Hi all. I belong to a trailer-sailor's club where all boats are kept, rigged, on trailers. With rare exceptions no boats stay in the water overnight. I've watched a fellow member pull his C22 out of the water with a late '90s Nissan Altima (4 cyl). It seems to be a piece of cake. I'm considering an H23 and wondering about pulling it up the ramp with a Mazda Protege. I'd never be going more that a couple of hundred yards to my parking spot, so the only real concern is that forty feet up the ramp. Is this crazy or do-able? Opinions or recommendations? Thanks. Dave
Retrieve an H23 with a Mazda Protege?
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Towing
Selecting a tow vehicle requires some analysis. Go to this link to see how one owner went about deciding if he had an adequate tow vehicle for his boat. Go to: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/travel/travel.html This is for a slightly larger boat than yours, but the principles are the same
Selecting a tow vehicle requires some analysis. Go to this link to see how one owner went about deciding if he had an adequate tow vehicle for his boat. Go to: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/travel/travel.html This is for a slightly larger boat than yours, but the principles are the same
For a while
It might do it a few times, but in my opinion the clutch/tranny wouldn't last very long.
It might do it a few times, but in my opinion the clutch/tranny wouldn't last very long.
Talk to the Tranny Man
It's a lot for a small car. A Protege is probably only rated to tow 1,000 lbs, if that. I imagine an H23 weights 2000 lbs or more on a trailer, if it is dry and empty. Like Nice N Easy said, If the car has a manual transmission, I would not even try. With an automatic, and really flat land, and a bit of luck, it might work out, maybe. You might want to talk to the transmission guy at the dealership to see what they have seen come in, and what it costs to fix.
It's a lot for a small car. A Protege is probably only rated to tow 1,000 lbs, if that. I imagine an H23 weights 2000 lbs or more on a trailer, if it is dry and empty. Like Nice N Easy said, If the car has a manual transmission, I would not even try. With an automatic, and really flat land, and a bit of luck, it might work out, maybe. You might want to talk to the transmission guy at the dealership to see what they have seen come in, and what it costs to fix.
I would not try it but if you do minimize the pull
Wait till high tide, use a trailer tongue extension, lighten the load. The idea is to float the boat just half way into the trailer, (a tongue extension will allow you to submerge the trailer deeper into the ramp) then start to pull, initially you will be pulling mostly the trailer and the load will gradually increase as the boats sits down on the bunks but at the same time the forward momemtum acquired by the trailer and boat will help the tow vehicle. The limited tow ratings on these cars is not because of lack of engine power it is because limitations imposed by the lack of a sturdy chasis in their uni-body construction. Remember you will also experince a pull when going down the ramp to put the boat in the water, you need to be able to stop the car so do it slowly and gradually. Someone at your club must have a truck or strong vehicle so offer to pay a few dollars if they will pull it for you. I will be money well spent in preserving your car.
Wait till high tide, use a trailer tongue extension, lighten the load. The idea is to float the boat just half way into the trailer, (a tongue extension will allow you to submerge the trailer deeper into the ramp) then start to pull, initially you will be pulling mostly the trailer and the load will gradually increase as the boats sits down on the bunks but at the same time the forward momemtum acquired by the trailer and boat will help the tow vehicle. The limited tow ratings on these cars is not because of lack of engine power it is because limitations imposed by the lack of a sturdy chasis in their uni-body construction. Remember you will also experince a pull when going down the ramp to put the boat in the water, you need to be able to stop the car so do it slowly and gradually. Someone at your club must have a truck or strong vehicle so offer to pay a few dollars if they will pull it for you. I will be money well spent in preserving your car.
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