The way I am reading the law, a wide load permit is required for any boat with a beam over 8’6" and you can only travel during daylight hours. For those of you at Wappoo Cut boat ramp at 4:00am with a boat over 8’6" wide, are you breaking the law towing it there?
Ssssshhhhhhhhhh
Proline 201WA
Aloha 24ft pontoon (LooneyToon)
Old Town stern with 7.5 johnson
The reason I ask is, I am daydreaming about a bigger boat and don’t want to wait until 7:30am to tow it to the ramp
I believe in SC:
(B) The total outside width of a vehicle or the load on it may not exceed one hundred two inches exclusive of safety devices approved by the Department of Public Safety.
(C) Appurtenances on motor homes, travel trailers, and truck campers in noncommercial use may extend to a maximum of six inches on one side and four inches on the other beyond the maximum width requirement contained in subsection B.
Based on that, you get up to 9’4"…
But SC has an “exemption for implements of husbandry” that gets you up to 12’. I would guess an attorney would challenge whether or not a boat meets the definition:
1.the care, cultivation, and breeding of crops and animals.
2.management and conservation of resources.
Further research needed if you travel to NC or FL.
Regards
When I bought my first boat with a 10-6 beam I went to Columbia and bought an open end wide load permit, I think it was $90.00 ( back in 96) I talked to a DOT guy at the weigh station in my co. truck and trailer a year later that said I didn’t need one for a rec. boat. Havent had one since! Now I have one with a 11-6 beam and have had no problems even on trips to the keys. Just set the cruse and let her eat! Bought the boat Atlanta and pulled her home in the worst rain storm I have ever seen. Just watch for low limbs at Edisto!