600 miles into our 700 mile trip to Pensacola I noticed the guide pole at the back of the trailer was dragging sideways along the highway. The pipe looks like it fractured just above the weld point. Has anyone else seen this failure? It was kind of scary but a small sliver of metal kept the pole attached and out of someones windshield. Considering redesigning stronger mount system. Has anyone else attempted this?
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Forrest Clark
Same thing happened to me
I have a '93 23.5, but I think the trailer is similar. One of the guides broke at the same location as yours. I replaced mine with a kit from Champion Trailers here in La. It consisted of galavanized square tubing sandwiched between two galvanized plates and bolted to the trailer frame. The portion of the tubing bent upwards is only about a foot and a half long with five feet or so of capped two inch PVC pipe slipped over it. It is a tight fit and has never fallen or floated off. This is also very light weight compared to the previous guides which were very top-heavy. The PVC bends a little but I have had no problems loading on the trailer. One other thing is the PVC is longer than the original guides and the boat doesn't float over and get stuck on the guide when loading in a deep launch. I don't remember the cost but was very reasonable. Personally I think these are better than the original guides. Champion Trailers has a website (www.championtrailers.com -I think) but I'm sure you could find the same thing near you.
I have a '93 23.5, but I think the trailer is similar. One of the guides broke at the same location as yours. I replaced mine with a kit from Champion Trailers here in La. It consisted of galavanized square tubing sandwiched between two galvanized plates and bolted to the trailer frame. The portion of the tubing bent upwards is only about a foot and a half long with five feet or so of capped two inch PVC pipe slipped over it. It is a tight fit and has never fallen or floated off. This is also very light weight compared to the previous guides which were very top-heavy. The PVC bends a little but I have had no problems loading on the trailer. One other thing is the PVC is longer than the original guides and the boat doesn't float over and get stuck on the guide when loading in a deep launch. I don't remember the cost but was very reasonable. Personally I think these are better than the original guides. Champion Trailers has a website (www.championtrailers.com -I think) but I'm sure you could find the same thing near you.
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Alan Long
Me too
Mine fell off my 1994 23.5 too. I wasn't as lucky as you and it came off completely, narrowly missing the truck behind me. This isn't a new problem. Alan Long
Mine fell off my 1994 23.5 too. I wasn't as lucky as you and it came off completely, narrowly missing the truck behind me. This isn't a new problem. Alan Long
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Rick Webb
Where Should We Check?
I remember reading about this before and switched out the 1/4 inch bolts holding them on for 5/16 and always check them to make sure they are tight. Where exactly is it coming apart? Doug, how did you like Pensacola?
I remember reading about this before and switched out the 1/4 inch bolts holding them on for 5/16 and always check them to make sure they are tight. Where exactly is it coming apart? Doug, how did you like Pensacola?
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Andy Jones
New bolts and welding shop
I upsized my bolts too. I discovered the original ones worn and stripped when removing the first broken goal post on my 1993 23.5 trailer. (The second one broke a year or so later). I took it to a welding shop. They had some steel rods that were the same diameter as the inside of the guide post. He welded the rod inside one broken end, slipped it into the other broken edge, made sure they lined up properly, then welded it all around the seam. I used spray-on cold galvanizing compound from Home Depot to rust proof it. Its been 4 years and its still holding fine. I touch up the spray once a year to prevent rust.
I upsized my bolts too. I discovered the original ones worn and stripped when removing the first broken goal post on my 1993 23.5 trailer. (The second one broke a year or so later). I took it to a welding shop. They had some steel rods that were the same diameter as the inside of the guide post. He welded the rod inside one broken end, slipped it into the other broken edge, made sure they lined up properly, then welded it all around the seam. I used spray-on cold galvanizing compound from Home Depot to rust proof it. Its been 4 years and its still holding fine. I touch up the spray once a year to prevent rust.
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Norm Steffen
Pole Failure
I have had the bolts come loose twice & the pole come off the trailer. I only tow the boat twice a year and only about 8 miles. Both times it happened as I backed the empty trailer into the yard. Since then I have used harder bolts with lock nuts and have not had it happen again. I also check them more often for tightness. Norm S
I have had the bolts come loose twice & the pole come off the trailer. I only tow the boat twice a year and only about 8 miles. Both times it happened as I backed the empty trailer into the yard. Since then I have used harder bolts with lock nuts and have not had it happen again. I also check them more often for tightness. Norm S
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Douglas Miles
Getting fixed inthe morning...
I am having a pipe welded over the top of the brake only because I did not think to weld one internally. It looks like this failure has been in the works for a while as part of the fracture is corroded and part has brighter, cleaner break. The break started just above the welded on bracket plate. What was amazing was the strength of the tiny sliver of metal opposite the bracket that kept it attached at 60 mph! I think the welding is changing the mechanical properties of the metal making it more brittle. Time to strengthen the other side too! The Intercastal Waterway here was very nice this afternoon. I hope the weather holds so I can experience more of it. I did have one sandbar sneak up on me. It is great to have a forgiving swinging centerboard!
I am having a pipe welded over the top of the brake only because I did not think to weld one internally. It looks like this failure has been in the works for a while as part of the fracture is corroded and part has brighter, cleaner break. The break started just above the welded on bracket plate. What was amazing was the strength of the tiny sliver of metal opposite the bracket that kept it attached at 60 mph! I think the welding is changing the mechanical properties of the metal making it more brittle. Time to strengthen the other side too! The Intercastal Waterway here was very nice this afternoon. I hope the weather holds so I can experience more of it. I did have one sandbar sneak up on me. It is great to have a forgiving swinging centerboard!
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John Revenboer
Remove the Guide Poles
I have trailed my 260 long distances and you should remove the guide poles fromn the trailer before trailering.
I have trailed my 260 long distances and you should remove the guide poles fromn the trailer before trailering.
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Alan Long
Mine failed at the same place, Douglas
It wasn't the bolts that broke. It fractured just above the weld.
It wasn't the bolts that broke. It fractured just above the weld.
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