Dream Boat

[Fish On]

So I went over to the marina to pick up a starter and low and behold the boat I've looked at several times and drempt about is sitting there brand new but in a leftover 2002 model with 2002 Mercury 225 twin Optimax. Boat is a 26 foot walk around cudddy with a 9'7" beam and the price is right. (ready to start negotiating that is). Anyway so I trailer as most of you know, so I start looking into what is required to trailer this puppy recreationally and I'm distgusted. The fact that I have to mount flags is no big deal. Also even the fee to go through Massachusetts at $15 one way doesn't kill me so bad (or I can get the season permit to trailer in MA for $300). By the way the NH permit is only $50 for the year. The major problem is that I can't trailer the boat on Sat and Sun and holidays in NH or after noon on Sat and Sun in MA. well I've been thinking of what it ould be like to work around these inconveniences by sleeping on the boat until Monday monring, perhaps finding a marina that I can park in to stretch the weekend, etc.

Anyone trailer a boat wider that 8'6"? What's life like dealing with these issues? I understand many guys just ignore it and go their merry way, but to me, the liabilities are just too high if I get into an accident and haven't followed the letter of the law.

Should I just forget it?

[Van]

What boat maker????

26' is alot of boat to trailer and launch every weekend. My ride is only 20', but i keep her in a slip. There is nothing like it !!!!

IMO.....Buy it and it and leave it in the water. Use the trailer for winter storage to avoid the cost at a boatyard.

Good Luck

[quick decision]

Van is right. It sounds like you are questioning your truck too. Why buy a new truck, boat, ect. If you buy a 26' its time to start thinking about a slip, or at least a mooring. There is several small clubs up and down the coast that wont set you back to much. You never know, you might make some new friends. The wear and teat on your truck, plus gas and tolls, its something to consider at least. Plus you if plan to spend the weekend, sleep on your boat.

[thefishingfreak]

my friend tows a 25' parker{9'6" beam}to and from his slip without any permits. he's pulling it with a huge dodge dually, so the boat dosn't "look" all that much wider.
it's nice to have a wide beam, and it's also nice to have the option to throw the boat on a trailer, and shoot the boat a couple hundred miles up, or down the coast if you want.
the truck will surely get better milage than the boat.
i'de get a slip somewhear, and trailer "with the permits" when need be.

[Fish On]

Thanks for all the feedback. Gives me something to think about. The main things I like about trailering are: a) flexibility to go to whatever launch I choose depending on where I want to fish. b) loading the boat at my house rather than packing the truck unlading the truck to load the boat and then repeating it all coming back. and c) I like cleaning the boat top to bottom after use and avoiding the continual exposure to the salt. d) also love to be able to tinker with it for a half hour here and an hour there and there's nothing like it being in the driveway for that.

But I guess a slip is probably the way to go. I need to do a lot more thinking about it.

[Ron in Maine]

To slip or not too slip... not even a question. Time on the water is what it comes down to in the end. With a slip, you pack your gear, take it down to the boat, start the motor (important lesson learned last year, start it before the next step), cast off the lines, and you are gone.
Coming back in, about as easy. No time to wait to launch or recover, getting on the trailer right, rigging for the ride home, then jockying around putting the boat back.
And if you suddenly find yourself with a little time, you just head down there and you are off. (Just remember to start the motor before you push away from the slip... if it did not start, say the batteries were dead or something like that... well, let's just say that you will be known by more than one or two people)

[Clammer]

slip =12 months ayear then ya don,t need a trailer [[or save it ]]no winterizing ,no coverup =& then undo it all ///

[Mr. Sandman]

26 wa with twins is a heavy rig for everyday trailering. I wouldn't do it. Sure it is nice to have a trailer for a quick haul but to run down for a quick ride...pain in the butt dealing with hitches and ramps. IMO it is worth the $125/ft to dock it or a town mooring for a more cost effective way.

I find other vehicles suck on the road when trailering. I hate going over the borne bridge with my boat. People pass you with a couple inches and your wheels are nearly kissing the curb on the other side. From now on I plan on taking both lanes when going over a bridge. They can wait 30 more seconds till we get over to the other side.

Also on the highway at speed you have a-holes so close to your props you think they are stealing it. Its not like you can stop this 50' rig on a dime either. You have a 6K# boat pushing a 3K# truck at 60...that is a lot of moving mass.

Its one thing if the boat is small and light but I think if you are over 23'....forgetaboutit. Yeah I know you see 38' fountains being towed...but you don't want to be doing that.

tie her up. (you will use the boat more as well)

[Team Rock On]

"People pass you with a couple inches and your wheels are nearly kissing the curb on the other side. From now on I plan on taking both lanes when going over a bridge"

Yep!! I grazed the curb my first time over that bridge. I always drive right down the middle now. I tow a 29' all over the place with an Excursion. It handles much better than my old 23' with a 1/2 ton pickup. When you are driving 50' of rig, what's another 5'?
When in doubt turn the stereo up and take up 2 lanes and don't look in the rear view mirror!

[S-Journey]

""When in doubt turn the stereo up and take up 2 lanes and don't look in the rear view mirror""

I love it