Towing a boat

[4Q]

I’m looking at getting a boat which we could tow across Europe, having only towed small boats before what would be the biggest that we could comfortably trailer behind a Discovery? The one I’m looking at is 23 feet and 1.75 tonnes.

[Phud]

I'm not sure it is what the vehicle can tow comfortably but more the weight allowed on the rear axle.

which translates as boat and trailer weight.

Useless I know, however I do not know what your discovery is allowed.

[DeltonaS]

4Q said:

I’m looking at getting a boat which we could tow across Europe, having only towed small boats before what would be the biggest that we could comfortably trailer behind a Discovery? The one I’m looking at is 23 feet and 1.75 tonnes.

EU max. allowed towing weight is 3,5 tonnes for a Discovery (with the right drivers license obviously)

You can easily tow a 1,75 tonnes boat, just add the weight of the trailer to the weight of the boat, which should be < 3,5 tonnes.

Given the weight of the boat, you need a twin axle trailer (at least).

As an example:

Alu trailer weight: +/- 700 kg / Max. total weight 3.500 kg / max. boat lenght 8 meter

https://www.boottrailers.nl/boven-1800-kg/437-3514...

Edited by DeltonaS on Saturday 13th June 17:37

[Crumpet]

You won’t even notice 1.75 tonnes behind a 3.0 Disco! Probably better visiting one of the dedicated Discovery forums for a proper response, though.

[hidetheelephants]

Unless the trailer is quite cleverly designed 2.5 tonnes is about the upper limit as the trailer will take up the rest of the MTW; a disco in good health will have no problem towing up to the 3.5t limit.

[4Q]

It’s not the total weight that’s the issue, it’s more that I’m not sure how big a 23ft boat is out of the water, ie is it a reasonable size to tow?

[DeltonaS]

4Q said:

It’s not the total weight that’s the issue, it’s more that I’m not sure how big a 23ft boat is out of the water, ie is it a reasonable size to tow?

23ft is about 7m, easy with the right trailer (see above).

[Mr Pointy]

Isn't the width more of a possible issue? How wide is the boat youare looking at?

[4Q]

Mr Pointy said:

Isn't the width more of a possible issue? How wide is the boat youare looking at?

Good point I should probably check

[Simpo Two]

4Q said:

It’s not the total weight that’s the issue, it’s more that I’m not sure how big a 23ft boat is out of the water, ie is it a reasonable size to tow?

Yes. In the UK 23' is no problem to tow; lots of people do it. I think the limit before it gets more complicated is 27'.

[paintman]

This might help. Boat & trailer count as 'indivisible loads'.
https://www.rya.org.uk/sitecollectiondocuments/leg...

Mention at the bottom of the link about the trailer may need its own registration for towing in Europe. Perhaps the RYA/AA/RAC could further advise.

[paul.deitch]

Some European info here. It's in German but ... hoppe it helps
https://skipper.adac.de/wp-content/uploads/bti_21_...

[rallycross]

Why are so many boat trailers so st?

Tiny little micro wheels on most boat trailers.

Today I saw some s towing a massively heavy motor cruiser on a flat bed car trailer - the thing was lying half off the trailer and the weight was so unevenly balanced - and the pie-key was driving some stbox pickup with raised suspension totally weighed down at the rear - one big undulation like M25 heading south over the M4 and that thing would have been off the back of the pick up and into the carriageway..

[hidetheelephants]

Simpo Two said:

4Q said:

It’s not the total weight that’s the issue, it’s more that I’m not sure how big a 23ft boat is out of the water, ie is it a reasonable size to tow?

Yes. In the UK 23' is no problem to tow; lots of people do it. I think the limit before it gets more complicated is 27'.

Length is less of an issue as there's an exemption for indivisible loads(boats, glider wings, etc); width is the biggy, but you're unlikely to hit the 2.9m limit with a 23' boat.

[Simpo Two]

hidetheelephants said:

Length is less of an issue as there's an exemption for indivisible loads(boats, glider wings, etc); width is the biggy, but you're unlikely to hit the 2.9m limit with a 23' boat.

I make that 9'6". Yes, few 23' boats would be that chubby, more like 8'.

[Uggers]

I'd recommend you go to a boatyard and physically see for yourself the size of a boat up on a trailer.

We wanted a boat to sports cruiser to tow using our LWB Shogun. Looked at a Maxum 2400Scr which is about as small as you can go for a family cruiser. Up on a trailer the size made us reconsider. Not just from a towing perspective, but from the launch and recovery side.

As it is we have decided to go for something like a Fletcher 19 GTS for long days out and to travel around. Will be easier to tow, launch and recover and with that in mind hope to take it far and wide.

[Simpo Two]

Uggers said:

We wanted a boat to sports cruiser to tow using our LWB Shogun. Looked at a Maxum 2400Scr which is about as small as you can go for a family cruiser. Up on a trailer the size made us reconsider. Not just from a towing perspective, but from the launch and recovery side.

The OP could get a professional boat-mover to bring the boat home, then if he's not happy about trailering it on/off on a regular basis, keep it in the water somewhere convenient.

[pequod]

Uggers said:

I'd recommend you go to a boatyard and physically see for yourself the size of a boat up on a trailer.

We wanted a boat to sports cruiser to tow using our LWB Shogun. Looked at a Maxum 2400Scr which is about as small as you can go for a family cruiser. Up on a trailer the size made us reconsider. Not just from a towing perspective, but from the launch and recovery side.

As it is we have decided to go for something like a Fletcher 19 GTS for long days out and to travel around. Will be easier to tow, launch and recover and with that in mind hope to take it far and wide.

I think this is the best advice OP as, once up on a trailer, even a 24 footer such as that Maxum will look pretty daunting and unless you are simply launching once a season to leave the boat afloat somewhere, it will soon become a trial to launch/recover at different slipways across Europe.

Also, to answer the poster above, boat trailers that you launch from necessarily have small wheels unless you want to half submerge your tow vehicle!

[Badda]

I looked into this once and was surprised at the fuel cost of doing it!

[TarquinMX5]

I'd be looking at a twin-axle trailer, gives more of a safety margin on a long trip (well, any trip). Having experienced a professional boat mover move our 20ft motor boat on a single axle trailer, which ran a bearing on a dual carriageway, and the subsequent hassle, I would rather avoid that.

Personal view, of course.