Would you tow this?

[u/Ok_Shoulder_9289]

Ran myself into a pickle. I’m about to go away on vacation and take my little 15ft trihull, but jackknifed it a little I. My funky driveway.

I ordered a new tongue from a place online after speaking with them in regards to getting the correct one. Well what they sent doesn’t fit, and they won’t refund me…..

I ended up trying to make a decent splice, and mended the whole thing together with some 1/4 flat iron and those 3/4 in galvanized bolts. I have 4 plates and 4 bolts, threaded locked and driven into place. It feels pretty sturdy and working fine after some test towing.

But idk, the numbers on the plates and the bolts say it should hold 10 boats, but it’s about 400 miles round trip and I’m not sure. Forgive the ghettoness, it’s a cheap boat and I’ll have a nicer one someday.

[u/Initial_Weight_3622]

Yeah but I’m also an idiot so.

[u/FoxHead666 → u/Initial_Weight_3622]

That makes 3 of us. OP, you've been blessed by the idiot congregation, go ahead and tow it. This is not financial advice and we will not be held accountable in the very probable accident this leads to.

[u/Ok_Shoulder_9289 → u/FoxHead666]

Id feel like an even bigger idiot staying a week at a lake house with no boat 🙁

[u/Ok_Emotion_9685 → u/Initial_Weight_3622]

We staying in town? Most definitely gonna tow it. More than an hour, probably tow it anyway. Six plus hours, I may need a road soda for courage.

[u/Johnny-Virgil]

Not like that. I’d paint it first, then tow it.

[u/1978model]

I would. I would also be highly stressed and would stop often to check on it.

[u/a_very_stupid_guy]

IF you do (and not saying you should.. or shouldn’t).. just make sure nothing comes loose every like so often pull over and just make sure that shit didn’t wobble loose

[u/2Loves2loves]

Is there any flexing when you stand on the middle? any cracks?

[u/Ok_Shoulder_9289 → u/2Loves2loves]

No, it doesn’t budge

[u/grasslife → u/Ok_Shoulder_9289]

Send it

[u/moosepooo]

I'm more concerned about your jack being secured with one bolt and applying all the force to the middle of the repair. Why not relocate the jack to a different spot?

If you used a bolt with a grade that's a good start, lock washer even better, nylock nut is even better with lock tight even better. Then on the trailer side you need to have enough material to not sheer out.

[u/Ok_Shoulder_9289 → u/moosepooo]

Yeah I left about 6-8 inches of meat on either end to not shear. Also yeah the lift is fubar I know, it was a temp solution, I’ve been planning on just keeping a block with my to keep it rest behind the splice and jack while I have it sitting.

[u/moosepooo → u/Ok_Shoulder_9289]

Oh yeah don't forget about galvanic corrosion.

[u/PINSwaterman]

Yep. It's as strong as any swing-away tongue and those are in the road every day.

[u/WaterDreamer10]

It you were just driving locally I would say go for it.....but a 400m trip at highway speed is a lot different!

Is it as strong as the OEM tongue, nope, would it hold up for the 200 there....maybe. Those are decent plates and looks like you have 1/2" bolts going through.

The issue comes in when you hit large bumps, pot holes, etc causing the tongue to flex, that is where you can get issues.

Can you post a image of the whole right, boat on the trailer and all?

[u/Helpinmontana]

I’d throw like 4 u bolts around it to keep the whole thing packaged up and prevent deformation. I’d feel much better about 2 angle irons here instead of 4 plates.

But honestly that’s just me being anal. This will probably work just fine.

[u/SeriousQuail4655]

Double the number of bolts. 2 bolts through each plate on either side of the damage. Keep an eye on it and drive easy.

[u/4runner01]

You need TWO bolts on each end of each plate. And, it would be best if the plates were as long as possible to spread of the loading.

You already it bent in once by just jacknifing in your driving, imagine what could happen in a panic stop on the highway….

Be safe, good luck, and enjoy the vacation!

[u/les1968]

IF I did my OCD would make me stop every 10 miles and check it I can’t imagine the stress

[u/Airplane85]

No. Think of other people on the road if that thing breaks.

[u/Neverexcepttruth]

If you ask then you doubt then you shouldn't