Trailer - Aluminum vs Galvanized

VT Fitz

VT Fitz

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Oct 19, 2006
337
Hunter 27-3 Brownsville, VT/Mystic, CT
I am looking at purchasing an H260 that has no trailer, so I have to purchase one separately.

I assumed that you would always do galvanized over aluminum, but I just had one dealer tell me aluminum was definitely superior.

The use for the foreseeable future would be at the beginning and end of the season to bring my boat from Vermont to Long Island Sound and back again. (I'm not interested in paying someone for storage when my backyard is perfectly good enough!)

What does the collected wisdom here think? Thanks for your help.
 
Siamese

Siamese

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Aug 2, 2009
651
Catalina 315 Muskegon
I'd take an aluminum trailer over steel (galvanized), IF they cost the same. Assuming we're comparing trailers of equal build quality, of course. Aluminum's going to be lighter and easier to tow.

You're not going to tow very often, so the weight may not be an issue for you.

With either trailer, you'll have good corrosion resistance, with aluminum being the superior of the two.

So, it depends on the price difference. If you're not towing often, and the aluminum trailer costs a lot more, go with the galvanized.
 
Picflight

Picflight

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Jul 21, 2013
333
Searching for 1st sailing boat 27-28, 34-36 Channel Islands, Marina Del Rey
If you get a well built trailer which is durable for longer trips, you would essentially be making the boat package more attractive for any potential buyer in the future. That I think will be a good investment as well as the launching range it will open up for you.
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,373
-na -NA Anywhere USA
Hunter use to make their own trailers at one point but you mention the 260.

I know this boat very well and you have to be very careful due to this being a water ballast hull and mesurements are important. Hunter had Magic Tilt in Florida build them for the 260 which was designed specifically for that boat. I also had Ron Frisosky(deceased) who designed a trailer for the 260 by Road King. I used both.

It is very important to have the specific measurements of the hull. I am not sure about about the dealer network for Magic Tilt but you can call them in Florida. As for Road King, I am trying to find out the specific model. If you want to call me, send me a email via forum email with name, phone and location.

I was a dealer now retired for Hunter and know the boats well.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
in my opinion for a boat trailer, unless weight is a factor I would go with the galvanized steel everytime for the durability.

the aluminum is lighter but not as durable and more expensive to repair if necessary... the steel is much stronger and will be cheaper, and will be corrosion resistant in every enviroment much longer than the aluminum, as once the aluminum starts to corrode, it will be nearly impossible to stop.

the steel is submerged in hot galvanizing metal (a very durable zinc alloy) and is coated inside and out.

but the aluminum can be polished and be very shiny... until it gets submerged in salt water. and its more important to get the salt washed off the trailer even if you dont try to keep it polished.... the galvanized trailer will stand up to the punishment like a galvanized anchor chain does... it can last nearly forever with lots of use and very little care...
 
davidmhull

davidmhull

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Oct 21, 2014
190
Oday 22 Richmond
You really might want to consider a galvanized trailer. As others said once the AL trailer starts to go somewhere you are either into some expensive repairs (TIG welding or argon shielded MIG) and it will never be as strong as steel. Even if you pick up a dog of a steel trailer it can be fixed up like new for a lot less then what you will pay for an AL trailer. I towed my boat down from NJ on a trailer that would bite you if you got too close. I was white knuckled the whole way down. I stripped the trailer had it sand blasted and galvanized. Good as new.
 

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Gene Neill

Gene Neill

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Sep 30, 2013
3,582
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
centerline said:
in my opinion for a boat trailer, unless weight is a factor I would go with the galvanized steel everytime for the durability.

the aluminum is lighter but not as durable and more expensive to repair if necessary... the steel is much stronger and will be cheaper, and will be corrosion resistant in every enviroment much longer than the aluminum, as once the aluminum starts to corrode, it will be nearly impossible to stop.

the steel is submerged in hot galvanizing metal (a very durable zinc alloy) and is coated inside and out.

but the aluminum can be polished and be very shiny... until it gets submerged in salt water. and its more important to get the salt washed off the trailer even if you dont try to keep it polished.... the galvanized trailer will stand up to the punishment like a galvanized anchor chain does... it can last nearly forever with lots of use and very little care...
Click to expand

Having just had a galvanized trailer custom built, that is certainly good to hear. I thought the whole time that ALUMINUM was the way to go, and my galvanized trailer was a compromise which would not last as long as aluminum.

Dos this mean I can stop obsessing about rinsing every molecule of salt off it immediately after every sail?? :D
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Gene Neill said:
Dos this mean I can stop obsessing about rinsing every molecule of salt off it immediately after every sail?? :D
Click to expand
Obsession is good. I think. No wait. Maybe not. Should you obsess or not obsess? Oh crap. What should he do? What should he do? I got it. Obsess. No. Don't obsess. You'll ruin your life. No wait. You'll keep your trailer looking good and functioning properly longer. But you'll ruin your life by obsessing. Or so I've been told. Oh crap!
 
S

slooop

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Jan 29, 2015
16
Hunter 34 Panama City, FL
Recommend the galv steel. I have a 10 year old alum trailer. It corroded thru where steel touched it. There was plastic originally sandwiched between the alum and steel but over the years it apparently wore through and the galvanic action between the two metals caused significant damage. So go with the all galv steel.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Crazy Dave Condon said:
always good to wash off after going into salt/brackish water. It is an investment worth keeping in shape
Click to expand
what Crazy Dave said is just good advice, no matter what the object is, or what its made out of...
but if you forget a few times, the galvanized steel will be much more forgiving than the aluminum.
and if the galv gets eroded/sanded off from being towed behind your vehicle (which is unlikely)it can always be disassembled and re-dipped if you ever think it needs it....

aluminum is only a good choice on very large trailers when weight is a factor, or when you want to keep a polished trailer under your showboat..
 
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