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Trailer Question (re figuring tongue wt C250WB)

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/20/2005 : 18:06:52

I did a ball park calculation of the tongue weight.
Used a lever (8' 4x4) on a pile of bricks. 1' from tongue to bricks.
Then I stood on the lever on the other side of bricks and moved away until the tongue started to rise.
I weigh 190lbs (most days :) and was able to get about 3.5' from the bricks before the boat started to rise.
So ignoring the levers weight, I figure that the tongue weight to be around 3.5*190lbs = 570lbs, a bit on the high side. (Should be 7-10% of 4,000lbs ~ 280 - 400lbs).
And that is with the boat 2" back from the bow snubber.

So I thought I would move the mast raising extension & bow snubber aft on the trailer by 4" next time the boat is off. The trailer axles are welded to the trailer frame, so moving them is not really an option.

Any problems with this approach? (have been unable to find an active weight station this side of Miami!)

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

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atgep
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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2005 : 20:02:30

Where did you come up with the 4k? I would be surprised if it was that light. My trailer empty weighs 1500.

What are you towing with?

I would be very hesitant to tow something this big with less than 500 lbs on the tongue.

As for the bow post. Yes you can move it. I have found that at certain steep ramps, I need to move it forward to get the boat where I want it. After the boat is where it needs to be, I move it back. It is a little bit of a pain but having the tongue weight perfect is worth it.

All of this is realy up to you. A bigger tow rig will be more stable and forgiving of high or low tongue weights. The closer your rig is to max gross weight, the more important everything becomes. Where you tow is also a factor. If you drive 5 miles down a slow road, a Ford Ranger will get it done.

Just remember not to let the boat drive you. Catalinas only drive well on the water.

Tom.

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britinusa
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USA
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Response Posted - 06/20/2005 : 22:01:35

We tow it without problems behind out 95 chevy blazer.
No problems other than the heavy rain when we towed from Cocoa Beach FL to here (Margate FL) about 160miles.
Here's where we got the Wts..

Trailer Wt 1200lbs (Title doc)
Boat Wt 2400 Dry (Catalina site)
Engine 95lb (Tohatsu)
Cushions, etc. 200lbs (guess)
totals to ~3900lbs. (Dry)

We pump the water ballast out (using an $18 air pump from walmart) before pulling the boat from the water.

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lcharlot
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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2005 : 23:25:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 
Trailer Wt 1200lbs (Title doc)
Boat Wt 2400 Dry (Catalina site)
Engine 95lb (Tohatsu)
Cushions, etc. 200lbs (guess)
totals to ~3900lbs. (Dry)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Is there a truck scale in your local area that would let you weigh your rig? Most truck scales will allow you to weigh your RV if you buy some fuel from them, and if they're not busy with commercial truckers waiting in line to use the scales. If you can weigh your rig, I have a hunch that you will find that the boat is substantially heavier than the 2400# "factory spec" weight listed in the owner's manual. Catalina is notorious for understating the displacement of the Catalina 25, which the owner's manual says is 4300#, but every owner who has run their boat through a truck scale reports 1000# to #1500 heavier on average. My '89WK weighed in at 5500# stripped, with water and fuel tanks dry (includes 85# for the outboard and 50# for one battery). I would not be surprised if your Catalina 250WB is 500# to 800# heavier than you think it is. We have weighed a C-250WB on a truck scale here, and it was 4750# for the boat, 9.9 Yamaha outboard, and TrailRite trailer. The newer C-250 wing keel is close to 6500# with trailer, about 1000# lighter than the average '86-'90 Catalina 25WK Mk. III or Mk. IV. Instead of just guessing what the tongue weight is, see if you can get your rig weighed, then you'll know for sure.

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