boat towing on the ball

[Frost]

I've gotten a lot of good advice here and regularly tow a 19' travel trailer. As recommended by some I added Bilsteins and blue sumo's to my 2021 XLT Lariat. Also use a wdh while towing my trailer, a real solid setup and everything feels as one.
Considering buying a sailboat about 300 miles away. Trailer 23-25'. Boat and trailer are probably around 4k pounds max, likely less. Trailer has brakes and boat keel is centered above tires/axle. Tongue wt WAG is surely no more than 400 lbs, likely far less. I'll be towing this on the ball without wdh just because its easier than changing 2 5/16 ball on my wdh which is a pia as well as mounting bars on boat trailer. Put it on the ball and go is what I'd like.
A new towing experience for me so thought I'd ask for any advice. Sway will likely be more of an issue but I drive slow and am willing to take all day. Could even take secondary rds if need be. If I put it on the hitch and nose of truck goes up too much, I'll change plans, can't see that happening but I've been wrong about a lot of things.

I miss when I was young and would just go do things and live with whatever happened, have some good stories to tell and make it home somehow. Instead I'm worried and thought I'd ask the crew.

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[Burnt Money]

It sounds like you have plenty of knowledge in the towing aspect and you have put thought into the trip. I tow boats frequently but never a sail boat. I’m sure it’s different with a higher CG but probably not crazy actually towing it. I see people towing sailboats all the time with small SUV’s. I tow my 20ft center console on average 2k miles a year and have done 2 trips that were over 1200 miles round trip. The biggest I’ve towed is a 25ft deep v center console 100 miles round trip. I think you will be fine but definitely check the trailer very well. Ensure the tires, hubs and wiring are good. Especially if it’s been in saltwater. Make sure you have everything needed to change a tire and hub or have someone on standby who can. I have not needed to use a WD hitch with the Ranger so far, but I also live at sea level and do not tow in the mountains. I tow on the SC, GA and Florida coast. @Grumpaw is the resident towing go to for advice. He has solid advice and answers a lot of questions. But doubt he’s towed a sailboat yet

 

[brroberts]

I have a Catalina 18 sailboat I tow. Just as always, keep weight forward as much as you can. The boat will be heavier on the backend due to beam alone.

 

[Grumpaw]

If your comfortable towing your travel trailer than you should have no problems towing the boat. More aerodynamic than a big box so wind shouldn't affect you too much.
As always, try to keep more weight toward the front, and a 400 lb tongue weight is no big deal.....like carrying 400 lbs of stuff in the rear bed.
Only extra advice....if there is an outboard motor hanging on rear, I would remove it and carry it in the bed....it will get rid of unwanted weight at the very rear of the boat.
Many other members regularly tow utility trailers in your weight/tongue weight set up with no problems.

 

[harringtondav]

I assume '5/16' means the boat's trailer has a 2-5/16" hitch. This is unusual for a boat trailer rated under 6K#. I've been towing boats for 29 years and the two trailers had a standard 2" hitch. Current boat is 3740" without gear and 15 gal fuel. I tows fine with my Ranger at 70 mph, but I stay at 67 mph.
If the new trailer has a 2.312" hitch, it may have the capacity for a heavier boat. If the current owner tows without WDH or stabilizers it is probably fine. Most boat/trailers are set up at a dealer for 10-13% tongue weight. My Ranger's hitch squats a little over and inch with the load and tracks fine.
You could pack some ballast in the truck, and if the boat gets squirlly put it in the front hatch of the boat to help.

 

[Frost]

Sorry for confusion, my wdh has a 2 5/16 ball. Would rather not use it.
Sounds as though I'm good to go. Real worry is this involves towing around NYC, just have to time it right, thinking early on a Sunday.
Thanks to all.

 

[reidmefirst]

I'm curious what kind of boat you're towing, whether it's fin keel, full keel, or swing/centerboard.

I tow a pretty big boat: an S2 7.9. The boat itself weighs ~5000 pounds, trailer is ~1300, for a total of 6300 (measured at a CAT scale). The keel is a lifting centerboard that weighs 600 pounds or so, big advantage is that the boat sits lower on the trailer so less wind resistance. My keel sits just a tiny bit forward of the trailer wheels.

I've noticed a lot of sailboat trailers actually overcompensate for the weight of the keel. Powerboat trailers tend to have the trailer wheels set far back, since their motors are at the back and hence the weight of those boats is mostly at the rear. Sailboat trailers, they tend to move the wheels too far forward, often directly under the keel. The thinking is that if the wheels are so far back on a sailboat trailer, then the tongue weight will be too high...but on mine the tongue weight is actually a touch low because of that.

I compensate for that by putting everything in the cabin way forward, into the v-berth. That puts me right at 10% tongue weight.

Nothing beats driving up to a scale to check on how you are doing for total weight and tongue weight. Most CAT scales will let you pay a fee for the first weigh, then you can re-weigh the same day for just a few more bucks (just gotta keep your ticket number from the first weight). If you're light on the tongue, toss your tool kit/sails/battery/whatever else is in the cabin up to the v-berth. If you're heavy on the tongue, move stuff aft.

 

[Frenchy]

As a thought why not get one of the quick change balls from the auto parts store? I know Reese has one available and I think Kurt has one available as well. It makes it where you can change the ball from a 2-in to a 2 5/16 real easy.

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