Help with Trailer Refurb

[ChattOday]

I was given my boat and trailer. Basically he didn't have time for the boat, didn't want to pay slip fee's and I own property with my own dock.

The boat was solid, seaworthy but needed love. Lots of little things. Leaking everywhere, wood rot, that sort of thing.

After refurbishing the boat, we want to drive her down to the coast and enjoy some actual sailing.


The trailer, well... I trust it the 1/2 mile to the ramp and not much further. I replaced the hubs with new ones but the trailer is rusty. Most of it is just surface, but I need help replacing the support pylons.

My trailer is a roller variant. 4 posts with rollers, the theory being you can adjust one at a time and even paint the boat by lowering 1 at a time while the other 3 keep in place with the bulk of support under the keel which is solid with thick rubber to cushion.

Now, the pylons do not have drain ports at the bottoms, so the water that gets in from loading/unloading stays and has seriously rusted out the pylons.

Question: They attach with UBOLTS to the frame, so where can I get pylons with the rollers? Anyone know of a place?

 

[Dean_Wilson]

post a pic?

 

[hewebb]

I would be careful of the axels. One of mine rusted out from the inside and broke off between the spring and wheel. The trailer had been in salt water previously.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Get a trailer repair place to do an estimate. Estimates are free and they give you an idea of what you are dealing with. Then consider the depth of what you are paying. Is it cheaper to fix or replace? Do your homework.

There is no such thing as a free boat!

 

[ChattOday]

Actually, trailer has never seen salt water. The pylons are so bad because whomever designed it failed to include a drain hole in the bottom, so freshwater basically sat in them for years.

The actual trailer is in good shape. The hubs where replaced because my cousin had no idea you have to grease them and over time all of the grease had washwd out and then the bearings ate themselves apart.

There is no axle, only axle ports welded to frame that attach to the hubs. The ports and weld connections look fine and survived a sledge test. With new, stronger hubs that have a grease port, I don't think I will have a problem at that end.

I have decided to go bunks instead if rollers. Nice long-term to the hull and easier to build up in the trailer. Sure, not as easy to paint on but I can paint the underhull other ways.

The bunk trailer looks norm for every other sailboat trailer I see and it makes sense. Weight bearing is evenly distributed all along the hull and keel vs. At just 4 hull locations.

This also saves me from trying to find someone to make me pylons, which I wasnt. There are many different trailer sites that sell everything I need. Bunks, the rafters for them and the carpeting for them to prevent hull scratching.

A new sailboat trailer is several thousands dollars. No thank you.
It seems to make more sense to return this one and have some insurance from boatusa just in case.

 

[Tom G P-21]

For trailer parts these have been the two that seem to have the best selection

http://www.easternmarine.com/

http://www.etrailer.com/

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If you want more detailed suggestions, please post several picutres of the trailer. The old saying a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[ChattOday]

Will do. Grab some tomorrow.