i have a sea star 16' fiberglass boat and i was wondering it a 98 s10 2 wheel drive not positive tract. 5 speed with 2.2 engine would pull it an dpull out of dock

I would any 4cyl, should be able to pull a 16ft-shorter, any V6 20ft-shorter, and 20+ you would want a V8.  

Pos. trac is nice, but thats if the tires are slipping.  Just give it a little gas and if the tires start to spin let off the gas.  As long as you are going, you can start giving it a little more gas as you get momentum. Or what I do on real slippery areas, since I have 2wd, is I will apply the parking brake, just a little bit, to help keep the tires from spinning real fast or to much until I get going then release the brake.  

Of course the bigger the engine the easier it would be towing your boat, but I would just look at the weight of the boat and the towing rating for your truck, and as long as it is in that rating you should be fine.

Just make sure to keep it in drive, and not put overdrive on at all or you can burn up your tranny.

I have a 16ft glass, which I pull with a 88 nissan P/U 5 speed 2.5L.  If the slope is like 5 or 10%, I can do it no problem, but if I have to pull it out of a 15%+ ramp, I have to put it into 4 low just so I don't burn my clutch (The clutch is in dire need of replacing.  4 people have learned to drive a stick with this truck).  

It's nice having the 4 wheel drive in case there is a ton of gravel.  I've also needed it one time because the ramp had some nasty ice.  For normal situations, you should be alright.

you should be able to tow  with out much problems. stoping will be an issue. you will be going through front brakes every year, depending of how much you tow. At highway speeds you might not be able to get it in 5th gear, but on the flats it will run well. I use to pull my 17'6" deep v hull boat with a 1988 GMC S-15 ( same as the S-10) with a 2.5 4 banger and a 5 speed with out a posi rear. I towed the boat for two years till I got a new truck. This is the boat I pulled, now with the Tahoe, but when i first got the boat in 1994 I tow with the S-15, also I live in Pittsburgh and It pulled the hills good, slow, but good. also if you have AC forget about using it when towing with that 4banger

thanks guys i was just wondering cause i might put a reese hitch on mine it dont have a place to tow stuff

Bass Beatdown,

Get a video camera and have your wife, girlfriend or buddy make a video of you putting in and then pulling the boat out of the water for us.

If all goes well we will be very happy for you, and I expect everything will go well.

If things do not go well then you have a chance to win $10,000 on American's Funniest Videos. ;D

Let us know how you do.  

And I would also add that depending on the angle of the ramp you will or will not run into trouble so check it out first to make sure the ramp angel is OK.

Now put that beautiful boat in the water and lets go fishing.

A little trick to save your clutch when you pull up the ramp.

Put a wheel chock(s) behind your rear tire(s). Attach them to your bumper with a rope that is not to long to let your trailer wheels hit them when you pull up the ramp.

The chock(s) will keep your truck from going backwards when you take your foot off the brake. This will help save your clutch when you try to get all that weight, that is moving backwards, going forward. The ropes will pull the chocks up the ramp so your trailer tires will not hit them. When you park to tie your boat down do not forget to remove the chock(s).

Team Dougherty,

                      You should send that tip to Bassmaster or Bassin!  You would probably get that one in the magezine!

That is a good idea. I do not subscribe to either of those.

I do have another tip for you guys here though.

I really recommend using wheel chocks when loading and unloading a boat when the tow vehicle has a manual transmission. I do not feel parking brakes and leaving the transmission in gear with the motor off is enough. I have never had much trust in parking brakes and sometimes engine compression is not enough on a steep ramp.

If you do not want to use wheel chocks turn your front wheels all the way to one side. This way if your vehicle does roll back the worse you get is a bent trailer tongue and not a vehicle under water.  

Team_Dougherty - That is a good idea.  I've been doing something similar.  I have a wheel block with a rop tied to it that I've been putting infront of the front driver side wheel.  I just open the door a bit and hold onto the rop while i'm pulling out of the water.  When i drive forward a bit,  i just pull it out.  I like the idea of attaching it to the bumper that way you don't have to do anything.  Very good idea thanks