Trailer Weight and Towing P-19

RL Reno (rlreno@worldnet.att.net)
Wed, 24 Nov 1999 08:29:07 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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In response to requests for the official Nevada DMV figures for my rig-

Boat and trailer weighs 2540 lbs as normally fitted out but without
extra provisions for an outing.

This is one of the old HMS-18s with heavier hull and mast. Also, all of
the rigging has been heavily upgraded. The weight was with a 2-stroke
attached-- my new Honda increases the load by about another 20 lbs.
Lighter towing weight is one of the advantages of the newer P-19s. The
trailer is also a heavy style with full-size wheels, similar to the Baja
trailer.

Tongue weight is presently 80 lbs. I will probably increase this a
little by adding a motor carrier near the tongue like Jerry's.

My current tow vehicle, a Jeep CJ-7, is short wheelbase, has a somewhat
wimpy 6 cyl. engine, and weighs in at 3780 pounds including driver.
Except for very short hauls it and the driver are not at all happy
towing the HMS-18.

The boat perpetually loads a little to one side- so when time and funds
permit I plan to replace the wobbly upright PVC guide rollers with solid
side boards like Judy's.

Judy- I drilled a hole thru the crutch pintle and use a quick-release
pin to keep the crutch in place (just like the one on my rudder) rather
than the downhaul bungee you use.

Regarding the stabilizing lines from top of mast crutch- like the
majority of responses I use them. One of the long stern dock lines to
the stern cleats does the trick nicely but I add a bungee from the
center of the lines downward to keep slack out of the system. I suspect
Judy's method of just using a couple strong bungees is a little faster
to rig.

Ron
HMS-18 #42 Bluebelle