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Towing your 16
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2915
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Author:  Hobie Nick [ Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:13 am ]
Post subject: 

The ability to tow is not a HP issue, rather a brakes and suspension issue. Can you stop the extra weight? Can you properly support the extra weight so far back on the car?

The braking issue, well that has to do with the size of the brakes, the weight of the car not including the trailer and the tires. You'll know pretty quickly if your braking ability is up to snuff.

For the suspension, that has mostly to do with how you balance your trailer, i.e. how much tounge weight you have.

I've pulled some heavy monos around with a 25hp lawn tractor.

More important than your engines HP is it's Torque. Since HP = Torque x RPM, you want that Torque for the boat ramps and other slow speed grades. Otherwise, you wil lhvae to rev the engine to increase the RPM to get more power.

I've flown about a third of the way across the country in an airplane with only 65 hp.

Author:  Justin Dean [ Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:14 pm ]
Post subject: 

My father towed my 16 for me last year in a crunch situation with a Honda Del Sol and it did great. The boat is light enough that just about anything with a hitch works.

Author:  Skycreature [ Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:55 am ]
Post subject:  Subaru Forester + H16

Hey guys,
I’ve got an older 70s H16 and I tow it with my Subaru Forester 5 spd. It tows great! I can hardly tell its back there. It tows through the sand at the beach with no problem. I don’t know if most Hobies don’t wobble behind the car but mine doesn’t seem to at all. It tracks very strait. My Subaru is non-turbo and does great but I bet it would work even better with a turbo (wish I had one). So, Id recommend it to anyone.
Evan

Author:  Hammond [ Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:07 pm ]
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Read your vehicles suggested towing standards. I had an old Nissan Pathfinder V-6. The factory suggest not towing in 5th gear ever. I didn't know why and the vehicle went fine in 5th for a long time on flat roads.

When the mechanic showed me the actual gears, 5th is a little itty bitty thing compared to 4th. It is a true overdrive gear. It heated up fast and burned itself up. An expensive lesson.

In the past I towed a lot of different boats with a small toyota truck or a VW squareback. Anything will tow a catamaran, you just need to take your time, and properly equip the car. Automatic transmission coolers are good, but don't forget the powerstearing unit as well.

Author:  Hobie Nick [ Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:26 am ]
Post subject: 

You can stop the wobbling side to side (otherwise known as whipping) by rebalancing your trailer. THe whipping is most likely caused by a lack of tounge weight. You want about 100 to 200 lbs of tounge weight.

Author:  drej [ Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 

These cats are light, but by the time you load up the sail box, add the beach wheels and (if you are like me), strap every other thing to the trailer that wouldn't fit into the car (including my 2 Kayaks that stack and fit neatly under the tramp next to my sail box)...you've added some real weight!

Point is...just because the boats are light, you forget that all the little things can add up. If you tow often with an automatic transmission, always install a transmission oil cooler.

They don't cost that much and your car will thank you for it.

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