750kg limit RIB

[Simon B]

Is anyone running a RIB with console steering on a non braked trailer?

Wondered if a Ribcraft 4.8 is light enough to come in under 750kg?

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Simon B

Is anyone running a RIB with console steering on a non braked trailer?

Wondered if a Ribcraft 4.8 is light enough to come in under 750kg?

Should be-I know it's not the same boat but you can just get a 5.4 searider on an unbraked trailer and the 4.7 is well within limits. I don't think there's a rib around that size that's any heavier.

[Simon B]

It's part of us researching what our options are when we need to replace our club boat. What with towing tests for younger people etc 2 small boats may be better than one larger one. Hence the un-braked limit question.

I still think we'll go for a middle of the road 6.0metre ish boat for £17K-£20K, we might struggle to do 2 boats (new) for £20K, would be nice to be proved wrong.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Simon B

It's part of us researching what our options are when we need to replace our club boat. What with towing tests for younger people etc 2 small boats may be better than one larger one. Hence the un-braked limit question.

I still think we'll go for a middle of the road 6.0metre ish boat for £17K-£20K, we might struggle to do 2 boats (new) for £20K, would be nice to be proved wrong.

Wouldn't it work out cheaper in the long run to put some people through the towing test?

[Simon B]

I wondered this, also our younger members with smaller cars etc tend not to have tow bars fitted. Which is sort of what you'd expect "I am not able to tow, I dont really need a tow bar"

Economy of scale wise we may be best looking at the lightest, largest boat with a light engine and light trailer. So larger than 6 metres may still work.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Simon B

I wondered this, also our younger members with smaller cars etc tend not to have tow bars fitted. Which is sort of what you'd expect "I am not able to tow, I dont really need a tow bar"

Economy of scale wise we may be best looking at the lightest, largest boat with a light engine and light trailer. So larger than 6 metres may still work.

Might be worth talking to Leeway? I seem to remember his boats being quite light.

[Tim M]

Simon, remember a young person can drive a car with a braked trailer, so long as the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen weight of the car, upto a total of 3500kg train weight. If you're driving a Landrover that allows you to tow something a bit bigger, 1200kg for a 300tdi disco without the additional test.

A RC4.8 isn't very heavy at all. I have friends who tow ours around with all manner of student cars without any fuss. Second hand RC4.8s seem to be going for around 8k at the moment in decent condition, so maybe a used pair could be the way to go? I know someone who has one available at £6.5k at the moment (one I used to own).

[9D280]

If you're talking student or immediately post student types there is a hight chance that the car won't be able to tow the full 750Kg anyway - To do that legally (ignoring licences for the moment) you need a car of at least 1500Kg. Now, Most peeps when I stopped being a student were driving Fiestas / Corsas & that ilk...... I think my Fiesta had a max tow limit of about 600Kg. (braked!)

I could (just) get my boat on an unbraked trailer legally, but decided to "future proof" against technology making my next car lighter and put it on a braked trailer.


I can't say this for definite, but I think the brakes are irrelevant w.r.t. young peeps. Are the new licences not that you have to do the trailer test to tow anything? DVLA website should confirm or rubbish that statement.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Are the new licences not that you have to do the trailer test to tow anything? DVLA website should confirm or rubbish that statement.

No. Tim M is bang on the money with what he's posted, except the limit of 3500kg is comprised of the MAM of the tow car PLUS the MAM of the trailer. Look under the bonet and there should be a MAM plate with axle weights and MAM on it.For example, my towcar has a MAM of 2587kg and my trailer has a MAM of 1100kg so Sixy can't tow our boat as the combination Maximum Authorised Mass is over 3500kg.

[whiteminiman]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

No. Tim M is bang on the money with what he's posted, except the limit of 3500kg is comprised of the MAM of the tow car PLUS the MAM of the trailer. Look under the bonet and there should be a MAM plate with axle weights and MAM on it.For example, my towcar has a MAM of 2587kg and my trailer has a MAM of 1100kg so Sixy can't tow our boat as the combination Maximum Authorised Mass is over 3500kg.

Just to re-emphasis Nos4r2's point, using his example:

On a post-97 car licence without the E category (for trailer), you wouldn't be able to tow that combination even if it was UNLADEN. The issue is not the actual weights of the vehicle/trailer combo, it's the MAM.

Of course the laden weight of the trailer becomes important when looking at relative weights of the car/trailer combo.

To answer the original question - at work we have an Avon 4.7m SeaRider which is towed on an unbraked trailer (MAM of 750kg).

Cheers,
WMM