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What do you tow your boat with?

Posted By: Tri_X_Troll

What do you tow your boat with? - 10/09/07 11:34 PM

I tow mine with a 4 cylinder jeep wrangler. I barely make it up hills and the sloppy steering make it difficult on narrow roads. I've been shopping for a small sedan to use as my daily commuter and tow vehicle, suggestions welcome.
Posted By: mbounds

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/09/07 11:49 PM

I tow it with this thread:

What do you tow with?
Posted By: gree2056

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/10/07 02:05 AM

Hey, I started that thread last year around this time, I think it was a little bit later than this because I had put my boat away.

That is one of our longer threads ever.
Posted By: waterbug_wpb

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/11/07 07:26 PM

besides, maybe, that "test" one....
Posted By: Karl_Brogger

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/11/07 11:01 PM

Long live "the test"!
Posted By: SurfCityRacing

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/11/07 11:12 PM

Used to "tow" with the Surf City van...Had trouble.


[Linked Image]

Then for small jobs like A-class and such...
[Linked Image]

But, sometimes you just need more power...
[Linked Image]
Banks power-pack running on Biodiesel= 25mpg!!
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: dsltrc

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/11/07 11:47 PM

i tow with my 01 kia sportage.... 4 banger 120,000 miles i've never had a problem... towed a prindle 19 and a supercat 17 double stacked from New Oleans to Va at 75- 80 miles and hour..... with the AC kicking... the mice were in overdrive turning those wheels.... lol this is a pic of my SC 19 and 17 getting ready for a 7 hour road trip...

Attached picture 121228-supercatpiggyback001.jpg
Posted By: hobiegary

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 04:25 AM

I tow with a 2005 Toyota Corolla that has a 1.8 Liter, 4 cylinder engine with variable valve timing. It does better than the Subaru 2.2 Liter AWD that I used to use and it gets great gas mileage.

I have no trouble going up and down grades, at near Sea Level.

Antything more is a waste, as far as I am concerned.

Note: I don't do much trailering and if I did, I'd want more power. More weight would not be necessary; more power would be a luxury.

GARY
Mystere 6.0
Steel Trailer
Glass sail box
Cat Trax
Posted By: hobiegary

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 04:35 AM

Are you reporting that you get 25 mpg while towing that trailer and loaded with all that gear as shown in the picture?

[Linked Image]


GARY
Posted By: Boomer

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 05:27 AM

A Smart ForTwo. Very handy car to park between the hulls
Posted By: Tornado

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 05:49 AM

1.6l Mini Cooper S w. Supercharger does a great job! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: SurfCityRacing

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 07:54 AM

Quote
Are you reporting that you get 25 mpg while towing that trailer and loaded with all that gear as shown in the picture?

[Linked Image]


GARY


Not loaded like that. I only got 18 miles on that particular trip due to the headwind on the Grapevine. From my front door to Hobie and back it's almost exactly 1000 miles. I fill up with Biodiesel in Santa Cruz, then top off in Santa Barbara, make it to Hobie, load up, then make it to Santa Barbara to top off for the trip home. I usually get 700 to 800 miles out of a tank depending on conditions and load. A double stack cat trailer or even that car hauler on the back and nothing much changes. Windage from loading the lumber rack and quality of the Biodiesel are what kills mileage on this beast, though I hardly ever get less than 17mpg. And, there is never any shortage of power. 280HP 790ftlbs of torque.
Posted By: waterbug_wpb

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 05:31 PM

Quote
, though I hardly ever get less than 17mpg. And, there is never any shortage of power. 280HP 790ftlbs of torque.


hmmm. worst case scenario, 17 mpg / 1000 miles = 58.8 gallons

59 gallons x $3.00 gal ("straight" diesel) = $177

How many terrorists could you put through training camp for $177 per trip?

I know it costs "only pennies per day" to feed them.... I guess the rest goes to bullets.

Fossil fuel - a necessary evil (today), but do we have to go that far overboard? Do you HAVE to haul at 70mph? slowing down to 60 mph could easily reduce fuel consumption by 10-12% (depends on vehicle aerodynamics)

I know most of our egos wouldn't fit in small cars, so we have to buy Hum-vee trucks and such.

My state is so flat, once you get your trailer moving, you could probably pull it with a moped.
Posted By: hobie1616

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 05:54 PM

Quote
I only got 18 miles on that particular trip due to the headwind on the Grapevine. From my front door to Hobie and back it's almost exactly 1000 miles. I fill up with Biodiesel in Santa Cruz, then top off in Santa Barbara, make it to Hobie, load up, then make it to Santa Barbara to top off for the trip home.
The Grapevine is on US 99/I-5. Santa Barbara is on US 101. How do you use both?
Posted By: Don_Atchley

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 06:42 PM

You missed Jeremy's statement about filling it up with [color:"green"] Biodiesel[/color]. So, he's only feeding the farmers in the midwest! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: SurfCityRacing

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 07:18 PM

Quote
hmmm. worst case scenario, 17 mpg / 1000 miles = 58.8 gallons

59 gallons x $3.00 gal ("straight" diesel) = $177

How many terrorists could you put through training camp for $177 per trip?


Waterbug,

I appreciate your political view, and math skills, but I'm not sure if you read my post thoroughly. First, did you see what I was towing? There are 8 Catamarans on there, 2 boxes, 5 trailers and 7 kayaks (+or-). I definitely wasn't doing "70". So, with this load I think 18 mpg to me is pretty good.

My truck hasn't seen straight petroleum diesel in 150,000 miles. So unless you classify the midwest soybean and corn growers "terrorists" you made a slight error. Around town, in the summer I blend straight veggie oil with biodiesel. The straight oil costs $.45 per gallon. With Biodiesel there is an 85% reduction in hydrocarbon emissions, and no terrorist funding. From the pump Bio costs the same as petroleum diesel.

Actually for you locally in Naples, there is a great veg-oil co-op, check them out for more info on running your diesel vehicle for $.05per gallon. http://www.naplesbiofuel.com/

By the way, what do you tow your boat with?

Jeremy
Posted By: Jake

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 07:36 PM

Quote
Quote
, though I hardly ever get less than 17mpg. And, there is never any shortage of power. 280HP 790ftlbs of torque.


hmmm. worst case scenario, 17 mpg / 1000 miles = 58.8 gallons

59 gallons x $3.00 gal ("straight" diesel) = $177

How many terrorists could you put through training camp for $177 per trip?

I know it costs "only pennies per day" to feed them.... I guess the rest goes to bullets.

Fossil fuel - a necessary evil (today), but do we have to go that far overboard? Do you HAVE to haul at 70mph? slowing down to 60 mph could easily reduce fuel consumption by 10-12% (depends on vehicle aerodynamics)

I know most of our egos wouldn't fit in small cars, so we have to buy Hum-vee trucks and such.

My state is so flat, once you get your trailer moving, you could probably pull it with a moped.


Sounds like you've been hugging too many trees lately - I think the sap is getting to you! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: scooby_simon

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 07:41 PM

If I get around to putting a tow bar on, I will tow with this:

[Linked Image]

But as it does not have one, I use the Wife's V70.
Posted By: Don_Atchley

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/12/07 08:02 PM

And we should ask him what he cools his house with? Maybe he has his air conditioner hooked up on solar?
Posted By: Karl_Brogger

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 01:22 AM

He lives near a magic jelly bean field. No need for AC. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: IndyWave

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 01:27 AM

My '96 Hyundai Elantra Wagon can tow a 650 lb Interlake on a trailer or carry a Wave on the roof rack with no problems at highway speeds. Here's a photo of my Wave in its boxes after I picked it up from the dealer, 150 miles away. I have also pulled loaded U-Haul trailers and hauled two MG engines in the back.

Attached picture 121338-PICT0432.JPG
Posted By: hobiegary

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 05:30 AM

Mike,

Have you measured you MPG while towing?

GARY
Posted By: gree2056

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 05:34 AM

Well, I guess I will say again.

I tow my Nacra 5.2 with a 98 Ford Explorer. It tows on the highway getting about 22mpg, so it isn't to bad.
Posted By: hobiegary

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 05:38 AM

Simon,

Nice big brake disks!

Have you ever heard of hobiegary's cure to hesitation?

GARY
Posted By: zander

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 02:50 PM

I tow with a 2004 expedition. It gets 12.5 mpg with nothing behind it and a tailwind. I'm not looking at what I get with a boat behind it. I haven't checked but I would be willing to bet that when I tow with my RV (a '92 safari diesel pusher) the RV gets better mileage than the ford.
Posted By: stevefisherkeller

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 03:21 PM

2003 Mustang GT Convertable
Posted By: PTP

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 04:08 PM

4 cyc 2001 Subaru Forrester or 2001 Audi A4 or the new truck- 2007 Toyota 4runner V8 limited (much larger boat in the future? I think so:) I haven't put a hitch on the 2004 BMW Z4 although I think it could pull the blade easily <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
18MPG on the toyota, don't know about the towing yet. Yes, I have become the problem also.
Posted By: fin.

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 04:21 PM

'02 Honda Element or '97 Toyota Tacoma. Each gets about 17 mpg when towing. Often the Tacoma will not do 70 mph towing the Blade. I'm seriously considering a sedan, like a Toyota Camry for towing.
Posted By: scooby_simon

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/13/07 04:29 PM

Quote
Simon,

Nice big brake disks!

Have you ever heard of hobiegary's cure to hesitation?

GARY


It needs them ! - 0-60 in 4.25; 0-100 in 10.6 ! standing quarter in 11.7. Top speed limited to 160 (electronically); it's heared to about 200 but i'me sure the drag will overcome the power/torque before that point.

What is the cure to hesitation....
Posted By: Will_R

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/14/07 03:58 AM

Well, since I sold my boat when I moved to Utah, I don't quite tow one... but I did tow with my 2000 Chevy 3/4 ton 4wd crew cab. Since we're about to move back to Alabama, I see a 2007 d-max LTZ in my future <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Even with the gas burner, the boat was an afterthought towing. I get ~12 unloaded at 70mph and it didn't change with the boat. When towing the 3 horse gooseneck trailer, it drops to ~9. Can't wait to haul 2,000 miles in three weeks... ouch the fuel cost!!
Posted By: hobiegary

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/14/07 05:08 AM

Here is a url for Simon and or other Subaru drivers. Contact me off of the sailing forum for any more information please.
Subaru Hesitation Cure
Quote
What is the cure to hesitation....


GARY
Posted By: C2 Mike

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/16/07 12:03 AM

Decided that 5.7 litres didn't do the job so I got a 6.0 litre one of these to tow the Tiger with. They will be available as a G8 in the US shortly. It is a *magnificent* car

Tiger Mike

[Linked Image]


Attached picture 121537-SS-V.jpg
Posted By: TeamTeets

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/16/07 01:11 AM

You all are just wacked using fuel burners to tow our environmentally friendly craft. Go all Electric! EV Rules! It is amazing how little energy it takes to get to a regatta. I just charge up over night and we are good to go. And the performance of a Vette is nice to have for the light air days when you are stuck waiting for the next postponment.

[Linked Image]

Attached picture 121539-IMG_2036-small.jpg
Posted By: gree2056

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/16/07 01:43 AM

What kind of mpg do you get with that rig? What is the windage like and how does it handle sand and inclines? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Karl_Brogger

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/16/07 02:31 AM

Wow that's a big boat!


Ok. I read your post before the picture came up. All I was thinking was jeez.... another tree hugger, but that made me laugh! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Clayton

Re: What do you tow your boat with? - 10/16/07 01:03 PM

And we thought the mini cooper/tornado ratio was a little off! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Clayton
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