Hello, I've have a nice 1986. A couple of things I've tried to work out with it, though. First, it has a Ken's Welding trailer which appears to be the original. I've noticed that the tongue weight is very light even when the boat is pulled up on the trailer completely. Where the weight on the trailer hitch should be about 250 lbs or so, it's more like 50 or so. When I hit a bump there are moments where the hitch would like to come off. I'm careful to make sure it's not my gear that is throwing off the loading. This seems like a somewhat unsafe approach to towing. I'm curious if other owners have noticed the same thing, and if so has anyone done something about it (short of a new trailer) - or this normal and I just shouldn't worry about It? I'm also curious about stepping the mast. It's a bit of work on this model. I'm curious if anyone has gotten creative with a stable way to raise the mast? Any feedback is appreciated.
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Jim Maroldo
H23 info
Glenn, you can retrieve a good bit of info from this forum's archives. A few contributors have devised simple methods for stepping the H23 mast with just one helper. As for the trailer issue, tongue weight should be good with the Ken's trailer if you remove the rudder and the engine from the transom. Have you tried this approach? Jim Maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
Glenn, you can retrieve a good bit of info from this forum's archives. A few contributors have devised simple methods for stepping the H23 mast with just one helper. As for the trailer issue, tongue weight should be good with the Ken's trailer if you remove the rudder and the engine from the transom. Have you tried this approach? Jim Maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
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Mike Kenny
Is your tongue retracted?
The tongue on the KWS trailer is most likely extendable for easy launching. Do you have it fully retracted for towing?
The tongue on the KWS trailer is most likely extendable for easy launching. Do you have it fully retracted for towing?
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Glenn Cooper
Thanks for the trailering suggestions
Jim and Mike - thanks for your suggestions. The light tongue weight is with the outboard removed (in the back of my truck) and the rudder in the cabin. I tend to be pretty conservative when it comes to vehicles and trailers and such, so it's possible I'm a bit too worried on this one. I may look at putting the outboard up front in the boat when I'm trailering. That would be a help. RE: Mast stepping - after I posted the original quesitons I discovered the archive files (can you tell it's my first time using the forum), and yea, there is ton's of info there. I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one who scratched their head over how do step the mast better. Thanks again. Glenn
Jim and Mike - thanks for your suggestions. The light tongue weight is with the outboard removed (in the back of my truck) and the rudder in the cabin. I tend to be pretty conservative when it comes to vehicles and trailers and such, so it's possible I'm a bit too worried on this one. I may look at putting the outboard up front in the boat when I'm trailering. That would be a help. RE: Mast stepping - after I posted the original quesitons I discovered the archive files (can you tell it's my first time using the forum), and yea, there is ton's of info there. I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one who scratched their head over how do step the mast better. Thanks again. Glenn
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Crazy Dave Condon
Too light will cause loss of control
Glenn; If you are light on the tongue, traveling at fast speeds will cause the trailer to sway and you will loose your boat, trailer and possibly the car. One reason is the center of gravity for the Hunter 23 is very high. If it did start to sway and there are no brakes on the trailer, I had to excellerate to pull the boat out and then brake slowly. Here is what you do, move the winch stand forward by loosening the u bolts that are holding it in place in two increments. You are correct that you need about 250 pounds tongue weith is recommended. If you have done this and cannot go forward any further, then slide the axle back on the trailer. IF the axlle is welded onto the frame, then you need to take the trailer to a frame or trailer shop as you will not be able to do this by yourself in most cases unless you are a welder and know what you are doing. That is it in a nutshell. Keep me posted. Crazy dave condon
Glenn; If you are light on the tongue, traveling at fast speeds will cause the trailer to sway and you will loose your boat, trailer and possibly the car. One reason is the center of gravity for the Hunter 23 is very high. If it did start to sway and there are no brakes on the trailer, I had to excellerate to pull the boat out and then brake slowly. Here is what you do, move the winch stand forward by loosening the u bolts that are holding it in place in two increments. You are correct that you need about 250 pounds tongue weith is recommended. If you have done this and cannot go forward any further, then slide the axle back on the trailer. IF the axlle is welded onto the frame, then you need to take the trailer to a frame or trailer shop as you will not be able to do this by yourself in most cases unless you are a welder and know what you are doing. That is it in a nutshell. Keep me posted. Crazy dave condon
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Glenn Cooper
Dave, your right!
Dave, Thanks for your thoughts. From the archives I've gotten hints of a lot of people trailering their h23's with a light tongue weight (based on various suggestions about putting the outboard up front and such). I suspect that my safety concerns just might be valid. I've toyed with both of your suggestions, as well as a third of having the angle of this winch stand modified so that I use the same mounting location on the trailer, but effectively land the boat about six to nine inches more forward. The axle is attached via welded mounts, but I think I've seen some "bolt on" attachment points. I might be able to abandon the welded mounts and just put a new axle further back. I' haven't done the math, but I suspect that I only need to move either the boat forward or the axle back by something like nine inches to get where I want to be. Personally, I suspect this trailer was marginally designed for this boat. Mine doesn't have brakes, and that doesn't make me comfortable either. Thanks again for your feedback. Glenn
Dave, Thanks for your thoughts. From the archives I've gotten hints of a lot of people trailering their h23's with a light tongue weight (based on various suggestions about putting the outboard up front and such). I suspect that my safety concerns just might be valid. I've toyed with both of your suggestions, as well as a third of having the angle of this winch stand modified so that I use the same mounting location on the trailer, but effectively land the boat about six to nine inches more forward. The axle is attached via welded mounts, but I think I've seen some "bolt on" attachment points. I might be able to abandon the welded mounts and just put a new axle further back. I' haven't done the math, but I suspect that I only need to move either the boat forward or the axle back by something like nine inches to get where I want to be. Personally, I suspect this trailer was marginally designed for this boat. Mine doesn't have brakes, and that doesn't make me comfortable either. Thanks again for your feedback. Glenn
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Jim Maroldo
H23 tongue weight
There you go Glenn. Crazy Dave does it again! I never thought about that one either... thanks Dave! Jim Maroldo
There you go Glenn. Crazy Dave does it again! I never thought about that one either... thanks Dave! Jim Maroldo
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Peter
Check the cockpit locker
In addition to moving the rudder and outboard forward in the boat, see if there's anything in your cockpit locker that you can do without. A little will go a long way because it's so far back on the trailer. Peter h23 "Raven"
In addition to moving the rudder and outboard forward in the boat, see if there's anything in your cockpit locker that you can do without. A little will go a long way because it's so far back on the trailer. Peter h23 "Raven"
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steve b
this site is great!
I have a 86' H23 too...i took crazy daves advice and moved the boat about 8" forward on the trailer (tiltrite)...went from about 75 to 250 pounds of tongue weight, the trailer handles much better...also...when taking the boat out of puget sound this year i paid the $100 to have the boat hauled on a lift, placed on my trailer and the mast lowered by crane...worth every cent just in stress reduction let alone not dipping the trailer and truck in the salt... ...thanx
I have a 86' H23 too...i took crazy daves advice and moved the boat about 8" forward on the trailer (tiltrite)...went from about 75 to 250 pounds of tongue weight, the trailer handles much better...also...when taking the boat out of puget sound this year i paid the $100 to have the boat hauled on a lift, placed on my trailer and the mast lowered by crane...worth every cent just in stress reduction let alone not dipping the trailer and truck in the salt... ...thanx
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