WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

i am thinking about keeping her as a trailer queen. the hull is just so dam clean i hate to paint it. i have a toyota minivan with a 3500 lb tow package. 86 v 20 with a v8 i/o and hardtop. the ramp is about a half mile from my house if i take the scenic route. anybody forsee any trouble with this setup? should i have any problems getting her back up the ramp once i load her up? i have absolutely never pulled a trailer before so i dont know the first thing about it. the van doesnt even have 1000 miles on it so i dont want to screw that up. she sits on a two axle trailer... whats this rig really weigh?

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

Fish I know it is a short run, but I don't think it is enough vehicle. And I'm assuming a front wheel drive? You are going to have a risky situation at even the best ramps. IMHO

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

I have to agree with Willy on this. Not to say the van can't handle it, but I'd hate to be the one to say, "Yeah it should be fine" and then you end up having the van dragged down the ramp into the water! That would suck big time!

If you decide to try it, I'd have a friend available with a truck in case you have trouble getting it pulled back out of the water.

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

I would say that the boat and trailer full of fuel and modestly loaded with gear is well over 4000 lbs. As far as getting to the ramp I would say no problem. It all depends on the ramp weather you will have a problem pulling out. I would watch the tide closely as ramps change with the tide. An easy launch can turn into a nightmare of a retrieval depending on the level of the tide in relation to the pitch of the ramp.

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

And don't forget that with that tongue weight, you're gonna loose traction with that front wheel drive.

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

you can always have someone drive while you run the motor on the boat to push it out of the water. I've been there when it's raining and the ramps wet all else use the boat and the car to get it out of the water.

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

I have seen almost the same set up before, 20 foot boat and a mini van front wheel drive.

The guy was standing on the rear tires with nothing touching the ground in the front!!

After I towed his boat out for him I told him he had better get something different to tow with!!

But I have seen a huge Chevy Caprise Station wagon rear wheel drive pull a 20 footer up no problem.

you need a strong running rear wheel drive with good springs to handel the tounge weight!!

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

My wife traded in her mustang and came home with a ford...Excape ??? I think its called. Same thing as a Ford Explorer, but a tad bit smaller. It pulls my v-20, but waiting to see how I do at the boat ramp. I planned on having in 4-wheel drive to pull her out.
Or to pull me in. : )
Mike.

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

According to the Wellcraft site that boat with an I/O weighs 2620 lbs. That's just the boat as it came from the factory. When you add the hard top, the weight of the trailer, fuel, and all your other gear...
I have to agree with everyone else, you'd be living to close to the edge with that set up. So what's cheaper in the long run? A slip, bottom paint, annual haul in and out, more maintenance or a tow vehicle. Also factor in the difference for fuel at the marina vs. fuel on the street. Maybe a decent used tow vehicle isn't that expensive.

Re: WHATS IT REALLY WEIGH?
 

for a 1/2 mile to the ramp I would by a crap truck to haul the boat and all the other stuff a fishing vechile needs!!