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  Trailering the 25' Whaler Walkaroud?

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Author Topic:   Trailering the 25' Whaler Walkaroud?
jjf posted 11-06-2001 10:11 AM ET (US)   Profile for jjf   Send Email to jjf  
Has anyone trailered the 25', 9'6" beam Walkaround Whaler. If so what did you trailer it with and what kind of permit did you need.
I'm currently towing a 7400 lbs (loaded including trailer), 24', 8'6" beam boat.

I'd like to find and buy a solid 25 WA and was just wondering what the true trailering limitations are for this model. I've never towed a boat with a beam larger then 8'6".

I plan to keep the boat in a slip at a local lake and tow it about 300miles to the Gulf Coast once a month.

Should I be considerig a 9'6" beam or stick with the 25 WT Revenge?

I'm open to any advice. [MODERATOR'S NOTE: This same question was cross-posted to other groups. The cross-posted questions have been removed and the answers consolidated here. In the other thread the poster mentions he plans to only drive in a single state, Texas--jimh]

bigz posted 11-06-2001 10:33 AM ET (US)     Profile for bigz    
Your going to have to purchase over wide permits in each state you cross through -- some will issue annuals, others it is on a per use basis -- also on major bridges you might find restrictions and need additional permits --- then again there are lots who truck over the limit all the time --- you get caught once in the wrong place your wallet will wish you hadn't.

The 25WA "wide body" is just 6" narrower than the 27 and the 27 WA LOA is a hair under 29'5" less the bow pulpit, and the 27 WA weights in fully equipped around 11,000 lbs maybe a little less or a little more. Would guess on the 25WA with engines, full gas load and all the rest of your stuff your looking at a triple axle trailer which can handle 9,000 lbs. as a safe margin ---

Would stick with a 25 Revenge, 25 Cuddy or a 25 cc depending on your use. Not much more than your hauling now ---

bigz posted 11-06-2001 10:59 AM ET (US)     Profile for bigz    
John, you should check with your DOT on permits they I'm sure would fill you in on what is needed and the fees. Just give them a call ---

The 25WA on a trailer if using a launch ramp you'll need at least a 10,000 rated rolling load winch --- goes with out saying a 12v one ;)---

lhg posted 11-06-2001 02:44 PM ET (US)     Profile for lhg    
I looked into this same situation. The boat is not all that heavy, and probably not any more in total weight to what you're doing now. But it looks HUGE on a trailer!

The 9'6" beam is what convinced me I couldn't do it. But I have seen some people towing boats this wide, mostly in FL. You alone will have to decide if you can get away with it, and are willing to deal with the extra hassle. If you're going to do this, find a trailer with 6 cross members so you can use 12 keel rollers under it. Weight is not the issue, it's beam that is.

bigz posted 11-06-2001 03:42 PM ET (US)     Profile for bigz    
Well 9,000 lbs John is not the issue I guess since Larry mentions it isn't, sure his Caddy could handle it ;) The beam well that was discussed in my first response under your "repair" post.

Now what is a concern is the amount of frontal area exposed at driving speed. The 25WA is a slightly scaled down version of the 27 hull and brother you have a heck of a lot of wind resistant brow sticking up ---

Let me tell you a short story --- we had a professional hauler bring the 27 WA up from Virginia Beach area to South NJ --- he decided instead of using a semi-with flat to use a 12,000 rated low standard HD 4 axle trailer which could handle most 30' boats -- power was with a dually long bed Chev big V-8. Reason for this was to be able to save time using the Chesapeake Bay tunnel and the Lewes to Cape May ferry --- anyway -- he made it ok, but brother he said never again. The trailer was like it was on ice and he was constantly for the 400 mile trip fighting it. --- He said they never had a boat fight them so hard -- the boat was positioned securely it was the wind catching the bow that was the culprit. ---

I saw the rig when they pulled in and frankly thought you could but a Sherman tank on that trailer and haul with out much strain -- and you probably could if just the weight factor --- more to towing safely than one thinks --- Tom

PS will send the scans in the next day or so -- the 25 WA appears to be a nice rig -- and with that Whaler drive should be a gentle lass.

kingfish posted 11-06-2001 04:12 PM ET (US)     Profile for kingfish  Send Email to kingfish     
jjf-

I have had some experience hauling a 9'-6' wide boat around through multiple states, and dealing with permit issues. Every state has their own rules (and as bigz said,the individual DOT's are very helpful), but they are largely similar and almost every one (if not all) require a permit for width's above 8'-6"; they do differ somewhat in the days of the week and the hours in which you can tow, and just what kind of signage is required, (typically, until you reach 10', only a bright red or orange flag at the corners).

There are a number of agencies (I'd be happy to point you to some of them) that for a very fair fee, take your curriculum vitae, and collect your permits for you. Credit card over the phone, and they fax you your permits. They do them by the gazillion for truckers, and are very adept and quick.

Having said all that, I've never been looked at sideways by anyone while I was towing, and have never had to show my permits to anyone...A number of marinas have told me that they don't even bother with permits until theu reach 10'. I have the flags more or less permanently mounted on my guide-on posts, and I will confess that I hauled the boat over 500 miles from a spot in Ontario to Southern Michigan this fall without the permits, and again 120 miles round trip to Lake Michigan and back. I am not suggesting you do the same, but be aware that is done.

kingfish

lhg posted 11-06-2001 04:46 PM ET (US)     Profile for lhg    
The catalog shows the weight of the 1993 25 Walkaround at 4600#, plus 1200# for 225hp DFI engines and batts, (deduct 250# for EFI's), 300# for misc gear, 1500# for trailer, and you're at 7600#. I doubt if anybody would tow something this big with much gas in the tank. At least I wouldn't.

But Tom certainly makes a good point about bow wind resistance. Even towing my 25 Outrage changes the highway gas mileage from a normal of 22 to 6!

Tom, my Caddy has a 7000lb tow rating, so it might even handle a 7500lb load like this, but not for me! I agree that this is too much boat to tow around more than a few miles.

bigz posted 11-06-2001 05:07 PM ET (US)     Profile for bigz    
That's a 250 gallon gas tank Larry --- I try to show all angles when giving advice or answering a question ---( in fact the 27 was hauled with 225 gallons of gas --- not by choice but that's another story - frankly a parcel tank is more dangerous than full tank ---)

Better to be prepared up front for the max. --- I did the math to -- easily with only a half tank and all the stuff you end up loading on a boat this size for a trip can reach over 8000lbs -- so go for the max. when planing your trailer set up --- ain't no 25 Outrage it's got plenty of room for more stuff than you can imagine --- chuckle ---

With that width and frontal area your Caddy would be the like the tail wagging the dog scenario -- heh heh -- just kidding --- though your kinda stretching it ---

jimh posted 11-06-2001 07:40 PM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
An anecdotal data point:

A friend is self employed and owns a HD van which he used to tow a flat bed trailer used to support equipment he needs to conduct his business.

He dispatched an employee to drive the rig to a jobsite where they loaded some gear on the trailer. The employee began driving back to the shop. As it happened there was a tail light or something trivial burned out. He was stopped by a police patrol car.

The officer was quite aware of all the rules and regulations on towing, and as it turned out the towed weight exceeded a particular limit which then required the driver to have a Commercial Driver's License. There was a litany of other infractions, too. The bottom line was this stop for minor traffic violation ended up costing over $1,000 in fines! All related to towing a heavy trailer.

You might tow for ten years, then one afternoon you bump into this same officer...

jjf posted 11-06-2001 07:46 PM ET (US)     Profile for jjf  Send Email to jjf     
Thanks everyone but I think I better turn my eyes to the 25' Revenge with 8'6" beam if I plan on taking it to the coast once a month.

Besides, I think I'm about maxed out at 7400lbs with my Four Winns 248 Cruiser.

I'd rather not spend more $$$s on a bigger tow vehicle as well.

Bigz,
Do you have the docs on the 25' Revenge.

Barry posted 11-07-2001 07:49 PM ET (US)     Profile for Barry  Send Email to Barry     
Revenge 25 W-T OB WD
L.O.A. 24' 7" 26' 6"
Beam 8' 0" 8' 0"
Draft 16" 16"
Boat weight (lbs.) 4,000 4,250
Max. cap. (lbs.) 3,035 3,035
Swamped cap.(lbs.) 9,000 9,000
Persons cap. 12 12
Max. H.P. 300 450
Min. H.P. 115 115
Shaft length 25" 25"
Fuel cap. (gal.) 140 140
bigz posted 11-08-2001 03:43 PM ET (US)     Profile for bigz    
John you'll have the scanned docs on the Revenge and the 25 WA tomorrow --- good luck whatever you decide --- Tom
bigz posted 11-12-2001 07:24 AM ET (US)     Profile for bigz    
John (jjf), goofed the "size" of these scans will take forever to load --- I was only able to get the 23 and 25 WA's -- if you want them let me know and see if I can crop.

Question is do you still want the Revenge 25 photos?

The 25 Revenge will have to be after Thanksgiving at this point.

jjf posted 11-13-2001 06:43 AM ET (US)     Profile for jjf  Send Email to jjf     
BigZ,
Yes, I still want the specs & pictures for the 23 WA and the 25 Revenege WT & WA. Don't worry about the 25 WA it has to much beam for towing in my book.
Thanks
jjf posted 11-13-2001 06:49 AM ET (US)     Profile for jjf  Send Email to jjf     
Barry,
What year 25' Revenege were those specs from you sent me? Am I correct in beleiving these boats were the same from 1980-93?
Thanks for your help.
John

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