We've just finished replacing bunks etc on our trailer for a WING keel Hunter 23. I'm wondering what proportion of boat weight should be resting on the keel and what amount should the hull support on the bunks?
Hunter 23 Trailer weight and balance
- Thread starter fleetswell
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My bunks were too high when I bought my boat. The boat is not cored- it will flex until the weight it on the keel anyway. This was manifested in not being able to slide the hatch open with the boat on the trailer. I would say 5% to 10% of the weight belongs on the bunks, not much more than that.
I don't know about anyone else, but since we're talking about weight, I moved my axle back. The tounge weight seemed far too low.
I don't know about anyone else, but since we're talking about weight, I moved my axle back. The tounge weight seemed far too low.
Interesting you mentioned the hatch. This is a new boat for us and it was on the trailer already when we picked it up. The hatch wouldn't open very easily for us either. after replacing the bunks and then allowing the boat to settle back with more weight on the keel, the hatch works fine.... go figure
Agreed here too that tongue weight seems way too low. And when you try to board the boat while off the hitch......fun too. Wonder how hard it was to move the axle back, and how far?
Also, does anyone have a good design for a guide for wing keel on trailer to make loading easier and correct everytime??
Also, does anyone have a good design for a guide for wing keel on trailer to make loading easier and correct everytime??
Slowmotion, I fought the low tongue weight problem for years. It was so low I could pick the tongue up with one hand. As you might guess, this created problems towing anytime we exceeded around 45 mph. We nearly lost control when it started swaying at 55mph and yanked our suburban (6000lbs) part-way into the oncoming lane. A few months later we saw a travel trailer sway and pull its tow vehicle into a 180* skid. Fortunatly no one was hurt. With that in mind we cheated and put tow stabilizer bars from a travel trailer on our boat trailer. They make it ride like its on rails at all speeds. But I recently went an extra step and tie heavy stuff on the front of the trailer when pulling it.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Hey,
The axle and springs on my trailer were a seperate sub-frame U-bolted to the trailer frame with 4 square u bolts. It was a simple matter to mark the current position, loosen the 4 bolts, slide each side back the same exact distance (important!) , and re-tighten the u-bolts.
I don't remember how far back I went, but the tounge weight is maybe 300 lbs?
The axle and springs on my trailer were a seperate sub-frame U-bolted to the trailer frame with 4 square u bolts. It was a simple matter to mark the current position, loosen the 4 bolts, slide each side back the same exact distance (important!) , and re-tighten the u-bolts.
I don't remember how far back I went, but the tounge weight is maybe 300 lbs?
Hey Slowmotion, I should have spoken up sooner, I came up with an idea that works to center my winged keel when I pull my h23. Basically, its simply a length of 2x6 bolted onto each bunks and extending down to the board supporting the keel, leaving enough room between them for the width of the keel plus a couple of inches. It doesn't keep the boat centered while its still floating and waiting for you to pull the trailer out - we once had the keel settle on the right bunk on a very steep ramp. What it does is make the keel skid down it as the trailer rises under the boat on the way up the ramp, forcing the keel to the center. Now days, the most we're off center is about 1"
Its not very elegant looking, but I think its an elegant and inexpensive solution to the problem.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Its not very elegant looking, but I think its an elegant and inexpensive solution to the problem.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Trailers normally have about 10 percent tongue weight. This is easy to determine by weighing the boat on a commercial scale.
Other stuff on towing at this link: http://h260.com/travel/travel.html
Other stuff on towing at this link: http://h260.com/travel/travel.html
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