Boards.ie

MarcinG · 16-02-2011, 23:00

well I'm getting rid of passat without finally checking it on retreiving boat.
So can some one help mi in choosing right car to buy?
budget - around 4-6 grand.
Has to be able to tow ant retreive boat without help (usually ennell, may be some other lakes near by - sheelin, derrevaragh etc).
Engine 2.0 max. 2 seats will do. Prefer automatic gear box. Good reliability and fuel economy over leather interior if you know what i mean.
Preferably small diesel commercial as big cargo space for outboard fishing gear etc would be nice... (berlingo 1.9HDI?)
Don't like suv (but grand vitaras 1.6 are cheap enough to consider but on other hand heard they are terrible on fuel and doesnt drive well - how about nissan xtrail?)
Thought about subaru impreza 1.5 estate /forester 2.0- but affraid about maintenance costs.
Any car especially worth to be look at?

***oscarBravo*** · 18-02-2011, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcinG

Thought about subaru impreza 1.5 estate /forester 2.0- but affraid about maintenance costs.

The brother-in-law in Chile is on his second Forester, he swears by it. We took it up the Andes and into Argentina, including some places where flash floods had washed the road away - pretty capable off-roader. It's not very "jeepy", drives more like a car.

MarcinG · 19-02-2011, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by oscarBravo

pretty capable off-roader. It's not very "jeepy", drives more like a car.

i know that.
it is my dream to have forester or outback in 2.5xt

but not too sure do i realy need one now - as they are too expensive in my current condition.
(tax and fuel wise + service i gues just timing belt will be around 500 ?
then self leveling suspension and all of that...).
at the moment i'm looking at primera 1.8 '00 or rav4 2.0 '96 as they both around 2k and it will leave me some space for unpredicted repairs.
japanese import impreza 1.5 would be around 3,5-4 after VRT and considering it too (but +timing kit and unknown condition may end up with 5k+ ;/

John_Rambo · 23-02-2011, 21:02

Congrats on your boat OP, I hope you enjoy it and the fish.

There is great value on second hand Subaru's, reliable, quick, 4wd, with low mileage... (the look manky though).

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/...t?channel=CARS

Here's a smaller engined one.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/...t?channel=CARS

Best of luck.

MarcinG · 23-02-2011, 21:44

[QUOTE=John_Rambo;70830180]Congrats on your boat OP, I hope you enjoy it and the fish.

i hope so

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/...t?channel=CARS

would go for forester in 2..0
but found almera 1.8 auto '01 with theoretical 50 000km (2 people swears genuine) so i want to see it first.

Here's a smaller engined one.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/...t?channel=CARS

mitsu on pics

MarcinG · 31-03-2011, 16:20

hi.

just replaced my passat with 1.8 almera auto. launching and retrieving goes well. Same on motorway (drinking lmost unnoticable more fuel - around 0,5l/100km)

MarcinG · 25-07-2012, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by fergal.b

If you find your self at a very slippery or too steep slip keep your car on the flat and let the boat down the slip with a rope wrapped around the towbar, do the same for retrieving this way the car won't have to pull it's own weight up the slip as well as the boat.

I would like some extra questions on it as i'm about to use this method in Greystones (slipway on the low tide covered with green stuff which is slippery as ice).
At flat trailer is definitely heavier at the front. Now. You drive let's say 5m away and use rope (i guess heavy duty ratchet strap would do if wrapped 2-3 times? like winch one) and what next? As obviously it will take 2nd person to push trailer to the edge of slip before i can rely on gravity to pull it down but my concern is that on the slip it may shift center of mass toward end of trailer and it can end up quite bad (if it hits the ground). I was thinking about someone walking by the trailer and pushing/pulling it as required but it sounds bit risky.

davlacey · 25-07-2012, 16:41

keep tension on the rope and it shouldnt tip back. do 2 loops with rope around your towbar that way u have more control and the boat wont run away on u. after u do it once or twice u be grand

MarcinG · 25-07-2012, 16:42

thx.

tin79 · 26-07-2012, 09:26

If you have a decent two way winch on your trailer you can connect this to your tow hitch and ratchet the boat down the slip as you walk with it. That way the car stays stationary at the top of the slip as you walk down with the boat.

This works very well but is limited by time and the lenght of your strap.

MarcinG · 26-07-2012, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by tin79

If you have a decent two way winch on your trailer you can connect this to your tow hitch and ratchet the boat down the slip as you walk with it. That way the car stays stationary at the top of the slip as you walk down with the boat.

This works very well but is limited by time and the lenght of your strap.

Good idea but it is only rated 600Kg i guess that trailer with boat are heavier (anyone with experience?). and you can extend strap by lats say a towing rope (which btw i just found in the garage

Hmm it just crossed my mind to go with boat to fasaroe (last time i was there they used weighting bridge on the way in and out to find out how much stuff we left behind)

Ned_led16 · 29-07-2012, 12:53

My local slip way on the wrong tidal time - a 4whd would plough straight into the water! its like ice as the council havent treated it...... thats prob up untill 4hrs after low tide...

Try launching on high tide at Ringaskiddy! perfect place for it.... low gradient - steep and quiet....
I would launch my boat off a 1.0 fiesta there at thigh tide... no bother - theres no hill to climb!!

I wouldnt launch my boat off a 3 liter tdi 4 whd at low tide or within 2hrs of it at my local slip cause the van would end up in the water!

U tube the sh*t out of it!! thats what i did and now i can launch not a bother myself ...only learnt the last 3 months and actually if others help - they only get in the way now!!!

Practice practice practice!!! 1.6 is grand!!! Its not about the car its about your skill! sit at a slip way on a sunny afternoon and watch for 3hrs!

MarcinG · 29-07-2012, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned_led16

Practice practice practice!!! 1.6 is grand!!! Its not about the car its about your skill! sit at a slip way on a sunny afternoon and watch for 3hrs!

thx all.

pedroeibar1 · 30-07-2012, 11:10

Fergal B’s post #2 is accurate.

Google ‘towing a caravan’ and there is much advice that is pertinent to boat towing, particularly on the importance of the load weight on the towbar. Also look-up the towing capability details for your car. Any tow heavier than 750kgs needs a braked trailer. Speed limit is 80kph when towing.

My boat (unladen) is 750kgs and I have no problems towing with a Freelander. Launching – I reverse onto the slip and put two blocks behind the trailer wheels. (Leave the car in first gear after turning off the engine). I then unhitch the trailer and tie a heavy rope to it, taking a couple of turns around the tow hitch on the car. Also run a long line from the boat to the shore. The angle of the slip causes the centre of gravity of the trailer to change, so I get someone to sit in the bow of the boat; they also are useful for fending off when the boat is in the water. (Someone walking beside the boat is useless and in a dangerous position). Remove the blocks from behind the trailer - place them behind the wheels of the car if it makes you feel more comfortable - and feed the rope out from around the tow hitch. The ratchet strap you mention will not work for this as it will foul on itself. Do it slowly, or the trailer will go to one side and drop a wheel over the edge of the slip (and you might find yourself on uTube) .

Dalkey Island / Sound – be careful off the south eastern tip of the Island (near the fort) because at the beginning of the ebb there can be a nasty overfall there, particularly when the wind is in the SE. There usually are other boats around there, (good place to fish as the current stirs up the bottom) keep them in view but do not necessarily follow them as they might be hire boats with novices.

All you need now is the summer!
P.

MarcinG · 30-07-2012, 19:49

Thx a lot.
I actually launched boat on the sea first time today of greystones (Previously most of my friends were working on suitable days and i didn't dare to go on my own).
I launched it around 1-1,5h before highest tide and retrieve it about 3,5h after highest tide. No rope needed (either i was there previously on very very low water before or someone cleaned vegetation of the ramp - i saw someone using powerhose on 2nd slip way today).
All went superb apart from fishing

We got couple of red gurnards (one particularly big i would say 35-40cm?) one cod and few small whitenings.
No mackerel in area? Only fish we kept was cod - and it was full of crabs but we were into feathers and stuff so maybe this is reason why we did not so well.

Ps for future I will always try to get 1-2 passengers with me so i guess trick with rope around hitch (funny enough my neighbor said same thing to me yesterday evening

i guess 2 or 3 of us will easily manage it.

But i would keep away from dalkey (dries out completely on low tide)
and dun laoghaire (paid parking slipway very mossy and at strange angle on one pier and very narrow on other). i guess practice will show best way.
Thank you all once again.

29-07-2012, 12:53	#27
Ned_led16 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 308 Adverts \| Friends	My local slip way on the wrong tidal time - a 4whd would plough straight into the water! its like ice as the council havent treated it...... thats prob up untill 4hrs after low tide... Try launching on high tide at Ringaskiddy! perfect place for it.... low gradient - steep and quiet.... I would launch my boat off a 1.0 fiesta there at thigh tide... no bother - theres no hill to climb!! I wouldnt launch my boat off a 3 liter tdi 4 whd at low tide or within 2hrs of it at my local slip cause the van would end up in the water! U tube the sht out of it!! thats what i did and now i can launch not a bother myself ...only learnt the last 3 months and actually if others help - they only get in the way now!!! Practice practice practice!!! 1.6 is grand!!! Its not about the car its about your skill! sit at a slip way on a sunny afternoon and watch for 3hrs! Last edited by Ned_led16; 29-07-2012 at 12:55.*

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

16-02-2011, 23:00	#16
MarcinG Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 225 Adverts \| Friends	well I'm getting rid of passat without finally checking it on retreiving boat. So can some one help mi in choosing right car to buy? budget - around 4-6 grand. Has to be able to tow ant retreive boat without help (usually ennell, may be some other lakes near by - sheelin, derrevaragh etc). Engine 2.0 max. 2 seats will do. Prefer automatic gear box. Good reliability and fuel economy over leather interior if you know what i mean. Preferably small diesel commercial as big cargo space for outboard fishing gear etc would be nice... (berlingo 1.9HDI?) Don't like suv (but grand vitaras 1.6 are cheap enough to consider but on other hand heard they are terrible on fuel and doesnt drive well - how about nissan xtrail?) Thought about subaru impreza 1.5 estate /forester 2.0- but affraid about maintenance costs. Any car especially worth to be look at?

23-02-2011, 21:02	#19
John_Rambo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dublin City Posts: 2,311 Adverts \| Friends	Congrats on your boat OP, I hope you enjoy it and the fish. There is great value on second hand Subaru's, reliable, quick, 4wd, with low mileage... (the look manky though). http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/...t?channel=CARS Here's a smaller engined one. http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/...t?channel=CARS Best of luck.

23-02-2011, 21:44	#20
MarcinG Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 225 Adverts \| Friends	[QUOTE=John_Rambo;70830180]Congrats on your boat OP, I hope you enjoy it and the fish. i hope so http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/...t?channel=CARS would go for forester in 2..0 but found almera 1.8 auto '01 with theoretical 50 000km (2 people swears genuine) so i want to see it first. Here's a smaller engined one. http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/...t?channel=CARS mitsu on pics

31-03-2011, 16:20	#21
MarcinG Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 225 Adverts \| Friends	hi. just replaced my passat with 1.8 almera auto. launching and retrieving goes well. Same on motorway (drinking lmost unnoticable more fuel - around 0,5l/100km)

25-07-2012, 16:41	#23
davlacey Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 158 Adverts \| Friends	keep tension on the rope and it shouldnt tip back. do 2 loops with rope around your towbar that way u have more control and the boat wont run away on u. after u do it once or twice u be grand

25-07-2012, 16:42	#24
MarcinG Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 225 Adverts \| Friends	thx.

26-07-2012, 09:26	#25
tin79 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 696 Adverts \| Friends	If you have a decent two way winch on your trailer you can connect this to your tow hitch and ratchet the boat down the slip as you walk with it. That way the car stays stationary at the top of the slip as you walk down with the boat. This works very well but is limited by time and the lenght of your strap.

30-07-2012, 11:10	#29
pedroeibar1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,305 Adverts \| Friends	Fergal B’s post #2 is accurate. Google ‘towing a caravan’ and there is much advice that is pertinent to boat towing, particularly on the importance of the load weight on the towbar. Also look-up the towing capability details for your car. Any tow heavier than 750kgs needs a braked trailer. Speed limit is 80kph when towing. My boat (unladen) is 750kgs and I have no problems towing with a Freelander. Launching – I reverse onto the slip and put two blocks behind the trailer wheels. (Leave the car in first gear after turning off the engine). I then unhitch the trailer and tie a heavy rope to it, taking a couple of turns around the tow hitch on the car. Also run a long line from the boat to the shore. The angle of the slip causes the centre of gravity of the trailer to change, so I get someone to sit in the bow of the boat; they also are useful for fending off when the boat is in the water. (Someone walking beside the boat is useless and in a dangerous position). Remove the blocks from behind the trailer - place them behind the wheels of the car if it makes you feel more comfortable - and feed the rope out from around the tow hitch. The ratchet strap you mention will not work for this as it will foul on itself. Do it slowly, or the trailer will go to one side and drop a wheel over the edge of the slip (and you might find yourself on uTube) . Dalkey Island / Sound – be careful off the south eastern tip of the Island (near the fort) because at the beginning of the ebb there can be a nasty overfall there, particularly when the wind is in the SE. There usually are other boats around there, (good place to fish as the current stirs up the bottom) keep them in view but do not necessarily follow them as they might be hire boats with novices. All you need now is the summer! P.

30-07-2012, 19:49	#30
MarcinG Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 225 Adverts \| Friends	Thx a lot. I actually launched boat on the sea first time today of greystones (Previously most of my friends were working on suitable days and i didn't dare to go on my own). I launched it around 1-1,5h before highest tide and retrieve it about 3,5h after highest tide. No rope needed (either i was there previously on very very low water before or someone cleaned vegetation of the ramp - i saw someone using powerhose on 2nd slip way today). All went superb apart from fishing We got couple of red gurnards (one particularly big i would say 35-40cm?) one cod and few small whitenings. No mackerel in area? Only fish we kept was cod - and it was full of crabs but we were into feathers and stuff so maybe this is reason why we did not so well. Ps for future I will always try to get 1-2 passengers with me so i guess trick with rope around hitch (funny enough my neighbor said same thing to me yesterday evening i guess 2 or 3 of us will easily manage it. But i would keep away from dalkey (dries out completely on low tide) and dun laoghaire (paid parking slipway very mossy and at strange angle on one pier and very narrow on other). i guess practice will show best way. Thank you all once again.