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Subject: RE: TWL: RE: Trailerable Trawler List
From: Michael Schooley (schooley@XXX.XXX)
Date: Thu Jan 09 2003 - 10:36:22 EST
Richard wrote, "We haul (all over the western US, with plans for the Sea
of Cortez and the Carribean) a Bounty 257, a diesel I/O planing hull
that is 29' overall, weighing 12,000 on a triple-axle trailer, with
little fuel on board. She's 12'11" high on the trailer. Tows well with
a 24-valve Cummins Dodge Ram pickup, but I'm not sure how much heavier
I'd want to tow for long distances over big mountains. Meticulous brake
and bearing maintenance is crucial."
Thanks for the response Richard. It is very nice to hear from someone
who is towing a large boat. 12,000 is close to the limit of the Dodge
Ram. If you went much heavier you would need to get a bigger truck. As
you say, meticulous brake and bearing maintenance is crucial. In
addition, I think brake selection is equally important. Surge brakes
meet the minimum legal requirements, but their effectiveness leaves a
lot to be desired. The truck & trailer manufactures I have talked to
recommended air over hydraulic brakes with fresh water flush kits.
Fortunately the medium duty trucks can be equipped for air brakes, so my
braking would be comparable to the big rigs.
"I've tried to figure out how difficult it would be to tow a Camano
Troll, but haven't come up with much information. Seems, from the one
picture that Camano sent me of one on a trailer, that the bow would be
pretty low on the trailer, but the stern would be pretty high, given the
size of the keel, prop, rudder. The flybridge wind screen and some
railings would have to be detached to keep the height down enough."
I emailed Camano and talked to them on the phone yesterday. They
consider the Troll to be transportable and will a little effort the
height can be reduced to 14'. The Gnome (without the flybridge) is <13'
on the trailer. Since I have no use for a flybridge, I would go with the
Gnome, but they are very hard to find unless you special order one. They
said they have an owner that keeps his Troll in the bay area most of the
year and transports it to the PNW for an extended summer cruise. They
thought that transporting the Troll periodically was tolerable, but
discouraged doing it on a regular basis (i.e. weekly). They promised to
send me a photo of a Troll on a trailer, which I will post on my web
site.
If the boat sits bow down on the trailer it helps with ramp launch and
recovery. Since the typical launch ramps grade is 7%, which equates to
about a 4 degree slope, if the boat sits at a 4 degree down angle on the
trailer then it will minimize the distance you need to back the trailer
into the water to launch.
If you have a tongue support jack with the ability to raise the tongue
enough to level the boat on the trailer it would lower the stern and
make it easier to access.
"We've also considered a 28' aluminum Eagle Craft as a potential larger
but reasonably towable boat."
I'll look up the Eagle Craft and Bounty when I get time. If you don't
mind a wide load, you might look at the Acadia 32. I have never seen one
in person, but it looks nice on the web and an aluminum trailer is
listed as an option (with a note regarding the need for a wide load
permit).
On Portager, we are going for a fairly heavy displacement to be closer
to the ideal displacement to waterline area ratio for comfort at sea.
The Admirable wants a smooth ride and so do I.
Regards;
Mike Schooley
Designing "Portager" a 36' trailerable trawler
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