Boat Towing Thread
 

How about a dedicated boat towing thread? With all the talk about towing, it rarely involves boats. I’ll get it started.

‘15 F150 Lariat 4x4, 145 WB, 3.5 EB, & max tow (3:55 gears & 1630 lbs payload).
‘04 Crownline 230 BR sitting on a tandem axle Prestige trailer with surge brakes.

Tongue weight - 400 pounds verified with a Sherline scale.
Overall wet weight - Approximately 6000 pounds.

I love the way this truck tows. I have ordered the same setup in a 2018.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...f5a0975d7.jpeg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...110623507.jpeg

That tongue weight is a little low. Shouldn't it be 10-12% of the total weight?

Old 2015 F150 with the current 2026 Mastercraft X30. Right around 7k with gear and 65 gallons of fuel.

Truck: '11 Ecoboost, 3.55, 1529 payload.

Boat: '00 Lund WC16, 15hp Suzuki 2 stroke, 4 rod holders, 2 anchors, 5 cup holders and a bag of Cheetos. About 1000 lbs total fueled (3gal cell) and loaded with beer.

Truck pulls like a beast!
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...6a26c4fe49.jpg

Actually that tongue wt. is just about right. Since boats don't have the frontal or side area of a travel trailer, they can get away with quite a bit less tongue weight and still be stable. By doing this, they get away from needing a WDH and can subsequently use surge brakes. The really big boats will have a WDH and electric-over-hydraulic brakes. For boats like we're discussing on tandem trailers, 6 to 7% is pretty typical.

2017 F-150 Lariat SCrew 4x4 Short Bed, 3.5L Eco, 3.55 axle, Max Tow, Payload 1785

2004 Ranger 19' bass boat on a RangerTrail single axle trailer w/surge brakes, package weight approx 3200 lbs. Tows perfect.
1988 Sea Ray 230 CC on a 1996 EZ Loader tandem axle trailer w/Surge brakes, package weight just under 6k. Feels "floaty"
2010 Swee****er 16' pontoon boat on a Yacht Club single axle trailer w/o brakes, package weight estimated at 1500 lbs. Pulls like a parachute and sucks fuel.

The EcoBoost and 10-speed trans is an amazing drive train. Wildly impressed with the power. Carrying the weight of the Sea Ray...not so much. My 2007 FX4 SCab, 6.5' box carried the weight significantly better.

Nice boat sir! I have a Lund WC14 and my truck doesn't have any issue pulling either ;)


The WC design is an awesome boat, especially for me here on Vancouver Island. I can go to a small lake or out in the salt chuck ...and feel safe in either location. I can stand on the edge and still have a foot of freeboard showing. Love my boat.......

About 7% for boats.

When it comes to boats, why is there a 5000 pound limit on the Class IV hitch without using a WD hitch? My boat tongue weight is 400 pounds, under the 500 pound max, but my overall weight is 6000 pounds. According to the label, I still need a WD hitch. Is anyone really doing this for boats? I understand the limit logic better when it comes to travel trailers. I’ve been towing my boat, since it was new in 2004, with 1/2 ton trucks. It has survived 2 Chevy’s and now going on 2 Fords. I’ve never used a WD hitch.

Very nice, and very expensive, boat you have there. I didn’t realize the Mastercrafts weighed that much.