Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA
>Wow! Who would have thought that so much conversation would have been
>generated? Having read all the different views I debated whether my 2 cents
>would make any difference. It probably won't, but that is for you to decide.
>
>My Potter 19 with trailer weighs between 1500 and 1600 lbs. We tow it with a
>1995 Volkswagon Passat which has a V-6 engine, front wheel drive, and a 5
>speed manual transmission. I've never determined the tongue weight, but
>since both my wife (4'10", 100lbs) and I separately can lift it, I estimate
>it at 50-80 lbs. That would put it between 3 and 5 percent of the towed
>weight. We have no problems with swaying or any side to side motion unless
>we go over about 65-70 mph. I wouldn't want to go much faster than that
>anyway, and with a low tongue weight we have no trouble with steering or
>with pulling the boat out on steep ramps.
>
>I guess my feelings are that if you're satisfied with how things are
>working, then there's no need to mess with anything like the 10% rule of
>thumb.
>
>Andy Krumpe
>P19, Great Wight