De-rigging for towing

[Selous]

Hi
New to the forum and considering the purchase of a 920.
Probably been asked before but cannot locate?
Am I correct in assuming the tramps, amas, and(?) have to be removed to allow for legal road towing in U.K. (2.55m width limit) ?
If so, can this be done single handed and how long might the operation take ?
Thanks

[gminkovsky]

Yes, you have to disassemble the boat completely to be road legal.

It takes just a few minutes to remove the trampolines and can be done by one person, however it is easier with two people.

Removing amas requires 2 or 3 people. Removing akas (wings) requires 2 people. It will take about 3-4 hours to disassemble, and secure everything. It also takes about 1 hour to secure the mast and furler. It takes about 3 hours to take the mast down if doing without a crane. 3 people are needed for that.

Also note that there are 2 different types of original boat cradles. One has extended supports for the upside down amas for trailering and has 10cmx10cm wood beams that are stored in the support and are pulled out to facilitate assembly.

the other type has short supports. So you will need to get 10x10x255 beams to support amas for trailering.

If driving a short distance I would recommend not disassembling the boat. It's a huge job but it's even larger job to assemble everything! I only bring the boat home in the autumn and to the boat yard in the spring. About 20 miles / 32 km. So the boat is on a trailer with the mast down. Everything else is attached. I did full disassembly/assembly only once.

[Jon Leyland]

Hi Selous.
Previous posts are correct in the dismantling of the amas and akas for trailering. I have just done that and towed my 920 500 miles back home from Scotland to Essex as I have run out of time to sail home. Having said that , my home port is only 5 miles from where I live and I leave the amas and akas intact just taking off the trampolines so it can be folded in as tight as possible for such a short trip home .I do it at night or early morning when there is not much traffic.
You are welcome to come and have a look at my 920 currently folded up and on the trailer . I'm near Colchester, Essex.

[Selous]

Thanks so much for the responses.
I have tried getting confirmation of the legal width limit from UK Highways Department but appears even THEY are not sure. This because, another boating website states that the legal 'loaded trailer width' max is 2.95m. Although still a tad less than required for the rigged 920, it does mean a Farrier F9 IS trailer able on UK roads.
I'm also in East Anglia (current boat on the Ore) so would much appreciate the offer of seeing the 920 on trailer in Colchester.

[Jon Leyland]

920 folds to 3.2M if not disassembled and 2.5M disassembled, 3.2M is going to be well over any limit for towing with a 4wd. I believe that is one of the reasons why Quorning developed the 28 - no dismantling needed and it folds down to 2.55M which is the legal limit for ordinary towing. Above that you are supposed to notify police ,have an escort etc etc. - except for doing it on the quiet and keeping your fingers crossed like me for a short distance twice a year.
Phone number is 07771644770 if you want to visit.

[Selous]

Thanks Jon. I will indeed telephone when I'm back next week.
You are correct re notifying Highways Authority but appears their permit allows for towing the F31 (2,9m) with no escort.