We are rebuilding or replacing all the bridges on the major freight routes through oregon, including I-5. The new standard for height will be 16' 6". And the new overwidth will be like 14'. So trailering north to south and east to west through oregon will be pretty easy within a couple years. Most DOT's and trucking organizations have websites for freight mobility which, in most cases, will give you routes and possible conflicts for any given route. You might have to hunt a little. Triple A has most of the same information. I never realized you could get a Tomcat to have that much vertical height.
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Another New TomCat
- Thread starter Dreamer
- Start date
Dreamer has the taller of the two arches offered by C-Dory so the dinghy will tuck underneath it. It has a Raymarine 4kw radar and an anchor light about 2" above that. I would like 14' clearance but the measured height is 13'8" The trailer is an EZ loader with 16" wheels. We'll just have to be careful of the back streets.
I wonder if this is beginning to sound like the gowing aground issue, only upside down?
"There are two kinds of sailors, those who have gone aground and those who will go aground."
If that's true, should you plan on what part of the boat strikes the telephone lines or low underpass first? Or would it make any difference?
Might be nice to have a cheap antenna mounted on the bow pulpit so that you could slow down and listen for a strike to see if you're going to take off the AC unit if you proceed.
Wouldn't save you on the freeway, but those clearances are posted and regulated. Might help around unfamiliar towns, though.
Joe.
"There are two kinds of sailors, those who have gone aground and those who will go aground."
If that's true, should you plan on what part of the boat strikes the telephone lines or low underpass first? Or would it make any difference?
Might be nice to have a cheap antenna mounted on the bow pulpit so that you could slow down and listen for a strike to see if you're going to take off the AC unit if you proceed.
Wouldn't save you on the freeway, but those clearances are posted and regulated. Might help around unfamiliar towns, though.
Joe.
Hi, Roger
Sounds like you've got your electrical well under way! Tell me about your flat screen specs and how you're routing.
I just added half a dozen 12V outlets and a couple more 110's.
On trailering, I've learned to power on and off the trailer. I get the back wheels of the F450 about 2' from the water. At this distance, my electric over hydraulic brake system is well clear. The boat rises in the bow to clear the ladder rails when retrieving. I go as far up as possible, then crank the last couple of inches. When the boat is pulled out and the stern settles down, the bow ends up a couple inches from the roller. So, I set my electric over hydraulic brakes on max and stop in the parking lot a couple times and she moves forward on the bunks. (I don't have the new slippery bunks).
On backing off during launching, I found that backing straight with both engines equally is very important. If you wiggle back and forth, the intake for the raw water washdown will snag the carpet on the inside alignment guides and tear it up.
During these procedures, the lovely Miss Katy has her foot on the brake so the transmission isn't taking the moment of impact, especially during retrieval.
Bob Cat
Sounds like you've got your electrical well under way! Tell me about your flat screen specs and how you're routing.
I just added half a dozen 12V outlets and a couple more 110's.
On trailering, I've learned to power on and off the trailer. I get the back wheels of the F450 about 2' from the water. At this distance, my electric over hydraulic brake system is well clear. The boat rises in the bow to clear the ladder rails when retrieving. I go as far up as possible, then crank the last couple of inches. When the boat is pulled out and the stern settles down, the bow ends up a couple inches from the roller. So, I set my electric over hydraulic brakes on max and stop in the parking lot a couple times and she moves forward on the bunks. (I don't have the new slippery bunks).
On backing off during launching, I found that backing straight with both engines equally is very important. If you wiggle back and forth, the intake for the raw water washdown will snag the carpet on the inside alignment guides and tear it up.
During these procedures, the lovely Miss Katy has her foot on the brake so the transmission isn't taking the moment of impact, especially during retrieval.
Bob Cat
Bob, I just use a Princeton 15" flat monitor that came from Costco. The E-80 has a video out port. It was just plug and play. I use a separate 400w inverter from WM to power it and the laptop if we bring it along. If the albums ever show up again, I'll include a couple of photos.
We need some practice in launching and retreival for sure. The Parking area around the ramp at John Wayne Marina is being paved this week so I'm busy installing a waste pump system and finalizing some panel wiring.
The weather was postcard perfect today. I wish we could have been on the water.
We need some practice in launching and retreival for sure. The Parking area around the ramp at John Wayne Marina is being paved this week so I'm busy installing a waste pump system and finalizing some panel wiring.
The weather was postcard perfect today. I wish we could have been on the water.
I have an extra 12 V power winch 4000 lb dead lift/9,500 lb boat weight electric winch, with remote. I noticed that the dealer has the winch cable (strap might be better) up over the bolt and spacer so it is pulling up on the bow eye. Would it make winching easier to have this second winch set up on top of the post--where it is getting more lift--and the manual reel winch pulling straight? It seems as if both could be operated together to bring the boat right to the stop, without using the trailer brakes. I also noted that my neighbor's TC 24 trailer has a full stop across the entire front of the trailer so both bows rest on it. This is missing on the TC255 trailers--any reason why?
Thanks,
Thanks,
C-Brats
We have a C80 system with a transom mount triducer. The transducer looses fix with the bottom at planing speeds., also inaccurate speed data. How are the thru hull transducers working out for those of you that use them?
The raw water pick up is just located in a poor position. It will inevitably rip up the carpet on the trailer bunk. The raw water pick up should be moved back to the last 6" of the port sponson, then the port side trailer bunk be shortened by the same 6". Then there will never be a chance for the two to meet. Ours ripped the carpet on the very first launch load sequence. It's only gotten worse since.
Brent
We have a C80 system with a transom mount triducer. The transducer looses fix with the bottom at planing speeds., also inaccurate speed data. How are the thru hull transducers working out for those of you that use them?
The raw water pick up is just located in a poor position. It will inevitably rip up the carpet on the trailer bunk. The raw water pick up should be moved back to the last 6" of the port sponson, then the port side trailer bunk be shortened by the same 6". Then there will never be a chance for the two to meet. Ours ripped the carpet on the very first launch load sequence. It's only gotten worse since.
Brent
Roger - I don't know about the Princeton monitors specifically, but when I looked at LCD monitors, a lot of them are powered with 120 switching power supplies that output 12V to the monitor. You might check yours and see if this is the case. If so, you can probably get away with powering it directly from the 12V system (with perhaps the benefit of a zener and filter to hold V constant and take spikes out). This would be more efficient than the inverter and would take up less space. Also you can get 12 supplies for most laptops (same benefit).
Another Roger
Another Roger
Bob
The configuration of the winch/stop system on the trailer has been an ongoing issue. I'm still waiting for the replacement polyurethane roller that will at least prevent black marking and crushing to the point where the fiberglass is extremely close to the metal bracket that holds the roller.
When I retrieve, I drive the boat up as far as she'll go, against the roller or just an inch or two away. The stern is still floating at this point, so when I pull forward with the truck the bow rocks up and away from the roller, leaving as much as 2-3" hanging over the bunks on the stern and a gap of 3-5" from the padeye to the roller.
Brent had made up a useful design for his TC24 with a split stop system that allowed the anchor to stay in place. I was told there was a liability issue with this and EZLoader wasn't going to incorporate it with the 255. I'll have to use an electric winch or come up with a better way of getting her up in place.
Bob
The configuration of the winch/stop system on the trailer has been an ongoing issue. I'm still waiting for the replacement polyurethane roller that will at least prevent black marking and crushing to the point where the fiberglass is extremely close to the metal bracket that holds the roller.
When I retrieve, I drive the boat up as far as she'll go, against the roller or just an inch or two away. The stern is still floating at this point, so when I pull forward with the truck the bow rocks up and away from the roller, leaving as much as 2-3" hanging over the bunks on the stern and a gap of 3-5" from the padeye to the roller.
Brent had made up a useful design for his TC24 with a split stop system that allowed the anchor to stay in place. I was told there was a liability issue with this and EZLoader wasn't going to incorporate it with the 255. I'll have to use an electric winch or come up with a better way of getting her up in place.
Bob
Brent, My plans are to put the raw water intake on the outside of the Port hull rather than the inside where it will do as you say and hit the bunk. Is there any reason to not do it this way?
My projects today are to install the spacers and extend the battery shelf across the compartment under the rear seat. Complete wiring the overhead console with hook-ups for the 2nd vhf and nmea0183 for both vhf. I also need to put a 11ov outlet on the Port rear cabinet for a toaster oven.
My projects today are to install the spacers and extend the battery shelf across the compartment under the rear seat. Complete wiring the overhead console with hook-ups for the 2nd vhf and nmea0183 for both vhf. I also need to put a 11ov outlet on the Port rear cabinet for a toaster oven.
Roger,
Don't know of any reason the raw water pick up can't be on the outside. Ours was done at the factory, and they put it on the inside. Planning to ask them to move it when we return in June to the factory.
If you extend the shelf all the way to the sides, how will you access the bilge pumps? What if you need to clear the intake screens?
I have a 110V outlet in the rear port cabinet for the microwave, which sits on top.
When you can acess the photo albums, look at the Discovery sub album in the Cygnet photos.
Brent
Don't know of any reason the raw water pick up can't be on the outside. Ours was done at the factory, and they put it on the inside. Planning to ask them to move it when we return in June to the factory.
If you extend the shelf all the way to the sides, how will you access the bilge pumps? What if you need to clear the intake screens?
I have a 110V outlet in the rear port cabinet for the microwave, which sits on top.
When you can acess the photo albums, look at the Discovery sub album in the Cygnet photos.
Brent
It was just too pretty a day to not be boating. Smith Island weather station showed 1 kt gusting to 2! Everything seemed to hum happily as we left Sequim Bay. One hour later we enter the San Juans at Cattle Pass. We introduce our friend Lynn to Friday Harbor, Deer Harbor and Roche Harbor. I decide to do the complete loop around San Juan Island and head home.
I can describe the rest of the afternoon and early evening by saying the TC255 does admirably in gale force winds and 4-6 foot chop, swells and whitecaps! Navigating the swells on the Starboard quarter got a lot harder when the wiper on my side stopped working 15 miles from home. Boating is always an adventure. Some you remember longer than others.
I can describe the rest of the afternoon and early evening by saying the TC255 does admirably in gale force winds and 4-6 foot chop, swells and whitecaps! Navigating the swells on the Starboard quarter got a lot harder when the wiper on my side stopped working 15 miles from home. Boating is always an adventure. Some you remember longer than others.
Dreamer Roger... You are target on with what makes the TC a special boat. Ya gotta love it when she is in the water doing battle with the elements. Oh I miss my TC.
Bob: What is the deal on getting a roller? My thoughts are EZ-Loader is a trailer company with trailer parts...and UPS. Weeks now??? Which invertery system did Les put in your boat?
Bob: What is the deal on getting a roller? My thoughts are EZ-Loader is a trailer company with trailer parts...and UPS. Weeks now??? Which invertery system did Les put in your boat?
The only smooth water we saw on our Tuesday adventure was Sequim Bay when returning. In accordance with our conservative break in plan, we only ran the engines up to 5100 rpm. I was happy to see 36 kts indicated by the paddlewheel triducer. As I pointed out in a PM, the transom mount triducer only lost the bottom fix in the roughest of water and then only for a few seconds, the least of my worries at that point.
Next time out, we will shoot for redline and see if it hits the 40 kt threshold. When the water is smooth, it's a beautiful thing to cover that much ground that fast.
More electrical work today. Hope to finish up by next week. Janet's been busy in her sewing shop making covers for the Gen. and Suzuki dinghy motor. (see photos).
Next time out, we will shoot for redline and see if it hits the 40 kt threshold. When the water is smooth, it's a beautiful thing to cover that much ground that fast.
More electrical work today. Hope to finish up by next week. Janet's been busy in her sewing shop making covers for the Gen. and Suzuki dinghy motor. (see photos).
Just a thought for those who are sizing up their barn, RV garage, etc for a new TomCat. I measured out the total length from rear of engines to anchor, 32 feet! Counting the trailer tongue, 36 feet. Longer than I thought it would be. I'll be interested in checking the total weight after all the gear is onboard.
Several mentions have been made(cradydavis) regarding the use of the shoot thru transducers. I have no personnal experience, but the majority of the things I've read regarding wood cored hulls(balsa in our case) is that shoot thru transducers are a no go.
The Katie Kat loses the bottom around 10 or 12 knts(or mph) on smooth water also.
The new Cat House we built for our TC24 (with a magic tilt trailer) is 35ft outside to outside. With the Permatrims on the motors and, the motors straight, boat and trailer clear by 6" on either end.
The Katie Kat loses the bottom around 10 or 12 knts(or mph) on smooth water also.
The new Cat House we built for our TC24 (with a magic tilt trailer) is 35ft outside to outside. With the Permatrims on the motors and, the motors straight, boat and trailer clear by 6" on either end.