R6 Outboard FL to VA Trip Report

[dgangwer]

Bought a F250 to tow the boat seasonally. Got the 7.3l gas motor with a 4.30 rear end. Diesel was $10k more and I’ll only tow a few times a year. 4x4 was worth every nickel as the tires spun @ the full moon low tide ramp. Was schedule constrained and had no alternate time windows.

Drive was uneventful. Light fishtailing above 70 mph. 60-70 mph no problem. 8 mpg. Surge brakes. Asked dealer about EOH and he said they rarely see it. No issues getting the rig stopped.

Didn’t put rags under tie down straps and some yellow dye bled into the gel coat.

I’ll post seawater in the bilge saga on the outboard section.

[dgangwer]

I have read mixed reviews on power loading on and off the trailer. Dealer said they always do it. I would appreciate any feedback.

[Mike in SC]

I have read mixed reviews on power loading on and off the trailer. Dealer said they always do it. I would appreciate any feedback.

Great looking boat, would really like to see a few more pics!
When I load my boat on the trailer, I usually power load to about 6" to a foot from the bow stop. It's gentle enough, then I winch the rest of the way. I know some ramps are not long, and power loading can really erode the area at the end of the ramp. Is that what you're concerned with?
The fishtailing has me wondering how much tongue weight is on your rig...I've never had that issue at some pretty elevated speeds. I don't know how easy it is to move your boat forward a bit on the trailer, but that's my idea.
Good luck!

[Snowman8]

I power load when allowed, a lot of ramps don’t allow it because it washes out the end of the ramps. If you are getting any fish tailing at all with an F250 you don’t have enough tongue weight, slide the boat stop forward to add tongue weight . I run set the cruise at 80 running down the freeway with our R5 and an F150 with no fish tailing all. I just barely feel the boat behind the F150. I can pretty easily forget the boat is behind my F350.

[dgangwer]

Great looking boat, would really like to see a few more pics!
When I load my boat on the trailer, I usually power load to about 6" to a foot from the bow stop. It's gentle enough, then I winch the rest of the way. I know some ramps are not long, and power loading can really erode the area at the end of the ramp. Is that what you're concerned with?
The fishtailing has me wondering how much tongue weight is on your rig...I've never had that issue at some pretty elevated speeds. I don't know how easy it is to move your boat forward a bit on the trailer, but that's my idea.
Good luck!

Thanks, Mike! I will post more pics. Yes, I was unaware of the environmental issues of power loading as my last boat (30 yrs ago) was a 19’ Sea Ray on a Shorelander with rollers I.e. no problem with manual launch & recovery.

I appreciate the tongue weight gouge. Makes sense. I picked the trailer up from the dealer, loaded the boat & hit the road. The dealer has been great (Marine Connection- West Palm) and I “assumed” the set-up would be good.

[dgangwer]

I power load when allowed, a lot of ramps don’t allow it because it washes out the end of the ramps. If you are getting any fish tailing at all with an F250 you don’t have enough tongue weight, slide the boat stop forward to add tongue weight . I run set the cruise at 80 running down the freeway with our R5 and an F150 with no fish tailing all. I just barely feel the boat behind the F150. I can pretty easily forget the boat is behind my F350.

Thanks, Snowman! The symptoms are there regarding tongue weight. When I reworked the bow strap, the bow rose. I’m betting a proper rig wouldn’t do that.

[Big Block Power]

I power load everytime also.
As snowman said in another post is try to get your bow stop off your chine. Also why is that winch strap loose. I would think you would want your bow Safety strap pulling it down and forward not backwards. I could be wrong though.

[dgangwer]

BBP, Bow strap is loose because the boat is going to set (against neighborhood rules) in my driveway for a few days until I take her to a dry stack marina. Trust me, that strap was tight as a drum on the road and will be snug for the short drive to her new home.

Regarding the safety strap; my understanding is that it is to keep the boat off of the truck in the event of a forward collision. Saw an internet photo of a boat on top of an F150.

[Big Block Power]

BBP, Bow strap is loose because the boat is going to set (against neighborhood rules) in my driveway for a few days until I take her to a dry stack marina. Trust me, that strap was tight as a drum on the road and will be snug for the short drive to her new home.

Regarding the safety strap; my understanding is that it is to keep the boat off of the truck in the event of a forward collision. Saw an internet photo of a boat on top of an F150.

Yes I get that. Here is Tuscany and Snowman8
I just like to have it pulled down into the saddle. Both are good

[Mike in SC]

BBP, Bow strap is loose because the boat is going to set (against neighborhood rules) in my driveway for a few days until I take her to a dry stack marina. Trust me, that strap was tight as a drum on the road and will be snug for the short drive to her new home.

Regarding the safety strap; my understanding is that it is to keep the boat off of the truck in the event of a forward collision. Saw an internet photo of a boat on top of an F150.

If you're going to dry stack it, you probably won't be towing much, my situation now.
That boat on the F150 probably didn't have transom tie downs in place I'm guessing.
If you get around to moving your bow stop forward, let us know how that fish-tailing issue is affected.
I'm guessing it'll be gone.

[dgangwer]

If you get around to moving your bow stop forward, let us know how that fish-tailing issue is affected.
I'm guessing it'll be gone.

I'm in contact with the dealer about the trailer. The trailer has a "R6" handwritten sticker. I wonder if the center of gravity is aft on the outboard as opposed to the I/O model. I'll take the whole rig to the truck scales to get data, also.

[Tuscany]

I could tow at 80+ straight as an arrow. Ok, I don’t tow at 80, but passing, 80 comes fast.

Fishtailing is definitely a tongue weight issue. Your outboard position vs. stern will definitely affect tongue weight differently.
IMO, Move the boat 6” forward. If it still does it, move ahead another 6” until it stops fishtailing.
Looking at your trailer, the tandem position may be adjustable, so moving them back a 1’-2’ will do the same thing. 2’ will definitely cure it.

Power loading?
We do it every time. Our load system works like a charm. We drop the trailer in the water at the same point, pull the boat by hand to center it in the block, and the last 1-2’ we power up. I get off the bow the crank it the rest of the way, and my wife pulls the boat to the parking lot, usually with me screaming to slow down..