Launching / Retrieving a Catalina 22 with a Prius....?
- Thread starter gypsy_jason
- Start date
I think it would be ok as long as the ramp is not too steep. The main thing about using vehicles for towing is transmisson wear and braking power. You don’t have those issue since you are just going 30ft. If it will get the boat out then you should be ok.
NotCook
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- Dec 29, 2008
- 806
Ok, but “enough”, I would have think. I suppose it would depend on just how steep the ramp is. We never encountered problems going up hills, or in towing the Jetski, despite the manufacture’s recommendations. Of course, with the trailer it was not much over 1000 pounds.
Not sure how you would judge the torque, by simply riding in one, separate from acceleration. No, it wasn’t a fast accelerater, but it didn’t struggle on hills or mountains.
NotCook
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- Dec 29, 2008
- 806
You suppose? I’m sure their lawyers knew that, too, In case someone complained that it wouldn’t tow their boat. My point was, in addition to the small gasoline engine that is “not high reving”, it has an electric traction motor that works at the same time. Pretty much everyone knows electric motors have nearly all their torque even a low rpms, so they don’t have to rev to 3000 rpms before they produce their peak HP.
It was my friend's car. He stopped on a hill and floored it, and the car sloooowly took off. It was an older model, maybe they've gotten better.
I have a chebby volt, and it has plenty of low end torque. The traction control will kick in often if you're not gentle on the pedal. No doubt its motor could pull a boat as long as there's enough traction.
My '66 GTO clutch linkage broke once. No way to start, put it in gear and get going,. So I put it in gear and cranked on the starter. It drove the car forward until the engine started and away I went.
Yes, electric motors are powerful. Is it a good idea to abuse them? Probably not.
Yes, electric motors are powerful. Is it a good idea to abuse them? Probably not.
NotCook
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- Dec 29, 2008
- 806
We had a Volt also. Great car! Wish we still had it. We traded it for a Jeep before we moved down here. Thinking about getting g a 2019 for here - which we can charge with solar. The Volt definitely had plenty of torque.
Starters connect to the engine with something like a 20:1 gear ratio. They only need to get the engine spinning a few hundred rpm.
Standard procedure for manual transmission rock crawling if the engine dies is to restart in gear. Not a problem in low range.
I bet many 4wd pickups could pull that boat up the ramp a bit with just the starter in low range. May not make it all the way before the starter overheats though as they aren't made to run more than a few seconds at a time before they're given time to cool off.
The issue is gearing and low-speed torque more than power.
I like to put my suburban in low range when launching/retreating my little boat. Not that it needs it, just lightens the load and give better low speed control. Also gives more confidence that it'll hold in park as the parking break isn't so great and I've seen the videos of trucks going for a swim at the ramp...
When has that ever stopped usThe O.P last replied on post #31
