Trailer for a 11,000 lb sailboat

[Ctskip]

Ive got a 31 ft, 11,000 lb, 12' wide, 4 ft draft sailboat. I am wanting to do some work her, on land. Maybe even haul her on down the road. I was told she needed a triple axle with brake setup for hauling. I was wondering if this would be on a ball or a fifth wheel? I don't necessarily "have" to haul her down the road, but I figured as long as I'm needing a trailer. I might as well get one that will haul her also. Any ideas or suggestions? Where I'm at now, there is nothing but a ramp and setup for stepping masts. I also think the same is availiable where I'm going. Any help? Suggestions? Will a small (single/double axle) trailer hold her, say for 6 months while I work on her? Or should I spring for the bigger triple axle so I can do both(which might never happen)? Thanks Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[sailme2]

Answer your question with questions of my own.....

First off....what do you have to haul with if you do get a trailer? If your boat is 22k#s figure a triple axle trailer will add another 6 - 8k# +/- to your load, plus whatever you leave in the boat. If you're ramp launching/hauling you'll need a pretty impressive tow vehicle. If you have the vehicle to do the job, a fifth wheel or gooseneck set up will give you the best towing capabilities on the road, but may be a problem at a ramp.You didn't say what type of cradle you have now...wood, steel, etc. If you have a steel cradle you should be able to modify it as needed and build it into your trailer configuration.I know from experience that being able to get the boat home for the winter allows you to get a lot more done on the round to it list, which should leave more free time in the sailing season. I know that if you keep your boat a ways from home, you can take every tool in your shop but one to go work on the boat, and....the one you didn't take is the first one you'll need....guaranteed...

 

[Ctskip]

sailme2 , I was mistaken about her weight

Sailme2, I was wrong about her weight. It's like 11,500 lbs and not 22,000 lbs. Sorry for the wrong information. I was changing from tons into lbs and got it screwed up, once I read your post, I realized it. Sorry for the confusion.  You are most correct about having every tool but the one you need. It always seems that once either you go up the mast or lie down in the bilge is a contorted manner you find you dont have the one tool you need. Isn't that Murphy's law?  Thanks for posting . You woke me up .  Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[OldCat]

22,000 Pounds???

Ctskip - is the 22k lbs a typo? Maybe 12k lbs?At 22k lbs + trailer, you will need an F550 or more to pull it and a monster trailer. 12k + trailer is a much more reasonable load, can do with an F350.Either way, I would not go down the road with too little trailer, it is a very serious load. You will need permits to haul it, with that you may be more at risk of being stopped and weighed. If the load is over the GVW ratings of truck and trailer, you have the risk of a pricey ticket. At over 26k lbs for truck and trailer combined, you will need a CDL, a regular driver's license isn't valid in most states past that weight limit.What kind of boat is it?OC

 

[OldCat]

Already Corrected

I guess you posted and corrected your weight while I was writing. At 11.5k lbs you have a much more reasonable load. You will still need brakes, enough axle strength and a HD truck, preferrably with dual rear wheels. I'll post a link, a 33' Bennie on a trailer. OC

 

[Dean5735]

I have the set up

I have a Catalina 30 with fin keel 5'6" draft, 12,000lbs. I bought an old equipment trailer with 3 mobile home axles under it and a ring hitch (for pintle type hitch) I paid $800.00 for it with no brakes or lights. I mounted my cradle to it and reinforced the cradle alittle and it works great. I can pull it with a 3/4 ton truck about 12 miles from marina to my home for indoor storage. You can use magnetic lighs, brakes would be a great help too but we are real slow and careful. I can NOT get plates for it because you do need brakes and lights on anything over 2500 GVW trailer. We sneak it. The marina lifts it in and out of the cradle for me. I have used a wrecker service as they have the lights and insurance, and bigger truck (and bill).Where there is a will, ther is a way!! Good luck Dean

 

[Ctskip]

Thanks guys

OC, I cant open the link you gave me. I'll keep looking to. Thanks.  Dean, sounds like you and I are on the same wave lenght. I'm just mainly looking for something to launch/retrieve and store on land while I work on her. I was wondering about a small trailer for this. As for moving from town to town. I know that requires a permit and hassle, which I would just as soon avoid. Hopefully, I'll never have to move her again. I would like to be able to pull her out when ever I want. Now, I cant take her out of the water with out borrowing someones trailer, and then use their trailer for who knows how long. You have to know, the day I use their trailer, they will "need" it. Hopefullly I'll get some trailer specialist here online, who knows all about weight and axles and tires and such. I mainly just need to launch ,retrieve and allow me to do some glass work and paint. Once on land, I can get stands to help hold her up. Thanks Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[soling42]

Serious truck and trailor w/brakes

Your rig can be pulled safely with a major truck F350+ to get it up the ramp and to handle the tongue weight. Even if you have a crane that steps the rig and lifts the boat on the trailer you still don't want to fry the truck/tranny getting it home.Brakes on the trailer should be a must and fairly easy to do, and lights even easier. Then you've got a decent rig if it's ever needed again. Dean is right on with triple axles, new properly rated tires and your cradle fixed to a trailer frame. Your cradle better be up to a boat wallowing around on it for the ride home. A hot spot can screw your hull up pretty quick. Hauling width is something else but maybe OK laws are a little more lenient. Down here without a permit I couldn't make it around the corner before the law would be on me. Don't forget to figure the total height sitting on the trailer, it adds up quick. The major upside is that when you get it home just block up the trailer and you've got your own personal boatyard.If it doesn't add up maybe A company that pulls mobile homes might have access to the whole enchilada + your cradle and move it a short distance for a reasonable fee. I'm guessing it'll need a lowboy trailer of some sort. A lowboy to move a track hoe will run a few hundred bucks for a short quick pull but you'd need a crane on both ends of the run$$$$ for your boat and cradle. New trailer for my 4500lb 26' is $6k, yours would be a custom gooseneck and easily $10k + a major pull vehicle. I built mine for $1500 from something I modified to fit perfectly and use our suburban. We pull about half that amount on a regular basis so scaling up for a short intermittent run will be a challenge but can be done.Good luck and be safeMichael

 

[Big Windy]

Heavy

For that much weight, you'll need at least a dually with a diesel engine. A gas engine dually will not give you enough GCWR (combined weight of truck and trailer/load). It will also require a 5th wheel hitch as that much weight, plus the weight of the trailer will exceed most pull behind hitch ratings. A dual axle trailer will be okay if it is rated for that much weight. You'll also need a permit for that wide a load. I pull a 14,000 5th wheel with a diesel dually and it does fine.

 

[GuyT]

You cant launch from the trailer!

You will need a yard that has a lift and it will need to be placed from the lift into the cradle.You will have height problems with a boat that size if you plan to take a cradle and put it on a flat bed. You will need a Low Boy if you use a cradle.Check your route from the marina to your house and look for clearance heights. Most times you only have 13-1/2 feet. If you go with a flat bed, you may have to take off the stanchions and life lines to get under most overpasses.I have seen sailboat trailers go for 6K new at that size. Maybe a good investment since you will save storage fees at the yard and it gets you into other waters if you want.

 

[Ross]

Ctskip, If you don't have very far

to move the boat. Just hire the move by a commericial hauler 7 years ago my Islander was moved 17 miles by a commercial hauler and set on timber blocking for about 600 dollars. He had a trailer that is purpose built for hauling keel boats and can accomadate large power boats. It has hydralic pads all over it.

 

[maccauley123]

Commercial Hauler

I agree with Ross, just hire a commercial hauler to do it for you. Their rig with the hydraulic pads is all set for this.For the past 2 years I stored my boat at a yard over an hour from my house and got a fraction of what I wanted to done on it.This year I brought it to a yard about 20 miles from my house. They will take the mast on and off and store inside for the winter. That is OK as I don't have much to do on the mast anyway. They will inspect rigging and wiring for me too.I hired a commercial hauler who will back into the water on a ramp and just float my boat onto the trailer and truck her home. I have the stands and everything for it so it will just sit there over winter under a tarp on a frame.Mine is a 9,000 lb 29 foot boat with 4' draft.Total cost of all this is the same as having the yard store it so I come out even but get to do a lot more work. Over time you would probably save money with your own trailer and it makes scheduling a lot easier. I figure with needing the yard to take the mast down anyway, I have no way to do this, this works much better.

 

[Ctskip]

I'm mainly just wanting to be able

to pull her out of the water and do some maintenance and some glass work on her, along with some painting. Not having a trailer sucks. I have seen some dual axles for sale reasonable, welding on six pads, a skip plate and a added axle, I should be able to haul her out and launch her myself. I don't plan on moving her very far, maybe not at all, over the road. Just stay in the local ramp area (yard) and do the work there. But just to have the option of being able to do maint. myself, when I want to do it, will save me time and money. Is a dual axle boat trailer in my future? Add the extra axle and some adjustable pads, along with a guide(skid) plate for the keel to rest on and I'm ready. What say you? Enough to be able to retrieve and launch and move around the yard? While in the yard, I'll get several stands chained together for safety. Ideas? comments? There's no differance between land rate or the slip rate. Same cost year round in or out of the water. Thanks all for your valuable input. I'm soaking it all up like a sponge The hauler, three years ago, cost me $2000 to go from Dallas to Tulsa Ok. 250 miles approx. It was worth it, for me, for over the road details. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[sand sailor]

HOLY CRAP PHIL*POP

when is she due or do you need a new camera

 

[Benny]

Yes, use a proffesional hauler.

The cost of the investment for an adequate trailer and tow vehicle is not warranted for the intended limited use.

 

[Ctskip]

From Dallas to Tulsa, Ok cost me

$2000 . Best money I ever spent. Peace of mind was well worth it.  I'll be moving soon and I have found a location for the boat and I have found a house near it. Less than a mile away. I'm not exactly sure what the club has in the way of accomodations. I do know there is a ramp nearby. And there are plenty of sailboats there, so I ASSume they have some. I mainly just want to be able to retrieve and launch. While on shore I can reinforce with stands. What do you suppose would happen should I put a 11,000 lb boat on a 7000 lb rated trailer? It's not like I'm moving but 800 feet, maybe? Don't the trailer manuf. under rate the trailers, just as truck manuf. do? Just to be safe. Phil Thanks for the picture. It gives me more to go with. Thats about what I thought. I like the trailers that I can keep the "skid" plate just above the axles and below the tires. Keeps the boat as low as possible. It looks doable. Some of those trailers are rated for 20,000 lbs. They look like they weigh as much as the boat does. The search continues. Thanks all Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[OldCat]

Try this link

Try this link, go to used sailboats to see the 33' bennie on a trailer.www.theanchorage.comThere is no way I would take the risk of an under-rated trailer. If you ever got in an accident - if anyone got hurt - no longer is it an accident, it is potentially criminal negligence. I do not think that they let you sail in jail. Sorry, but with that much weight, up that high, you don't want it falling over on someone, or the brakes being inadequate.If you don't really need a trailer long term, a pro hauler is the best way to go.OC

 

[ted]

ramp?

I launched my old power boat with a 2' 6" draft at launches around Michigan and had problems getting the trailer far enough into the water to float the boat. And my trailer had decent tongue length. I can't imagine you'll find a ramp that will work. Most ramps have too shallow a pitch. If you find a steep ramp then you are going to have a heck of a time pulling up the ramp with anything less than a really big truck. You may not make it.My rig was about 10,000lbs all in, and my 350 ci could pull it OK but it was a strain. I switched to a 454 with better results.I almost killed myself and others when going down hill in a light rain and could not stop. The trailer brakes were not working! You must have brakes to take this load over the road.Hire a boat hauler to take it to your house and off load it and save the money on the trailer.

 

[Denise]

skip

At my yacht club all the sailboats are on yard trailers. (30ft and over) We built mine over the past year. Basically it's 2- 20ft long 12" beams, 5- 6" I beams for cross beams. 2 3" pipes with flanges. and 4 ford twin I beam steering axles which fit inside the 3" pipe. we had to use 1" pipe for the tie rods. and build a pivoting tounge. it's about 6.5' wide, and it steers at both ends! The uprights for the boat are about 12ft apart and we use scaffold screw jacks with 2x5 pads attached. It's allot of work but worth it.

 

[Ctskip]

Now I know it can be done

At my club there are lots of unused trailers in the storage lot. Now I must find one that can be modified to fit my boat. Then find an owner who needs the cash and not the trailer. Hmmmmm... It's the load thing that has me concerned. Do you suppose it's the number of lugs on the wheel, 5 verses 6 verses 8? Also tires make a differance, 9 ply verses 4 ply, 8 lugs with 9 ply tires? What about the bearings? Would they matter? Ball verses roller? Axle diameter? There are several trailer Mfg's in the area. I have contacted them, seeing what they have, and or recommend.I see 30+ ft launched every week from ramps, some with 6 ft keels, most trailers have a 10 ft extension to the tongue for launching. The scaffolding screw jacks sounds like they'll work great. Good idea. Money and patience is what it takes. Knowledge is what needs to be applied, and thats what I'm looking for. Thank you all. Keep it up, Ctskip