View Single Post
Old 02-04-2018, 11:55 AM   #2
DavidM
Valued Technical Contributor
 
DavidM's Avatar
 
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,786
Some years ago I owned a Cape Dory 28. It is a pure downeaster hull and as you note it has 3' and probably a bit more of draft. That puts the boat up high on the trailer and means it has to get way down in the water to launch. Some boat ramps don't have enough angle and if they do you will certainly need a 4WD to pull it out, particularly if the ramp is wet.

That boat which has a dry weight of 8,000 lbs, weighs at least 9,000 lbs with fuel and gear. A triple axle trailer will weigh almost 2,000 lbs if aluminum and maybe 3,000 lbs in steel. That means you would be towing 11-12,000 lbs. IMO that takes at least a 3/4 ton pickup and probably a full ton to haul safely.

Everyone i have talked to that has a boat with that kind of weight and beam doesn't tow it across country. They typically launch it at the beginning of the season, haul it out at the end and store at home and don't bother with over width permits.

You could carefully tow one a few miles to and from home with a big SUV or a half ton pickup and then have the yard pick it up for launching with their Travelift.

The Rosborough is smaller and lighter, maybe 6,500 lbs sitting on the trailer for the diesel version and it does have full water, head and holding tank. Another one to look at is the C-Dory 25 which probably weighs 5,500 lbs but only has a porta potty and a limited potable water system.

David
DavidM is offline   Reply With Quote