Transport Sunfish

dator643

dator643

Member
Hey guys,
I know this is discussed a lot on this forum, but I need a tad more help. I am going to look at (and possibly buy) my first sunfish this weekend. I have no truck, no trailer, and no roof racks. I am also on a very tight budget and cant afford a uhaul truck or trailer. Not to mention a uhaul trailer really wouldn't be the right size. I was thinking kayak foam blocks on the roof of the vehicle. The trip would be 60 miles all highway. Please help me out I am very excited but very unprepared.
 
You need a rack. I don't think foam blocks will cut it for 60 miles on the highway if you plan on hitting more than 30 Mph.
 
beldar boathead said:
You need a rack. I don't think foam blocks will cut it for 60 miles on the highway if you plan on hitting more than 30 Mph.
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just found a secondary route just a few miles longer to avoid highways since it's MA i'm guessing max speed of 45 or so. would this work?
 
if you have no friends i'd recommend a trailer. roof mounting can be tough alone. also you'll need some sort of dolly. unless, of course, you live on a lake..
 
There is a dolly that comes with it thank god. I did talk to one of my friends that has a fairly large truck and he said it would need a trailer. I don't know many people with trailers and don't know of any that would be that size since I live in Mestrowest Massachusetts (suburbs). The best uhaul trailer i found would be 6x12 which i think would be a little tight. I am actually contacting the seller today to see if i can have him hold it for awhile as I came across some financial difficulties since my summer internship has been delayed.
 
dator643 said:
There is a dolly that comes with it thank god. I did talk to one of my friends that has a fairly large truck and he said it would need a trailer. I don't know many people with trailers and don't know of any that would be that size since I live in Mestrowest Massachusetts (suburbs). The best uhaul trailer i found would be 6x12 which i think would be a little tight. I am actually contacting the seller today to see if i can have him hold it for awhile as I came across some financial difficulties since my summer internship has been delayed.
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If his pickup has an 8' bed you can haul it with no problem because when you lower the tailgate that gives you about three more feet. The Sunfish is only 14' long so you only have 4 feet sticking out past the truck. Be sure to tie the hull mast, booms, etc. into the truck so nothing slides out going down the highway. You also have to tie a red flag on the end of it to be legal. Any Lowes or Home Depot has these for hauling lumber.

If you know anyone that has a jon boat or jet ski trailer that should work as well. Just be careful about any rollers because they will go right through the bottom of a Sunfish hull. It needs to be sitting on bunks.

I wouldn't try hauling it on the roof of a modern vehicle. I have a 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer which has a lot thicker steel in the roof than modern vehicles and the owners manual says the maximum capacity that can be safely carried on the roof is 100 lbs. A Sunfish weihs 130.
 
I carried my Sunfish from Bristol RI to Metrowest MA on the roof rack of a Subaru Forester. I went really slow and was fine. If you can find a roof rack you should be able to carry it fairly easily depending on what kind of vehicle you're using.
 
The largest vehicle in the family (here at the house) is a Mazda 5 so i may just have to rent something for a day.
 
Where are you picking this boat up from and where is it going? I live in Northern RI and work in SE Mass, so if it is near these two places perhaps I could help. Contact me at cjo1023 at yahoo dot com.

Craig
 
Thanks for the offer Craig, not purchasing just yet due to money issues. I'll let you know if I need help when the time comes.
 
dator643 said:
The trip would be 60 miles all highway. Please help me out I am very excited but very unprepared.
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I think a mattress would carry the day. (AND the Sunfish). :)

Oftentimes, the breeze folds a mattress over backwards, but a Sunfish on top would keep it flat. :D
 
dator643 said:
Hey guys,
I know this is discussed a lot on this forum, but I need a tad more help. I am going to look at (and possibly buy) my first sunfish this weekend. I have no truck, no trailer, and no roof racks. I am also on a very tight budget and cant afford a uhaul truck or trailer. Not to mention a uhaul trailer really wouldn't be the right size. I was thinking kayak foam blocks on the roof of the vehicle. The trip would be 60 miles all highway. Please help me out I am very excited but very unprepared.
Click to expand...
I live in Metro-West (Westborough) and have a trailer . If you find a boat let me know, you can borrow it . Steve
 
a 1963 Sunfish #5229 at just 150#s will fit nicely inside a 2009 Ford Escape with the beach dollie strapped tigghtly to the bottom.... this is useless information since I was hit from behind, totalling the Escape... I now have an Equinox with no roof rack ! NOTHING fits inside it.... the rudder needs to have the seats folded !

Its trailer all the way now... form fitted cross bunks...
 
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