Advice on H26 and towing w/Infiniti QX4 '99?-

[Voilier]

Greetings--

I am planning on buying a '96 H26 and have a '99 Infiniti QX4 with about 90K miles. We have a ramp about .5 mile from our dock in Charlotte Harbor FL, and I was planning on towing to launch and then pulling out to store in the yard when we aren't using it. We might also want to take it down to launch near Gasparilla Island--about 25 miles away--occasionally.

Two questions

A. Any H26 owners, how have you enjoyed the boat? I had a Catalina 30, but wanted something I could pull out myself and store vs a yard. I know it won't have the massive keel, but hope to hear it sails pretty well--and should be great for gunk-holing and some modest cruising trips. Any tips would be welcome.

B. Is it realistic to tow for moderate distances with the QX4? I had a class III hitch installed a few months ago. The QX4 is technically rated for 5000lbs, but lived in Rochester NY and has quite a bit of rust--am I pushing it, or could it work for what I am doing on flat ground (except the ramp). The 4WD and ultra low gear seem like they would help--and it is a truck frame, but don't want to be unrealistic.

Thanks for any advice--I need to make a decision by Friday!

 

[Benny17441]

The QX4 with 4WD should be quite adequate for the job. Mind the load balance and tongue weight. Trailer brakes are a must.

 

[Voilier]

The QX4 with 4WD should be quite adequate for the job. Mind the load balance and tongue weight. Trailer brakes are a must.

Thanks Benny

Do you have an H26 and if so, would you recommend for bay and close to shore weekend cruising and then storing on land when not in use?

The trailer brakes seemed to be in place but will have to get them checked out.

Thanks again!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Remember when towing a boat, pretend you are driving on snow and ice. Accelerate slowly and brake three times the distance. The brakes on that trailer will stop the trailer only if working properly. You are smart to have them checked. In addition, some states actually require brakes on both axles. Not sure about Florida but one axle is fine.. If you do require brakes on both axles, the second axle can take brakes when some shops say otherwise. However, check out the cost with a new axles with brakes installed vs. the one on your trailer where brakes have to be added.

On the early versions of H26 trailers, some did not have the spare emergency cable/chain with hook to add to the bow eye for safety in the event the standard winch strap/cable/line broke. If not, then use a heavy duty piece of yacht braid and stay away from cheap 3 stranded cheap junk as the breaking load is much less. Make sure the bow eye strap is tightly secured

In addition, have the bearings and racers on the trailer checked out.

As for you vehicle, you should be fine but would suggest that you add heavy duty shocks and the largest radiator to the car for cooling. Also add the extra transmission cooler or trani cooler as some would say if it is automatic.

Crazy Dave Condon

 

[Tally Ho]

Thanks Benny

Do you have an H26 and if so, would you recommend for bay and close to shore weekend cruising and then storing on land when not in use?

The trailer brakes seemed to be in place but will have to get them checked out.

Thanks again!

I thought about a trailer-able boat before I bought a H280. After meeting a MacGregor 26 owner for a test sail, and spending an hour at the dock to raise the mast, bend on the sails, and get the boat in the water, then even longer to pull the boat out and get it ready to trailer home, I just could not see doing that every time I wanted to go out for a sail.

I also considered just paying the extra $$ for slip, and then keeping the Boston a trailer for the winter. But I was not sold on the Mac 26 sailing characteristics (water-ballast, dagger board, 50 hp outboard).

I ended up buying the H280 and keep it in a slip. I can run out to the marina for a quick evening sail, or when I have a few hours on a weekend.

Costs a little bit more, but for me, it is worth it. The more traditional H280 also makes me more comfortable on Lake Michigan than a lighter, trailer able boat.

Greg Johnson

 

[Benny17441]

No I don't have an h26 and in fact know very little about them but I have done my fair share of long distance boat towing. The secret to sailing in a small trailerable boat is to mind the weather. If you get a weather window of like the weather we having lately you could cruise up and down the West coast of Florida. In unsettled weather I would stay in the Bay. Regarding using the trailer to store the boat I honestly think you loose a lot from the boating experience. There is nothing better than deciding on the spur of the moment to take the boat out for an hour in the evening or lounging on the boat at the dock talking to other boat owners. Raising and lowering the mast everytime you want to go out gets old after a while and you will end up using it less and less. I consider slip fees to be part of the boating experience and in cases I have spent more in slip fees that the original cost of a particular boat. I would not get rid of the trailer but would use it to take trips to distant destinations. Just think that in a matter of hours you could be sailing in Tampa Bay or the Florida keys.

 

[John23883]

Towing

I have an H26 and tow it with a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder rated at 6000lbs towing. Before that I towed it with a 2002 Pathfinder rated at 5000lbs. I have not had a problem with either vehicle and when I drove it home 300 miles the trailer brakes didn't work. I have never had to put it in 4-wheel drive to get it up a ramp and out of the water. Based on what others have told me, the weight of the boat and trailer is closer to 6000# fully loaded and when pulling it out of the water about 8000#. As I said, no problem with the vehicle. As others have said, drive very carfully. Having said that I have installed airlifts http://www.airliftcompany.com/ in the rear coils and would not even think of towing without. Unless it has been modified, the trailer has hydraulic brakes which preclude the use of an equalizer hitch. Without the airlifts you will be dragging your rear bumper.

Yes, it's nice to have a slip and a keel but that would have made it difficult to join the Trailer Sailor association and meet 60 of them 600 miles north in the North Channel of Lake Huron last July. Sure we could of sailed up there but not in the 12 hours it took to drive it.