Piloting your own yacht or speedboat can be a thrilling way to navigate rushing rivers and ocean waves. However, transporting your craft over land can be decidedly less exciting, especially if you are towing your watercraft with a vehicle that simply isn't up to the task.
Any boat owner who regularly tows their boat to launching points and moorings should take special care when purchasing or leasing a new car to ensure that their new set of wheels is up to the unique demands of boat towing. While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing a suitable tow vehicle for your yacht or motorboat, there are some guidelines you can follow that will help you recognise a good potential towing car when you see it.
Keep the weight of your fully laden craft in mind
Any car that can be used to tow boats, caravans and other trailers will have its maximum safe towing weight clearly noted in its operating manual, and you should never choose a car that falls short of your boat's requirements.
Keep in mind that your new car will have to tow the weight of your boat's trailer and any cargo and equipment you store within the boat during towing, not just the weight of the boat itself. Having your fully laden craft and its trailer professionally weighed before you start shopping for tow cars is never a bad idea.
Avoid lightweight cars
You might think that towing your boat with a powerful, lightweight car will help you save fuel, but while a lower overall weight may be good for your fuel economy, it can hamper towing safety significantly. Lightweight cars do not have the inertia required to brake rapidly when towing a heavy load, as the car will be pushed forward by the momentum of the trailer-mounted boat, which can significantly increase your car's stopping distance.
Consider fuel types carefully
Petrol, diesel and hybrid cars are all capable of towing trailer-mounted boats, but diesel engines are generally considered the gold standard for tow cars, and for good reason. Diesel-powered cars tend to have significantly more torque than petrol or hybrid vehicles, allowing them to tow heavier loads and accelerate off the line more evenly when towing.
That doesn't mean that petrol cars should be discounted entirely, as many have the power necessary to safely and efficiently tow a boat; however, they will burn significantly more fuel doing so than a diesel engine of equivalent power. Older hybrid cars should generally be avoided entirely, and while some newer hybrid vehicles are capable of towing small and medium-sized vessels, they tend to be rather sluggish and will have to work hard to maintain highway speeds.
For help with choosing the best new car for your needs, contact a company like Blue Ribbon Motors.
Share12 July 2018
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