Victoria 18' ?

Justin_NSA · Jul 15, 2016

Can't offer help with the boat, but the owner's manual on my 4 cyl 2.3L TurboCoupe advised NOT to tow anything. I think having to use more throttle to tow runs the turbo too long causing too much heat and premature failure. Just my theory on why they discouraged it.

Brian S · Jul 15, 2016

I have a pic somewhere of people towing a Precision 18 with a Mini Cooper. I don't know if it was an S or not. I don't think I would do that. A P-18 is listed as 1100 pounds displacement, and the Victoria as 1250. (sailboatdata.com)

I tow my 192, 1400 pounds listed, with a Subaru Forester, which lists a capacity of 2200 or 2400 pounds (depending on where you find the spec.) I don't really like to do it, because surely the boat and trailer at at or exceeding that max. So, I tow slow, and avoid as many hills as I can. Luckily, house to lake is only 1/2 hour drive. Still, if I had a 5000# capacity Pathfinder or Xterra or something, I could entertain dreams of the Chesapeake or Adirondack lakes (not that I would ever get it together enough to actually try and vacation in either location, but still...)

RussC · Jul 15, 2016

I would not want to rely on a Countryman to launch and retrieve a Vic 18. Even though the std trailer has a long tung, and tilts, and the boat launches and retrieves very easily, that little Mini would be floating away with the boat. I assume you have the 2wd version? traction would also be a big concern IMO. I use a 4wd Dodge, so it's very easy for me, but a Mini?….. Naaaa.

It's a great little boat, but ya need a bit more vehicle than a Mini to tow it.

.02

chrisings · Jul 15, 2016

Pieper Murphey said:
Thanks for the reply... BUT there are 3 levels of Minis...the small 'go-cart' from the Italian Job movie, the mid-size Clubman (fake station wagon), and the SUV-look alike Countryman. All come in Turbo version. We have the BIG Turbo Countryman.

Easy there chief. Your "big" countryman mini is still a 190HP 2 wheel drive car. I agree with Russ, you could end up with a very wet Mini trying to pull that boat up a ramp. A "BIG" turbo will do you no good in 2 wheel drive with the wheels spinning as you head for the drink. You asked, if you don't like the answers then don't ask.

RussC · Jul 15, 2016

My fault. I didn't realize you had the "BIG" Mini

But it would still be helpful to know if it's 2wd or 4wd.

Daveinet · Jul 16, 2016

OK, I just deleted my post after seeing photos of the boat. Don't do it. The boat sits very high on the trailer and therefore has a lot of wind resistance. This means it will pull very hard regardless of how much it weighs. I had a 17 footer that weighed 1200 including the trailer. It had a stub keel, and sat very high on the trailer. Above 40 mph, it was difficult to pull. I currently have an RL 24 which weighs 3000 lbs including the trailer. It is much easier to pull at speed, because it sits low on the trailer. The centerboard goes all the way inside the boat. Night and day between the two boats and the strain on my Jeep.

BTY: I don't think you would have any trouble launching it with the Mini. Most people don't understand how much a Mini weighs. They are a very heavy car.

Brian S · Jul 17, 2016

As for launch retrieval, my 192 is stub keel. Sits pretty high on trailer. I decided to have a metal-working friend help me fab an 8' extension. Works really well to float the boat on and off at my primary ramp, and keeps my tires dry. It's a lake, so the ramp is really good traction, not like a slimy tidal ramp. This season, I had my parents help me launch. Gave them each a dock line, said "I'm going to back down, and it will float right off." I backed, the boat's momentum started a bit of float, they pulled a bit when I said, then I pulled the trailer right out, parked, stowed the extension, and was back down at the dock before the powerboat next to me was done pulling out launching their boat. (I assume they had some backing issues.)

At haulout last year, the guys on the dock didn't know with my extension I didn't need to back the wheels into the water, so they told me to keep going. I noticed how far in I was, and then pulled forward some so the wheels were right at water's edge. They were still able to float onto the trailer, and I was again quick to pull out. I have very low boards alongside the keel rollers. My big innovation last year for haulout was to paint the tops of the boards fluorescent yellow. The haulout helpers said you could easily see the boards under the water, and they positioned the boat centered on the rollers, and centered side to side within a 1/2", far better than I have ever centered the boat before. That fluorsecent paint is one of my best ideas yet!

Brian S · Jul 18, 2016

Pieper Murphey said:
I like the tongue extension...now to counteract that with a 20' garage

Pieper, my extension is removable. It has a coupler on the end, and at the other end there is a ball mounted maybe 18" in from the end, and tabs on either side of the end that extend up. To install, fit the end tabs up from under the existing tongue. Fix in place with a pin through the tabs, just above the tongue. Then fit the ball into the existing tongue coupler. Now out at the end of the extension, put the extension's coupler onto the vehicle's ball.

My buddy welded another ball to the trailer, and made like a tray. I store the extension on the trailer, with the coupler connected to the ball, laying in the tray and strapped to the tray. The wall thickness of the extension is WAAAAAYYY thicker than it needs to be, that thing is heavy and BEEFY. Probably could have done just as well with aluminum box, but, well...

I have a small trailer for a Force 5. The PO apparently had more time than I don't know, and has made this 125 lb. boat's trailer into a tank. He apparently added tons of unnecessary stuff. He said he couldn't see backing it with his Toyota RAV4, so he bolted on a pivoting tongue extension which gained him 2' or so, and folds out of the way. Some folks use such an extension to fit into the garage; he did it just for a longer tongue. All I can say is it added even more weight to the trailer. That stupid thing tows HEAVIER than my previous Harpoon, which weighed like 600 pounds all up! I can't stand when I have to mow under the damn thing, because it's heavier to roll than my 192 trailer!

Brian S · Jul 19, 2016

Here are pics of my extension. Note I did not put the fastening tabs on the end of the extension. My beefy overkill bracket is bolted to the trailer tongue. This is not nearly as elegant as some simple tabs welded to the end of the extension, with holes bored, and a simple T-pin through the holes. However, mine works as intended, sooooo... Also, we had to put some thin spacers on the brackets such that they bolt onto the tongue wider than the tongue. Otherwise, the extension wouldn't fit, because it is the same OD as the tongue.