at what size of boat would someone consider to just dock it instead of tow it.Looking to buy a 24' searay any help would be appreciated.

I would keep anything bigger than 23 in the water, rather than trailer it every time I use it. I'd do a single axle regularly but not a dual. Not that I can't; we're talking about pleasure boating and the big ones are a lot more work. It has little to do with towing and everything to do with the ramp, from parking to backing to launch/retrieve. You will use the boat a whole lot more if it's not a chore to use it. You simply have to pay for the pleasure--which you started by buying that toy in the first place.

If you start off boating in a 24' searay you have to launch/retrieve every trip, and you haven't done it much before, first your family will abandon you and your boat, and then you will abandon the boat and go back to golf.

But it's all situational. Some people, geographically, have no choice; others its a matter of budget. A strapping 24 year old and his capable buddies won't blink at launching a big one; not the old dog, or the young dad with younguns gnawing at his ankles and a worn out wife with "that look" on the ramp.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: too big!

I believe HC is correct in it's all relative. I live 20mi. from Lake Michigan. 20 min to the ramp on Lake Geneva Wisconsin 5200 acers, 45 min to ramp on Lake Delavan Wisconsin, 2070 acers and 4 houses from my neiborhood lake, 640 acers and a number of other small lakes. I could have bought a very large boat and have very easy access to big water to use it but I didn't. Most of my boating is done while fishing and most of this fishing is done on lakes less than 1000 acers or on the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.

Now I also could have bought a nice 18-19' bass boat and that would have worked on these waters as well. Instead I bought a 14' Lund that fits me and my style of fishing just about right. Why did I go this way? Ease. Easy to care for, tow, launch and just fits well on the waters I use most. I am certain that I use this boat much more than I would if it was a bass boat. Sure a big bass boat would look cool and probably be a bit more comfortable. But what would be the point if it's only used once or twice a week? During the season I use this Lund on average 4 times a week all season long!

How things have changed! While in HS I got certified to scuba dive. I wanted a 24-30' cruiser more than I wanted a girlfriend! I just wanted to dive. Instead of saving and buying that boat I inlisted in the Air Force, then got married, then had children and then started fishing again.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: too big!

To place a real answer on the question.
How Big is Too Big?
It is not a matter of length, the limit is in the beam (Width).

Most states consider anything over 8.5 feet wide, a "Wide Load", and special permits will be required.
You will be limited to towing only on truck routes.

Over 10 feet and you will need escort vehicles. $$$ (Think, "Wide Load Ahead" and warning lights!)
Possibly Police escorts. $$$+$$$

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: too big!

wrong... you don't need escorts in any state I've ever been in at 10 or even 12 feet. Most states have exceptions for recreational boaters also BUT and this is a big BUT.... The O/P didn't ask about anything resembling a wide load....

A 23 or 24'er is NOT AT ALL too big to trailer... I launch and load my 28'er 10' wide every bit as smoothly an any lil ski boat... It is a non issue

the reason to slip a 23 or 24'er has nothing to do with the size.... You slip it because you want the convenience or because you have physical limitations and can't easily climb in and out of it to launch or load it at the ramp.

When I launch mine, I back in, unhook the winch, climb in, start engines, back off. Takes about 3 minutes.
To load, back in trailer, drive boat on, connect winch and tighten, kill engines, trim up and pull out.... another 3 minutes
there is nothing except for climbing over the bow that is any different from a john boat....
I almost always launch and load by myself.... it would even be much easier yet if I had someone to back me in and unhook for me and then hook and pull me out.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: too big!

wrong... you don't need escorts in any state I've ever been in at 10 or even 12 feet. Most states have exceptions for recreational boaters also BUT and this is a big BUT.... The O/P didn't ask about anything resembling a wide load....

A 23 or 24'er is NOT AT ALL too big to trailer... I launch and load my 28'er 10' wide every bit as smoothly as any lil ski boat... It is a non issue.

The OP actually asked two questions.
The specific question, "Is a 24ft Searay too big? "
I agree. It is very doable with the proper equipment and mindset.

And, the very general question, "What would be considered Too Big to Tow."
Once he found that the 24footer was not an issue, he would logically be wondering, "What are the limits."
30ft, 60ft, 90ft?

And, I will agree right here that this is likely getting out of the limits that most people might consider, but that is what usually happens in forums.
The entertainment and educational value of the side stuff is not to be dismissed.

What is too big to tow has to consider Length, width, height, weight and logistics.

The OP doesn?t identify his state as far as I can find.
So looking at a few states of interest, Indiana and Ohio.

Indiana requires permits if over 8"6 or 60' length
Pilot Cars needed at 12'4" wide ... or over 60' in length in some situations.
Weekday, Daylight travel only. If over 10' wide weekends are limited to Saturday before 12 noon.

Ohio
If over 12' wide travel is limited to daylight, except not during rush hours,
Escorts need at 13' wide
If over 14' wide travel is limited to 9am to 3pm, Tuesday thru Thursday only.

Weight at 80,000 lbs will likely not come into play.
But 13'6" heights may.

The point of all this side discussion is that depending on your state, width will become the limiting factor before length, and towing may be an issue at 10 ft wide if you want to go to the lake on a Saturday afternoon.

Now, let's consider the issues with the city and keeping a 30 footer in your driveway....

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: too big!

either way, as I said, no pilot cars or police for up to at least 12'

As I mentioned above,there are also special annual permits for recreational boats that depending on the state may have no movement restrictions at all.

The O/P is towing with a 3/4 ton van.... not gonna be dragging many oversize vessels

as to the "side discussion" I don't see it as an problem until it replaces the O/P's question or starts being a collection of incorrect statements.

I do have to admit tho that the O/P appeared to be satisfied with his answer early on so going off topic doesn't likely bother him

The real answer is that it is too big to tow when it can not reasonably be made a legal load..... At the length he mentioned it is indeed a non issue but obviously as the beam, height, or length approach statutory limits it becomes more involved and eventually becomes illegal.
Having to remove a flying bridge in the staging area is likely a deal breaker.
The largest percent of boats that can't reasonably be trailered don't come with trailers too so that adds to it......

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: too big!

I think alot is going to hinge on several factors; how far will you have to tow, the types of roads along the way and the ramp facilities at the lake. If the lake is within a 1-2 hour drive with nice wide, paved roads and the ramps are nice and wide, towing a `24 foot boat with your van will not be that bad. You will feel a little nervious the first few times, but will get more accustomed to it the more you do it. Maneuvering in a tight parking lot is never fun!

 

[dingbat]

Re: too big!

I would keep anything bigger than 23 in the water, rather than trailer it every time I use it. I'd do a single axle regularly but not a dual. Not that I can't; we're talking about pleasure boating and the big ones are a lot more work. It has little to do with towing and everything to do with the ramp, from parking to backing to launch/retrieve. You will use the boat a whole lot more if it's not a chore to use it.

Totally agree. Your usage will be proportional to the distance you trailer and the weight of the boat. Further = less. More = less. Combine the two, Further + More = significant increase in your fuel usage.

Between the boat (~2 mpg) and the tow vehicle (~8 mpg) it?s pretty easy for me to burn $150 in fuel day

 

[Thalasso]

Re: too big!

To sum up the op's question. Go for it , you will not have a problem. Lengh ,width, height, is moot in this situation.The 24ft SeaRay in question won't have anything over a 8' 6 beam and shouldn't be any higher then 10ft on a trailer. The boat isn't to big to trailer back and forth. You will probably get tired of doing it though.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: too big!

I save all kinds of money by fueling my boat on dry land and not paying for a slip. Between the cost of the slip $50-$75/week and the added cost of fuel on the water the savings is substantial. I generally only trailer a short distance but if I were driving much further, I'd still have to drive (although at better mpg) there even if not towing the boat. I'd say that drive time would shoot down my boating trip long before fuel cost difference from towing the boat.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: too big!


When I bought this 26ft Wellcraft I thought I would keep it parked on the side of the house where I've parked a 20Ft boat... I was wrong.

My problem was not the towing , but parking. My driveway has a steep sharp incline and in a residential street- too damn hard to park.
If I had a large area it would have been fine. I got a slip at the local marina and loved it but after a few years realized it was too $$$ and got my current boat.

 

[ready4lake]

Re: too big!

I agree. I have no problems with towing or with the ramp. My boat is only 21' with 8' beam, but in my neighborhood the streets are narrow and my driveway has a steep grade. So it is only when I get home that the frustration kicks in, especially when there are neighbors cars parked on the side of the road. I am getting better and faster every time though. It is all about experience.