I am considering purchasing an O'Day 25...but have concerns about my towing vehicle. I own a 1998 Chevy Astro Van which has a towing capacity of 5,500 lbs. Based upon my research, this would be pushing the limit by towing an O'day 25. I plan on towing across the state to launch in Lake Erie in the spring and retreive in the fall to tow home for storage. So, it would only be twice per year. Common sense would say buy a larger tow vehicle, but pocket book says othewise. Am I pushing the limits? What do other sailors use? Any advice you may have would be helpful. Thanks. tadams11@woh.rr.com
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jim
rent a truck
2 times a year to rent a truck seems to be the your best bet. Here it is 40 to 50 aday unlimited miles for Dodge pikup w/hitch. Jim
2 times a year to rent a truck seems to be the your best bet. Here it is 40 to 50 aday unlimited miles for Dodge pikup w/hitch. Jim
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Ric Shultz
call me nuts
I have a 25 too. I tow, 2 times per year, 1.5 hours each way with a v-6 Nissan pickup. Yes, it is too much for the truck, but my pocket book is in the same place as yours. My truck is a 4x4, so I need 4 wheel low range to pull her up the ramp. Otherwise, I make it. Ric "comes a time" New Hampshire
I have a 25 too. I tow, 2 times per year, 1.5 hours each way with a v-6 Nissan pickup. Yes, it is too much for the truck, but my pocket book is in the same place as yours. My truck is a 4x4, so I need 4 wheel low range to pull her up the ramp. Otherwise, I make it. Ric "comes a time" New Hampshire
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Don Evans
I Did It Once, But...
it was only a 10 mile tow, and I did not pull the boat out of the lake with my neighbour's Astro. You probably couldn't anyways unless it's an AW drive Astro. There were times when I thought the trailer was pushing the vehicle, not the other way round. Personally I like Jim's idea. Or perhaps a friend who you could owe a weekend aboard for the loan of his/her vehicle. My only other caution is to do with your insurer, god forbid if something happens during the trip and they find out you were at or over the vehicles tow limit, will they cover you. Also without a reserve of power available you could be a menace to other drivers. Don
it was only a 10 mile tow, and I did not pull the boat out of the lake with my neighbour's Astro. You probably couldn't anyways unless it's an AW drive Astro. There were times when I thought the trailer was pushing the vehicle, not the other way round. Personally I like Jim's idea. Or perhaps a friend who you could owe a weekend aboard for the loan of his/her vehicle. My only other caution is to do with your insurer, god forbid if something happens during the trip and they find out you were at or over the vehicles tow limit, will they cover you. Also without a reserve of power available you could be a menace to other drivers. Don
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Damn Lawyers
I wouldn't do it - first off it would be scary and stress inducing experience. But mostly it would be a liability insurance voiding experience. If you choose to trailer a boat with a vehicle not rated to do so, and you have a problem, you will not have coverage. Anal retentive? Maybe. Does it happen? Everyday. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I wouldn't do it - first off it would be scary and stress inducing experience. But mostly it would be a liability insurance voiding experience. If you choose to trailer a boat with a vehicle not rated to do so, and you have a problem, you will not have coverage. Anal retentive? Maybe. Does it happen? Everyday. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
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Scott D
heavy truck, good trailer
I tow my 25 two times a year to Md from PA a 3+ hour trip towing. I use my dodge 3/4 ton diesel with no problems including hills. My old GMC 3/4 TON W/ V8 did just as well. Plenty of powner,weight and breaks. The trailer has 2 axles with breaks on both. With all that break power I can stop just as fast as with out the trailer. The 4x4 is only necessary for steep ramps. I like the truck rental idea the best.
I tow my 25 two times a year to Md from PA a 3+ hour trip towing. I use my dodge 3/4 ton diesel with no problems including hills. My old GMC 3/4 TON W/ V8 did just as well. Plenty of powner,weight and breaks. The trailer has 2 axles with breaks on both. With all that break power I can stop just as fast as with out the trailer. The 4x4 is only necessary for steep ramps. I like the truck rental idea the best.
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Dick Lemming
I tried to rent.
I tried to rent a truck to tow an O'Day 26- no rental company would rent to me when they found out I wanted to tow a boat, as it was not on their "weight chart." Bought a F-150 5.4l V-8 and towed it just fine from Colorado to California.
I tried to rent a truck to tow an O'Day 26- no rental company would rent to me when they found out I wanted to tow a boat, as it was not on their "weight chart." Bought a F-150 5.4l V-8 and towed it just fine from Colorado to California.
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R.W.Landau
Rent to tow
I bought my boat 25 O'Day in St. Louis and had to rent a full size U-Haul box truck to tow it back to Pittsburgh. All in all it was not bad towing, it was just that it was a long time in the U-Haul. No one wants to rent pickups as one way rentals but if you rent it locally and return it locally, there should be no problems. A couple guys here rent U-Hauls and have had no problems. I beleive that their boat insurance covers towing also. That could make a difference. One or them tows an O'Day 272. r.w.landau
I bought my boat 25 O'Day in St. Louis and had to rent a full size U-Haul box truck to tow it back to Pittsburgh. All in all it was not bad towing, it was just that it was a long time in the U-Haul. No one wants to rent pickups as one way rentals but if you rent it locally and return it locally, there should be no problems. A couple guys here rent U-Hauls and have had no problems. I beleive that their boat insurance covers towing also. That could make a difference. One or them tows an O'Day 272. r.w.landau
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Dennis Varley
Been There, Done That!!!
I've towed my O'DAY 25 for 7 years with my Chevy Astro Van. 2X a year (20 mile in, 60 miles out). I do it, I don't recommend it. It is hard on the van (overpowered by the boat), and even harder on you (nerves). You never feel like you have complete control. I live in Detroit and have no hills to deal with, so the trip is easy. When I bought the van new, the service manager "unofficially" stated 2X a year with no hills shouldn't be a problem. Do not pull in Overdrive. Use 3rd gear.
I've towed my O'DAY 25 for 7 years with my Chevy Astro Van. 2X a year (20 mile in, 60 miles out). I do it, I don't recommend it. It is hard on the van (overpowered by the boat), and even harder on you (nerves). You never feel like you have complete control. I live in Detroit and have no hills to deal with, so the trip is easy. When I bought the van new, the service manager "unofficially" stated 2X a year with no hills shouldn't be a problem. Do not pull in Overdrive. Use 3rd gear.
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