TRAILERING a CUTWATER 28 or similar size RANGER TUG

U

USNA81

Active member
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
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37
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Non-Fluid Motion Model
CUTWATER 28 2012
Vessel Name
N*
Can anyone comment on the practical side/experience of trailering one of these boats?
I have a Cutwater 28 and considering buying a trailer to explore some distant waters
Is it easy to trailer within reason? Or is it only done if absolutely necessary?
Launching -retrieving?
tandem vs triaxle trailer ?
Real - actual weight when loaded with gas,water,genset,gear,etc vs 8,000# dry weight ?
I have access to a Ford 250 HD diesel when needed.
Thank you in advance for any feedback,comments and advice.

David Dent
2012 Cutwater 28
 
Hi David. You should get a lot of feedback on your question. We've trailered our R27 for three full years and with the same 8'6" beam I would think the experiences would be similar. We tow ours with a 3/4 ton GMC 4X4 duramax diesel and our R27 sits on a tandem axle EZLoader trailer. Our R27 weighs in around 9,000 lbs. give or take, depending how much fuel is in the boat. We try to limit the fuel when possible, keep the water and holding tanks as empty as possible and move anything of weight into the bed of the truck....when trailering long distances.

With that said the truck does just fine and the boat trailers down the road rather effortlessly. The EZLoader trailer is a float on and retrieving our R27 is accomplished with ease with the exception of having to scoot the boat up further towards the stanchion once it is out of the water. Although I've not had any real major problems with our trailer I do think the tandem axle trailer we have is close to its maximum capabilities. It might be wise get your Cutwater out of the water somehow and get it weighed so you can calculate what specs would be best suited for your C28 trailer. Or better yet maybe others with the C28 have had theirs weighed and can chime in with their numbers and what they suggest.

Jim
 
Jim,
Thank you very much for the reply.
 
I trailer my 29 for pleasure. I took it to Flordia in March , up to North Channel this summer . And will be heading back south to Flordia in November . And then hopefully heading West next fall to explore. It also allows you to easly work on or clean your boat if needed. The towing is really straight forward and just takes common sense to be safe. I need wide load permits being over 8ft6in wide which adds a slight expense and a bit of work but not a problem. You have the flexibility to wonder where and when you want. Having said all this if you think you will only go to a few spots and you are going to purchase a trailer and a new truck you may want to look at having someone move it for you for the cost savings .
I have no regrets getting the trailer for mine .
 
Thank you for the reply and info.
My brother has a F250 that I can borrow anytime.
Ill go ahead and get the trailer.

David
 
Being from Georgia you may want to get a Float-On brand trailer. They are built very well and are all aluminum and Stainless steel. Their service, like Ranger is impeccable. They supply for Ranger so I am sure they will have the correct setup for you. They are in Vero Beach, FL. My Ranger R-27 is around 10,000 lbs ready to trailer with all supplies, some fuel and some water. I would say the cutwater 28 will be somewhat heavier. Remember a little extra capacity won't hurt!

Mike Rizzo
 
Wefings is a Float On Dealer and we set the first boats up many years ago.Actually Float on is sold from independent dealers, not through Ranger Tugs or Cutwater. If I can help you with specs and questions , I would be happy to, David.
We are just down the road in Apalach !
Marc
 
Just want to add. Depending on the year and setup of the truck make sure it is ok for the weight you end up with the boat and trailer . I know with my Dodge the older models were not rated high enough for what I needed.
 
I tow my 29 with a F250, SRW 4x4 diesel..rated to tow combined load of 13,800. My Ranger weights about 11,500 when I get it ready to tow and my triple axel Float On weights 1820 so my combined tow is about 13,300. Its a comfortable tow at 55 mph. However I have also towed with a Ford 350 diesel dually and the difference is night and day. I much prefer the dually. It is more stable. In my business I tow heavy equipment with flat bed goosenecks. If I had it to do over again I would have Float On make me a triple axel gooseneck. I realize that would be considerable extra expense but the difference in stability with a gooseneck at these weights with an F250 would be worth it to me.

Because I tow through several states and they all need separate permits I use "The Permit Company" out of Pasadena, CA. 323 475-1601, you give them your basic truck and trailer info, wgts, travel dates and they will fax you the permits..all for a fee. You can do it yourself with each state on line and of course it is cheaper. Interestingly enough I have never been asked to show my permits except on the Maine Turnpike or at similar toll booths.

But as you have already read in previous posts, don't skimp. Be careful to size your trailer and load and have everything in good shape. If you are over width you need to purchase wide load signs and width flags and have the necessary flare kit on board your truck.

Dick
 
David, your C28 weighs 8700 lbs empty from the factory before options like gensets, safety gear, pots and pans or anything else more substantial like groceries, fuel, or water. Ready to launch or coming out of the water it could be closer to 11,000 lbs. DO not buy a barely capable GVW trailer! I just upgraded from a wholly overwhelmed tandem axle to a 13,000 triple axle and the difference is being totally stressed just going around the block, to completely relaxed on a mountain highway. I also concur that going to a dually is about the same thing in your stability and confidence on the road but that should be step two. Get a trailer that is not barely able to handle the load first!
 
Also make sure that before you take delivery of your trailer that the supplier knows what brand and model truck you have. Sometimes the manufacturer supplied brake controller has to be made compatible with an added relay on the trailer electric over hydraulic brake unit.
 
Thanks to all with the reply great advice.

David
 
Just to throw it out there I have a trailer made by "tuff trailers " they are from the west coast . I bought mine used from someone that delivered boats so it was used a lot . I had an issue with a wheel bearing and called the company and within a week they had sent me a whole new wheel assembly to My address in Canada no charge. Just wanted to give you another option for manufacturer... Mine is a tri axle..
 
David, I've towed my C28 across Florida for the past couple years....I can't agree more that the triple axle is a definite REQUIREMENT! The tandem axle it came with is just not beefy enough and once it's loaded with all my gear I am at or busting the weight limits. I'm getting a new triple axle this month and an really looking forward to it. I tow with a ford super duty and it does just fine. I totally agree with the one post about the dually being more stable, but if you aren't doing long haul tows (i.e. cross country) I don't think it's necessary but would definitely be a nicer ride.

Now, on another note. My C28 is a 2012 with just at 200hrs on the 6BY260 and its in the shop right now at Seafarer Marine in Largo, FL. They came highly recommended from Mastry Marine and for those of you not from the East Coast Mastry is the primary Yanmar distributor for the East Coast and they have performed all maintenance on my boat to this point. The reason I went to Seafarer is solely because Mastry recommended them and they are only a couple miles from where I store my C28.

Why is it in the shop you ask?? The turbo is locked up...doesn't spin. I just got a call from the shop yesterday and they got the turbo off and found water in it which cause rust and pitting. I was of course a little upset with this news and am awaiting the full diagnosis prior to going back to Cutwater. The initial prognosis is that somehow "due to trailering" the seawater may have sloshed back into the exhaust and made it's way into the exhaust side of the turbo. I found this unlikely, but not impossible. So, all this is unfolding this week and I will let everyone know what happens.

Hopefully this post will stimulate some good feedback as I am currently the only C28 owner I know of that has seen this issue.

Kind Regards,

Keith
 
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