I’m seriously looking at purchasing a Hunter 260. We intend to trailer it quite a bit. My main hesitation is that it’s about 5” over the maximum width for the highway, so it’s considered a wide load. I’ve read that people aren’t getting pulled over for this, but it is a big concern. Any thoughts? Any personal issues? Thanks
Hunter 260 wide load
- Thread starter albakers
- Start date
Have you actually measured and checked with the proper authorities regarding width?
Can't believe Hunter would have allowed this issue past the drawing board.
You did not specify the actual width of boat on the trailer. Are you planning to trailer around Lake Hefner in Oklahoma? Check out the link to Oklahoma: Width, Height, and Length of Vehicle and Load
Some general US regulations on oversized vehicles/trailers: Wide Load Regulations, Rules, Flags and Permit Costs by State
Some general US regulations on oversized vehicles/trailers: Wide Load Regulations, Rules, Flags and Permit Costs by State
I trailered my 9.5' wide San Juan 7.7m home from KY. Once to Ft. Gibson lake, home every winter from OOlogah lake. Did that for years. Never had a problem. I wouldn't want to do it everyday though. It was also 12.5' tall. Seemed obvious to me that it was over size.
Hauled a friends Cal 27-2 home for him. It was a short haul but had a huge hill near his house, the hill was worse on the way down.
Also helped a friend tow a Humter 27 from Pennsylvania to Dallas TX. No problem, but I think we were legal.
If you plan to go very far you better research the route. Construction zones can get very narrow!
Hauled a friends Cal 27-2 home for him. It was a short haul but had a huge hill near his house, the hill was worse on the way down.
Also helped a friend tow a Humter 27 from Pennsylvania to Dallas TX. No problem, but I think we were legal.
If you plan to go very far you better research the route. Construction zones can get very narrow!
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I did check before asking the question. 8’6” or 102” is the maximum width without being considered wide load. I have no clue why Hunter designed it over this. It may be trailerable, but not legally.
I anticipate trailering whatever boat I get regularly, oftentimes outside of Oklahoma.
We have so much construction around the state, that I don’t think I’d be able to get this through the construction zones.
Thanks for the response. It doesn't appear folks are stopped generally.
I anticipate trailering whatever boat I get regularly, oftentimes outside of Oklahoma.
We have so much construction around the state, that I don’t think I’d be able to get this through the construction zones.
Thanks for the response. It doesn't appear folks are stopped generally.
A 26 is a nice boat. I wouldnt want to trailer it all the time tho. I'd plan on about 2 hours each, if you're really fast, for set up and tear down. Cuts into the day a lot.
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I think OK has been trying to corner the market on construction cones for years. Whoever supplies them must be a wealthy man!
You bring up an interesting question. I don't think anyone has ever thought about it before. Maybe the 26/260 owners have some advice. It would a huge disappointment if you found out after you purchased it that the state(s) are going to enforce the wide load restrictions.
Even though the 260 is considered a trailer sailor, that's a lot of boat to be on the road so often. Have you looked at others?
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,322
You know if by chance a couple of those construction cones get caught up in your trailer undercarriage, just remove them toss them in the back of the boat and when you get near a practice field with kids playing soccer toss them over the fence. They will love them. They make excellent practice goals. And you’ll be rewarded with a bunch of “Thanks man,” calls and “You’re the greatest,” shouts.
Perhaps they have not been stopped because few traffic patrol have a tape measure to determine your 5” too big, or really want to spend the time on the paperwork. Easier to catch the speeder doing 20 over the limit and less flack from fellow officers explaining you stopped a boat for being 5” over the size limit.
Now if you get a weights and measures rig from the transportation department following you, you’ll be pulled over.
Perhaps they have not been stopped because few traffic patrol have a tape measure to determine your 5” too big, or really want to spend the time on the paperwork. Easier to catch the speeder doing 20 over the limit and less flack from fellow officers explaining you stopped a boat for being 5” over the size limit.
Now if you get a weights and measures rig from the transportation department following you, you’ll be pulled over.
I have a 1995 Hunter 26. Boat has been trailered from east coast to Kentucky, and from Kentucky up to the Great Lakes more than several times. I've never been stopped nor do the signs bother me along interstates indicating wide-load restrictions in construction areas. These signs are for loads several feet wider than legal; our 5 inches are not going to make a difference. TRAILER AND SAIL ON!
I wouldn't worry about 5".
However I drove through a very narrow construction zone last week. Wouldn't want to do that too often with an oversize load.
A little extra beam makes a huge difference in the living space.
However I drove through a very narrow construction zone last week. Wouldn't want to do that too often with an oversize load.
A little extra beam makes a huge difference in the living space.
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Sailboatdata lists the beam as 9'. My old H212 lists out at just a little more than that. I never had any issues trailering my 212 to the docks. It looked fine going down the road the day I sold it. I followed it down the road for a couple of miles when the new buyer left.
I believe that your 260 is one of the water ballast boats. As I understand it, those were specifically designed to live on a trailer. The purpose of the water ballast was to reduce weight to make towing easier.
The passage below is from the Oklahoma website that was listed below. It sounds to me like 102" is the max for the main body of the trailer & things like awnings & pins can stick out a little more. On my H212, I had support rails sticking out beyond the 9.1' beam. In the case of hay bails, they let you have 11'
"A. Except as otherwise provided for by this chapter, no vehicle, with or without load, shall have a total outside width in excess of one hundred two (102) inches excluding:
1. Tire bulge;
2. Approved safety devices;
3. A retracted awning with a width of eight (8) inches or less or other appurtenance of four (4) inches or less which is attached to the side of a recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 1102 of this title; and
4. Pins used as a safety precaution or as a load-assisting device if the pins do not extend the overall width of the vehicle beyond nine (9) feet. The State of Oklahoma hereby declares it has determined, in accordance with 23 C.F.R., Section 658.15, that such pins are necessary for the safe and efficient operation of motor vehicles.
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person engaged in the hauling of round baled hay with a total outside width of eleven (11) feet or less when the hay is owned by such person and is being hauled for any purpose other than resale. The provisions of this subsection shall also not apply to any county official or employee engaged in the hauling or pulling of a trailer or equipment owned by the county on the county roads of such county."
"A. Except as otherwise provided for by this chapter, no vehicle, with or without load, shall have a total outside width in excess of one hundred two (102) inches excluding:
1. Tire bulge;
2. Approved safety devices;
3. A retracted awning with a width of eight (8) inches or less or other appurtenance of four (4) inches or less which is attached to the side of a recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 1102 of this title; and
4. Pins used as a safety precaution or as a load-assisting device if the pins do not extend the overall width of the vehicle beyond nine (9) feet. The State of Oklahoma hereby declares it has determined, in accordance with 23 C.F.R., Section 658.15, that such pins are necessary for the safe and efficient operation of motor vehicles.
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person engaged in the hauling of round baled hay with a total outside width of eleven (11) feet or less when the hay is owned by such person and is being hauled for any purpose other than resale. The provisions of this subsection shall also not apply to any county official or employee engaged in the hauling or pulling of a trailer or equipment owned by the county on the county roads of such county."
The actual width of the Hunter 260 and 26 is 8' 11 1/4 inches wide. When ever towing, I told my customers to take off the trailer guides. I have gone thru numerous stop and checks but never asked about the width. As to widths, generally up to 8 1/2 feet is legal but the additional length was never a concern except when towing by the owner to remember that so not to get close to other vehicles. Customers also included state troopers, sheriff deputies and so on. I towed the boat so many times I could not count since introducing it and selling the very last produced. I know the boat all too well.