Ribcraft 6.4 towing

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by Poly

Xk59D, I think the other thing about using a big domestic car for 6.5m tow duties is where you are going to launch. Steep, slimy slips are 4x4 territory. BUT you can pay a lot of nice marina slipway fees, and even launch tractors for your insurance and tax cost on a second car.

Poly, to put this into perspective i can only use largs marina as an example as i know of no where else that does tractor launches other than loch lomond.

the slipway is fairly steep but it isn't slimey as it is kept in good nick, as is my own one at kip marina, not a single ounce of growth on those slipways.

Largs charge 11 quid to launch and 11 quid to recover or it is about 30+30 quid (dont quote me on that but it is in that ball park) for the tractor to do it if not comfortable putting car/4x4 on slipway. if you buy a cheap 4x4 of say 1k, insure it, tax etc then you can get a LOT of launches for that money and not worry about the second car issue.

i have been towing my 6.8 with my xtrail for circa 18 months, it does 50mpg solo, 200 ish roadtax and 4wd on demand if i need it. on a slipway i normally let the front wheels spin a bit as tyres are cheaper than a clutch. if need be i will use 4wd option...amazing car IMO.

there are a lot of people on the forum who just say the boat costs x just buy a 4x4 and accept it. but there is a difference between spending wisely and throwing it away.

unfortunately once you go over 2000kg the car choice is practically gone and you are into only a handful of bigger cars/small 4x4's or big 4x4's...i have been procrastinating for MONTHS about changing mine as i give the govt enough without 500 quid for taxing a 4x4 to sit on my driveway 5 days a week to tow my boat 10 miles to the marina 90% of the time.

anyways, only the OP can decide if they need/want another bus for their boat duties but IF the volvo is an auto (4wd advantageous) and slipway used is clean then no reason you couldn't use it for short-medium trip launching duties IMO....that is assuming your 6.4 is under 1800kg ofcourse to begin with!

i categorically would not have bought mine if i knew it HAD to go on a 4 wheel trailer to be legal due to double storage fee price and i know i am in proper 4x4 territory which doesn't suit my normal life away from boats but hey ho........cracking boat though and i won't sell it so needs must!!!!

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Just to throw in an option...If you want a CHEAP... AND capable 4x4 chaps look no further than a Nissan Terrano...I've had a few over time through my hands ...being in the Motor trade and for me they are they never fail to impress!
Sold a dozen or more over the years and never seen them again for anything serious...Big pluss in my book!
I ran one for a year towed mine absolutely no problem!.2 tonnes ....including a couple of runs to Scotland (500m+)
Of course before anyone has a Hissy Fit!... there are better towers out there!...and certainly more luxurious!... and with more Bells and whistles...but IME nothing comes even close in the Bang for Bucks dept!...wth even low mileage well maintained examples availble at low cost.

Seconded!! Had my 3litre Terrano for 10 years now used for caravans and now rib, nothing fancy relatively good on fuel and reliable.....if they still made them over here I would buy another one for sure.👍

[HDAV]

Porthcawl powerboat club have tractors free for members use and aberdoch boatyard and abersoch land and sea do tractor launches (seasonal)

[Pikey Dave]

Personally, I wouldn't have anything but a twin axle trailer. Towing long distances as we do, the second axle can be a godsend. They are easier to reverse, & easy enough to hand manoeuvre if you know how. When I got the current BP, I couldn't find an off the shelf twin axle trailer small enough (she's only a wee thing) so I had one built.


Sh1t happens

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Xk59D

Poly, to put this into perspective i can only use largs marina as an example as i know of no where else that does tractor launches other than loch lomond.

I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me or not, but I'm with you that the default answer of buy a 4x4 isn't the best solution for everyone.

Just for your info here are places you might find useful as they are relatively local and do "tractor" type launching:

- Linnhe Marine
- Creran Marine
- Silvers Marine (at Rosneath)

But many smaller boat yards will have a tractor and can be persuaded with cash!

i categorically would not have bought mine if i knew it HAD to go on a 4 wheel trailer to be legal due to double storage fee price

They charge you double for a twin axle trailer? Thats a bit cheeky - its not taking up any more space.

[slalex]

Originally Posted by Curlew

I am in my second season with a Ribcraft 5.3, chosen after detailed study of the advice here - for which many thanks to all concerned. It has been great, and the whole family has had a huge amount of fun, but now I want to go bigger and have a new boat built. It will be definitely be another Ribcraft and I am looking at a 6.4 with a Suzuki 175. But that's getting heavy and I really don't want to change cars as well. So I could use some advice from anyone who has been down this road before me.

I have a Volvo V70 diesel estate which will tow up to 1800 kgs. And that is pretty much what a 6.4 on a double axle trailer is said to weigh (boat 975, engine 220, trailer 550) and then there's going to be some fuel in the tank, plus odds and ends. So probably too close to the limit for comfort. But do I need a double axle? If I don't, that's 150 kg saved for a start.

Alternatively, Jason at Ribcraft says they could save some weight by using Nedapan composite for the deck and stringers and a structural foam transom, as used on their specialist commercial boats. In my dinghy racing days, light was always good, but these days solid sounds better and - although I have great faith in the Ribcraft guys - high tech could end up expensive.

Any thoughts?

I have a RibcraftUSA 6.5 with an e-Tech 175 and specifically ordered the single axle trailer. Plenty of capacity and also easier to maneuver.

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by Poly

I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me or not, but I'm with you that the default answer of buy a 4x4 isn't the best solution for everyone.

Just for your info here are places you might find useful as they are relatively local and do "tractor" type launching:

- Linnhe Marine
- Creran Marine
- Silvers Marine (at Rosneath)

But many smaller boat yards will have a tractor and can be persuaded with cash!


They charge you double for a twin axle trailer? Thats a bit cheeky - its not taking up any more space.

Double post sorry

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by Poly

I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me or not, but I'm with you that the default answer of buy a 4x4 isn't the best solution for everyone.

Just for your info here are places you might find useful as they are relatively local and do "tractor" type launching:

- Linnhe Marine
- Creran Marine
- Silvers Marine (at Rosneath)

But many smaller boat yards will have a tractor and can be persuaded with cash!


They charge you double for a twin axle trailer? Thats a bit cheeky - its not taking up any more space.

Yup, agreeing with you

They say it is harder to move now which is true, getting it in and out now is a pita so they charge double just about.

I would defo get single axle if i had a choice if you need move in tight spaces, the twin is a pita.

Twin does tow better though no question

[mick]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Personally, I wouldn't have anything but a twin axle trailer. Towing long distances as we do, the second axle can be a godsend. They are easier to reverse, & easy enough to hand manoeuvre if you know how. When I got the current BP, I couldn't find an off the shelf twin axle trailer small enough (she's only a wee thing) so I had one built.


Sh1t happens

+1 all you have to do is wind the jockey wheel up so the 1st axle is nearly lifted of the floor 🙄 how hard can that be 🤔

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by mick

+1 all you have to do is wind the jockey wheel up so the 1st axle is nearly lifted of the floor �� how hard can that be ��

If only that worked, i tried it, trays under wheels and even ratchet strap up the front axle, makes sod all difference on my setup. A taller jockey wheel may help and next on shopping list.

[mick]

Works for me fine and my boat will be heavier than most at that size
You ain't got it wound up on that pic

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by mick

Works for me fine and my boat will be heavier than most at that size
You ain't got it wound up on that pic

I wind the jockey wheel up, so it's off the ground & put my weight (no comments please) on the hitch, this lifts the rear wheels off the ground allowing the trailer to pivot on the front wheels, doddle👍


Sh1t happens

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by mick

Works for me fine and my boat will be heavier than most at that size
You ain't got it wound up on that pic

No, that is off car height.

You can wind it up till cows come home but the front wheels barely change.

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I wind the jockey wheel up, so it's off the ground & put my weight (no comments please) on the hitch, this lifts the rear wheels off the ground allowing the trailer to pivot on the front wheels, doddle��


Sh1t happens

Not tried that but will give it a go thanks

I am going to launch boat at 11pm tonight so will give this a go.

Cheers

[mick]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I wind the jockey wheel up, so it's off the ground & put my weight (no comments please) on the hitch, this lifts the rear wheels off the ground allowing the trailer to pivot on the front wheels, doddle👍


Sh1t happens

I will look forward to seeing you balancing on the hitch and pushing it rnd could be next weeks entertainment 😎

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Xk59D

Not tried that but will give it a go thanks

I am going to launch boat at 11pm tonight so will give this a go.

Cheers

Did I mention that it works better if you wear a pink tutu & a feather boa, post some photos of how you get on😎


Sh1t happens

[Tim M]

With regards a few of the above points....

-At 6.5m even on a single axle trailer this boat is going to be hard to push around by hand. A twin will be worse but you'll probably find yourself moving it around with your car the vast majority of the time anyway. What is your driveway made of (assuming you'll keep it there most of the time). If its a hard surface e.g. paved a single axle probably could be shunted into position with two pushing. If its shingle etc you probably don't have much of a chance.

-Redundancy: wheel bearing failure. Been there more times than I care to remember. Twin axle every time, even if its just for the sake of getting it on the back of the recovery truck. The side of the A14 in the dark waiting for a second truck with a hiab is not fun.

-Smoother towing: a twin axle will give you a more comfortable ride. Less bounce and less bumps.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Did I mention that it works better if you wear a pink tutu & a feather boa, post some photos of how you get on😎


Sh1t happens

....
You didn't ....but I knew it was only a matter of time!

[Curlew]

Well, masses of good advice there, so huge thanks to everyone who has taken the trouble to help.

To answer some of the questions, my Volvo is an automatic and lives on a gravel drive. It won't last as long as the boat, but it fits with all my other driving needs so I'm really not keen to go to a 4x4, especially when the RIB spends most of its time being very efficiently dry launched by Sparkes Marina on Hayling Island. It is used for bass fishing with friends in the Solent and for waterskiing with various teenagers and young adults in Langstone Harbour. But then we decamp to Kerry for three weeks every summer, which is a 900 mile round trip and the highlight of the year. So that's where the towing comes in and also why I want a boat that can cope with some bumpy weather.

If I could afford it there is clearly a case for 6.8 + double axle trailer + 4x4. But the sums (higher initial cost, marina fees, fuel consumption for car and boat) are pretty frightening, so I think it's going to be 6.4 + lightweight (Gecko) trailer + Volvo. That looks as though it would be less than1500 kgs all up, which is a fair safety margin below the max for the car and means I don't need a specially lightened boat. And of course there's always the option to switch to double trailer and 4x4 if I start doing more trailing when I retire in a few years time.

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Did I mention that it works better if you wear a pink tutu & a feather boa, post some photos of how you get on😎


Sh1t happens

tried it....no worky.....but it was a blue tutu so perhaps that was the problem

seriously....no worky either. hitch on the ground and rear wheel still on ground too.

cheers