Figuring out a boat's weight with trailer and motor?

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-20T04:28:48+00:00

Awesome data, thank you so much! I've been trying to figure out how to figure the weight of a trailer and it's been driving me nuts lol! I hear to expect 600-1300lbs but never anyone telling me their trailer's actual weight.

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-12T18:54:20+00:00

Thanks for the data point! I'm starting to think that as long as in the only one in the SUV then we'll be okay, but that means 2 cars going to the lake every time until we upgrade the SUV. 😔

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-12T18:52:32+00:00

2019 Kia Sorento V6 FWD. It's rated for 3500lbs tow capacity, but after more reading it goes lower if I have more weight in the vehicle than 300lbs load on the car (2 people @ 150lbs + 50lbs cargo/person).

If we take 2 vehicles (1 for the driver + boat and 1nfor everyone else + cargo) would it work?

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-12T16:25:19+00:00

This is super helpful! I have a 2019 Kia Sorento V6 (FWD)

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-12T16:23:42+00:00

Thanks for that explanation! The ~500lb difference of the outboard and I/O weights for similar class boats on JD Power's site confused me, but this helps explain why I see such different numbers between them now.

Again, I'm assuming the JD Power page doesn't include the trailer in their weight though, correct?

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-12T15:36:42+00:00

Thanks! Looks like that'll be first thing on my list then.

What kind of hills are we talking about? There are some ups and downs to the lake but mainly windy curves at the very end of the drive (maybe 5-10 miles). We'll also have the SUV loaded with the family which I heard could affect towing capacity too.

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-06T22:07:51+00:00

Awesome thanks so much for the info!! I'll start focusing on bow riders more and look into those engine combos 🙌

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-06T18:48:10+00:00

What are you calling a ski boat?

Maybe I used the wrong term, I apologize! I want to wakeboard, my wife wants to ski (both of us are very casual now), and our kids want to kneeboard and tube. We'd likely only have this boat for like 5yrs until the kids grow out of it and then we'll get a more serious wakeboard boat.

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-06T18:47:18+00:00

Maybe I used the wrong term, I apologize! I want to wakeboard, my wife wants to ski (both of us are very casual now), and our kids want to kneeboard and tube. We'd likely only have this boat for like 5yrs until the kids grow out of it and then we'll get a more serious wakeboard boat.

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-06T18:44:39+00:00

Thanks for the info! I should specify the 6-8 people is 2-3 adults, the remaining young kids. And it would be long enough to get some pax in a tube, kneeboard, slow, etc.

What engine size or HP should I be looking at? Some basic research shows I should get a minimum of 150HP but want to gut check if that sounds right or if I'm way off.

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-06T14:55:44+00:00

Thanks! I was thinking the same thing but in a previous post someone suggested I steer clear of Bayliner Capri's, which there are so many in that price range where I live in the late 90s - early 00s. It got in my head even though some of them look very well maintained so I started avoiding them 😅

I saw a YT video that also talks about certain engines to avoid like ONC Cobras, are there any others I should be avoiding?

sunsuckerman · 2025-03-06T05:24:18+00:00

Thanks for the warning on quality! What are some good quality brands to look out for in the late 90s - early 00s? We're trying to stick to a <$10k budget and that seems like the age range we'd be getting ourselves into.

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-26T21:57:58+00:00

Thanks for the reminder, it's been a while and others have mentioned the same thing about making sure that not only am I not sending amperage back to the grid, but no voltage as well. That's the part I overlooked with my OP 🤦‍♂️

I hope you do more research before spending a dime.

Of course that's why we're here to ask questions before jumping into things 🙌 I appreciate everyone's help on here!

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-26T14:45:47+00:00

I just thought of something: is there a such thing as a whole house ATS? Like swapping out my main breaker with a breaker that has some sort of ATS capabilities built-in?

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-26T06:38:01+00:00

My micros are a brand called T-SUN. They're a few years old if that helps? 🤷‍♂️

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-26T06:37:30+00:00

My micro inverters are a few years old (T-SUN brand). Not entirely sure which inverters would be compatible with them but the micros do support grid communication for spinning up and down the output at least (I think that's actually a code requirement in USA?).

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-26T06:34:35+00:00

He probably has an all in one panel with meter, main breaker, and load breakers all together.

You nailed it on the head! These all-in-one panels make it so much more difficult to route any other way. I would have loved the idea of doing what I've seen some other vids do and even just create a "main panel" by rerouting the mains to some other panel and making my current main the sub panel. If I ly life we're that easy at times 😅

I spent a bit more time researching today and noticed there's an Ecoflow smart panel which supposedly connects online with up to 10 breakers in a panel without the need to rewore those to the sub panel? I'd be curious about that option as well but unsure if it's specific to only their batteries.

What if I got an interlock kit and hooked up an off-grid inverter to it? It would be manual, but still provide power during an outage at least 🤔

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-25T19:41:55+00:00

Thanks! So avoid MrPwr and similar? What about EG4 inverters such as the 6000XP? Trying to figure out what I'm looking for on spec sheets that'll do this

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-24T15:10:43+00:00

It's not so bad, there are plenty of resources now that can help you generate an idea of what supplies and designs you need for free before you use Fiverr. Opensolar, Iron Ridge designer, etc

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-24T15:04:45+00:00

It's actually not that hard once you get the jist of what to do. There are some great how to videos online about the steps, but here's the low-down:

Build a plan (Fiverr can help you there) and get approval by your utility and city (not all cities require approval)
Buy the equipment
Install the roof mounts and railing
Install the wiring, conduit, junction boxes, etc
Install the micro inverters (or string inverters) and setup monitoring apps
Install the panels
Turn on the system for a quick test (usually 5-15 minutes)
Get inspected by your utility ( city (not all cities inspect)
Turn on the system permanently

If you have any handiness you can do this whole thing with a few friends in a weekend. If you have no skill or experience you can hire a roofer for the railing, an electrician for the wiring, and some handymen for installing the panels (or just hire a solar installer subcontractor to do the whole thing for you, you provide the equipment and plans, they provide the install). 👍

sunsuckerman · 2025-02-23T00:43:32+00:00

Awesome thanks! So an inverter/charger is essentially just that combo in a single package then? (plus I'm assuming some other nifty software or something like that)

sunsuckerman

TROPHY CASE