Trailer Advice

[workin2hard]

i'm trying to buy a trailer for my 27' boat (and i'm as green as they come). i've gotten a bunch of quotes since i can't find a used one Anywhere!

given that the boat has a 27" draft, why do i need a specially built "sailboat trailer"? okay the 6 bunks and pads thing sounds great for hull work...but do i Really Have to Have that with the shoal keel of only 27"?

my boat is a bayliner buccaneer (yes i know, i know...no one likes em, but i Wanted a floating Camper ) now, the boat is in mexico ny and i'm in the poconos...does anyone, anywhere, rent trailers for sailboats?

 

[Eric M]

If you are interested in purchasing a used trailer, keep looking. Post a wanted ad on your local Craigslist. I saw a used J/24 trailer on our local Craigslist in the past 2 weeks. They are out there.
If you just need the boat moved 1 time consider hiring a professional boat mover. Ask around at marinas on both ends for recommendations. They are not cheap, but could likely cost less than purchasing a new trailer.
I am not familar with the Bayliner Buccaneer, but almost all sailboats with a keel are designed to be able to be stored on the hard on the keel with 3 or more jack stands on each side to maintain balance. So, no you don't have to have a custom "sailboat trailer".

 

[caguy]

What size is your boat?

 

[workin2hard]

What size is your boat?

oh boy, that was dumb of me! it's 27'. sry.

 

[workin2hard]

i'm going to prove my 'green-ness' now. what does the term "on the hard" mean? i do know that a keel should be able to support up to 95% of the weight of the boat, only because i've been studying like crazy. but...still "on the hard" ?

 

[caguy]

I noticed that you are in PA. There is a guy in Butler PA who built the trailer for the boat I bought on EBAY. He seems to be very reasonable you might want to give him a call.
I have also watched a fellow remove a 32 footer at the launch ramp using a flat bed trailer and a utility truck. He need another truck to assist but it came out quite nicely.
He bascially rested the shoal keel on the bed and propped up the sides with timbers. Strapped the whole thing down with comalongs and pulled it out.
I will try and find pictures of that tonight. It was pretty impressive.

 

[workin2hard]

trailer builder in butler pa

yes, i'd like to contact your trailer builder. most of the places i've found are 8+ hours away in each direction. i also kind of like the idea (initially) of bringing her home on a flatbed and am pondering that idea as well. i'd like to have the time to really wait to buy the right one, but i'd also like to get started working on this one.

 

[caguy]

He is at Viking Trailers
Gregg Whittenberger
724-789-9194 (ph)
724-789-7855 (fx)
839 Evans City Road, Rt. 68
Renfrew, PA 16053

Here is a picture of the boat and trailer. If you go there let me know. I would appreciate some current and more detailed picts of the boat. Its like adopting a kid from overseas, I haven't seen the boat in person but I still feel like she's my baby. Give her a hug for me.

 

[dscribner]

Workin2Hard!

We be mates!

I bought a 25 foot Lancer last year. No trailer, no truck to haul it with, no sailing experience. But . . . we considered everything before we handed over the check! I spent a coupel of weeks looking for a dual axle trailer and found one that was set up for a power boat. A weekend with some steel tube and $100 in drill bits and I had raise the roller assemblies to meet the hull. I then bolted some aluminum planks over the frame and dropped the boat on. Once home, I jacked the boat and removed the aluminum plank to add a roller assebly for the keel. I also had to replace the coupler and all the brake system. Total out-of-pocket was about $1500. The trailer works great, looks OK and launches my 25 footer in shallow water. What more can one ask? Keep in mind, I haven't got a clue about what I'm doing. Common sense and a stick welder are my closest allies.

This whole thing started when I asked my 16 year old what he's like to do with his old man. "I'd like to learn how to sail." So a month or two of perusing Craigslist and I finally grew enough of a spine to break the news to the Mrs. I'm pretty sure the body snatchers were here because they took my wife and left somebody the agreed with me in her place. So, December of 2008, we bought Phoenix and brought her home. It's been a learning experience ever since. And for the casual reader that may think something like "dangerous idiot!", my son and I took classes at the local college in sailing and seamanship before we ever sheeted the mains'l.

Fair winds!

Don

Biddeford Maine

 

[dscribner]

This photo should have posted with the previous one. Note the raised roller assemblies and the strategic use of textured paint!

 

[workin2hard]

yep, pretty outside the box. we may be mates after all. she's not in the water now and the yard she's in does have the lift to get her on a trailer. i'm going to come up with some creative way to get her home. sailing lessons this summer, but i wanna work on her in the meantime.

 

[workin2hard]

oh, and those body snatchers? i think they dropped the disagreeable Mrs. into the body of my Mr. he thinks i'm a little insane...but it's okay really...i get away with a lot more this way!

 

[caguy]

yes, i'd like to contact your trailer builder. most of the places i've found are 8+ hours away in each direction. i also kind of like the idea (initially) of bringing her home on a flatbed and am pondering that idea as well. i'd like to have the time to really wait to buy the right one, but i'd also like to get started working on this one.

Here's a link to an ad he took out on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...em=&_trkparms=clkid=8501368757068649588#v4-24