Biggest sea ray trailerable

S

Srb

New Member
Aug 17, 2011
5
Atlanta
Boat Info
Boatless
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Boatless
With a ford f350, anyone with any experience trailering dancer 350 or 370?
 
You don't specify what year but a 1994 370 has a 12'4" beam, 4 feet over the legal trailer-able limit. Getting a wide load permit (not to mention the headaches in trying to tow something that wide) would probably not be feasible. I regularly tow a 1990 270 with a 9' beam. However the stern isn't that wide and from behind doesn't look over the limit. So far, so good.
 
A guy bought a 2010 350DA last year at the dealership where I used to have my boat moored. He had a special trailer made and was (as I recall) pulling it with an F550 or maybe an F650 that he bought specifically to tow that boat. I think this weight of the boat in question is beyond the towing capabilities of an F350 but you would need to check the weight with boat and trailer combined and compare it to the towing capacity of an F350.

Truly, I think that towing a boat of that size would be difficult and close to impractical for many. Depending on state rules, you may need to have it bannered up with Wide Load signs, lights and everything else. Not to mention the permits invlolved. In SC, you cannot tow anything larger than 8'6" on Sundays or Holidays for example. Sorry, but personally speaking, trailering (on a regular basis anyway) anything larger than a 300DA will probably bring with it complications and added stress. If you drive a tractor trailer for a living it is probably no deal so who knows. Good Luck and Welcome to CSR!
 
Many launches would not accommodate such large vessels, so only facilities with large lifts would work much of the time. MM
 
MonacoMike said:
Many launches would not accommodate such large vessels, so only facilities with large lifts would work much of the time. MM
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This.

I slip my 27' boat but do have a trailer for it. This boat is probably as big as I would trailer (give or take a foot or so). I trailered for the first year of ownership before I wet slipped the boat. The trailering part isn't difficult, but finding a ramp to accommodate it is another thing. Plus, when you get something that big, getting the boat on and off the trailer becomes tide dependent. Our tide swing here is around 6 hours. That can become a major pain in the a$$. Especially when you're forced to leave extra early in order to make sure you arrive at the ramp at high tide. Same thing in reverse when pulling the boat out. I would not recommend what you're asking to do.

Doug
 
The height limit is what is gonna get you! 13'6 is the max. A 300 Dancer fits in @ 13'4" on the right trailer. But, you better have a four wheel drive F350 to pull it out.
 
You should look into all the rules and regulations regarding towable size weight etc. My trailer failed an inspection check on weight and it's braking system and that was after it had been on the road for 16 years. I argued this point with the inspector who was happy to let me continue but he made it clear that if I was involved in any type of accident the first thing the police would do is weigh the trailer. If I was found to be illegal I would not be covered by insurance! That included my tow vehicle which was not rated to tow the weight and I was only 700 lbs over!
Not sure what your insurance companies are like? They are pretty slippery here and will look for any way out of paying and that
was a risk I couldn't afford to take. It cost big time to sort it all out and I think it's a point worth mentioning.
 
Only looking to transport to ft lauderdale once a year to take to Bahamas. Likely better to ship it. $4/foot is reasonable to take it down and leave for a few months and thing bring back

Any experience with this scenario
 
annie said:
You should look into all the rules and regulations regarding towable size weight etc. My trailer failed an inspection check on weight and it's braking system and that was after it had been on the road for 16 years. I argued this point with the inspector who was happy to let me continue but he made it clear that if I was involved in any type of accident the first thing the police would do is weigh the trailer. If I was found to be illegal I would not be covered by insurance! That included my tow vehicle which was not rated to tow the weight and I was only 700 lbs over!
Not sure what your insurance companies are like? They are pretty slippery here and will look for any way out of paying and that
was a risk I couldn't afford to take. It cost big time to sort it all out and I think it's a point worth mentioning.
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Mike, I do not believe the policeman quoted, even for NZ, which I know nothing legal. If you were 1 mph over the speed limit can insurance company deny the claim? Did you sign a policy stating such? There are policies in the states that will not pay for your loss if you drink and drive and crash, they pay everyone involved, including the leaseor or bank, except the owners equity. This is clearly disclosed in documents attached to the policy. The standard you were told is not insurance if that is true. MM
 
I trailer my 2001 Sea Ray 270DA (wide beam) every time I use it. I understand the 2001 270DA is about the same boat as the newer 280. Pulling vehicle is a Ford F-250 diesel. Trailering anything larger could run you afoul of width regulations.
 
MonacoMike said:
Mike, I do not believe the policeman quoted, even for NZ, which I know nothing legal. If you were 1 mph over the speed limit can insurance company deny the claim? Did you sign a policy stating such? There are policies in the states that will not pay for your loss if you drink and drive and crash, they pay everyone involved, including the leaseor or bank, except the owners equity. This is clearly disclosed in documents attached to the policy. The standard you were told is not insurance if that is true. MM
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Hi Mike,
Thanks for your reply. I went and found my policy.... it would appear they could have found 3 or 4 "outs" and that is if I wasn't drinking!
This is what i did to "operate within NZ Law'

2ai, I had to sit my truck license. $180
4aii, The trailers brakes had to upgraded $2k
4b, Had to upgrade truck $10k (don't regret this as it makes me smile every time I start it.... V8, yea baby.)

This is one of the top two insurance companies in Australasia so It's no "back yard deal". I look forward to your thoughts.
 
Our 300DA is 13'8" tall on the trailer with the Radar, GPS stalk, and other antenna's taken down (measured). At 10'6" wide and as tall as it is, we find it stressful enough. We have a HD hitch on a 2011 GMC Denali and we can put it in and out just fine (although our ramp is not super steep) and we go back roads and 35mph all the way there. It's more the ride there and back, than putting it in the water, which is stressful given many low wire crossings we just miss.
 
Theresamarie11 said:
It's more the ride there and back, than putting it in the water, which is stressful.
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My problem also. 1983 270 10' beam tow truck is a 1-1/2 ton Ford Diesel,{F450} Plenty of truck but still racks my nerves. The load and unload is not the problem with these big boats. It's the idea of what's going to happen if you need to stop fast or loose it.
 
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Spookeay said:
My problem also. 1983 270 10' beam tow truck is a 1-1/2 ton Ford Diesel,{F450} Plenty of truck but still racks my nerves. The load and unload is not the problem with these big boats. It's the idea of what's going to happen if you need to stop fast or loose it.
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Wow, that's one big truck! I think that's the size of truck that got me from Lake Wallenpaupack to the Hudson river in Newberg (and I took it 240 miles home to Vt via waterway up the Canels). Chris was unwilling to tow it the 50 miles or so down the interstate in PA with his small truck and no permits, on a weekend to boot!

Better not let my significant other see this or he'll have more truck envy. He keeps on talking diesel!
 
Aww gezz any thing over 9000 pounds you do well to have a standard transmission and Diesel.

I have a 2001 GMC 2500 gas burner 6.0 . More of a luxury car then a truck when you get in it. LOL. It will tow it but it's slow and the hills heat it up so bad I get worried.

So I use my ultra Fugly 1990 F-450, 68,000 miles. I picked it up for a song about 6K. Almost exclusively to only pull my boat.
Mater of fact, it will some-times go weeks still hooked up to the boat and just set to make the next trip.
 
I just dropped off my 2006 290 DA with the help of a 1999 f350 diesel that I got just for towing this boat. the beam is 9.5 but is not too bad on the road. the boat sits on a new tri axle trailer. the problem for me is breaking. to me it didnt feel like the surge breaks kicked in like they should. if i had to make a sudden stop it would not be possible. knowing that i make sure to keep my distance from vehicles im behind but u never know what some idiot might do. hope this helps. next for me is to chip the truck for a heavy tow setting.
 
Nra4ever you really need electric brakes for that trailer. Gosh I would never tow mine with surge alone. But you're right, a newer 290 makes a pretty easy tow.
 
nra4ever said:
I just dropped off my 2006 290 DA with the help of a 1999 f350 diesel that I got just for towing this boat. the beam is 9.5 but is not too bad on the road. the boat sits on a new tri axle trailer. the problem for me is breaking. to me it didnt feel like the surge breaks kicked in like they should. if i had to make a sudden stop it would not be possible. knowing that i make sure to keep my distance from vehicles im behind but u never know what some idiot might do. hope this helps. next for me is to chip the truck for a heavy tow setting.
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Do you have brakes on every axle? I tow with a triple axle and I totally can feel the surge brakes working. They help dramatically. Maybe you need to rebleed yours and also check the actuator is sliding/greased ok.

Doug
 
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