Hi All! Can anyone tell me why it's so difficult to find a used trailer? I have a Mac 21 that I bought without a trailer (too damaged) and thought it'd be a snap to find a replacement. WRONG! I can rerig one for a 22ft boat, but rather have the one made for my 21! Anybody know of a used trailer place in the PA/MD/NJ coastal area? Thanks! Linda, out of Havre de Grace, MD
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MArk
Little Mac Trailer
Hi Linda, I'm not sure what the Swing-Keel (SK) on the Mac 21 looks like but if it's like the Venture 17 I had 2 decades ago, your trailer will need a padded vee-shaped support to rest that heavy SK on while going down the highway. With the 17, I needed to loosen the SK cable so the SK weight (300#) was totally on the trailer and not on the winch support in the cockpit. The 2 bunk boards support the hull and the SK rest supports the SK. Keep the boat low on the trailer so it's easier to launch and retreive. See the "related link" for some pictures. (or if the *!@&%>~ link doesn't work then go to...) http://www.members.accessus.net/~hogies/mac/ Happy sails, MArk
Hi Linda, I'm not sure what the Swing-Keel (SK) on the Mac 21 looks like but if it's like the Venture 17 I had 2 decades ago, your trailer will need a padded vee-shaped support to rest that heavy SK on while going down the highway. With the 17, I needed to loosen the SK cable so the SK weight (300#) was totally on the trailer and not on the winch support in the cockpit. The 2 bunk boards support the hull and the SK rest supports the SK. Keep the boat low on the trailer so it's easier to launch and retreive. See the "related link" for some pictures. (or if the *!@&%>~ link doesn't work then go to...) http://www.members.accessus.net/~hogies/mac/ Happy sails, MArk
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Dennis
Trailer
When I got my Venture 222, I had to get a trailer. I bought a used regular boat trailer and all I had to do was adjust the bunks to support the hull and I adjusted the rubber rollers to support the keel. I had to kick the axle back, for proper weight distribution, but as everything is adjustable on my trailer, it was pretty easy. Just a matter of rearranging some bolts! It works great. I of course made sure the trailer was made to support the boats weight! With a swing keel, adapting the fit isnt hard. Just make sure you get one that has everything adjustable on it!
When I got my Venture 222, I had to get a trailer. I bought a used regular boat trailer and all I had to do was adjust the bunks to support the hull and I adjusted the rubber rollers to support the keel. I had to kick the axle back, for proper weight distribution, but as everything is adjustable on my trailer, it was pretty easy. Just a matter of rearranging some bolts! It works great. I of course made sure the trailer was made to support the boats weight! With a swing keel, adapting the fit isnt hard. Just make sure you get one that has everything adjustable on it!
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Carl Lebo
Rust
Unless they were made of stainless steel trailers can't last as long as the boats. If you look on some of the classified pages in the "wanted section" you'd see alot of people in your same situation. Fortunately I saw this before I bought and made sure I got a trailer with my boat. Heck a new one cost almost as much as my boat! Good luck!
Unless they were made of stainless steel trailers can't last as long as the boats. If you look on some of the classified pages in the "wanted section" you'd see alot of people in your same situation. Fortunately I saw this before I bought and made sure I got a trailer with my boat. Heck a new one cost almost as much as my boat! Good luck!
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Geof Tillotson
Persistance and creativity
Are the keys to success! Local wantads, bulletin boards at local marinas, calling around to dealers and keeping an eye out in the "waterside" community where you sail or travel can pay off. Good Luck!!
Are the keys to success! Local wantads, bulletin boards at local marinas, calling around to dealers and keeping an eye out in the "waterside" community where you sail or travel can pay off. Good Luck!!
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Linda Hoffecker
Guess Where I Bought The Boat, Carl!
Carl, thanks for your sympathetic words and I bought the boat in Mayo, at GBS! Linda
Carl, thanks for your sympathetic words and I bought the boat in Mayo, at GBS! Linda
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Linda Hoffecker
Thanks Geof, Will Do.
Geof, Been working on that aspect. Thanks for your encouragement! Linda--Havre de Grace, MD
Geof, Been working on that aspect. Thanks for your encouragement! Linda--Havre de Grace, MD
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Linda Hoffecker
Oh, Dennis, What Faith You Have in Me!
Dennis, in my younger years, I'd have tackled that job, but now that I've turned into a 66 yr old woman, it is not on my agenda Sigh.....however, it has been on my mind. Thanks! Linda
Dennis, in my younger years, I'd have tackled that job, but now that I've turned into a 66 yr old woman, it is not on my agenda Sigh.....however, it has been on my mind. Thanks! Linda
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Dennis
A few adjustments!
A few adjustments here, a few adjustments there! No friends or relatives to take a little advantage of? Hire the boy down the road! I am sure someone out there would help!
A few adjustments here, a few adjustments there! No friends or relatives to take a little advantage of? Hire the boy down the road! I am sure someone out there would help!
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Jim Hughes
trailer
Linda,even if you found a trailer for a 21ft. boat, what's your chance of one that doen't need wheel bearings or clean and pack them with new grease. The bunks are wood. I had to replace mine and recarpet them.I made them 1ft. longer for better support.Wood breaks or rots with age.Most people load everything in the front of the boat for more tongue weight,otherwise they don't trailer as well.You've got use of a trailer for a 22ft.The bunks might already be longer( better support ) and the boat might be forward more on the trailer,more tougue wt.Now you can load things in the cockpit( outboard, ice chest, rudder ) and still have enough tongue wt. I have a Mac V-21 and the boat hangs 3ft. off the back of the trailer, and the trailer was made for the boat.I think anything you get, might need some work, if you want to be safe. The hulls on these boats are thin and if they don't have enough support( bunks are the only support) they will have a dent in the fiberglass. Mine was about 15 in.round. That's why I made my new bunks 1ft. longer.Boats and trailers just need things done to keep them in good condition,just like cars and most other things we have.I wish you luck in your search. Jim
Linda,even if you found a trailer for a 21ft. boat, what's your chance of one that doen't need wheel bearings or clean and pack them with new grease. The bunks are wood. I had to replace mine and recarpet them.I made them 1ft. longer for better support.Wood breaks or rots with age.Most people load everything in the front of the boat for more tongue weight,otherwise they don't trailer as well.You've got use of a trailer for a 22ft.The bunks might already be longer( better support ) and the boat might be forward more on the trailer,more tougue wt.Now you can load things in the cockpit( outboard, ice chest, rudder ) and still have enough tongue wt. I have a Mac V-21 and the boat hangs 3ft. off the back of the trailer, and the trailer was made for the boat.I think anything you get, might need some work, if you want to be safe. The hulls on these boats are thin and if they don't have enough support( bunks are the only support) they will have a dent in the fiberglass. Mine was about 15 in.round. That's why I made my new bunks 1ft. longer.Boats and trailers just need things done to keep them in good condition,just like cars and most other things we have.I wish you luck in your search. Jim
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Linda Hoffecker
Thanks, Jim
Re: Finding a Trailer to rerig for Mac 21 Thanks Jim, for your info. The 22ft trlr I have use of belongs to another person who bought my previous boat, a 22 ft Mac. Therefore, it is not mine to do over. I had already redone the bunks, bearings, harness, painted it, etc. when it was mine. There is a certain amt. i can do myself, but I need the proper frame to get started. Will keep searching.
Re: Finding a Trailer to rerig for Mac 21 Thanks Jim, for your info. The 22ft trlr I have use of belongs to another person who bought my previous boat, a 22 ft Mac. Therefore, it is not mine to do over. I had already redone the bunks, bearings, harness, painted it, etc. when it was mine. There is a certain amt. i can do myself, but I need the proper frame to get started. Will keep searching.
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