Ok im after a new car because my ford isn't looking the best at the moment and since im buying a new boat i thougt the car may as well come to. I was wondering can you toe a hobie 16 behind a 4 cylinder with say a turbo in it?? I have heard not to get anything smaller than a V6 but im curious if a 4 turbo will do the trick.
I use to tow a 16' ski boat with a 75 hp motor. I had no problem with my 4 cyl, manual transmission, front wheel drive car. The trailer had tantem axles so there was no weight on the car. So in my opinion there wouldn't be a problem. Not sure how an automatic would fair.
Be sure you get a car the you WILL be able to put a hitch on. There are some cars that you can't.
I think if you live in an area that is relatively flat and take it kind of easy, you should be all right. Beach cats are pretty light. Sometimes I forget that I am pulling one.
I'm towing my H16 with a VW Jetta Turbo Diesel. 90hp/50mpg without the trailer/40mpg with the Hobie in tow. Can't beat it. 
Well i own a 1989 model Ford fairmont and well even with a straight 6 the car strugles up hils when i give it abit but then again the car is abit sick.
G'day Julian,
my last 16 got towed to every event in NSW with a little Honda Accord, they were only 1.6L engines back then. You don't really need much to tow though I will say there's possibly some advantage in the small 4wds if you can get beach access. Though Canberra I assume has no real 'beach'.
Cheers Phil
you can do it, however you also run the risk of burning up your turbo. Depends in the grade of ramp you are pulling the boat and so on. A turbo is not for pulling unless it is a diesel. A turbo is to "rap up" the engine faster, a supercharger is for pulling
I have pulled Na 6.0, H20s, etc with a 1989 mazda 4 cyl pickup truck with no problem for years. The only 2 things I notice is my gas mileage drops, and I have to drop from 5th to 4th gear goin up hill. Of course, now I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee (6 cyl)--nicer ride than the mazda...t
I've towed my H16 with a VW Golf 2.0 and never had a problem, even with the fairly steep ramp I use to put the boat in the water. Highway and hill driving has never presented any kind of problem whatsoever. My advise is don't worry about it. andrew
Ok if you can tow a boat with a small V4 how much effect does it have on the petrol and power and speed. I know alot of guys who toe with a v4 but they say they dont drive them very fast because they cant.
I tow two H14s with a 4 cylinder Volvo-as weak as they come. Used to tow a TheMightyHobie18 with a VW Microbus, circa 1967. Just didn't go that fast
Thanks for that every one and i have just bought a VL which is super charged so i wont ever have to worry. Thanks again