See full version: Towing a wide boat
As for just towing without permits, It can get very expensive when the ticket comes. I have paid over $1,500.00 fines, court cost and lawyer fees when I had permits, but not a current annual inspection on my truck. Wide loads put you in a new class in the eyes of the law. Also insurance companies can get picky when they do not want to pay a claim with wide loads. here
Maybe check with a local towing/wrecking company with a large flat bed type wrecker who could move your boat for you, or at the very least, give you some good first hand advice on moving your boat. If he would move your boat for $500 or $1000 and assume all the liability maybe it would be better than "rolling the dice" with the DOT. I've hired wreckers before to move large, heavy objects and they make it look easy because it's what they do for a living. Good Luck!
Good idea. I think I'll stop by a towing place and ask some questions. Only problem is, that helps me get the boat home. I don't have a marina slip and want to be able to take it to different bodies of water. I can't pay someone $500 every weekend I want to use the boat. But it seems like a good place to start.
Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. So if you get pulled over while violating the law and claim you didn't know the law, you can still get the ticket.
Forget the 1/2 ton truck and get a one ton dually. [links]
Tip: Be aware that often the guideposts in the trailer are included in this width. here
Before you leave for your adventure, make sure that you understand fully the boat width and other over the road trailering requirements of each state you are travelling through. Be safe, be compliant and have fun!
Sign & Glide provides 24 hour emergency dispatch services and unlimited on-water towing coverage for your registered vessel. For more information, click here.
Tip: If you are visiting or just passing through a state, your trailer configuration does not need to be modified to accommodate local laws.
When it comes to towing boat width, the great majority of states – 47 to be exact – do not require a wide-load permit as long as your boat and trailer width does not exceed 8 1/2 feet (102 inches). The exceptions to the norm include New York, New Jersey, and Hawaii, which have an 8 foot (96 inches) limit; and North Carolina, which allows a generous 10 foot (120 inches) for boat and trailer. [links]
A third possibility is a hydraulic adjustable trailer that can be rolled into the water at launch ramp. The houseboat is driven directly onto the carpeted pads on the trailer. Using a fifth wheel truck, the trailer and houseboat are pulled out of the water and made ready for transport. Hydraulic trailers allow the boat to be loaded at marinas that have a launching ramp, but no travel lift. It can save hundreds of miles just to reach a marina with a travel lift. The houseboat is blocked and strapped down to the trailer, ready to be hauled. The reverse procedure can be used to launch the houseboat at its new location.
Yes. As an example, a 40-foot aluminum houseboat hull will weigh about 32,000 pounds, but the same craft built of fiberglass will run closer to 44,000 pounds. Weights affect the type of trailers that can be used, and additional fees charged by states for additional weight. here
Like everything else in this discussion, “that depends.” A basic flatbed trailer may be sufficient for many boats. Taller boats may require a lowboy trailer. Some high-performance speed boats can be carried inside a standard box trailer when mounted on a cradle that holds the boat tilted on its side, in which case it would not be an oversize load. This tilted support can also be used on a flatbed. Finally, boat hauling can be a very specialized business using specially designed trailers, some of which can be backed down a ramp into the water so that a large boat can be driven on the trailer, much like small personal boats at a lake launching ramp. [links]
The first considerations are the tires and axles. Boat trailers used to “take the boat to the lake” are designed for the relatively short haul from home to the lake or river. This usually does not include long distances at interstate highway speeds. Tires and axles may overheat and fail. Before any long trip, replace any suspect tires and bearings. It is a good practice to stop after about the first 30 minutes of highway driving and check the wheels and axles for excess heat. If the axle is too hot to touch it is in danger of failing. Continue to check tires and axles periodically during the trip. It is a good idea to have spare tires and axles for long hauls.
Modern yachts have more complex hulls that cannot simply rest on their keel. Most yachts will require a custom-made cradle that fits the shape of the hull.
Boat towing laws can be a heated and controversial matter in certain states. In 2008, North Carolina's governor exerted his veto power -- for the first time in the state's history -- on a bill that would've loosened boat towing laws in the state. It would have extended both the width limit of boats and the times and days of the week boats could be towed. This upset recreational boaters and those wanting the state to hold competitive fishing tournaments [source: Woodward]. Nevertheless, the governor believed such loosened rules would make the roads unsafe.
Other things that you shouldn't disregard as insignificant details are required by many states when you're towing a boat, including safety chains connecting the vehicle and boat in an X below the mount. They should be short enough to not hit the ground and long enough to not restrict turning [source: CA DMV]. here
You'll also want breakaway brakes to protect you during an incident where the hitch mount accidentally separates. Don't forget lights including a license light, tail lights, brake lights, clearance lights, turn signals and reflectors. Finally, make sure you have tie-downs and flares [source: BoatUS]. [links]