Moving a Pearson 35

[cbarr]

I've owned a '69 Pearson for 10 years and it is in serious need of refurbishing. To have it moved from a lake to my property, I was quoted a price of $2800. Yikes! Being cheap, the ulitmate do-it-yourselfer and slightly insane, I'm planning to move it myself. I have the truck and trailer to do it ... at least that's what the rated capacities say. Couple of questions.
1 - Does anyone know the actual weight of an empty Pearson '35? I know the displacement is 13,000 lbs, but is that the weight of the hull, fittings, rigging only, or with the essentials such as fuel and water?
2- Can anyone tell from their drawings or experience where the fore-aft balance point is on the hull so I can balance it on my trailer more easily?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Charles

[John Wiggins]

This is opinion only, but from what I've read and heard, that the weight on the specs is normally conservative, and since older boats have been know to absorb some water, a figure of 14,000 lbs wouldn't surprise me. (The specs' on my P35 say it's 13,500 lbs)

[Roscoe]

I had my 35 moved about 150 miles from Puntagorder to Lakeland cost was $500.00 AND $200.00 TO GET IT UNLOADED I don't think I would atempt moveing one on a flat bed trailer. don't forgit permits and insurance.
good luck
[e-mail]
Roscoe

[Kevin Farrell]

We moved Gael (P35 #15) from northern michigan to St. Louis on a flatbed construction trailer using her heavy steel cradle. I will get measurements from the center of the three axles. We didn't have a tongue scale, but could tell from the tow vehicle's spring compression when we had as much tongue weight as we could handle. The cost of the move was a bit less than $2.00 per mile. Email me with any questions ([e-mail]).

[cbarr]

IT WORKED!! ;D;D My friend and I successfully pulled my Pearson 35 (hull # 122) from a lake and hauled it 145 miles to my property. We had to use 30 feet of chain to get the trailer into the water deep enough at the boat ramp, but it settled on my 24-foot 3-axle trailer just about right and rode beautifully even though both trailer and truck were maxed out capacity-wise. My Chevy 2500HD with a Duramax diesel handled the hills of Central Texas like a champ. It was an exceedingly long day and I can honestly say I have never gotten hypothermia (wading in chest deep water) and sunburn at the same time, but the whole deal saved me over $2000 versus having it done commercially. I'll try to send some photos shortly. Now comes the restoration part ...

[Harris]

Hey cbarr!

Don't forget to send in those pictures of your haul out. That would make a great story on how to move a P35. Send me an email.

Harris
[e-mail]

[Sadowski]

Attn: cbarr,
is there any chance you might post more details of moving your boat? I'm in the process of buying a P35 and have to decide whether to haul it 250 miles to work on it at home or leave it where it is and drive the 250 miles each time I have a few days to work on it.
Thanks. S Sadowski

[roger]

I moved a P35 from S.Va. to N. Vt. on a three axle all brake trailer behind a K3500 w/a 454 w/ ease. I serviced the treansmission after the move. The axles are 6000# each and the trailer weighs in at under 3000#, so at 13 + 3= 16, IS LESS than 18, room to spare. I did strip the boat and empty the water tanks.I did not measure the fuel, but it appeared under half.

If you want to write, feel free,

Roger

[e-mail]

PS: I am restoring the boat.

[Harris]

You guys have to send in a story and some pictures of this P35 moving stuff. You make it sound so easy. Seems like a lot of folks want to know how to do this!

Harris
www.pearson35.com