I have a Weta 4.4 Trimaran which I keep on a trailer on the road. It weighs about 130Kg, including the trailer.

I would like to trail it to regattas around NSW but we don't have a car as we live in Potts Point and GoGet car share and Taxis are much more convenient - unless you need a tow-car.

The only options I have found to acquire a tow-car for short periods are:
- Rent a Ute with a tow bar for around $100/day (e.g. Sydney Ute Rentals)
- Rent a near new car from Drivemycarrentals.com from $42.32/day (1 week minimum rental)
- Rent a tow vehicle from car rental companies at $190/day (e.g. Hertz)

Does anyone have a better solution?

take up kite surfing

Select to expand quote

Pewit said..
I have a Weta 4.4 Trimaran which I keep on a trailer on the road. It weighs about 130Kg, including the trailer.

I would like to trail it to regattas around NSW but we don't have a car as we live in Potts Point and GoGet car share and Taxis are much more convenient - unless you need a tow-car.

The only options I have found to acquire a tow-car for short periods are:
- Rent a Ute with a tow bar for around $100/day (e.g. Sydney Ute Rentals)
- Rent a near new car from Drivemycarrentals.com from $42.32/day (1 week minimum rental)
- Rent a tow vehicle from car rental companies at $190/day (e.g. Hertz)

Does anyone have a better solution?

WTF would you buy a boat on a trailer if you don't own a car. What are you getting next a caravan.

For the amount you will spend renting you would be far better off buying a car. A Falcon or Commodore will tow all day and can be had for a few thousand + get one with a tow ball.

I don't know of too many hire companies who have tow bars on their cars if any... Unless you hire a commercial vehicle.

Station wagon ( plenty of room for gear )
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Holden-Commodore-1998/SSE-AD-2629279/?Cr=68&sdmvc=1

4wd ( drive boat onto beach )

www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Nissan-Navara-1997/AGC-AD-16563599/?Cr=49&sdmvc=1



A mix between the two

www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Subaru-Outback-1997/SSE-AD-3018320/?Cr=68&sdmvc=1
www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Subaru-Liberty-1997/SSE-AD-2951596/?Cr=125&sdmvc=1

For the woman who likes to be on top

www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Daihatsu-Terios-2000/SSE-AD-2850495/?Cr=32&sdmvc=1

Nice boat mate, what about finding a sailing buddy with a car that can tow it, deal would be he gets to come sailing but tows the boat, go halves in fuel or something like that, do you have any photos of the tri on the water, how fast have you got it up too?

Possibly they don't have a car coz there is nowhere around Potts Point to park it.

Select to expand quote

Mobydisc said..
Possibly they don't have a car coz there is nowhere around Potts Point to park it.

Seems they have parking space for the trailer with room for a car.

Ring these guys , look's like the might be able to help




Or better still BUY A CAR!!

Get out of Potts Point

Select to expand quote

hargs said..
WTF would you buy a boat on a trailer if you don't own a car. What are you getting next a caravan.

Because I want to be able to take it to open meetings and other events. I've had 2 road trips up to the Gold Coast and down to Eden and regularly go up to Pittwater to join other Weta owners.

There's no room to keep it at any nearby sailing clubs so I keep it on the road in Rushcutters Bay (5 mins on the bike) where I launch from a pontoon reached by a gantry which is 2m wide (the boat is 1.98m wide on the trolley).

In NSW you can legally park a boat on a trailer on the road if it is less than 7M and the Weta and trailer is only 5M long.

We did have a car when we first move to Potts Point but parking is a PITA around here.

My top speed is 16.7 knots but they have been recorded over 20.

According to this survey http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/australias-most-economical-cars-revealed-20130624-2osnr.html, the cheapest car costs nearly $6K/year in running costs and you couldn't tow a shopping trolley with it. I can rent a lot of cars for $5K.

Select to expand quote

Pewit said..


According to this survey http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/australias-most-economical-cars-revealed-20130624-2osnr.html, the cheapest car costs nearly $6K/year in running costs and you couldn't tow a shopping trolley with it. I can rent a lot of cars for $5K.

Not that it really affects your decision to own or not own a car, but I think those costs include fuel use don't they? Which is of course going to be at least the same with a rental car.

If it doesn't include fuel, some people are getting absolutely taken on their service costs. I think my 'service costs' would be a few hundred a year at most, with rego and insurance being the greatest costs.

Select to expand quote

Pewit said..

hargs said..
WTF would you buy a boat on a trailer if you don't own a car. What are you getting next a caravan.

Because I want to be able to take it to open meetings and other events.

Well that makes a lot of sense.

Buy a car dude or sell the boat.

Is there no parking because of all the carless boats lining the curb?

Now, how do you spell irony?

Select to expand quote

Cal said..
Is there no parking because of all the carless boats lining the curb?

Now, how do you spell irony?

^^^^ Good call lol, nearly pissed myself laughing when I read that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what about tow truck company. Load it on the back of one of their trucks? Don't know if it would be economical or not.
Just a thought.
W

Select to expand quote

Cal said..
Is there no parking because of all the carless boats lining the curb?

Now, how do you spell irony?

Not in Potts Point as all the parking round here is restricted to 4 hrs max (mostly less). There was a problem a few years ago with backpackers selling and living in their cars in Victoria Street but they've now been moved to a car park at the Cross.

If I did have a car it would be spending most of it's time on the road taking a parking place in addition to the boat and there are more cars that don't move in Rushcutters Bay than there are boats. My boat is used and moved regularly and most of the parking spaces in Rushcutters Bay are taken by people using the park, sailing from the CYCA or RANSA, working in nearby business and some who park there and commute into the city - and quite a few cars that are just left there. After 7pm there are plenty of spaces free (unless there's twilight sailing).

Select to expand quote

worrier said..
what about tow truck company. Load it on the back of one of their trucks? Don't know if it would be economical or not.
Just a thought.
W

They charge a lot more than it costs to rent a car or ute. It might work if you wanted to ship interstate, like when I purchased the boat in Melbourne and had it towed to Sydney - www.uship.com is good for getting quotes.

Select to expand quote

sotired said..

Pewit said..


According to this survey http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/australias-most-economical-cars-revealed-20130624-2osnr.html, the cheapest car costs nearly $6K/year in running costs and you couldn't tow a shopping trolley with it. I can rent a lot of cars for $5K.

Not that it really affects your decision to own or not own a car, but I think those costs include fuel use don't they? Which is of course going to be at least the same with a rental car.

If it doesn't include fuel, some people are getting absolutely taken on their service costs. I think my 'service costs' would be a few hundred a year at most, with rego and insurance being the greatest costs.

I think the costs include fuel, depreciation, servicing, rego and insurance. If you had an older car you'd have less depreciation but the service costs would likely be higher. GoGet cars include the fuel for about $9/hr - but they don't have tow cars as stated previously.

The best deal is DriveMyCarRentals.com as long as you want it for a week (or more). I've had a Mitsubishi Outlander, Lexus RX 350 and Porsche Cayenne* so far.

*I had to swap the Porsche when I plugged in the trailer electrics and got disco lights at the back!

Does anyone else struggle with the logic here? If there are parks enough to know you can leave your boat there after use, how can there not be room for your car too???

I feel like this must be our first world problem Christmas wind up!

Go to Potts Point and you will understand the problem. Lots of older units that don't have car parks. Its a heavily populated area that had alot of Navy people and tourists hanging around too. However I'm not sure how there is a guarantee the space where the boat was parked will be there when it's time to park it again.

Moby the only way this would make sense is if there was a dedicated boat park being utilised, now, those places have a name, leave it with me, it will come to mind soon....

Sail around the world.you won't need a car for awhile!

So, it sounds like you have already found your solution.

If you need to have a car for longer periods, buy one. If you need it for less time, rent it.

$190 a day sounds expensive, but so is a car, so you have your choices.

I do all my own work on my older cars, so my servicing costs are next to nil, but if you don't have those skills, then you have no options there either.

Were you hoping someone would offer to rent their car to you? If so, I doubt it would fly, as the costs of insurance, rego, and maintenance is not going to make it such a great deal for you or the owner.

Select to expand quote

sotired said.



"I think my 'service costs' would be a few hundred a year at most, with rego and insurance being the greatest costs."

Not if you drive a Hyundai , they really know how to charge ! J

Select to expand quote

James said..

sotired said.



"I think my 'service costs' would be a few hundred a year at most, with rego and insurance being the greatest costs."

Not if you drive a Hyundai , they really know how to charge ! J

Really? Do tell!

Yeah sounds like you wanted someone to offer you a car. You say whatever it was annual cost but if you buy an old falcon forbexample and do low k's you'll be up for rego and an oil change every few years. That's it.

Select to expand quote

Mobydisc said..
Go to Potts Point and you will understand the problem. Lots of older units that don't have car parks. Its a heavily populated area that had alot of Navy people and tourists hanging around too. However I'm not sure how there is a guarantee the space where the boat was parked will be there when it's time to park it again.

Potts Point has the highest density of population in Australia and is a nightmare for parking. Llike most of the old buildings, our 1930s block of units doesn't have any parking spaces (Sydney had public transport back then). When we did have a car it sat on the road gathering dents which is why we got rid of it and use the Go-Gets instead (there are 5 within 5 mins walk) which have dedicated parking spaces and you rent them by the hour.

Rushcutters Bay is not far away (on a bicycle) because its down a steep hill and you can go directly across the park- a bit slower coming back depending how long you've spent in the sailing club bar!

I can't guarantee the parking place for the boat in Rushcutters Bay but there is no-limit parking on one side of the street and generally I there are plenty of spaces after 7pm. I leave the trailer on the road while sailing and wheel the boat on the trolley to the pontoon.

It does seem as if my solutions are the only practical ones available - thanks for all the input.

Select to expand quote

Where did you find your pint sized foreward hand??

Do bunnings still rent their utes cheaply? I can remember seeing they were something like $35 for a half day at some point - although this could of been a while back and no doubt had conditions..............maybe try a few of the smaller players in the rental car game, we recently changed who we always rented vehicles off at work and are saving around 40% on what we use to pay and thats without having to set up accounts, just using a cc when we need a vehicle for a day or so.

Buy an old ford and leave it at a relo's. While you're there leave the weta there too?

Select to expand quote

Buster fin said..

James said..

sotired said.



"I think my 'service costs' would be a few hundred a year at most, with rego and insurance being the greatest costs."

Not if you drive a Hyundai , they really know how to charge ! J

Really? Do tell!

Do I detect just a hint of sarc there Buster ? Try $639.00 for a 60 000km service , mainly , checked this, inspected that kinda bs. They also recommended replacing the power steering drive belt at $125.00 and a fuel system service at $175.00 . Drive belts not covered under warranty !!!?


If the car needed a fuel system service , why wasn't in the scheduled service ? , that would lead to " over servicing " apparently . Nearly 130 000 km now, and that failing power steering belt still holding up well . Hyundai make good cars , but the" servicing " is a license to print money . So whadya think of that . . . . . Buster ? J