To Trailer or not to...

agprice22

agprice22

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Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
I have a line on an older J/30 for very little money. It is 4 hours away from my house. I have a dual axle trailer I use for my 272.
The J/30 weighs 7000 lbs. The GVWR of the trailer is 6800 lbs. Subtracting the weight of the trailer from the GVWR gives a capacity of 5800 lbs...
I want to use this trailer. Should I risk it? Otherwise, I will have to pass, as I won't pay to move it or buy a bigger trailer.
 
kito

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
I thought the GVWR of a trailer is the weight of what it can haul and not have to do with the trailer weight.
EDIT: Per Boatus:
Federal law requires that a trailer display its GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), which is the total weight the trailer is rated to carry, including the boat, engine, gasoline (six pounds per gallon), water (eight pounds per gallon) and gear.

Sounds like you are ok..........if the trailer can be adjusted to the J30
 
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DougM

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
What are the chances of beefing up the springs on the trailer?
What kind of condition are the tires in, and what is their rating?
how much weight can you take out of the boat before moving it?
Are you going to be towing on level terrain or hilly?
What is the beam width of A J30? If its over 9 feet, you will need a permit.
How tall is the overall load? Will you have any low bridges to worry about?
Just a few thoughts to consider.
 
J

jeepbluetj

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Jan 18, 2016
782
Catalina 387 Dana Point
Agprice is correct. The GVWR of a trailer is the combination of the trailer and the load. Hence the gross. Net would be the load.

I'd be mostly worried about the tires and the bearings. I would not do it unless you can pull 800lbs or so out of the boat.
 
agprice22

agprice22

.
Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
The boat is empty except for motor and normal interior Fixtures. There are some hills on the route. I will have to go slowly. The route is all highway, and the J/30 is low profile. I can put the mast on the trailer to save a little height.
Keep it coming! I need your thoughts!
 
kito

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
GVWR of a trailer means what it can haul......gross weight of it's load. GVWR of a tow vehicle is total gross including itself. Read my quote from BOATUS in my post above. Trailers are rated by it load limits.....the weight of itself matters only to the tow vehicle not the trailer.
Edit: I guess you can't believe everything you read. There should be a "capacity" number on your plate too. GWVR on a trailer apparently includes trailer weight. My bad.......
 
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BudGates

BudGates

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Apr 19, 2012
1,043
O'Day Daysailor 17 Nevis MN
From the online towing guide: http://www.onlinetowingguide.com/glossary.html

Gross combined vehicle weight rating (GCVWR)
Total combined weight of truck and trailer, as specified by the vehicle manufacturer, including all passengers, fuel, fluids and cargo.

Gross trailer weight rating (GTWR)
The manufacturer-specified recommended maximum weight of a trailer when fully loaded.

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
The manufacturer-specified recommended maximum weight of a vehicle when fully loaded.

In other words. It's the weight that the scale reads when you drive onto it.
 
tomgrigsby

tomgrigsby

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May 21, 2009
362
Hunter 30 Smithfield, VA
The trailer would be overloaded by 17%. However, the J30 weight probably includes the mast but I don't know what else. Is that weight with water tanks and fuel full etc. If you do it, pull everything out of the boat that isn't nailed down. Batteries, table, cushions, anchor and tackle... Everything. Remove any extras such as spare tire from trailer, and take it easy. I guess two trips because your have to go back for the mast etc.
 
J

jeepbluetj

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Jan 18, 2016
782
Catalina 387 Dana Point
Do travel lifts have scales? I.e. can you find out how much the boat _really_ weighs?
If you do push it, make sure the bearings are greased properly, the trailer brakes work well, and the tires are all at the precise inflation level.

You will be in much higher danger of burning a bearing, blowing a tire, breaking a spring, breaking an axle, etc... if you're overloaded.

Oh, and of course the truck needs to be up to the job to (GCVWR)
 
T

twalker H260

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Dec 2, 2003
766
Hunter 260 winnipeg, Manitoba
From the j/30 site they list the factory displacement as 6000 lbs and the sailing displacement as 6500. If these numbers are accurate I would suspect you can lighten the load enough that you would be safe. Keep in mind the hitch weight (10-15%) of the trailer load is subtracted from the trailer weight as it is carried by the tow vehicle.

As suggested by others I would take everything that can be drained or removed from the boat to give as wide a safety margin as possible. Site indicates it has a transom hung rudder so that could likely be removed fairly easily as well.

Again as mentioned by others you would likely need permits as the beam is listed as 11.18'

Drive slow and frequently check the temperature of the wheel hubs. - a laser temperature gauge makes this easier but they should not be so warm that the can't be touched comfortably.

http://j30.us/blog/?page_id=106
 
LeeandRick

LeeandRick

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Apr 26, 2015
663
S2 26 Mid On Trailer
You might check the permitting process before proceeding. The cost of the permit and the fact they might want a weight slip may deter you. In most states when you go past 10' width the real hassles start. In my state and many out west you can buy a yearly permit for unlimited trips on most roads if you are under 10' wide. Over that requires travel times and routes and stops at check stations and...
 
Ken Cross

Ken Cross

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Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
Trailer and tow vehicle ratings include brake capacity as well as structural integrity. If you overload and get in an accident, will your insurance cover? Best to also know what the state says about dimensions.

Ken
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
A line on an older J30 for very little money .... probably sailed hard, put away wet. After you factor in the anticipated expense of making it right, why would you think it's worth the risk you take trailering it on a trailer that would be overloaded? I assume you've got some steep hills to navigate. That photo that was posted recently of a sweet Beneteau laying on it's side in Colorado comes to mind.
 
agprice22

agprice22

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Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
Scott T-Bird said:
A line on an older J30 for very little money .... probably sailed hard, put away wet. After you factor in the anticipated expense of making it right, why would you think it's worth the risk you take trailering it on a trailer that would be overloaded? I assume you've got some steep hills to navigate. That photo that was posted recently of a sweet Beneteau laying on it's side in Colorado comes to mind.
Click to expand
I think this speaks more to my desire for the boat. I am ready for a new project, and this J/30 looks like a sweet project. My problem is the distance and the load. :(
And I definitely want to avoid being next week's unfortunate photo contest winner!
 
Kings Gambit

Kings Gambit

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Jul 27, 2011
5,180
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
agprice22 said:
I think this speaks more to my desire for the boat. I am ready for a new project, and this J/30 looks like a sweet project. My problem is the distance and the load. :(
And I definitely want to avoid being next week's unfortunate photo contest winner!
Click to expand
Well, I guess the first taste of this sweet project is how to get it safely to your location w/o spending any money. Good luck--I hope the rest of it goes better than this part is shaping up, or it will be but yet another..... short-lived forum fantasy.:doh:
 
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Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
If you're over rated capacity you can kiss any potential insurance claim goodbye.

Especially if you've schemed about it online. ;^)
 
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agprice22

agprice22

.
Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
Jackdaw said:
If you're over rated capacity you can kiss any potential insurance claim goodbye.

Especially if you've schemed about it online. ;^)
Click to expand
Haha. I'll say! No. I would eat the cost. The cost of the boat is minimal. Interesingly, the boat is not in terrible shape. The owner has been up front about the boat's needs. He raced the boat this season. The season is finished, and he wants it gone.
I have skill, and I think the J/30 would be a fun project with good reward.
We shall see...
 
S

sesmith

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Jul 1, 2010
990
Catalina 350 Port Huron
It's not an insurance claim on the boat that would keep me up at night. It's the potential liability involved if you cause an accident. We had a women killed up in my area a couple of springs ago. A wheel came off the trailer. It took a bad hop and went through the windshield of another car, killing the driver. Food for thought if you're considering hauling an overweight trailer.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index....at_killed_baldwinsville_teacher_ticketed.html
 
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