Trailer weight, Towing advice

[Chimo]

Hi Jack and Jen

Possibly this is the wrong thread BUT

Why does a mixture of thirds metho, baby oil and detol with a few drops of tea tree oil work so well to prevent infections from fish hooks and fish barbs while boating and although not strictly your field why does the same mix work as a repellant for midges too?

Cheers
Chimo

[blackjack]

hello Chimo

blackjenny here

i haven’t heard of that combination before, but this is my best educated guess

this link is a very extensive scientific analysis of the reasons tea tree oil (TTO) works, how it works etc.
http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/19/1/50

just scroll thru it and read the bits that make sense

as you are no doubt aware, the medical world needs a helping hand with the nasty antibiotic resistant bugs we are growing these days.

seems the aboriginal population had the handle on this LONG ago. what’s old is new again???

chloroxylenol is the main active ingredient of Dettol, belongs to the phenol group of chemicals (old-fashioned hospital smell) and is mainly used in medicine as an antibacterial and anaesthetic which kills bacteria, reduces inflammation and relieves itching, redness or pain in skin infections and conditions. it has very good action against many Streptococci (like the golden staph you hear so much about these days). streps are everywhere around us and are quite resistant to salt water. they exist in huge numbers in our gut, the guts of animals, fish, prawns etc. yea and some are much more toxic than others.

mossies and other bugs hate the smell of dettol, so they tend to fly off before they bite you. I’m thinking the baby oil plays the part of making it smell nicer, (no smelly fishermen here – puts a whole new meaning into the word SNAG!!!) it makes the lotion easier to spread, and helps to keep the skin soft and moisturised, protection from wind and dehydration, skin cracks etc. the bite parts of the sandfly may not be able to penetrate thru’ the layer too. not sure. the oil also helps to dilute the concentration of dettol, which burns if it’s too concentrated and the metho which tends to dry the skin out too much

metho is better as an antibacterial agent when it is diluted, in fact much better than 100%. It is cheap and kills just about everything.

i’ll need to make some of this stuff up to put in our new boat because all up it seems to address the combo of bugs as microscopic and biting. is it in the recipe section of the forum? just a thought

cheers

thanks for the question. i learnt. jen

[Outsider1]

Very interesting Jenny, thanks for posting that info.

Dettol kills Cane Toads very effectively too. Just spray it on them and they cactus in within a few minutes.

Cheer

Dave

[Chimo]

Hi Jen

I knew the mix works in a range of situations even without the Tea tree oil and it good to have your input on it too.

Its a good brew to have around to cope with the insects as well as the hook scratches and pricks as well as the impact of fish spines.

I use Tea tree oil in the 100% conc. for any midge or mossie bite I get when I have failed to apply repellant.

Another question for you and Jack. (Maybe we need a Granny's Cures and how and why they work thread too).

Why when you are spiked by a flathead can you cure the pain by inserting the spiked finger into the stomach juices of the offendinge flathead or its cousin for that matter?

Cheers
Chimo

[Mindi]

one thing which may have been mentioned but I didnt see...and it's important...when driving with a heavy towed load leave heaps of space in front of you to stop...yes...idiots will overtake you and jump into the gap all the time..welcome to towing a boat. This is IMHO the most important safe towing factor after having the weight set up so that the load does not sway. ...Just keep "dropping back" to maintain a gap. You may well manage to maintain your boat trailer brakes better than most of us..but the best strategy is to never need to find out...Speed is the real enemy with this sort of towing, or more particularly wiping it off.

[blackjack]

Hi Jen

Another question for you and Jack. (Maybe we need a Granny's Cures and how and why they work thread too).

Why when you are spiked by a flathead can you cure the pain by inserting the spiked finger into the stomach juices of the offendinge flathead or its cousin for that matter?

Cheers
Chimo

blackjenny reporting

no expert on this at all chimo, but my best answer is because of the alkaline nature of the stomach slime proteins (edited, had it round the wrong way before) 'denaturing' the acid components of the spike poison literally changing their nature and rendering them to a new makeup. an actual chemical reaction takes place between the protein and the acid. the basis of hot water treatment (treatment of choice) is similar. the heat denatures the acid protein of the poison, is heat labile. but you don't usually have hot water to hand. (even fresh body temp urine may help if nothing else available - it's sterile too)


from what i have gathered since i first posted this answer:

the spike poison is acidic, maybe pH 4.0
the belly slime is more alkaline, maybe around pH 7.0-8.0
(saltwater also is pH around 8.0)

acid + alkali = neutral

interesting also slime contains enzymes and has antibacterial properties that help protect the skin of the fish


if the injury is penetrating in any real depth, you'd need to try and get the acids and the alkalis to contact each other too i'd imagine. maybe the salty slime water can penetrate. at least you've got the fish at hand, so to speak, so the first aid is there ready to try

http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index...260.xml&coll=1 - an interesting link about medical properties of fish slime


i can never forget being with my darling Daddy one day when i was about 7 years old. he was spiked by something when he was digging around in the contents of seaweed from a hand prawning net in Lake Macquarie, NSW


it was called a bull rout


anyway, my dad was a tough guy and to see the pain he suffered was just awful. he wanted mum to cut his arm off!


this is a really useful page of first aid for the outdoors, simple and practical advice

http://www.parasolemt.com.au/venum.asp


maybe i'll print it off and laminate it for the boat? anyway guys, (and I mean gals too whenever I say that) i cannot stress enough just how CRITICAL it is to get some antiseptic cream, lotion or even basic soap and water wash on ANY cut big or small, that breaks through the integrity of your skin, especially if it draws blood. and i am as serious as death about what can happen if you don't. (from secondary infection) make sure your tetanus cover is up-to-date too, c'mon guys MAN TF UP


also, there is a range of waterless handwashes available now in plastic pump packs, like Aquim, which you can put in your boat and have readily accessible. use it anytime you need to wash your hands.


off the track i know, but just thinking about my Dad...lost him 10 yrs ago, only 59


he always had boats, sailing and power and i have my love of the water and boating from him. i sailed too, sabots, vee jays and a northbridge senior. we skiied all over the lake, and he taught me how to catch fish, and crabs and prawns. he took me outside fishing too. so it's not just you guys who inherit things "blokey" from their old man. i've read plenty of things about men and their dads on here, men and their sons. (not saying you) so i'm just addressing a bit of the imbalance


so you can imagine, i am just about out of my skin with excitement about getting our first boat since marrying jack 25 yrs ago!!! (best anniversary present ever) this wednesday if the test run works out. i cannot wait!


thanks for the question. i learnt something new.

jenny


p.s. i am often telling my daughters liz and cath, "if you don't learn something new, every day, you might as well give up!"

[blackjack]

one thing which may have been mentioned but I didnt see...and it's important...when driving with a heavy towed load leave heaps of space in front of you to stop...yes...idiots will overtake you and jump into the gap all the time..welcome to towing a boat. This is IMHO the most important safe towing factor after having the weight set up so that the load does not sway. ...Just keep "dropping back" to maintain a gap. You may well manage to maintain your boat trailer brakes better than most of us..but the best strategy is to never need to find out...Speed is the real enemy with this sort of towing, or more particularly wiping it off.

thanks mindi

we will be mindful of that good advice. not only does it sound safer to allow for the d'heads, it will save on the juice bill.

after waiting soooooo long to have a boat, i'm not prepared to let it get damaged!

cheers, jenny

[skipalong]

go the big one fort sure

[seatime]

From http://www.caravanandcampingsa.com.a...2&parent2id=96

Towing Weights
In 1989 Australian Design Rules (ADRs) were introduced which affect the construction and towing of trailers, including caravans. Currently there are no towing regulations which specifically refer to ‘caravans’. The ADRs include the requirement for plates on trailer drawbars which amongst other information states the aggregate, or maximum, mass of the trailer and data on the towbar which indicates the rating of that towbar. It should be noted that ADR 62 states that the rated capacity of the towbar …. “shall not exceed the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations”. Below is a summary of the rules relating to towing weights which should assist in the selection of towing equipment and/or caravan and the towing speeds applicable to various states.
While there are some variations in the Road Traffic Regulations in different States, most agree on the following safety aspects:
The trailer must not be bigger or heavier than the driver can safely control,
The total or laden mass of the trailer must not be more than:

• - the maximum mass (A.T.M.) determined by the trailer manufacturer and as stated on the trailer plate,
• - the load rating of the trailer’s coupling of the towbar fitted to the towing vehicle,
• - the total load rating of all the trailer’s tyres.

The combination of tow vehicle and trailer must be “properly set up”. This means that there is a load of about 10% of the total trailer mass on the towbar and that the outfit has a level attitude. Generally this necessitates the use of a load distributing device.
Exceeding the maximum towing load as recommended by the towing vehicle manufacturer can:

• Invalidate warranty
• Nulify insurance, and
• Effect long term vehicle safety and reliability.

National Towing Regulations
In December, 1998, agreement was reached by all State’s Ministers of Transport to implement National towing regulations.
In essence, the National rules state that “A motor vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass (G.M.V.) not exceeding 4.5 tonnes must not, without the approval of an authority, tow a trailer with a mass (including any load) exceeding;
The capacity of the towing apparatus fitted to the vehicle, or
A relevant maximum trailer mass specified by the vehicle manufacturer.”
Put simply, the most you can tow is the amount specified by the vehicle manufacturer of the capacity of the towbar - WHICH EVER IS LEAST.
If you want to know how much your vehicle can tow, firstly check the owners manual or vehicle sales brochure for the manufacturer’s towing recommendations. Secondly make sure that the towing capacity is as least as much, if not more, than the mass of the trailer, including its load. If you are unsure how strong the towbar is, have a chat to a reputable towing equipment specialist.
In the case where a motor vehicle manufacturer has not specified a maximum towing mass, the limit is stated to be:
1.5 times the unladen or herb mass of the motor vehicle if the trailer is fitted with brakes; or
The unloaded mass of the motor vehicle if the trailer is not fitted with brakes.
It should be noted, however, that the above will rarely apply as apart from using a truck, just about every vehicle that is likely to be used for towing a caravan, boat trailer, horsefloat or similar has a manufacturer’s towing recommendation.
Owners of 4WDs and light commercial vehicles should also be careful that they do not exceed the Gross Combined Mass (G.C.M.) of the vehicle. The GCM refers to the maximum vehicle plus its load, including a trailer, is permitted to weigh. It is possible that when a motor vehicle is loaded with, for example, five adults, their luggage and camping gear that the maximum allowable trailer mass has to be reduced so as to not exceed the GCM.
While this may sound a little confusing, it is important that this is considered so as to not void the warranty or insurance.

[Razgo-]

I just had a heavy duty Hayman Reese tow bar fitted to my tarago(1.8tonne vehicle) and they said max weight on all cars was 750KG and then after that you needed electric breaks on the trailer. the Hayman Reese heavy duty will go to 1600KG under electric breaks.

that was from speedy exhausts who do mobile towbar fittings.