Towing In Europe

Interesting point Seasickrick - as everyone says - the basic design of the trailers is bonkers and the metal fatigue etc will be really bad, I also agree that the police 'probably' are not that  interested as long as board has the correct number plate and the lights all work etc.  Insurance though puts a differant light on it, a new boat of any class that has to have a new trailer will have the same issues and I'll need to think carefully about the insurance aspect.  Some one smashing into a long carbon mast is pretty expensive - someone smahing into a long boat  - could be even more expense.  The lighting board is a good 2 feet short underneath the hull - so you can't see it anyway!!

Originally posted by Contender443 I have a lovely lighting board with arms in my garage if anyone wants to buy one. I suppose I may use it if I ever tow the trailer without the boat on it. Can't see that happening.   So I'm sticking to the transom mounted lighting board with mast support.   If I ever get pulled  over that will be unlucky so I am will ing to take the (minimal) risk. A bit like speeding really....once every 3 tro 4 years is my average...

I understand that by not using the light board arms that are supplied with the trailer you are contravening the terms of the type approval of the road base.
There have been a few incindents where boats have been hit from the back/side and insurance claims and insurance claims have been dismissed because the road base didn't conform to type.

If you have them you should use them!

I have a lovely lighting board with arms in my garage if anyone wants to buy one. I suppose I may use it if I ever tow the trailer without the boat on it. Can't see that happening.

The length of 'bouncy' light supporting arms on many of these 'new improved' combi bases is a complete joke.  In time metal fatigue will surely cause many to fail dumping god knows what in the path of other road users...  In engineering terms the designs many now being sold are complete bonkers imo !  It will only be a matter of time .. and metal fatigue until the legal snakes swarm all over the first 'accidents'.  Who will be to blame ?  The user/owner ?  The trailer builders/suppliers?  The regulation drafters ? 

Avoid them like them the plague if you have any choice.  'They' want us to pay more for an inferior set-up ? Really ? ... I'll stick with my decent 10" wheeled 'pre-regulation' base - it will be well maintained and never sold as long as I haul a dinghy around !  Buy up decent used ones if you see them advertised is my advice - and look after them.




Edited by Cirrus - 19 Oct 16 at 12:29pm

Sorry to re-ignite this topic, but now I have a new boat and a new trailer and I now understand what all the fuss is about.  The boat is an Osprey Mk5 and therefore 17'6" long.  The trailer and it's arms are quite ridiculous and I had to tie them up to stop the arms bouncing around.  I won't be dashing off to Europe, but I do plan on doing an occasional Open and Nats in the UK. My current plan is to just put the tail board on the mast fitting on the transon and then tow it as I did in the good old days!!  I'd be interested to hear if anyone has had a problem doing this in the UK?  Don't our wonderful traffic cops have bigger fish to fry?
Differant topic I know - but Osprey Mk5 - beautiful boat!