Boat trailer

[Huey]

Hi Folks,
I am looking to buy a trailerable cabin cruiser.I am tired of paying slip fees and having stuff come up missing from my boats. I find alot of nice wooden boats for sale at a good price on the internet. Trouble is, alot doin't have trailers and they mght be 1000 miles away. Is there a type of trailer I can build or buy that will fit alot of 22' to 26' foot wooden boats? (Chris Craft,Owens, Lyman) Any plans or info would be great.I plan to get the trailer first then when a good deal comes up I will be ready.

Thanks, Huey

[mmd]

Glen-L published a booklet called "How to Build Boat Trailers" that would be a good place to start.

[On Vacation]

Several things to consider, and that is the weight factor for towing. A normal wooden hull, as you speak, will need hydraulic brakes on it, with the new laws that exist in most states. Don't mess around with building a trailer. Many are avaliable used, for tht size boat. Many of that size, don't see much use, except for haul outs or transport to a different area. A lot of those size boats, sit in the water, or boat lifts, or a dry stack.

They may not be wooden hulls, that the trailer goes under, so most will only have bunks on them. The older ones can be adapted for the brakes for around 400 to 500 hundred dollars. A new one that will work under that size, will run you arund 3,000 to 4,000 dollars new. They can be bought direct from many of the manufacturers, such as Towmaster, Continental, of Loadrite. A good used one can be had for around 1,500 dollars if in good shape, and then you can update it.

I would narrow down the boat, before you buy the trailer. Have you considered a cold moulded hull, if you are going to sit it behind the house?

Remember, scrimping on a trailer, could leave you with a good boat in the middle of the road. What type of vehicle will you be using to tow this boat?

[ 09-14-2003, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: Oyster ]

[Huey]

Thanks for the info,
I will be pulling the boat with a big 3/4 ton truck so I am sure that power and braking will not be a problem. I plan to get a trailer with brakes. Am I to understand that a wooden boat should sit on a trailer with rollers? I am kind of new the the trailerboat area. Always kept mine in the water.

[On Vacation]

It is more important to have a center line roller support system, for the keel line, if the boat is a traditional built wooden hull, along with the side bunks, or roller system. The larger trailers are usually aluminum framed, but there are some galvinized ones, but they are much heavier.