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Legal trailered boat width?

19K views 16 replies 11 participants last post by  Jetwash  
#1 ·
Hello, Not sure if this has came up? But in Washington state they say the "legal" trailer width is 102" (8' 6"). How wide can your boat be? The same? Or bigger? I ask this cause a few of the major brand sled makers... show a 102" beam width. BUT another big maker (north river) has there larger open sleds at 108" (9'). Whats up with this? And is it legal? Can I trailer a sled that is 9 foot wide down are high way roads?

Thanks
 
#4 ·
ROCK FISH said:
OK so 8'6" .....where would you get that permit ?????
Here you go Rock.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/CommercialVehic ... imensional

I think you need this one.
Non Divisible Load (over dimensional only)-

The permit allows dimensions up to 14 feet wide and/or 15 feet high and/or 125 feet trailer/load length. Escort/pilot vehicles and/or local jurisdiction approvals may be required depending on actual dimensions of the move.

Fees: $10.00 per 30 day period - Length Only
$20.00 per 30 day period - Height and/or width
$30.00 per 30 day period - Height and/or width plus length
 
#6 ·
Thanks every one! The reason why I ask... is I'm in the process of designing a boat. And as of now I have it drawn up with a 102" beam. But was wonder how north river got away with it. Probably not a problem... but what if?!?!? Not worth it in my book. The extra doe to fish per year. I think i will stay with 102".

Thanks!
 
#7 ·
But was wonder how north river got away with it.
It's not illegal to tow a trailer wider than 102" down the road (with permit) as mentioned.

Know a guy who clipped a jersy barrier towing a 9'+ beam boat in a construction zone. While stopped with a flat the responding officer noticed the overwidth load with no signage and subsequently no permit. It was the only violation the driver was ticketed for. If one can afford the fuel/tow rig/9ft+ wide boat, you'd think the oversize load permit and sign would be a drop in the bucket in ownership and operation costs of such toys?[
 
#8 ·
J.D. said:
[If one can afford the fuel/tow rig/9ft+ wide boat, you'd think the oversize load permit and sign would be a drop in the bucket in ownership and operation costs of such toys?[
$240.00 per year for the extra 6 inches wider... Like I said probablly not worth it in the long run. And also probablly why Alumaweld, and Willie boat don't offer one. ?
 
#10 ·
probablly not worth it in the long run
Agreed when talking sleds. Recreational ocean boat owners that put 100-300 hours on the water during a 5 month season in their vessels that burn 12-24gph, drop in the bucket. Wider is better (but has greater power requirements) in that case. Sled, 50+/- hours on the main during a 12 season in relatively protected waters, a 7ft bottom with a 9ft beam doesn't make sense in most applications. Exception would be the sled that is primarily used as a estuary/columbia boat where taller sides/wider beam makes for a more sea worthy and stable/safe platform that handles some of the trib stuff, but will require more power than a lighter and narrower boat with less freeboard. A tributary sled, wider isn't always better for sure, especially powered with an inefficient outboard jet (wooldridge alaskan would be a good example) Since you said you are designing a boat, consider flare angle vs. bottom width and side hight and how that correlates to bouyancy/load carying capacity, and beam width. You may decide that a 9ft beam will better suit your needs with our without a permit. Just don't hit a jersey barrier in a construction zone on the highway wink: .
 
#11 ·
JD, Thanks! I have a 18 foot supervee now. And it does every thing as good or better then any other boat out there for where I fish. But I'm fishing more friends now a days, and my all time favorite fishery is buoy 10! I have not and will not bring my boat down there! I spend too much money for are annual week fishing trip down there to only fish half days (evening winds will kick us off). When we go we fish from sun up to sun down.

I'm kind of torn... I need a bigger boat... But don't want to loose some of my "small boat fishing areas". But what I gain.. will and does out way the smaller areas. I have fished and drove many hours and days in both a 25 foot supervee (225 optimax jet), and a 24 foot north river scout (225 yamaha prop). Both are awesome boats. They both do things my 18 foot can't... but my 18 foot does thing they can't. Lower cost to run for one! :D But this next boat will be the last boat I own. and pretty much I have made up my mind to go with a bigger boat... longer and wider. The 7 foot bottom is by far the only bottom to go with! Ask any guy that owned a 72in verses their new 84in bottom. It's night and day! Less power to get on plane, and floats way less. The 25 foot 84in supervee jumps on plane as fast or faster then my 18 foot with a 115 jet IMO. And the 225 prop... well thats just plane different and in a different class all together. I would love to be able to switch out from a jet to a prop. But first I need a jet. Most areas I fish demand it.

In designing this boat... wider beam will help in one reason only... Not only more free board, but the main reason is after I put in large top loading rod lockers... that require a large gunnel... There isn't as much room between the motors after I power this boat, with what is required to power a 23 or 24 foot long boat.

Thanks for the input. What do you think?

And to be honest... if I had 50grand to spend on a boat right now... there isn't I have in mind. At first the idea of building a boat was to save money. Now it's just flat cool! And some thing I want to have for ever. Still a ways out before I start... probably spring. I have a few loose ends to figure out. Chine extrution is one of them.
 
#12 ·
another thing to consider is beam width vs. bottom chine width. The angle of the sides make a big difference in rough water spray. For instance if you take 2 sleds that both have 102" beams but one has a 72" bottom and one has an 84" bottom, the sled with the 72" bottom will ride alot drier than the 84" bottom. Something I never thought about till this year at Bouy 10. There is more 'flare' to the boat with the 72" bottom and thus has better spray and waves shedding prowess. This is why some sleds ride alot drier than others even though they seem almost the same.
 
#13 ·
mitch184 said:
another thing to consider is beam width vs. bottom chine width. The angle of the sides make a big difference in rough water spray. For instance if you take 2 sleds that both have 102" beams but one has a 72" bottom and one has an 84" bottom, the sled with the 72" bottom will ride alot drier than the 84" bottom. Something I never thought about till this year at Bouy 10. There is more 'flare' to the boat with the 72" bottom and thus has better spray and waves shedding prowess. This is why some sleds ride alot drier than others even though they seem almost the same.
Excellent point Mitch, A few years ago we were running in a heavy chop on the way back in down at Astoria and I was getting.. 5gallon buck, 5gallon buck of water, bucket after bucket in the face running. It was kind of funny. I had to stop to catch my breath. There was a 24 foot aprox... that ran right past us getting only a little mist. I couldn't beleive it. Last year after running a 24 foot down there I was impressed by how often I only had my sweater on running around and not full rubbers. Night and day running in heavy chop.. There wasn't a bottom difference... but yes flare. The wetter ride was a 84inbottom, 102 beam, with 30in sides... the dryer boat had same bottom, maybe a little more entry, but 108 beam with 3 in higher sides... that = more flare and dryer all together.

That maybe also why willie's bigger boats have smaller sides(then you would think)... they are running out of room by the time they keep there extra flare, and still staying with in 102 beam. I'm still learning, and trying to figure it out. I'm very excited, but at the same time need to do more home work and get all my ducks lined up to make sure I don't end up with a 8 thousand pile of aluminum cans! :lol:

Thanks guys, keep the imput coming.
 
#14 ·
I think there is an annual fee option for about $100. No 'Wide Load' sign until you are over 10 ft wide from my understanding. I would recommend getting a permit. I trailered my Bayliner 2560 (9'6" beam) to Gold River from Seattle. My wife noticed that highway patrol did appear run the plates on the way back home. We are assuming to check if we had a permit.
 
#15 ·
Any vehicle over 102" wide must have oversize load signs on the front and rear of your vehicle and permit. If you are over 11 ft wide on a 2 lane road you must have 2 pilot cars. Anything over 14 ft wide on the freeway must have one rear pilot car. You can travel at night with an oversize load up to 12 ft. You must have lights on the outermost part of you load. I run a pilot car company for a living. I know its an old thread but if anyone has any questions feel free to get ahold of me.