How far have you trailered a Hunter 23?

[Jim Schaff]

To Dick DesMoines

Dick, I believe your question was directed to me. My tow vehicle is a 1997 Chevy utility van with extended wheel base and a 454 engine. My boat was named "Morning Glory" and I put a sign on the sides of my van that says "Morning Glory's Horse." About all I use the van for is pulling my boat. When I wrecked my boat in Mexico, the only thing that happened to the van was it got slung around so it was facing the direction we came from and the back doors got bunged up a little. The trailer was destroyed. I was amazed at the boat though, it had some scratches, but after breaking loose from the trailer and rolling 360, the hardware on the top rear was bent over but there was only one little crack on the mid-port side just below the rub rail and the head/cabin bulkhead was separated from the port bulkhead. The mast was still tied on the boat and didn't look like it was damaged at all. The crutch snapped off but where the crutch rests on the bottom of the transom was OK. It gave me enough confidence in the strength of the H26 to go out and get another one!Jim Schaffs/v Savannah

 

[Joel]

Bearing Maintenance and Axle Wear

I have 2 questions for y'all.1.) Is there any web site or book available that shows how to repack the bearings? I need to do this soon but haven't found any place that shows or talks about how to do it. (Seems like most of boating is still an "apprentice" type thing.)2.) Any warning signs for when an axle should be replaced? I have two boats which primarily sit on a trailer only during winter storage. The most I ever trailer them is about 5 miles from the marina to home. The main parts of the trailer still look very good but the axles on the power boat trailer are starting to show some signs of rust. The H23 trailer axles still look good.

 

[Kevin Keen]

Reply to Joel

Joel:1. The AAA/CAA car care manual had the complete set of instructions for unpacking, inspecting, and repacking wheel bearings for a variety of manufacturers: FORD, GM, etc. Any vehicle maintenance textbook from the library will probably provide the information you need.2. The warning signs for repacking are leaky seals while sitting and hot hubs after trailering. I always start trailering by driving about 1 mile then stopping to check wheel hubs, tires, braker drums, and then a general inspection of the trailer. The lighting circuit check is done before hitting the road.3. Check to see if the rust is just surface discoloration. If it is penetrating, time to get the welding torch, or arc, out and cut and replace.Hope this helps, Kevin.

 

[TREVOR CUELL]

6600KMS

I HAVE TRAILERED MY 260 6600 KMS ROUND TRIPFROM MELBOURNE TO THE WHITSUNDAYS7 DAYS ON THE ROADA LONG TRIPTREVOR CUELLROCK LOBSTER

 

[Dave Crowley]

Thanks everyone!

Thanks to everyone for their input -- sorry I dragged this thread into a detailed discussion on trailering! Dave Crowley