Largiest practical towable boat

The 1998 and 1999 270SE is a 8'6" beam, the 270 non SE is a 9'2" beam.

The furthest I have gone so far is 100 miles 1 way. Usually it is a 5 mile drive to the boat ramp and I have not had an issue yet, except the surge brake actuator seizing up.
 
MonacoMike said:
The 94-99 270 at nearly 30 feet and still 8-6 beam is one of the largest legal vessels made. Not many made longer than this and still 8-6. MM
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shuizen said:
The 1998 and 1999 270SE is a 8'6" beam, the 270 non SE is a 9'2" beam.
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I did not go that far with my definitions as didn't feel the OP was interested in that much detail. MM
 
I don't know what it is like in the USA but up here in Canada, SK in particular... the highway patrol has more authority to pull you over and inspect than the local police or the RCMP has.

One thing they really enforce is the GVW of the tow rig. Make sure you can handle the weight of boat, fuel, passengers and cargo. A co-worker had to drive 15 minutes back to the scales to prove he was within allowable limits.

Jeff
 
I've not seen or heard of that kind of scrutiny in the states of recreational trailers. Some of the junk I see on the road needs it though. MM
 
If u have necessary permits can u trailer a 350 or 370, is there a trailer made for this
F350 rated for 15k, the 350 would likely be pushing it on weight
Any thoughts appreciated
 
Srb said:
If u have necessary permits can u trailer a 350 or 370, is there a trailer made for this
F350 rated for 15k, the 350 would likely be pushing it on weight
Any thoughts appreciated
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By your definition, almost all Sea Ray's are ok to trailer if you can get a permit and have industrial hauling equipment. MM
 
Your issue is usually the height.
14' max and most new Sea Rays sitting on the trailer are over 13' tall at the radar arch.
So if you add radar and Sat TV,, it's a game of dodge ball with overhanging street signs.

Calif it's $90 per year if your beam is under 9'11" with no travel restrictions what so ever.
We have friends with 11' beam fishing boats, monsters that are a shade over 15' tall and they pull it off with no permit at all.

I love sitting at the bar when sail boaters mention they don't have expensive gas bills like gas us power boaters do. Then our trailerable owner friends mentions back,, "one months slip rental cost (they don't have to pay) covers their entire years fuel bill."

Arizona is the state with the easiest trailer towing laws. 70-75 MPH on most highways on top all that.
 
My 280 full loaded on trailer weighs just over 14K lbs and is 13'9" to top of radar (360 degree light folded down). I'm right at 10' wide at my guide poles. I pay 20.00 a year for permit. I doubt I'll ever get stopped here in Fl but better legal than not!
 
This is a great thread! Very entertaining. The different perspectives always amazes me. They mirror my own experiences with friends locally.

I pull my 10 foot beam 27 Sportfish in Wisconsin, it sits 13'10" high. I have all the appropriate permits. It's a pain to get them, but they're under $100. We're allowed to go to 12 wide with the permits - but over 10 you need signs and flags. Anything over 8'6" you're supposed to have the permits and follow the restrictions.

Very few people buy the permits. In fact, I know one guy who had a custom trailer built 11 feet wide so it'd make his 32' boat boat look smaller, hoping to avoid getting asked.

I LOVE the comment about the state patrol being the only ones who know or care. My sentiments exactly!

Also, the FL attitude. My best friend has been a cop in Naples for almost 30 years. One day he took a survey of all his guys on shift that day and asked them if anyone has EVER questioned the size of trailered boat. The answer was unanimous - why would you?

But the same guy won't pull a trailer without a valid plate on it 3 blocks because it's a crime. Here in WI the DMV gives you a hard time about registering a trailer. I was told "nobody registers boat trailers" - just because they didn't feel like dealing with an out of state transfer.

When my boat was hauled here from NJ, the hauler had to readjust the boat on his quad axle trailer because the weigh station folks measured each axle and the tongue weight and wanted it spread differently. That was in Ohio, of course.

So it's really not a matter of what's practical, it's more an issue of how much you care about the laws, and who you run into.

BTW - in order to get the right permits, you need to prove the insurance thing.
 
floriduramax1 said:
My 280 full loaded on trailer weighs just over 14K lbs and is 13'9" to top of radar (360 degree light folded down). I'm right at 10' wide at my guide poles. I pay 20.00 a year for permit. I doubt I'll ever get stopped here in Fl but better legal than not!
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Good take, because if they do get CS and stop you,, they can make you park it at the nearest stop until ya get legal.
 
OK I guess I can't chime in here since you've used the word practical..........I love our 320 on the trailer and I still have the F450 wanna buy it, it will pull our 480 sedan Bridge but I have to take off the bridge... Not practical...
 
Funny... 2 of the first 3 posts on a boating site I make involve the truck......

I just finished(through work) a 3 day course and test to legally allow me to haul a trailer over 10k lb.. ..

Some posts here have mentioned the trailer/boat weight. Again, American laws differ......... but here in Canada, specifically Saskatchewan(cue the laughter) you need an endorsement on your license to pull over 10k lb. ...

And after talking with both my instructor and examiner about GVW..... over weight on the tow vehicle is a big no-no. But you knew that from my previous post.

The worst part of all this? It all involves the boat on a trailer and not on water!

And unrelated to thread..... I have a wicked S turn to get my boat trailer in both my boat port at the cabin and at the launch I use. During my drivers test and training I had to back up IN A STRAIGHT LINE ..... who knew it was so hard?
 
tazer said:
Funny... 2 of the first 3 posts on a boating site I make involve the truck......

I just finished(through work) a 3 day course and test to legally allow me to haul a trailer over 10k lb.. ..

Some posts here have mentioned the trailer/boat weight. Again, American laws differ......... but here in Canada, specifically Saskatchewan(cue the laughter) you need an endorsement on your license to pull over 10k lb. ...

And after talking with both my instructor and examiner about GVW..... over weight on the tow vehicle is a big no-no. But you knew that from my previous post.

The worst part of all this? It all involves the boat on a trailer and not on water!

And unrelated to thread..... I have a wicked S turn to get my boat trailer in both my boat port at the cabin and at the launch I use. During my drivers test and training I had to back up IN A STRAIGHT LINE ..... who knew it was so hard?
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Feels good to be legal though doesn't it?
 
Hello -

I am the owner of MREBoatTransport.com, and have over 500K miles on towing boats from 18' to 38' LOA across the US and Canada.

In my opinion, the largest practical size behind a modern 1-ton (3500 series) diesel truck is a 320 SeaRay on a triple axle steel framed trailer with good working brakes on all axles, 235 85/16 load range E rubber.

Larger than that, you really need to put the boat behind a medium duty (F-450, F-550) tow rig and gooseneck trailer is advisable. That gets up up to 380.

Beyond that you are into a semi/lowboy trailer for clearance and weight capacity.

This is a general discussion and there are exceptional people, equipment, and short hauls with no enforcement. When I leave home, my average loaded gig is 1200 miles so I don't want flat tires, bad brakes, or run-ins with the DOT.

Cheers

Mark Rinker
MREBoatTransport.com
 
markrinker said:
Hello -

I am the owner of MREBoatTransport.com, and have over 500K miles on towing boats from 18' to 38' LOA across the US and Canada.

In my opinion, the largest practical size behind a modern 1-ton (3500 series) diesel truck is a 320 SeaRay on a triple axle steel framed trailer with good working brakes on all axles, 235 85/16 load range E rubber.

Larger than that, you really need to put the boat behind a medium duty (F-450, F-550) tow rig and gooseneck trailer is advisable. That gets up up to 380.

Beyond that you are into a semi/lowboy trailer for clearance and weight capacity.

This is a general discussion and there are exceptional people, equipment, and short hauls with no enforcement. When I leave home, my average loaded gig is 1200 miles so I don't want flat tires, bad brakes, or run-ins with the DOT.

Cheers

Mark Rinker
MREBoatTransport.com
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Good info Mark!.....Thanks, Mike.
 
Guess it depends on each person’s definition of practical.

My Amberjack Sportfisher 270, towed it home from New York.
Could not get permits east of Wyoming without a D.O.T number even though I am not a commercial driver, and Ohio was the worst to deal with.
Was 10’ wide and 13’ 4" tall, and most of the states on the east are 13’ 6" high. Was an adventures trip.


0923111528.jpg
 
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Lugnutz, good photo, thanks for posting that. Your trip had to be quite the journey, I am curious, how many days were you on the road?
 
It was five or six days for the return trip. I would have to look at the notes again. I traveled at night to avoid the bulk of the traffic.
 
Lugnutz said:
Guess it depends on each person’s definition of practical.

My Amberjack Sportfisher 270, towed it home from New York.
Could not get permits east of Wyoming without a D.O.T number even though I am not a commercial driver, and Ohio was the worst to deal with.
Was 10’ wide and 13’ 4" tall, and most of the states on the east are 13’ 6" high. Was an adventures trip.


0923111528.jpg
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Lugnutz said:
It was five or six days for the return trip. I would have to look at the notes again. I traveled at night to avoid the bulk of the traffic.
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Most of the states you traveled through do not allow "Wide Load" to travel at night. I presume no issues? MM

http://www.wideloadshipping.com/html/wideload_shipping_com_state_re.html
 
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