Fisho
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2018
- Messages
- 75
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-24 C SE
- Hull Identification Number
- USFMLT2106F
- Vessel Name
- KHUNYAI
- MMSI Number
- 503076010
We own a 2012 21EC bought a year ago in Australia. Very happy. A key decision on the purchase was the ease of towing so we could take it to different lakes, estuaries etc. The displacement weight of the basic 21EC in Australia on the specs is 1250kgs (those sold in Australia did not have a head or airconditioning?). The USA specs give a dry weight of 1429kgs. This difference was a concern. The boat came with a trailer that has a GTM or Gross Trailer Mass of 2000kgs (that is total weight of boat and trailer when towing). The Tare Weight of the trailer is 420kgs. The boat has a bow thruster and had an anchor winch added (about 45kgs with anchor, rope and chain) and an automatic catch for launching and retrieving (about 5kgs). I added two extra batteries - one as extra house battery and one as an extra start battery (50kgs). A full tank of diesel is (68litres) is 57kgs. So all up with no fresh water I should have a GTM of 1827kgs but this is with no bedding, cushions, food, fishing gear, safety gear etc etc.
Because my GTM is 2000kgs or less I only need manual bakes on one axle (the trailer is dual axles). This is a huge bonus from maintenance having had several larger boats with electric breakaway brakes -much more complex, much more to go wrong and much more servicing. But if you load up your boat and it is over the GTM and the police do a spot check on weights (which they are increasingly doing) you have a heavy fine and must disconnect the boat and trailer and leave by the side of the road unless you can reduce weight by unpacking. I have found that the 21EC gets a lot of attention and looks heavier than it is. So it will be noticed by police if they are doing spot checks. Also if you have an accident and you are over the GTM both your car, boat and trailer insurance are void. So a serious business to ensure when towing you are under the GTM.
So I took everything out of the boat except the V berth cushions and filled up the fuel tank. I took off the spare wheel and carrier. I emptied the fresh water tank and headed for a local certified weigh bridge where they give you an official weight certificate for the roads and traffic authority. First I put the pickup, trailer and boat over the weigh bridge - 4220kgs. All good since there are special requirements if you are over a combined weight of 4500kgs even though my pickup can tow 3500kgs. Next I weighed just the jockey wheel since the ball weight must not exceed 10% of the GTM - 160kgs. All good. Then I disconnected the boat and trailer and weighted them - 1920kgs!
The lesson from the exercise for my rig is to never travel with fresh water. Carry the spare wheel and as much as possible in the back of the pickup that has a lockable canopy. I have a small inflatable tender that I carry in the back of the boat. It is about 35kgs. No problem. Once I get to where I want to launch I can simply repack the boat with as much weight as I like, fill up with fresh water and head off cruising. While this seems a bit of a pain it is better than the alternative. Also there is a bright side. In unpacking the boat to put over the weigh bridge I found lots of bits and pieces that I had hidden away, never used and had forgotten they were there. All extra weight.
For the most part however we leave our boat fully packed and stored in our boat shed which has its own boat ramp, jetty and mooring next to a big lake. This is where we do most of our cruising and sleeping over on the boat.
I hope my exercise is of interest to others who tow their RTs.
Because my GTM is 2000kgs or less I only need manual bakes on one axle (the trailer is dual axles). This is a huge bonus from maintenance having had several larger boats with electric breakaway brakes -much more complex, much more to go wrong and much more servicing. But if you load up your boat and it is over the GTM and the police do a spot check on weights (which they are increasingly doing) you have a heavy fine and must disconnect the boat and trailer and leave by the side of the road unless you can reduce weight by unpacking. I have found that the 21EC gets a lot of attention and looks heavier than it is. So it will be noticed by police if they are doing spot checks. Also if you have an accident and you are over the GTM both your car, boat and trailer insurance are void. So a serious business to ensure when towing you are under the GTM.
So I took everything out of the boat except the V berth cushions and filled up the fuel tank. I took off the spare wheel and carrier. I emptied the fresh water tank and headed for a local certified weigh bridge where they give you an official weight certificate for the roads and traffic authority. First I put the pickup, trailer and boat over the weigh bridge - 4220kgs. All good since there are special requirements if you are over a combined weight of 4500kgs even though my pickup can tow 3500kgs. Next I weighed just the jockey wheel since the ball weight must not exceed 10% of the GTM - 160kgs. All good. Then I disconnected the boat and trailer and weighted them - 1920kgs!
The lesson from the exercise for my rig is to never travel with fresh water. Carry the spare wheel and as much as possible in the back of the pickup that has a lockable canopy. I have a small inflatable tender that I carry in the back of the boat. It is about 35kgs. No problem. Once I get to where I want to launch I can simply repack the boat with as much weight as I like, fill up with fresh water and head off cruising. While this seems a bit of a pain it is better than the alternative. Also there is a bright side. In unpacking the boat to put over the weigh bridge I found lots of bits and pieces that I had hidden away, never used and had forgotten they were there. All extra weight.
For the most part however we leave our boat fully packed and stored in our boat shed which has its own boat ramp, jetty and mooring next to a big lake. This is where we do most of our cruising and sleeping over on the boat.
I hope my exercise is of interest to others who tow their RTs.