Dear All,
I am following your comments and they are really valuable for me as a novice sailor. I have 24 macgregor and wonder what is the enough tongue weight on the thing to reduce sway.
Thanks for all interested sailors.
What can be the enough tongue weight for 24 Macgregor?
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Frank C
Most who are posting here have a Mac 26 with a large outboard. That adds betw 200 to 400 lbs on the transom. These rigs are probably averaging 4500# gross wts., substantially increasing their tongue wts. over that you might need.
Further, the more capable tow vehicles (heavier suspensions & longer WBases) are less demanding of tongue wt to provide an easy tow. My 4x4 pickup provides easy-to-handle towing with only 300# on the tongue, but I needed 360# to prevent the rig from wagging behind my '97 Expedition. The hefty tow vehicle gives me more loading flexibility.
A good rule of thumb is that a boat-rig needs approximately 8% of the fully loaded trailer wt on the tongue. So, if your Mac 24 weighs 3,000 with trailer, then you'd target 240 lbs. for tongue wt.
Further, the more capable tow vehicles (heavier suspensions & longer WBases) are less demanding of tongue wt to provide an easy tow. My 4x4 pickup provides easy-to-handle towing with only 300# on the tongue, but I needed 360# to prevent the rig from wagging behind my '97 Expedition. The hefty tow vehicle gives me more loading flexibility.
A good rule of thumb is that a boat-rig needs approximately 8% of the fully loaded trailer wt on the tongue. So, if your Mac 24 weighs 3,000 with trailer, then you'd target 240 lbs. for tongue wt.