Been asked if can move a mate of mate’s 57ft house boat, haven’t got a trombone. My thinking was shove enough of the bow over the front of a regular 45ft tri flat to keep the overhang within limit for just marked up and not having to inform police. Or could use stepframe lowloader with a less deep set pin, with the boat sat on railway sleepers to get more upfront space. The boat will overhang a bit width ways too but will squeak under 3.0m (I’m told )
Have done plenty of wide/overhanging loads before but any views on potential difficulties welcomed to see if I should be busy that weekend.
If your mate is a proper good mate and not just someone you know then go for it. As long as you are not out of pocket and not upsetting your regular customers.
Mate or not make sure someone else pics up the bills!
I was always led to believe an acceptable over hang was about a meter and a little bit but that was on timber . I’d get your mate to check that 12 feet of un supported boat won’t cause damage to the boat
Might seem daft but seen it happen before, make sure u can get in at the other end some marinas are down narrow lanes they might have large boats in but they come by water or proper boat trailers with god knows how many steering axle
Own Account Driver:
Been asked if can move a mate of mate’s 57ft house boat, haven’t got a trombone. My thinking was shove enough of the bow over the front of a regular 45ft tri flat to keep the overhang within limit for just marked up and not having to inform police. Or could use stepframe lowloader with a less deep set pin, with the boat sat on railway sleepers to get more upfront space. The boat will overhang a bit width ways too but will squeak under 3.0m (I’m told )
Have done plenty of wide/overhanging loads before but any views on potential difficulties welcomed to see if I should be busy that weekend.
Ta
that’s ok till you gotta hump over a canal bridge that’s steep.
we use to do Jewsons place just out side Bath a kiddy came down with a LL and got hung up on the bridge. 2 jacks an a bits of sleepers and 2hrs later he was away ony prob was he had to do the same later to get out
It probably won’t do the hull any favours even if its steel.Generally speaking the hull should be supported equally and are stern heavy. As mentioned most marinas don’t have the best road access and you’d have a fair tail swing but as 99% of boat trailers are steps or superlows you should be right on that score. Also don’t forget the height You’ll need to drop it on at least 2 or 3" bearers to allow for the straddle hoist straps. Watch where and how tight you strap it and get plenty of carpet to pad under the straps. Remember the trailer will flex but the boat won’t and depending on hull profile you may need to use additional support to stabilise it. Basically you’re looking for it to be able to sit on it’s own before strapping. If it’s fibreglass hulled I’d be “busy”
If it’s fibreglass forget it. A 12 ft overhang is going to ■■■■ that hull.
You are within C&U regulations - You mustn’t go beyond 18.3m but frankly it’s your width I’d be worried about.
If you go beyond 2.9m wide you need to notify police and at that stage I’d be looking at getting an ■■■■■■ involved if it’s anything more than 3.4m or so.
Weight should be OK depending on the boat construction but if you are going to have a 3.6 meter overhang on the arse of this I would most definitely get an ■■■■■■ involved as that’s some tail swing.
Where are you in the country I may be able to give you better advice? I’m planning a near identical move for a customer as I type this…
Just read the original post again and realised this is a houseboat which probably has a hull that is nothing more than a fibreglass pontoon designed to float and not much more. Very little structural strength so it would need to be supported totally and any overhang more than a couple of feet could result in it breaking it’s back.
Needs a specially constructed cradle to fully support it, anything less is asking for trouble.
Many thanks for all the responses - must admit hadn’t considered potential grounding out problems with the low-loader - will most more info when get back in and on a proper computer later.
just tell your mate to stick it on shipping wars, there will be a man round with a transit and 25ft trailer who will happily move it to wherever you want for £3.50
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You’ll need to drop it on at least 2 or 3" bearers to allow for the straddle hoist straps. Watch where and how tight you strap it and get plenty of carpet to pad under the straps. Remember the trailer will flex but the boat won’t 