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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Tow Vehicle

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RL
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/25/2002 : 10:39:54

"Free Spirit" is a 77 Std rig Swing keel with a factory trailer. However we, my brother partner and I, have never moved her. We currently sail on an inland lake in Ohio and the marina has stored the boat and trailer each year. We are looking to move her to the Chesapeake next summer and are curious about a tow vehicle, or contracting to have her moved. Reading the various threads here I've come to realize that some of you take the concept of trailerablity quite seriously. Can you recommend a mover or if we need to buy a tow vehicle we will be looking for something used and not as big as a tank. Any suggestions.

Thanks

Free Spirit

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2002 : 11:26:27

You'll get lots of opinions on this topic probably because of varying terrain and distance. When we moved up from the C-22 to the C-25 we owned a 1/2 ton Suburban, we've since upgraded to a 3/4 ton. Research pointed me towards (1) automatic transmission (2) longer wheel base. I've witnessed a large number of undersized trailer hitches. We had brakes installed on the second axle of the trailer also.

Steve Madsen
#2428
OJ(Ode to Joy)

[url="http://catalina25-250.org/photo0.htm/"]<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/photo/ode075.jpg" border=0>[/url]

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Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2002 : 12:37:12

I tow a 250WB with a Tahoe that has a tow package and the larger engine seems to handle it fine, but I am not hauling around any ballast and the Tahoe is rated for considerably more weight than I am towing. One option you may want to consider is a rental truck from u-haul, Ryder etc. They usually have tow hitches and may be cheaper than the haulers. I have never used haulers but have requested estimates from a few and I found their rates varied somewhat, so I would get a few estimates.

Ray Seitz C 250 WB

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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2002 : 13:05:17

If you have no other need for a large tow vehicle then to move your boat once or twice a year then the rental idea is the right move for you. Purchasing a new or even used heavy duty truck or SUV, is very expensive. You can easily find yourself making $600 per month payments and then add to that, gas (diesel), insurance, maintenaince, etc. The rental to tow the boat may cost you a few hundred bucks, but when you are done, you can just turn the beast back in.

I have a 1978 swing keel and we do tow it to far away places for vacation. I definitely would not call the C25 an easily trailerable boat, however it can be trailered. The foreplay of getting the boat ready to sail and taking down after sailing are what really make the C25 a less desirable trailer sailer. I keep mine in a slip.

I was fortunate to have a business that required a heavy duty truck to haul trailers. It also pulls the boat. Sold the business, kept the truck.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> 1995 2500 Dodge Ram TurboDiesel, extended cab. I have been offered just slightly less then I payed for it as a trade-in. These trucks hold their value! Hope this helps.

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette

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RL
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2002 : 16:00:09

Ray,
Thanks for the idea about the U-Haul. Found out it will cost me $50.00 dollars per day unlimited milage for a 1 ton truck with a tow hitch. This looks like the answer to my needs. Thanks RL

Free Spirit

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MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2002 : 17:07:10

Free Spirit,

I got a Cat 25 Fin keel last summer. Had a trailer built to fit the boat. I used it three times. When I got it to fit the boat to it, at the end of the summer to bring the boat home, and last Friday I took the boat to San Francisco. This was a 80 mile trip over the Altamont pass. Not a high pass, but enough to test it out. I used my Jeep Grand Cherokee, with a V 8. The car was strong enough to pull it, but I think its mass is a little too small. I kept it 55 or less and had a bit of swaying every now and again. Unfortunatly the drive was in the dark, going and coming home. If it had been light I might have felt more comfortable. I think that I'm not going to make the Huntington lake trip this year with the new boat, unless I can get a 3/4 ton pickup to get it there.
The learning curve is working, I think I got the idea on how to get the boat on the trailer. Actually it seemed easer to load than my Santana 21. Just have to climb a long way to put the rigging up.
Just around the area with slow speeds is Ok with what I have.
OH, by the way SF was great, I fell in love with the boat all over again.
Matt
EC Rider

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triley
Captain

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USA
251 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2002 : 08:14:53

I just bought a 1986 25 with swing keel. I rented a Ryder with a 15 ft bed and defender V8. Trailered well, but the cost- $29.95 a day and .49 a mile. Wow.

Tom

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kenobie51
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2002 : 09:43:01

I've been towing my C25 30 mile trips a couple of times a year for the last six years with a AWD Astro van and ramp launching with no problems. Yes, I know its way over the design limit of 5000 lbs, but it gets the job done. For long distances or lots of hills you will want a 3/4 or 1 ton serious truck. Rent it for occasional use.
The tow vehicle is only part of the equation. Real safety and reliability on the road has more to do with the maintanence and setup of the boat and trailer. I believe most accidents and break downs are caused by the trailer and load than the tow vehicle. A C25 on a trailer will be between 6500 and 8000 lbs. Stopping and sway are the major concerns. Having the entire brake system in good repair is critical. If breaking force is uneven from side to side sway will result when the brakes come on. Four wheel brakes are necessary, not just two. There are a number of things to consider for reducing sway. Sway is a dangerous situation when the trailer/load weighs more than the tow vehicle. You want to have good real trailer tires at maximum air pressure. Not car tires. The side walls are two wimpy. Some things often over looked that cause sway are alignment of the tandem axes to each other and square to the hitch ball, toe in adjustment for each axle, and tire balance. An other thing is hitch weight. A high center of gavity load like the C25 needs a lot of weight on the hitch ball. Follow the 10% rule and you will have 600 to 700 lbs. Be sure your hitch is rated for it.
Just my two cents worth.

Larry Knobel
C25 #1657

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Mark Maxwell
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
329 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2002 : 10:46:28

RL,
Be sure to check with the company you rent from about what you want to do. I was going to do the rental thing but found out that (at least in my area) most had the hitch balls welded in place and they are 2" (my trailer requires 2 5/16") Also they mount the ball so close to the tongue that it would not accept the flare around most ball receivers on trailers. That way only their trailers would work. And lastly no insurance. If you need help your on your own, so check with your provider to see if your covered. I checked with all the major rental places, U-Haul, Pensky, Ryder, Budget, Hertz. I did find a local rental place that had a regular Ford f250 with a receiver hitch that I could use my own ball with but the availability was not reliable. So be sure to check around. Maybe a friend will do it for a 6 pack and gas <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Mark-
<img src="http://personal.jax.bellsouth.net/jax/l/c/lchaplin/unkarock/usflagwav.gif" border=0>
'Impulse'
C25 #533 DINN/FIN

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.