The towing debate ... er, discussion -- my favorite M-boat topic! Here's what I've gleaned from past discussions; If your pulling an M-15 (about 1200 lbs), you can pull it with just about anything. Someone on the list even pulls it with thier Golf GTI, auto. I bought a cheap mini truck to pull mine -- a '92 Nissan with a 5 speed, 2.4 litre engine, 2 wheel drive (indestructable). Light weight trucks with smaller engines like mine will pull more with a standard transmission. The auto transmissions are too light weight for heavy pulling. And I have yet to meet a boat ramp that I couldn't conquer. In bigger vehicles, say, 3.0 litre and above, the auto transmissions installed are heavy duty and can typically pull more than standard 5 speeds. Of course, if you have a 4WD with a low first gear, then a manual transmission will work fine and its simply a matter of preference. And last, but not least, is the all important statement about being able to stop [quickly]. Any trailer and boat combo weighing over 1500 lbs (maybe less) should utilize trailer brakes. Idealy, the tow vehicle should weigh twice the payload being towed. Is that about right? Bob Olson M-15 #296 "Piccolo"

Thanks, Harvey: That reminds me of another question I wanted to ask. What is the consensus on towing with an automatic, rather than a standard, transmission? Seems to me, a standard would be a challenge on a slick boat ramp, however, standard transmissions are cheaper to buy, cheaper to fix and better on gas mileage. Anyone? Also, I broached the same tongue-weight question in a different way last year and remember someone saying something about adding a transmission cooler: Would anyone recommend this modification to a tow vehicle and, if so, is it an expensive ddition? --Craig

----- Original Message ----- From: "Harvey Wilson" <HarveyWilson@compuserve.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 8:09 PM Subject: Tongue Weight

I pulled my M-17 with a Ford Aerostar 3L auto.

I doubt that boat and trailer weigh more then 2500 lbs, unless it's carrying a lot of entra gear.

Mine had an 8hp Evinrude, and it trailered sweet all the way from Ft. Myers, Fla. to Atlanta, Ga

Harvey/Ga

M-17 Stargazer #294

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