boat weight

[wannagofishin]

With all the talk of pulling...

Wondering - how can you find out the weight of a boat. The boat I'm interested in is no longer in production (hasn't been for some time).

I just have a 2002 Ford Escape - V-6 - it says without the tow package the Max weight is 2000 pounds - with it - it's 3500 pounds - but I don't have the tow package. Now admittedly - I'm not sure if adding a hitch and such is considered a "tow package" - or if they do something with the engine....so I'm going to assume my max is 2000 pounds...

I'm looking at a 1983 Thunderbolt bass boat - 15 1/2 foot - 80 HP mercury, single axle trailer...

Just don't want to get something that's going to screw up my vehicle or not be able to be pulled....

Any help?

[grubby]

Thats my understanding a hitch and a add on trans cooler to keep the trans from getting to hot.

[jaxsprat]

Any good Ford dealer could tell U exactly what tow package on your year is & does. This will aid in buying u trans cooler. If U do buy put mind at rest, take boat& all to nearest truck stop and do -weigh car & boat/ trailermotor together then park trailer aside & just weigh car....this will give U your best boat weight as scales are most accurate at range they are set to weigh.

[rushcreekoutdoor]

My question would be: How far would you normally pull the boat and under what conditions. I pull my double axle trailer 20/72 F & F boat with 115 tohatsu with a gas guzzling 1500 dodge with the towing package (lower geared, transmission cooler, and hitch).

My preacher pulls a single axle trailer 19/72 F & F boat with 70 tohatsu with his ford ranger 2wd. Luckily, he doesn't pull far. It looks like a go-kart pulling a railcar.

rushcreekoutdoor

[wannagofishin]

most typical trips would be 1 hour trips down the highway

main long trip would be 3 hours from KC to Lake Ozarks

[rushcreekoutdoor]

that's a pretty good haul

[wannabe fisherman]

I'd check into the "tow package" that boat isn't going to be 2000 lbs, but will be close so why take the chance?

[flycaster]

I had to purchase a NEW truck to pull my Mariah 18 F&S. Single axle trailer, not sure what the tongue weight is. It weighs about 2000 lb. :rolleyes:
My problem was that I couldn't get a good pull of the trailer and boat up the boat ramp.

flycaster

[magnum500]

I have an 18 foot Javelin bass boat with a Johnson 150 Faststrike. With boat, motor and trailor it is less than 2000 pounds. I pulled it with a 93 s-10 blazer with a v6 and never had any problems. It did not have a tow package. My opinion is you should not have any problems.

[stinkies daddy]

I would go ahead and put a trans cooler on if it dosn't have 1, better safe that sorry. and never pull in over drive.