Largiest practical towable boat

chatter box

New Member
Mar 27, 2011
27
dallas
Boat Info
197 sxl that I think I got a good deal on. Needs all new interior and the whole lower unit gone thr
Engines
mercruiser 260 hp
I have always wondered what the largiest practdical boat for towing from place to place is without having to remove things, get permits, or mark as wide load that is. With unlimited towing options now days how big a searay could one go?
 
The legal answer is no more than 8' 6" beam and under 13' 6" tall on a trailer.
 
Quint nailed it. That being said, most cops (speaking from experience of 15 years as a cop) don't pay much attention to boats. First of all, they're mostly not familiar with the laws. The exception to that is usually state troopers. They don't have a heck of a lot to do but enforce traffic laws so they're very familiar with the laws.

Some states now allow you to buy a yearly permit to tow anywhere on the freeways in that state without having to get a permit for each tow, and many allow you to buy the permit online. Most states have their towing rules online and they're pretty easy to find and read through.

I towed my 330 Sundancer all over the place. In our cities I never bothered to get a permit (taking it home, for example). When towing long distances I always had a permit. Putting up the Oversize Load signs and getting a permit is not a hassle, so don't let that dissuade you from going with a boat you really want.
 
The 94-99 270 at nearly 30 feet and still 8-6 beam is one of the largest legal vessels made. Not many made longer than this and still 8-6. MM
 
This is why I am in the boat I'm in. We bought the 260 DA (8'6" x 28'0") so we could tow it everywhere, and we do. I put about 15k per year on my trailer. I'm sitting here in NJ for the night on a haul back from FL to MA. It fit's our lifestyle perfectly right now, even though I would love a larger boat, I want the portability more for now.
 
The 94-99 270 at nearly 30 feet and still 8-6 beam is one of the largest legal vessels made. Not many made longer than this and still 8-6. MM

This is exactly why I went with the 270 and it was also the smallest cruiser I could get twin engines with - fit our requirements perfectly! The obstacle going much bigger than the 270 or 280 would be towing capacity and then the legal obligations.
 
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I believe New York state is only 8ft beam. My beam is 9ft and most people don't notice 6"....in NY a foot could be an issue if we go there, Mike.
 
I tow my 9' beam 290 occasionally with no permit. I do worry about the ramifications of an accident and subsequent investigation.
 
I tow my 9' beam 290 occasionally with no permit. I do worry about the ramifications of an accident and subsequent investigation.

I would check your state laws mine is 8' 6" if your rig is not legal in my state you will be at fault regardless of who caused the accident most if not all insurance policies have exclusions if your negligent without permits you have no insurance and will be responsible for all damages. This could cost you everything including your house and future income.
 
The liability issue is an interesting take. I hope some of the legal minded folks weigh in. I do not believe it to be a sole determining factor, but it would sure complicate things. MM
 
Bob and Sue,

Where did you get that information?
I'm trying to figure out how I could be charged with or cited for an accident if someone else is at fault or how I could be held financially liable. Another thing that has me scratching my head is when liability is split commonly in court cases/settlements, how would I be held liable if sitting at a stoplight with an oversize boat and a drunk plows into me?
 
I would check your state laws mine is 8' 6" if your rig is not legal in my state you will be at fault regardless of who caused the accident most if not all insurance policies have exclusions if your negligent without permits you have no insurance and will be responsible for all damages. This could cost you everything including your house and future income.

Completely false unless WA has been annexed by Canada and I missed it.

There is no such statute and any such determinative statute will likely violate your constitutional rights to due process amongst other things. Your violation of towing an oversize boat without a permit is just that, a violation to obtain a permit. It's not like speeding as a causative factor in a crash. It would be like having expired tags. I challenge you to find an insurance policy that has exclusions for towing like this as well. The whole point of insurance is to cover your negligence. I tow my 10 foot beam all the time. My only concern is getting a fine or impounded while I wait to get a permit.

DISCLAIMER. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH. :)
 
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Completely false unless WA has been annexed by Canada and I missed it.

There is no such statute and any such determinative statute will likely violate your constitutional rights to due process amongst other things. Your violation of towing an oversize boat without a permit is just that, a violation to obtain a permit. It's not like speeding as a causative factor in a crash. It would be like having expired tags. I challenge you to find an insurance policy that has exclusions for towing like this as well. The whole point of insurance is to cover your negligence. I tow my 10 foot beam all the time. My only concern is getting a fine or impounded while I wait to get a permit.

DISCLAIMER. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH. :)

The exclusion I was refering to in my policy is.
Coverage not provided
6) caused intentionally by or at the direction of the insured.

I read that to mean any act I did that was intentional such as towing without a permit.
If I'm wrong about the wording I'll accept that sorry for the bogus info I left but I'm not going to find out in court.

Oh yah we haven't been annexed by Canada but I do have dual citizenship.
 
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I'm not an attorney, but wish I played one on TV.

My interpretation of the sub clause you quote would be applicable in: one spouse deliberately crashes the convertible into the boat to hurt the items the other was trying to get in a divorce. This act is willful not negligent, like say not having a permit or moving a wide load when not permitted.

MM
 
I was just going to say that...

That clause excludes "intentional damage." Don't have to have a law degree to figure that out.

Of course this doesn't apply to the folks who have the 8-6 legal boat, but is good for others to read, since if you don't understand what you are reading, then you will err on the side of caution.

But, come on!

If there are further doubts about this coverage issue, just do a search re: overloaded 5th wheels. Plenty are towing over the rated capacity.
I have yet to read of anyone denied coverage because of that.

This is all a non- issue.

The bigger issue is that most people do not carry enough property damage with their auto policy; that is what you should be concerned with.
 
Them over width permits are nothing but money makers for the state. :smt021

I towed a lot of oversized pieces of equipment and never got them . :smt001

If you play your cards right and tell the Cop you didn't know that you needed one. :smt017

He will let you go with a warning the first time. :grin:

I believe New York state is only 8ft beam.
Its 8'6" here in this money sucking state of NY. :smt021

PS, I'm no lawyer but I drove truck for 33yrs. :grin:
 
thanks for all the great reply's and it's about what I was thinking in size. I'm in Texas so i could probly get away with a over sized load althought they are cracking down on all trailers much more now. This isn't much to do with boat but I just found out one crazy law here in Texas to do with trailers. The same exact trailer hauling the same exact load doesn't have to be inspected as long as it is a farm trailer. I got a ticket for no tag and no inspection a month ago and went up to get it inspected and found this out after I paid the almost $300 ticket.
 
There is a magazine that I used to receive when I had a smaller boat, and it was called "Trailer Boats". In several issues they would have the laws for every state and I believe once a year they would also publish vehicle towing capacities a d vehicle weight limits as well.

Just some additional food for thought.


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