Is an R7 to big for a first boat?

[Tuscany]

Towing is the only issue. I agree that it’s more about the road handling, than water handling..

In the water.
IMO, the last thing the R7 is, is a big boat. It’s a size that’s obviously bigger than a 19’ boat, but in reality, it’s only a 25’ boat, with a standard beam, and a swim platform figuring into the size.

We trailer/launch/load every time we boat. Piece of cake.

[dustinm]

Tire size and rating will make a night and day difference with handling too. LT tires have a better/stiffer sidewall and will eliminate a lot sway. When I went from 18" to 20" on my half ton that also made a very noticeable difference, the same as previously swapping my half for a 3/4 at work.

A person could use a 89 ranger to tow one of these boats if they keep in mind the limitations of the tow vehicle. I do think I have ever seen an incident where if the person was driving within the limitation of the tow vehicle it could not have been prevented. I.E. just slowing down.

[dustinm]

Khash are you even still with us?

[Big Block Power]

Khash are you even still with us?

Who's khash? He went to FB 4 pages ago. Lol

[Tuscany]

Tire size and rating will make a night and day difference with handling too. LT tires have a better/stiffer sidewall and will eliminate a lot sway. When I went from 18" to 20" on my half ton that also made a very noticeable difference, the same as previously swapping my half for a 3/4 at work.

A person could use a 89 ranger to tow one of these boats if they keep in mind the limitations of the tow vehicle. I do think I have ever seen an incident where if the person was driving within the limitation of the tow vehicle it could not have been prevented. I.E. just slowing down.

Again, just because you can hitch up 8k and tow down the road in an 89’Ranger doesn’t mean all is good..
Speed limits are usually speed minimums, and without the proper set up, one relinquishes control and safety in all situations.

Most important are brakes. It’s about controlling your vehicle when others can not control their own, if the $#t hits the fan in front of you, do you have the equipment that can save a life, or just add to the crash?

[dustinm]

Tire size and rating will make a night and day difference with handling too. LT tires have a better/stiffer sidewall and will eliminate a lot sway. When I went from 18" to 20" on my half ton that also made a very noticeable difference, the same as previously swapping my half for a 3/4 at work.

A person could use a 89 ranger to tow one of these boats if they keep in mind the limitations of the tow vehicle. I do think I have ever seen an incident where if the person was driving within the limitation of the tow vehicle it could not have been prevented. I.E. just slowing down.

Again, just because you can hitch up 8k and tow down the road in an 89’Ranger doesn’t mean all is good..
Speed limits are usually speed minimums, and without the proper set up, one relinquishes control and safety in all situations.

Most important are brakes. It’s about controlling your vehicle when others can not control their own, if the shit hits the fan in front of you, do you have the equipment that can save a life, or just add to the crash?

I tow my boat and car trailer around the yard(and down the street) with my 425 John Deere garden tractor all the time winter summer it doesnt matter. You know why I can do this? Because I take it slow. That garden tractor probably has a max tow rating of 750 lbs, The same applies to the OPs half ton pickup, if he would travel maybe 10-15mph slower than normal, take into consideration that he will need to start slowing down earlier for stops, and follow people with a little more gap, it will do ok. If the trailer didnt have brakes it would be more of an issue, but even then a person can plan for that also. I remember when I was a kid my family towed our boat to the lake with a 68 Coronet every weekend and that trailer didnt have brakes at all. That boat was also packed full of all our camping gear and food. It did just fine towing because my dad wasn't driving like a mad man trying to get there.

Since when are speed limits minimums? Every street, road, highway I have been on they have been the maximum speed you can travel. Or maybe I am not understanding that statement correctly.

[Big Block Power]

Tire size and rating will make a night and day difference with handling too. LT tires have a better/stiffer sidewall and will eliminate a lot sway. When I went from 18" to 20" on my half ton that also made a very noticeable difference, the same as previously swapping my half for a 3/4 at work.

A person could use a 89 ranger to tow one of these boats if they keep in mind the limitations of the tow vehicle. I do think I have ever seen an incident where if the person was driving within the limitation of the tow vehicle it could not have been prevented. I.E. just slowing down.

Again, just because you can hitch up 8k and tow down the road in an 89’Ranger doesn’t mean all is good..
Speed limits are usually speed minimums, and without the proper set up, one relinquishes control and safety in all situations.

Most important are brakes. It’s about controlling your vehicle when others can not control their own, if the shit hits the fan in front of you, do you have the equipment that can save a life, or just add to the crash?

I tow my boat and car trailer around the yard(and down the street) with my 425 John Deere garden tractor all the time winter summer it doesnt matter. You know why I can do this? Because I take it slow. That garden tractor probably has a max tow rating of 750 lbs, The same applies to the OPs half ton pickup, if he would travel maybe 10-15mph slower than normal, take into consideration that he will need to start slowing down earlier for stops, and follow people with a little more gap, it will do ok. If the trailer didnt have brakes it would be more of an issue, but even then a person can plan for that also. I remember when I was a kid my family towed our boat to the lake with a 68 Coronet every weekend and that trailer didnt have brakes at all. That boat was also packed full of all our camping gear and food. It did just fine towing because my dad wasn't driving like a mad man trying to get there.

Since when are speed limits minimums? Every street, road, highway I have been on they have been the maximum speed you can travel. Or maybe I am not understanding that statement correctly.

Well I know they must be a minimum because I always go 15mph over them! Hi Sheriff
We get it. Enough on the tow it safely. I pulled my 20ft stingray all over behind my camaro. That was a site. Till all of the hitch bills pulled the trunk pan out of it. Yep it shouldn't be done. I did it anyways and could have killed someone but I didn't. Brakes? Who uses them. Throttle baby!

[Snowman8]

Again, just because you can hitch up 8k and tow down the road in an 89’Ranger doesn’t mean all is good..
Speed limits are usually speed minimums, and without the proper set up, one relinquishes control and safety in all situations.

Most important are brakes. It’s about controlling your vehicle when others can not control their own, if the shit hits the fan in front of you, do you have the equipment that can save a life, or just add to the crash?

I tow my boat and car trailer around the yard(and down the street) with my 425 John Deere garden tractor all the time winter summer it doesnt matter. You know why I can do this? Because I take it slow. That garden tractor probably has a max tow rating of 750 lbs, The same applies to the OPs half ton pickup, if he would travel maybe 10-15mph slower than normal, take into consideration that he will need to start slowing down earlier for stops, and follow people with a little more gap, it will do ok. If the trailer didnt have brakes it would be more of an issue, but even then a person can plan for that also. I remember when I was a kid my family towed our boat to the lake with a 68 Coronet every weekend and that trailer didnt have brakes at all. That boat was also packed full of all our camping gear and food. It did just fine towing because my dad wasn't driving like a mad man trying to get there.

Since when are speed limits minimums? Every street, road, highway I have been on they have been the maximum speed you can travel. Or maybe I am not understanding that statement correctly.

Well I know they must be a minimum because I always go 15mph over them! Hi Sheriff
We get it. Enough on the tow it safely. I pulled my 20ft stingray all over behind my camaro. That was a site. Till all of the hitch bills pulled the trunk pan out of it. Yep it shouldn't be done. I did it anyways and could have killed someone but I didn't. Brakes? Who uses them. Throttle baby!

Like I always say, when in doubt throttle out!

With big trailers electric brakes are definitely a huge plus. If the trailer starts to go somewhere you don’t want it you just grab the brake controller and straighten it right out.

[Tuscany]

Tire size and rating will make a night and day difference with handling too. LT tires have a better/stiffer sidewall and will eliminate a lot sway. When I went from 18" to 20" on my half ton that also made a very noticeable difference, the same as previously swapping my half for a 3/4 at work.

A person could use a 89 ranger to tow one of these boats if they keep in mind the limitations of the tow vehicle. I do think I have ever seen an incident where if the person was driving within the limitation of the tow vehicle it could not have been prevented. I.E. just slowing down.

Again, just because you can hitch up 8k and tow down the road in an 89’Ranger doesn’t mean all is good..
Speed limits are usually speed minimums, and without the proper set up, one relinquishes control and safety in all situations.

Most important are brakes. It’s about controlling your vehicle when others can not control their own, if the shit hits the fan in front of you, do you have the equipment that can save a life, or just add to the crash?

I tow my boat and car trailer around the yard(and down the street) with my 425 John Deere garden tractor all the time winter summer it doesnt matter. You know why I can do this? Because I take it slow. That garden tractor probably has a max tow rating of 750 lbs, The same applies to the OPs half ton pickup, if he would travel maybe 10-15mph slower than normal, take into consideration that he will need to start slowing down earlier for stops, and follow people with a little more gap, it will do ok. If the trailer didnt have brakes it would be more of an issue, but even then a person can plan for that also. I remember when I was a kid my family towed our boat to the lake with a 68 Coronet every weekend and that trailer didnt have brakes at all. That boat was also packed full of all our camping gear and food. It did just fine towing because my dad wasn't driving like a mad man trying to get there.

Since when are speed limits minimums? Every street, road, highway I have been on they have been the maximum speed you can travel. Or maybe I am not understanding that statement correctly.

ALL Interstate highways have minimums.

We can debate this, but I simply don't want to. I'm just trying to offer friendly advice.
Some have a lot to lose, while others have nothing to lose, unless you call a life long judgement "nothing".
Personally, I take protecting my assets as serious as dick cancer.

I speak from some unique experiences, rather than blind assumptions of how our insurance policies are written to protect the insurance companies, and how our legal system that includes hungry noon time advertising, ambulance chasing lawyers work.
Hell, I've been sued by an admitted intoxicated drunk falling on our business property at 2 AM in the middle of a January snow storm because it was icy.

When the remote, but possible scenario happens where an injury accident occurs, that will be the moment you will fully understand ...right when your insurance company leaves you hanging and says "best of luck", you should have read our policy closer.
Have you read and fully understand your vehicle policy?
A judge will never take ignorance of factory towing weights as a defense.
So, maybe the chances are 1 in 100,000 and you think I'm a little paranoid.
So yes, I can move my boat with a Toyota Yaris.. but I think not..

[Khash]

Thanks for the advice everyone! Here’s a quick pic.

[Big Block Power]

What a Beautiful boat. Did you buy it? Just say yes! Congrats!

[Khash]

Yes I bought it! I’m just waiting on delivery. Delivery got postponed because I was going to have underwater lights installed but I think I’m scraping the entire idea for many reasons and am just going to have them deliver the boat.

[Khash]

Door sticker

[Khash]

.
Hey khash...welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us!

Here’s some tried and true advice.
The first thing we do is a (another) complete inspection of the boat and trailer after it’s newly acquired. We change fluids, change impeller, and verify all switches, batteries and electrical parts are operating correctly. Then we start it up on muffs. Better to find out now if there are any issues rather than on the water.

Make sure you have all required safety items like life jackets, a throwable PFD, first aid kit, tool kit, flares, registration....etc.
Do some driveway boating getting to know switch locations, operations, and read your manual.

Go to the boat ramp on a non-busy day and develop a routine if you will be launching each time. Make sure you do a verbal communication (with you or whoever is with you) about the drain plug being inserted before launching.
There is a good thread on this forum about launching etiquette & checklists. It’s listed here.

Once on the water get to know this R7 with slow maneuvers including docking practice on a lone buoy with nothing around. Approach the buoy at an imaginary 30 degree angle slowly going in and out of gear. Just before your bow touches the buoy, shift into reverse, turn the wheel all the way to the side on which you’re docking and bring the boat parallel. Practice makes perfect. With such a large boat and a single engine you will be a weather vane when the wind kicks up so always be aware of the wind direction.

Probably not what you want to hear right out of the gate but it will pay dividends in the short and long run. Remember you are the Captain of this vessel and responsible for the safety of all on board. They trust you know what you’re doing and that you’ve prepared yourself and this R7 for safe operation. Coming to this Cobalt forum for advice is a great start. There’s a lot of wisdom here. My wife and I both took a USCG approved boating course. It’s another option to consider.

Be sure to post pics when you can.

Hope this helps and again welcome aboard mate!

.

They dealer is delivering the boat to the lake we use and taking me through the entire boat. I bought the boat without seeing it in person which was probably stupid but I had 2 other people trying to snag it so I had to act fast. The last owner upgraded to a new R8, which is his 4th boat with the same dealer. All the service was done by the same dealer and they are warrantying the boat for 30 days and I had them state on the contract the boat is in pristine condition and was meticulously cared for.

I do need to get all the required safety items. I have had that on my mind! I’m going to need to tape the drain plug to my fore head! I’ve forgotten it on my ski a few time but thankfully there’s some kind of float in it we’re it doesn’t let water in only out. You figure boats would have that same system.

The wind should make for fun. Lol... thankfully our lake meanders alot and there’s always a nice cove to take cover.

[Khash]

First thing on to do list: buy a gopro. Film your launch, dockings, and preferably loadings. The money you make off of these will pay for the next boat.

That is the best idea I’ve heard all month!! Lol