My X is here at last

[sunshinecoasting]

After an agonising 12 week wait my has finally arrived from the U.S.A. I picked her up yesterday in what proved to be an exhausting day. First was the 5:30am start to be at the brisbane docks by 8:00am, then a gruelling, boring safety induction (40 minutes later) I'm allowed to drive on to the dock and hook her up to the car, a quick 10 minute inspection for insurance purposes and I'm driving away back to the Sunshine Coast where I have a 10:30am appt scheduled for the trailer road worthy, I got there at 11:45, oh well. I spent an hour in the car park of the RWC shop re-wiring the lights on the light board so it would include the fixed side markers (clearence lights) required for QLD roads. Chap passes the trailer at 3:30pm and I drive directly to the QLD roads office for trailer and boat rego. These guys of course took a long time but no trouble and by 4:45pm she is registered and all legal.

I get home just in time for the sun set so I didnt really get a good look over her but am very pleased with what I have seen so far, everything I expected, would love to have started the motor and tested it but no time left, I managed to remove all cushion covers and cockpit cushions for cleaning which my wife is doing today. I will spend all weekend cleaning and re-rigging, if all goes well I might even get a mayden voyage in on Sunday but that may be optimistic.

I have to say that the one biggest worry factor for me was towing it with my wifes Great Wall X240 4WD (2.4 Litre 4 Cyl) but it handled it surprisingly well, in fact I was sitting on the freeway at 110 in 5th gear easily, I was down to 3rd gear climbing the Gateway bridge but that was to be expected, at no time was I forced to do less than the speed limit over the bridge (80k) so I am left pondering the horror stories I am hearing about tow weight here on the forum? The boat is fully furnished with motor, sails and extra's.

This photo was taken while waiting for the RWC.


Cheers, Dennis.

[Oskar 26M]

Congratulations on your new arrival!
Many you fair winds and many happy days of sailing ahead

I have to say that the one biggest worry factor for me was towing it with my wifes Great Wall X240 4WD (2.4 Litre 4 Cyl) but it handled it surprisingly well, in fact I was sitting on the freeway at 110 in 5th gear easily, I was down to 3rd gear climbing the Gateway bridge but that was to be expected, at no time was I forced to do less than the speed limit over the bridge (80k) so I am left pondering the horror stories I am hearing about tow weight here on the forum? The boat is fully furnished with motor, sails and extra's.

The trailering "horror stories" that have preoccupied some of us on this forum have not had much to do with the tow vehicle's ability to move the boat on the trailer. A family sedan probably has the grunt do that, but whether it can do so safely under all conditions is another question. More important is whether it can do so legally and the consequential potential insurance issues.

The specs of the Great Wall X240 4WD (2.4 Litre 4 Cyl) show its GVM is 2280kg and its kerb weight is 1805 kg so it is fairly light in relation to what you are towing. Its towing capacity (braked) is 1700 kg. The maximum towball down weight is 170kg which is a significant chunk of its payload of 475 kg.

I think the is a fair bit lighter than the but you could be fairly close to those limits even with an empty boat.

Add a few bits of gear like batteries, decent anchors maybe some fuel and a few provisions and consider putting the rig over a registered weighbridge. You might be surprised at the result. I certainly was with my

Check out the later posts on the "Aussie Tow Hacks" thread.

[sunshinecoasting]

Thanks Oskar,

Yes I do intend to have it weighed once I have it loaded with the essentials. I guess what I was commenting on was the apparent towing weight of the boat, it seems to pull very easily indicating less weight than anticipated, but that is by no means a guarantee of the cars capability or legal capacity. Yes I do need to know it's weight for no other reason than insurance but certainly the car had no trouble at all in dragging it the 100klms home.

Cheers, Dennis.

[bartmac]

Be interesting to see the manufacturers spec weight limit on the trailer

[Boblee]

Nothing wrong with towing the trailer it pulls beautifully just as it is and even fully loaded BUT I will be very surprised if it will be legal with much more than an extra battery in it.
Not looking forward to mine when its converted to a tandem but at least it will be legal even if I leave gear in/on it.
We only tow at 80-90k but then even without the trailer I don't drive a lot faster in the truck.
Our SIL was passed by a mac on the freeway near Geelong heading back to SA which he said was doing at least 110 and towing beautifully.
Enjoy your new adventure machine we have.

[Fresh Breeze]

Congratulations Dennis, Its a great feeling to finally get the dream real
When we pick up our from Noosa we also had a 100k's north to get her home, our falcon sedan (the hubby's car we had at the time) was to low to tow , so we used my car or should I say Truck (F250 4x4) and we had no trouble in towing, the truck drove like there was nothing behind her. Since then we traded in the falcon for a Colorado 4x4 it pulls the no problems with just the basic stuff loaded (outboard, 2 battery's, 60 lt water, kitchen stuff, linen, fishing gear) fridge, food, cloths and of cause the cat, we carry in the car and load them when we get to the ramp. Even with the basic stuff loaded we could be still a bit over weight, so we will have to put over the public weight bridge and maybe get a shock
We hope this weather gets better soon, cause we are itching to get in the water again. Easter at Tin Can Bay is mayhem boats every where So before or after Easter is it for us to get in the water weather pending


Cheers

PS We still have the both vehicle's (He's and Her's 4x4's )

[Mac26Mpaul]

Dennis,

I bought my M on the Sunshine Coast and towed it back to the Gold Coast,, with my Magna (and its 1500kg tow capacity ). The Magna had plenty enough power I thought. Mind you, when we got a bit of side wind on the way back, I nearly crapped myself .....

Anyway, will be interested to see what you get on the weighbridge with the X. Like I said, my M is 1960kgs with possibly 80kgs of stuff in it (including the batteries).