Tow vehicles, CG and tongue weight

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Tow vehicles, CG and tongue weight

Postby Bflat on Mon Apr 24, 2017 6:30 pm

What tow vehicles are being used to pull Pocketships? I'm curious what people are finding to be good. It would be good to hear of experiences both good and bad concerning towing.

Relatedly, Where about is the Center of Gravity located (more or less) on the boat when all fitted out and mast folded down? This would be helpful to know when positioning the boat on trailer as concerns tongue weight. I'm sure this is all moot for those with the Trailex Trailer designed for the Pocketship, but lots of us (me) have something else.

Thanks in advance,
Bob
Bflat
 
Posts: 259
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 12:15 am
Location: North Central Wisconsin, U.S.

Re: Tow vehicles, CG and tongue weight

Postby Shudoman on Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:05 am

Hi Bob,

I'm using a 2015 Mazda CX-5 with a towing capacity of 2000 pounds. It tows and launches the PocketShip without a problem but the gas mileage really tanks.

I have a custom aluminum trailer that I bought to conserve weight and was less than the Trailex and I didn't have to put it together. I positioned the boat so that I have about 175 lbs on the tongue. The tracking at this weight is good, somewhere on this site is a spreadsheet that someone published listing weights and configurations. Don't remember where though.

Bill
Shudoman
 
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:31 pm

Re: Tow vehicles, CG and tongue weight

Postby Bflat on Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:08 pm

Thanks for that info Bill.
Any idea what your trailer weighs? Likewise any idea what the combined weight of your boat and trailer when towing is?
Thanks again,
Bob
Bflat
 
Posts: 259
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 12:15 am
Location: North Central Wisconsin, U.S.

Re: Tow vehicles, CG and tongue weight

Postby Shudoman on Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:32 pm

Hi Bob,

The one and only time I weighed it I had a weekends worth of gear and the outboard on the trailer and it weight 1564 lbs. Since it was well within the towing capacity of my car I never bothered to weigh it again. I don't remember exactly what my trailer weight but if memory serves me it was in the mid 500lb area.

Regards,
Bill
Shudoman
 
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:31 pm

Re: Tow vehicles, CG and tongue weight

Postby craig on Fri Jun 02, 2017 3:27 pm

The magnum opus of Pocketship weighing was done by Pete for Tattoo in two posts:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=345

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=395

His weights are very much on the heavy side of things. I think my entire setup is 1100 pounds or less but I'm too scared to get it weighed. I probably should though.
Titania, launched January 2015
craig
 
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Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2014 1:04 pm
Location: Chapel Hill, NC


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