weight of boat

Can anyone tell me the weight of a 1985 18.6 foot correct craft bass boat with a 1986 150 mercury on it. I am buying a new vehicle and would like to find out the samllest vehicle I can buy to tow it .

Thanks for the feedback. I meant to say I am buying a new vehicle and wanted to see what is the smallest car, suv, truck I can buy to tow it.

I don't think there is a definitive answer to your question. Much of the decision will undoubtedly be based on your vehicle preferences, driving style, and driving skill. Nothing personal with those who choose to drive T- aholes, Excretions and the like, but I prefer something that can pull more than .9 Gs on a skid pad with the shiny side up, as well as a trailer. I prefer that it doesn't keep a supertanker busy making middle east shuttle runs either. Let's save the gas for the CCs. I pull all of my boats and other trailers with a Saturn Ion. I don't exceed #3000 pounds pulling though. If you choose a small car I recommend a manual transmission, the weak link is usually the weeny trans they come with. Come to think of it its not just small cars, my friend burned out his Pilot trans pulling an antique jeep from Des Moines to Chicago on an aluminum trailer. It was well below the rated capacity. I will see how the Ion holds up pulling big trailers. It only has 136,000 miles on it now with no problems yet, so the jury is still out.
Good lick.

Kidding, why? It tows the Mustang and I can almost forget its behind me. I bought my current runabout in Grand Bend KS and towed it to Chicago where I restored it, then to Manni Waters with it. If you were in town last week you would have seen my 'toon on Bill Dietz's trailer at Rest Lake behind the Ion. I took it out there and towed it to storage in Mercer. Towing cuts the mileage down a bit, from 35 to just over 24 with the runabout, less I'm sure with the 'toon behind it, and a little under 20 with a 7X12 enclosed trailer I used to use to move my daughters in and out of college dorms and apartments. Why would this surprise you?

Cost of driving my Ion 135,000 miles (current mileage) at $3.50 l gallon = $13,499

Cost of driving my wife's old Jeep Grand Cherokee 135,000 miles @ $3.50 = $31,400

_That's why we traded that Jeep pig for an Escape for my wife (24-27 on the highway)

The Ion put $18,000 in my pocket over the Grand Cherokee, or the typical SUV or PU, that didn't go to the middle east or the spillmasters at Exxon and BP. Instead I spent it on boats, motorcycles, antique cars dinner out with the wife and the like. Pretty good exchange, especially since I like driving something that is nimble and fun to drive much more than a top heavy phat box (yawn).
I sold my last Saturn at 224,000 because the A/C failed. That car saved $29,866 over driving the Jeep at today's prices. Put that in your portfolio.
And that's why I'm not kidding.

Ha ha ha, sure they will.

Not a bad idea either! Regardless of what you tow with, your stopping distance increases. Some don't have the skills to deal with that. My opinion is that you should only drive a combo you are comfortable with. If you follow the advice of the TV commercials you could start to believe that you need a Hemi (not a real Hemi at all, just a trademark name for their engines, just like Iforce or ecoboost) to pull a Radio Flyer. I'm not looking for an argument, its just what I do.

65 'cuda wrote: Its not about skills or comfort level, its about physics, and that towing combination is simply dangerous. Send a copy of this topic to your insurance underwriters, and see what they say about your "savings"

Gary,
If John has his vehicle registered to his address in Wisconsin, He doesn't need insurance to drive it!!!

Wow, must be nice, LEO, do as I say, not as I do...

John,
I'm very happy to find out your talents as a skilled driver but, there are times as mentioned it's not your driving skills that come to play - it's the other idiots out on the road!!!

How so? Can you cite a law contrary to my towing.
It IS nice too, being retired from LE. It would be even nicer if I still worked at it though, and hadn't been retired on a disability after 5 surgeries trying unsuccessfully to repair the damage after an attempted arrest of some gang members dealing crack cocaine. But I wouldn't expect someone with a civilian job in a cube farm to understand the risks that LE officers face every day. Criticism is easy though, and, you can still call them when you have a problem.
And why would I care about my insurance underwriters. They agree to assume responsibility regardless of individual risks, which are minimal in this instance. Even if you are drunk with no license and injure or kill a family they are on the hook unless you are specifically excluded in the policy. That's called risk management.

Sorry if I sound angry, I'm not. I am used to it after 20 years in the business of babysitting the segment of the public that can't take care of themselves. It sounds like you're angry though. Were the police impolite to you once?
One other note. This conversation should be in off topic, if it is appropriate on this site at all. We all have opinions, but I am here to enjoy the shared hobby of Correct Crafts.

damn camera's

Cameras are good if you're a professional. Follow procedure and the law and you have nothing to worry about. Savagely beat someone and you deserve what you get.

That S10 story IS really crazy. I have never towed anything heavier than my car, at least without brakes. That is one reason a Mustang at 1,700# is a great boat for me. I love some of the others like a 2001, but it is too heavy to be comfortable with in my opinion. Also I am not knocking the pulling capability of an F250. It is a really nice truck, probably the best in my opinion. I am just a small car person.
This is a lively

john b wrote: And why would I care about my insurance underwriters. They agree to assume responsibility regardless of individual risks, which are minimal in this instance.

I don't buy that for one minute.

I'm sure there is a 'doing something stupid will not be covered' clause where-by the insurance company will not assume the added risk for something when the vehicle is being used against the manufacturers recommendations and WAY outside of it's capabilities.

I will chuckle, though, when I see an F-250/2500 HD truck pulling a trailer....don't those fools know they can tow the same trailer with an Ion?

But I wouldn't expect someone with a civilian job in a cube farm to understand the risks that LE officers face every day.

Arrogance much?

What is the towing capacity on the ion? with 4 occupants?

Does an Ion have a frame?

I have never seen one tow anything.

I think common sense says towing a boat with an Ion is not a good idea.

oh and my Yukon friggin rocks!

While growing up we had an 80 toyota celica and it was equipped with a hitch and towed a Cruisers Rally Sport 15 1/2 ft outboard with 100 horse johnson and did not have any trouble.