I am in the market buying a boat. Looking at the Catalina 30. Of course most do not come with trailers so I am trying to figure out what to do. I have a heavy duty 3 axial trailer that I can fabricate something with. My question is if the boat has a cradle for hard storage can this be used and just attached to the trailer or does something more stout need to be built? I am not talking about a 2000 mile trip but probably out to 500 or so. I know there will need wide permits pulled and maybe some other requirements but I am trying to get something to haul it on and to also use when pulling it out of the water for inspection and maintenance. What do you sailors think?
Boat trailer advice
- Thread starter Admiral
- Start date
Pretty heavy boat to be on a trailer. Plus a fair amount of time and cost in splashing, rigging etc. much different then a day sailor.
Not really wanting to trailer it as a day sailor. Just trying to figure out a way to get the vessel to my lake if I can't find one there. Also wanting to be able to pull it out for maintenance from time to time with the mast still stepped. I have found one locally but it needs a bottom job so I would still need someway to get it up on the hard.
That may be a tough pull. A lift is in order here. Trouble can come in a 10 mile drive or 500 so prep is the same in my opinion. I would contract out to a delivery service and transfer that liability.
I use a boat hauling company to move my Catalina 30 from the marina to my driveway in the fall and back the other way in the spring. Cost is less than leaving it outside at the marina. professionally manufactured boat cradles are converted to trailers all the time. Your questions should be directed to the towing capacity of the truck and the weight restrictions on your trailer. is the width restriction in your area less that of the boat?
I should mention that you are not likely to pull it from the water on a trailer. considering the draft of the boat, weight, and slope/distance on any given ramp
Its been done. I've Sinn it done at MDR a couple of times. This one was done by lowering the trailer down the ramp with a chain. This one to make some repairs and clean the bottom. The other used a semi to take it to Utah. With enough ingenuity anything that does not defy the laws of physics can be done, although as pointed out it may not be the most practical.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=586462&highlight=caguy 12th post.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=586462&highlight=caguy 12th post.
The boat is almost 11 feet wide and 10,000 lbs.
It will need a heavy duty trailer, tow vehicle, and permits for on the road.
Assuming that you already know that, most commercial haulers have adjustable side supports. These side supports are much like boat stands but are hinged on the trailer frame.
A cradle placed on a flatbed trailer would work. I did that with a Cape Dory 25 (4000 lbs) but less than 8 feet wide. Expect to use a crane to lift the boat on and off. If you are skilled with large loads, then you could launch and recover using a very long tongue extender or chain.
Most people won't have the skills or equipment to do this as a casual maneuver. That is the concern.
It will need a heavy duty trailer, tow vehicle, and permits for on the road.
Assuming that you already know that, most commercial haulers have adjustable side supports. These side supports are much like boat stands but are hinged on the trailer frame.
A cradle placed on a flatbed trailer would work. I did that with a Cape Dory 25 (4000 lbs) but less than 8 feet wide. Expect to use a crane to lift the boat on and off. If you are skilled with large loads, then you could launch and recover using a very long tongue extender or chain.
Most people won't have the skills or equipment to do this as a casual maneuver. That is the concern.
I have checked on the load requirements for a wide loads in my state as well as others bordering mine. Not a problem there. My trailer is a triple axle with 10 ply tires and a very heavy duty frame. The truck is a 1 ton dually diesel. I am very skilled at welding and metal fab so that is not much of a problem. I am just trying to figure out if a cradle will be heavy duty enough for a haul. I do understand the need for an extended tongue or the use of a chain to get the trailer deep enough for a launch and retrieve. However I don't think I would use a chain. That has disaster in the making. Or I can get one of the local marinas to use their crane to load and unload. I am just seeking advise from those that have done it on their own or have experience in this.
The reason I feel for the need of a trailer is for hauling after purchase but for maintenance and bottom jobs. There is a trailer at the local sailing club but I am one who does not depend on other's stuff when I have or can make my own. I do understand the logistics involved be it 1 mile or a thousand. Just trying to figure out what type of cradle or supports I will need and how many would be recommended. I know I could hire it out but that would not solve the problem for the need of a trailer at some point.
The guys at the sailing club have pulled their C30s on a regular basis I have just not been around to see them do it. I understand the concerns that have been discussed. However I am sure there are many on this forum that have done this successfully. I am still seeking advise from those that have. Are these boats delivered new on the cradles that one sees them sitting on in the boat yards?
The reason I feel for the need of a trailer is for hauling after purchase but for maintenance and bottom jobs. There is a trailer at the local sailing club but I am one who does not depend on other's stuff when I have or can make my own. I do understand the logistics involved be it 1 mile or a thousand. Just trying to figure out what type of cradle or supports I will need and how many would be recommended. I know I could hire it out but that would not solve the problem for the need of a trailer at some point.
The guys at the sailing club have pulled their C30s on a regular basis I have just not been around to see them do it. I understand the concerns that have been discussed. However I am sure there are many on this forum that have done this successfully. I am still seeking advise from those that have. Are these boats delivered new on the cradles that one sees them sitting on in the boat yards?
Heck, they pull C30's out of the water at my lake all of the time. But I'm not really sure I would even make a 20 mile trip with it unless you were a professional. The boat sits way, way up there in the air on the trailer 
The guy that owns the sailboat shop has two C30 trailers and they get pulled out for storage, bottom jobs and other maintenance.
They have some farm tracker looking thing and a long nylon strap that allows the trailer to get fully submerged.
It can be done...
Next time I'm up there I'll snap a couple of pictures of the C30 in the maintenance yard waiting on getting her bottom done and sitting on a trailer
The guy that owns the sailboat shop has two C30 trailers and they get pulled out for storage, bottom jobs and other maintenance.
They have some farm tracker looking thing and a long nylon strap that allows the trailer to get fully submerged.
It can be done...
Next time I'm up there I'll snap a couple of pictures of the C30 in the maintenance yard waiting on getting her bottom done and sitting on a trailer
On our lake a trailer is a requirement. Boats range from 18-39 ft, although watching them launch a 45' powerboat from a trailer was a treat.
You will need a deep ramp but we launch boats up to 5' draft from a trailer with a heavy duty pickup and a 30' tow strap. We've been doing this for most of the last 39 years with minimal issues.
One thing to be careful about when using the boat cradle, they are normally not braced or setup for the rigors of travel. They are only meant for static storage of the boat. Spend the time to get proper jack stands that can be welded to the trailer and provide the proper bracing. You will need 6 for the sides minimum along with 1 forward of the keel.
While the rig looks unwieldy due to its height, most of the weight is in the keel so its actually very stable driving down the road. The hull shape helps with wind so these boats travel quite well.
Have fun,
You will need a deep ramp but we launch boats up to 5' draft from a trailer with a heavy duty pickup and a 30' tow strap. We've been doing this for most of the last 39 years with minimal issues.
One thing to be careful about when using the boat cradle, they are normally not braced or setup for the rigors of travel. They are only meant for static storage of the boat. Spend the time to get proper jack stands that can be welded to the trailer and provide the proper bracing. You will need 6 for the sides minimum along with 1 forward of the keel.
While the rig looks unwieldy due to its height, most of the weight is in the keel so its actually very stable driving down the road. The hull shape helps with wind so these boats travel quite well.
Have fun,
I am using what you want to use YES
You have the ideal set up, the truck , the trailer with cradle. I also have an old 3 axle trailer, no lights or brakes but it works to haul me from Petoskey to Harbor Springs, maybe 10 miles in spring and fall. I have the travel lift, lift and load it, but in Elk Rapids they have a real long sloped ramp that the previous owner used.
GO FOR IT,
Dean
You have the ideal set up, the truck , the trailer with cradle. I also have an old 3 axle trailer, no lights or brakes but it works to haul me from Petoskey to Harbor Springs, maybe 10 miles in spring and fall. I have the travel lift, lift and load it, but in Elk Rapids they have a real long sloped ramp that the previous owner used.
GO FOR IT,
Dean
Attachments
Admiral;
I am a former but retired dealer who has trailered many boats on two and three axle trailers having launched them from many ramps one of the trailersh was hydraulic. It can be done but you will need to know if and probably will have to have brakes on all axles. It varies from state to state. the next item is the launch/retrieving area. If
it's not long enough, avoid that ramp like the plague. You will have to have an extension but using line is never good but chain only if going that route. Have blocks for every tire when chalking the tires to detach from the trailer in order to put on the extension and leave the chains attached to tow vehicle if the chalks do not hold.
As for the cradle, that is not a good idea to transport that boat only on a cradle as the stern and bow need support as well. Make sure on strapping down, one rear strap runs forward to keep the boat from sliding backwards and one at the bow going backwards to keep the boat from moving forward in addition to the ones going over and down on the trailer.
Just a few pointers to mention. I even have launched sailboats of various sizes by using a crane from a seawall and a couple of times one of which was 33 feet over a bridge with mast up.
crazy dave condon
I am a former but retired dealer who has trailered many boats on two and three axle trailers having launched them from many ramps one of the trailersh was hydraulic. It can be done but you will need to know if and probably will have to have brakes on all axles. It varies from state to state. the next item is the launch/retrieving area. If
it's not long enough, avoid that ramp like the plague. You will have to have an extension but using line is never good but chain only if going that route. Have blocks for every tire when chalking the tires to detach from the trailer in order to put on the extension and leave the chains attached to tow vehicle if the chalks do not hold.
As for the cradle, that is not a good idea to transport that boat only on a cradle as the stern and bow need support as well. Make sure on strapping down, one rear strap runs forward to keep the boat from sliding backwards and one at the bow going backwards to keep the boat from moving forward in addition to the ones going over and down on the trailer.
Just a few pointers to mention. I even have launched sailboats of various sizes by using a crane from a seawall and a couple of times one of which was 33 feet over a bridge with mast up.
crazy dave condon
Thanks for the additional info B&G and Crazy Dave. I figured that a cradle is a starting point but would not be heavy duty enough for over the road. I figured I would need more supports. I also have hauled many heavy tractors and know the importance of strapping the load down both fore and aft. The trailer I want to convert has brakes on 2 of the 3 axles. Dave thanks for the advise from someone whom has experience in this.
B&G thanks for the pics. You have one heck of a shop to put that in. As some said it does look very top heavy on a trailer however we all know the amount of weight that is down low will help to stabilize the load. The ramp at the club is steep so I hope that a tongue extension will work I and can avoid using a chain. A chain kind of is scary to me. If a crane or lift is not to costly at a marina I will use them.
Any others with advise please chime in. Thanks to all of you that have discussed this.
B&G thanks for the pics. You have one heck of a shop to put that in. As some said it does look very top heavy on a trailer however we all know the amount of weight that is down low will help to stabilize the load. The ramp at the club is steep so I hope that a tongue extension will work I and can avoid using a chain. A chain kind of is scary to me. If a crane or lift is not to costly at a marina I will use them.
Any others with advise please chime in. Thanks to all of you that have discussed this.
Cradle advice
Admiral - it would appear that you are very close to the only sailboat transport dealer in OK. I would suggest that you visit with Michael Fawcett at Redbud Bay Marina on Lake Oolagah (918) 341-5190. He has cradles, trailers and a new hydraulic trailer that would make moving your boat a snap. he might also rent you jack stands to place the boat on while doing the bottom, Buy an hour of his time and you will probably have all the answers to your questions being asked here. But if you build, build stout with large adjustable pads.
Admiral - it would appear that you are very close to the only sailboat transport dealer in OK. I would suggest that you visit with Michael Fawcett at Redbud Bay Marina on Lake Oolagah (918) 341-5190. He has cradles, trailers and a new hydraulic trailer that would make moving your boat a snap. he might also rent you jack stands to place the boat on while doing the bottom, Buy an hour of his time and you will probably have all the answers to your questions being asked here. But if you build, build stout with large adjustable pads.