I am interested in getting a used Catalina 18 or 22. My Subaru Impreza WRX wagon can tow up to 2000lbs. The Catalina 18 weighs 1500 so its probably 1900 lbs with the trailer. I am sure my AWD Subaru will tow the boat but I don't know how well it will pull it out of the water. Has anyone had experience using smaller cars to tow a Catalina? Thanks, Stephan Brauchli
- Status
I'd be careful
The trailer for my C22 weighs a good 1,000 pounds and I'd be surprised if the C18 trailer were much less. I drive a GMC Yukon and can definitely feel the boat back there. If 2,000lbs is the limit on your vehicle then you may need a bigger vehicle or smaller boat. You do not want to suffer a loss of control while towing.
The trailer for my C22 weighs a good 1,000 pounds and I'd be surprised if the C18 trailer were much less. I drive a GMC Yukon and can definitely feel the boat back there. If 2,000lbs is the limit on your vehicle then you may need a bigger vehicle or smaller boat. You do not want to suffer a loss of control while towing.
Slightly used Subaru for sale
You are going to tow a Catalina 22 with a Subaru Impreza WRX wagon powered by a 4 banger??? I do not think you will be “impreza” with the results. Though your mechanic might like the idea. Go get yourself a V8 and avoid the headaches. Good luck
You are going to tow a Catalina 22 with a Subaru Impreza WRX wagon powered by a 4 banger??? I do not think you will be “impreza” with the results. Though your mechanic might like the idea. Go get yourself a V8 and avoid the headaches. Good luck
Check the numbers
A fully "Family-ized" Cat 22 w/trailer will tip the scales at 4000# plus. If you use the formula below you will clearly see nothing of value, but I thought it might be entertaining. Since you have no mountains in Texas the four cyl WRX will get you there, but mark my words, you will need to stop. Look at your brakes somtime, those cute little rotors. W=lodgical added wieght, cooler, personals etc. S=Things that "might as well live" on board porta potti, foul gear, outboard etc. N=We're on a trip "this can ride in the boat" stuff. F=Number a family (count friends also) R=Real tow wieght (boat, trailer, gear) V=Actual wieght of tow vehicle A=Additional length of boat W= 200 + S= 300 + N= 150 = 550 X F= 4 = 2200 + R= 3500 = 5700 / V= 2835 = 2.01 + A= 4 = 6.01 As you can see its all in the numbers
) I have to go to work now.
A fully "Family-ized" Cat 22 w/trailer will tip the scales at 4000# plus. If you use the formula below you will clearly see nothing of value, but I thought it might be entertaining. Since you have no mountains in Texas the four cyl WRX will get you there, but mark my words, you will need to stop. Look at your brakes somtime, those cute little rotors. W=lodgical added wieght, cooler, personals etc. S=Things that "might as well live" on board porta potti, foul gear, outboard etc. N=We're on a trip "this can ride in the boat" stuff. F=Number a family (count friends also) R=Real tow wieght (boat, trailer, gear) V=Actual wieght of tow vehicle A=Additional length of boat W= 200 + S= 300 + N= 150 = 550 X F= 4 = 2200 + R= 3500 = 5700 / V= 2835 = 2.01 + A= 4 = 6.01 As you can see its all in the numbers
) I have to go to work now.Total weight for my Catalina 18 (at a scale)
Loaded up for a trip, but not ridiculously full (no ice, water, or food yet), Roller Furler, Nissan 4 cycle 6hp, 3.5 gallon of gas, couple of anchors + rodes, general stuff that accumulates (dock lines, fenders, spares, flares, towels, pillows, sleeping bags, etc.) 2467 lbs. I pull it with a 4-Runner, never had any problems, several long trips. 5000lb towing Cap on the 4-Runner.
Loaded up for a trip, but not ridiculously full (no ice, water, or food yet), Roller Furler, Nissan 4 cycle 6hp, 3.5 gallon of gas, couple of anchors + rodes, general stuff that accumulates (dock lines, fenders, spares, flares, towels, pillows, sleeping bags, etc.) 2467 lbs. I pull it with a 4-Runner, never had any problems, several long trips. 5000lb towing Cap on the 4-Runner.
Rent a truck
You know another option is to rent a pickup from U-Haul when you need to move the boat. That would work if all you are doing is launching the boat in your home lake a couple times a year or so or for short vacations. Most of the U-Hauls come with a hitch or at least a receiver. If you get rolling along the highway with an 18 or 22 behind a small car you could have a very serious accident. If you need to stop quickly the boat will push the car and you wont be able to control it.
You know another option is to rent a pickup from U-Haul when you need to move the boat. That would work if all you are doing is launching the boat in your home lake a couple times a year or so or for short vacations. Most of the U-Hauls come with a hitch or at least a receiver. If you get rolling along the highway with an 18 or 22 behind a small car you could have a very serious accident. If you need to stop quickly the boat will push the car and you wont be able to control it.
Ramps
I here you. You want to be able to move your boat and get it in and out of the water. I have a C-22 and a Toyota Highlander. This vehicle pulls the boat fine (although I wish I had a bigger vehicle) It even gets the boat out of the water well. (although it is front wheel drive) When we bought this vehicle we did not have the boat and if we did we would have mooved up in size and towing capacity. I know of people who pull 18's and 22's with station wagons and most of their stories begin and end with apologetics. (but after that every thing was ok, But we made it... Etc) You may well be able to pull it but let me say this: We were coming back from the outer banks of NC. and the boat had shifted some on the trip home so we stopped in Wilmington to re-position the boat. We thought we could simply float it off the trailer and float it back on, positioned better and be off. We found and used a busy ramp. We got the boat off and back on but then we could not get it out of the water. The ramp was quite steep, and wet. We were finaly able to ask a fellow boater to help us. We floted the boat off, pulled the trailer up empty, attached it to his F-250, backed the trailer back in put the boat back on the trailer and even he (and his F-250) had a little trouble getting the boat out. Steep ramp, wet ramp, bad tires, too much on the boat, all these things can work against you seprately or at the same time. If it was me I would use a different vehicle. Yours may be fine in some places and not in others. Remember you can almost always get the boat there and put it in the water, but when the day is over and darkness is falling, and you are tired, and there is no one else there to help you, you need to know you can make it back home safe. Just some thoughts Art <)))><
I here you. You want to be able to move your boat and get it in and out of the water. I have a C-22 and a Toyota Highlander. This vehicle pulls the boat fine (although I wish I had a bigger vehicle) It even gets the boat out of the water well. (although it is front wheel drive) When we bought this vehicle we did not have the boat and if we did we would have mooved up in size and towing capacity. I know of people who pull 18's and 22's with station wagons and most of their stories begin and end with apologetics. (but after that every thing was ok, But we made it... Etc) You may well be able to pull it but let me say this: We were coming back from the outer banks of NC. and the boat had shifted some on the trip home so we stopped in Wilmington to re-position the boat. We thought we could simply float it off the trailer and float it back on, positioned better and be off. We found and used a busy ramp. We got the boat off and back on but then we could not get it out of the water. The ramp was quite steep, and wet. We were finaly able to ask a fellow boater to help us. We floted the boat off, pulled the trailer up empty, attached it to his F-250, backed the trailer back in put the boat back on the trailer and even he (and his F-250) had a little trouble getting the boat out. Steep ramp, wet ramp, bad tires, too much on the boat, all these things can work against you seprately or at the same time. If it was me I would use a different vehicle. Yours may be fine in some places and not in others. Remember you can almost always get the boat there and put it in the water, but when the day is over and darkness is falling, and you are tired, and there is no one else there to help you, you need to know you can make it back home safe. Just some thoughts Art <)))><
rent truck/bad idea
Although Randy is trying to helpful......... renting a truck may be a bad idea. If you read the small print in a rental contract...... it usually say's ............ if you get in an accident and are towing ANYTHING........... YOU will be liable. In short......... most rental contracts exclude towing anything.... and I beleive that UHaul is included. In short..............towing with a small car as you described is a bad idea. You are grossly underpowered.
Although Randy is trying to helpful......... renting a truck may be a bad idea. If you read the small print in a rental contract...... it usually say's ............ if you get in an accident and are towing ANYTHING........... YOU will be liable. In short......... most rental contracts exclude towing anything.... and I beleive that UHaul is included. In short..............towing with a small car as you described is a bad idea. You are grossly underpowered.
My bad...borrow a truck!
Ken has a good point. Watch out for that fine print. Hey, better yet borrow a truck from a friend and then take them out for sails on your boat! As you can see by now the advice all around is that towing even a fairly small sailboat takes a fairly substantial vehicle.
Ken has a good point. Watch out for that fine print. Hey, better yet borrow a truck from a friend and then take them out for sails on your boat! As you can see by now the advice all around is that towing even a fairly small sailboat takes a fairly substantial vehicle.
- Status