26X on the scales.

A forum for discussing issues relating to trailers and towing MacGregor sailboats.
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MSS
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Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 12:45 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Europe / Sweden 2002X - Honda 50EFI - MACX4868B202
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26X on the scales.

Post by MSS »

I had my 2002X on the scales last weekend and it was exactly 1680 kg (3704 lb). It was 1520kg (3351 lb) on the axle and 160 kg (353 lb) on the hitch.

It is a 26X with the following things, nothing more, nothing less.

Yamaha two stroke, two cylinder, 50hp engine 82 kg (180.8 lb)
No fuel.
Standard battery.
Hank on jib and standard main.
Mast carrier.
Origo 2000 Alcohol stove, single burner.
Fire extinguisher.
Trailer with surge brakes, single axle.
Marine Head.
Boarding and Swim ladder
GPS Garmin 178Ci
Two pillows and two sleeping bags.
Two fenders.
10 kg (22,05 lb) anchor.

/mattias


Sorry for bad spelling / grammar, I'm from Sweden...
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Night Sailor
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Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: '98, MACX1780I798, '97 Merc 50hp Classic, Denton Co. TX "Duet"

Mac weight sounds right

Post by Night Sailor »

Thanks for posting.
My X had similar equipment but three batteries, roller furling genny, jib, asymm spin, stove, and galley utensils, refrig., food, wine, 16 gallons of water, 12 gallons fuel, spare tire, four fenders, and 12 gallon holding tank with marine head. Scale weight total 3680 lbs. , tongue weight 410 lbs. To trailer any long distance I off load as much as I can to the tow vehicle and empty all onboard tankage so I don't overload the trailer tires which are rated to 1870 lbs. each. Since I slip the boat in the water year round, it's seldom I have to trailer it, and had not weighed it empty.
Last edited by Night Sailor on Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
K. Konzem
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Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:37 pm
Location: California Central Coast area

Post by K. Konzem »

Mattias,
Thanks for the info, we have similar boats.

Have you ever worked in Iowa USA? I wondered if I might know you.

Kevin
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R Rae
First Officer
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Post by R Rae »

:macx:
Hi folks,
I am presently loading up the 2001 26X for our annual return trip from PEI. Canada to Alabama.
When I put the scales on the front it showed 450 lbs as I have stored spare motor and inflatable in front bunk. Does anyone have any experience with this amount of tongue weight?. Don't have the means to check gross weight, however. The Honda 20 at the rear only weighs 115 lbs.
Everything else is standard.

Ron
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Bobby T.-26X #4767
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Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA

Re: 26X on the scales.

Post by Bobby T.-26X #4767 »

MSS wrote:I had my 2002X on the scales last weekend and it was exactly 1680 kg (3704 lb). It was 1520kg (3351 lb) on the axle and 160 kg (353 lb) on the hitch.
Night Sailor wrote: My X had similar equipment Scale weight total 3980 lbs.
the "dry" weight that is quoted by Macgregor is 2250#.
obviously...that is the fiberglass alone & without anything (mast, hardware, cushions).

the trailer is undersized once you add even a motor.

it's dual axel time for me!
Frank C

Post by Frank C »

R Rae wrote::macx:
Hi folks,
I am presently loading up the 2001 26X for our annual return trip from PEI. Canada to Alabama.

When I put the scales on the front it showed 450 lbs as I have stored spare motor and inflatable in front bunk. Does anyone have any experience with this amount of tongue weight?. Don't have the means to check gross weight, however. The Honda 20 at the rear only weighs 115 lbs.
Ron,
That amount of tongue weight is probably a benefit if the tow vehicle can handle it. (Unfortunately, full-sized pickups are about the only tow vehicles that can handle that much at the bumper without a special weight-distributing hitch!) The single axle trailer is like a see-saw, where tongue weight (forward) must balance outboard weight (aft) across the axle.

IMO, your version of the see-saw is far safer than most of the single axle trailers. As motor weight goes up with larger engines, it has the potential to unload the tongue over road dips. Such unloading of the hitch contributes mightily to tail-wagging.
In your case, that's pretty unlikely. :wink:
tomasrey88
Deckhand
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Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:58 pm

Thanks for the real-world info!

Post by tomasrey88 »

MSS,

Thanks for the valuable real-world information you gave us about the real weight of the boat on the trailer. You saved me from overloading my trailer and causing a disastrous collapse.

I was going to camp out in my boat on the trailer to save some money on hotel/motel costs. This was based on the factory's given weight of 2550 lbs boat + 710 lbs trailer + 245 lbs suzuki outboard 50 hp = 3505 lbs.

You reported 3351 lbs with a 180 lb engine and a 300 lb lighter mac 26x (the 26m is 300 lbs heavier).

That means the 26m weighs 3900 lbs similarly equipped with a heavier 4 stroke engine. Add 100 lbs of gas and its 4000 lbs. Therefore, to camp out on the boat with gear stowed on it would put it over the 4500 load limit. This is most unwise. I will not camp out on the boat. I will have to either camp out in the SUV or just cough up the money for a hotel room (argh).

Thanks,
tomasrey88.
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R Rae
First Officer
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Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:12 pm

TONGUE WEIGHT

Post by R Rae »

Frank,
Thanks for the input, I've already slid some of the bow weight back a tad bringing the tongue down to 380 lb

Tom....88
I think being overloaded as you describe STATIONARY in some 'Walmart' type parking area or where ever to be ok. I believe being overweight would only be a problem bouncing up and down on a bumpy highway where inertia forces could be greatly magnified, as well as potholing etc. etc.

Saving money is good. :)
Ron
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Catigale
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Post by Catigale »

There is probably some safety margin in ratings that you can 'flirt with' if you are so inclined - obviously hitches rated at 4000 pounds dont fail at 4001 pounds.

If you trailered once a year for three hours on smooth highways, and kept your speed down (which lowers shock forces from potholes and dips etc) this might be a reasonable thing to consider., wheras if you are trailering every week at 75 mph on rough roads, pushing the limit is asking for an incident.

Inspecting your trailer rig (getting dirty and underneath and checking all the bolts and metal for fatigue) is a good idea regardless of what load you are pulling. I do it in the spring and before each major trip.
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