Changes in legislation for commercial towing - Page 2

Rogue Wave · 19 December 2011, 07:35

i'm ever soglad my Avon 8.4 with a Cat engine and triple axle trailer only weighs 3499,5 Kilos better not get it weighed in the rain.

SW Boat Transport · 19 December 2011, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

i'm ever soglad my Avon 8.4 with a Cat engine and triple axle trailer only weighs 3499,5 Kilos better not get it weighed in the rain.

It is the combined GVW of towing vehicle and trailer which is important here, so this will be relevant to you.

Boats&Outboards · 19 December 2011, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

i'm ever soglad my Avon 8.4 with a Cat engine and triple axle trailer only weighs 3499,5 Kilos better not get it weighed in the rain.

Not sure why as that means you can only sit and watch it

the moment you hook it up to a car your done for

C2 RIBS · 02 October 2012, 15:31

Can you point me in the direction of regs for towing, covering the max lengths for a good 4x4 and also max width.
Looking at widths, some RIBs need tubes deflating so looking to find one just inside the limits.

Trailer Guy · 02 October 2012, 20:53

Hi C2, do you mean max trailer widths and overhang? And max train length?

If so:

Towing vehicle up to 3500kg GVW (likely for a sizeable 4x4) can tow a trailer with a maximum length (excluding the coupling and drawbar) of 7.0m. The maximum width is 2.55m.

You can have overhang, either side of a trailer, of no more than 305mm, up to a maximum width of 2.9m. Over 2.9m and you're classed as an abnormal load and have to notify the police two days before your journey.

C2 RIBS · 03 October 2012, 12:12

Thank you , yes looking at max when deciding on another new boat, i.e can we tow it on size. Not looking at Tachos again

SW Boat Transport · 03 October 2012, 18:58

I have never known the 7m length rule be inforced, unless anyone else has? As long as your trailer is not over 12m and overall length not over 18.75m (the max permitted for a rigid and drawer unit) you should be alright.

Trailer Guy · 03 October 2012, 21:23

Agree on length enforcement statement. Probably not been tested as the 'drawbar' could start / finish in different places on different trailers. Ive towed some saucy things in the past tbh. Just make sure your side overhang doesn't look ridiculous and, as Mike says, you should be fine.

dobra## · 24 February 2013, 19:16

I am quite nervous of helping a mate out. He has a open 23ft wooden fishing boat thats 8ft wide and 23ft in length with a 2.5ltr diesel engine in it. He is going to hire a trailor which will be suitable for the boat and I have a mercedes vito van with seats in the back which is a manufactures fit. I am not nervous about towing as have done loads of that, Its more about the weight.
I have no idea of the weight of the boat and he is guesing as well.
What are anyones thoughts?
Does anyone know of a company that would do the job at a reasonable cost maybe?
Many thanks in advance.

Boats&Outboards · 24 February 2013, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobra##

I am quite nervous of helping a mate out. He has a open 23ft wooden fishing boat thats 8ft wide and 23ft in length with a 2.5ltr diesel engine in it. He is going to hire a trailor which will be suitable for the boat and I have a mercedes vito van with seats in the back which is a manufactures fit. I am not nervous about towing as have done loads of that, Its more about the weight.
I have no idea of the weight of the boat and he is guesing as well.
What are anyones thoughts?
Does anyone know of a company that would do the job at a reasonable cost maybe?
Many thanks in advance.

Sounds like a job for Shiply ?

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ www.BoatsandOutboards4Sale.co.uk ~ 07930 421007

dobra## · 24 February 2013, 19:47

Hi,
who is shiply. Is that some one you have used before. The whole thing sounds like a headache to me.

ShinyShoe · 24 February 2013, 20:49

shiply.com - they are a sort of ebay for transport - you say what you want shifting and by when. People bid to do it. You keep fingers crossed someone is running empty in that direction with a low loader etc and is happy to take a small amount of money...

Bigmuz7 · 24 February 2013, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

shiply.com - they are a sort of ebay for transport - you say what you want shifting and by when. People bid to do it. You keep fingers crossed someone is running empty in that direction with a low loader etc and is happy to take a small amount of money...

Theyve worked for me ..

You takes your own risk though

Poly · 24 February 2013, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobra##

He is going to hire a trailor which will be suitable for the boat .......
I have no idea of the weight of the boat and he is guesing as well.

how is he going to hire a suitable trailer if he doesn't know its weight?

If it is afloat you could probably get a reasonable guess on the weight by approximating the shape.

The mass of the boat = the mass of water it displaces.
The mass of water it displaces in metric tonnes = the volume in m3 (in fresh water - but near enough in salt).

So 23ft long = 7m, 8ft beam = 2.4m
If the draft is 1m and you think the hull shape is reasonably V - so "prism like" then the volume would be:

1/2 * beam * draft * length
1/2 * 2.4 (m) * 1 (m) * 7 (m) = 8.4 m3 = 8.4 tonnes...

Now I might have overestimated the draft, and the shape factor might be wrong, but I can't see it being so far out that its less than 3.5 tonnes with the weight of a serious trailer in there.

SW Boat Transport · 24 February 2013, 22:49

Wooden fishing boats of that size that I have moved before have generally weighed 2.5 - 5 tons. If its right at the bottom end of the scale you might get away with a large 4x4 and trailer, but I expect it will need to go on a low loader. It will almost certainly be to heavy for your Vito when the weight of the trailer is included. If you email me the details I will work out a transport quote for you - info@boat-transportation.co.uk Michael

SW Boat Transport · 24 February 2013, 22:54

As for Shiply I would tread very carefully. There are some repitible transport companies on there, but there are also a lot of 'cowboys' operating illegally without operators licences, tachographs, proper insurance cover etc.

dobra## · 25 February 2013, 06:49

I feel a bit better now, thanks for reply posts. Think its not something I can help him out with. I think he should plod up the east coast to get it where he wants and find a marina that can get it out so he can paint it.
That will be a long day but I suppose trying to transport it would have been just as long.
Thanks again, a big help/

ALANT · 27 April 2013, 09:36

So does a dive centre which tows a boat to a dive site over 50km from base then charges customers to use the boat need a tacho?
Do the council trucks/vans have tachographs fitted?
Anyone on here been done yet?

SW Boat Transport · 27 April 2013, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANT

So does a dive centre which tows a boat to a dive site over 50km from base then charges customers to use the boat need a tacho?
Do the council trucks/vans have tachographs fitted?
Anyone on here been done yet?

1. Yes the dive centre would need to.
2. Not sure
3. We have tachographs in all our towing vehicles, but I know two people who have been caught without. On both occasions they were fined and had to find a tachograph equipped vehicle to complete the journey with.

I was talking this through with my insurance broker the other day. He is of the opinion that any insurance policy would be invalid if a tachograph is not fitted and being used when it should be. It would class as an illegal activity, in a similar way to someone driving without a licence or over the drink drive limit.

AMac · 27 April 2013, 17:29

As far as i know councils are not required to have tacos but most do